Monthly Archives: August 2024

Music Monday: August 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 85th anniversary of “The Wizard Of Oz” movie. It premiered on August 25, 1939 starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, Ray Bolger as The Scarecrow (and Hunk), Jack Haley as The Tin Man (and Hickory), Bert Lahr as The Cowardly Lion (and Zeke), Margaret Hamilton as The Wicked Witch Of The West (and Miss Gulch), Frank Morgan as the Great & Powerful Oz (and Professor Marvel) and Billie Burke as Glinda The Good Witch.

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An online image that claims to be the original movie poster from 1939. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The first time I saw this movie I was maybe 6 or 7 and it just destroyed me. I could not understand why Dorothy wanted to leave her three beautiful friends. I got that she wanted to get back to her Aunt & Uncle, but since the chances of Dorothy catching another flying house to Oz were virtually zero, by leaving she was never going to see her friends again. I think I started sobbing when she told the Tin Man, “Don’t cry, you’ll rust so dreadfully”, and I never stopped.

After that my mother never let me watch it again and I was fine with that. Honestly I could not bear that pain again, plus the Munchkins freaked me out a little. Then when I was in high school I was babysitting for a few kids who wanted to watch the movie. This time I fell in love with the farm, the relationships between Dorothy and her friends both in and out of Oz, the exquisite beauty of Garland’s voice and Glinda’s dress and almost everything else (except the Munchkins who still creeped me out). I watch it whenever I can now and still appreciate the magic of the story which at its core for me is about Dorothy finding her people. I do not believe I will ever tire of it.

And I was today years old when I discovered there is an All Things Oz Museum in Chittenango, New York-the birthplace of L. Frank Baum-the author of all 14 Oz books which began with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900.

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

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Glinda
wicked with and dorothy

Four iconic images from the film: One: An MGM official still of the main cast (L-R): Jack Haley as The Tin Man, Bert Lahr as The Cowardly Lion, Frank Morgan as the Great & Powerful Oz (with Toto the dog by his feet), Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale and Ray Bolger as The Scarecrow. Two: Haley, Garland, Bolger and Lahr in costume. Three: Billie Burke as Glinda The Good Witch. Four: Margaret Hamilton (L) as The Wicked Witch Of The West with Dorothy (Garland). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

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

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: August 19, 2024

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It was 55 years ago when a crowd of over 400,000 people gathered at Max Yasgur’s 600 acre farm in Bethel, NY for a three day festival which lasted four due to weather interruptions. Officially named The Woodstock Music and Art Fair but more commonly referred to as Woodstock, the music festival was held from August 15-18, 1969 and featured more than 30 musical performers to entertain the “peace & love” crowd four months before the world said goodbye to the counterculture decade.

Poster
Max Yasgur
Max Yasgur on stage

Top: A copy of the concert poster found online. Middle: Max Yasgur, the owner of the farm where the music festival took place. Bottom: Yasgur addresses the crowd at the festival. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Woodstock was where Crosby, Stills & Nash made their second public performance after releasing their debut album in May 1969. They played an acoustic set followed by an electric one where they were joined by Neil Young. And the fact that the definitive funk & soul band, Sly & The Family Stone, took the stage in the middle of what was deemed a “hippie fest” and gave one of the best the performances of their career still blows my mind. Jimmy Hendrix’s now legendary guitar take on our national anthem remains a highlight from the concert as well.

There was something for everyone whether they enjoyed folk, pop, rock or funk music. In my tween years I always thought this was the dream concert I wished I could have seen live. But then I saw a clip of Otis Redding at Monterey and knew that was truly the place I needed to be. Still, Woodstock was a monumental event in both history and music. A movie of highlights from the epic concert was released in March 1970, followed by a soundtrack album two months later. A Director’s Cut of the film was released in 1994 to mark the 25th anniversary of the festival followed by a 40th Anniversary edition in 2009. The new footage changed my favorite performances over the years, but the four I share below have remained my top choices for about a decade.

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Four photos taken at Woodstock in August 1969: One: Tim Hardin. Two: Sly Stone. Three (L-R): Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Marty Balin and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane. Four (L-R): David Crosby, Graham Nash and Stephen Stills of CSN). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Tim Hardin (performed Friday, August 15, 1969):  “If I Were A Carpenter” (1967, written by Tim Hardin).  

Sly & The Family Stone (performed Sunday, August 17, 1969):  “I Want To Take You Higher” (1969, written by Sly Stone).

Jefferson Airplane (performed Sunday, August 17, 1969):  “Volunteers” (1969, written by Marty Balin and Paul Kantner).

Crosby, Stills & Nash (performed Monday, August 18, 1969): “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” (1969, written by Stephen Stills).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: August 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.)

Robert Palmer would have celebrated birthday #75 this year. Born January 19, 1949 in England, the incredibly gifted soul singer who oozed suave sophistication and elegance in his bespoke suits, honed his craft listening to blues, jazz and soul music while living in Malta during his father’s service in the British Naval Intelligence Division.

After his tenure in the jazz-rock fusion band, Dada, Palmer was signed as a solo act for Island Records in 1974. His early hits included 1979’s “Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)” and 1980’s “Looking For Clues”. In 1984 he joined forces with drummer Tony Thompson of Chic, guitarist Andy Taylor and bassist John Taylor-the brothers from Duran Duran-to form the supergroup, The Power Station. The quartet’s self-titled debut album was released nearly 40 years ago in March 1985 and peaked at #6 a month later on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

That record set the stage for Palmer’s solo breakthrough with his album, Riptide, released in November 1985. It peaked at #8 on the US Billboard 200 chart in May 1986, the same month he hit #1 with “Addicted To Love” (also made memorable thanks to its striking video featuring an all girl rock band). He also had a #2 hit with “I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On” in November of the same year. In June 1988 he released the album, Heavy Nova, which produced another #2 hit with “Simply Irresistible” in September 1988. Palmer died of a heart attack in September 2003 at the very young age of 54.

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Robert-Palmer

Top: The Power Station circa 1985 (L-R): Tony Thompson, John Taylor, Robert Palmer and Andy Taylor. Middle: Palmer & his all girl band from the “Addicted To Love” video. Bottom: Palmer circa 1990. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

On August 12, 1964 The Beatles first movie was released in the United States. “A Hard Day’s Night”, which opened in the U.K. a month earlier, introduced us to more of their incredible music, capitalized on their enormous popularity and showcased the comedic side to The Fab Four. And it was hilarious.

The U.K. soundtrack album was released at the same time the movie opened there, but the U.S. soundtrack was released in June 1964. It featured a different cover picture and several different song selections than the U.K. version, most notably instrumental versions of “I Should Have Known Better”, “And I Love Her”, “Ringo’s Theme (This Boy)” and the title track.

US Hard Days Night
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Movie poster

Top: The U.S. soundtrack album for the movie along with the UK version (middle). Bottom: The movie poster. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Robert Palmer: “Every Kind Of People” (1978, written by Andy Fraser).

The Power Station: “Some Like It Hot” (1985, written by Robert Palmer, Andy Taylor and John Taylor).

The Beatles: “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: August 5, 2024

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It is the end of an era for one of classic rock’s biggest bands. Aerosmith announced their official retirement on August 2 via social media, bringing their “Peace Out: The Farewell Tour” to an abrupt end. The decision was based on the sad discovery that lead singer Steven Tyler’s voice injury is now confirmed to be permanent.

The band, founded in Boston in 1970, still boasts all five original members: Joe Perry and Brad Whitford on lead and rhythm guitars, respectively, Tom Hamilton on bass, Joey Kramer on drums and Tyler on vocals and piano. They have enjoyed a 54 year career through a series of ups (their 1975 break through album, Toys In The Attic, an impressive cover of The Beatles’ song, “Come Together” and a career resurgence in the 1990’s thanks to their provocative videos playing in heavy rotation on MTV) and downs (addiction issues, personnel feuds, teaming up with a boy band as co-headliners for Superbowl XXXV).

Aerosmith may have also helped usher in rap to the mainstream with their 1986 duet of “Walk This Way” with hip hop group Run-DMC. That aside, the rockers also gave us what is probably the best installment of “Wayne’s World” in a 1990 episode of “Saturday Night Live” (with Tom Hanks as Barry, the band’s roadie, no less). None of us were worthy for that moment but the band made us feel like we were.

Thank you for over five decades of music and surprises, Aerosmith. You will be missed but you have earned your rest.

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Top: Aerosmith circa 1975. Bottom: The band circa 2023 (L-R): Brad Whitford, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Tom Hamilton (back) and Steven Tyler. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Porter Wagoner was born August 12, 1927 in West Plains, Missouri. In addition to his long career as a singer and songwriter in country & gospel music, he hosted a TV show where he introduced the now living legend Dolly Parton as a regular in 1967. Together they released several duets and 13 albums between 1967 and 1980.

In 1972, she released a tribute album, My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner, which features 10 covers of his songs. They had one #1 hit together in 1974, which was a pivotal year for Parton: She topped the country charts with “Jolene”, leading to her departure from Wagoner’s show which caused the two of them to become estranged until 1988. Her 1974 song, “I Will Always Love You”, was written as a tribute to him.

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Top: Porter Wagoner (L) and Dolly Parton (R) circa 1967. Bottom: Parton’s 1972 tribute album to Wagoner. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Aerosmith: “Dream On” (1973, written by Steven Tyler).

Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton: “Please Don’t Stop Loving Me” (1974, written by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton).

Dolly Parton: “Lonely Comin’ Down” (1972, written by Porter Wagoner).

Stay safe & well.