Author Archives: Michele at Lilacs & Rust

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 2

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 2

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

Eighty years ago a Christmas classic was born when the film, “Meet Me In St. Louis” premiered in November 1944. The Vincent Minelli directed romantic musical gave us a few memorable songs from its star, Judy Garland, including a brand new holiday one that has endured for eight decades. And she gave this beautiful gift to the world a mere five years after she graced us with “Over The Rainbow”. Garland was an absolute wonder.

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Top: Judy Garland in “Meet Me In St. Louis”. Middle: A promotional ad for the 1944 movie. Bottom: Mary O’Brien (L), a snowman & Garland in a publicity picture for the movie. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Over six decades later, today’s song was the fourth track on Paul Carrack’s 2005 holiday album, Winter Wonderland (a/k/a A Soulful Christmas). It features ten beloved classics and a new spin on “Beautiful World”, the title song from his 1997 release. The combination of his soulful voice & the moderately paced tempo of the jazzy arrangement gives today’s holiday staple such a fresh, lively and fun feel I usually find myself moving right along with the beat. I have been fascinated with Carrack’s voice since the first time I heard the 1974 Ace classic, “How Long”, and his Christmas album lets me indulge in that obsession by giving him a place of honor on my holiday playlist.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Judy Garland: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (1944, written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin).

Paul Carrack & The SWR Big Band: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (2005, written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 1

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Happy December, everybody!!! Welcome to 25 Days of Christmas Music!

Day 1 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

We have officially arrived at the Christmas season so what better way to celebrate this festive time of year than with a daily countdown of great holiday songs to usher in the big day. All are welcome even if you are not a fan of this genre or you do not observe the holiday. Great music of any kind should be enjoyed by all. I would love to hear about your favorite Christmas songs, so please share them with me in the comments.

Ten years ago David Letterman announced he would retire from his late night show effective May 2015. In addition to everything that implied, it meant 2014 was the last time the tradition of this performance would take place. And Dave pulled out all the stops to make it as spectacular as possible. Here is my summary of that moment as posted on Day 278 of my Lockdown Countdown:

Six days before Christmas in 2014, I was still struggling with David Letterman’s decision to retire from “The Late Show” the following year when the moment I knew was coming arrived: The last appearance from Darlene Love to sing today’s song. It was a long standing holiday tradition dating back to 1986 (then on “Late Night With David Letterman” on NBC) for Love to come on and tear the roof of the place with her mighty voice every December. It was as much a part of my Christmas traditions as watching The Peanuts dance during the rehearsals for their holiday play. So the end of this era was going to hurt big time.

But Letterman was always a class act on his show and this night was no exception. He pulled out all the stops and had the entire stage set up for Love’s song. There was a huge gorgeous tree & other sparkly decorations, a full band complete with horns, strings & ten back up singers with everyone dressed in their holiday best. Paul Shaffer played a decorated grand piano which Love stood upon to sing the second half of the song as well as the encore. The performance closed out that night’s episode as a reign of faux snow fell down on everyone present. It was one of the show’s truly bittersweet moments for everyone involved including broken-hearted fans like me. And I remember that moment & how great it felt to be a member of Dave’s world every time I hear this song. U2 does a great version, too, but even Bono’s unbelievable voice is no match for the power of Love.

“They’re singing Deck The Halls
But it’s not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year“.

Dave and Darlene 2014
2015
U2 circa 1987

Top: Darlene Love as David Letterman’s guest performer in December 2014. Middle: Love on top of the piano during her traditional performance that year. Bottom: U2 circa 1987 (L-R): Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr, Bono and The Edge. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Darlene Love & The CBS Orchestra: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (2014, written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector).

U2: “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” (1987, written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector).  

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Music Monday: November 25, 2024

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

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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. 

Quincy

(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. .

Patti

(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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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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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.

Veteran's day

(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.

Music Monday: October 28, 2024

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

1940s Halloween

Halloween display circa 1940’s-1950’s at a Five & Dime store. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Spooky season is upon us, so in that spirit (get it?), I made myself a small Halloween-esque playlist countdown perfect to listen to while I carve my jack-o-lantern:

5. Boz Scaggs: “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” (2003, written by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers).

So many great versions of this show tune, most recently by Rufus Wainwright for “The History Boys” soundtrack (2006), but I have adored Boz’s voice forever so his cover has my heart.

4. Annie Lenox: “I Put A Spell On You” (2014, written by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins).

Yes, I love Bette Midler’s version from “Hocus Pocus” and Nina Simone’s jazzy cover of this song, but Lennox gives it soul which is always at the top of my list.

3. Donovan: “Season Of The Witch” (1966, written by Donovan and Shawn Phillips).

I am woefully late to this party (this song is from 1966!). I discovered it on an episode of “House” (S3 E11) and could not believe the song I was enjoying was by the folk singer who sang “Jennifer Juniper”. Wonders truly never cease.

Witch circa 1940s

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

2. Ella Fitzgerald: “Witchcraft” (2007 (recorded circa 1960), written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh).

It is by Lady Ella. Enough said.

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

Because the kid in me would not have it any other way.

Have a happy Halloween, everyone!

Womans World 1912 pumpkin cover

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: October 21, 2024

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

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Eldorado, the fourth studio album by the Electric Light Orchestra, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It was released in the United States in September 1974 and contains my favorite song by this band. The songwriter did an acoustic cover of it in the 2012 documentary, “Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO” accompanied by the group’s keyboardist Richard Tandy on piano. It is now my favorite version of this incredible track.  

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Jeff

Top: ELO”s 1974 album. Bottom: A moment captured from the 2012 documentary featuring Jeff Lynne on guitar and Richard Tandy on piano. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

David Bowie released his 16th album, Tonight, 40 years ago in September 1984. It included a cover of The Beach Boys classic, “God Only Knows”, while the title song was a duet with Tina Turner. My favorite track peaked at #8 in November 1984 and featured Bowie in a dual role in the fabulous video that was in heavy rotation at the same time on MTV.

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Blue Jean

Top: The cover of David Bowie’s album, Tonight. Bottom: The artist in the video for the record’s Top Ten hit. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

ELO: “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head” (1974, written by Jeff Lynne).

Jeff Lynne (featuring Richard Tandy on piano): “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head” (2012, written by Jeff Lynne).

David Bowie: “Blue Jean” (1984, written by David Bowie).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: October 14, 2024

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

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The Heart of Saturday Night, the second studio album by singer & songwriter Tom Waits, was released on October 15, 1974 on Asylum Records. The title song was written as a tribute to writer Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac, better known as Jack Kerouac, the author of one of my all time favorite books, “On The Road”.

It is easy to see the similarities between he and Waits. They both observed and then relayed stories about the invisible and forgotten people of the world. On Day 189 of my Lockdown Countdown, I wrote about “the souls Waits zeros in on and shares with his audience. The ne’er-do-wells, the alcoholics, the hookers, the broken-hearted, the sad sacks, the angry types, the ones wondering where their lives went, the ones haunted by their choices or the ones just broken by life. Waits is their voice. And to me they are all people I want to get to know because, as the saying goes, there but for the grace of God. Waits extends a hand to each of them. And that in and of itself gives us all hope.” I love Waits’ view of the world. I believe Kerouac would, too.

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The cover of Waits’ 1974 album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Hall & Oates 12th studio album, Big Bam Boom, was released 40 years ago on October 12, 1984. The first single & its fabulous video were released a week earlier and the song hit the #1 spot for one week in Dec 1984. The second single, “Method Of Modern Love”, peaked at #5 in February 1985. The duo has six #1 songs and 16 Top Ten hits in their career to date, which sadly may now be over after 50+ years. The two musicians are currently engaged in a legal battle over Oates allegedly trying to sell his half of the duo’s business without Hall’s required consent. I love these guys and I am seriously hoping they can resolve this matter amicably so we can all see them reunite on “Live From Daryl’s House”. Fingers crossed.

Hall Oates

The cover of the duo’s s 1984 album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Tom Waits: “(Looking for) The Heart Of Saturday Night” (1974, written by Tom Waits).

Hall & Oates: “Out of Touch” (1984, written by Daryl Hall and John Oates).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: October 7, 2024

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In September 1981 Journey’s seventh album, Escape, hit the top of the Billboard 200 chart for one week, giving the band their only #1 album. Two months earlier today’s featured song-the first single-was released and surprisingly it charted higher (it hit #4 in October 1981) than the second single which became the band’s signature song (“Don’t Stop Believin'” peaked at #9 in December 1981). The album’s third single, “Open Arms”, became the band’s highest charting single of their career, hitting #2 in February 1982.

The group was founded in San Francisco in 1973 as a backup band for local groups. It consisted of guitarists Neil Schon and George Tickner, keyboard player Gregg Rolie and bassist Ross Valory. But by 1981, only Schon and Valory were left with Steve Smith on drums, Steve Perry (who turned 75 in January) on vocals and Jonathan Cain on keyboards. It was this lineup that would achieve the success and popularity together until 1985 when Smith and Valory were unceremoniously dismissed (they returned in 1995 only to be fired again in 2020).

I was a big Journey fan back in the day and today’s song is my favorite track of theirs. Over the years the fighting, the egos, the personnel changes and the rest of the drama (in August a number of European tour dates were cancelled while Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain continued to battle) just soured me on the group to the point where even the placement of “Don’t Stop Believin'” in the series finale of “The Sopranos” could not change my mind. But my love of today’s song prevails and it is not because of the line referencing my favorite album of all time 😀

“One love feeds the fire
One heart burns desire
I wonder who’s crying now
Two hearts born to run
Who’ll be the lonely one
I wonder who’s crying now“.

Journey

Journey’s 1981 album and the band (L-R): Ross Valory, Jonathan Cain, Neil Schon, Steve Perry and Steve Smith. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Journey: “Who’s Crying Now” (1981, written by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry).

Stay safe & well.