Monthly Archives: October 2023

Music Monday: October 30, 2023

Posted in Holidays, Music, Music Monday by

Hi, everyone. Welcome to the Halloween triple play edition of Music Monday.

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Before we get to the music, I want to take a minute to share how truly brokenhearted I am over the loss of actor Matthew Perry. “Friends” is part of my DNA and his portrayal of Chandler Bing is a huge part of that. To lose such a beautiful person so unexpectedly at such a young age is an absolute shame, not to mention truly crushing. It is just too sad for words but I am forever grateful for the legacy he left behind.

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Top: Matthew Perry circa 2004. Bottom: The cast of “Friends” circa 2004 (L-R): David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Perry, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

On a much lighter note, happy Halloween, everyone. I have three songs to help you celebrate this special day.

The first is a his and her version from two of the best voices we have ever been privileged to hear. Hers belongs to the great Ella Fitzgerald. Her jazz infused take gives me “The Great Pumpkin” vibes as it reminds me so much of the soundtrack created by Vince Guaraldi for those fabulous and iconic Peanuts specials. His is by the Chairman Of The Board, Francis Albert Sinatra. You cannot go wrong with either and they both add a touch of elegance and style to what is traditionally known as a children’s holiday.

The second feature is a staple for kids of all ages this time of year, whether you embrace the spooky side to the holiday or not. It is just campy light-hearted fun. And it is part of the soundtrack of my life thanks to my mother who introduced it to me when I was a child.

The third song of the day is a surprise to me as I was never a fan of the artist. Donovan was primarily known as a folk singer and later embraced a psychedelic sound, neither of which were genres I related to. But much to my surprise, I heard his spooky track on an episode of “House” (S3 E11) and could not believe the song I was enjoying was by the same man who sang “Jennifer Juniper”. I also never knew his daughter is actress Ione Skye from one of my favorite movies, “Say Anything”.

Enjoy the last day of October, everyone.

Peanuts Halloween

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Frank Sinatra: “Witchcraft” (1957, written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh).

Ella Fitzgerald: “Witchcraft” (2007 (recorded circa 1960), written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh).

Bobby “Boris” Pickett: “Monster Mash” (1962, written by Leonard Capizzi and Bobby Pickett).

Donovan: “Season Of The Witch” (1966, written by Donovan and Shawn Phillips).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: October 23, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Our first feature turned 50 years old earlier this year. It was released in May of 1973 and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1973. It later appeared on Three Dog Night’s ninth studio album, Cyan, which came out in October 1973. Led by an incredible vocal by group co-founder Cory Wells, it is not only my top pick of theirs but also one of my favorite songs of all time. I was overjoyed when it was featured in one of my most beloved shows in 2007. So if this track does not give you “Lost” vibes picturing Hurley, Charlie, Sawyer, Jin and Vincent enjoying a van ride on a not so deserted island, then we cannot be friends.

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Lost Tricia Tanaka

Top: Three Dog Night circa 1972. Back L–R: Joe Schermie, Floyd Sneed, Michael Allsup and Jimmy Greenspoon. Front L–R: Danny Hutton, Cory Wells and Chuck Negron. Bottom (L-R): Vincent the Lab, Charlie, Jin, Hurley and Sawyer in front of the VW van which would transport them back to 1973, courtesy of the first of today’s three songs. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

A song turning 35 this year was covered by Phil Collins for his 1988 movie, Buster. I never saw the film but adored this version of the track from the very first note. It was originally recorded by The Mindbenders in 1965. If you are a “Friends” fan, you know that Chandler was escorted down the aisle by his parents to a beautiful string instrumental version of this tune at his & Monica’s wedding. But even before that I loved Collins’ take on this pretty romantic ballad.

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The movie poster for the 1988 film, Buster. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Another track turning 35 in 2023 is from the debut album from what is arguably music’s most premier super group. Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 was released October 25, 1988 and reacquainted us with five enormous musical powerhouses: Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne & Tom Petty. What these five men accomplished on their own, in prior bands and together is one of the best chapters of rock music’s history.

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The Traveling Wilburys (L-R): Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Tom Petty. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Three Dog Night: “Shambala” (1973, written by Daniel Moore).

Phil Collins: “A Groovy Kind of Love” (1988, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and Toni Wine, music by Muzio Clementi).

The Traveling Wilburys: “Handle With Care” (1988, written by The Traveling Wilburys: Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne & Tom Petty).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: Oct 16, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Happy 75th birthday to Jackson Browne. Born on October 9, 1948 in Germany where his father was stationed, the family moved to California three years later and Browne has called that state home for nearly all of his life. His professional music career started in 1966 when he joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and became part of the Laurel Canyon music scene. His songs were recorded by several artists including Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles (Browne co-wrote “Take It Easy” with Glenn Frey), Gregg Allman and others.

By 1971 Browne was signed to Asylum Records. Despite his well received 1972 self-titled debut album, it was his 1977 album, Running On Empty, that put Browne on the map. His days as an advocate for social and political change started in that decade as well, marked by his participation in the 1979 “No Nukes” concerts in New York City.

As much as I like many of his songs-“Running On Empty” (featured so wonderfully in Forrest Gump), “You Love The Thunder”, “Tender Is The Night”, “Somebody’s Baby”-Browne is one of those artists who stays on my periphery much more than he should, especially for such a talented singer & songwriter. And today’s track proves that so beautifully.

“I’m gonna find myself a girl
Who can show me what laughter means
And we’ll fill in the missing colors
In each other’s paint-by-number dreams“.

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Top: Jackson Browne sometime in the 1970’s. Bottom: Brown circa 2022. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Jackson Browne: “The Pretender” (1976, written by Jackson Browne).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: Oct 9, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today marks the 83rd birth anniversary for the intelligent and passionate man who was first introduced to the world as a Beatle. John Winston Ono Lennon was born October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England. His love of music began young and by the time he was 15, he had formed The Quarrymen. That is how he met Paul McCartney and later, George Harrison.

Out of the ten albums Lennon released separately from The Beatles (an 11th album, Milk and Honey, was released posthumously in 1984), half were with Yoko Ono. But the album turning 50 this year is credited to him only.

It was recorded in the summer of 1973 at the famous Record Plant Studio (where Bruce Springsteen recorded Born To Run) in New York City, the place where Lennon made his home after leaving the United Kingdom. It was released in October 1973 and was his first time as the sole producer, having previously shared that role with Phil Spector. The album went to #9 & the title track went to #18 on the Billboard charts in December 1973. More importantly, the song had the line which became synonymous with one of Lennon’s basic views on life:

“Love is the answer and you know that for sure“.

Sending “limitless undying love” across the universe to the man who gave us so much and who took a big part of our hearts when he left over 40 years ago.

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Top: John Lennon during his Beatles days circa 1965. Middle: His 1973 album. Bottom: Lennon in the studio in 1980. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

John Lennon: “Mind Games” (1973, written by John Lennon).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: Oct 2, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

One of Sir Elton John’s most revered records is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, his first double LP, his seventh studio album and the one widely regarded as his crowning achievement, was released September 29, 1973. (That is according to EJ’s Instagram page, although his website lists the date as “October 5, 1973, on MCA Records in the US and Canada”). It hit the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 Albums chart for the last eight weeks of 1973. As of 2020, it has reportedly sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

Between the title track (which peaked at #2 in December 1973), today’s three featured songs (see below for stats), his ode to Marilyn Monroe, “Candle In The Wind” (which was re-written in 1997 to honor his friend, Princess Diana. That version spent 14 weeks in the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 that year) and all the other incredible tracks on this record, it is easy to see why it is one of EJ’s most successful and well loved albums.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It bears mentioning that Goodbye was the second album he released in 1973. In January he and Taupin gave us, Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player (a #1 record for two weeks in March 1973), which gave us gems like “Daniel” (which peaked at #2 in June 1973) and “Crocodile Rock” (a #1 song for three weeks in February 1973). Both of these songs, especially “Daniel”, were the main reason I purchased EJ’s “Greatest Hits” (1974), the first album I ever bought myself. They began the soundtrack of my life. And my love affair with John-Taupin music has never waned.

Elton_John_-_Don't_Shoot_Me_I'm_Only_the_Piano_Player

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

As if the golden anniversary of these two albums were not enough to celebrate, both men remain as vital and active today as they ever were. EJ just retired from the road but is still doing music collaborations, hosting his Aids Foundation Oscar gala each year and his “Rocket Hour” radio show on Apple Music. He and his husband, David Furnish, have been together since 2005, married since 2014 and are raising two sons. Last month Taupin released his autobiography, “Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me”. I just received my copy and cannot wait to read the journey from Taupin’s perspective. He and and his wife, Heather, will be married 20 years in 2024 and have two daughters.

Thank you, Elton and Bernie, for every record, every note and every word. I cannot imagine the universe without the two of you in it. “How wonderful life is” with your presence in my world and everyone else’s.

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(Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Elton John: “Bennie And The Jets” (1973, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It hit #1 for one week in April 1974).

Elton John: “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” (1973, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It peaked at #12 in September 1973).

Elton John: “Harmony” (1973, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin).

Stay safe and well.