Monthly Archives: September 2023

Music Monday: September 25, 2023

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to another triple edition of Music Monday.

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Three big songs (plus a bonus one) are celebrating milestones in 2023.

The first is from my favorite Beatle, George Harrison. It is from his fourth solo album, Living in the Material World, which was released 50 years ago in May 1973. The following month, the first single reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week. Both the song and album feature Gary Wright on organ. He had his own hits in the 1970’s with “Dream Weaver” (used spectacularly in the 1992 movie, “Wayne’s World”) and “Love Is Alive“. Both songs reached the #2 spot in the country in 1976. Wright died earlier this month on September 4, 2023 at the age of 80.

Bonus: 55 years ago on September 28, 1968 The Beatles had the #1 song in the country. The track stayed in that position for nine consecutive weeks. Name that tune!

George circa 1969
Beatles__Hey_Jude__promo_clip

Top: George Harrison circa 1969. Bottom: The Beatles perform on a TV show in 1968. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

In October 1973 Gladys Knight & the Pips released their 11th studio album, Imagination. One of the singles from it reached the #1 spot on 10/27/73 for two consecutive weeks. It was the group’s only top selling song but it quickly became their signature tune. It has stood the test of time, reaching iconic status and forever cemented in pop culture with shows like “Will & Grace (2001)“, “30 Rock (2008)” (which featured her majesty Gladys Knight herself appearing at the end of the song), “House (2010)” and “Modern Family (2013)” having characters perform the exemplary track.

Gladys

Gladys Knight & The Pips in the 1970’s (L-R): Edward Patten, Merald “Bubba” Knight, Gladys Knight and William Guest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In August 1978, Boston followed up their massive record breaking debut album (it spent a whopping 138 weeks on Billboard’s 200 chart) with their second studio release. It may not have been as successful as their first but the follow up did go on to sell over seven million copies. The record’s title track peaked at #4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 on October 4, 1978 while the album reached the #1 spot in the country for two weeks a month earlier, a feat the first album did not achieve (it peaked at #4 in December 1976). Back in the day and now 45 years later, it is clear Boston avoided the “sophomore slump”.

Boston_1977

Boston circa 1977 (L-R): Barry Goudreau, Tom Scholz, John Thomas “Sib” Hashian, Brad Delp and Fran Sheehan (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

George Harrison: “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” (1973, written by George Harrison).

Bonus: The Beatles: “Hey Jude” (As performed on David Frost’s “Frost On Sunday” show in September 1968. Released the same year, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Gladys Knight & The Pips: “Midnight Train To Georgia” (1973, written by Jim Weatherly).

Boston: “Don’t Look Back” (1978, written by Tom Scholz).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: September 11, 2023

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

First, let us take a moment to remember that today marks 22 years since 9/11. Prayers for our country and all those still directly affected by the impact of this day. Never forget.

9 11 flag pic

“Raising the Flag at Ground Zero” photograph by Thomas E. Franklin taken on September 11, 2001. (Image found online.)

Now to the music.
In July 2022 I got my tickets to see Bruce in concert on March 12, 2023 in CT. Unfortunately it was cancelled due to illness and rescheduled for September 16. Last week, Bruce revealed he is suffering from peptic ulcer disease so he will need to cancel the rest of his performances for this month, maybe even next. Of course, I am heartbroken but very hopeful he will regain his health soon.
In about two weeks The Boss will celebrate birthday #74. He was born September 23, 1949 in Long Branch, New Jersey and grew up in nearby Freehold. He released his first two albums in 1973: his debut, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J., came out on January 5 (read more about that here) and its follow up, The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle, which was released 50 years ago today-September 11, 1973-as per The Boss’s website.
These two records predate long time E Streeters-Roy Bittan, Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg-who joined the band in time for Bruce’s exquisite third record, Born To Run. But they and two previous members of The E Street Band-Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez and David L. Sancious-were inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame with the rest of the group in 2014. I had the pleasure of attending that show and heard them-with Bruce, of course-perform two songs from the second album: “Kitty’s Back” and “The E Street Shuffle”. I chose today’s track to celebrate the album’s golden anniversary, to honor today being Patriot Day and as a shout out to Bruce recuperating at his residence across the river from my home state of New York.
Happy early birthday, Bossman. Get well soon. Thank you for every note.

“It’s midnight in Manhattan
This is no time to get cute
It’s a mad dog’s promenade
So walk tall or baby don’t walk at all“.

the-wild-the-innocent-the-e-street-shuffle-630-80
Bruce 1973 B
Bruce 1973 A

Top: The cover of Springsteen’s second album. Middle: An alternative picture for the album’s back cover (seated: Bruce and Clarence Clemons with Danny Federici standing next to him. Back row (l-r): David L. Sancious, Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez and Garry W. Tallent. Bottom: An alternative picture for the album’s front cover. (Images found online.  Original source: David Gahr.)

Bruce Springsteen: “New York City Serenade” (1973, written by Bruce Springsteen).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: September 4, 2023

Posted in Music, Music Monday by

Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In the spirit of the Labor Day holiday, I pay homage to one of the hardest working genres of music which started over six decades ago and remains one of my favorites of all time.

In 1958 Berry Gordy Jr. borrowed $800 from his family (equivalent to about $8,500 today) to start Tamla Records in Detroit, Michigan which became Motown Records. The website does not list an actual date for this event only the year. But many music sites list the founding date as June 7, 1958. Regardless of the actual day it was started, 2023 marks the 65th anniversary of one of the greatest & most soulful styles of music the world ever saw.

Gordy’s affinity for music began when he owned a record store and started composing songs. After co-writing “Reet Petite” for Jackie Wilson and discovering The Miracles in 1957, Gordy was inspired to start his own label (which is owned today by the Universal Music Group) after he received a royalty check for only $3.19 in 1958 after leasing the first two Miracles singles to End Records in New York. Gordy used the knowledge he learned from his time as a Ford automotive worker by using the company’s assembly line philosophy to prepare his artists for musical careers. There were lessons in singing, choreography, stage performance and all night rehearsals of every kind.

Berry 1961

Berry Gordy Jr. circa 1961 (top) and circa 2011 (bottom). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

From those hallowed halls of Hitsville, USA we were introduced to Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Marvelettes (who had the first #1 hit for the label, the first of today’s three songs), The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Mary Wells, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Junior Walker & The All Stars and more. The label also gave us one of the greatest house bands of all time, The Funk Brothers.

This year two seminal Motown albums celebrate their golden anniversary. Wonder’s sixteenth studio album, Innervisions, was released on August 3, 1973. Gaye’s thirteenth record, Let’s Get It On, was released on August 28, 1973. The title track hit the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 on September 8, 1973 for the first of two inconsecutive weeks.

Thank you, Berry Gordy, for the priceless and phenomenal gift of Motown. And to nearly every artist on the label in its first unbelievably great decade, I remain in complete awe of the beauty of your songs.

Top: A Marvelettes compilation album. Middle: Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions album. Bottom: Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On album. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Marvelettes: “Please Mr. Postman” (1961, written by Robert Bateman, Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman and Brian Holland).

Stevie Wonder: “Living For The City” (1973, written by Stevie Wonder).

Marvin Gaye: “Let’s Get It On” (1973, written by Marvin Gaye and Ed Townsend).

Stay safe and well.