This week at Glyn Wilton’s Mixed Music Bag,
he’s asking us to write about a song in which
the title or a line mentions the current month.
Here’s my November artist and her song.
Tag: Pop
Prince Charming
This week’s challenge at Song Lyric Sunday
is all about nursery rhymes and fairy tales
suggested by Di at pensitivity101.
Let’s go, kids! Pull up a chair.
June – Week Two
This week at Glyn Wilton’s Mixed Music Bag,
he’s asking us to write about a song in which
the title or a line mentions the current month.
Here’s my featured June artists and their song.
That’s Entertainment – Letter R
Welcome back to “That’s Entertainment!” –
The A To Z Challenge.
I hope you enjoy my musical selections.
Let’s see what’s up today!
The Beach Girls
Written for Song Lyric Sunday. This week Jim Adams has
asked his readers in his post “Do It Again” to write about a song
by children of famous singers who also became famous.
This theme was suggested by Barbara (ghostmmnc) at teleportingweena.wordpress.com. This is my choice.
I’m Special, So Special
This is Week 32 of Glyn’s Mixed Music Bag and we are
being asked to choose a song by a group or solo artist
whose name begins with the letters O or P. This is my choice.
Formed in Hereford, England in March 1978 the Pretenders is an English/American rock group with the fabulous Chrissie Hynde behind the mic. The original band was formed by Hynde, who was the main songwriter, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, and included James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Farndon (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Martin Chambers (drums, backing vocals, percussion).
Following the unfortunate deaths of Honeyman-Scott (1982) and Farndon (1983), both due to drugs, the band experienced numerous subsequent personnel changes, with Chrissie Hynde as the only consistent member, and Chambers returning after an absence of several years.
Hynde launched a solo career in 2014; after several years without performing, the Pretenders took to the road again in 2017. Chrissie Hynde and Ray Davies of The Kinks share a daughter, Natalie, born in 1983.
The Pretenders produced numerous hit songs including “Brass in Pocket”, “Back On the Chain Gang” and “Don’t Get Me Wrong”, as well as the 1994 hit “I’ll Stand By You”. Their eponymous debut studio album made the band famous with its combination of punk, rock and pop music. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.
My song today is “Brass In Pocket“.
The phrase “brass in pocket” is British slang for having money in your pants. Chrissie Hynde heard the phrase backstage at one of their gigs in 1978 and immediately liked it. She later used it in the lyrics to their song “Brass In Pocket,” which is about a female singer approaching her first sexual encounter with confidence. The song was a breakthrough for the band and topped the UK charts in early 1980.
“Brass In Pocket” was released as the band’s third single. It was their first big success, reaching #1 on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in January 1980 (making it the first new #1 single of the 1980s), #2 in Australia during May 1980 (for three weeks) and #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It was listed at #389 on Rolling Stone’s “Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” in 2021.
In the official video, Hynde portrays a lonely waitress in a backstreet cafe. The rest of the band play customers who arrive in a large pink 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special. The three guys peruse the menus but are soon joined by their girlfriends. All six then leave the restaurant.
This is “Brass In Pocket” by the Pretenders.
Lyrics
I got brass in a pocket
I got bottle, I’m gonna use it
Intention, I feel inventive
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice
Got motion, restrained emotion
Been driving, Detroit leaning
No reason, just seems so pleasing
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice
Gonna use my arms, gonna use my legs
Gonna use my style, gonna use my sidestep
Gonna use my fingers, gonna use my, my, my
Imagination
‘Cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here, no one like me
I’m special (special)
So special (special)
I gotta have some of your attention, give it to me
I got rhythm, I can’t miss a beat
I got a new skank, so reet
Got something, I’m winking at you
Gonna make you, make you, make you notice
Gonna use my arms, gonna use my legs
Gonna use my style, gonna use my sidestep
Gonna use my fingers, gonna use my, my, my
Imagination
‘Cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here, no one like me
I’m special (special)
So special (special)
I gotta have some of your attention, give it to me
‘Cause I gonna make you see
There’s nobody else here, no one like me
I’m special (special)
So special (special)
I gotta have some of your attention, give it to me
Oh-oh-oh
Anyway you want
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: James Scott / Chrissie Hynd
Brass in Pocket lyrics © Emi Music Publishing, Music Of Big Deal, Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited
Big thanks to Glyn for hosting Mixed Music Bag every week.
Thanks for joining me today and spinning some tunes.
See you on the flip side. 😎
NAR©2024
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.
Fade To Green
Written for Glyn’s Mixed Music Bag week #24 where we are
asked to write about a song by a group or solo singer
beginning with the letters K or L. Here’s my piece.
While many of you will likely be familiar with the song, I think most of you will be hard-pressed to name the group who performed it.
The Lemon Pipers was a 1960s bubblegum/psychedelic pop band from Oxford, Ohio known chiefly for their song “Green Tambourine“, which reached #1 in the US in 1968.
The band was made up of singer Ivan Browne, guitarist William Bartlett, keyboardist R.G. Nave, drummer William Albaugh and bassist Steve Walmsley. Most of the group’s songs were written by Shelley Pinz and Paul Leka.
Though they produced primarily bubblegum pop, the Lemon Pipers actually wanted to play more psychedelic, drug influenced music. Their recording label did not agree and threatened to fire them unless they played more mainstream, commercially viable pop. Several of the tracks on their Green Tambourine album show strong influences of folk rock, among other things, showing that the band wasn’t completely the pop outfit it appeared to be.
The Lemon Pipers eventually did gain artistic control over their work, but by that time they had all but faded into obscurity.
This very psychedelic song tells the story of a busker who plays for change. Throw some coins in his green tambourine and he’ll play you a tune. Lyricist Shelley Pinz wrote the words after seeing a street musician in front of the Brill Building in Manhattan who used a tambourine to collect money as he performed.
The music to this song was written by Paul Leka whose other claim to fame is “Na Na Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye”. In addition to the titular tambourine, the arrangement features an electric sitar, orchestral strings and a vibraslap …. an unusual percussion instrument similar to a jawbone that produces a rattling sound when struck. Another hook is the heavy, psychedelic tape echo applied to the word “play” in each chorus and at the end, fading into a drumroll (“Listen while I play play play play play play play my green tambourine“).
Released toward the end of 1967, “Green Tambourine” spent 13 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #1 on February 3, 1968, and sold over a million copies. The record remained on the chart for three months. It was also the first US #1 hit for the Buddah label. It was the only substantial hit for the Lemon Pipers.
This is “Green Tambourine” by the Lemon Pipers
Big thanks to Glyn for hosting Mixed Music Bag every week.
Thanks for joining me today and spinning some tunes.
See you on the flip side. 😎
NAR©2024
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.
NAME THAT TUNE (November 19, 2023)
Alright, Alright, Alright! Let’s get ready to rumble! It’s time once again to play Name That Tune!
This one is so easy, boys and girls; I predict you’re going to get it right off the bat. It’s just one of those tunes that everybody knows.
Are you feeling the pressure? Well, don’t go getting your knickers all in a twist! You’ll be on the dance floor in no time!
Ok, here we go with our five clues:
- Our featured singer was born Ernest Evans in 1941 in the town of Spring Gully, South Carolina. He is known around the world by another alliterative name.
- Today’s performer is a dancer (as well as a singer) famous for popularizing many dance styles such as the pony, the limbo and the fly.
- Our song was originally released in 1958 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters; it achieved minimal success. In 1960, our singer did a cover version that became a smash hit for him and started a massive new dance craze. The name of the song is also the name of the dance.
- In the early 60s, this dance craze caught on in high society. Sightings of celebrities doing the dance at New York’s famous Peppermint Lounge made the song and new dance craze a hit with adults.
- There are numerous dance variations including one named after the Peppermint Lounge; the success of the song and dance resulted in adult acceptance of Rock & Roll music.
So kids, how’d you do? I bet you got it! Let’s find out the results of today’s clues. You know the routine.
Yes! It’s Chubby Checker doing that new song and dance sensation, “The Twist”. Everybody on your feet!
Wow! That was great! I must have lost at least 5 pounds and I’m sure I threw my back out but it was worth it! How many of you remember twisting the night away?
Of course I’m sure you figured out the song and dance variation named after that famous New York hot spot is “The Peppermint Twist.” And it goes like this:
Some other songs and dances that were inspired by The Twist are The Madison, The Swim, The Mashed Potato, The Frug, The Watusi, The Shake and The Hitch-Hike. How many of those dances do you remember?
In case you were wondering about Chubby Checker, he’s 82 years old and still twisting the night away.
I hope I haven’t tired you out too much today, gang! Catch you during the week right here in The Rhythm Section.
See you on the flipside.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE: I’M WITH THE BANNED (November 14, 2023)
Since 1934 when the FCC was created, countless recordings have been banned or censored for a variety of reasons, including “provocative or sexually suggestive lyrics, inciting violence or promoting hate and political or religious beliefs and/or associations”.
The ban on most, if not all of these songs has been lifted; however, in some countries, certain types of music are still banned. They are considered illegal and carry severe penalties if the law is broken. Incredible, isn’t it?
Come join me as I reveal some of these controversial songs, why they were banned and the artists who made them (in)famous.
Creep – Radiohead
Last month was the 31st anniversary of the debut single release of “Creep” by the English rock band Radiohead. “Creep” is what I like to call an “angst love song“; it’s about loving someone who you mean absolutely nothing to, being totally ignored and feeling like a creepy weirdo because you just can’t get that person out of your head.
The original lyrics contain the line “so fucking special”. Obviously, that wasn’t going to fly with the censors so a cleaned-up version was recorded for radio with the line “so very special” (which makes me think of Dana Carvey’s “Church Lady” routine on SNL).
I neither like nor dislike Radiohead but this song blew my mind the first time I heard it and I still think it’s a great song. The music is quite sophisticated with unexpected chords and key changes. As far as the lyrics go, I think they’re brilliant and I have no problem with the curse word. I don’t appreciate gratuitously throwing the F Bomb around so often that it loses its “gravitas”; that is doing a great word a grave injustice. That’s not what’s going on with this song. Sometimes this perfect “mother of all curse words” is a must and everything else either falls short or is overkill.
Let’s listen to one of my favorite recordings from the early 90s – Radiohead performing the uncensored version of “Creep”:
🙈 🙉 🙊
Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead! – Ella Fitzgerald
Hold on. Back up.
Am I talking about the 1939 song written by Harold Arlen for The Wizard of Oz? The same song Ella Fitzgerald recorded in 1961?
You bet your sweet Munchkins I am!
If seeing this little ditty on the list of banned songs doesn’t blow your mind, nothing will!
Who would have ever thought “Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead” would become a #2 hit on the British charts? Well, that’s exactly what happened in the spring of 2013 — even though the song was banned by the BBC.
Why was this seemingly innocuous song banned, you ask? Well, because of a deliberate campaign in 2013 to boost the song to the top of the charts after the death of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The BBC deemed the song inappropriate because it was “clearly a celebration of death.” And in this case, the BBC was correct!
This is the divine Ella Fitzgerald singing “Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead!”
Guess what! We made it through four banned songs since starting up last week and I haven’t heard anyone’s teeth fall out yet! Now honestly, it hasn’t been that bad, has it? 😬
And I’ll let you in on a little secret: today you heard the only curse word you will hear for the remainder of this segment. The songs I have planned for the coming two weeks will stand on their powerful message alone without the need of expletives …. and they are very powerful songs.
It’s my goal here in The Rhythm Section to always entertain and inform …. never to offend. To that end, I hope I was successful in bringing you some good entertainment today.
I’ll be back here in two days for Birthday Thursdays; I hope you’ll stop by to see who we’re celebrating this week.
Till then, be well and stay safe.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE: I’M WITH THE BANNED (November 7, 2023)
Since 1934 when the FCC was created, countless recordings have been banned or censored for a variety of reasons, including “provocative or sexually suggestive lyrics, inciting violence or promoting hate and political or religious beliefs and/or associations”.
The ban on most, if not all of these songs has been lifted; however, in some countries, certain types of music are still banned. They are considered illegal and carry severe penalties if the law is broken. Incredible, isn’t it?
Come join me as I reveal some of these controversial songs, why they were banned and the artists who made them (in)famous.
A Day In The Life – The Beatles
This song is the final track on the Beatles 1967 album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. It became controversial and ultimately banned for its supposed references to drugs. On May 20, 1967, during the BBC Light Programme’s preview of the Sgt. Pepper album, disc jockey Kenny Everett was prevented from playing “A Day in the Life”. The BBC announced that it would not broadcast the song due to the line “I’d love to turn you on”, which, according to the corporation, advocated drug use.
Other lyrics allegedly referring to drugs include “found my way upstairs and had a smoke / somebody spoke and I went into a dream“. A spokesman for the BBC stated: “We have listened to this song over and over again and we have decided that it appears to go just a little too far and could encourage a permissive attitude to drug-taking.
Lennon and McCartney denied that there were drug references in “A Day in the Life” and publicly complained about the ban at a dinner party at the home of their manager, Brian Epstein, where they were celebrating their album’s release. Lennon said that the song was simply about “a crash and its victim” and called the line in question “the most innocent of phrases”.
I’m going to let you decide for yourselves. Here is the phenomenal “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles:
🙈 🙉 🙊
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Our second featured song was written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison in March 1967. It was released as a single in June of the same year, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Brown Eyed Girl” spent a total of 16 weeks on the charts and is considered to be Morrison’s signature song. We all know it and love it. Why would a song like this get put on the banned list?
Well, what some people may not know is the original name of this masterpiece was “Brown Skinned Girl” and was about an interracial couple – apparently a very big no-no to the censorship board back then. The title was changed by Morrison because he thought it would make it more “radio friendly”, and it did; when you listen to the words of this song, there isn’t a hint about a mixed-race couple. Some stations banned the song’s line “Making love in the green grass”; an edited version was eventually released, altering the line to “laughin’ and a-runnin’, hey, hey.”
What a bunch of hooey balooey!
Van Morrison has been a favorite of mine for a long time and I love his work; this delightful song is no exception. Let’s listen now to “Brown Eyed Girl” by Sir Van Morrison.
Now that wasn’t so bad for my new category and probably not exactly what you expected, was it? I wonder how many of you got nervous when you saw the word ‘BANNED’! No need.
Here’s the thing: I could have gone with any debauched and salacious video on YouTube; there are plenty to choose from but that’s not what The Rhythm Section is about. I’m no stranger to cursing; when done by a master such as George Carlin it is an art-form. Disgusting, non-stop gutter talk, such as demonstrated by Andrew Dice Clay, is just boring filth and totally necessary. When cursing, one needs to paint with a fine brush, placing every word precisely where it belongs. The result is magical … and often hysterical. No, I will never pooh-pooh the appropriate use of foul language.
The objective here is to be entertained and to learn about and listen to music that has been banned for social, religious or political issues …. not to look at naked private parts swinging in the breeze. Let’s keep that private, shall we?
Thanks for joining me today for the first installment of I’m With The Banned. I’d love to know what you thought of today’s post and these two (in)famous songs. Join me next Tuesday for two more.
Time to head on outta here before the Feds come looking for me!
Catch me next week …. if you can! 😁
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
Birthday Thursdays
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays here in The Rhythm Section. Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on that day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Jay Black
Born November 2, 1938 in Queens, New York
This is “Cara Mia” by Jay & The Americans
Jay & The Americans singing “She Cried”
The classic “Come A Little Bit Closer” – Jay & The Americans
NAME THAT TUNE (October 22, 2023)
It’s Sunday so you know what that means; another round of Name That Tune! Are you up for it?
As usual, I’ll give you five clues and you try to figure out just what the hell it is I’m talking about! OK? Great!
Let’s get this game started!
- Our featured song has a woman’s name as its title; before a final decision was made, two other names were in the running – Daisy Hawkins and Ola Na Tungee (to reflect the Indian musical influence today’s group was into at the time).
- Today’s group hails from the UK and is still considered a great little band even though they haven’t performed since 1969.
- This song, released in 1966, is a track on the group’s 7th studio album – the one with the famous B&W artwork done by a well-known German artist/musician/record producer who occasionally played bass with the group.
- The members of our featured group provided all the vocals for this song but did not play any of the instruments; a classical string ensemble – in this case an octet of studio musicians comprised of four violins, two violas and two cellos – performed the score which was composed by the group’s producer.
- The lyrics of today’s song provided a narrative on loneliness and disinterest which contributed to the transformation of the group from a mainly rock ‘n roll and pop-oriented act into a more experimental, studio-based band.
That’s it, kids. How do you think you fared today? Let’s find out. You know what to do.
Yeah, yeah, yeah! If you answered “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles, you are correct!
Are you ready to hear that beautiful song? From their “Revolver” album, it’s the Beatles singing “Eleanor Rigby”. Here goes:
When I was younger, I usually avoided the slower Beatles songs in favor of the more rockin’ ones. Now that I’m infinitely wiser and incredibly older, I’ve come to deeply appreciate these intricately woven ballads. There’s a profound message in songs like this one, She’s Leaving Home, Yesterday, In My Life, For No One, etc.
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, ‘Eleanor Rigby’ is on The Beatles’ album ‘Revolver’. The YouTube image above is an example of the incredible B&W artwork by Klaus Voormann and is just one of a series. Several years ago I had the pleasure of communicating with Mr. Voorman via a brief email exchange; that’s a topic for another time but for the record, he is a delightful and charming man.
Now here is my question of the day:
How do you feel about The Beatles’ ballads? Do you prefer them over their rockin’ tunes or do the rock numbers do it for you? Do you have a favorite Beatles’ ballad?
Please leave a comment or post your favorite Beatles song. C’mon, everybody has a favorite Beatles tune, unless you’re from the Philippines. “Why?”, you may ask. Because the Beatles were banned from the entire country after declining an invitation to have breakfast with the first lady, which caused a mob to attack their hotel. The Beatles unintentionally snubbed Imelda Marcos who had expected them to attend a breakfast reception at the Presidential Palace. The band never returned to the Philippines after the incident, likely due to the traumatic experience of being chased by an angry mob!
Well, that does it for another edition of Name That Tune; join us tomorrow as Pete presents another Breaktime Whodunnit post.
Take care and be well, everyone!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
NAME THAT TUNE (September 24, 2023)
Welcome back to Name That Tune! I’m The Sicilian Storyteller and it’s my turn to toss out a few questions in the hope you’ll be able to guess the name of today’s featured song and the person who performed it.
Are you ready to rumble? Here are your five clues; let’s see how well you do. Put on your wizard caps and conjure up a little magic for this one. And, we’re off!
- Today’s featured song was written by an American singer-songwriter in 1968 and was first recorded by an Irish actor/singer. His version peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at #4 on the UK Singles Chart.
- Additional recordings of this song were released – one was a 1969 Grammy-winner by a country-western singer and another was a #1 Billboard Hot 100 disco arrangement from 1978, sung by “The Queen of Disco”.
- Our very famous Irish singer/actor of today’s song was offered a huge role in the Harry Potter movies which he almost turned down due to poor health; he ultimately accepted the role because his then 11-year-old granddaughter threatened never to speak to him again if he did not take it!
- The song’s somewhat bizarre lyrics led to believe that it was totally made up; however, the composer said the song symbolized the end of a love affair and claimed that everything mentioned in the song was personally witnessed by him and nothing was fabricated. This same terminated love affair also sparked the famous song “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”. Boy! That must have been one hot love affair!
- Today’s featured performer had a very varied career spanning 46 years in which he portrayed many characters ranging from a Roman emperor to a coal miner to King Arthur and, of course, a wizard.
Do you think you know the answers? Well, let’s check by scrolling down beyond the spinning record for the big reveal.
If you said “I know! It’s ‘MacArthur Park’ sung by Richard Harris”, you’d be right. Congratulations! Let’s tune into that iconic song right now.
Ok, let’s be honest. How many of you thought composer Jimmy Webb was on some kind of acid trip when he wrote this song? I know I did! It isn’t every day someone is in the park and leaves a cake out in the rain but if Jimmy said he saw it then I guess he saw it (wink, wink).
MacArthur Park was meant to be a cantata which Jimmy Webb first pitched to the group, The Association; they turned it down. Along came Richard Harris who took the soggy cake and ran with it and the song became a success.
So, what about the two covers I mentioned in Clue #2? Here’s the first one done by country music star Waylon Jennings which won a Grammy. I gotta say, kids, I have a pretty good memory and I don’t remember this ditty at all. 🤷🏼♀️ What about you? Here, let’s have a listen:
I’m banking on all of you knowing this one. Here’s the one and only “Queen of Disco”, the amazing Donna Summer! Polish up your disco balls, boys and girls. Let’s spin it!
Incredible! What a great voice the Disco Queen had! You have to admit it; disco was a happening scene! 🕺🏻
I hope you enjoyed this Sunday in the park with me playing Name That Tune. Catch you next week for another go.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
BIRTHDAY THURSDAYS
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays here in The Rhythm Section. Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on that day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Leonard Cohen
Born September 21, 1934 in Westmount, Quebec, Canada
BIRTHDAY THURSDAYS
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays here in The Rhythm Section. Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on that day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Amy Winehouse
Born September 14, 1983 in Southgate, London, UK
IN THE GROOVE: MOTOWN MELODIES (September 12, 2023)
“Motown was about music for all people – white and black, blue and green, cops and the robbers. I was reluctant to have our music alienate anyone.” – Berry Gordy, Motown Founder
🚗 🚙 🚗
Welcome back to In The Groove: Motown Melodies!
Let’s continue our musical journey with Motown’s first great girl group – high school friends Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman and Wanda Young – also known as the Marvelettes. Gladys, the group’s lead singer, was only 15 years old; what were you doing when you were 15?
Founded in 1960, the group signed to Motown’s Tamla label in 1961. Some of their early hits were written by the group’s members and a couple of Motown’s rising singer/songwriters, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye (who played drums on a majority of their early recordings).
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 ceased performing together in 1969. The group disbanded for good in 1970.
“Please Mr. Postman”, recorded in 1961, was one of the first #1 singles by an all-female vocal group and the first by a Motown recording act. It is easily Motown’s best single to date – a song with a killer tune, a sound like nothing else out there and a lyrical hook which listeners around the world instantly latched on to.
Here now the fantastic sound of “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes”:
Not bad for a group of teenage high school girls! I repeat, what were you doing when you were 15 years old?
Let’s check out the Marvelettes’ discography and listen to a couple more of their hits. This next one has always been a personal favorite. 😉
I hope you enjoyed today’s Motown sounds of the Marvelettes; it’s difficult to resist the urge to get up and dance!
Thanks for being here with me, movin’ and groovin’ to some great Motown Melodies; please join me next Tuesday for more terrific sounds out of the Motor City. 🚙
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
Name That Tune (September 10, 2023)
Boys and girls, do I have a treat for you today! That’s right! After strong-arming graciously inviting our friend Tom to write his own Name That Tune post, he eventually relented heartily agreed to join the ranks as a guest host!
Here are Tom’s five splendid clues for you to contemplate. Let’s see if you can determine the song in question and the artist(s) who performed it.
Ground Control to Major Tom: We have liftoff! 🚀
- A duo originally trilled today’s song quite a bit back in the day, with a few others. All they had to do was dream, wake up little Susie, and then say bye-bye love… a… the sorrow and pain. Time passes, but it isn’t the duo I’m actually referring to.
- Almost thirty years later, the trio in question covered the song, cover perhaps being the wrong choice of word here – ah – no brollies, thank you very much, boo hoo, they don’t conceal the emotion!
- Where they say the sun always shines on TV, stormy weather is more appropriate for this song – aha! Another weather related clue.
- Through the living daylights of Northern Europe, Scandinavia, and possibly the rest of the world, the trio performed many more times before splitting in 2010. They weren’t ‘not together’ for long, however, since they reformed in 2015.
- The song in question is one of many written by a female king. Hark! It’s practically been revealed now, the song, crying out through all these clues raining down. If you’ve worked it out, I’m gonna wear a smile and walk in the sun.
First time at bat and the rookie hits a grand slam homer! Well done, Tom!
What do you say, friends? Were you able to figure out Tom’s featured song and artists of the day? Well, scroll on down and see if you were right!
Yes!! If you said “Crying In The Rain” as performed by a-ha, you were right! Shall we have a listen?
What an great video that was; I’m really glad I found it I really enjoyed it! How about you?
Now for a little more fun. Here is Tom’s outline for creating his clues. This is as entertaining as the post and video:
The clues: 1) The duo who originally sang the song was the Everly Brothers. The clue gives a few of their songs. 2) It was covered by a-ha in 1990; ‘no brollies‘ indirectly pointing to crying in the rain. 3) ‘The sun always shines on TV‘ is an a-ha song. A-ha is also spelt out in clues 1, 2 and 3 (the extra ‘a’ in clue 1 isn’t a typo! 4) ‘The Living Daylights’ refers to a-ha’s James Bond movie theme, and Scandinavia refers to where they are from (Norway). 5) The song was written by Carole King; ‘Hark! It’s’ is a play on Morten Harket’s name (main vocals), and the last sentence is a line from the song.
Now I think it’s only appropriate that we give credit where credit is due and play the video by the duo which Tom mentioned in Clue #1. Here is “Crying In The Rain” as performed by The Everly Brothers:
Now here is an extra bonus. We’re gonna bring this baby home by going back to where it all began – to the composer herself, Carole King, singing her song “Crying In The Rain”:
How’d you like our guest post today, gang? I think Tom did an awesome job and he’s welcome back here anytime for another round of Name That Tune!
Tom is such a good sport, I know he’s the first one having a good laugh at the fun I had with my comments. Tom, you’re A-OK in my book, a pleasure to work with and I’ll be happy to do so again any time! Fantastic job today!
That’s a wrap, kids!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
NAME THAT TUNE (August 27, 2023)
Welcome back to Name That Tune! Are you feeling lucky today?
Get your brain cells ready to tackle the five questions I have prepared for you. Let’s see if you can come up with the name of the song and the artist(s) who made it famous.
Ok, let’s rock and roll!
- This song from 1963 is just one hit by a group of boys from New Jersey that had us singing and dancing along to a great melody … and let’s not forget those fantastic drums!
- The singers of this song keep repeating one phrase over and over again; you’d think the person in question would just get the message and go away already!
- The lead singer of our featured group had a recurring role as gangster Rusty Millio during the fifth and sixth seasons of the hit HBO series, The Sopranos.
- The story of the lives of these guys from New Jersey, especially their lead singer, was turned into a Broadway play in 2004 and eventually into a movie in 2014. None of the original members of the group starred in either the play or the movie.
- This one word song is named after a girl … the one mentioned in question #2 who won’t go away. Come to think of it, many of this group’s songs were named after girls.
How’d you do with that one, kids? Well, let’s scroll down for the answers, shall we?
That’s right! It was the Jersey Boys themselves, The Four Seasons (also known later in their career as “Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons“), doing one of their biggest hits (and my personal favorite), “Dawn”. Let’s give a listen and enjoy those crazy drums!
Was I right about the drums or was I right? Kudos to Buddy Saltzman, the drummer on this recording; The Four Seasons did not have a regular drummer and always used various session drummers. Extra credit if you knew that tidbit.
I wonder if any of my WordPress music blogging friends (you know who you are) can name any other groups who used only session drummers. Hmm … let’s see who’s reading this.
Well, that was a great song, a real blast from the past for many of us and possibly a new one for some of you youngsters out there.
I hope you’ve been having fun playing along; join me next time right here for another round of Name That Tune.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE (August 22, 2023)
Well, it’s about time I broke out the artillery!
What can I say about Frank Sinatra? Enough to fill a book, and there are plenty of bios written about Frank. The song I have selected for you today is not Sinatra’s signature piece, “My Way”, nor is it one of his tributes to New York or Chicago.
Nope, I decided to go with one of Frank’s songs that has some real grit to it, a great little melancholy number with a sad story attached. And I chose this song specifically to show off Sinatra’s acting chops.
Most of you know that Sinatra starred in quite a few movies but did you know he won an Oscar for his performance in “From Here To Eternity”? Today’s song perfectly showcases Frank’s Oscar-winning acting ability. Have I given you enough clues to guess which song I’m talking about? It’s the legendary “One For My Baby”, written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer and first recorded by Frank in 1947.
In the video you’re about to see, Frank is singing live in front of hundreds of people and yet he manages to turn the song into an intimate conversation. Here now is the one and only Frank Sinatra performing “One For My Baby” live at Royal Festival Hall in London.
Just a man pouring out his heart to his confidant … a bartender named Joe. This is the consummate showman, putting 100% of himself into his songs, transforming each one into a musical vignette. In my book he was pretty great!
Now for the easy-peasy question of the day:
What is your favorite Frank Sinatra song?
Share a comment or a video, if you like. For me it’s “Nancy“, of course! The song, written in 1942 and recorded by Frank in 1944, was originally called “Bessie (With the Laughing Face)”; the name change was inspired by Frank’s daughter, Nancy Sinatra.
When I was a kid, I thought Frank was singing this one just for me. ☺️
That’s it for today In The Groove, my friends. It’s always a blast spending Tuesdays with you!
I’ll be here next time; hope you’ll be here, too.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
Be Our Guest (August 6, 2023)
Today we have a treat for you!
One of our followers, Keith Allen, AKA “The Nostalgic Italian“, has written a guest post which we’re sure you’ll find entertaining, interesting and enlightening. It’s guaranteed to brighten up your Sunday. Enough talking from me; I’m going to hand the reigns over to Keith for the first edition of Be Our Guest in The Rhythm Section. Let’s give him a warm welcome! Take it away, Keith!
❖❖❖❖
I’m Keith, known to my blog followers as “The Nostalgic Italian.” I am honored to have been invited by Nancy to share some songs with you. I suppose it is only fitting that I start with an Italian song from my favorite Italian singer – Dean Martin.
If someone asked me to pick my favorite Dean Martin album, I would probably pick “Dino – Italian Love Songs.” I have this on vinyl and I have listened to it more than once on the record player my wife bought me for my birthday a few years back. The entire album is fantastic and includes some of his biggest hits.
One of my favorite cuts on the album is a song written by Johnny Cola called “Vieni Su“. The song was never released as a single, but it should have been.
As far as the lyrics to this song, there aren’t many. As a matter of fact, it’s one verse and a chorus. Perhaps that’s what makes it all the more powerful to me. In Italian, Vieni means “come” and Su means “on”. The song is about a man who has waited for his special woman. He adores her and loves her. Now, he wants her to come with him through the years ahead and spend the time ahead together. A simple love story.
The song was recorded while Dean was still with Capitol Records. The melody of this song is just beautiful. I love the entire arrangement of this song. Dean’s vocal is simple, and spot on. It is such a perfect love song.
For me personally, it takes on a whole new meaning. Ever since becoming a father I wished for a daughter. I have two sons from my first marriage and shortly afterward, I was told I only had about a 4% chance of ever having more children. When I remarried, we were surprised to find we were expecting our first child together. We decided to find out the gender and I was overjoyed to find out we were having a baby girl. Ever since she was born, it is a song that I sing to her. When you hear the song, or read the lyrics, you will see just how much they mean to me. It is a song that I can listen to over and over again.
Vieni Su
Vieni su, vieni su, vieni
Come along through the years with me
Can’t you see how I adore you
And how long I waited for you
Vieni su, vieni su
Won’t you say you love me too
Can’t you see how much I adore you
And how long I waited for you
Vieni su, vieni su
Won’t you say you love me too
Well, I hope you enjoyed my first contribution to Be Our Guest here at The Rhythm Section! Please leave a comment or even your favorite Dean Martin video and maybe I’ll be asked back again to do another slot.
Arrivederci!
Keith, The Nostalgic Italian
KA © 2023
IN THE GROOVE (August 1, 2023)
Today I am featuring works from the solo career of the extremely prolific Paul McCartney.
I’d like to share with you two McCartney songs which really impressed me. The first one is called “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” which is done very much in the style of a jazzy Billy Joel. This is NOT the Gerry and the Pacemakers’ hit we all know and love. Written in 1946 by Joe Greene, this number is included on the 1990 LP by McCartney called “Tripping the Live Fantastic.“
The second song is a piece entitled “Used To Be Bad” which harkens back to the sounds of The Steve Miller Band and ZZ Top (not surprising since it was co-written by McCartney and Miller). This one is a bluesy number which keeps going from start to finish and can be found on McCartney’s 1997 “Flaming Pie” LP. Upon its release, the time was ripe for McCartney to deliver an album steeped in Beatles lore and that’s exactly what he claimed “Flaming Pie” was all about.
For your listening enjoyment, here now is the one and only Macca with two very different-sounding pieces.
So, what’d you think of the ex-Beatle turned jazzy blues piano man?
The only question for today is which one of these songs you liked the best.
I hope you enjoyed hearing a little Macca today; in all honesty, I’m really not a fan of Paul’s solo work but I did like these two. I’m casting my vote for the funky blues sound of “Used to Be Bad”.
Please join me next week for another edition of In The Groove. Enjoy the rest of your week and all the upcoming music here on The Rhythm Section!
See you on the flip side.
I am The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE (July 18, 2023)
Ciao! Welcome back to In The Groove.
We celebrated my Dad’s birthday the other day. He was born 108 years ago in the town of Cattolica Eraclea in the Province of Agrigento in Sicily. Dad was incredibly proud of his heritage and instilled that pride in me. He loved music, mostly Italian opera, traditional Italian songs and American standards; there was always something playing on our radio or stereo.
Well, Dad’s been gone almost 25 years (d. August 1, 1998), but I can still hear him singing along to this song.
Happy Birthday, Dad! This one’s for you!
This is Domenico Modugno singing his Grammy Award-winning song from 1958, “Volare”.
Now that’s singing with heart and soul. As my dad would say, “Perfetto!”
If you’d like to know more about Domenico Modugno or “Volare”, all the facts are available on Wikipedia, but don’t look anything up until after you’ve read the question of the day.
This is for you trivia buffs or Baby Boomers out there. Let’s see what you got!
In 1960 an 18-year-old out of Philadelphia had a HUGE hit with “Volare”. Can you name this famous Philadelphian?
As usual, the answer is given below and this time there’s a bonus video.
I hope you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane. Deb’s flying in tomorrow; who knows where’s she’s going to land this time? Stay tuned!
“Arrivederci!”
See you on the flip side.
I’m the Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
And the answer is ….. Bobby Rydell
Shall we have a listen to one of the best set of pipes to come out of Philly? Here is Bobby Rydell singing his version of “Volare”; I know which one my dad preferred. How about you?
NAME THAT TUNE (July 9, 2023)
Greetings friends and happy Sunday! It’s time for another round of Name That Tune.
Here are your clues; let’s see if you can name both the song and the artist. Come on in; the water’s fine!
- Today’s song, released in 1969, is one of the artist’s best known tunes, written solely by him while he was an active member of an extremely popular quartet from the U.K.
- Born in 1940 in a well-known seaport in England, this personality is still touring, performing his own original works as well as songs made famous by his former group.
- While not true, this tune about a multi-limbed sea creature is sometimes thought of as a children’s song.
- This song can be found on an album where the members of our famous quartet (including today’s performer) are walking in a pelican crossing, as it’s called in the U.K., or zebra crossing, as it’s known in The States.
- Today’s featured artist is one of the most famous drummers in the world and is known by his very fitting nickname.
I think we can call this one a “freebie”; by now you surely know the answers. Scroll down for the big reveal.
Have you guessed yet? Which clue was the one that did it for you? Well, let’s see if you were right.
Yes! If you said “Octopus’s Garden” featuring Ringo Starr (and 3 other dudes), you were right!
Now here’s a very cool video for you to check out:
Wasn’t that gorgeous? This video was recorded in Waukegan, IL on June 24, 2005 and was shown on a big screen during Ringo’s concert tour.
Here’s a little info I thought was extremely interesting:
The octopus is the third most intelligent animal on earth ( after the dolphin and elephant). Octopuses like to scour the ocean floor collecting brightly colored stones and shells for their “garden” homes under the sea. Their memory in some areas surpasses that of a human. They are amazing creatures that change color and visual design at will. Octopuses can discard any of their 8 tentacles at any time and rapidly replace it with another limb. They have a short life span, only 1-2 years and have over 300 species. Adults weigh about 33 lbs (15kg) with an arm span of up to 14 ft (4.23 m).
There is no copyright for this video and is free to watch; no money is ever made from its viewing. It is for entertainment purposes only. All musical rights go to Ringo Starr and the music distributor.
“Octopus’s Garden” was originally recorded with The Beatles in 1969 and is featured on their Abbey Road album with its legendary pelican/zebra crossing.
Thanks for hanging out under the sea with me today; I hope you enjoyed the scenery and the song as much as I did.
Don’t forget to join Pete tomorrow as he eases us into another Monday with Breaktime Whodunnit.
See you on dry land on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE (July 4, 2023)
Let’s cut to the chase.
The 4th of July is a big holiday here in the U.S.A. What better way for people around the world to join us as we celebrate than with a native son singing what has become a universal rock anthem. 🎇 🎆
Here is Bruce Springsteen with “Born In the U.S.A.”, live from Paris in 1985.
And that’s what we call “rocking” no matter what language you speak!
However, let’s not lose sight of the true message of this song. The lyrics of “Born in the U.S.A.” make its subject pretty clear. This 1984 hit describes a Vietnam War veteran who returns home to desperate circumstances and few options … just one of the tragic results of war realized by vets throughout the world.
As I read some of the comments on YouTube, I came across two which I wanted to share with you:
WAAOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I´M NOT AN AMERICAN CITIZEN,
BUT I FEEL MY HEART FULL OF PROUD EVERY TIME I HEAR THIS
EXTRAORDINARY SONG, IS MY ANTHEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
USA IS A GREAT NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WANT FREEDOM HERE IN VENEZUELA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love this song, !!! I’m born in England with Irish parents,
to me I just love his raw voice,
believe you don’t have to be American to love this song
Those are perfect examples of why I chose this song today.
Alright, it’s time now for our super easy question of the day:
Sinatra is the Chairman, Elvis is the King, Aretha is the Queen so what’s Springsteen’s very famous nickname?
The answer is on the bottom of the page.
Thanks for sharing another great day with me getting our groove on.
I’ll be back Thursday for a very special movie day; meet me At The Movies where the celebration will continue!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
Springsteen’s very famous nickname is ….. The Boss.
NAME THAT TUNE (July 2, 2023)
Happy Sunday and welcome back to another installment of Name That Tune.
I hope you’re ready for some fun and a bit of a challenge today! This one might be a little more difficult so get out those thinking caps.
Misky, my money’s on you today; “five’ll get ya ten” it’ll be a shoe-in for you [HINT HINT].
Without further ado, here are your clues:
- Today’s song came from a 1928 German “play with music“, lyrics by Bertolt Brecht and music by Jurt Weill. That musical play was based on an 18th-century English ballad opera by John Gay called “The Beggar’s Opera”.
- The singer of today’s tune was born in 1936 in New York City, his birth name being Walden Robert Cassotto. In 1959 at the age of 22, he made his first big “splash” in the music world by recording our featured piece which became a million-selling single.
- Today’s tune about a blade-wielding criminal of the London underworld was performed by numerous artists; however, according to Frank Sinatra, our featured artist recorded the “definitive version”.
- Today’s performer was extremely versatile; in addition to singing, he was a songwriter, a dancer, an accomplished musician on various instruments, a music arranger/conductor and an actor. As a child he had recurring bouts with rheumatic fever which left him with a seriously weakened heart. Sadly, we lost this giant of the music industry in 1973; he was only 37 years old.
- This song, easily recognizable by its 8 beat intro, is our featured artist’s signature piece. It was inducted by the Library of Congress in the National Recording Registry. It was also ranked as No. 15 in the list of Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment of the Arts. No small potatoes.
Those are some impressive credentials and I could not gloss over them. It doesn’t matter when you were born; this is one of those songs that transcends generations and will live on long after we’re gone.
Do you have any ideas? Let’s see who got this brain teaser today. Scroll down for the big reveal.
The video is about to start and I can’t wait to see it again; it’s one of my favorites!
Our very famous performer is the one and only Bobby Darin doing his signature piece, “Mack The Knife”.
Let’s listen, shall we?
What an amazing talent he was! His gestures and arm movements aren’t just for show; he’s actually leading the orchestra during this performance, something he did many times.
Here’s a little factoid I did not include in the questions: Bobby Darin was an adult when he found out the woman he thought was his sister was actually his mother, an embarrassing fact his family thought best to keep from him. This is not as bizarre as it sounds; some other victims of the same ruse are Liv Tyler, Eric Clapton and Jack Nicholson.
Well, that does it for today. Join us next time for another installment of Name That Tune. Have a great day!
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE (June 13, 2023)
OK, boys and girls! I guarantee you’re not going to be able to sit still for this one.
No foreplay today; let’s get straight down to business.
Here’s the happiest song from 2014, a huge hit for Pharrell Williams. It’s called … what else?? …“HAPPY”!
I love that guy! He puts me in such a great mood, I want to ingest a little bit of what he’s got going on. How can anyone not be smiling after that video?
There’s no question of the day but if you’d like to share with us what flips your happy switch, please do; comments and videos are always welcome. Most import of all: just be happy!
Stay tuned tomorrow when DA takes us someplace new. I wonder where this time?
Why not check out the other posts in The Rhythm Section and remember to stay GROOVY!!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
NAME THAT TUNE (June 11, 2023)
Welcome back to Name That Tune. Today we have something a bit unusual for you but I think you’re going to love the song. It’s sure to bring back some delightful memories.
Here are the questions for today. Think outside the bog.
- Today’s 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 singer’s driving urge for something more in life. The song was deemed “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant” 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 song’s name has been used by a number of charitable organizations wishing to evoke its message, including a children’s charity, a summer camp for seriously ill children and a horse-riding camp for people with disabilities.
- Today’s 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. He’s a real “prince” but she’s been called a “Porcine Primadonna” by the paparazzi!
Can you guess the name of today’s 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 today’s song and the singer who made it famous?
Let’s take a look.
If you said “The Rainbow Connection” by Kermit the Frog, you’re right!
Get the kids, grandkids, grandma and grandpa in the room. Here’s the video:
I hope this one put a giant smile on your face; thanks for having a bit of fun with me today. Life’s just too serious, isn’t it?
Stay tuned tomorrow as Mr. B eases us into another week with Breaktime Whodunnit.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
NAME THAT TUNE (June 4, 2023)
Greetings and welcome back to another edition of Name That Tune.
I’ve got five clues for you to read and ponder; let’s see if you can guess the name of the song and the artist(s) who made it a hit.
Get those musical thinking caps on and let’s have at it! Here we go:
- This song from 1965 tells the story of a very short lived extramarital affair. It’s been insinuated that the song is about a man hooking up with a prostitute but it’s actually about a one night stand that ended very poorly.
- This track features a sitar which marked the first appearance of the Indian stringed instrument on a Western rock recording.
- The song, recorded by a prominent U.K. quartet, helped elevate Indian classical music, particularly Ravi Shankar, to mainstream popularity in the West.
- The name of today’s song is an ironic reference to the cheap pine paneling which was in vogue in London at that time. The lyrics also suggest the woman’s house in which the affair took place was sparsely furnished with just one bed and no chairs!
- One member of the group who recorded the song had this to say: “The guy woke up to find the bird had flown, leaving him alone, and he felt the burning need to have some sort of final destructive revenge.”
There you have all the clues; do you think you know the name of the song and the group? Which clue did it for you? Let’s scroll down beyond the spinning record to find out the answer.
Did you guess “Norwegian Wood” by The Beatles? If you did, you are correct. Let’s listen to that iconic and very interesting song right now.
George Harrison learned to play the sitar in India with Ravi Shankar as his teacher. He mastered the instrument in a relatively short period of time; his proficient playing is obvious in this recording.
I wonder how many of you knew the full title of this song is “Norwegian Wood” (This Bird Has Flown). This is one of those songs that has spurred many a debate and continues to do so 58 years after its release.
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s edition of Name That Tune. I hope you enjoyed the post and the video.
Stay tuned tomorrow when Pete will bring us another great cover in Breaktime Whodunnit.
This bird is ready to fly!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
NAME THAT TUNE (May 14, 2023)
Welcome back for another chance to Name That Tune!
I’ve got some clues for you; let’s see if you can come up with the correct name of today’s song and the group that made it a hit.
Here are your clues:
- The featured group today is by far one of the most popular to come out of Scandinavia.
- Today’s song, which is about dancing at a disco, has a joyful meaning which resonated with many American listeners.
- The name of this quartet changed several times before they settled on an acronym using the initials of the group member’s first names.
- The featured song today was used in a 2008 movie with the same name as another hit song by this group.
- The members of this group were two married couples who eventually met their Waterloo, resulting in divorce for both couples.
Are you feeling lucky today? Did you guess the group and its song? Scroll down for the big reveal.
Of course! ABBA is the group and today’s song is the disco hit “Dancing Queen”.
Now here’s the video. Everybody up on the dancefloor!
That was fun and who doesn’t like a little disco! Did you break out your spandex and platform shoes?
Do you enjoy disco dancing? What’s your favorite disco song? Let us know by leaving a comment or posting a video.
Don’t forget to join Pete tomorrow in Breaktime Whodunnit. It’s going to be a fun week in The Rhythm Section.
I’m outta here, boys and girls!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
NAME THAT TUNE (May 7, 2023)
Hey! I’m back with another round of Name That Tune. Are you ready to rumble?
Let’s see how you do this week. And your clues are:
- This tune, released in April of 1965, is a cover performed by a quintet based in Los Angeles. Though the group underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, their bespectacled frontman never changed.
- The original song was composed and recorded by a 24-year-old from Minnesota with a very recognizable voice; he has since gone on to become a huge persona in the music industry.
- The composer claims he wrote this song on a road trip he took with some friends from New York to San Francisco. They smoked lots of weed along the way, replenishing their stash at post offices where they had mailed pot and picked it up while on the road. Very enterprising.
- Both the group and the songwriter made the harmonica and tambourine look cool.
- The group had another big hit in 1965 with a tune based on verses from the Bible. This was a cover of a 1959 song written by an American activist and environmentalist.
Do you know the name of the song and the group who had a hit with this cover? How about the name of the composer? I wonder where you arrived at your ‘aha!” moment.
Scroll down for the big reveal.
Ok, are you ready for the answers?
The LA-based quintet is The Byrds and the song in question is “Mr. Tambourine Man” written by Bob Dylan.
Now let’s hear that famous song.
I hope you had fun today playing Name That Tune; don’t forget to check in next week to see what I’ve got planned.
Pete’s up again tomorrow with another installment of Breaktime Whodunnit. I wonder what he’s got cooking.
Enjoy the upcoming week and stay safe and well.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
The Elephant's Trunk 