When youâre the daughter of one of the most poignant vocalists of all time, itâs nearly impossible not to carry on the tradition. With a voice as crisp as her fatherâs, Natalie Cole carved a career path of her own with hits including âThis Will Be (An Everlasting Love)â and âInseparable.â She made Grammy Award history by being the first black artist to win Best New Artist in 1976 and the first black woman to win Album of the Year for her tribute album to her father, Unforgettable .⊠With Love, in 1992.
“This Will Be” was Natalie Cole’s debut single, released in April 1975, and one of her biggest hits, becoming a #1 R&B and #6 pop smash in the United States, also reaching the UK Top 40. She won a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, a category that had previously been dominated by Aretha Franklin. It would also help her win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
From 1975, this is Natalie Cole and the classic soul sound of “This Will Be”
Written for Glynâs Mixed Music Bag #18, where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter G or H.
As the 60s slipped into the 70s, an American hard rock band was getting started in Flint, Michigan. Known for such iconic rock hits as âWeâre An American Bandâ, “I’m Your Captain” “Some Kind Of Wonderful” and their cover version of âThe Loco-Motionâ, the guys called themselves Grand Funk Railroad, culling their name from Michigan’s GTWR (Grand Trunk Western Railroad. Originally comprised of singer/guitarist Mark Farner, singer/drummer Don Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher, the bandâs style of rock reflected their blue-collar Michigan surroundings. There were no pretensions, no airs …. just sweaty, longhaired grooves and celebratory tunes for days.
Known for a crowd-pleasing arena rock style, Grand Funk toured extensively and played to packed stadiums worldwide and was well-regarded by audiences despite a relative lack of critical praise. Early in their career, they headlined a much hyped free concert in Hyde Park, wowing the audience while being relatively unknown in the UK. They also opened for Led Zeppelin in their home state of Michigan.
GFR split and reunited numerous times; in 1996 all three members reunited for a summer tour in which they played to over 250,000 people, and a slate of Bosnian relief dates in 1997 including several TV performances. In 1998 they did a 65+ date tour listed as one of the top ten grossing tours of the year.
Grand Funk Railroadâs first number-one hit, 1973âČs âWeâre An American Bandâ, came seven albums into the bandâs career and was literally written around the lines âWeâre coming to your town. Weâll help you party down.â
According to songwriter/drummer Don Brewer, the inspiration came from the band’s day-to-day life. “Weâre on planes all the time, flying into these towns. I remember looking down at the ground as we’re coming into a city and that thought came to my mind: ‘We’re coming to your town to party it downâ â because that’s what this band does.” Brewer then added more lyrics about the trials and tribulations of life on the road: “Booze and ladies, keep me right / As long as we can make it to the show tonight.” Prior to writing âWeâre An American Bandâ, Brewer had stuck mostly to drumming.
Released on July 2, 1973, “We’re An American Bane” went to #1 on the US chart, and the album of the same name went to #2 on the Billboard 200. The album jacket was originally covered in gold-colored foil; the initial pressings were in clear, dark yellow vinyl to suggest a “gold” record. The album is #200 of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers definitive 200 albums of all time. Grand Funk Railroad has released 14 studio albums and 5 live albums (10 platinum) with sales totaling over 25 million records sold, 10 million of which were sold in 1970 alone.
The bandâs lineup in recent years features Brewer and Schacher, as well as former Kiss member Bruce Kulick on guitar, 38 Special expatriate Max Karl on vocals, and keyboard player Tim Cashion, formerly with the likes of Robert Palmer and Bob Seger.
This is âWeâre An American Bandâ by Grand Funk Railroad.
Big thanks to Glyn for hosting another week of Mixed Music Bag.
Written for Glynâs Mixed Music Bag #17, where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter G or H.
Steve Marriott, Peter Frampton, Greg Ridley & Jerry Shirley
Frustrated with a number of things but mostly his image as a teen idol, Steve Marriott finally had enough. It was New Yearâs Eve, 1969, when he threw down his guitar and walked off the stage at Londonâs Alexandra Palace, quitting his band, Small Faces. Marriott was a talented musician and vocalist who wanted to be taken seriously for his music …. not his looks.
After quitting, Steve Marriott called two friends â one was Peter Frampton â another frustrated teen idol who had recently quit his band, Herd â and the other was 17-year-old drummer Jerry Shirley. Marriott asked his friends if he could join the band they were forming and, to sweeten the pot, said heâd bring with him Greg Ridley, a well-respected bass player from the band Spooky Tooth, who was also looking to make a change. Well, of course, Frampton and Shirley couldnât turn down an offer like that and so the newest âsupergroupâ (as the press called them) was created. The guys in the band hated being called a supergroup …. they were worried about expectations being set too high and dooming them to failure. In retaliation they chose a name they were more comfortable with …. Humble Pie.
Their debut album, “As Safe As Yesterday Is”, was released in August 1969, along with the single, “Natural Born Bugie”, which reached #4 in the UK singles charts; the album peaked at #16 in the UK album charts. “As Safe As Yesterday Is” was one of the first albums to be described by the term “heavy metal” in a 1970 review in Rolling Stone magazine.
In 1971 Humble Pie released their most successful record to date, “Rock On“, as well as a live album recorded at the Fillmore East in New York entitled “Performance Rockin’ the Fillmore”. The live album reached #21 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Culled from four sets recorded on May 28 and 29, 1971 (the original LP was essentially a sampler of songs from several raucous shows), âPerformance Rockinâ the Fillmoreâ was released that November as a double album set. Humble Pie was second on the bill, after Fanny and before headliner Lee Michaels, a fact hardly anyone seems to remember. I will testify to that because I was in the audience at the Fillmore East on May 28, 1971 and the only group I remember seeing was Humble Pie. That was just one month before the legendary Fillmore closed its doors …. the end of an era in the history of rock.
Peter Framptonâs final recording with Humble Pie in 1971 was, by some irony, the bandâs most successful, and is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential live albums of the decade. Humble Pie produced 11 studio albums and 2 live albums.
“I Donât Need No Doctorâ from “Performance Rockin’ the Fillmore” was an R&B song written by Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson and Jo Armstead, first released by Ashford in August 1966; it went nowhere. The song has been recorded by Ray Charles, John Mayer, rock bands New Riders of the Purple Sage, Great White and Styx, metal band W.A.S.P. and others. Humble Pieâs version became an FM radio standard in the US, peaking at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100 and propelling the album up the charts.
Live from the Fillmore East in my hometown of New York City, this is the single version of âI Donât Need No Doctorâ by Humble Pie.
Personnel
Steve Marriottâ guitar, vocals, harmonica Peter Frampton â guitar, vocals Greg Ridley â bass guitar, vocals Jerry Shirley – drums
Technical team
Live recording by Fedco Audio Labs Engineer: Eddie Kramer Assistant Engineer: David Palmer Re-mixed at Electric Lady Studies, New York Produced by The Pie
In 1991 Steve Marriott died in an accidental house fire at the age of 44; bassist Greg Ridley died in 2003 at the age of 56 from complications from pneumonia. Peter Frampton continues to enjoy success as a solo artist and Jerry Shirley is still behind the kit, touring with the current members of Humble Pie.
The Fillmore East didn’t last all that long, from March 8, 1968 to June 27, 1971, but a ton of great music was played there. It was our personal music Mecca. Pretty much every legendary 1960s band …. except the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Cream and Dylan …. graced the stage and I was in attendance for a lot of those shows. It was epic.
Big thanks to Glyn for hosting Mixed Music Bag every week.
In 1964 The Kinks came out with a song with a killer riff, so it only made sense that 14 years later guitar genius Eddie Van Halen would take the tune and make it a showcase for his brand of guitar pyrotechnics. Singer David Lee Roth, meanwhile, perfectly laid bare each and every emotion that may have been buried beneath a previous generationâs decency.
The song, of course, is âYou Really Got Meâ, written by Kinksâ frontman Ray Davies. Lead guitarist Dave Davies performs the songâs famous guitar solo, although it was long rumored that Jimmy Page had performed the solo âŠ. hearsay that Page himself denied.
âYou Really Got Meâ was originally released in the UK on August 4, 1964 as The Kink’s third single and reached #1 on the Record Retailer chart the following month, remaining there for two weeks. Van Halenâs cover of the song was released as their first single and peaked at #36 on the Billboard Hot 100.
This is the fabulous 1964 original version of âYou Really Got Meâ as recorded by The Kinks.
And this is what it sounded like when Van Halen recorded it 14 years later.
Thatâs todayâs Twofer Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by.
Kris Kristofferson is one of country musicâs most covered songwriters and the most famous instance of the troubadourâs work translating beautifully to another performer is Janis Joplinâs iconic recording of “Me And Bobby McGee”, certainly the one we recall when thinking of her doing bluesy country rock. Her renditionis full of vocal improvisation and heartbreak âŠ. an embrace of blissed-out guitars, smokey twang and free spirits. Without a doubt, Janis Joplin was the most transcendent, mesmerizing, complex yet naĂŻve and unpretentious artist I’ve had the privilege of seeing in concert.
A posthumously released version of “Me And Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin topped the US singles chart in 1971, making the song the second posthumously released #1 single in US chart history after âDock Of The Bayâ by Otis Redding. Billboard ranked Joplin’s version as the #1 song for 1971. In 2002, Janis Joplin’s “Me And Bobby McGee” was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame.
Let’s listen to the original first. From 1970, this is âMe And Bobby McGeeâ by singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson.
And this is what the song sounded like when Janis Joplin recorded it.
âBridge Over Trouble Waterâ Written by: Paul Simon Recorded: January 1970 Producer(s): Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Roy Halee Engineer: Roy Halee
Released: January 26, 1970
Available on: Bridge Over Trouble Water
Personnel: Paul Simon – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion Art Garfunkel â lead vocals, percussion Los Incas â Peruvian instruments Joe Osborn â bass guitar Larry Knechtel â piano Fred Carter Jr. â guitar Pete Drake â Dobro, pedal steel guitar Hal Blaine â drums Jimmie Haskell & Ernie Freeman â strings Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff & Alan Rubin â brass
Paul Simon said he wrote âBridge Over Trouble Waterâ very quickly, so much so that he later asked himself: “Where did that come from? It doesn’t seem like me.”
Simon wrote it as “a little hymn“, a song about providing comfort to a person in need. Garfunkel and producer Roy Halee thought it was more epic than a little hymn and convinced Simon to write a third verse. When done, Paul Simon thought it was too long, too slow and too orchestral to be a hit single.
However, Clive Davis at Columbia Records disagreed; he identified the commercial appeal of the song and it was included on the 1970 album of the same name â their fifth and final LP.
Paul Simon told his partner Art Garfunkel that heâd like him to sing the song alone, the “white choirboy way“. At first, Garfunkel felt the song was not right for him, as he liked Simon’s falsetto on the demo version, and suggested that Simon sing instead. At the suggestion of Garfunkel and Roy Halee, Simon wrote an extra verse and a “bigger” ending, adding harmony in the final verse.
Ultimately, Paul Simon became jealous of the reaction from audiences and the attention Art Garfunkel was getting every time they performed the song and thought how the song really should have been his. Well, Paul’s the one who made the suggestion; now he was regretting it. These feelings of jealousy and animosity would contribute strongly to their eventual split. So much for the peaceful little hymn.
In the US, âBridge Over Troubled Waterâ reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1970, and stayed there for six weeks. It was the biggest single of the year. It also reached #1 in the UK in 1970. It was certified gold for selling over one million copies in the US and more than six million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles ever.
Here is one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded, Simon & Garfunkel’s âBridge Over Trouble Waterâ.
Lyrics
When you’re weary Feeling small When tears are in your eyes I’ll dry them all I’m on your side Oh, when times get rough And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
When you’re down and out When you’re on the street When evening falls so hard I will comfort you I’ll take your part Oh, when darkness comes And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Sail on silver girl Sail on by Your time has come to shine All your dreams are on their way See how they shine Oh, if you need a friend I’m sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind
Ah, my dear readers âŠ. we have a serious tune today. This wonderful song is a lesson and a warning to parents everywhere.
It was also a huge hit for the person who wrote and recorded it.
Letâs not waste another minute with talk. Here are your five clues.
Todayâs featured performer was born December 7, 1942 in New York City; he was a singer-songwriter, philanthropist and hunger activist best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs.
This 1974 song is the only number-one song for our performer. It was nominated for a Grammy in 1975 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011.
On July 16, 1981 our multi-faceted artist was killed in an accident on the Long Island Expressway when his Volkswagen Rabbit was rear-ended by a tractor trailer truck. He was on his way to perform at a benefit concert when the accident occurred.
As a dedicated humanitarian, todayâs performer fought to end world hunger. He was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977 and in 1987 was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work.
Todayâs song started out as a poem written by the wife of our performer; he took her words and put them to music. It is a story of regret, the sad tale of a man who only has time for his work and puts everything before the needs of his young son who grows up to be just like his dad.
Those are the clues, my friends. Do you think you know the answers? Scroll down to see if you are right.
How did you do? If you knew the answers were Harry Chapin and his fabulous song, âCats In the Cradleâ, then you did great!
Letâs have a listen to that terrific song right now.
What a great song by the late Harry Chapin whose birthday happens to fall on a Thursday this year; if youâre a faithful reader of all my posts, youâll know all about Birthday Thursdays! đ
Thanks for joining me today. Please be sure to catch me this coming Tuesday as I wrap up November with the final installment of Iâm With The Banned. I guarantee you, it will be an unforgettable post.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s a new musical genre developed into a phenomenon that is still going strong some 50 years later and shows no sign of slowing down. In case you didnât get the hint from my new header image, Iâm talking about heavy metal!
Today Iâm featuring the final group from the âunholy trinityâ, a band that has been my go-to metal group since it’s inception. There has always been something very special about this favorite group of mine â whether it’s the incredible vocals, the blistering guitar or even just the name itself, I was and still am a big fan. You’ll soon see why I feel as I do.
Bill and I got to see these guyson October 22, 1971 in the Felt Forum which was the theatre inside Madison Square Garden. We saw a lot of groups at the Forum but the night of October 22 was memorable. Earlier in the day while I was out with my parents, our house was burglarized. I recounted the incident on my website; the story is called “Poor Althea’s Boy” â https://theelephantstrunk.org/2023/08/17/poor-altheas-boy/
On the ride into Manhattan for the concert, I found my mind drifting back to just a few hours earlier when we discovered the house had been burglarized. There’s a dreadful sense of losing control, deeply unsettling feeling of being violated attached to a crime in your home, your safe place. Uninvited people were in our house, going through our personal property. To say it’s disconcerting is putting it mildly. Thank goodness no one was home at the time except the first floor tenant and he heard nothing nor was he harmed in anyway. He had his headphones on and was completely oblivious to what was going on upstairs.
I asked my parents if they wanted me to stay home with them that night; they said no, the police had everything covered. I was relieved; I needed a diversion, something magical to take my mind off the break-in.
Deep Purplewas just the ticket.
Deep Purple got its start in London in 1968. Originally formed as a psychedelic and progressive rock band, the group shifted to a heavier sound in 1970 with their album “Deep Purple In Rock”. In the early to mid-seventies, Deep Purple had been referred to as âBritainâs hardest and heaviest metal groupâ and was listed in the 1975 Guinness Book of World Records as âthe globeâs loudest bandâ for a 1972 concert at Londonâs Rainbow Theatre. To date the band has sold more than 100 million albums.
Just like any other band who has endured the test of time and is still touring today, Deep Purplehas had multiple reincarnations. For me, these members formed the greatest lineup: Ritchie Blackmore consistently at the helm as lead guitarist; Jon Lord (keyboard, strings), Roger Glover (bass, 1969-1973) followed by Glenn Hughes (bass, 1973-1976), Ian Gillan (lead vocals, 1969-1973) followed by David Coverdale (lead vocals, 1973-1976) and Ian Paice (drums); original members Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice are still with the band in concert today.
In no particular order, here are some of my favorite songs. Listen to any, listen to all; each one is great!
This is Deep Purple!
Now for the mother of all Deep Purple songs.
On December 4, 1971, Deep Purplewas in Montreux, Switzerland to record the album âMachine Headâ. On the eve of the recording session, a concert with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention was held in the casinoâs theatre. This was the theatreâs final concert before the complex closed down for its annual winter renovations, which would allow DeepPurple to record there. At the beginning of the Mothersâsynthesizer solo on âKing Kongâ, the place caught fire when “someone stupid” in the audience fired a flare gun towards the rattan-covered ceiling. Although there were no major injuries, the resulting fire destroyed the entire casino complex, along with all the Mothersâ equipment. Here is the retelling of that night’s events â a saga set to music.
This is “Smoke on the Water”.
Thatâs the way it is with heavy metal and groups like Deep Purple; you canât stop at just one!
I hope you enjoyed this edition of Metal Madness featuring the last member of the “unholy trinity”.
But wait! Something doesn’t add up!
Today’s edition covered the third Tuesday in October; what about weeks four and five? Well, have no fear; I am prepared! I will be stepping outside the realm of the “unholy trinity” next Tuesday; please join me to see who I’ve chosen for Week #4. I think you’ll agree it’s a good fit. đ€đœ
Thanks for reading my posts and for being a great audience and good sports. I look forward to catching up with you again next week.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s a new musical genre developed into a phenomenon that is still going strong some 50 years later and shows no sign of slowing down. In case you didnât get the hint from my new header image, Iâm talking about heavy metal!
Today Iâm featuring another group from the âunholy trinityâ, a band Bill and I got to see for the first time in November, 1970 at the Fillmore East. You may recall I mentioned the Fillmore last week but if you are not familiar with the venue, please Google it; that place was the spot to be, especially for groups just starting out. We spent many a Friday or Saturday night there watching group after group, acts ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Cat Stevens, Vanilla Fudge to The Who. There were usually three to four bands each night doing two sets each and our tickets were good for the whole night. We often say it would be easier for us to make a list of groups we havenât seen than those we have seen. The Fillmore East was a fabulous place for us …. an up close and personal introduction into the world of music!
Now it’s time to talk a little about our next group; I promise, this won’t take long. Brace yourselves, kids, and summon all your courage. The madness continues with group #2 on the list: Black Sabbath.
Sabbathwas formed in Birmingham, England in 1968 by guitarist Toni Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osborne. Like so many young guys from that time period, they were looking to escape a life of factory work through music. They got their start in such bands as the psychedelic Rare Breed and Mythology. Influenced by the reigning British rock and blues bands of Led Zeppelin, Cream and John Mayallâs Bluesbreakers, our four enterprising guys formed Earth Blues Company (shortened to Earth) in 1968. Then, as Black Sabbath, the group helped define the heavy metal music genre early in its career with the release of albums such as the eponymous Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1971) and Master of Reality (1971).
Black Sabbath has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making the group one of the most commercially successful metal bands. They were ranked by MTV as the âGreatest Metal Band of All Timeâ and placed 2nd on VH1âs list of â100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rockâ. Black Sabbathwas inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2019 the band was presented a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ok, boys and girls, itâs time for a little less conversation and a lot more action. My Sabbathplaylist is primed and ready; are you? Listen to any, listen to all; each one is great!
From the group’s second studio LP, âParanoidâ, this is âIron Manâ:
Are you game for a couple more? As I said before, listen to as many or as few as you like; we’re here to have fun!
Now for a little change of pace. Break out your cigarette lighters for our last one …. the softer side of Sabbath. This is “Changes”. âđŒ
That’s the way it is with heavy metal music and groups like Black Sabbath; you can’t stop at just one!
I hope you enjoyed this edition of Metal Madness. Please join me next week for the third member of the “unholy trinity”. Are you having fun yet, gang? The party’s really heating up now! đ€đœ đ„
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, a new musical genre was developed. It kicked in the door of the music world and turned into a phenomenon that is still going strong some 55 years later. And there are no obvious signs of it slowing down any time soon. In case you didnât get the hint from my subtle new header image, Iâm talking about heavy metal! đ€đŒ
We all know what it is: a genre of rock music that developed largely in the United Kingdom and United States with roots in blues rock, acid rock and psychedelic rock. Metal bands created a thick, monumental sound characterized by distorted guitars, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats and loudness.
WHAT?? Oh, I think I know what you’re trying to say, Mr. Wikipedia â
In other words, heavy metal crashes through the safety of your walls, grabs you by the throat, flips you around like a rag doll, tosses you upside down onto the Helter Skelter for a few spins at Mach 3.3, drags you off by your hair, straddles you and screams in your face âHEAR ME!â, then slams you down Centerstage Row A without any sissy earplugs where you stand dripping in blood, sweat and tears, wonky legs barely supporting you, arms extended, fingers shaped like đ€đŒ as your heart races frantically inside your chest like John Bonham on speed, your head starting to erupt into a trillion bits and, like Ozzy, you howl at the moon âAll aboard! This is bloody freakinâ awesome!!â
Get the picture? Good. Now let’s get this show on the road!
In 1968 three of the genreâs most famous pioneers were founded. Often referred to as the âunholy trinityâ, their hope was to attract wide audiences with their musical message; they were often misunderstood and ridiculed by critics. That didnât stop them.
That same year, March of 1968, Bill and I met on a blind date. The following week for our second date, we went to the concert mecca of the Lower East Side of Manhattan â the Fillmore East. It was our first time there and the start of a long run of concerts. Ten months later we saw a relatively unknown group at the Fillmore who would go on to become one of the greatest bands of all time. That band is the group I’m featuring today in Metal Madness.
Between 1968 and 1977 â the period known as B.K. (Before Kids) â Bill and I saw the âunholy trinityâ as well as many other groups, multiple times. Back then, even the good seats were cheap and we were always in one of the first three rows. I laughingly remember the night Robert Plant tossed back his magnificent mane of blonde curls and rained droplets of sweat on us. It was fabulous!
Allow me now to delve a little deeper into our first group in Metal Madness: Led Zeppelin.
Formed in London in 1968, Led Zeppelin developed their style by drawing from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music. The band was comprised of vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy guitar-driven sound, they are cited as one of the forerunners of hard rock and heavy metal music. Zeppelin has been credited as significantly impacting the nature of the music industry, particularly in the development of album-oriented rock and stadium rock.
Led Zeppelin is one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, with total sales estimated at over 300 million records sold worldwide. The group achieved eight consecutive UK #1 albums and six #1 Albums on the US Billboard 200, with five albums certified diamond in the United States. Rolling Stone magazine once describedZeppelin as âthe heaviest band of all timeâ, âthe biggest band of the 70sâ, and âunquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock historyâ. Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995; the museumâs biography of the band states that they were âas influential during the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960sâ. Thatâs quite a statement.
For me listening to these great songs is like eating potato chips; I can’t eat just one! I have several video selections for you today. Listen to any, listen to all; the choice is yours and each one is great!
Ok, no more talking; itâs time for some music. And if you look hard enough, you just might spot me in the audience!
I’d like to close with what I consider to be an indelible moment in time â Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart performing at the Kennedy Center in a concert honoring Led Zeppelin. This is no hype; you’ll know what I mean when you see the reaction from the honorees watching from the best seats in the house. The song is one you all know; it has been called “the single-most important and celebrated song Led Zeppelin ever recorded”.
This is “Stairway To Heaven”.
That’s the way it is with heavy metal and groups like Led Zeppelin; you can’t stop at just one!
I hope you enjoyed your first ride on the Metal Madness Express. Thanks for being here! I’d love to know your thoughts so kindly leave a comment.
Please join me right here next week for an introduction to the second group in the “unholy trinity”. Can you guess who it is? You don’t want to miss it; I’m just warming up! đ„ đ€đŒ
Hang on, kids. Weâre taking that magic train to Chicago! đ
Today I chose “25 or 6 to 4”, Chicago’s signature song, for four simple reasons:
I fell in love with Chicago’s sound the minute I heard them
Singer Peter Cetera has one of the best rock voices around
Any rock band that has a badass horn section is aces in my book
There’s some crazy wicked good guitar playing action going on here
Written in 1969 by Robert Lamm, one of Chicagoâs seven founding members, the curious title of “25 or 6 to 4” refers to the specific time of day when the song was composed. Opening lyrics: âWaiting for the break of dayâ â at 25 or 26 minutes to 4 AM (that is, 3:35 or 3:34 AM). No (implied) psychedelic mystery; itâs really as simple as that. đ
Peter Cetera sang lead on this track â despite his jaw being wired shut. A few months before the recording session, the band went to a baseball game at Dodger Stadium, where their hometown team, the Chicago Cubs, beat the Dodgers, leaving four marines angry and ready to take their aggression out on someone. That someone was Cetera, who was singled out by his long hair as much as his team loyalty. The ensuing brawl sent him to intensive care with his jaw broken in three places. When it came time to record the song, Ceteraâs jaw was still wired shut! You’d never know by listening to him here.
From 1970, Â here is Chicago doing their signature song, â25 or 6 to 4â featuring Peter Cetera on bass and lead vocals and Terry Kath ripping it up on lead guitar.
Yeah, baby! Thatâs how you play the guitar! đž
In 1969, while Robert Lamm was working on today’s song, Woodstock came knocking on Chicagoâs door and they were booked to play the event. However, at the time, the band was under contract to concert promoter Bill Graham, and he retained the right to reschedule them. He did exactly that, sending Chicago to play at San Francisco’s famed Fillmore West. That left an empty slot to be filled at Woodstock, so Graham simply scheduled another band that he managed to play in that spot. The name of that band was Santana.
That leads us to the question of the day: Did you attend Woodstock or any other similar musical event? Tell us something about your experience.
Iâll kick things off: I did not attend Woodstock (although I did see The Beatles at Shea Stadium!). My parents laid down the law and absolutely refused to let me go. Now, I was a rebel and did pretty much what I wanted to do but this would have been a tough one for me to pull off. Me and Mr. Bill more than made up for missing Woodstock by seeing more concerts than we can remember, many at the legendary Fillmore East. We keep saying one day we should compile a list of every group we saw in concert. We better do it while our memories are still intact!
Now itâs your turn; whoâs up for sharing a story about your concert-going days?
Thanks for joining me today In The Groove. I had a blast! Stay tuned for more great music coming this week.
Be well and happy, my friends; itâs a jungle out there.
“Help!” – The Beatles’ second feature film – is a comedy adventure following the exploits of the group as they attempt to escape the clutches of an evil, mysterious cult. Will The Beatles survive being eaten by tigers, being shrunk, gassed, blown up, or kidnapped?
Sounds like fun! And why not? I have it on good authority that the fun was due largely to the fact that the guys were stoned to some degree throughout the entire filming of the movie.
The 1965 film was directed by Dick Lester and combines the Beatles’ own sense of humor with antics from a leading cast of actors. The movie has been regarded by many as a parody of contemporary James Bond films, complete with power crazy despots, mad inventors, and capers through exotic locations including the Bahamas and the snowy mountains of Austria. The film has also been credited as being the forerunner to contemporary rock musicals and pop videos.
So many classic tracks are on the Help! album, hits such as “Ticket To Ride”, “Yesterday”, “I’ve Just Seen a Face”, “You’re Gonna Lose That Girl” and, of course, “Help!”
From 1965, here are The Beatles performing the titular song from their second movie.
There aren’t too many really good live videos of The Beatles so I was happy to find one for today’s post. John could never resist joking with the audience and cutting up on stage.
I had a great time today At The Movies; I hope you enjoyed this one as well. Please join me again next week.
Nick is up next Breaking Boundaries; I hope you stick around for that.
Itâs time to go to the movies! Why don’t you go grab us a couple of good seats and Iâll get the soda and popcorn? And maybe a couple of umbrellas! đ„€ đż âïž âïž
On Tuesday we talked about the iconic dance moves of Michael Jackson. No doubt he influenced countless young dancers over the years but have you ever wondered who influenced him? Well, it should come as no surprise that MJ had a very diverse selection of dance legends who influenced him, including James Brown, Fred Astaire, Bob Fosse, Jackie Wilson, Gene Kelly and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Let’s talk a little about one of those brilliant performers and his most recognized movie.
“Singin’ in the Rain” is a 1952 musical romantic comedy featuring the many talents of Gene Kelly. The movie offers a lighthearted depiction of Hollywood in the late 1920s and the lives of famous silent screen stars suddenly caught up in the transition from silent films to “talkies”.
Remember that funny saying “She’s got a face for the radio”? Well, there were more than a few silent movie stars who found themselves on the unemployment line when asked to speak!
“Singin’ in the Rain” was only a modest hit when it was first released. However, it has since been accorded legendary status and is often regarded as the greatest musical film ever made. I don’t know about that; anyone ever hear of a little movie called “West Side Story”?
The song I’ve chose to showcase today is an obvious one; it’s best known as the centerpiece of the movie in which Gene Kelly memorably sang and danced while splashing through puddles during a rainstorm.
Here is “Singing in the Rain” from the movie of the same name starring Gene Kelly.
Now, I don’t know about you but while I sing in the shower almost every day, I’ve never sung or danced in the rain like that and I’m sure I never will! I know â Gene Kelly’s character is crazy in love but he looks like he’s having entirely too much fun for someone who’s soaked to the bone!
All kidding aside, Gene Kelly was definitely one of Hollywood’s greatest dancers, making every move look smooth as silk. I often thought Gene Kelly would have made a great Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz” but that role went to Jack Haley. What do you think? Let’s make a little comparison; here’s a clip of Jack Haley in that metallic role:
Wow! I could use some of what’s in his oilcan! And I can definitely see Gene Kelly doing those incredible dance moves. In 1978, Michael Jackson played the role of The Scarecrow in “The Wiz” – talk about six degrees of separation!
Did you enjoy todayâs post and videos? I love reading your comments so let me know your thoughts.
Welcome back to Name That Tune. Today we have something a bit unusual for you but I think youâre going to love the song. Itâs sure to bring back some delightful memories.
Here are the questions for today. Think outside the bog.
Todayâs song was written in 1979 and is primarily associated with a long-running children’s television show.
Our featured performer plays the banjo and looks as young today as he did when his show premiered in 1976. It must be his high-protein diet and water aerobics.
This award winning song is loved by adults and children alike and tells the story of the singerâs driving urge for something more in life. The song was deemed âculturally, historically and aesthetically significantâ by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry. The singer also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The songâs name has been used by a number of charitable organizations wishing to evoke its message, including a childrenâs charity, a summer camp for seriously ill children and a horse-riding camp for people with disabilities.
Todayâs mild-mannered performer has been in a long-term relationship with a rather flamboyant and domineering diva but it seems to work well for them. Heâs a real âprinceâ but sheâs been called a âPorcine Primadonnaâ by the paparazzi!
Can you guess the name of todayâs tune and the name of the performer? Think it over, then scroll down for the big reveal. You might be surprised.
The video is about to start; have you guessed todayâs song and the singer who made it famous?
Letâs take a look.
If you said âThe Rainbow Connectionâ by Kermit the Frog, youâre right!
Get the kids, grandkids, grandma and grandpa in the room. Hereâs the video:
I hope this one put a giant smile on your face; thanks for having a bit of fun with me today. Lifeâs just too serious, isnât it?
Stay tuned tomorrow as Mr. B eases us into another week with Breaktime Whodunnit.
Letâs face facts. If youâre in a rock band, chances are excellent a number of commandments are gonna get broken. That is exactly what led to the writing of our next tune.
Once upon a time, George Harrison and Eric Clapton were best friends, practically brothers. George was married and very much in love with his wife and she with him. So, whatâs the problem? Eric was also very much in love with Georgeâs wife. He couldnât help it; by all accounts, she was very desirable. She, however, resisted the worn out phrases and longing gazes of Eric ⊠but only just for so long. He wore her resistance down until, in spite of her love for the handsome George, she fell in love with Eric, left George and married Eric. George, realizing they were only human and he himself was no saint, forgave Eric and his wife (what a guy!). More than that, George and Eric remained best friends for the rest of Georgeâs life, with the two men referring to each other as âhusband-in-lawâ. The two continued to perform together frequently until Georgeâs passing in 2001. It was all so very civilized. The end.
Sounds like this could be one of my stories!
Written and released in 1970 by composer/guitarist/singer Eric Clapton, “Layla” is the title track on the Derek and the Dominos album âLayla and Other Assorted Love Songsâ. George and Ericâs wife was the inspiration for the song which is considered one of rock music’s definitive love songs.
This is one of those times I could not find a good quality recording of Derek and the Dominos. Instead I chose this version â Eric Clapton performing with Phil Collins and others at Live Aid in the John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia USA on July 13, 1985. The event was organized to raise funds for the Ethiopian famine disaster. I hope you enjoy âLaylaâ.
What a great tune and you can see why Clapton is regarded as one of the best guitar players in the world. I’ll never forget seeing Clapton with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker; they were Cream. They didn’t set off pyrotechnics, smash their instruments, sport big hair or perform acrobatics on stage. They came out, laid down some mean guitar riffs and sang some awesome songs. No need for more than that.
Hereâs the question of the day:
In my intro to the video, I never referred to Georgeâs wife by name. A model and actress in the 60s and 70s, she is recognized today as an author, photographer and supporter of various charities. Can you identify this beautiful blonde who stole the hearts of both George Harrison and Eric Clapton? FYI it is not “Layla”!
The answer appears below. If you don’t know the answer, no worries; perhaps you’d like to share one of your favorite George Harrison or Eric Clapton songs (videos always welcome).
Todayâs post was a little bit longer than usual so thanks for sticking around. Join me next week In The Groove for another great tune.
The first time I heard this song, I was driving down a deserted highway in northern New York. I was immediately drawn to this piece and had to pull over to listen.
No babble today, no statistics; if you want them, theyâre all available on Wikipedia.
Just sit back and enjoy the brilliance of Carlos Santana. This is âEuropaâ.
Iâm blown away every time I hear this piece. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
You’re all probably too chill at the moment to do any deep thinking so I’m going to make today’s question an easy one:
What was Santana’s first big hit? Easy, right?
I wonder how many of you have had a similar experience while driving? One other time I got so caught up in“Dance Of the Furies” by Christoph Gluck (YouTube it) that I got my one and only speeding ticket! Music has a way of transporting us to another level; for me it was beyond the speed limit!
Letâs catch up At The Movies on Thursday. Don’t forget to see were Deb is taking us tomorrow. Have a great day!
Okay, weâre gonna turn the heat up just a bit here and really get In The Groove.
When this song first came out in September of 1972, I was a newlywed of exactly three months with nothing but loving on my mind. I thought this was possibly the sexiest, most titillating and steamy song Iâd ever heard.
Please excuse me, Pete, but Iâm stealing a page from your playbook and doing a cover version of this song by my favorite duo of all time â Hall and Oates, the most successful pair in music history (yes, even more successful than Simon & Garfunkel).
Why a cover and not the original when the original is an excellent recording? Two words: Daryl Hall. Fifty-plus years after seeing him on MTV, I still âhave a thing going onâ for Daryl Hall so please allow me this one indulgence.
Turn down the lights, pour the wine and light the candles; here now are Hall and Oates doing a live performance of âMe and Mrs. Jonesâ.
Oh, my goodness! What can I say? I got a thing for “blue-eyed soul”.
Back to the business at hand. Itâs time for the question of the day. Once again, you either know this or you donât.
Who was the performer who originally sang âMe and Mrs. Jonesâ in 1972?
Iâll have the answer for you next week.
To refresh your memory, hereâs the question of the day from last week:
In my little blurb before the video, I tossed out the name of another great song written by George Harrison. Did you notice it?
The song is “Cheer Down” and the title came from a little thing George’s wife Olivia used to say to him. Whenever he was starting to get all caught up in something and needing reining in, she’d say “Cheer down, big guy”. I like that; nicer than “Cool your jets!”.
I hope you enjoyed todayâs sultry number here In The Groove. Join me next week when things will be very different.
Welcome back to Name That Tune. To all who observe this day, I wish you a very Happy Easter.
I don’t want to talk about this song; I’d rather just cut to the chase and listen to my favorite rocker … but first, letâs see if you can guess the song, the composers and perhaps even the performer. I’m rooting for you!
Keeping in mind the historical religious events which led up to today, here are your five clues:
This song is featured prominently in a Broadway show and film which both achieved international success.
The setting for this song is at night in a garden where an indecisive and troubled man is asking his father a soul-searching question.
This song is just one of 23 which were written and conceived as an album before the show was created or staged. The album was released October 27, 1970; almost one year to the day the show opened on Broadway October 12, 1971.
The singer on the original album was the frontman for one of the biggest rock groups to come out of England. Because the group was on the top of the musical world at the time, the singer was unable to join either the production on Broadway in 1971 or the film in 1973. On the album, the singer portrays the lead character.
The music was composed by one of the most famous British writing duos in the industry.
Any ideas? Well, cogitate on it a bit then scroll down for the big reveal.
Did you figure it out? If you said “Easter Parade” you’re wrong! Sorry, just having a bit of fun.
Now for the correct answer:
In keeping with the holiday, here is “Gethsemane” (âI Only Want to Sayâ) from Jesus Christ Superstar, music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, sung by Ian Gillan, lead singer of the rock group Deep Purple, in the role of Jesus.
There have been other singers since Ian Gillan who tackled the role of Jesus but none came close to this original recording and his incredible voice.
For those of you who thought the answer was “Easter Parade”, here’s a video from the movie of the same name. If you’re a musical buff, you’ll enjoy Judy Garland and Fred Astaire singing “Easter Parade” (often mistakenly called “Easter Bonnet”) from the 1948 movie.
Thanks for joining me today; I hope you had a good time playing Name That Tune.
Get out your spandex pants, shine those platform shoes and polish up your glitter balls; we’re heading to Studio 54 cos itâs time for some DISCO!
âStayinâ Aliveâ was written in 1977 by the Bee Gees and was the second single from the âSaturday Night Feverâ movie soundtrack. In 2004, âStayinâ Aliveâ was placed at #189 on the list of Rolling Stoneâs 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It became one of the Bee Geesâ most recognizable and beloved signature songs.
Since my goal is to bring you only the best quality videos I can find, the one today is from the movie âSaturday Night Feverâ. I thought the Bee Geesâ official video was visually unappealing but you can check it out for yourself on YouTube.
Here now are the Bee Gees singing and Travolta dancing! Enjoy “Stayin’ Alive”!
Check out those dance moves! Travolta was so young and skinny! How many of you knew he was a dancer before he became an actor?
The question of the day will appeal to trivia buffs (or those of you with great memories). Here we go:
We already know that John Travolta was the star of the movie. What was his character’s name?
The answer will appear here next week.
Here is the question from last week: Noel Harrisonâs father was a very famous actor who starred in many different types of movies. Can you name this famous Englishman and any of the musical movies he made?
The answer is Rex Harrison whose musicals include “My Fair Lady”, “Doctor Dolittle” and “Anna and the King of Siam” (“The King and I”). Thanks for playing along!
Thatâs a wrap, folks. Catch you next time At The Movies.
Howâs everybody doing? Hope you got your groove on for a little rock today because weâre featuring one of the biggest groups to come out of England â Queen!
âBohemian Rhapsodyâ was first made for Queenâs 1975 album, âA Night At the Operaâ. Written by Freddie Mercury, the song is the groupâs greatest hit. It officially became the most streamed song in December 2018, having been downloaded or streamed almost 2 billion times.
Mercuryâs premature death in 1991 shocked the music world but the bandâs legacy is as strong today as it has ever been.
Letâs not get all bogged down with statistics and numbers; letâs just cut to the chase and play some Queen. Check your speakers and turn up the volume cos this is âBohemian Rhapsodyâ!
Itâs fair to say that actor Rami Malek absolutely nailed his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in the movie âBohemian Rhapsodyâ; the Oscar he won for his role attests to that. But imagine if he hadnât had the chance to play the part. Imagine if the producers had cast someone else. Hereâs our question of the day:
Hollywood is calling you every day and producers are banging on your door. They want to make a movie about YOU and the story of your life! Cool, right? The pressure is really on now. If you were in charge of casting the movie of YOUR life, who would you choose to play YOU? I can’t wait to see these answers!
Well that does it for todayâs edition of In The Groove. I hope you had a blast! Looking forward to Tuesday for another great song and video.
Have a terrific week and donât forget to catch Deb’s post tomorrow here at The Rhythm Section.
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