The Motown Sound has something extra-special about it. Berry Gordy, Jr. knew people would be listening on their car stereos and transistor radios and he was going to do what it took to make songs sound good and memorable. Even if you couldnβt put your finger on it, when a Motown song came on, baby, you knew it. Still do.
Motownβs first great girl group, TheMarvelettes, consisted of four school friends who were only 14 and 15 years old; some of their early hits were written by the girls themselves. When I was 14, I was busy practicing writing my signature as Mrs. George Harrison! What were you doing at 14?
“Please Mr. Postman”, recorded in 1961, was one of the first #1 singles by an all-female vocal group and is easily Motownβs best single to date β a song with a killer tune and a lyrical hook which listeners around the world instantly latched on to.
Despite their successful start, the group was eclipsed in popularity by the Supremes, with whom they shared an intense rivalry. The Marvelettes made a comeback in 1966 with several hits but struggled and stopped performing together in 1969. The group disbanded for good in 1970.
Kudos to TheMarvelettes for paving the way for future girl groups!
Here now is the fantastic sound ofΒ βPlease Mr. PostmanβΒ by TheΒ Marvelettesβ with a young Marvin Gaye playing the drums.
And this is what was on the B Side: βSo Long Babyβ
Thanks for joining me today for a dose of Monday Motown Magic.
Otis sensed it before Sam even heard it β tires crunching through the snow slowly approaching the dinerβs driveway. The black lab growled, knowing instinctively it wasnβt Deb and the kids; it was much too early. They werenβt due back until around 10:00. Besides, Otis would have recognized the sound of Debβs Jeep.
But there was one definitive reason why Otis knew it wasnβt Deb and the kids returning from their ski trip; Deb never drove in the dark with her lights off.
The instant Sam heard the vehicle, a knot started forming in his gut. βItβs ok, boyβ he whispered soothingly to Otis while reaching for the service revolver he kept hidden in the cupboard and slipped it into the pocket of his Washington Wizards sweatshirt. Sam squinted in the darkness at the LED clock on the dinerβs microwave β 5:10AM β too early, even for diehard customers. Tapping at his other pocket, Sam was reassured knowing his cell phone was there.
Careful not to knock over anything that would make noise, Sam quickly strode to the window and with one finger eased back the curtain ever so slightly. In the bleak pre-dawn hours he could barely make out the shape of a hulking SUV parked outside the diner. This was not just a business to Sam and Deb; the spacious second floor was home to them and their kids. If anyone tried to break in or cause harm, Sam took it very personally.
Otis growled again; Sam hushed the skittish dog and together they crept back to the counter and slid behind it. Sam fingered the gun in his pocket; he was ready if it came to that.
Footsteps on the front stairs were followed by a quick rap on the window. Otis was more nervous than ever and Sam spoke softly to him while slipping him a treat to keep him quiet. One more rap on the window, then the front door handle jiggled. Then jiggled again, this time with attitude. Sam decided he needed to go on the offensive.
βWeβre closedβ he called out. βIf you need help, the police stationβs just down the road. I can call them.β
βNo need for that, champβ came a voice from the other side of the door. βI just ended my shift there. Saw a car leaving your parking lot and wanted to make sure everything was ok.β
βThanks, weβre fine.β Sam replied through the door. Something about the way this guy said βchampβ made the hair on his arms stand up.
βHey, itβs my job. Iβd feel better if you let me take a look aroundβ declared the guy outside.
βAnd Iβd feel better if you showed me some I.D. Just slip it under the door.β
βNo problem, champ.β A shiny laminated wallet-size rectangle slid across the floor.
Glancing to make sure the deadbolt on the front door was secure, Sam quickly retrieved the card and checked it out in the glow of his cell. The I.D. confirmed the guy was a trooper and the photo staring back proved what Sam feared β this guy was no stranger.
βSon of a bitch! Dan McGinty!β
The same Dan McGinty from New York. Sam could never forget his brother officer from their days in the NYPD. A dirty cop, that piece of scum almost got Sam and his partner Frank killed in an ambush. Their testimony at Danβs trial helped get a conviction but Frank would never walk again. What was McGinty doing out of jail and out here in the boonies? How the hell did he ever land a job as a state trooper? Sam had a really bad feeling about this.
Otis sprang to his feet, jolting Sam out of his momentary reverie. The black lab stared in the direction of the kitchen and growled loudly. And Sam knew. In the stillness of the early morning he heard that familiar voice behind him.
βHey, champ. Been a real long time.β
It was the last thing Sam heard before the room went black.
The theme today at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday is to write about a duet(s) featuring two prominent performers.
Three years ago, Sir Tom Jones β¦. quite possibly the Sexiest Man Ever β¦. and Helene Fischer β¦. Die KΓΆnigin der deutschen Popmusik (The Queen of German Pop Music) β¦. got together on Heleneβs show where the duo put on an unforgettable performance that has been viewed over 21 million times on YouTube. Backed by a brass band and a dazzling stage show, they treated the audience to a seductive duet, proving that Tom Jonesβ voice is still worthy of the halls of fame. Even in his 80s, Tom is leaving fans in awe with his unbelievably strong and silky smooth voice. Not many performers can stand up to that.
Helene Fischer became one of the most popular musical artists in Germany after making her recording debut in 2006. She consistently racked up hits in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland before her 2013 album βFarbenspielβ (βPlay of Colorsβ) became one of the most successful in German history. She followed it with still more number one records, including a four-week stay at the top of the album chart with 2017’s βHelene Fischerβ.
Today’s song was released in 1999 in several European countries; the following year it was issued across the rest of Europe where the track served as the second single from Jones’ 34th album, βReloadβ. Commercially, it reached number one in France and Switzerland while becoming a top-three hit in Austria, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom.
Here is the Sexiest Man Ever along with the Queen of German Pop Music with their sizzling duet, βSex Bombβ.
LYRICS
Spy on me, baby, use satellite Infrared to see me move through the night Aim, gonna fire, shoot me right I’m gonna like the way, the way that you fight
Now you found the secret code I use To wash away my lonely blues And I can’t deny or lie ‘Cause you’re the only one who makes me fly
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And you can give it to me when I need to be turned on Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And, baby, you can turn, turn me on (woo)
Hey!
Don’t get me wrong, ain’t gonna do you no harm This bomb’s for lovin’, you can shoot it far I’m your main target, come and help me ignite Lovestruck, holding you tight
Make me explode, although you know The route to go to sex me slow Yes, I must react to claims of those Who say that you are not all that
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And you can give it to me when I need to come along Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And, baby, you can turn me on (yeah)
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And you can give it to me when I need to come along Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And, baby, you can turn me on (oh right)
You can give me more and more, counting up the score You can turn me upside down and inside out You can make me feel the real deal I can give it to you any time because you’re mine
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And you can give it to me when I need to come along Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And, baby, you can turn me, baby, you can turn me on
Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb And you can give it to me when I need to come along Sex bomb, sex bomb, you’re my sex bomb Baby, you can turn me on
Baby, you can turn me on And, baby, you can turn me on Baby, you can turn me on And, baby, you can turn me on
βEuropa (Earthβs Cry, Heavenβs Smile)β Written by: Santana/Coster Recorded: 1976 Producer: David Rubinson Engineer(s): David Rubinson, Fred Catero Assistant Engineer: Susie Foote
Released: March 26, 1976
Available on: Amigos
Personnel: Carlos Santana β lead guitar Neal Schon β rhythm guitar David Brown β bass Greg Rolie β keyboards Michael Schrieve β drums Armando Peraza β percussion Jose Chepito Areas β timbales
Upon seeing a friend suffering a bad experience while high on mescaline, Santana composed a piece titled “The Mushroom Lady’s Coming to Town“. This precursor contained the first lick to “Europa“. The piece was put away and not touched for some time. When Santana was touring with Earth, Wind & Fire in Manchester, England, he played the tune, this time with songwriter Tom Coster who helped him with some of the chords, and a new song was born. It was renamed as “Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile)”.
The track was featured in the 2004 film βShall We Dance?β and has become one of Santanaβs most beloved songs with its combination of Latin rhythms, blues and jazz influences.
This is Santana with βEuropaβ
May your Saturday be smooth sailing. Thanks for stopping by.
It was Friday night and my paycheck was burning a hole in my pocket. As it turns out, my on again/off again boyfriend, Jagger, was off again so I was free as the proverbial bird. Just as well; I was getting tired of the slouch anyway. But it was New Yearβs Eve 1946 and I didnβt want to be alone.
Anxious to hit the tables and ring in the new year, I got myself all dolled up in an outfit that was quite possibly illegal in 33 states β a lowcut slinky little black number with a high side slit, silk stockings with lacy garters and red satin stilettos. Maybe Iβd run into a high roller ready, willing and monetarily able to treat me to a bourbon, a thick juicy steak and a slice of pie a la mode.
I grabbed a taxi to the casino, the driver giving me the once-over in the rearview. I wasnβt interested in any two-bit palooka so I played it cool. Averting my eyes, I glanced out the window, snuggled deeper into my fur coat and lit a Chesterfield. The smoke encircled my head and my bright red lipstick left a perfect kiss around the filter.Β
When we arrived, I tossed a fiver at the cabbie and stepped out onto the sidewalk. The staccato of my heels alerted the man in black .β¦ Special Agent Sam Bishop.
βEvening, Candace. Youβre looking angelic, if you donβt mind my saying. I donβt suppose youβve heard from Jagger.β
Sixty-two years after the Beatles released βLove Me Doβ β the first of many songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney β their offspring have come together to bring back their tune-making magic.
Sean Ono Lennon and James McCartney have joined forces on a song cowritten by them and released by McCartney called βPrimrose Hillβ. Named for a public park in London, this is the first-ever collaboration by Lennon & McCartney, Part 2. And if any song could sound just like taking a bittersweet stroll in the park with nothing but longing memories, then this one pretty much captures it.
Thereβs instantly something familiar about it but it never seems to fall into Beatles mimicry. Nor does it ever reach the heights of Beatles transcendence β¦. I mean, how could it?
Let me know what you think of this rebirth of Beatles music.
This is “Primrose Hill”, co-written by Lennon & McCartney, 2nd Generation.
Thereβs something very comforting about Montauk; itβs steeped in tradition, averse to change.
Case in point: the Montauk Shirt Shop which never changed its inventory β¦. and that was just fine. People popped in to get their mandatory summer vacation t-shirt …. not the latest fashion craze.
Things just weren’t the same after the familiar shop was renovated featuring a new step-up, almost exclusive section with high-end merchandise and souvenirs no one wanted. We looked around the new area once; it was overpriced and a bit too chi-chi for the sleepy fishing village.
This is the Stones with βMemory Motelβ, located on 27 East in Montauk, NY right across the street from the old diner and the t-shirt store. In my younger days I’d go to the bar at the Memory Motel and may or may not have caught a glimpse of Mick and Keith mingling very comfortably with the locals. It was a simpler time, no big deal, ya know?
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There wonβt be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures β just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Paul A. Rothchild (Record Producer) Born April 18, 1935 inBrooklyn, New York
Written for Glynβs Mixed Music Bag #16,where we are asked to write abouta song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter G or H.
Besides my husband, during my lifetime Iβve been madly in love with three other men: βGeorge Harrison, Daryl Hall and Rick Springfield. They were all so very talented, gorgeous and sexy! I would cut out their pictures from music magazines, make scrapbooks, hang posters in my bedroom and mail them letters. My missives were never answered but Iβm sure thatβs only because they were so busy making music. I would imagine myself as Mrs. Harrison or Hall or Springfield, which got weird because by the time Daryl Hall and Rick Springfield were dominating the billboard charts I had been married for about 10 years! Things could have gotten strained between me and my husband during that time but they didn’t because heβs a very understanding, realistic man and didnβt feel threatened at all. It also didnβt hurt that I had about as much chance of meeting Daryl or Rick as I did winning the Miss Universe pageant.
Well, dear George has passed away but Daryl and Rick are very much alive and I bet theyβre kicking themselves for not answering my letters seeing as how Iβm now such a bigshot storyteller, poet and music blogger! I saw Rick recently on TV and I must say I was shocked; maybe it was the lighting but he really hasnβt aged well and someone should gift him with a jar of Crepe Erase. But Daryl is another story; he still sounds fantastic, looks gorgeous and is one big hunk of burning love. And whatβs more β¦. Darylβs Garage where he does live shows and podcasts is 90 minutes from where I live and his house in Connecticut is only one hour away. (We stalkers fans have to stay on top of things like that!) I just might get my βI β€οΈ Daryl Hall Tank Topβ autographed after all!
Since the letters for Glynβs April MMB are G and H, I immediately wrote about George Harrison last week. Unfortunately, Rick Springfield is out of luck and will have to wait another 6 months before I can write about him. But no worries! You can all breathe a sigh of relief because today is all about Daryl Hall (and some other guy named John Oates).
Did you know that Daryl Hall & John Oates are the number-one selling duo in music history? Theyβre bigger than Simon & Garfunkel, Sonny & Cher, Ike & Tina Turner, Sam & Dave, The Righteous Brothers, Loggins & Messina and The Everly Brothers. (The statistics are impressive and are readily available on Wiki, if youβre interested.) During their time together (starting in 1970), they released 18 studio albums and 63 singles. They also broke up their act and got back together numerous times until October 2022 when they officially called it quits; sadly, they are currently in the middle of an ugly legal battle. But what sweet music they made together!
Some of you may recall that I wrote about this song a while back for Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday; it’s just so nice, I had to feature it twice! You may also remember that the original singer of this song is a guy named Billy Paul who recorded his song in 1972. So why feature a cover of someone else’s song and not an original Hall & Oates song? Because it’s a great song and after all these years, I still βhave a thing going onβ for Daryl Hall.
For all the obvious reasons, here is my pick of the day by Hall & Oates β¦. from 2003 it’s βMe And Mrs. Jonesβ.
Well, no offense John Oates, but threeβs a crowd and for me thereβs only room for Daryl. Heβs certainly come a long way and still has plenty of mileage left in a career thatβs taken him from the streets of Philly to the halls of R&R in Cleveland. And the best is yet to come β¦. especially for me. My hubby, who isn’t the least bit threatened by the likes of Daryl Hall, is taking me to see him live, up-close and personal at the Mohegan Sun arena in July! Now, I just need to find that old tank top …. and you better believe I will wear it!
Thanks to Glyn for another great Mixed Music Bag and thank you for stopping by.
See you on the flip side. π
PS: I almost forgot! For all you purists reading this right now, I simply could not leave without playing one Hall & Oates original; after all, they are the #1 selling duo in music history! This song debuted on the Billboard Top 40Β on February 5, 1977 at #38 and by the end of March it had become Hall & Oates’ first of six #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.Β At the end of 1977,Β BillboardΒ ranked it as the 23rd biggest hit of the year.Β From the album Bigger Than Both Of Us, here is Hall & Oates’ first #1 hit, “Rich Girl”.
When little Summer was just a few days old, her mother Laura started the tradition of sitting with her in the nursery to read stories before bed; in the corner of the nursery was an old floor lamp that used to belong to Lauraβs grandparents, Momma and Poppy, and it filled the nursery with a soft, soothing glow.
As a little girl, Laura spent a lot of time with Momma and Poppy and the three of them developed a deep and loving bond so when Momma and Poppy passed away, the one thing Laura asked for was the floor lamp which was in the bedroom of their house where little Laura napped; now, each night Laura would tell baby Summer all about her beloved Momma and Poppy.
This one particular night as Laura and Summer were sitting in the nursery, the glow from the floor lamp caught the babyβs attention and she was captivated by it, something Laura thought was a sweet connection, especially since the lamp originally belonged to Momma and Poppy, Summerβs great-grandparents, but then Laura noticed a pattern developing, a pattern that would repeat two or three times most nights at Summer’s bedtime where the baby would gaze calmly and quietly at the lamp, then slowly begin to coo, gurgle and giggle for a few minutes before becoming animated β smiling, eyes glowing, arms waving, laughing and babbling loudly β then back again to quietness but still very much attracted to and aware of the lamp …. even when the floor lamp was off, Summer was attracted to it.
One afternoon when Summer was around 3 years old, Laura heard her talking and laughing, just like she did when playing with her stuffed animals, and when Laura peeked into Summer’s room expecting to find her little girl on the bed, she was surprised to see her in the big over-stuffed chair where Laura read bedtime stories; the floor lamp was lit and Summer appeared to be having a happy and lively conversation β not with her stuffed animals but with the lamp.
When Laura asked Summer who she was so happily talking to, the little girl was quick to reply βMomma and Poppy, of course; canβt you see them, Mommy?β
Laura caught her breath for a moment but she was not completely shocked for she knew Momma and Poppyβs lamp was special β the very reason Laura wanted it in her own home, but she didnβt realize how special it was; Laura never tried to stop Summer from talking to the lamp for she truly believed the spirits of Momma and Poppy were presentand Summer’s conversations with them were real …. and who are we to say they werenβt. πͺ½
One of the biggest hits in 1970 for the Canadian group The Guess Who was a song that seemingly warned against getting involved with American women. However, songwriter Burton Cummings said that it was simply his way of saying he preferred Canadian girls. Whatever the meaning, Lenny Kravitz tapped into the songβs magnetism and added some guitar theatrics in his 1999 remake that has since become a cover version that stands alongside the original. The song was, of course, “American Woman”.
The single version by The Guess Who reached #1 and held on for three weeks on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM magazine singles chart. Kravitz covered the song for the soundtrack of βAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me”. When it was released as a single, it reached #49 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The Guess Who joined Kravitz and his band for a live performance of “American Woman” at the 1999 MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto.
From 1970, here are The Guess Who with βAmerican Womanβ
And this is how it sounded when Lenny Kravitz released his version in 1999.
Thatβs todayβs Twofer Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by.
Written for Quadrille Monday dVerse Poets Pub; De Jackson is asking us to create a 44-word poem using the word βFriday”. My poem is a Dectina Refrain: 1st line is 1 syllable, 2nd line is 2 syllables 3rd line is 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines; the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines as one stand-alone sentence.
Our Friday night dinner we wait all week to sit on the couch and eat sexy pizza with cheese like hot melted love, gooey and deliciously good, and we drink tall glasses of red wine. Our Friday night dinner we wait all week
The Motown Sound has something extra-special about it. Berry Gordy, Jr. knew people would be listening on their car stereos and transistor radios and he was going to do what it took to make songs sound good and memorable. Even if you couldnβt put your finger on it, when a Motown song came on, baby, you knew it. Still do.
Smokey Robinson was the lead singer of a band called The Miracles …. five teenaged friends from Detroit, Michigan. He produced, wrote and sang several of Motown’s most memorable hits including the label’s first smash song, “Shop Around” in 1960. A year later, “Please Mr. Postman”, by The Marvelettes, was the label’s first No. 1 song. It would not be the last.
Letβs begin todayβs musical journey withΒ The MiraclesβΒ first smash hit β a song about a mother giving advice to her grown son on how to find a woman worthy of being a girlfriend or wife.
From 1960, Β written by Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, hereβs βShop AroundβΒ byΒ The Miracles.
And this is what was on the B side β βWhoβs Lovinβ You”. Thatβs right β¦. this was not originally done by the Jackson 5!
Thanks for joining me today for Monday Motown Magic.
In the fall of 2017, Kevin Spacey’s life and his astronomical career in acting, writing, directing and production (and more) came crashing down with devastating swiftness and near Shakespearean consequences. The reason: sexual assault allegations from 30 years ago.
On October 29, 2017, actor Anthony Rapp alleged that Spacey, while appearing intoxicated, made a sexual advance toward him at a party in 1986, when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26. Spacey stated on Twitter that he did not remember the encounter, but that he owed Rapp “the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior” if he had behaved as asserted.
Almost three years later, on September 9, 2020, Rapp sued Spacey for sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress under the Child Victims Act.Β In the subsequent federal civil court proceeding, a jury found that Spacey did not molest Rapp and was found not liable on all counts, with Rapp subsequently ordered by the court to pay Spacey $39,089 in damages.
Fifteen other accusers emerged from the woodwork and jumped on the bandwagon alleging similar abuse. The Guardian was contacted by “a number of people” who alleged that Spacey “groped and behaved in an inappropriate way with young men” while he was artistic director of The Old Vic theatre.
On the same day as Rapp’s allegations against him, Kevin Spacey came out as gay when apologizing to Rapp. His decision to come out via his statement was criticized by gay celebrities as an attempt to change the subject and shift focus from Rapp’s accusation, for using his own drunkenness as an excuse for making a sexual advance on a minor and for implying a connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse. Spacey expressed regret over the way he came out and said that it was “never his intention” to deflect from the allegations against him or conflate them with his sexual orientation.
Amid the allegations, filming was suspended on the sixth and final season ofΒ House of Cards starring Kevin Spacey. His livelihood, public acceptance, reputation, peace of mind and very existence was hanging by an excruciatingly slender thread.
As Rapp’s trial lawsuit against Spacey commenced in October 2022, it was revealed Rapp had given an inaccurate description of the apartment where he alleged the abuse took place.Β The judge dismissed the emotional-distress charges as a “duplicate” of the battery charges and a jury found Spacey not liable of all charges.
On May 26, 2022, Spacey was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the UK with four counts of sexual assault against three complainants which were said to have taken place between 2005 and 2013 in Gloucestershire and London. According to the CPS, it would be possible to formally charge Spacey only if he entered England or Wales either voluntarily or through an extradition request. In a statement to Good Morning America on May 31, 2022, Spacey said he would “voluntarily appear in the UKβ.
In his first British court appearance, on June 16, Spacey denied the allegations against him.Β On July 14, he pleaded not guilty to the charges in London.Β During the hearings, the complainant gave conflicting reports, false information regarding deleted text messages on his phone and eventually refused to answer any other questions, invoking the Fifth Amendment. On November 16, the CPS authorized an additional seven charges against Spacey, all related to a single complainant arising from incidents alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2004.Β Three charges were dismissed before or during the trial, which began on June 28, 2023, and, on July 26, 2023, a jury found Kevin Spacey not guilty of the remaining nine charges.
Kevin Spacey has received countless accolades, including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award and two Laurence Olivier Awards. He was named an honorary Commander and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2010 and 2015, respectively.
Kevin Spaceyβs brother, Randy Fowler, has stated that their father was sexually, physically and emotionally abusive and that young Kevin shut down emotionally and became “very sly and smart” to avoid beatings. Spacey addressed the matter in October 2022, saying that his father was a white supremacist and a neo-Nazi who beat him regularly and called him derogatory names, including ‘faggot‘. Spacey stated that the abuse at the hands of his father caused him to become extremely private about his personal life which, in turn, resulted in him choosing not to come out as gay earlier in his life.
The following video aired prior to Kevin Spaceyβs hearings in the UK where he was found not guilty of all charges. There are other videos available for viewing on YouTube if you so desire. I went with this one, choosing to avoid the sleazy and salacious nature of βentertainment newsβ.
This next video is a clip from the movie βBeyond The Seaβ with Kevin Spacey portraying Bobby Darin. Spacey did all his own singing which is rather impressive. I could have gone with songs like βMack The Knifeβ or βBeyond The Seaβ but the name of this video tickled my funny bone.
Here is Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin singing βDream Loverβ.
The theme today at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday is to write about songs with the words βhot, burning, fire or blazingβ.
If reports in recent years are to be believed, former JourneyΒ singer Steve PerryΒ and keyboardist Jonathan CainΒ donβt have much of a personal relationship anymore, but when they first met nearly 43 years ago, the situation was very different.
Journey, originally known as the Golden Gate Rhythm Section, was formed in San Francisco in 1973; the name was officially changed to Journey in 1975, shortly after signing with Columbia Records. The band’s early sound was influenced by jazz and fusion music. They gradually shifted towards a more pop-oriented sound in the late 1970s. Steve Perry joined Journey as their lead vocalist in 1977 and became one of the band’s most recognizable members. Jonathan Cain was hired in January 1981 and it wasnβt long before he and Perry began writing together.
One of the first things they did was a song called βWhoβs Crying Now.β Steve Perry said the chorus popped into his head while driving to Los Angeles, which he recorded on his mini cassette player. Once Steve Perry arrived in LA, he went straight to Jonathan Cain’s house to play his work in progress. Perry had come up with most of the melodies and rhythms but was stumped on the lyrics. Perry said, βJonathan just like zeroed in on it. We had the beginning, we had the middle, he helped do the lyrics with me .β¦ and it was done!β
“Who’s Crying Now” tells the sad and age-old tale of good love gone bad. The song, the first single from Journey’s album Escape, helped the LP achieve sales of over nine million copies. The song charted at #46 in the UK Singles Chart, the band’s highest charting single in the UK until “Don’t Stop Believin'”. Billboard praised “Who’s Crying Now” as one of Journey’s “strongest and classiest records” and one of the most appealing love songs of 1981. Escape remains their only #1 album.
In 1996, Steve Perry suffered a hip injury while hiking in Hawaii and was unable to perform. The diagnosis was degenerative bone disease and a hip replacement was required but Perry was reluctant to rush into the surgery and touring was postponed indefinitely. While Perry kept putting off the inevitable surgery, the other members of the band waited nearly 17 months after the initial diagnosis before presenting him with an ultimatum: If he did not undergo hip replacement surgery so the tour could proceed upon his recovery, the band would hire a replacement singer. Still hesitant to undergo surgery, and now upset at his bandmates, Perry announced in 1988 that he was permanently leaving Journey.Β No one loves the idea of surgery but Steve Perry made a big mistake making his band mates wait so long.
The position of lead singer went to Steve Augeri who was then sidelined with a chronic throat infection. The very hard-working singer-musician-songwriter Jeff Scott Soto temporarily stepped into the role of lead singer until Arnel Pineda signed on as frontman in 2007. Pineda, a vocalist for a Filipino cover band, was hired as a result of a video he posted on YouTube and is still Journey’s current lead vocalist. Hey …. sometimes you just gotta give it a shot!
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Journey has sold 52 million albums in the US, making them the 11th-best selling band. Their worldwide sales have reached over 100 million records globally, making them one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time. A 2005 USA Today opinion poll named Journey the fifth-best US rock band in history. In 2017 Journey was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They are without a doubt a truly great band and, IMO, Steve Perry’s voice is one of the best in the business.
Thanks for hanging with me at Jim’s place.
See you on the flip side. π
Now let’s listen to “Who’s Crying Now” and Steve Perry’s phenomenal voice. From 1981salbum Escape, this is Journey.
Lyrics
It’s been a mystery But still they try to see Why something good can hurt so bad Caught on a one-way street The taste of bittersweet Love will survive somehow, somewhere
One love, feeds thefire One heart, burns desire I wonder who’s crying now? Two hearts, born to run Who’ll be the lonely one? I wonder who’s crying now?
So many stormy nights So many wrong or rights Neither could change their headstrong ways And in a lover’s rage They turn another page The fighting is worth the love they save
One love, feeds the fire One heart, burns desire I wonder who’s crying now? Two hearts, born to run Who’ll be the lonely one? I wonder who’s crying now?
Only so many tears you can cry ‘Til the heartache is over And now you can say your love Will never die
Whoa ooh ooh, ooh ooh
One love, feeds the fire One heart, burns desire I wonder who’s crying now? Two hearts, born to run Who’ll be the lonely one? I wonder who’s crying now?
Lead Vocal, Composer, Lyricist: Steve Perry Background Vocal, Keyboards, Composer, Lyricist: Jonathan Cain Background Vocal, Bass: Ross Valory Background Vocal, Guitar: Neal Schon Drums: Steve Smith Producer(s): Mike Stone, Kevin Elson Engineer: Wally Buck
Writing about the death of my husbandβs twin brother has been a huge outlet for me. It has helped me and Bill to grieve in a way I never experienced before. I am forever grateful to you β¦. my dear friends, my readersβ¦. for your patient understanding and acceptance. I am humbled by the outpouring of love, sympathy and comfort. Now itβs time to move forward. With all my heart, thank you. ~ Nancyβ‘
βNorwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)β Written by: Lennon-McCartney Recorded: October 1965 Producer: George Martin Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: December 3, 1965 (UK), December 6, 1965 (US)
Available on: Rubber Soul Anthology 2
Personnel: John Lennon β vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar Paul McCartney β harmony vocals, bass George Harrison β sitar, 12-string acoustic guitar Ringo Starr β bass drum, tambourine
The first time George Harrison saw a sitar was on the set of Help; a group of Indian musicians had been recruited to add an authentic ambiance to the restaurant scenes. Back in London after the filming, George found a store called Indian Goods; inside was an inexpensive sitar which he bought and began playing around with. While recording βNorwegian Woodβ, George felt it needed something in addition to the guitars. He picked up his sitar and βjust sort of found the notesβ. When the recording was played back, everyone agreed the sitar brought the whole piece together.
From 1965βs Rubber Soul, here are the Beatles with βNorwegian Woodβ
Thanks for stopping by. May your Saturday be smooth sailing.
Written for The Unicorn Challenge, where we are asked to write something creative in 250 words or less byusing the photo below for inspiration. This is my story.
The moment we stepped out of our car, the temperature felt like it dropped twenty degrees and a cold wind whipped my black-stockinged legs. We cringed at the frigid slap in the face and huddled deeper into our jackets as we climbed the steps to the church.
We found the seats reserved for us β¦. second pew directly off the center aisle. I clutched my husbandβs hand and felt his body quiver as he raggedly exhaled, desperately trying not to cry. The tears would come, but on his terms.
The pews on both sides of the church were filled with people celebrating a life and mourning a loss. Everything leading to this moment had been a maelstrom of emotions; there are very few things that shake us to our core like a sudden death.
A man appeared at our pew; I recognized him as the manager of the funeral home. He spoke softly to my husband and together they started to walk to the back of the church. I looked up at my husbandβs face and he gave me a sad smile.
There was a heavy silence in the church, mourners sitting side-by-side lost in a fog of grief. Had someone played us the cruelest joke?
As one, the pallbearers heaved the casket onto their shoulders and the organ began to play. That’s when I saw my husband walking behind his brotherβs coffin, our widowed sister-in-law on his arm, and there were tears.
The son of Bob Dylan shares what his father has passed on to him and what heβs passing on to his children β¦. his passion for great songs.
Jakob Luke DylanΒ was born in New York City on December 9, 1969 to Bob Dylan and Sara Lownds. He began is music career in various indie bands before rising to fame as the lead singer and primary songwriter for the rock band The Wallflowers. He has written hit songs such as β6th Avenue Heartacheβ and βOne Headlightβ, which is listed at #58 on Rolling Stoneβs list of the “100 Greatest Pop Songs”, and for which he won two Grammy Awards. More recently, Jakob Dylan has released two solo albums β βSeeing Thingsβ and βWomen + Countryβ; the latter became Dylan’s highest-charting album since The Wallflowers’ 1996 breakthrough βBringing Down The Horse“, peaking at #12 on the Billboard 200.Β
This is Jakob Dylan and The Wallflowers with βOne Headlightβ
After the wake, a few of us went back to our sister-in-lawβs house. A question tap-danced in my brain: now that my husbandβs brother was dead, was his widow still our sister-in-law or will she eventually be erased from the familial slate, ties severed, connections lost?
The room which they call βthe officeβ was a confusion of books, photo albums and memorabilia piled high like Babel.
Flipping through yellowed snapshots, we spotted her, the widow, in every image β¦. halcyon days when we all spoke the language of youth and happiness β¦. and my question was answered.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There wonβt be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures β just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Joss Stone Born April 11, 1987 inDover, UK
“Son Of A Preacher Man”
“Midnight Train To Georgia”
“I Put A Spell On You” Jeff Beck featuring Joss Stone
Written for Glynβs Mixed Music Bag #15, where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo artist beginning with the letter G or H.
This was a no-brainer for me; not only does my featured performerβs first name start with the letter G, his last name starts with the letter H. Itβs almost as if I had a sign from the heavens, divine intervention. Yes, as soon as I saw this weekβs MMB challenge, I knew who and what I would write about. And if you know me or follow my blogs then you know, too! As the title of my post says βItβs The (Not So) Quiet Beatleβ so, unless youβve been in a 50-year-long coma or stranded on a desert island since infancy, youβve already figured out that my featured artist today is George Harrison, the multi-talented musician born February 25, 1943 in Liverpool.
George was the youngest of four children born to Harold, a bus conductor, and Louise, a shop assistant. His earliest musical influences included Cab Calloway, Hoagy Carmichael, Carl Perkins, Elmore James and Lonnie Donegan. One day while riding his bicycle, George heard Elvis Presleyβs βHeartbreak Hotelβ playing from a nearby house and the song piqued his interest in Rock & Roll. At first his father was apprehensive about Georgeβs interest in pursuing a music career but he was willing to let his son give it a go. He bought him his first guitar and had one of his friends teach George how to play a couple of old songs; like many others at the time, George started a skiffle* group with his brother and a friend.Β At the age of 14 George met Paul McCartney on the bus to school and the pair bonded over their shared love of music. Paul introduced George to John Lennon and the rest, my friends, is the stuff that dreams are made of. [*a genre of folk music with influences from American folk music, blues, country, bluegrass and jazz]
While thereβs a plethora of songs to choose from Georgeβs days with the Beatles, I will be focusing on a few songs from his prolific solo career. These songs may be lesser known but they will all be fun, clever, amusing and uniquely special β¦. just like George. As he said, βDidnβt want to be a star, wanted just to play guitar in this cockamamie businessβ.
I hope you enjoy my selections today.
Chris OβDell is probably the most well-known woman in Beatledom. Not only did she land a job at Apple Studios, she was an assistant and facilitator to the Beatles and other acts including Derek & the Dominos, the Rolling Stones, Dylan, Santana etc., etc. Besides Freda Kelly (the Beatles’ personal secretary), Chris O’Dell knew more about the guys in the band than their own wives. She was on the roof during that famous concert; not just anyone got invited to the roof! You had to be really popular and Chris O’Dell had that market cornered as a super-groupie, something she proudly wrote about in her bio. She was such a favorite among the rock stars, she had songs written about her …. like this one which George Harrison wrote in Los Angeles in April 1971 while waiting for OβDell to ‘pay him a visit‘ ππ at his rented home. For whatever reason, she never showed and George wrote a light-hearted number which provides insight into the Los Angeles music scene at the time. Chris OβDell went on to write her memoirs in a book called βMiss OβDellβ, named after Georgeβs song. George recorded several versions of the song but this one is my favorite. The string of numbers you hear George reciting at the end of the song was Paul McCartneyβs actual phone number.
From George Harrison’s album βLiving In A Material Worldβ, this is βMiss OβDellβ. I dare you not to smile.
This next song was George Harrisonβs humorous send-up of the βHeβs So Fineβ/βMy Sweet Lordβ silly little plagiarism court case. The lyrics have a playful reference to the case (βMy expert tells me itβs OKβ) and, at one point, Eric Idle chimes in with some very funny Motown song references. In case youβre not familiar with the legal goings-on, in 1981 George Harrison was ordered to pay $587,000 for βsubconsciously plagiarizingβ the Chiffons’ 1963 hit single βHe’s So Fineβ during the creation of his own song βMy Sweet Lordβ. Harrison reflected in his biography βI wasn’t consciously aware of the similarity to ‘He’s So Fine’.” I don’t think the law suit had much of a negative impact on George’s pocket or popularity.
From 1976 (and featuring a full cast of characters), this is the funny, campy, in-your-face βThis Songβ from George Harrison’s album βThirty Three And 1/3β.
My last song today is from George Harrisonβs 1987 album βCloud Nineβ. βWhen We Was Fabβ, one of the first songs cowritten by George and Jeff Lynne, looks back to his Beatles days and contains various musical and lyrical references to the 1960s, including quotations from songs by Bob Dylan and Smokey Robinson. This beauty of a tune harkens back to several well-know Beatles songs, particularly from their psychedelic period. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is fittingly behind the kit on this recording and is prominently featured in the video. Pay attention to this one; there’s a lot of little things going on that are easy to miss.
From βCloud Nineβ, this is βWhen We Was Fabβ.
I hope you enjoyed a look at a different side of George Harrison …. the funny, sharp-witted, clever and not-so-quiet side that he enjoyed in this cockamamie business.
Thanks to Glyn and his Mixed Music Bag weekly prompts. See you next time.
Written for Six Sentence Story #309; the required word is βcoreβ
John Black always keeps his tools in the finest condition, each one hanging on the rack with incredible precision like soldiers standing at attention, lined up by size depending on his needs, clean, sharp and at the ready at all times.
There are saws that could cut down the largest tree and mallets strong enough to pound huge spikes into boulders, screwdrivers and files of every shape and size, pliers to yank out the longest of nails and wrenches to loosen joints rusted together, planes that could shave off the thinnest slice of wood and blades that could cut through the toughest leather.
John Black scrubs his tools clean after each use so they are gleaming, polished and waiting for his next job, whenever that might be .β¦ every day and into the night β¦. and he is ready, a busy man who never waits to be called, a man who easily finds his own clientele.
John Black is not a carpenter or a plumber, not a roofer or a mason, not a mechanic or a custodian β no, his job is of a different nature, his instruments weapons meant to inflict the most pain a human could endure β for you see, John Black is a psychopath, a stalker of the innocent, a torturer, a murderer; oh, yes, his tools serve him well, sate his sadistic needs and, being an unassuming man, his victims are so very easy to find.
John Black lives nowhere yet everywhere, next to your sister or your daughter or your mother or you, so keep your doors locked and never go out alone, even to check your mailbox or collect your newspaper or to bring in the cat, for he is ever vigilant, constantly at the ready, waiting patiently to show you in the minutest of detail what every last one of his tools can do in the hands of a master.
Come now, donβt look at me like that β¦. Iβm just the storyteller telling the story of John Black whoβs a bad seed, the devilβs spawn, a blot on the escutcheon, a moldering apple, rotten to the core.
Written for the dVerse Prosery Prompt by Amy Woolard: βWhat does it matter that the stars we see are already deadβ
βWhat does it matter that the stars we see are already dead? What does that even mean, Margie?β
βOh, Nell. If I have to explain it to you, it loses its gravitas, its pathos, doesnβt it?β
βGravitas? Pathos? Iβm sorry .β¦ when were you named chief cook, bottlewasher and poet laureate?β
Margie gave her friend a dismissive eye roll before turning her back, busying herself with little scraps of paper on her desk.
There was a time the two were like sisters, cherishing a bond they never found with anyone else. Now they barely recognized each other; their conversations were stilted to the point of being painful.
And it all came down to Nicole, a newcomer in their exclusive inner circle …. a renaissance woman and Margie thought she hung the moon.
βI miss us, Margieβ
Intense silence. Spoken words were never as wounding.
Kris Kristofferson is one of country musicβs most covered songwriters and the most famous instance of the troubadourβs work translating beautifully to another performer is Janis Joplinβs 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 β¦. an embrace of blissed-out guitars, smokey twang and free spirits.Β Without a doubt, Janis Joplin was the most transcendent, mesmerizing, complex yet naΓ―ve 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 βDock Of The Bayβ 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 βMe And Bobby McGeeβ by singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson.
And this is what the song sounded like when Janis Joplin recorded it.
Written for Weekend Writing Prompt #358 ~ Superscript
Just like something out of the evening news.
Did the attractive young woman, a former nurse and mother of one toddler, actually feed her little boy bleach or was it just a dreadful accident?
How could any jury not believe the clean-faced white woman in the proper skirt and blouse as she tearfully recounted the events of that horrific morning?
But they did believe her and only the most perceptible viewer in the courtroom or the living room caught the slightest cold-blooded superscript curl of her top left lip.
The Motown Sound has something extra-special about it. Berry Gordy, Jr. knew people would be listening on their car stereos and transistor radios and he was going to do what it took to make songs sound good and memorable. Even if you couldnβt put your finger on it, when a Motown song came on, baby, you knew it. Still do.
Not every story is a success. The early history of Motown Records is filled with promising newcomers who didn’t find immortality along the lines of the Supremes or the Temptations. A guy with the unlikely name of Henry Lumpkin is one example, a young singer and composer who bore more than a passing resemblance to Chubby Checker physically and Ben E. King vocally. Henry had one good song under his belt β¦. βWhat Is A Man (Without A Woman)β, cowritten by himself and Carolyn Strong, produced by Brian Holland and Robert Bateman. Poor Henry never charted and by the end of 1962 he was off the Motown roster. Mostly forgotten by all but the most hardcore soul enthusiasts, Henry Lumpkin was one of many early Motown discoveries who deserved better than he got, or at least better luck than he found, with his records.
From January 1962, hereβs a funky, gritty dance number by Henry Lumpkin. This is βWhat Is A Man (Without A Woman)β …. an excellent question!
And this is what was on the B side β βDonβt Leave Meβ (cowritten by Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy)
Thanks for joining me today for a little Monday Motown Magic.
