Monthly Archives: October 2025

Music Monday: October 27, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Fifty years ago on October 27, 1975, Bruce Springsteen appeared on the covers of both Time and Newsweek. His website refers to it as “a publicity coup engineered by (Born to Run) producer, Mike Appel”. But based on some of the quotes in the articles, Springsteen seemed quite uneasy with the hype that exposure caused him. But there was no denying the power of BTR-which was released two months earlier in August 1975-as it became his breakthrough record & remains the pinnacle of his catalog five decades later.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This past Friday was another double play for Springsteen. A new five disc set-Nebraska ’82-Expanded Edition-was released on October 24, 2025, a week later than expected which was attributed to a production delay. But the new date coincided with the release of his movie, “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere”. The biopic, based on Warren Zanes’ 2023 book by the same name, explores the time between the end of Springsteen’s sold out tour for his 1980 double record, The River-which gave him his first Top Ten song, “Hungry Heart”-and 1984’s Born In The U.S.A., including his personal struggle with depression and a very strained relationship with his father, Douglas, who was dealing with his own undiagnosed mental health issues for most of his life. That period led to Springsteen’s 1982 acoustic triumph, Nebraska.

Even after reading his 2016 biography named after his 1975 masterpiece-Born To Run, which presented a detailed account of his own mental health issues-I found the visual deep dive into Springsteen’s depression hard to watch. Knowing how the story ends helps, of course, but the image of him in such a dark place was not an easy place to go. Watching his creative process, however-even in the middle of that struggle-was incredible to see. I also found the performances in the film to be strong, especially Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen. And getting a glimpse of him as a young boy-played by the oh-so-adorable Matthew Anthony Pellicano Jr.-was a great contrast.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Top: The movie poster for Springsteen’s biopic. Middle: Jeremy Allen White (L) got a visit from Bruce Springsteen (R) during the filming of the biopic, “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” in early 2025. Bottom: Matthew Anthony Pellicano Jr., Springsteen and White at the AFI Los Angeles Premiere of the film in October 2025. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

This Friday is Halloween. While trick-or-treating was the main event when I was a kid, the runner up was the yearly viewing of “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown“. It premiered 59 years ago on October 27, 1966. After the success of 1965’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (which turns 60 years old in December), it made sense that the demand for more Peanuts’ specials was high.

It was no surprise that Schulz turned to the three men who brought The Peanuts to life for the Christmas special-executive producer Lee Mendelson, producer & director Bill Melendez and musician & composer Vince Guaraldi-to recreate the same magic for the Halloween special. And they did. The Great Pumpkin is an adorable tale of Halloween fun, friendship, make believe and childlike wonder. Nearly six decades later, it remains a beloved seasonal tradition. I cannot picture the holiday without it.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This year marks two big anniversaries for one of my faves, Chris Isaak. His debut album, Silvertone, was released 40 years ago in January 1985. And 30 years ago, he released Forever Blue in May 1995.

The biggest difference between those albums is Isaak’s level of fame. It skyrocketed in the fall of 1990 after the song, “Wicked Game”-from his 1989 album, Heart Shaped World-was featured in the David Lynch film, “Wild At Heart”. But Isaak’s talent for songwriting, his vocal abilities and his rockabilly style were clear on his first record, even if it took a few years for the rest of the world to notice.

Isaak has released 13 albums over the last 40 years and expanded his career into acting in films including 1988’s “Married To The Mob”, 1991’s “The Silence Of The Lambs” and 1996’s “Grace Of My Heart”. He also made guest appearances on TV including “Friends” in 1996, “American Dreams” in 2004 (portraying Roy Orbison) and in his own self-titled program on Showtime from 2001-2004 and “The Chris Isaak Hour” which ran on the Biography Channel in 2009. He is gearing up for a holiday tour which starts next month. More information including the dates and locations of his appearances are listed on his website.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Nebraska” (1982, written by Bruce Springsteen).

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

Vince Guaraldi: “The Great Pumpkin Waltz” (1966, written by Vince Guaraldi).

Chris Isaak: “Pretty Girls Don’t Cry” (1985, written by Chris Isaak).

Chris Isaak: “Talk to Me” (1985, written by Chris Isaak).

Chris Isaak: “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing” (1995, written by Chris Isaak).

Chris Isaak: “Somebody’s Crying” (1995, written by Chris Isaak).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: October 20, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Heart’s Ann Wilson celebrated birthday #75 this year. She was born June 19, 1950 in San Diego, California and raised in Seattle, Washington. Dubbed “The female Robert Plant” and an incredibly big fan of Led Zeppelin, it was she & her sister, Nancy Wilson, who paid tribute to that iconic rock band at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors with their rendition of “Stairway To Heaven” accompanied by John Bonham’s son, Jason, on drums.

When Heart was founded in 1973, the Wilson sisters really came across as two definitive rock chicks led by Ann’s incredibly powerful voice, Nancy’s guitar prowess and their roles as the group’s primary songwriters. I discovered that chapter of Heart first and really enjoyed it. But then the band went through a major lineup change, a decline in popularity and a contract with a different record label, Capital Records. That led to Heart’s MTV years which started 40 years ago with the release of their self titled album in June 1985. It produced five singles over the next year including their first #1 hit (“These Dreams”) and three Top Ten hits including “What About Love”, “Nothing At All” and my favorite track which for some reason they have distanced themselves from. But many saw the videos featuring the Wilson sisters in corsets, big hair and heavy makeup singing more streamlined pop songs as a real betrayal of their rock roots.

When Dan Rather conducted The Big Interview for AXS TV with Ann and her sister in 2016, he asked them straight out if they sold out during those video driven years. Without hesitation, Ann replied “Yes”. Much respect for that acknowledgement rather than a denial or justification. They could not blame that decision on being innocent kids new to the industry when this chapter unfolded-they were both over 30 with 10 years of recording under their belt-which began with their debut album, Dreamboat Annie, released 50 years ago in September 1975. But the videos did the job the record company hoped for and increased the group’s popularity with a whole new audience. Over the last several decades, the Wilson sisters reclaimed their rock roots as their performance at the Kennedy Center Honors proved. Heart was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013.

Top: Heart’s 1985 self-titled album. Bottom: Ann Wilson (L) and Nancy Wilson (R) onstage performing “Stairway To Heaven” at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

In March 1975 David Bowie released his ninth studio album, Young Americans. In addition to the title track, it includes “Can You Hear Me”, and two collaborations with John Lennon: One is a cover of The Beatles’ “Across The Universe” and the second, which was also the album’s second single-became Bowie’s first #1 hit-which reached the top spot in the country 50 years ago on September 20, 1975 for two weeks.

Five years later, Bowie released Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) which has one of my personal faves, “Ashes To Ashes”. Over the next five years he changed his image slightly to embrace the new found medium of music television. By July 1985 he was riding high on the success of two big albums-1983’s Let’s Dance and 1984’s Tonight-which led to his performance at the UK Live Aid show. A month later, he gave us the collaboration we did not know we needed but we did. It was not only spectacular, it was an ode to the power of Motown. He and Mick Jagger-who was enjoying his own success thanks to his first solo record, She’s The Boss, released at the beginning of that year-teamed up to cover one of the Motor City’s biggest songs in August 1985 as a charity single to benefit the Live Aid relief fund. Their version became a #1 song in the UK and a Top Ten hit in the U.S., peaking at #7 forty years ago on October 12, 1985. The video is campy and fun and a testament to the power of these music icons in the video genre during its heyday.

Top: David Bowie’s 1975 album. Bottom: David Bowie (L) and Mick Jagger (R) in the video for their 1985 collaboration. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Jefferson Starship released Red Octopus 50 years ago on June 13, 1975. It was their second record in their second life-a spin-off born from the ashes of the 1960’s band, Jefferson Airplane-which formed in San Francisco in 1965 & was known for songs like “Somebody To Love”, “White Rabbit” and “Volunteers”. Marty Balin-a founding member of Airplane who quit the band in 1971-joined Starship after co-writing and singing lead on the song, “Caroline” for their 1974 album, Dragon Fly. Then he became the primary vocalist & songwriter for them until his departure in October 1978. The band’s string of hits in the 1970’s were either sung by or written by Balin (“With Your Love”, “Count On Me” and “Runaway”, ) and his reign of popularity started with their highest charting song-it peaked at #3 in October 1975-from Red Octopus.

The front & back covers of Jefferson Starship’s 1975 album. Back cover photo: Back row (L-R): Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, Craig Chaquico and David Freiberg. Front row (seated, L-R): Grace Slick, Pete Sears, Papa John Creach and John Barbata. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Tom Waits released his seventh studio album, Heartattack and Vine, 45 years ago in September 1980. It contains the song that fits Bruce Springsteen like a glove-“Jersey Girl”-which was included on his Live 1975-1985 album. But Waits’ original is all his own, not just because it is delivered in his signature distinctive gravelly voice but because it is his observation from his unique perspective as only he can describe it.

His ninth studio album, Rain Dogs, celebrates a milestone this year as well. It was released forty years ago in September 1985. The best known track on this record was also made famous by another voice-this time, Sir Rod Stewart-who released it as a single near the end of 1989 & it peaked at #3 in January 1990. But as great as the cover is, Waits’ original stands as another testament to the stories he tells about the every day moments in life so many tend to take for granted.

Tom Waits’ 1980 album (top) and his 1985 release (bottom). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Heart: “Crazy On You” (1975, written by Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson).

Heart: “Never” (1985, written by Gene Bloch, Holly Knight and “Connie” (pseudonym for Sue Ennis, Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson).

David Bowie: “Fame” (1975, written by Carlos Alomar, David Bowie and John Lennon).

David Bowie: “Ashes To Ashes” (1980, written by David Bowie).

David Bowie & Mick Jagger: “Dancing In The Street” (1985, written by Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter and William “Mickey” Stevenson).

Jefferson Starship: “Miracles” (1975, written by Marty Balin).

Tom Waits: “Jersey Girl” (1980, written by Tom Waits).

Tom Waits: “Downtown Train” (1985, written by Tom Waits).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: October 13, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In August we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run. This month marks the 45th anniversary of The River released on October 17, 1980.

The cover photo for the album was taken by Frank Stefanko. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Here is the post I wrote five years ago on the 40th anniversary:

On a typically hot humid Long Island summer day in July 1980, I was sitting in a wonderfully cool air conditioned movie theatre waiting with bated breath for a movie to start. There were only two other people in the multiplex that day-a young couple a few rows behind me. The film we were all there to see was the “No Nukes” documentary from the concerts held at Madison Square Garden in September 1979. I will not bore you with the details as to why I was not allowed to go to see one of the shows in person with three of my cousins (hint-they were boys and I was not, as my father sternly reminded me) but suffice it to say I had been waiting close to a year for this moment.

I sat through nearly every other performance and enjoyed many of them (Crosby, Stills & Nash, James Taylor, The Doobie Brothers) but I was desperate to see the love of my life, Bruce Springsteen. Finally a picture of the marque with his name came on the screen and suddenly there he was backstage. First he was with Jackson Browne, then with The E Street Band walking to the stage for their performance as the crowd cheered “Bruce!”. In the next scene the band was in front of the audience and then that beautiful man, Springsteen himself, walked up to the microphone. And the camera stayed on him and that microphone for the entire song. Swoon.

“This is new. It’s about my brother-in-law and sister”, he told the crowd. Then he started playing the harmonica until he introduced us to the characters in the first verse.

“I come from down in the valley where mister when you’re young
They bring you up to do like your daddy done
Me and Mary we met in high school when she was just seventeen
We’d drive out of this valley down to where the fields were green“.

“We’d go down to the river and into the river we’d dive
Oh down to the river we’d ride“.

The album’s back cover. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The guy sitting with his girlfriend a couple of rows behind me shouted “turn it up!” and the volume increased as The Boss continued telling us the true story of the couple in the song.

“Then I got Mary pregnant and man that was all she wrote
And for my nineteenth birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat
We went down to the courthouse and the judge put it all to rest
No wedding day smiles, no walk down the aisle, no flowers no wedding dress“.

“We went down to the river and into the river we’d dive
Oh down to the river we’d ride…“.

More consequences followed as the couples’ downward spiral continued.

“I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company
But lately there ain’t been no work on account of the economy
Now all them things that seemed so important, well mister they vanished right into the air
I just act like I don’t remember, Mary acts like she don’t care“.

Then a memory of better days………and how quickly they ended.

“But I remember us riding in my brother’s car, her body tan and wet down at the reservoir
At night on them banks I’d lie awake and pull her close just to feel each breath she’d take
Now them memories come back to haunt me, they haunt me like a curse
Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true or is it something worse“.

“That sends me down to the river, though I know the river is dry
Oh down to the river tonight
Down to the river, my baby and I
Oh down to the river we ride…“.

Tears were rolling down my face as the last line from the final verse just played over and over in my head.

“Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true or is it something worse“.

What is worse than a dream that does not come true?

I don’t think anyone tells the stories of those haunted by broken dreams better than Springsteen does. The movie concert was the first time I ever saw him sing on a stage and I still remember every second of that performance. Today’s heartbreakingly beautiful song is the title track from his only double album-which was released 40 years ago today-October 17, 1980. I have written this before and will continue until I take my last breath: Bruce Springsteen’s music saved me like no one else’s. I owe him everything and “it’s a debt no honest man can pay”. Swoon.

The album’s inside cover features a picture of the whole band (L-R): Garry Tallent, Roy Bittan, Max Weinberg, Clarence Clemons, Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt and Danny Federici. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Edit: The 1997 film, “Cop Land“, features two songs from The River. Even without those incredible tracks, it is an excellent film.

In December 2015, in honor of the album’s 35th anniversary, Springsteen released The Ties That Bind: The River Collection box set. The following year, he embarked on “The River Tour-2016” where he played the entire album live at many of the shows that year (unfortunately for me, not the concert I attended on September 14, 2016 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, but it was still a great show. And it was one week after his longest U.S. show on record-4 hours and 4 minutes-which took place at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 7, 2016. His longest sow ever took place in Helsinki in 2012, which clocked in two minutes longer.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: “The River” (From the 1980 film, “No Nukes”, as performed at the concert of the same name in September 1979. Written by Bruce Springsteen).

Bruce Springsteen: “Fade Away” (1980, written by Bruce Springsteen).

Bruce Springsteen: “Stolen Car” (1980, written by Bruce Springsteen. Featured in the 1997 film, Copland).

Bruce Springsteen: “Drive All Night” (1980, written by Bruce Springsteen. Featured in the 1997 film, Copland).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: October 6, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This week will mark the 85th birth anniversary of the man who was first introduced to the world as “The Smart Beatle”. John Winston Ono Lennon was born in Liverpool, England on October 9, 1940. His parents did not have a stable marriage (his father was a seamen who was away a lot) so eventually Lennon was raised by his Aunt Mimi Smith after her sister & John’s mother, Julia, gave her custody when her son was nearly four. Two years before her death in 1958 from being struck by a car, she bought her son his first guitar in 1956, the same year he formed The Quarryman group.

At their second performance, Lennon met Paul McCartney & invited him to join the band. By 1960, George Harrison was invited by McCartney to join the group that by this time was renamed The Beatles. Two years later, the addition of Ringo Starr completed the lineup that would change the world.

This December will mark the 60th anniversary of The Beatles seminal album, Rubber Soul. And that comes in a year where we already celebrated the 60th anniversary of 1965’s Help! movie & album and the historic Shea Stadium show along with the 55th anniversary of 1970’s Let It Be. Still, Lennon has his own significant landmarks this year as well.

Fifty-five years ago in December 1970, he released his first solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

His songs explored the death of his mother, his disillusionment with life, fame, heroes & everything else that is supposed to make people happy. Lennon was writing the tracks as he approached his 30th birthday, after his time as a Beatle for nearly a decade came to an end and made him more rich & famous than most people would ever be, and he just wanted to be John. He wanted to live a much smaller existence with the woman he loved.

Five years later Lennon had a life altering year. It started 50 years ago in February 1975 with the release of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the album he made in tribute to his musical heroes.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It includes covers of songs by Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino and Buddy Holly, amongst others. That album was followed by a greatest hit compilation, Shaved Fish, released in October 1975. That month Lennon turned 35 and on his birthday, he became a father for the second time with the birth of his son, Sean. That led Lennon to put his musical career on hold so he could focus on fatherhood. He spent the next five years as a self-described “house husband” (a/k/a a stay at home dad).

By 1980, he returned to his musical career. A summer of writing & recording resulted in Double Fantasy which was released on November 17, 1980.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

On December 27, 1980, it became the third #1 album of his career (after Imagine in 1971 and Walls And Bridges in 1974), staying in the top spot for eight consecutive weeks. Double Fantasy’s first single, “(Just Like) Starting Over”, reached the top spot in the U.S. on the same day where it stayed for five consecutive weeks. The second single, “Woman”, peaked at #2 in March 1981 while the third single, “Watching The Wheels”, reached the #10 spot two months later.

Double Fantasy was the last album released in Lennon’s lifetime. He died 45 years ago on December 8, 1980. My heart is still broken.

Sending “limitless undying love” today & every day “across the universe” to the man who changed music & life for so many of us.

John Lennon circa 1980. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Beatles: “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. From the 1965 album, Help!).

The Beatles: “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. From the 1965 album, Rubber Soul).

The Beatles: “In My Life” (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. From the 1965 album, Rubber Soul).

The Dirty Mac: “Yer Blues” (As performed at “The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus” concert, December 1968. Written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney. From the 1968 album, The Beatles).

The Beatles: “Dig A Pony” (written by John Lennon. From the 1970 album, Let It Be).

John Lennon: “God” (written by John Lennon. From the 1970 album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band).

John Lennon: “Just Because” (written by Lloyd Price. From the 1975 album, Rock ‘n’ Roll).

John Lennon: “I’m Losing You” (written by John Lennon. From the 1980 album, Double Fantasy).

Stay safe & well.

Welcome, October!

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“I was going home in October. Everybody goes home in October.”

– Jack Kerouac, “On The Road”, 1957.

Welcome to the most beautiful month of the year, everyone!

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Enjoy this glorious month!

Stay safe & well.