Written for Song Lyric Sunday –
“Naturally Flowing Water”
This is my response to the challenge.
Tag: Rock
A Decade Of Hits 1969-1979
Written for Song Lyric Sunday –
“Most Popular Songs”.
This is my response to the challenge.
July Morning
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 July artist and their song.
Move Over, Rover
Written for Song Lyric Sunday
where the challenge is to write
about a song with ‘black’ in the
title. Here’s my response.
Old Grey Whistle Test – May 30, 1975
Today in Jim Adams’ post ‘Emphasis On Album Acts’,
he has gone with a theme suggested by
“the only deadhead in the hameau” which
is to write about a song that was played on
the BBC’s ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ TV show.
Written for Song Lyric Sunday, here 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.
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 Frank Zappa
Born December 21, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland
“Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow”
“A Very Zappa Christmas”
“Muffin Man”
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 Billy Idol
November 30, 1955 in Stanmore, UK
“White Wedding”
“Eyes Without A Face”
“Rebel Yell”
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
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 Patrick Simmons
Born October 19, 1948 in Aberdeen, Washington
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 (September 3, 2023)
Time, my friends, for another round of Name That Tune; are you feeling lucky today? Let’s see how quickly you can guess the name of this song and the artist(s) who made if famous. It’s one of my personal favorites and you’ll find out why when you get to clue #5.
So how about we get this game going? Are ya ready? Ok, let’s do this thing!
- This song from 1969 has been called the most beautiful love song ever written – quite a fete considering the phrase “I love you” is never used in the song.
- The composer of this song was a member of the most famous and prolific rock band in history. It’s also his first real attempt at writing a song on his own and finally being taken seriously by the other members, two of whom wrote almost all the group’s songs.
- By the late 1970s, today’s featured song had been covered by over 150 artists. BTW, the most covered song of all time is another song by the group to which our featured singer once belonged.
- Our performer dedicated this song to his wife at the time; she must have been quite something because this is the second song I’m aware of that has been dedicated to her. [If that clue sounds even a tiny bit familiar, maybe that’s because one of my posts in May from In The Groove was about the other song dedicated to this very desirable woman. Were you paying attention back then?]
- Every year since its release in 1969 this song has been among the most requested first dance songs for new brides and grooms. In fact, it was the first dance for me and Mr. Bill … and, as you know, I think he’s really quite something himself!
Have you figured out what the most beautiful love song ever written is? I’ll keep you in suspense no longer; let’s go find out. You know what to do:
If you said The Beatles’ “Something” composed entirely by George Harrison and sung by him, you are correct! Are you ready to hear it?
Here’s a little refresher for you: George Harrison wrote “Something” in 1969 for his wife, Pattie Boyd. Fate stepped in and George’s best bud Eric Clapton fell in love with Pattie. Eric was so crazy about Pattie that just one year later in 1970 he wrote his own song dedicated to George’s wife. That song which I hinted at in clue #4 was “Layla” by Derek and the Dominoes, Eric’s group at the time. It must have been hell for poor Pattie having two handsome, sexy, talented guys so madly in love with her! She resisted for as long as she could but eventually Pattie left George and married Eric. George took it all in stride like the gentleman he was, saying “it happens” or words to that effect. He and Eric remained best friends until George died in 2001 and the rest is history …. or her story. 😉
Oh, I almost forgot. The most covered song of all time is another tune by The Beatles; it’s a little ditty you may have heard once or twice called “Yesterday”. There was also a movie with an intriguing premise called “Yesterday”, released in 2019 and chock full of Beatles tunes.
Thanks for spending some time playing Name That Tune. Hope you had fun today with me and The Lads!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE (August 29, 2023)
Well, I started In The Groove with a George Harrison song; it’s only fitting that I end this segment of The Rhythm Section with the group who has given me so much joy the majority of my life.
The entire medley is 16.41 minutes long with several short breaks. To enjoy the entire piece, listen through all the breaks until The End … literally.
“Now for you youngsters out there, here they are, live on our stage …. The Beatles!”
I’m not even going to comment on that medley; no need.
This month I was busy working on a revamped format for In The Groove; I had a great time putting it together and I think you’ll enjoy what you see and hear. That’s all I’m prepared to say at this point; just come back next week to find out what it’s all about. I think you’re gonna like it!
Thanks for your participation and great comments these past six months; you’re a terrific audience!
That’s it for now, kids; catch you right here next Tuesday.
See you on the flip side.
I’m the Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
AT THE MOVIES (August 17, 2023)
“Jailhouse Rock” was recorded by Elvis Presley for the film of the same name. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and released by RCA Victor in 1957. It reached the top of the charts in the U.S. and the top 10 in several other countries. The song has been recognized by the Grammy Hall of Fame, the American Film Institute and others.
In the 1957 movie “Jailhouse Rock”, Vince Everett (Elvis Presley), is convicted of manslaughter after being drawn into a bar fight while trying to defend a woman. In prison, Everett finds salvation when his cellmate hears him sing and pegs him as a future star.
From his second feature film, here is Elvis Presley singing and dancing to “Jailhouse Rock”.
Well, that was a fun video. Those hips alone could land him in jail!
Talking about shaking things up, it’s hard to believe another month is half over and I’ve got news coming up here in The Rhythm Section. Stick around or you’ll miss it!
Thanks for hanging out with me today; come on back next week for some more great tunes.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller.
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE (August 15, 2023)
Joe Cocker is the perfect example of people judging a book by its cover. I think we all felt the same way about his disheveled appearance and quirky mannerisms (and who could ever forget John Belushi’s impersonations on SNL?) but once he opened his mouth and started singing, all doubts flew out the window. He was one of the most memorable performers; just watching him, you knew he was “in the zone” when he was singing. He was a terrific artist and one of the few who actually did Beatles covers exceptionally well. For that alone, I give Joe an A+!
Today I’m featuring a song he did at Woodstock, his iconic and memorable rendition of “With A Little Help From My Friends”.
Here is the late, great Joe Cocker. Enjoy!
I can say without a doubt this is my favorite Beatles cover; in fact, I’ll take that one step further and say I like Joe’s version better than The Beatles’ (and that’s not something I say very often!).
What’s your opinion? How’d you like this version? Are you a Joe Cocker fan?
That’s it for today In The Groove. Catch you next week with another great vid.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE (July 11, 2023)
Hang on, kids. We’re taking that magic train to Chicago! 🚅
Today I chose “25 or 6 to 4”, Chicago’s signature song, for four simple reasons:
- I fell in love with Chicago’s sound the minute I heard them
- Singer Peter Cetera has one of the best rock voices around
- Any rock band that has a badass horn section is aces in my book
- There’s some crazy wicked good guitar playing action going on here
Written in 1969 by Robert Lamm, one of Chicago’s seven founding members, the curious title of “25 or 6 to 4” refers to the specific time of day when the song was composed. Opening lyrics: “Waiting for the break of day” — at 25 or 26 minutes to 4 AM (that is, 3:35 or 3:34 AM). No (implied) psychedelic mystery; it’s really as simple as that. 😎
Peter Cetera sang lead on this track – despite his jaw being wired shut. A few months before the recording session, the band went to a baseball game at Dodger Stadium, where their hometown team, the Chicago Cubs, beat the Dodgers, leaving four marines angry and ready to take their aggression out on someone. That someone was Cetera, who was singled out by his long hair as much as his team loyalty. The ensuing brawl sent him to intensive care with his jaw broken in three places. When it came time to record the song, Cetera’s jaw was still wired shut! You’d never know by listening to him here.
From 1970, here is Chicago doing their signature song, “25 or 6 to 4” featuring Peter Cetera on bass and lead vocals and Terry Kath ripping it up on lead guitar.
Yeah, baby! That’s how you play the guitar! 🎸
In 1969, while Robert Lamm was working on today’s song, Woodstock came knocking on Chicago’s door and they were booked to play the event. However, at the time, the band was under contract to concert promoter Bill Graham, and he retained the right to reschedule them. He did exactly that, sending Chicago to play at San Francisco’s famed Fillmore West. That left an empty slot to be filled at Woodstock, so Graham simply scheduled another band that he managed to play in that spot. The name of that band was Santana.
That leads us to the question of the day: Did you attend Woodstock or any other similar musical event? Tell us something about your experience.
I’ll kick things off: I did not attend Woodstock (although I did see The Beatles at Shea Stadium!). My parents laid down the law and absolutely refused to let me go. Now, I was a rebel and did pretty much what I wanted to do but this would have been a tough one for me to pull off. Me and Mr. Bill more than made up for missing Woodstock by seeing more concerts than we can remember, many at the legendary Fillmore East. We keep saying one day we should compile a list of every group we saw in concert. We better do it while our memories are still intact!
Now it’s your turn; who’s up for sharing a story about your concert-going days?
Thanks for joining me today In The Groove. I had a blast! Stay tuned for more great music coming this week.
Be well and happy, my friends; it’s a jungle out there.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian StoryTeller
NAR © 2023
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.
IN THE GROOVE (June 20, 2023)
Right from his start in Gary, Indiana with his brothers in The Jackson 5, it was obvious that Michael Jackson was destined for stardom. Over a four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance and fashion, along with his globally publicized personal life, made him a world-renown figure in pop culture. Jackson influenced artists across many music genres; through stage and video performances, he popularized complicated dance moves such as the moonwalk, to which he gave the name, as well as the robot.
He was indeed destined for stardom. Michael Jackson is the most awarded recording artist in pop music history.
It was not easy for me to pick a song by Michael Jackson; after watching a few videos, I kept coming back to one because of its creativity in both song and dance. The precision of the dance moves by Jackson and the ensemble cast is impeccable. We’d never seen anything quite like it before or since. My choice for you today is Thriller.
What you are about to see is the short version; no singing or dancing has been cut from the long version so you won’t be missing anything. The full version is more than 13 minutes long and is all about what happens before the zombie song/dance routine. I saw no reason in taking up your time with what can readily be viewed on YouTube at your leisure.
The first time I saw this on MTV, I couldn’t believe what I was watching. Hold onto something and get ready for Thriller!
That was crazy good! So fabulous to watch and still great after all these years!
Now for the question of the day:
In the original long version of “Thriller”, we can hear narration being done by a very ‘creepy’ and easily recognizable voice. Can you name the famous old-time actor well known for his many spooky movies who was the voice of “Thriller”?
Check the bottom of the page for the answer.
Well, I hope you’re having a great time here In The Groove. I love comments as well as answers so don’t be shy; let me know what you’re thinking.
Catch you Thursday At The Movies.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
The unforgettable spooky voice was that of ….. Vincent Price.
JUST FOR FUN
Not too long ago we got into the subject of the pros and cons of reality television. At that time I mentioned that I enjoyed watching American Idol when it first came out and now America’s Got Talent. Admitting that didn’t embarrass me at all; I have always been a fan of music talent shows and what bigger musical competition program is there than AGT?
This evening while checking out what was on my DVR I came across this. What a great example of reaching for the moon and realizing what had only been imagined.
I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE (June 6, 2023)
Wikipedia calls them a “rock supergroup”. Well, I guess they were but funny – I never thought of them that way. I mean, they definitely were all that but to me they were just a bunch of guys – friends, actually – who got together for a very short period of time, recorded some terrific songs and made it all look incredibly easy and fun.
I bet you think you know who I’m talking about and I wouldn’t blame you but you’d only be one-fifth correct … not very good odds so don’t put all your money on “THAT” supergroup from Liverpool because you’d lose.
No, the group I’m talking about was the American/British combo of (in alphabetical order) Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynn, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty, otherwise known as The Traveling Wilburys. Getting a group together was something George Harrison wanted to do for a long time; the idea finally started to gel when George and Jeff Lynne were chatting it up one night. Some of the best ideas come from two good friends having a nice sit down.
Now, I’m only partially serious when I ask this but I’ve learned never to discount any possibility. If you haven’t heard of The Traveling Wilburys, is there a chance you’ve been in a coma since 1988? Maybe you hadn’t been born yet. Well, the age defense doesn’t really hold water, now does it? We’d have very little going on it our noggins if that were true. No matter our age, something we can all do is broaden our horizons by embracing the new along with the old.
But I digress.
So, if these five guys formed what’s being called a “rock supergroup”, what happened to it after just three short years? The answer is simple: life. And, of course, death. After Roy Orbison died in December 1988, the Wilburys continued as a quartet and released a second album in 1990 which won the Grammy for “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group”.
Due to the guys busy solo careers, the group began taking a different direction. The remaining foursome stayed friends and performed on/contributed to each other’s albums until George Harrison’s death in 2001. Today there are only two of the original five still with us – Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynn.
Now that you know about The Traveling Wilburys, allow me to tell you about the song I’ve chosen for today. “End of the Line” was the final track on their October ’88 debut album; a video followed in December ’88 and a second single was issued in January ’89. Set in a moving passenger car pulled by a steam locomotive, the video features all five members of the group as well as a session musician playing the brushes. Since Roy Orbison died after recording his vocals – but before the video was shot– an image of his guitar sitting in a rocking chair and a photo of him are shown when his vocals are heard (a rather nice touch and a first class act by George Harrison).
Here now, possibly for the first time for a couple of you, are The Traveling Wilburys performing their hit song, “End of the Line”. I sincerely hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
How’d you like the song? Not a bad little group, eh?
Thanks for being with me today. I’ve got a train to catch.
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
IN THE GROOVE (May 23)
Let’s face facts. If you’re in a rock band, chances are excellent a number of commandments are gonna get broken. That is exactly what led to the writing of our next tune.
Once upon a time, George Harrison and Eric Clapton were best friends, practically brothers. George was married and very much in love with his wife and she with him. So, what’s the problem? Eric was also very much in love with George’s wife. He couldn’t help it; by all accounts, she was very desirable. She, however, resisted the worn out phrases and longing gazes of Eric … but only just for so long. He wore her resistance down until, in spite of her love for the handsome George, she fell in love with Eric, left George and married Eric. George, realizing they were only human and he himself was no saint, forgave Eric and his wife (what a guy!). More than that, George and Eric remained best friends for the rest of George’s life, with the two men referring to each other as “husband-in-law”. The two continued to perform together frequently until George’s passing in 2001. It was all so very civilized. The end.
Sounds like this could be one of my stories!
Written and released in 1970 by composer/guitarist/singer Eric Clapton, “Layla” is the title track on the Derek and the Dominos album “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs”. George and Eric’s wife was the inspiration for the song which is considered one of rock music’s definitive love songs.
This is one of those times I could not find a good quality recording of Derek and the Dominos. Instead I chose this version – Eric Clapton performing with Phil Collins and others at Live Aid in the John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia USA on July 13, 1985. The event was organized to raise funds for the Ethiopian famine disaster. I hope you enjoy “Layla”.
What a great tune and you can see why Clapton is regarded as one of the best guitar players in the world. I’ll never forget seeing Clapton with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker; they were Cream. They didn’t set off pyrotechnics, smash their instruments, sport big hair or perform acrobatics on stage. They came out, laid down some mean guitar riffs and sang some awesome songs. No need for more than that.
Here’s the question of the day:
In my intro to the video, I never referred to George’s wife by name. A model and actress in the 60s and 70s, she is recognized today as an author, photographer and supporter of various charities. Can you identify this beautiful blonde who stole the hearts of both George Harrison and Eric Clapton? FYI it is not “Layla”!
The answer appears below. If you don’t know the answer, no worries; perhaps you’d like to share one of your favorite George Harrison or Eric Clapton songs (videos always welcome).
Today’s post was a little bit longer than usual so thanks for sticking around. Join me next week In The Groove for another great tune.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
The answer to today’s question is ….. Pattie Boyd.
IN THE GROOVE (May 9, 2023)
The first time I heard this song, I was driving down a deserted highway in northern New York. I was immediately drawn to this piece and had to pull over to listen.
No babble today, no statistics; if you want them, they’re all available on Wikipedia.
Just sit back and enjoy the brilliance of Carlos Santana. This is “Europa”.
I’m blown away every time I hear this piece. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
You’re all probably too chill at the moment to do any deep thinking so I’m going to make today’s question an easy one:
What was Santana’s first big hit? Easy, right?
I wonder how many of you have had a similar experience while driving? One other time I got so caught up in “Dance Of the Furies” by Christoph Gluck (YouTube it) that I got my one and only speeding ticket! Music has a way of transporting us to another level; for me it was beyond the speed limit!
Let’s catch up At The Movies on Thursday. Don’t forget to see were Deb is taking us tomorrow. Have a great day!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
NAME THAT TUNE (April 9, 2023)
Welcome back to Name That Tune. To all who observe this day, I wish you a very Happy Easter.
I don’t want to talk about this song; I’d rather just cut to the chase and listen to my favorite rocker … but first, let’s see if you can guess the song, the composers and perhaps even the performer. I’m rooting for you!
Keeping in mind the historical religious events which led up to today, here are your five clues:
- This song is featured prominently in a Broadway show and film which both achieved international success.
- The setting for this song is at night in a garden where an indecisive and troubled man is asking his father a soul-searching question.
- This song is just one of 23 which were written and conceived as an album before the show was created or staged. The album was released October 27, 1970; almost one year to the day the show opened on Broadway October 12, 1971.
- The singer on the original album was the frontman for one of the biggest rock groups to come out of England. Because the group was on the top of the musical world at the time, the singer was unable to join either the production on Broadway in 1971 or the film in 1973. On the album, the singer portrays the lead character.
- The music was composed by one of the most famous British writing duos in the industry.
Any ideas? Well, cogitate on it a bit then scroll down for the big reveal.
Did you figure it out? If you said “Easter Parade” you’re wrong! Sorry, just having a bit of fun.
Now for the correct answer:
In keeping with the holiday, here is “Gethsemane” (“I Only Want to Say”) from Jesus Christ Superstar, music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, sung by Ian Gillan, lead singer of the rock group Deep Purple, in the role of Jesus.
There have been other singers since Ian Gillan who tackled the role of Jesus but none came close to this original recording and his incredible voice.
For those of you who thought the answer was “Easter Parade”, here’s a video from the movie of the same name. If you’re a musical buff, you’ll enjoy Judy Garland and Fred Astaire singing “Easter Parade” (often mistakenly called “Easter Bonnet”) from the 1948 movie.
Thanks for joining me today; I hope you had a good time playing Name That Tune.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE (March 21, 2023)
How’s everybody doing? Hope you got your groove on for a little rock today because we’re featuring one of the biggest groups to come out of England – Queen!
“Bohemian Rhapsody” was first made for Queen’s 1975 album, “A Night At the Opera”. Written by Freddie Mercury, the song is the group’s greatest hit. It officially became the most streamed song in December 2018, having been downloaded or streamed almost 2 billion times.
Mercury’s premature death in 1991 shocked the music world but the band’s legacy is as strong today as it has ever been.
Let’s not get all bogged down with statistics and numbers; let’s just cut to the chase and play some Queen. Check your speakers and turn up the volume cos this is “Bohemian Rhapsody”!
It’s fair to say that actor Rami Malek absolutely nailed his portrayal of Freddie Mercury in the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody”; the Oscar he won for his role attests to that. But imagine if he hadn’t had the chance to play the part. Imagine if the producers had cast someone else. Here’s our question of the day:
Hollywood is calling you every day and producers are banging on your door. They want to make a movie about YOU and the story of your life! Cool, right? The pressure is really on now. If you were in charge of casting the movie of YOUR life, who would you choose to play YOU? I can’t wait to see these answers!
Well that does it for today’s edition of In The Groove. I hope you had a blast! Looking forward to Tuesday for another great song and video.
Have a terrific week and don’t forget to catch Deb’s post tomorrow here at The Rhythm Section.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
IN THE GROOVE (MARCH 7, 2023)
Hi, everyone, and welcome to my first post at In The Groove! This site is dedicated to all the great songs we’ve come to love, anything from Ella Fitzgerald to Led Zeppelin. Maybe you’ll come across an old favorite you haven’t heard in a long time or find a new tune that really turns you on. My hope is that whatever videos I play here, someone will say “Yes! I love that song!”
Anyone who knows me also knows I love The Beatles so it seemed only appropriate that I open this site with a Beatles song. Now, for those of you who don’t like The Beatles (a concept I cannot wrap my head around), don’t panic – this site is not devoted to them but I believe you’re going to like what I’ve chosen today.
As Mr. Bump said in his first post, we’re going to try to keep our blurbs short and sweet. I can do sweet but I’m a storyteller so short doesn’t come easy. I will try my best. Please bear with me because sometimes there are some songs/artists that are too great to skim over – like this one.
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was written by George Harrison after his return from India where The Beatles had been studying Transcendental Meditation. The song appears on the 1968 double album The Beatles, also known as the White Album.
George Harrison said “The Eastern concept is that whatever happens is what is meant to be; every little item that’s going down has a purpose. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was a simple study based on that theory. I picked up a book at random, opened it and saw “gently weeps”. I laid the book down and started writing the song.”
“A simple study”, he said. Ha!
New Yorker columnist Mark Hertsgaard said “While My Guitar Gently Weeps was the single most impressive song on the White Album”.
Rolling Stone ranked George’s composition 136th on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”, seventh on the “100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time”, and at number 10 on its list of “The Beatles’ 100 Greatest Songs”. At long last George was getting his due!
I hope you’ve enjoyed my post and a tribute to George Harrison. Now you’re really going to get your money’s worth here at In The Groove– not one but two versions of this incredible song. The first video features today’s song from the White Album and the second video is from “Concert for George”. (Look for a very young Dhani Harrison among the concert musicians; he is without a doubt his father’s son!)
Now let’s get this show on the road!
On November 29, 2002, one year after George’s passing, Olivia Harrison and Eric Clapton organized a performance tribute to celebrate the life and music of George. Held at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the momentous “Concert for George” featured George’s songs and the music he loved performed by artists including Eric Clapton, Joe Brown, Dhani Harrison, Jools Holland, Jeff Lynne, Paul McCartney, Monty Python, Tom Petty, Billy Preston, Ravi & Anoushka Shankar, Ringo Starr and more.
Now for the question of the day:
If you were to pick the perfect band or perhaps a tribute concert for YOURSELF, which famous artists would be in the band and what song(s) would they play? OK, have at it! Let’s see what you got!
Thanks for tuning in; I hope you had as good a time as I did.
We have a brand new and totally different segment lined up next. I can’t wait to see what DA’s got planned for us!
Join me In The Groove next Tuesday. Have a great week!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
The Elephant's Trunk 