Monthly Archives: November 2024

Music Monday: November 25, 2024

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

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Just a quick reminder: With the festive season upon us, Music Mondays will be preempted for the next four weeks because starting December 1st, my annual Christmas music feature will begin. I hope you will stay for that & share some of your favorite holiday songs with me as well. And to all of you celebrating Thanksgiving this week, I wish you a happy & safe day.

The recent loss of Quincy Jones is a massive one to anyone who listened to music at any point in the last 70 years. He died on November 3 at the age of 91 leaving behind a seven decade career that began while he was in high school honing his skills as a trumpeter and arranger before he went on to play for Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie. Jones met Ray Charles while he was on the way up as well, and the two formed a lifelong friendship.

Jones’ talent led to work with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and many other artists. Jones began working on movie scores in 1964 and continued in that genre for the rest of his career.

The 1970’s & 1980’s brought more fame and recognition including Jones’ work with Michael Jackson & on the USA For Africa charity single, “We Are The World”. In November 1989 Jones released, Back On The Block, a standout for me which reunited him with his old friend, Ray Charles, for a fantastic cover of a great song Jones produced back in 1976 for The Brothers Johnson. Rest in peace, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. Thank you for every note. 

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Three other noteworthy releases from 1989 were released in the same month:

Patti Labelle: Her ninth solo album, Be Yourself, from June 1989 included a song that gave the singer the opportunity to add her tremendous voice to a James Bond movie soundtrack. The film, “Licence to Kill”, led by Timothy Dalton as the man who preferred his martini shaken, not stirred, featured fellow soul and R&B singer Gladys Knight on the title track. As fabulous as that song is, Labelle’s soaring ballad takes center stage for me. .

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Van Morrison: He released Avalon Sunset 35 years ago in June 1989. The two most notable songs include “These Are The Days” featured in the 1995 movie “Nine Months”. The other is an absolutely beautiful love song covered by Rod Stewart for his 1991 Vagabond Heart album. It became a #5 hit for him two years later after he delivered a very moving performance of it during his MTV Unplugged performance in 1993. I love it along with everything else Stewart does, but Morrison’s original is even more heartfelt as the words and emotions are all his own. He recorded it with The Chieftans for their version featured on their 1995 album, The Long Black Veil. It earned them a Grammy Award the following year for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bad English: Five years after the massive success of his solo song, “Missing You“, John Waite teamed up with his old bandmate from The Babys-keyboardist Jonathan Cain-and his Journey bandmate-guitarist Neil Schon-to form the supergroup, Bad English. Rounding out the lineup was Styx bassist Ricky Phillips and drummer Deen Castronovo. Even with all that star power, the first single from the band’s self-titled debut album released in June 1989 was written by multi-award winning songwriter, Diane Warren. Bad English disbanded after their second album, 1991’s Backlash.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds’ third studio album, For the Cool in You, hit the music scene in August 1993. It produced five singles with the last one being released in May 1994. It not only became the most successful song from the album-it peaked at #4 on the chart that September-but it also became the top selling single of his career to date. It is a simple yet elegant love song that showcases his voice beautifully and stands out as my favorite song from his extensive catalog. I fell in love with it all over again after his acoustic performance at the 1995 Grammy Awards where it won him the trophy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Babyface

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Quincy Jones (featuring Ray Charles and Chaka Khan): “I’ll Be Good To You” (1989, written by George Johnson, Louis Johnson and Sonora Sam).

Patti LaBelle “If You Asked Me To” (1989, written by Diane Warren).

Van Morrison: “Have I told You Lately” (1989, written by Van Morrison).

Bad English: “When I See You Smile” (1989, written by Diane Warren).

Babyface: “When Can I See You Again” (1993, written by Kenneth Edmonds).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: November 18, 2024

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

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Anita Baker’s third studio album, Giving You The Best That I Got, was released 36 years ago in the fall of 1988. It ended the year as the #1 album in the country where it stayed for four consecutive weeks. The title track became the first & best known single which peaked at #3 that December. As much as I like the song, it is the second single that stands as my favorite track. It was a Top Twenty hit in April 1989 and features bass player Nathan East who appears on six of the eight album tracks. He has been a part of Eric Clapton’s touring and studio bands for four decades.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

An 80’s era singer that flew under my radar was Rick Astley. While I always thought he was quite adorable & swooned over the blue eyed soul sound he had going on, dance music was never my thing so I usually did not listen to him or watch his videos. But then his 1991 album, Free, came out and included a ballad I absolutely adore to this day. I was not alone in that feeling as it became a Top Ten hit for him, peaking at #7 in April 1991. It featured The Andraé Crouch Choir on backing vocals who were prominently featured in the performance video that was in heavy rotation back in those wonderful & magical days when music video stations actually showed them.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Speaking of blue-eyed soul singers, another of my favorites is Mick Hucknall. I fell in love with Simply Red because of his voice starting with their 1985 debut album, Picture Book. One listen to “Holding Back The Years” or “Money’s Too Tight (Too Mention”) and it is hard to believe that record will be turning 40 next year. As much as that first release pulled me in, 1991’s Stars, kept me front and center in their world thanks to the fabulous title track.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Anita Baker: “Just Because” (1988, written by Alex Brown, Sammy McKinney and Michael O’Hara).

Rick Astley: “Cry For Help” (1991, written by Rick Astley and Rob Fisher).

Simply Red: “Stars” (1991, written by Mick Hucknall).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: November 11, 2024

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

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

President Harry S. Truman delivered the quote below on April 17, 1945 during his address over Armed Forces Radio following the death of his predecessor, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. As a WW1 veteran himself, Truman also shared his firsthand experience:

“I know the strain, the mud, the misery, the utter weariness of the soldier in the field. And I know too his courage, his stamina, his faith in his comrades, his country, and himself.”

To all our veterans & to the men and women currently in uniform, thank you for your service.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dan Fogelberg’s second album, Souvenirs, just turned 50 years old. Released in October 1974, all 11 songs were written by the singer/songwriter himself. The most well know track was “Part Of The Plan” and set him up for the future success that followed. In 1978 he collaborated with flutist Tim Weisberg for Twin Sons of Different Mothers which includes a song I really enjoy, “The Power Of Gold”.

But when 1979’s album, Phoenix, came out featuring the hit, “Longer”, I must admit it put Fogelberg on my periphery. It did not speak to me at all and was way too soft rock for my taste. But 1981’s “Hard To Say” & 1982’s “Missing You” were more my vibe and put him back into my focus. And what holiday season is complete without his sweet reflective “Same Old Lang Syne”?

As for Souvenirs, it also has a great song for anyone who has ever felt the need to “stay inside for a while” when the noise starts to drown out the peace.

“Don’t you think it’s kind of sad to say
Don’t you think it’s gonna change
Makes you think you’ll have to stay inside
For a while“.

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Dan Fogelberg’s 1974 album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Herb Alpert hit the #1 spot in the country 45 years ago. His 1979 top selling song-co-written by his nephew, Randy “Badazz” Alpert-stayed in that position for two consecutive weeks. Herb’s first #1 song, “This Guy’s In Love With You”, topped the charts for 4 weeks eleven years earlier in June 1968. And if you know your GH trivia, you know what controversial scene the 1979 song was featured in (hint: It involved Luke & Laura).

The 89 year old trumpeter-who released his 50th album, 50, in September-is actively touring with his wife, Lani Hall, and will be joined by The Tijuana Brass early next year in anticipation of the 60th anniversary of Whipped Cream & Other Delights which was released in April 1965.

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Herb Alpert’s 1979 album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Julian Lennon released his debut album in October 1984. It was produced by Phil Ramone and had two Top Ten songs, the title track and “Too Late For Goodbyes”. The comparisons to his father, John, were inevitable, especially due to the similarities in their voices and their looks. But Julian’s inner voice was very much his own and came through in every song on this record. Six more albums followed (including his 2022 release, Jude) while Julian found other passions to pursue as well. In 2010 a book featuring his Beatles memorabilia collection was published. That same year, he was featured in the first of several photography exhibits, a passion he discovered while taking pictures for the 2007 musical tour for his half brother, Sean.

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Julian Lennon’s 1984 debut album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Fortunate Son” (1969, written by John Fogerty).

Dan Fogelberg: “Changing Horses” (1974, written by Dan Fogelberg).

Herb Alpert: “Rise” (1979, written by Randy “Badazz” Alpert and Andy Armer).

Julian Lennon: “Valotte“: (1984, written by Justin Clayton, Julian Lennon and Carlton Morales).   

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: November 4, 2024

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

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Lindsey Buckingham celebrated birthday #75 last month. Born October 3, 1949 in Palo Alto, CA, he is the man credited as the driving force behind Fleetwood Mac from the moment he joined the band at the end of 1974. And by now we all know his only condition to becoming a member of the group was that his then girlfriend, Stevie Nicks, be invited as well.

It was not only Buckingham’s undeniably impressive skills as a musician featuring his notable fingerstyle technique on electric and acoustic guitar along with the banjo, or his talent for songwriting but his prowess for arranging and producing that made him invaluable to the group’s success in its second life. Formed in 1967, the band’s sound was more blues based before it shifted its focus to rock led by his lead guitar which helped to introduce FM to a much wider audience, leading to their enormous success and recognition.

Buckingham’s presence was evident in 1975’s self titled album and the one which followed that documented all the romantic drama that took place (including his & Nicks’ breakup in 1976) and became the subject for the next album, 1977’s Rumours, which catapulted the group to superstardom. By 1981, he released his first solo album, Law And Order, and by 1987 he left FM for a creative and personal break.

In 1993 Buckingham joined the band for a performance of “Don’t Stop” for the Clinton inauguration. That opened the door for some other collaborations with the group before they reunited for 1997’s, The Dance, which he co-produced. Over the next 20 years he continued with FM while also working on solo projects and other collaborations including his 2017 album with Christine McVie. As much as I loved that, I will forever be grateful to Lindsey for appearing on “Saturday Night Live” in 2011 to participate as himself in the ongoing skit, “What’s Up With That“, where he was portrayed by Bill Hader. Funny stuff.

McVie’s death in 2022 effectively laid FM to rest, but many fans including myself believe the band officially ended in 2018 when Buckingham was fired due to an ultimatum Nicks made to the rest of the group. Some reports say she was upset with his behavior at an awards function while others said it stemmed from her not being included on his & McVie’s album while the two other members of FM-Mick Fleetwood and John McVie-were a part of it.

However, it has been well documented by Nicks herself in nearly every interview I have seen (most recently last month’s appearance on CBS Sunday Morning) that she continues to blame Buckingham for choices she made over four decades ago, indicating there is a great deal of baggage behind her reasons for forcing the band to choose between them. He sued the group for his termination and by the end of 2018 the case was settled. If the magnitude of his shadow did not speak for itself, the fact that not one but two other guitarists were brought in to replace him for FM’s 2019 tour puts it into perspective quite clearly. But without Buckingham, it was just not the same.

That same year he underwent emergency heart surgery which reportedly affected his vocal chords. Thankfully, he recovered and released his self-titled seventh solo album in September 2021. He has been married to Kristen Messner since 2000 and together they have three children. To me, he remains the heart & sound of Fleetwood Mac. And I am forever thankful for that.

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Top: Lindsey Buckingham & the rest of Fleetwood Mac on the back cover of 1977’s smash album, Rumours (large photo l-r: John McVie, Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie). Middle 1: Buckingham circa 1979. Middle 2: The 2017 Buckingham McVie album cover. Bottom: The artist circa 2017. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Fleetwood Mac: “Monday Morning” (1975, written by Lindsey Buckingham).

Fleetwood Mac: “Go Your Own Way” (1977, written by Lindsey Buckingham).

Fleetwood Mac: “The Chain” (1977, written by Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie and Stevie Nicks).

Lindsey Buckingham: “Trouble” (1981, written by Lindsey Buckingham).   

Stay safe & well.