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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last month marked the 80th birth anniversary of singer & songwriter Townes Van Zandt who was born March 7, 1944 in Fort Worth, TX. He is another one of those somewhat obscure singer/songwriters who achieved cult hero status thanks to a handful of songs he wrote which are still revered today. He was featured on Day 356 of my Lockdown Countdown series. His life is definitely worth the read.

English singer & musician Mick Ralphs turned 80 last month. He was born March 31, 1944 in Herefordshire, England. While he is best known for his tenures in Mott The Hopple & Bad Company, it was with the latter group that Ralphs saw his greatest success. In addition to playing guitar and keyboards as well as providing backing vocals, he was one of the principal songwriters.

Ralphs composed three of the top songs from the band’s debut album, which was released 50 years ago in May 1974: “Can’t Get Enough”, “Ready For Love” (which initially appeared on Mott The Hoople’s 1972 album, All The Young Dudes), and “Movin’ On”. He co-wrote two other songs with Paul Rodgers, “Don’t Let Me Down” and “Seagull” . Together they also wrote “Feel Like Making Love” for the band’s sophomore release. My favorite of Ralphs’ sole compositions appears on the band’s third album, Run With The Pack, released in 1976.

Fifty years ago, Elton John had the #1 song in the country for one week. All of his songs are incredibly special to me, but the song that hit the top spot in the country on April 13, 1974 was the one that finally convinced my dad that John was not only the guy who once appeared on stage in a Donald Duck costume, but one of the most talented singer/songwriters/musicians in the world. Sharing a love for music is one of my most cherished memories of my father and the songs by John and poet extraordinaire Bernie Taupin are an enormous part of that bond. Thank you, kind sirs. All three of you.

Top: Townes Van Zandt circa 1977.  Middle: Bad Company circa 1974: Boz Burrell, Mick Ralphs, Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke. Bottom: Bernie Taupin (L) and Elton John (R) in the 1970’s with some of their gold albums. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Townes Van Zandt : “Pancho & Lefty”  (Recorded in Oklahoma in 1978, from the 1993 album, Rear View Mirror. Originally released in 1972, written by Townes Van Zandt).

Bad Company: “Simple Man” (1976, written by Mick Ralphs).

Elton John: “Bennie And The Jets” (1973, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin).

Stay safe & well.