Author Archives: Michele at Lilacs & Rust

Let’s Take A Moment Day 206

Posted in Music by

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?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal 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.

Today in 1987 one of my favorite musical documentaries was released. “Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll” took an in-depth behind the scenes look into the life & career of “The Father Of Rock & Roll”, Chuck Berry. The film ended with clips from two all-star concerts that took place in honor of Berry’s 60th birthday in 1986 featuring Etta James, Eric Clapton, Linda Ronstadt and Julian Lennon. The show was organized by band leader Keith Richards with help from guitarist Robert Cray and Berry’s longtime pianist, Johnnie Johnson. The music was without a doubt phenomenal but the glimpses into Berry’s personal life including scenes with his father (who died the year the film came out), other family members and longtime friends gave more weight to Berry’s life. His 94th birth anniversary is in about a week-October 18, to be exact-so today is a celebration of that as well as the movie’s anniversary.

He was born in 1926 & raised in St. Louis, Missouri by his Baptist church deacon father & public school principal mother. Music was an early hobby for Berry who performed at his high school when he was around 15. But when he was arrested for armed robbery just before his 18th birthday, he was sent to a reformatory school until he was 21. It was there he started singing in a quartet.

Berry got married in 1948, became a father in 1950 and soon after began playing in local clubs with various bands for extra money while he worked regular jobs during the day. By 1953 he began working with Johnson’s trio, performing R&B and country music. Two years later he met blues great Muddy Waters who encouraged Berry to reach out to Chess Records president Leonard Chess. That led to Berry’s first recording for the label (and his first million seller), “Maybellene”, in 1955. Thus a legend was born.

One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when Clapton & Richards are rehearsing today’s song with Berry and he is having trouble remembering the lyrics. It is from his second studio album for Chess Records, “One Dozen Berrys” released in 1958. The record includes three hits: “Sweet Little Sixteen”, “Rock & Roll Music” & “Reelin’ & Rockin'”. But ever since I saw the documentary, today’s track is the one I enjoy the most.

One of his biggest fans, John Lennon, said, “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’.” Amen. Hail! Hail! Chuck Berry!!!

“When I see those big brown eyes that’s when I take my queue
It don’t take me but a few minutes to get a message through
I talked to you, and you talked to me and we talked to one another
It don’t take us but a few minutes to understand each other“.

Hail Hail

A concert scene from the movie featuring (L-R): Check Berry, Keith Richards & Eric Clapton performing “Wee Wee Hours”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Chuck Berry: “It Don’t Take But A Few Minutes” (1958, written by Chuck Berry).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 205

Posted in Music by

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?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal 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.

Indiana born & bred John Mellencamp turns 69 today. He is another artist who creates more than just music: he is also a prolific painter, has dabbled in acting (namely the 1992 movie, “Falling From Grace” which he also directed) and collaborated with horror writer Stephen King on the play, “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County”, amongst other endeavors Mellencamp has taken on in his nearly 45 year career. But for me his music will always be my favorite of all his talents.

When he released “The Lonesome Jubilee” in 1987, it had two songs on it I went absolutely crazy for. Both have great videos to accompany them, and as much as I love the one for “Cherry Bomb”, the one for today’s song is a performance video which is always my favorite type to watch.

“A million young poets
Screamin’ out their words
Maybe someday
Those words will be heard“.

Jubilee

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

John Mellencamp: “Check It Out” ( 1987, written by John Mellencamp).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 204

Posted in Music by

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?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal 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.

Ten years before REO Speedwagon released their most successful album in 1980, “Hi Infidelity”, lead guitarist & songwriter Gary Richrath joined the band that was founded in 1967 in Illinois by keyboard player Neil Doughty. Lead singer, songwriter, guitar & piano player Kevin Cronin-who turns 69 today- joined in 1972, left the next year due to alleged “internal conflicts” but returned in 1976. With Bruce Hall on bass and Alan Gratzer on drums. the band put out a few hard rock records in the 1970’s before switching to their more pop oriented sound on the 1980 album.

That had a lot to do with Cronin as the songwriter behind the band’s two number one hits, “Keep On Loving You” from this album & “Can’t Fight This Feeling” from 1984’s “Wheels Are Turnin'”. Both songs were too popish for my taste, but today’s song from the 1980 record written by Richrath was a whole different story. It has a much more hard rock feel thanks to its guitar driven sound including the solo. Also, it is not a tender love song but rather more in line with the name of the album as it tells a tale of betrayal. It went to #5 in 1981 and I absolutely adore it. Richrath stayed with the band until 1989 and passed away in 2015 following stomach surgery. Cronin continues to tour with Doughty, Hall, Dave Amato on lead guitar & Bryan Hitt on drums in the current lineup of REO Speedwagon.

“Take it on the run baby
If that’s the way you want it baby
Then I don’t need you around
I don’t believe it, not for a minute
You’re under the gun so you take it on the run“.

REO

REO Speedwagon circa 1980 (L-R): Bruce Hall, Alan Gratzer, Kevin Cronin, Neil Doughty & Gary Richrath (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

REO Speedwagon: “Take It On The Run” (1980, written by Gary Richrath).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 203

Posted in Music by

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?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal 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.

Forty seven years ago today-October 5, 1973-Elton John released “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”. It contained the original version of “Candle In The Wind”, “Bennie & the Jets” (see Day 51), “Saturday Night’s All Right For Fighting”, the title track and today’s song. This was the second album I ever bought by John & his sent-from-heaven collaborator, Bernie Taupin, and I love every track (the first was their “Greatest Hits” record from 1974). I spent nearly two years listening to nothing but their albums & my Motown collection before I discovered my other great musical loves (Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles), so John & Taupin’s music holds a very special place in my heart. I adore the entire “Brick Road” record, but I was enchanted by today’s track from the first time I heard it. All these years later, that has not changed.

“Harmony and me
We’re pretty good company
Looking for an island
In our boat upon the sea“.

EJ

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elton John: “Harmony” (1973, written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 202

Posted in Music by

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?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal 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.

When the band Traffic formed in England in 1967 it was as a quartet: Jim Capaldi (vocalist, drummer & lyricist), Dave Mason (vocals, songwriter & guitars), Steve Winwood (songwriter, organ & blue-eyed soul master vocalist) and Chris Wood (a multi-instrumentalist who played saxophone, flute, keyboards & bass as well as contributing to the vocals and songwriting duties). Their first album, “Dear Mr. Fantasy” was released in December, their self-titled follow-up came out in 1968 & featured the Mason penned hit, “Feelin’ Alright”.

The group disbanded in 1969 when Mason & Winwood left, the former for artistic differences and the latter with no explanation. He went on to join the supergroup, Blind Faith, the same year but when that group failed to stay together after only one album, he reunited with Traffic in 1970 as a trio since Mason did not return. That year the group released “John Barleycorn Must Die” which features today’s song. In 1971 “The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys” came out followed by two live albums & three more studio records before the group broke up in 1974.

Wood died in 1983 at age 39 from pneumonia & Capaldi died at age 60 in 2005 from cancer. But he was present at the band’s 2004 induction into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Wood’s sister, Stephanie, accepted on his behalf. Winwood went on to have a successful solo career and is still performing. Mason, who moved to the U.S. permanently in 1971, continues playing as well and is probably best remembered for his 1977 top 20 hit, “We Just Disagree”. He is also involved in a few other endeavors outside of music including his charity, “Rock Our Vets” which helps returning veterans as well as the families of law enforcement & firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. Of all of Traffic’s music, today’s song is the one I love most of all.

“Found someone who can comfort me
But there are always exceptions
And she’s good at appearing sane
But I just want you to know“.

3rd Traffic

Traffic circa 1967 (L-R): Back: Jim Capaldi and Dave Mason. Seated: Steve Winwood and Chris Wood. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Traffic: “Empty Pages” (1970, written by Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 201

Posted in Music by

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?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal 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.

Three days into October and already we have our first rock & roll birthday of the month. This one belongs to guitarist & singer Lindsey Buckingham, formerly of Fleetwood Mac, who turns 71 today. I have loved his music since I first discovered that band and the fact that he was oh-so-easy-on-the-eyes was just a plus. As the only guitarist & male vocalist for the band, it was his sound that made their music instantly recognizable throughout the 1970’s & 1980’s.

If you know the back story to the album, “Rumours” then you know he was romantically involved with bandmate Stevie Nicks until they began working on that record. They met in high school and he invited her to join the band he was in at the time. Five years later, they left the band and started dating. In 1973 they released a record together but it did not sell. However, Mick Fleetwood heard one of those songs and was intrigued by the guitar work. He eventually met Buckingham and in 1974 invited him to join Fleetwood Mac. But Buckingham said he & Nicks were a team so he would only take the job if she was hired, too. Fleetwood agreed and the team became part of the band. Nicks wrote the lyrics to her songs, but it was Buckingham who provided all the arrangements, so he was as responsible for the sound of her songs as she was.

While he was with the group Buckingham released his first solo record in 1981 and pursued a few more musical collaborations outside the band until he decided to leave the group in 1987. He reunited with them once in 1992 where they played “Don’t Stop” for Bill Clinton’s inauguration ceremony. But it was not until 1997 that Buckingham would rejoin the group as a full time member, restoring the band’s classic line-up. That year they released a live album, “The Dance”. It debuted at #1 on the album chart, sold one million copies in two months and eventually over six million copies worldwide.

Over the next 20 years he made music with the group while he continued to work on solo & outside projects. That included an album with Christine McVie in 2017. But in January of 2018 Nicks took issue with Buckingham’s alleged “disrespectful behavior towards her” whatever she perceived that to be & gave the band an ultimatum: she wanted him out or she would quit. He was let go, so he filed a lawsuit against the band that was eventually settled. Buckingham revealed in an interview soon after his dismissal that he received a note from McVie stating she did not want him out of the band.

Groups breaking up and members being fired are all part of the rock & roll game. But honestly there should be a statute of limitations in place to prevent what happened to Buckingham because if you have been a part of a band for nearly 35 years, another member should not be allowed to have you fired due to a diva moment. Especially the member who made it possible for you to join the group in the first place. But at least Buckingham’s personal life is solid, as he has been happily married to the mother of his three grown children since 2000. And his talent as a musician is undeniable. As much as I love his contributions to “Rumours”, today’s song was my first introduction to Buckingham and it remains one of my favorites, on any day of the week.

“But you know it’s true
You only want me when I get over you
First you love me, then you get on down the line
But I don’t mind, I don’t mind“.

Fleetwood Mac Portrait

Lindsay

Top: Fleetwood Mac in 1975 (L-R): John McVie, Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood & Lindsey Buckingham. Bottom: Buckingham circa 2017. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Fleetwood Mac: “Monday Morning” (1975, written by Lindsey Buckingham).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 200

Posted in Music by

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?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal 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.

This month commemorates two big milestones for Eric Clapton. On October 4, 1963 he made his debut with The Yardbirds at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, England as the replacement for original guitarist Anthony “Top” Topham. Then on the same day five years later Clapton’s third band, Cream, played the first show on their farewell tour at Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. It was with Cream that Clapton achieved international stardom and for the band’s final album, “Goodbye”, he co-wrote today’s song with his friend, Beatle George Harrison.

The story the two men told over the years about how the song got its name is this: Harrison had written some of the song on a piece of paper and Clapton was standing on the opposite side so the page was upside down to him. He misread the word “bridge” and asked, “What’s “badge”?” And the name of the track was born. It’s hard to believe that in nearly 35 years of friendship, this was the only tune the two men wrote together. But what a song it is and I cannot think of a better one to mark Day 200 with.

“Yes I told you that the light goes up and down
Don’t you notice how the wheel goes ’round
And you better pick yourself up off the ground
Before they bring the curtain down“.

Cream

Cream Goodbye

Top: The band Cream circa 1968 (L-R): Eric Clapton (guitar & vocals), Ginger Baker (drums) & Jack Bruce (bass & vocals). Bottom: The band’s 1969 “Goodbye” album. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Cream: “Badge” ( 1969, written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison who was initially credited as “L’Angelo Misterioso” due to contractual label issues).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 199

Posted in Music by

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?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal 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.

Fifty one years ago today-October 1, 1969-The Beatles released “Abbey Road” here in the US. Five days later, today’s song came out as the first single backed with “Come Together”. One look at the cover of the album with three of The Fab Four sporting long hair and beards and you could hardly believe that only five years had passed since they first arrived in America in their matching suits and mop-top haircuts. The 1960’s swept over them and the world at an unbelievably rapid pace.

The music the group created continued to evolve as well. But John Lennon & Paul McCartney, still being credited as a writing team, were moving in opposite directions. The diversity they showed on “The White Album”-Lennon writing about a “Revolution” along with more introspective pieces like “Julia” & “Dear Prudence” while McCartney told stories about “Rocky Raccoon”, “Mother Nature’s Son” and “Wild Honey Pie”-continued on “Abbey Road” as well. Lennon wrote “Come Together” & “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” while McCartney sang about “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” and a few other characters until closing out the album with his famous medley.

The other thing that was clear on this album was George Harrison’s momentum from “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” helped him deliver not one but two of the best songs the group ever recorded, “Here Comes The Sun” and today’s track. Ringo Starr started the song off with an incredible drum roll and continued his exquisite playing throughout it which only added to the beauty of this tune. Harrison had already begun stockpiling songs for his first solo record but the two he contributed to “Abbey Road” removed any doubt as to his premier songwriting ability. The stage was being set for his debut album, the “Concert For Bangladesh” and all the other gems he brought us in the 1970’s and beyond. But it was today’s song that Frank Sinatra called “the greatest love song of the past 50 years” and neither Lennon nor McCartney could ever take that prestigious honor away from Harrison. This is without a doubt my favorite Beatles song of all time.

“Something in the way she knows
And all I have to do is think of her
Something in the things she shows me
I don’t want to leave her now
You know I believe and how“.

Abbey Road

The “Abbey Road” album cover. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Beatles: “Something” (1969, written by George Harrison).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 198

Posted in Music by

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?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal 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.

On this day in 1982 Bruce Springsteen released his acoustic masterpiece, “Nebraska”. He recorded it by himself in the studio at his home on a 4-track tape machine. While the overall feel of the songs and the characters they feature appeared dark and pensive, somehow through the stark reality of the music there was a sense of hope that just maybe there was redemption for some of the people Springsteen wrote about. He basically confirmed this in the album’s last track, “Reason To Believe” when he sang: “Still at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe”.

The record received vast acclaim from critics and fans alike, especially country giant Johnny Cash. He covered two tracks from it, “Highway Patrolman” and today’s featured song. He & Springsteen had a mutual admiration for each other, and in 1999 he performed “Give My Love To Rose” in the television special, “An All Star Tribute to Johnny Cash”. The Man In Black recorded songs by dozens of artists throughout his career, but today’s tune has the dark elements his songs often carried while the title fit him like a glove. It does not get much better than Johnny Cash singing, but when he performed a Springsteen song, he was damn near perfect.

“Down in the part of town where when you hit a red light you don’t stop
Johnny’s waving his gun around and threatening to blow his top
When an off-duty cop snuck up on him from behind
Out in front of the Club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99“.

Cash

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Johnny Cash: “Johnny 99” ( 1983, 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.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 197

Posted in Music by

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?

Jane Austen Music Quote

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal 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.

Today’s song was released nearly 64 years ago on October 6, 1956. By this date that same year the record label, RCA Victor, reported that it had received over 856,327 advanced orders for the single. By its premier date that number exceeded the one million mark, making it a gold record before it even came out. A movie by the same name would come out later that year in November and would mark the film debut of The King himself, Elvis Presley. The original title of the movie was “The Reno Brothers”, but due to the vast success of the record the name of the film was changed to match it. Presley’s career on the big screen would make him an even bigger star than he already was.

When I was trying to choose from the dozens of clips from “The Ed Sullivan Show” for yesterday’s post (Day 196), I came across Presley’s performance of today’s tune (interspersed with scenes from the movie) and absolutely swooned. Yes, I was already aware of how handsome he was and how magnetic his stage presence was. But in this clip those things are magnified 1000 percent. Take a moment to bask in all the beauty this man had to offer, from his absolutely gorgeous face, to his radiant smile to his sublime voice. He was perfection in every sense of the word. And he was only 21 years old at the time this was filmed. All hail The King.

And since today marks the official 81st birth anniversary of my sweet mother who adored this man, I dedicate this song to her with all of my love.

“Love me tender, love me long
Take me to your heart
For it’s there that I belong
And will never part“.

Elvis

Elvis Presley on the set of the 1956 film, “Love Me Tender”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elvis Presley: “Love Me Tender” ( Performed on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on October 28, 1956. Written by George R. Poulton, Vera Matson, Elvis Presley & (uncredited) Ken Darby).

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

Stay well.