Monthly Archives: February 2024

Music Monday: February 26, 2024

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

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Yesterday marked the 81st birth anniversary of my favorite Beatle. George Harrison was born February 25, 1943 in Liverpool, England. He was the youngest member of the Fab Four but carried a great deal of melody in his hands as their lead guitarist. The fame & wealth he found with the band did not satisfy his spiritual side, however, so he went searching. That lead him to Hinduism which helped him discover the sitar. That sound is featured on the 1965’s “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” and 1967’s “Within You Without You”.

I am featuring two songs today, both of George’s contributions to 1969’s Abbey Road. The first one is my favorite Beatles song of all time and the second is in honor of the fact that on this winter’s day here in New England, it was a very sunny 55 degrees. I may be jinxing myself by looking forward to the next season when we still have the entire month of March to go before the current one is officially over. My grandmother always cautioned such optimism as next month usually “comes in like a lion”. Whether that happens this year or not, “I say, it’s alright”.

Thank you, George. We miss you. Every. Single. Second.

George Harrison circa 1969

George Harrison in the studio circa 1969. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Beatles: “Something” (1969, written by George Harrison).

The Beatles: “Here Comes The Sun” (1969, written by George Harrison).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: February 19, 2024

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

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ray Manzarek born February 12, 1939 in Chicago, IL so this year marks his 85th birth anniversary. Below is the post I wrote for him three years ago:

Stories about brothers as rivals go back to the days of Kane & Abel. That competitive existence has played out over and over in history since. And it does not just exist between blood brothers as it can happen with two men who are friends as well. But some brothers, despite their differences, do not become rivals but rather exist in a more harmonious entwined state because they admire each other’s talents. This is sometimes referred to as a bromance. One of the best examples of this is found in Greek mythology between Zeus’ sons, Apollo and Dionysus. Apollo, the god of the sun, was logical and prudent like most left brain people are. Dionysus, the god of wine & dance, was more creative and ruled by his emotions which today translates into right brain thinking.

The Doors in Hamburg
The Doors circa 1968 (L-R): John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ray Manzarek of The Doors once said in a radio interview that he played Apollo to Jim Morrison’s Dionysus. Manzarek also referred to Morrison as his buddy, his pal, his friend and his soul mate. The man he created art with. I found it both heartbreaking and beautiful to listen to one man talk so eloquently about another man who he also referred to as his “brother”.

Manzarek was born 85 years ago on Feb 12, 1939. He met Morrison in California in the early 1960’s and by 1965 The Doors were a band. From 1967 to 1971 they conquered the music world & released six albums together before Morrison’s death on July 3, 1971. Manzarek died on May 20, 2013. After 42 years, the Apollo & Dionysus of the music world were finally reunited. The Morrison & Manzarek bromance continues.

“All your love is gone
So sing a lonely song
Of a deep blue dream
Seven horses seem to be on the mark“.

The-Doors-1970

The Doors circa 1970 (L-R): Robby Krieger, Jim Morrison, John Densmore and Ray Manzarek. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Doors: “Love Her Madly” (1971, written by The Doors: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: February 12, 2024

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

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last week I did not see the Grammys in real time as none of my streaming services offered it live. And let’s face it, for several years now this awards show was anything but remarkable so all I did was catch the highlights anyway. But after I saw the most talked about performance of the night (followed by Joni Mitchell’s), I echoed the sentiments of those who already witnessed that transcendent performance which brought Tracy Chapman back into focus. Her unannounced duet with Luke Combs was beyond beautiful and so was the love she received. That seemed not only to warm her heart but surprised her as well as evidenced by the enormous smile of sheer joy she showed to getting the love she absolutely deserves. When she sang the line, “Me myself I got nothing to prove“, she was 1000% right. 

Her immense talent speaks volumes all by itself. Chapman was her authentic self-no fanfare, no designer dress or suit, no fancy set design, not even any ear monitors in sight. Just her guitar, her hauntingly beautiful voice and the power & poetry of her storytelling, proving a great song is a great song forever. I wrote about my love for this track & its wonderful cover last year. I have also written this many times before but it bears reposting: Music is the answer. It is joy, it is healing, it is a time machine to a past we ache to return to and it is love. And thank you, Luke Combs, for bringing Tracy and her masterpiece back to center stage.  

tracy and luke

Tracy Chapman (L) and Luke Combs (R) at the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 4th. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last month marked the 75th birth anniversary of one of my favorite soulful vocalists, Robert Palmer. He was born January 19, 1949 in Batley, Yorkshire. He grew up listening to jazz, soul and the blues. He joined his first band at age 15. By 1974 he was signed to his first record deal. His solo career featured the #1 song, “Addicted To Love” (1986) and two #2 hits, “I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On” (1986) and “Simply Irresistible” (1988)-and those unforgettable female driven music videos.

Palmer was also the lead singer for the supergroup, The Power Station. He co-wrote many of the tracks for their debut record, including today’s pick which he continued to perform after he left that band. I was lucky enough to see him in concert at NYC’s famed Radio City Music Hall. It us one the best shows I ever saw. 

Robert Palmer
robert-palmer-girls

Top: Robert Palmer circa 1982. Bottom: A still from the 1985 video, “Addicted To Love”. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Robert Palmer: ”Some Like It Hot” (From a live performance in 1988. Originally recorded in 1985 with The Power Station. Written by Robert Palmer, John Taylor and Andy Taylor). 

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: February 5, 2024

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

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This week marks 60 glorious years of The Beatles taking America by storm. The band from Liverpool released two albums in the UK in 1963-Please Please Me in March and With The Beatles in November. Building on that momentum, the group then released two records in the United States, Introducing… The Beatles and Meet The Beatles, within two weeks of each other in January 1964. That helped add to the excitement and anticipation of the band’s first trip to America which brought them to New York’s JFK Airport on February 7, 1964.

The-Beatles-Feb 7 1964
The Beatles 2

Top: The Beatles at JFK Airport on February 7, 1964. Bottom: Their first press conference later that day. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Two days later, February 9, 1964, The Fab Four appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” for the first time where they performed a total of five songs to 73 million fans and their parents watching at home. About four seconds into the first track, the world changed into a new color known as John, Paul, George and Ringo. It was-and remains-an extraordinarily beautiful hue.

The band made a total of three appearances on Sullivan’s show that month, but that first show 60 years ago signified the pop culture phenomenon known as Beatlemania. They took the country from the darkness of the Kennedy assassination less than three months earlier and catapulted it into a musical and cultural movement known as The British Invasion.  

Beatles Ed Sullivan 1
Beatles Ed Sullivan 2

Top and bottom: The Beatles first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Sunday, February 9, 1964. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The band changed our lives, their lives and history during an incredible ride that ended when they broke up in April 1970. But for 6 magical years, we watched those four men teach us all the power of love, music, life and peace. And their songs continue that legacy today. 

Let’s relive the magic of February 9, 1964 with the five songs the Beatles performed that night:

The Beatles: ”All My Loving” (1963, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney). 

The Beatles: ”Till There Was You” (1963, written by Meredith Wilson).

The Beatles: ”She Loves You” (1963, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: ”I Saw Her Standing There” (1963, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: ”I Want To Hold Your Hand” (Performed live on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Sunday, February 9, 1964. Recorded in 1963, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Stay safe & well.