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

(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 the industry. Stubbs remained loyal & committed to his group 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.