Author Archives: Michele at Lilacs & Rust

Music Monday: January 13, 2025

Posted in Music Monday by

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

Blog 2025

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Sam Moore, the surviving half of the “Sam & Dave” musical duo, passed away on January 10, 2025 at the age of 89. The higher tenor voice to partner Dave Prater’s lower baritone one, the men were amongst the most successful R&B/soul performers at Stax Records in the 1960’s with hits like “Soul Man”, “Hold On I’m Coming” and “I Thank You”. Their live shows were legendary and inspired many including Al Green, Steve Winwood, Tom Petty and others.

The duo split up in 1970 but reunited the following year. Unfortunately they did not attain the success they previously had. A resurgence in the men’s popularity came in 1979 courtesy of The Blues Brothers cover of “Soul Man”. After Prater’s death from a car accident in 1988, Moore continued performing including at the 25th anniversary concert for The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2009 with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. Moore & Prater were inducted in 1992.

Sam and Dave
Sam Moore

Top: Sam Moore (L) and Dave Prater (R) circa 1967. Bottom: Moore circa 2015. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Last summer J.D. Souther & Karla Bonoff announced a joint tour together. They had been friends since their Laurel Canyon, California days in the 1970’s where both had found success- first as songwriters for The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, respectively-before prospering in solo careers.

Sadly the tour never took place due to Souther’s death on September 17, 2024 at age 78. I adored him forever, going back to his Top Ten solo hit in 1979 (which I featured on Day 232 of the Lockdown Countdown) and his 1981 Top 20 duet with James Taylor, “Her Town Too”. I was thrilled when Souther branched out into to acting in movies like 1989’s “Always” and TV shows like “Thirtysomething” & “Nashville”.

The announcement of his tour with Bonoff put her back on my radar and reacquainted me with her beautiful voice. I first discovered her music through Linda Ronstadt who recorded three of Bonoff’s songs for the 1976 album, Hasten Down The Wind. But it was her stunning version of “The Water Is Wide”-featured in a 1997 episode of my favorite soap, “Another World”-that put me in Bonoff’s orbit for many years. I do not know why or how I let her fall from my view in the last decade or so but once I found her again last summer, I discovered her 2020 holiday album, Silent Night. It is wonderful, especially her version of “The First Noel” which was featured on Day 13 of my 2024 Christmas music countdown.

Bonoff, who turned 73 last month, released her self titled debut album in 1977 which included the three songs on the Hasten album. I love them all but today’s pick is my favorite. I have included Ronstadt’s version as well not just for her incredibly stunning voice but to share the video also. It is a great look at her in the studio with her band so we actually watch the magic of the performance happen there. And moments like that need to be seen.

Karla and JD
Linda JD

Top: A show announcement from J.D. Souther’s Facebook page for a performance by he & Bonoff in July 2024. Middle: A picture of the two singers circa 1979 that Bonoff posted on her Facebook page with a tribute to Souther after his death in September 2024. Bottom: Souther (R) on stage with his one time girlfriend, Linda Ronstadt (L). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Sam & Dave: “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” (1967, written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter).

Linda Ronstadt: “Lose Again” (1976, written by Karla Bonoff).

Karla Bonoff: “Lose Again” (1977, written by Karla Bonoff).

J.D. Souther: “You’re Only Lonely” (1979, written by JD Souther).

Stay safe & well.

How To Display A Special Family Heirloom

Posted in Decorating by

I have a collection of mismatched china which has been handed down to me from family along with special pieces I have purchased myself over my many years of antiquing & thrifting.  I love them all but most sit in boxes as I struggle with how to add them to my apartment decor. I remember the advice I heard on a decluttering show by master organizer Peter Walsh about taking special pieces out of boxes where they go unseen and give them a place of honor in your home.  That is a goal I would like to accomplish this year.  

To help me with that, I decided to go through each piece and/or collection and find the perfect way to display them. Perhaps it will also help me finally decide I no longer want some of my items and donate them to give someone else a chance to love them properly.  The first piece I want to display with honor is this beautiful rose platter that belonged to my paternal grandmother, Ida.  She received it as a wedding gift from her mother in 1934.  Isn’t it wonderful?

Platter 5

(Image by me!)

The biggest problem I have with it is the pattern.  As pretty as the roses are, red is my least favorite color. So except for a few Christmas pieces, I do not have any red in my home.  I do not have an entirely neutral Pottery Barn like look, but that is the dominant tone along with softer shades of colors I love like blue, yellow and pink. I am also not a huge fan of gold but I do not mind it as the detail on both of the grip sides.   

Platter 7

(Image by me!)

I have not been able to find out too much about the brand by the stamp on the back, but I did find dinner plates for sale on Replacements.com if I ever choose to add them. I am sure with a deeper dive I will find more pieces to peruse.

Rose platter back seal

(Image by me!)

Luckily since the pattern is sparse, I believe it will blend in as a subtle pop of color wherever I display it. I could go the traditional route and place it in a hutch. However, I live in an adorable but smaller sized apartment and I only want one of those which I would like to use just for my white Ironstone. The platter is also quite big (16 x 11 1/2) and heavy so I would never be comfortable hanging it on a wall. I am also considering using it on my coffee table on top of some large books.

For more inspiration, I turned to-where else?- Pinterest. I discovered I really love the look of placing the platter in a basket. But my kitchen is a small galley style one so devoting a lot of room to a decor corner does not seem prudent. I could use a platter rack, but I am not sure about relinquishing that much wall space for a display. And since I cook less & less these days, I do not spend enough time in there to justify relegating the platter to that room just because it is a serving piece. Below are some ideas I am considering. I really love that not all are limited to the kitchen:

Basket 2

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.) 

diy basket ideas vintage dishes

(Image courtesy of DIY Beautify.)

decor steals basket

(Image courtesy of Decor Steals.)

wire basket

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Platter rack

  (Image found online.  Original source unknown.) 

I would love to know which idea you like best. Please share in the comments below or tell me how you display cherished items in your home.

Until next time, stay safe & well.  

Music Monday: January 6, 2025

Posted in Music Monday by

Hi, everyone. Welcome to the first edition of Music Monday for the new year.

Blog 2025

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Welcome to 2025, everyone.

If you have been here for a while you know I am not much for resolutions. I try to find a word or a phrase to guide me for the year. Not surprisingly, I usually find said inspiration in a song. This year is no different.

My process is to think about it for most of December and once I have chosen my song, I know it will be the first one I listen to in the new year to start it off right. The track I chose for 2025 alludes to a state of mind of peace and happiness as well as the path to get there. And the older I get the easier it is to see I have the choice and ability-albeit temporarily-to keep MY world as safe and as peaceful as possible by limiting the amount of time I let THE world in.

That is a powerful force to realize and utilize which I plan to do a lot more this year. I started doing this during the pandemic lockdown and it really helped me cope. I continued keeping myself fairly isolated in the figurative sense since then but there is a lot more I can do to improve on it. Plus, this year’s song also takes me back to an absolutely glorious scene from one of my favorite shows of all time. It drives the point home about our ability to make the choices that are best for us.

“Wash away my troubles
Wash away my pain
With the rain in Shambala
Wash away my sorrow
Wash away my shame
With the rain in Shambala“.

lost-van-scene
Lost van Jin and Sawyer

Above: The sublime van ride scene in “Lost” S3 E10, “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead”. Top: Charlie (L) and Hurley (R) (Dominic Monaghan and Jorge Garcia). Center: The ride. Bottom: Jin (L) and Sawyer (R) (Daniel Dae Kim and Josh Holloway). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Elvis Aaron Presley was born 90 years ago on January 8, 1935. At 19 years old he recorded his first record which put him on the path that led to his throne as The King. He changed music, pop culture and how we saw ourselves reflected back in the world he created. And we were all the better for it.

Singer, actor, Army veteran, entertainer, legend. He not only introduced rock & roll to the mainstream, he also brought it to life. What more can be said that has not already been said about this stunning mountain of a man except that he is missed every single moment there is air around us. And thank you seems like such a small phrase which does not come close to the amount of gratitude he is due.

All hail 90 years of The King.

Elvis A
Elvis B
Elvis C

Top: Elvis at the beginning circa 1957 when he introduced the world to his hip shaking moves. Middle: The King and his guitar circa 1958. Bottom: A moment from the 1968 TV special. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Three Dog Night: “Shambala” (1973, written by Daniel Moore).

Elvis Presley: “That’s All Right” (1954, written by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup).

Elvis Presley: “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (1961, written by Luigi Creatore, Hugo Peretti and George David Weiss).

Elvis Presley: “Suspicious Minds” (1969, written by Mark James).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: December 30, 2024

Posted in Music, Music Monday by

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

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

We are on the verge of a new year, one that sounds like it is from a sci-fi series. Yesterday we were celebrating the new millennial and in a few days we will officially be 25 years in. I know time flies, but this last quarter century went by tragically fast. I believe those two words together form the most accurate and the most heartbreaking definition of life out there.

2025

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Still, a new year is a chance for new starts, new beginnings and new chances. And more music which remains the constant in my life. So thank you all for being here and sharing my love of it every week. I truly appreciate it. I wish you all the best in the new year. May it bring you everything you want and need. And right now, who does not need a little Lady Ella to get us all in a festive mood?

Ella_Fitzgerald@2x

Ella Fitzgerald circa 1940. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ella Fitzgerald: “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” (1960, written by Frank Loesser).

Stay safe & well.

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 25

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Joy To The World

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating. I hope your holiday is a joyful one however you are spending it. Enjoy!

Many thanks for being here for this festive music series. And now for our final song.

As a singer based in Christian country, I expected Amy Grant’s version of today’s tune to be a big production complete with a choir backing her up. That is not really a sound I enjoy but since the song is on an her 2016 album called Tennessee Christmas, I was curious to see-rather, hear-if her version had a different spin. And it does. It is a stripped down, slowed down arrangement to a slow soft vocal that proves how less can be so much more. It is absolutely lovely.

Version 1.0.0

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Amy Grant: “Joy To The World” (2016, written by Isaac Watts).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 24

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Holy Family

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Reverend Al Green blessed us all with a new release last month. His cover of REM’s “Everybody Hurts” is another remarkable take done in Green’s signature R&B laden style, much like his early career covers of “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart”, “For The Good Times” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”, to name a few. He has a mesmerizing way of giving an already fabulous song a new life. His take on today’s Christmas song is no different and it is perfect for the holiest night of the year.

For a female led version of this holiday classic, I offer Tracy Chapman’s evocative and poignant rendition. It was released in 1997 on the third volume of the charity compilation series, A Very Special Christmas. This woman has had a well deserved resurgence of late thanks to country artist Luke Combs & his 2023 #1 cover of her 1988 masterpiece, “Fast Car”. It was not only a wonderful tribute to her & her incredibly stunning song, but it also made Chapman the first black woman to have a top selling record in that genre. Her surprise performance with Combs at the 66th Grammy Awards in February showed Chapman first hand how beloved she & her song still are 36 years after its initial release, literally defining the word timeless.

Al
tracy

Top: Al Green on stage at The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Concert in Cleveland in 1995. Bottom: Tracy Chapman and her radiant smile on stage at The Grammy Awards in February 2024. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Al Green: “O Holy Night” (1983, written by Adolphe Charles Adam and John Sullivan Dwight).

Tracy Chapman: “O Holy Night” (1997, written by Adolphe Charles Adam and John Sullivan Dwight).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 23

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day LL

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Two musical giants took today’s song and turned it into such unique distinctive versions you can listen to them back to back and not even care-or possibly realize-that they are the same song.

Elvis Presley’s is a country-pop take that ends in a classic boogie woogie style which is too cool for words. Ray Charles put a fun jazzy spin to his unmistakable vocals. Each was recorded more than a decade apart yet both are absolutely timeless like the extraordinary men behind them. And both of these versions fit the definition of classic Christmas music for me.

Elvis
ray

Top: The King Elvis Aaron Presley circa 1957. Bottom: The Genius Ray Charles in 2004. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Elvis Presley: “Winter Wonderland” (1971, written by Felix Bernard and Richard Bernhard Smith).

Ray Charles: “Winter Wonderland” (1985, written by Felix Bernard and Richard Bernhard Smith).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 22

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 22

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In 2008 cellist extraordinaire Yo Yo Ma released Songs of Joy & Peace. It introduced me to several songs I had never heard before including today’s feature. From the research I did online, I discovered it is an Irish carol possibly dating back to the 15th century. It was transcribed in the late 19th century by Irish composer & historian, W. H. Grattan Flood, while he was the organist at St. Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy, Ireland.

Ma’s always gorgeous and elegant playing combined with a traditional arrangement, a beautiful gentle vocal by bluegrass artist Alison Krauss underscored by the evocative bagpipes by Cristina Pato make for an absolutely stunning track. It has earned a permanent place on my holiday playlist.

Version 1.0.0
Alison
cristinapato_3397_0_6539

Top: Ma’s 2008 album. Middle: Alison Krauss in the video for today’s song. Bottom: Galician piper Cristina Pato. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Yo-Yo Ma featuring Alison Krauss: “The Wexford Carol” (2008, traditional).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 21

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 21

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Norah Jones threw her hat into the holiday music ring in 2021 courtesy of her album, I Dream Of Christmas. It not only included several standard seasonal tunes but six original tracks as well. Her light & easy jazz infused sound is a nice addition to a festive play list.

Norah

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Norah Jones: “Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones)” (2021, written by Norah Jones).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 20

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 20

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

On this day 78 years ago, the definitive Christmas movie premiered. “It’s A Wonderful Life” opened on December 20, 1946 in New York City to only mixed reviews (I know, RIGHT?!?!?). That did not stop it from becoming the beloved iconic feel good movie for everyone who thinks their lives are nothing special in the grand scheme of things. Is it really Christmas until George meets Clarence and realizes what life would have been without the presence of the oldest Bailey son? And would we have even heard of the name Zuzu without this film???

It's_a_Wonderful_Life_(1946_poster)
Wonderful

Top: The movie poster for the film. Bottom: The heartwarming scene where George Baily (Jimmy Stewart) reunites with his family including wife, Mary (Donna Reed), and kids Pete, Janie, Zuzu and Tommy. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Fifteen years after that movie’s NYC debut, an unknown 19 year old folk singer turned up in that very same city in the hopes of starting his musical career and to meet his idol, Woody Guthrie. The man who renamed himself Bob Dylan arrived in New York City in January 1961 and began playing clubs in Greenwich Village a month later. Before the year was over he was signed to Columbia Records (thank you, John Hammond) and Dylan’s debut album was released in March 1962. The rest of the story is now history, as he became a hero for the times and his generation by using his words to voice the the significant changes at a time when so much life was happening.

A movie based on that seminal period-based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald-will open on Christmas Day. “A Complete Unknown” chronicles Dylan’s early days performing in small NYC venues to his controversial appearance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival when he introduced his electric sound. It stars Timothée Chalamet (who also serves as a producer) as Dylan and is directed by James Mangold who also brought Joaquin Phoenix to life as Johnny Cash in 2005’s “Walk The Line” and Sylvester Stallone as Freddy Heflin in one of my absolute favorite films, 1997’s “Copland”.

A_Complete_Unknown_poster

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In 2009 Dylan released a holiday album, Christmas in the Heart. He took on 15 festive carols and made them his own and donated all the proceeds to charities he hand selected. I have always liked the poetry of his writing and the unmistakable sound of his hoarse gravelly voice and that is showcased on every track of this album. But I find myself particularly drawn to today’s pick as it gives me distinct Tom Waits vibes (he was featured on Day 7). But no matter who sings this song, it always takes me back to the scene where the crowd gathered at the Bailey house breaks into song after helping George on Christmas Eve.

Version 1.0.0
Dylan now

Top: Dylan’s 2009 album. Bottom: The artist circa 2023. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Bob Dylan: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” (2009, written by written by Felix Mendelssohn and Charles Wesley, arranged by Bob Dylan).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!