Let’s Take A Moment Day 446

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

Hi everyone. Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing. But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

Sixty years ago today-June 5, 1961-Roy Orbison hit the #1 spot in the country for one week with today’s song. His Traveling Wilbury bandmate, Jeff Lynne, covered this track on his 2012 album, Long Wave and it is exceptionally good. But there is only one Roy Orbison and his version is damn near perfect.

“Then all at once he was standing there
So sure of himself his head in the air
My heart was breaking which one would it be
You turned around and walked away with me“.

George Harrison (L) & his future Traveling Wilbury bandmate, Roy Orbison (R), in 1964. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Roy Orbison: “Running Scared” (1961, written by Joe Melson and Roy Orbison).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

4Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 445

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

On June 1, 1978 Bruce Springsteen released Darkness On The Edge Of Town. It was the follow up to his masterpiece, Born To Run & the second album with his new manager Jon Landau. For those of you who may not know, he was a rock critic who saw The Boss live in 1974 prompting Landau to write the now famous quote: “I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen”.

Life would change exponentially for both men after the release of Born In The U.S.A. on June 4, 1984. It was an enormous smash, yielding seven Top Ten hits & catapulted Springsteen to a level of stardom few had ever seen. But the seriousness of the songs was overshadowed by the videos, a catch 22 common in the early days of the MTV era.

The lead off single, “Dancing In The Dark”, was a tale of self-loathing & internal angst. But that message was lost by both the song’s upbeat tempo and the glitzy performance video as well. And the title track, a commentary on the plight of Vietnam veterans who struggled to find their way back, became an anthem of patriotism & national pride. The clips in the video showing Springsteen dressed in red, white & blue punching his fist in the air during the chorus only aided that misconception.

But ultimately that album was like every Springsteen record before & after. It was about struggling, disappointed disenfranchised people looking for a way to escape their sad reality. And for those chasing the promise of the American dream, only to discover it is just the pursuit of happiness that is guaranteed in our country’s declaration, not the actual achievement of it. And as Springsteen sang in an outtake song from the Darkness album sessions, “When the promise is broken you go on living, but it steals something from down in your soul”. His words are heartbreaking, raw & sublime, just like life.

Today’s song is in that tradition, albeit at a faster tempo. It’s all about wanting to shut the door & hide from the outside world & let love keep you safe. Who has not felt like that more than once in their lives, especially in the last 12 months? And the fact that the singer is asking his partner for help & not expecting her to read his mind? Well, swoon.

I loved this song so much I got not one but two sets of special license plates in tribute to it. However once road rage became part of the vernacular, I reluctantly gave them up. But I still have one……..framed. Yes, I am that girl. A Boss fan.

“Now promise me baby
You won’t let them find us
Hold me in your arms
Let’s let our love blind us“.

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Cover Me” (1984, written by Bruce Springsteen).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

3Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 444

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Last week we received the sad news that singer Billy Joe “B.J.” Thomas passed away at age 78. Whether you remember him from “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”, “Hooked On A Feeling”, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”, “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” or other tunes, you know he was a fixture on AM radio in the early 1970’s before his foray into gospel music once he became sober in 1976.

But for me, today’s song is the one I remember best. It was on repeat in my house growing up as it was one of my mother’s favorites. I kept her worn out 45′ for sentimental reasons and I sing along when it is played on the 70’s channel because I can still recall every single word by heart.

It is a bittersweet memory that comes from those tunes that molded us when we were kids and transports us back to those days like a time machine. It may only last a few minutes, but what happens in that short amount of time is transformative. Rest in peace, BJ Thomas. Thanks for taking me home for a little while.

“I just can’t help believing
When she slips her hand in my hand
And it feels so small and helpless
That my fingers fold around it like a glove“.

BJ Thomas circa 1974. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

B.J. Thomas: “I Just Can’t Help Believing” (1970, written by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

2Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 443

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Time for the first mid-week Motown break in June. Gladys Maria Knight was born 77 years ago on May 28, 1944 in the state named in her most famous song, Georgia. She started singing in her church choir when she was a child and never stopped. She & The Pips-her brother Merald “Bubba” Knight & their cousins William Guest and Edward Patten-enjoyed great success throughout their career which started in the 1950’s & lasted until Knight left to pursue a solo career in 1988. In addition to singing she has made countless appearances in films & on TV shows. Here is to 100 more birthdays for The Empress Of Soul & her remarkable voice.

“You’re like a diamond
And she treats you like glass
Yet you beg her to love you
With me you don’t ask”.

Gladys Knight & The Pips circa 1972 (L-R): Edward Patten, Merald “Bubba” Knight, Gladys Knight and William Guest. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Gladys Knight & The Pips: “If I Were Your Woman” (1970, written by Gloria Jones, Clay McMurray and Pam Sawyer).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

1Jun2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 442

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

We have two Rolling Stones birthdays to begin this new month with. Guitarist, & songwriter Ron Wood, born June 1, 1947 in England, turns 74 today. June 2 marks the 80th birthday for drummer Charlie Watts, also born in England, in 1941.

The band released today’s song in the US on June 1, 1968, which happened to be Wood’s 21st birthday. But it would be seven years before he played his first show with the group that would later make him a member. Before that he was a member of The Jeff Beck Group where he met Rod Stewart.

The two men went on to form The Faces in 1969. Together they wrote one of my favorite songs of all time, 1971’s “Stay With Me” (Day 218). The same year, Wood played & contributed songs to Stewart’s 1971 breakthrough album, Every Picture Tells A Story. In 1975, Wood joined The Rolling Stones but remains friends with Stewart, whom he joined for his MTV Unplugged show in 1993.

Watts has been in The Stones since their formation in 1963. His grew up listening to jazz music & started playing the drums when he was 14. He also attended art school & worked as a graphic designer in addition to his work in the band, Blues Incorporated. Playing shows with them in and around the London club circuit is how he came to meet the members of The Stones.

Today’s song was a #3 hit for the band in 1969. In 1986, when it was covered by Aretha Franklin for the movie of the same name, it hit #21. Wood & song co-writer Keith Richards played guitar on her track & appeared in the video as well. Her version is, of course, spectacular because Franklin is The Queen. But it was The Stones version that was used in the movie “Pirate Radio” when Gavin Kavanagh returned to the airwaves, so that makes it my favorite version forever. Happy birthday Ron Wood and Charlie Watts. May you both see 100 more.

“I was drowned I was washed up
And left for dead
I fell down to my feet
And I saw they bled“.

Top: The Rolling Stones circa 1978 (L-R): Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Ron Wood, Bill Wyman and Keith Richards. Bottom: The Stones circa 2008 (L-E): Watts, Richards, Jagger and Wood. (Images found online. Original sources unknown.)

The Rolling Stones: “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (1968, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

31May2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 441

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Admittedly I was not much of a fan of folk music in my teenage years. I had heard a few artists from that genre & knew it was not a sound I could ever embrace. But as my love of music grew I found another artist who embraced that sound-namely, Bob Dylan. Of course I found the beauty of his words & music remarkable & realized how far reaching his influence was, especially on my great musical love, Bruce Springsteen. But who was a great influence on Dylan? One of the biggest was Woody Guthrie.

Today the folk genre is more commonly known today as “roots music” or Americana which includes the early sounds not only of folk but blues, country, rhythm & blues and rock influences. Guthrie embodied all those sounds and made them his own.

Legend tells us he wrote today’s song as a somewhat snarky answer to Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America” which Guthrie was tired of hearing so often on the radio in the late 1930’s. He wrote some of the lyrics in 1940 but did not do anything with the tune until he revisited it in 1944. That is when he played it for a record company executive changing the course of Guthrie’s life from a Merchant Marine to a professional musician & artist.

The melody has been attributed to a song by The Carter Family (yes, Johnny Cash’s in-laws) but Guthrie’s tune used a different structure of the earlier one. The lyrics, however, are all his. And they are quite beautiful. I remember singing this song in my elementary school music class quite often. Each time I envisioned the scenes Guthrie wrote about and dreamt of the day I could see it all. But music, like the pages of a book, made me feel as if I already had. That is the power of great art.

On this Memorial Day 2021, we celebrate this great land of ours, the great freedoms we have here because of those who paid the highest price for us to have it. We owe them all a debt of gratitude.

“As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
Saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me“.

Woody Guthrie circa 1945. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Woody Guthrie: “This Land Is Your Land” (1944, written by Woody Guthrie).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

30May2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 440

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Today’s song is a reminder that freedom is for us all, no matter how different we are. From the lucky to the forsaken, from the broken to the beautiful, from the pacifist to the fighter. But what we share in common is our debt to those who sacrificed it all for the lives we are free to live.

“Far between sundown’s finish and midnight’s broken toll
We ducked inside the doorway thunder crashing
As majestic bells of bolts struck shadows in the sounds
Seeming to be the chimes of freedom flashing

Flashing for the warriors whose strength is not to fight
Flashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight
And for each and every underdog soldier in the night
And we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.”

Bruce Springsteen circa 1988. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Chimes Of Freedom” (1988, written by Bob Dylan).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

29May2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 439

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Crosby, Stills & Nash released their self-titled debut album on May 29, 1969. From the first time the three artists sang together at Joni Mitchell’s Laurel Canyon home, they knew their was something uniquely special about their harmonies. With the release of this record, the world would hear their gift as well.

Each man had already found success in other bands: David Crosby with The Byrds, Stephen Stills with The Buffalo Springfield & Graham Nash from The Hollies. The trio started touring the summer after the first album came out. Their second gig was at Woodstock.

My favorite song from this album is Stills’ exquisite “Helplessly Hoping” (Day 293) with today’s song as the runner up. He wrote & sang this one as well, and both were about his broken heart after his girlfriend, folk singer Judy Collins, ended their relationship. I do not understand how she left a man with such heart, soul & talent, but without that experience we would not have his beautiful music. Or the unique ending of this tune which Stills sang in his mother’s native language of Spanish.

“Que linda me la traiga Cuba
La reina de la Mar Caribe
Cielo sol no tiene sangreahi
Y que triste que no puedo vaya oh va, oh va“.

Translation:

“How pretty I’ll bring her to Cuba
The queen of the Caribbean Sea
I only want to visit her there
And how sad that I can’t oh go oh go”.

Graham Nash, Stephen Stills and David Crosby on the cover of their 1969 debut album. They took the picture before they decided on their name which is why they are not sitting in the order of their group name. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Crosby, Stills & Nash: “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” (1969, written by Stephen Stills).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

28May2021

Let;s Take A Moment Day 438

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

John Fogerty, who turns 76 years old today, was born May 28, 1945 in California. He is a songwriter & multi-instrumentalist who began his career as a member of Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). He continued making music on his own after the group disbanded in 1972. He is also a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1966 to 1968.

The title track of his 1985 album, Centerfield, is a staple at ballparks across the country. But I think he wrote some of his best songs when he was with CCR, including today’s track. It was a #2 record in 1969. Here’s to 100 more happy birthdays for John Fogerty.

“I hear hurricanes a-blowing
I know the end is coming soon
I fear rivers over flowing
I hear the voice of rage and ruin“.

Top: Creedence Clearwater Revival circa 1968 (L-R): Tom Fogerty (rhythm guitar), Doug Clifford (drums), Stu Cook (bass) and John Fogerty (singer, songwriter & lead guitar). Bottom: John Fogerty circa 1995. (Images found online. Original sources unknown.)

Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Bad Moon Rising” (1969, written by John Fogerty).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

27May2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 437

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Time for a Motown break. Today’s song was a Top 20 hit in 1965 for The Miracles before they were rebranded with Smokey Robinson as the headliner. He co-wrote it with bandmate Pete More and it appeared on the album, Going To A Go Go. Ella Fitzgerald, Todd Rundgren & Linda Ronstadt all did excellent cover versions of this song, but as good as they are, only Smokey sings it like Smokey.

“I’m just about at
The end of my rope
But I can’t stop trying
I can’t give up hope“.

The Miracles circa 1965 (L-R): Smokey Robinson, Claudette Rogers Robinson, Ronald White, Pete Moore and Bobby Rogers. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

The Miracles: “Ooo Baby Baby” (1965, written by Pete Moore and William “Smokey” Robinson Jr.).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

	Music Monday: May 11… on Let’s Take A Moment Day…
	Music Monday: May 4,… on Let’s Take A Moment Day…
	Music Monday: April… on Music Monday: October 7, …
	Music Monday: April… on Let’s Take A Moment Day…
	Music Monday: March… on Music Monday: August 19, …

Lilacs & Rust

Music & makeovers! I swoon for chippy paint, a gorgeous patina and a fabulous song!!! I love great music (read: Bruce Springsteen & Otis Redding), white lilacs, walking in freshly fallen snow, the Golden Girls, road trips and the fall!!!

Author Archives: Michele at Lilacs & Rust

Let’s Take A Moment Day 446

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 445

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 444

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

BJ Thomas circa 1974. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 443

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Gladys Knight & The Pips circa 1972 (L-R): Edward Patten, Merald “Bubba” Knight, Gladys Knight and William Guest. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 442

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 441

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Woody Guthrie circa 1945. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 440

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen circa 1988. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 439

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let;s Take A Moment Day 438

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Top: Creedence Clearwater Revival circa 1968 (L-R): Tom Fogerty (rhythm guitar), Doug Clifford (drums), Stu Cook (bass) and John Fogerty (singer, songwriter & lead guitar). Bottom: John Fogerty circa 1995. (Images found online. Original sources unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 437

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

The Miracles circa 1965 (L-R): Smokey Robinson, Claudette Rogers Robinson, Ronald White, Pete Moore and Bobby Rogers. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)