Monthly Archives: June 2026

Music Monday: June 29, 2026

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

#musicmonday #musicblog #musicandlyrics

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

American record mogul, producer & talent executive Clive Davis died last week at age 94. He held tenures at several record labels in his career but is probably best known as the founder and president of Arista Records.

Born April 4, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York, he started his professional life as a lawyer after receiving a full scholarship to Harvard Law School which he graduated from in 1956. He become assistant counsel for Columbia Records four years later & by 1967, he became the president of the label. He held that position until 1973 and in that time he signed multiple artists to the label including Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Carlos Santana, Chicago, Aerosmith and Bruce Springsteen, to name a few.

After being dismissed from Columbia, Davis founded Arista Records in 1974 and was its president until 2000. He is credited with launching the careers of Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, The Grateful Dead, Whitney Houston and many more. Davis also signed The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, after she spent over a decade at Atlantic Records. Her first album for Davis was released in 1980.

Barry Manilow was one of the first big artists for Arista. He was signed to Bell Records in 1969 & released two albums with them. Once that label shut down, everything was transferred to Arista & they re-released his first two albums. Manilow had the first #1 record for the company, which was also his first top selling song. It reached the #1 spot in the country in January 1975 for one week. The first album he recorded directly for Arista was released 50 years ago in August 1976, This One’s for You.

Clive Jay Davis: April 4, 1932 – June 22, 2026.

Aretha Franklin (L), Clive Davis (center) and Barry Manilow (R) circa 2017. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Melvin James Brooks turned 100 years old yesterday. A New York native, he was born June 28, 1926 in Brooklyn. Who amongst us does not list one of his movies as one of the funniest they have ever seen? My personal favorites are “Young Frankenstein” (1974) and “High Anxiety” (1977), but his list of credits also includes “Blazing Saddles” (1974), “Silent Movie” (1976), “History of the World, Part I”(1981), “Spaceballs” (1987) and “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” (1993), to name a few. Brooks wrote & directed the 1967 movie, “The Producers”, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay at the 1969 Oscars ceremony. Thank you, Mel, for so many incredible belly laughs.

Gene Hackman (L) and Peter Boyle (R) in 1974’s “Young Frankenstein”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Mel Brooks (L) and Madeline Kahn (R) in 1977’s “High Anxiety”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In April 1971 Ringo Starr-who turns 86 on July 7-released a non-album single. He wrote the song himself and it was produced by his former bandmate-George Harrrison-who also played guitar on the track. Two members of a band on the Beatles’ Apple label, Badfinger-Pete Ham and Tom Evans-contributed backing vocals. By June 1971 the song peaked at #4, giving Starr his first solo hit.

Photo by me copyright 2012. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Frampton Comes Alive is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Released in January 1976, it became a massive hit that year, staying at the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 for 10 consecutive weeks beginning in April. It remained on that chart for a total of 97 weeks.

All three singles from the album became hits as well. Two reached the Top Ten, one reached the Top 20, with two of the songs featuring the distinctive sound of a talk box which only added to their appeal. All of that put Frampton front & center as a singer, songwriter & guitarist in the middle of an era that celebrated that genre. The record also helped to offer more credence to the power of a live recording by conveying the energy an audience can bring to the performance.

It was recorded at four shows in 1975-two in California (San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom and Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium in San Rafael) and two in New York ( Long Island Arena, Commack and the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh campus). Five decades later, the album remains one of the best selling live records of all time.

Kenny Rogers released the album, Share Your Love, 45 years ago in June 1981. The most well-known song from that record is “Through The Years”, which was the final single & a Top Twenty hit in March 1982. But my favorite track was the first single. It was the #1 song on the country chart for two consecutive weeks in August 1981, the same month it peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It was written by singer-songwriter Rick Christian who recorded it himself in 1978. His track is a simple, somewhat stark arrangement which really showcases the lyrics & a truly lovely string accompaniment. Harry Nilsson did a really nice cover of the song for his 1980 album, Flash Harry, but that was not released in the U.S. until 2013. Rogers’ version is probably my favorite in his catalog, just ahead of his 1983 duet with Dolly Parton (“Islands In The Stream”) and his 1968 song with The First Edition featured in “The Big Lebowski” (“Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Barry Manilow: “Mandy” (1974, written by Scott English and Richard Kerr).

Barry Manilow: “Weekend In New England” (1976, written by Randy Edleman).

Aretha Franklin: “I Can’t Turn You Loose” (1980, written by Otis Redding).

Mel Brooks: “High Anxiety” (1977, written & performed by Mel Brooks for the 1977 movie of the same name).

Ringo Starr: “It Don’t Come Easy” (1971, written by Richard Starkey).

Peter Frampton: “Show Me The Way” (1976, written by Peter Frampton).

Peter Frampton: “Baby I Love Your Way” (1976, written by Peter Frampton).

Peter Frampton: “Do You Feel Like We Do” (1976, written by Peter Frampton, Mick Gallagher, John Siomos and Rick Wills).

Kenny Rogers: “I Don’t Need You” (1981, written by Rick Christian).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: June 22, 2026

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

#musicmonday #musicblog #musicandlyrics

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Seventy five years ago the world met a Beethoven loving pianist named Schroeder.

Charles M. Schulz created characters who represented the many people we would meet in our lives. So it was no surprise when a music loving boy who also played catcher for the gang’s baseball team showed up. Since the date of his arrival was less than eight months after the debut of the comic strip on October 2, 1950, Schroeder has played a significant part in not only the comic strip but also both iconic TV specials (“A Charlie Brown Christmas” & “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”), the numerous movies, various merchandising memorabilia and everything else in the Peanuts world. And rightfully so because in addition to all the wonderful messages Mr. Schulz taught us through such a beloved group of characters, one of the best is that a child with an intense love of music inherently understands the transformative power that music & lyrics hold.

Image courtesy of Charles M. Schulz Museum’s Facebook page. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

One of the most significant and powerful voices in music launched his recording career 65 years ago. The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye, his debut album, was released June 8, 1961. It features mostly covers of standards by Irving Berlin (“Always”), Cole Porter (“Love For Sale”) and Cy Coleman & Carolyn Leigh (“Witchcraft”).

By the time Gaye’s 7th album was released 60 years ago in May 1966, Moods of Marvin Gaye, he was recording more tracks written by Motown based writers including Smokey Robinson (“Ill Be Doggone” and “Take This Heart of Mine”) and the prolific songwriting team of Holland–Dozier–Holland (“Your Unchanging Love” and “Little Darling”, which was covered by The Doobie Brothers in 1977).

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Gaye released a second album in 1966-his second duet album, this time with singer Kim Weston-aptly title, Take Two. The first was with Mary Wells in 1964 but his most successful collaborations would begin in 1967 once he teamed up with Tammi Terrell.

His 13th album, I Want You, was released 50 years ago in March 1976. Five years later, he released his final album for Motown-and the penultimate album of his career-In Our Lifetime. His final album, Midnight Love, was released on Columbia Records in 1982.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last week the news broke that the beautiful & incredibly talented Daveigh Chase passed away at age 35. She was an actress known to me for her roles as Samara Morgan (the creepy girl in the well) in 2002’s “The Ring” and as Rhonda Volmar in HBO’s series, “Big Love” (2006-2011). I knew her from several TV appearances as well but only just learned she was the voice of Lilo in Disney’s 1998 “Lilo & Stitch” and Jake Gyllenhaal’s younger sister in 2001’s “Donnie Darko”. Her last role was 10 years ago in the 2016 thriller, “American Romance”.

I just finished a re-watch of “Big Love” and thought even during the first time I saw it that it was the performance of Chase’s career to that point at barely 17 years old. Her disturbing portrayal of a sociopathic teenager damaged by the extremism of a secluded life in a cult-like religion was chilling. I had read several online stories that said she stopped working about 10 years ago for a variety of reasons, so I checked her IMDb page to see if she had returned to acting. There were no new credits listed so I hoped that whatever she was doing, she was happy & safe. I hate that the reality was she died entirely too young after a decade of family estrangement and alleged substance abuse.

Daveigh Elizabeth Chase: July 24, 1990 – June 16, 2026.

Daveigh Chase (L) and her “Big Love” co-star, Chloë Sevigny (R) circa 2007. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

James Burrows, an epic force in television, also died last week. He was 85 years old.

His distinguished career began as a director on some of the biggest shows in the 1970’s including “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”, “The Bob Newhart Show” and “Laverne & Shirley”. Between 1978 and 1982, he directed 75 episodes of “Taxi”. In 1982, he co-created “Cheers” and directed 236 out of 270 episodes of the series. (That show also gave us a fabulous theme song co-written and sung by Long Island’s own Gary Portnoy).

Burrows had a massive number of directing credits to his name. He was also an executive producer & director for the series, “Will & Grace”. He worked with the creators of that show-David Kohan and Max Mutchnick-on 2025’s “Mid-Century Modern”, which turned out to be Burrows’ last show. And all of the work highlighted here is only a fraction of Burrows’ 50+ year career. Many years ago I saw a BTS story about “Will & Grace” where headliner Eric McCormack said one of the most incredible things about Burrows was that he did not watch the rehersals he directed. Rather, he looked at the floor and went with how he felt about what he heard from the actors. According to McCormack, Burrows instincts never missed. What a fabulous assessment of his legacy.

James Edward Burrows: December 30, 1940 – June 19, 2026

L-R: Ted Danson, Shelley Long & James Burrows on the set of Cheers circa 1982. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ludwig van Beethoven: “Moonlight Sonata” (1802, written by Ludwig van Beethoven).

Marvin Gaye: “My Funny Valentine” (1961, written by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers).

Marvin Gaye: “Ain’t That Peculiar” (1966, written by Warren Moore, William “Smokey” Robinson Jr., Bobby Rogers, and Marvin Tarplin).

Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston: “It Takes Two” (1966, written by Sylvia Moy and William “Mickey” Stevenson).

Marvin Gaye: “I Want You” (1976, written by Arthur “T-Boy” Ross and Leon Ware).

Daveigh Chase: “The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A.” (Performed in “Big Love” S2 E10. Original air date: August 13, 2007. Written by Donna Fargo).

Gary Portnoy: “Cheers Theme (“Where Everybody Knows Your Name”) (1982, written by Judy Hart-Angelo and Gary Portnoy).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: June 15, 2026

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

#musicmonday #musicblog #musicandlyrics

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Marilyn Monroe was born 100 years ago as Norma Jean Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. A teenage marriage and a stint as a factory girl during WW2 led to a career as a pin-up model which got her noticed by Hollywood. She studied with acclaimed acting coach Lee Strasberg & eventually starred in dozens of movies including “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953), “Some Like It Hot” (1959, which earned her the Golden Globe Award For Best Actress in a Musical Or Comedy the following year) and “Misfits” (1961). Her status as a sex symbol turned her into the ultimate pop culture icon. Two high profile marriages -one to New York Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio & another to playwright Arthur Miller-only added to her legacy.

She yearned for the respect of Hollywood and a simple quiet life as a wife and mother at the same time. Despite years of hard work & multiple marriages she never found lasting happiness in her personal life. She died on August 5, 1962 at the age 36. Her death was featured in one of my all time favorite series, “Mad Men” in 2008. In S2 E9 (“Six Month Leave”), the episode opens at the start of the workday on Monday, August 6, 1962. We see that most of the young secretaries at the Sterling Cooper ad agency are visibly shaken about the news of Monroe’s sudden unexpected passing. An exchange between two employees showed the different perspectives of how Monroe was perceived. On one side was the firm’s most visible piece of eye candy, buxom head secretary Joan Holloway (played by the stunning Christina Hendricks) who used her looks to her advantage because most men could not see past her voluptuous figure despite running that office like a well oiled machine and her boss (and one time lover) Roger Sterling (the oh so charming John Slattery). Joan took Monroe’s death hard, Sterling felt very differently.

Joan: “She was so young. This world destroyed her”.

Roger: “She was a movie star who had everything. And everybody. And she threw it away”.

Before Elton John’s 1997 tribute song to Princess Diana became one of the best selling records of all time, it appeared on his 1973 album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, as a tribute to Monroe, a smart, talented, funny & gifted woman who had depth, character and drive.

Marilyn Monroe: June 1, 1926 – August 4, 1962.

Marilyn Monroe in 1953 photographed at her Hollywood home. Photo courtesy of Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images.

Nancy Sinatra turned 86 last week. Born June 8, 1940 in Jersey City, New Jersey, the first born child of entertainer superstar Frank Sinatra released her debut album, Boots, 60 years ago on March 15, 1966. It included covers of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe”, The Beatles’ “Daytripper” and “Run For Your Life” along with The Rolling Stones/Marianne Faithful tune, “As Tears Go By”. The album’s first single was a #1 hit for one week in 1966 & became Sinatra’s signature song.

She released two more albums that year: How Does That Grab You and Nancy in London. In both 1966 & 1967 she traveled to Vietnam to perform for the troops where many adopted her top selling track as their anthem. It was written by singer, songwriter & record producer Lee Hazelwood and it began a nearly 50 year friendship & collaboration between the two until his death in 2007.

In 1967 Sinatra teamed up with her father on the song, “Somethin’ Stupid”, which was a #1 hit for four consecutive weeks that spring. A year later she joined forces with him again along with her siblings-Frank Sinatra Jr & Tina Sinatra-for the holiday album, The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas, released in September 1968.

Twenty years ago in 2006 Sinatra received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. The following year she appeared as herself in a 2007 episode of “The Sopranos” (S6 E16, “Chasing It”), singing to Tony & his crew at a private party. Her music was featured in a 2009 “Cold Case” episode, “The Brush Man” (S6 E14) led by the track, “Lightning’s Girl”.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Nancy Sinatra (R) with her famous dad, Frank (L) circa 1966. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Another famous blonde & her band, Blondie, had two #1 songs 45 years ago. The the first one hit the top spot on January 31, 1981 for one week, knocking John Lennon’s “Starting Over” from the #1 position where it had been since the beginning of the year. I was today year’s old when I discovered Blondie’s song was a remake of a 1967 song by The Paragons.

Two months later on March 28, 1981, Blondie was back on top-this time for two consecutive weeks-with their second top selling song of the year. Both tracks were from their fifth album, Autoamerican, released in November 1980. The 2001 CD reissue included the song Blondie recorded for the movie “American Gigilo” which up to that point was only released as a single & as a track on the soundtrack album.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Marilyn Monroe: “I’m Through With Love” (As performed in the 1959 movie, Some Like It Hot”. Written by Gus Kahn, Matty Malneck and Fud Livingston).

Elton John: “Candle In The Wind” (1973, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin).

Nancy Sinatra: “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” (1966, written by Lee Hazlewood).

Nancy Sinatra: “Let It Be Me” (1966, written by Gilbert Bécaud, Manny Curtis and Pierre Delanoë).

Nancy Sinatra: “On Broadway” (1966, written by Jerry Leiber, Barry Mann, Mike Stoller and Cynthis Weil).

Blondie: “The Tide Is High” (1980, written by John Holt).

Blondie: “Rapture” (1980, written by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein).

Blondie: “Call Me” (1980, written by Debbie Harry and Giorgio Moroder).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: June 8, 2026

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

#musicmonday #musicblog #musicandlyrics

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Eric Alfred Leslie Satie, known professionally as Erik Satie, was born 160 years ago on May 17, 1866. The French pianist & composer is best known for three etheral and sublime compositions (“Trois gymnopédies”) he wrote when he was quite young. I expressed my love for his work during the first week of the Lockdown Countdown in 2020 on Day 6:

“This is one of my favorite pieces of music ever. The composer wrote this when he was 22 years old. Ten years earlier, he attended a music conservatory where he was basically told he had no talent. It tripped him up for a while but eventually he made his way back to music and the result was this exquisite piece of music. I think it is a lot like life: achingly beautiful, poignant, reflective, slow in tempo but over impossibly fast.”

Eric Alfred Leslie Satie: May 17, 1866 – July 1, 1925.

Erik Satie circa 1890. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Levi Stubbs was born 90 years ago on June 6, 1936 in Detroit, Michigan. In the mid 1950’s, the baritone singer formed a vocal group with Abdul Duke Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Lawrence Payton. In 1956, they changed their name to The Four Tops.

They signed with Motown Records in 1963. A year later, they became superstars who sang together for 43 consecutive years, an unbelievable feat in an industry where groups break up due to the pressures of fame and a multitude of other reasons. Stubbs remained loyal & committed to the other three members throughout his career, never seeking the spotlight or his own solo albums as many lead singers do. His voice and the sound he created with The Four Tops is one of the greatest chapters in American music history & one of my absolute favorites.

Their third album, On Top, 60 years ago in July 1966. It includes four songs written by incredible trio, Holland-Dozier-Holland, including “Shake Me, Wake Me (When It’s Over)”, a cover of Cole Porter’s “In The Still of The Night” and a Beatles cover. The Four Tops’ fifth album, Reach Out, was released in 1967, with the title track released as a single 60 years ago in August 1966.

Levi Stubbs: June 6, 1936 – October 17, 2008.  

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Four Tops circa 1969 (L-R): Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo “Obie” Benson. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Free Live! was released 55 years ago in June 1971. The band had broken up a few months earlier due to personality conflicts but thanks to the success of this album, they reformed in early 1972. By June they released a second live album, Free At Last. Bassist Andy Fraser left the group soon after and Free disbanded for good in 1973, leaving behind a short but powerful pillar in the foundation of the classic rock genre.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Free circa 1970 (L-R): Andy Fraser (bass, piano), Paul Rodgers (vocals), Paul Kossoff (guitar) and Simon Kirke (drums, percussion). (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Erik Satie: “Gymnopédie No. 1” (1888, written by Erik Satie).

Erik Satie: “Gymnopédie No. 2” (1895, written by Erik Satie).

Erik Satie: “Gymnopédie No. 3” (1888, written by Erik Satie).

The Four Tops: “It’s the Same Old Song” (1965, written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland).

The Four Tops: “Reach Out I’ll Be There” (1966, written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland).

The Four Tops: “Michelle” (1966, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Four Tops: “Walk Away Renee” (1967, written by Michael Brown, Bob Calilli and Tony Sansone).

The Four Tops: “If I Were A Carpenter” (1967, written by Tim Hardin).

The Four Tops: “I Believe In You & Me” (1982, written by Sandy Linzer and David Wolfert).

Free: “All Right Now” (1971, wriiten by Andy Fraser & Paul Rodgers).

Free: “Be My Friend” (1970, written by Andy Fraser and Paul Rodgers).

Free: “Fire and Water” (1971, wriiten by Andy Fraser & Paul Rodgers).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: June 1, 2026

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

#musicmonday #musicblog #musicandlyrics

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Walden Robert Cassotto, more commonly known by his stage name Bobby Darin, was born 90 years ago in East Harlem, New York on May 14, 1936. He attended the Bronx High School of Science and learned to play several instruments including guitar, harmonica, piano and drums. By 1955 he was a songwriter at the Brill Building but was also an aspiring actor & singer. His self-titled debut album was released in September 1958 which included the Top Ten hit, “Splish Splash”. His version of “Mack The Knife” won him Record of the Year & Best New Artist at the 2nd Annual Grammy Awards in November 1959.

Over the next decade Darin’s musical career evolved into more introspective songs & different genres which led to his recording of over two dozen albums in his career. He also pursued an acting career and appeared in several movies. He was well known for his night club shows as well along with his personal life which included his high profile marriage and divorce to actress Sandra Dee. The couple had one son born in December 1961 which was Darin’s only child.

Walden Robert Cassotto: May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973.

Bobby Darin circa 1959. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Darin circa 1962. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Darin (R) with his wife Sandra Dee (L) circa 1962. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bob Dylan turned 85 last month. Born Robert Zimmerman on May 24, 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota, his love of music started early & was fueled by the early rock & roll music of the late 1950’s. He played in a few bands in high school and by 1961, he moved to New York City where he began singing in local clubs as a folk singer.

This period of his life is the focus of the 2024 biopic, “A Complete Unknown”, which I highly recommend. Timothée Chalamet brought the singer to life and watching Dylan’s arrival in NYC, his adoration and eventual friendship with Woody Guthrie & Pete Seeger (spectacularly played by Scoot McNairy and Edward Norton, respectively) and Dylan’s rise in the folk movement until he went electric at the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island in July 1965 make for a great story. And it was that period that established Dylan as the definitive voice for a new era of life, music and political change in the turbulence that was the 1960’s.

Two of his albums celebrate milestone anniversaries this year: Blonde on Blonde was released 60 years ago in June 1966 and Desire was released 50 years ago in January 1976. And 10 years ago, Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature-the first for a musician-further illustrating the renowned power of his words.

Bob Dylan’s seventh album, Bonde On Blonde, was released 60 years ago in June 1966. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dylan’s seventeenth album, Desire, was released 50 years ago in June 1976. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dylan circa 2019. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The eleventh album by The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds, was released 60 years ago on May 16, 1966. They were not a band I listened to-surf music was not my thing-but the genius of Brian Wilson was on full display here so as a music lover, the impact of this record was not lost on me.

The famed Wrecking Crew played on the album as did Glen Campbell, contributing music on the banjo plus 12 string electric & acoustic guitars. Forty years later in March 2006 the HBO series, “Big Love”, premiered using one of the tracks from this album, universally known as one of the most beloved from Brian Wilson’s extensive catalog. The song was used as the theme song for the first three seasons of the show which ended its five season run 15 years ago in March 2011.

Five months after Pet Sounds made its debut, The Beach Boys followed it up with their biggest single & signature song, a track that revolutionized the role of the studio in how music was created. The painstaking precision & attention to detail Wilson used to create the song was dramatized in the 2014 movie, “Love & Mercy”. That same track was used nearly 41 years after its release in the 2007 Season 3 finale of one of my favorite TV series EVER-“Lost”-as the secret code to deactivate a blocking device so a radio call for help could be sent out from the survivors of Flight 815.

June 11 will mark one year since Wilson’s death in 2025 at age 82. Pet Sounds holds as one of his most significant & influential works.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bobby Darin: “Dream Lover” (1959, written by Bobby Darin).

Bobby Darin: “Mack The Knife” (1959, written by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill).

Bobby Darin: “If I Were a Carpenter” (1966, written by Tim Hardin).

Bob Dylan: “Blowin’ In The Wind” (1963, written by Bob Dylan).

Bob Dylan: “The Times They Are A-Changin‘” (1964, written by Bob Dylan).

Bob Dylan: “Positively 4th Street” (1965, written by Bob Dylan).

Bob Dylan: “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” (1973, written by Bob Dylan).

The Beach Boys: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” (1966, written by Tony Asher, Mike Love and Brian Wilson).

The Beach Boys: “God Only Knows” (1966, written by Tony Asher and Brian Wilson).

The Beach Boys: “Good Vibrations” (1966, written by Mike Love and Brian Wilson).

Stay safe & well.