Let’s Take A Moment Day 451

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

Hi everyone. Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing. But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Tony Bennett has often said today’s singer was the best he ever heard. And in many ways she was. Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922 in Minnesota, started singing with her sisters when she was a child. By age 13 she was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by studio president Louis B. Mayer.

She started in radio & eventually moved on to movies. Her career-making performance as Dorothy Gale in 1939’s “The Wizard Of Oz” when she was 16 turned her into a legend, a role every generation since has discovered her in. It was truly an iconic part and she was absolutely beautiful in it.

It may be hard to forget how young she was when she died (aged 47 in 1969) all her marriages, her battles with substance abuse and the fact that she was one of Hollywood’s first casualties. But her incomparable voice, her acting, her live performances & her incredible heart are what she gave us all. Nearly 100 years after her birth & more than 50 years after her death, Judy Garland is still one of the most beloved stars the world ever saw.

“If happy little blue birds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why oh why can’t I“.

Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in 1939’s classic, “The Wizard Of Oz“. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Judy Garland: “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” (1939, written by Harold Arlen and Edgar Yipsel “Yip” Harburg).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

9Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 450

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Jack “Jackie” Leroy Wilson Jr. was born 87 years ago on June 9, 1934 in Detroit, Michigan. His first solo single,1957’s “Reet Petite”, was co-written by Motown founder Berry Gordy. Today’s song was released six years later & was co-written by Wilson himself. He sang, he danced, he wrote songs & performed with everything he had. “Mr. Excitement”, as he was called, was the whole package.

“‘Round and ’round we go
Where we stop nobody knows
Yeah the band is swinging on the stand
We’re moving in we’re moving out“.

Jackie Wilson circa 1989. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Jackie Wilson: “Baby Workout” (Live performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” broadcast March 31, 1963. Written by Alonzo Tucker and Jackie Wilson).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

8Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 449

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Time for another Motown break. June 6th marked the 85th birth anniversary for one of the label’s greatest voices, Levi Stubbs. Born in 1936 in Detroit, Michigan, he was endowed with a powerful emotionally charged baritone voice which often times crossed over to the tenor range. It led the way for The Four Tops to become one of the most successful & beloved groups from the Motor City. And helped Stubbs become one of my favorite singers of all time.

“All alone I’m destined to be
With misery my only company
It may come today it might come tomorrow
But it’s for sure I ain’t got nothing but sorrow“.

The Four Tops circa 1965. Top (L_R): Abdul “Duke” Fakir and Lawrence Payton. Bottom (L-R): Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Levi Stubbs. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

The Four Tops: “Standing In The Shadows Of Love” (1967, written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

7Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 448

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

All the music released in 1971 is turning 50 this year. Along with powerhouse albums like Carole King’s Tapestry (released February 10, 1971 Day 331), Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On (released May 21, 1971 Day 431) and John Lennon’s Imagine (released September 9, 1971), Don McLean’s American Pie (Day 107) was released October 24, 1971. In addition to the exquisite title track, the record included the heartbreakingly beautiful “Crossroads” (Day 43) and today’s gorgeous track recorded earlier that year on June 7,

It is another example of McLean’s wonderful gift of intricate storytelling combined with a sparse yet undeniably elegant and stunning arrangement. He holds his audience captive hanging on every word, every note, every breath. His voice has a calm & soothing quality with a subtle use of range and power in just the right places.

As one artist telling the story of another, he holds the subject of the song in the highest regard. And the introduction of the strings in the last minute of the track brings even more elegance to an already opulent piece of music. Even without the story about “the day the music died”, Don McLean’s talent & place in music history is undeniable.

“Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can’t forget“.

Don McLean circa 1971. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Don McLean: “Vincent” (1971, written by Don McLean).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

6Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 447

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

The beginning of the 1970’s marked the end of an incredible era of television. After a 23 year run, “The Ed Sullivan Show” came to an end on June 6, 1971. If you lived through any of those years or are remotely acquainted with pop culture, you know some of the highlights of the program: Elvis Presley’s hips being censored, The Beatles American debut in February 1964, The Rolling Stones being forced to change the lyrics to one of their songs and The Doors refusal to do the same thing are just a few.

The first show was broadcast on June 20, 1948 under its original name, Toast Of The Town, when Sullivan was 46 years old. It was renamed for the host in 1955. His progressive attitude welcomed & embraced the changes brought about over the next two decades and he took his audience along for that incredible ride. The list of guest stars was vast and varied, from not only musicians but to comedians, actors, dancers, jugglers, ventriloquists and many more. But for me it was the musical moments I cherished the most, as it was a chance to see the singers I grew up to love who predated me.

One of the performances I absolutely adore is from soul crooner Sam Cooke in 1957. Because his life was so tragically short and his death came in the middle of the 1960’s before concerts & studio sessions were routinely recorded, any appearance he made on film that was preserved is absolutely platinum. And Sullivan’s show is one of those gems. We get to see Cooke in his prime, as a talented beautiful charming suave happy young man.

Like Sullivan, Cooke was a pioneer. He helped introduce black music to white audiences and is considered by some critics to be the inventor of soul music. He recorded today’s song in tribute to one of his idols, Nat King Cole. And thanks to the genius of Ed Sullivan, we have this superb performance by Cooke to cherish forever. Ed Sullivan was the premiere starmaker.

“I think of you every morning
I dream of you every, every, every, every night
And no I’m never lonely
Whenever you are in sight“.

Ed Sullivan (far left) watches Sam Cooke (center) perform in 1957. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Sam Cooke: “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” (Live performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” broadcast on December 1, 1957 Originally released in 1957. Written by William “Pat” Best and Ivory “Deek” Watson).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

5Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 446

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Sixty years ago today-June 5, 1961-Roy Orbison hit the #1 spot in the country for one week with today’s song. His Traveling Wilbury bandmate, Jeff Lynne, covered this track on his 2012 album, Long Wave and it is exceptionally good. But there is only one Roy Orbison and his version is damn near perfect.

“Then all at once he was standing there
So sure of himself his head in the air
My heart was breaking which one would it be
You turned around and walked away with me“.

George Harrison (L) & his future Traveling Wilbury bandmate, Roy Orbison (R), in 1964. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Roy Orbison: “Running Scared” (1961, written by Joe Melson and Roy Orbison).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

4Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 445

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

On June 1, 1978 Bruce Springsteen released Darkness On The Edge Of Town. It was the follow up to his masterpiece, Born To Run & the second album with his new manager Jon Landau. For those of you who may not know, he was a rock critic who saw The Boss live in 1974 prompting Landau to write the now famous quote: “I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen”.

Life would change exponentially for both men after the release of Born In The U.S.A. on June 4, 1984. It was an enormous smash, yielding seven Top Ten hits & catapulted Springsteen to a level of stardom few had ever seen. But the seriousness of the songs was overshadowed by the videos, a catch 22 common in the early days of the MTV era.

The lead off single, “Dancing In The Dark”, was a tale of self-loathing & internal angst. But that message was lost by both the song’s upbeat tempo and the glitzy performance video as well. And the title track, a commentary on the plight of Vietnam veterans who struggled to find their way back, became an anthem of patriotism & national pride. The clips in the video showing Springsteen dressed in red, white & blue punching his fist in the air during the chorus only aided that misconception.

But ultimately that album was like every Springsteen record before & after. It was about struggling, disappointed disenfranchised people looking for a way to escape their sad reality. And for those chasing the promise of the American dream, only to discover it is just the pursuit of happiness that is guaranteed in our country’s declaration, not the actual achievement of it. And as Springsteen sang in an outtake song from the Darkness album sessions, “When the promise is broken you go on living, but it steals something from down in your soul”. His words are heartbreaking, raw & sublime, just like life.

Today’s song is in that tradition, albeit at a faster tempo. It’s all about wanting to shut the door & hide from the outside world & let love keep you safe. Who has not felt like that more than once in their lives, especially in the last 12 months? And the fact that the singer is asking his partner for help & not expecting her to read his mind? Well, swoon.

I loved this song so much I got not one but two sets of special license plates in tribute to it. However once road rage became part of the vernacular, I reluctantly gave them up. But I still have one……..framed. Yes, I am that girl. A Boss fan.

“Now promise me baby
You won’t let them find us
Hold me in your arms
Let’s let our love blind us“.

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Cover Me” (1984, written by Bruce Springsteen).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

3Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 444

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Last week we received the sad news that singer Billy Joe “B.J.” Thomas passed away at age 78. Whether you remember him from “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”, “Hooked On A Feeling”, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”, “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” or other tunes, you know he was a fixture on AM radio in the early 1970’s before his foray into gospel music once he became sober in 1976.

But for me, today’s song is the one I remember best. It was on repeat in my house growing up as it was one of my mother’s favorites. I kept her worn out 45′ for sentimental reasons and I sing along when it is played on the 70’s channel because I can still recall every single word by heart.

It is a bittersweet memory that comes from those tunes that molded us when we were kids and transports us back to those days like a time machine. It may only last a few minutes, but what happens in that short amount of time is transformative. Rest in peace, BJ Thomas. Thanks for taking me home for a little while.

“I just can’t help believing
When she slips her hand in my hand
And it feels so small and helpless
That my fingers fold around it like a glove“.

BJ Thomas circa 1974. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

B.J. Thomas: “I Just Can’t Help Believing” (1970, written by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

2Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 443

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Time for the first mid-week Motown break in June. Gladys Maria Knight was born 77 years ago on May 28, 1944 in the state named in her most famous song, Georgia. She started singing in her church choir when she was a child and never stopped. She & The Pips-her brother Merald “Bubba” Knight & their cousins William Guest and Edward Patten-enjoyed great success throughout their career which started in the 1950’s & lasted until Knight left to pursue a solo career in 1988. In addition to singing she has made countless appearances in films & on TV shows. Here is to 100 more birthdays for The Empress Of Soul & her remarkable voice.

“You’re like a diamond
And she treats you like glass
Yet you beg her to love you
With me you don’t ask”.

Gladys Knight & The Pips circa 1972 (L-R): Edward Patten, Merald “Bubba” Knight, Gladys Knight and William Guest. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Gladys Knight & The Pips: “If I Were Your Woman” (1970, written by Gloria Jones, Clay McMurray and Pam Sawyer).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

1Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 442

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

We have two Rolling Stones birthdays to begin this new month with. Guitarist, & songwriter Ron Wood, born June 1, 1947 in England, turns 74 today. June 2 marks the 80th birthday for drummer Charlie Watts, also born in England, in 1941.

The band released today’s song in the US on June 1, 1968, which happened to be Wood’s 21st birthday. But it would be seven years before he played his first show with the group that would later make him a member. Before that he was a member of The Jeff Beck Group where he met Rod Stewart.

The two men went on to form The Faces in 1969. Together they wrote one of my favorite songs of all time, 1971’s “Stay With Me” (Day 218). The same year, Wood played & contributed songs to Stewart’s 1971 breakthrough album, Every Picture Tells A Story. In 1975, Wood joined The Rolling Stones but remains friends with Stewart, whom he joined for his MTV Unplugged show in 1993.

Watts has been in The Stones since their formation in 1963. His grew up listening to jazz music & started playing the drums when he was 14. He also attended art school & worked as a graphic designer in addition to his work in the band, Blues Incorporated. Playing shows with them in and around the London club circuit is how he came to meet the members of The Stones.

Today’s song was a #3 hit for the band in 1969. In 1986, when it was covered by Aretha Franklin for the movie of the same name, it hit #21. Wood & song co-writer Keith Richards played guitar on her track & appeared in the video as well. Her version is, of course, spectacular because Franklin is The Queen. But it was The Stones version that was used in the movie “Pirate Radio” when Gavin Kavanagh returned to the airwaves, so that makes it my favorite version forever. Happy birthday Ron Wood and Charlie Watts. May you both see 100 more.

“I was drowned I was washed up
And left for dead
I fell down to my feet
And I saw they bled“.

Top: The Rolling Stones circa 1978 (L-R): Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Ron Wood, Bill Wyman and Keith Richards. Bottom: The Stones circa 2008 (L-E): Watts, Richards, Jagger and Wood. (Images found online. Original sources unknown.)

The Rolling Stones: “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (1968, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

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Lilacs & Rust

Music & makeovers! I swoon for chippy paint, a gorgeous patina and a fabulous song!!! I love great music (read: Bruce Springsteen & Otis Redding), white lilacs, walking in freshly fallen snow, the Golden Girls, road trips and the fall!!!

Monthly Archives: June 2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 451

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Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in 1939’s classic, “The Wizard Of Oz“. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 450

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 449

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

The Four Tops circa 1965. Top (L_R): Abdul “Duke” Fakir and Lawrence Payton. Bottom (L-R): Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Levi Stubbs. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 448

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Let’s Take A Moment Day 447

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Ed Sullivan (far left) watches Sam Cooke (center) perform in 1957. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 446

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 445

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 444

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

BJ Thomas circa 1974. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 443

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Gladys Knight & The Pips circa 1972 (L-R): Edward Patten, Merald “Bubba” Knight, Gladys Knight and William Guest. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 442

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)