Category Archives: Music Monday

Music Monday: February 2, 2026

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

February 3, 1959: The day the music died.

Story of the crash as reported in The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY on February 3, 1959. (Image found on Newspapers.com. Original source unknown.)

October 24, 2025 marked the 95th birth anniversary of Jiles Perry Richardson Jr., better known by his stage name, “The Big Bopper”. This Sept will mark the 90th birth anniversary of Charles Hardin Holley, known by his stage name, Buddy Holly. Tomorrow marks 67 years since the fatal plane crash that ended their lives on Feb 3, 1959 along with those of musician & singer Ritchie Valens (born Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, 1941) and their pilot, Roger Peterson (age 21).

“But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn’t take one more step

I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died”.

Jiles Perry “J.P.” Richardson Jr., a/k/a The Big Bopper: October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959.

Buddy Holly: September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959.

Ritchie Valens: – May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959.

Roger Peterson: May 24, 1937 – February 3, 1959.

L-R: Jiles Perry Richardson Jr., a/k/a “The Big Bopper”, Buddy Holly. Ritchie Valens and their pilot, Roger Peterson (age 21).(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

J.P. Richardson a/k/a The Big Bopper: “Chantilly Lace” (1958, written by J.P. Richardson). 

Buddy Holly: “Rave On” (1958, written by Norman Petty, Bill Tilghman and Sonny West).

Ritchie Valens: “Come On Let’s Go” (1958, written by Ritchie Valens).

Don McLean: “American Pie” (1971, written by Don McLean).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: January 26, 2026

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last week marked the 95th birth anniversary of Sam Cooke. Born January 22, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi and raised in Chicago, Illinois where he grew up singing in his father’s Baptist church. Below is from my post from January 24, 2022:

When he was 15 Cooke began singing with a gospel group, The Soul Stirrers. In 1958 he released his first album of secular music, a mix of standards, Broadway tunes and one original track, the magnificent “You Send Me”.

Over the next six years Cooke would write & record many other songs, including “Cupid”, “Chain Gang”, “Another Saturday Night”, Wonderful World” and the civil rights inspired “A Change Is Gonna Come”. He also became an important member in the early days of that movement along side Muhammad Ali & Martin Luther King Jr. Cooke took an even bigger role in his career by starting his own record label (SAR Records) and publishing company (KAGS Music) to preserve his artistic legacy. Losing him in 1964 at age 33 was an unmitigated tragedy & one of music’s saddest moments. But more than six decades after his first hit record, Cooke remains one of the most important & enduring figures in music history. And rightfully so.

Samuel Cooke: January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964.

Sam Cooke circa 1958. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Cooke circa 1960. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Cooke circa 1960. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Muhammad Ali (L) with Cooke circa 1962. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Nat King Cole (L) with Cooke circa 1962. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Aretha Franklin (L) with Cooke circa 1962. (Image found on Sam Cooke’s Facebook page. Original source unknown.)

Over the weekend, Neil Diamond celebrated birthday #85. Born January 24, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York, the singer-songwriter released his debut album, The Feel of Neil Diamond, 60 years ago in August 1966. It includes seven songs written by Diamond and five covers including Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba” and The Mamas & The Papas “Monday, Monday”.

In a post I uploaded in April 2020, I wondered who did not grow up listening to Diamond’s music. From the Monkees to “Shrek” to a variety of artists covering his songs (Chris Isaak with “Solitary Man”, UB40 with “Red Red Wine” & Urge Overkill with “Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon”) to his movie debut (in 1980’s “The Jazz Singer”) to his E.T. inspired song (“Heartlight”) to the Boston Red Sox adopting “Sweet Caroline” as their unofficial official anthem, to Diamond’s reworking of that song in an Instagram post by changing the words from “touching hands” to “washing hands” during the pandemic, Diamond is omnipresent. So basically if you have been alive in the last 60 years there is no way you cannot know who this unbelievably talented artist is.

As a performing artist he has 13 Top Ten songs including three #1 hits (“Cracklin’ Rosie” in 1970, “Song Sung Blue” in 1972 and his 1978 duet with Barbara Streisand, “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”) and 18 Top Ten albums including 2008’s “Home Before Dark” which reached #1 in May of that year. His 2010 album, “Dreams”, is one of my personal favorites. It includes 14 covers of songs by other artists and one of his own compositions which was a #1 hit for The Monkees for seven consecutive weeks nearly 60 years ago beginning on December 31, 1966. He has won every award and accolade out there and is undoubtedly one of America’s greatest songwriters of all time. I am proud to bow at the altar of the Diamond.

Happy 85th birthday, Neil Diamond. Thank you for every note.

Neil Diamond circa 1970. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Diamond in the 1978 concert film, “The Last Waltz”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Diamond in his 1980 film debut, “The Jazz Singer”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Diamond in the 2001 movie, “Saving Silverman”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Diamond circa 2010. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Diamond circa 2015. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Soul Stirrers: “The Last Mile Of The Way” (Recorded between 1950-1957. Written by Johnson Oatman, Jr.).

Sam Cooke: “You Send Me” (1958, written by Sam Cooke).

Sam Cooke: “Twistin’ the Night Away” (1962, written by Sam Cooke).

Sam Cooke: “A Change Is Gonna Come” (1964, written by Sam Cooke).

Neil Diamond: “Solitary Man” (1966, written by Neil Diamond).

Neil Diamond: “Cracklin’ Rosie” (1970, written by Neil Diamond).

Neil Diamond: “Love On The Rocks” (1980, written by Gilbert Bécaud and Neil Diamond).

Neil Diamond: “I’m A Believer” (2010, written by Neil Diamond).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: January 19, 2026

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

“I think I have discovered the highest good. It is love.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.: January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today marks birthday #80 for Dolly Parton. Born January 19, 1946 in Pittman Center, Tennessee, the future country superstar started singing as a child, including appearances on local TV & radio shows by age 10. Three years later she recorded her first record & appeared at the Grand Ole Opry. In 1964 after she graduated high school she moved to Nashville and began her career as a songwriter with a music publisher.

Dolly Parton’s 1967 debut album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

A year later Parton signed her own record deal. Her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, was released in September 1967. That same year she became a regular on The Porter Wagoner Show at his invitation. She continued to make solo records but they did not achieve the level of success as her duets with Wagoner which earned them a Country Music Award in 1968 for Vocal Group Of The Year. Two years later her solo records began to chart well, including her 1971 hit, the autobiographical song (which would later become a TV movie), “Coat Of Many Colors”. In 1974, on the heels of even greater success with her song, “Jolene”, Parton left Wagoner’s show.

Parton circa 1977. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

After years of hits as a country star, she branched out into acting with her debut in the 1980 movie, “9 to 5”. She also wrote & sang the title theme song, which became the #1 song in the country 45 years ago on February 21, 1981 for two nonconsecutive weeks. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1981. She hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks again-this time consecutively- in the fall of 1983 for her duet with Kenny Rogers, “Islands In The Stream”. Parton’s collaborations with fellow music legends Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt for the Trio albums are not to be missed.

Parton in a scene from the 1980 movie, “9 to 5”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Parton appeared in several other movies and made a huge contribution to the 1992 film, “The Bodyguard” when her song, “I Will Always Love You”-covered by Whitney Houston at the urging of her leading man, Kevin Costner -became the #1 song in the country for 14 consecutive weeks from November 28, 1992-March 5, 1993. Parton has reportedly said numerous times that song was written as a tribute to Wagoner for his role in her life & career.

Her successes continued over the decades and have not stopped. In 2022 she was the first country female artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame for her contributions to the music industry. The following year her 49th solo album, Rockstar, peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200.

Parton’s 2023 album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In 2024 Billboard named her the #1 Greatest Country Artist Of All Time.

She lost her husband of nearly 59 years, Carl Dean, in March 2025. She started 2026 on a better note with the release of a new version of her 1977 song, “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning”. In the spring her theme park, Dollywood-celebrates its 40th anniversary (it opened 40 years ago in May 1986) and two new attractions– The Songteller Hotel & The Life of Many Colors Museum-will open this June in downtown Nashville.

Today, Parton wears many other hats aside from singer, songwriter, musician and actress. She is also an author, a businesswoman, a humanitarian, a philanthropist (her Imagination Library celebrated its 30th anniversary in 1995) and an icon. She is a true American treasure and a legend.

Happy birthday, Dolly Parton. Thank you for sharing your talent & your heart with us.

Parton and her milestone birthday cake from her Facebook page. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

U2: “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” (1984, written by U2: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.)

Dolly Parton: “Lonely Comin’ Down” (1972, written by Porter Wagoner).

Dolly Parton: “Jolene” (1973, written by Dolly Parton).

Dolly Parton: “I Will Always Love You” (1974, written by Dolly Parton).

Dolly Parton: “Here You Come Again” (1977, written by Barry Mann and Cynthis Weil).

Dolly Parton: “It’s All Wrong, But It’s All Right” (1977, written by Dolly Parton).

Dolly Parton: “9 to 5” (1981, written by Dolly Parton).

Dolly Parton: “Single Women” (1982, written by Michael O’Donoghue).

Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris: “After The Gold Rush” (1999, written by Neil Young).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: January 12, 2026

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last week on the blog we celebrated Doors’ guitarist Robby Krieger’s 80th birthday. A few days after that post, he & drummer John Densmore were featured in the this year’s Song Around The World by Playing For Change. Three minutes into the video we are treated to pictures of the four original Doors members, then a little later solo photos of both keyboardist Ray Manzarek & lead singer Jim Morrison emerge, while parts of their contributions from the original recording can be heard. In fact, his vocal is the outro for the new version which is such a massive nod to the power of the initial track that still resonates 55 years after its release in April 1971 on the album, L.A. Woman. Immense respect to all involved-especially Densmore and Krieger-for giving the band the utmost tribute.

The 2026 version features Lukas Nelson, Don Was, Micah Nelson, Rami Jaffee, The Red Cloud Drum Group and many others. Playing For change was founded in 2002 by Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke. As stated on their website, their goal is to “inspire and connect the world through music”. In the past they have paid tribute to other classic songs such as Yussuf’s (f/k/a Cat Stevens) “Peace Train”, John Lennon’s “Imagine” & U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”. I am so happy The Doors are now part of this incredible music project.

John Densmore (L, on drums) and Robby Krieger (R, on guitar) of The Doors performing in Playing For Change’s latest project, “Riders On The Storm”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Picture of The Doors (L-R: Robby Krieger and Jim Morrison (both standing) with Ray Manzarek and John Densmore, circa 1967, featured in Playing For Change’s “Riders On The Storm” project. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The top of the credit screen at the end of the video salutes both Manzarek and Morrison and lists Densmore as a producer. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir died January 10, 2026 at age 78. I liked a few of the band’s songs but was not a Deadhead by any means. Yet I always understood the power of their music & what it did for the industry and for their fans. The band formed 60 years ago in California in 1965 with Weir as a founding member on rhythm guitar and vocals. They lasted 30 years together before they disbanded at the end of 1995, prompted by the death of lead guitarist and vocalist Jerry Garcia on August 9, 1995.

During their three decades together, many members of The Dead had side projects. For Weir-born Robert Hall Parber on October 16, 1947 in San Francisco, California-his included his first solo album, Ace, in May 1972 along with tenures in other bands including Kingfish, Bobby and the Midnites and Ratdog.

When Garcia died in 1995, flags were flown at half staff in his hometown of San Francisco, California including a tie-dyed one over City Hall. One of New York City’s landmarks chose to honor Weir with a similar tribute by changing the colors at the top of the Empire State Building as shown on their IG page with the caption-“Tonight we will shine in tie-dye to honor the life and legacy of Bob Weir“. Such is the power of music.

Salute to Bob Weir courtesy of the Empire State Building’s IG page.  

I love the placement of one of The Dead’s most touching and introspective tracks in the 1985 movie, “Mask”. The song-written by Jerry Garcia and lryicist Robert Hunter-delivers a fitting sentiment as a farewell to one of the band’s most pivotal members. Rest in peace, Bob Weir.

“If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music?
Would you hold it near as it were your own?

It’s a hand-me-down the thoughts are broken
Perhaps they’re better left unsung
I don’t know don’t really care
Let there be songs to fill the air

Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow“.

There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone“.

Jerry Garcia (L) and Bob Weir (R) on “Late Night with David Letterman” in September 1987.

Weir (L) and Garcia (R) on “Late Night with David Letterman” in October 1989. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Doors: “Riders On The Storm” (1971, written by The Doors: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Morrison and Jim Morrison).

Playing For Change: “Riders On The Storm” (2026, written by The Doors: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Morrison and Jim Morrison).

Grateful Dead: “Ripple” (1970, written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter).

Bob Weir: “Playing In The Band” (1972, written by Robert Hunter and Bob Weir). 

Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir: “I Second That Emotion” (Live performance on “Late Night With David Letterman” on October 13, 1989. Written by Al Cleveland and William “Smokey” Robinson Jr.).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: January 5, 2026

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Happy 2026, everyone.

If you have been around for a while, you know I like to set the tone for the new year by picking a song with a message I can focus on when all the noise gets too loud. This year that track is one of the greatest rock anthems ever written sung by one of the most phenomenal voices in classic rock history.

Free’s 1970 album contains my song for 2026 (L-R): Andy Fraser, Paul Rodgers, Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

On Christmas Eve 100 years ago in 1925, the first story about a bear who lived “under the name of Sanders” was featured in the London Evening News called, “The Wrong Sort of Bees”, written by Alan Alexander (A.A.) Milne. In October 1926, he expanded that story into a children’s book which followed the characters based on the author’s son, Christopher Robin, his stuffed animals led by his beloved teddy bear, Winnie The Pooh, all his friends & their activities in the 100 Acre Wood.

Image found on The Times website credited to TRUSTEES OF THE POOH PROPERTIES/TRUSTEES OF THE SHEPARD TRUST/HARPERCOLLINS.

In 1961, Disney acquired the rights to the characters and a decade after that, Kenny Loggins (who turns 78 on January 7) wrote an ode to childhood featuring that sweet bear. It was released 55 years ago on the first album Loggins & Jim Messina recorded together, 1971’s Sittin’ In.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elvis Aaron Presley was born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. Seventy years ago in 1956, he released nearly a dozen songs and made his ground breaking debut in front of 60 million viewers on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on September 9, 1956. Two more appearances for The King would follow-October 28, 1956 & January 6, 1957- with his biggest selling single from 1956 performed all three times.

Elvis Presley on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in October 1956. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This month marks birthday #80 for Doors guitarist Robby Krieger. Born January 8, 1946 in Los Angeles, California, he was 1/4 of one of the greatest American bands in history, an incredibly talented musician and the second main songwriter for them after Jim Morrison. The last album recorded during his lifetime-released 55 years ago in April 1971-features one of Krieger’s most notable tracks.

The Doors sixth studio album was released 55 years ago in April 1971 (L-R): Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, Robby Krieger and Jim Morrison). (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Free: “All Right Now” (1970, written by Andy Fraser and Paul Rodgers).

Loggins & Messina: “House At Pooh Corner” (1971, written by Kenny Loggins).

Elvis Presley: “Don’t Be Cruel” (Performed on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 28, 1956. Recorded & released in 1956. Written by Otis Blackwell and Elvis Presley).

The Doors: “Love Her Madly” (1971, written by The Doors: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: December 29, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The final Monday of the year is upon us and we are a few days away from a brand new year. I just want to take this time to thank all of you for being here while I indulge my love for music each week. And I hope the next 52 Mondays bring you everything you want and need.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The end of a year usually brings nostalgia & reflection, both good and bad. And no matter how you choose to spend the last night of the year-to celebrate the new one upon us or as just another night-here are two different sentiments to help you say goodbye to 2025 and hello to 2026. Whatever you are feeling, I hope you have a safe, happy and peaceful start to the new year.

Dan Fogelberg’s 1981 album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Diana Krall released her holiday album 20 years ago in October 2005. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dan Fogelberg: “Same Old Lang Syne” (1980, written by Dan Fogelberg).

Diana Krall featuring The Clayton–Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” (2005, written by Frank Loesser).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: November 24, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

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 daily feature will begin. I hope you will stay for that & share some of your favorite holiday songs with me as well. I also want to wish all of you celebrating Thanksgiving this week-however you are choosing to celebrate-a day that is happy & safe.

American musician & singer Lee Michaels was born 80 years ago on November 24, 1945 in Los Angeles, California. His professional career started in 1967 when he was signed to A&M Records. But his breakthrough came with his fifth album, aptly titled 5th, released in 1971. It included a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Can I Get A Witness” that made it to #39 that year, but Michaels’ true claim to fame came from the first single which peaked at #6. By the end of the 1970’s he basically retired from music and by 1988, he pivoted into a new endeavor. He opened the restaurant chain, Killer Shrimp, in Marina Del Ray in 1988 which he still owns today and runs with his family. But Michaels’ legacy as the voice behind a 1970’s rocking tune endures.

Lee Michaels circa 1971. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This year I featured several of the #1 Songs of 1975 (see Part 1 and Part 2). For the final look at that year’s top hits, I will start with Tejano singer Freddy Fender. He reignited a stalled career from the 1960’s and crossed over into country music with a song that hit the #1 spot on May 31, 1975 for one week. He sang the track primarily in English, then repeated the first verse in Spanish for a Tex-Mex blend on a beautiful sentiment set to music. The song has been covered by multiple artists in & out of the country genre and it was featured in the 1991 movie, Rush”.

Freddy Fender circa 1974. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In one week of August 1975, Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds had the #1 song in the country with a track that has the definitive 1970’s soft rock vibe. Their debut single-“Don’t Pull Your Love”-was a #4 hit in the summer of 1971 thanks to its catchy hook and overall fun feel. After a lineup change in the group at the end of 1972 when Reynolds left, the trio kept the name intact, signed to a new label & recorded the song that would bring them their biggest hit, co-written by lead vocalist Dan Hamilton.

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds’ 1975 album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

There are two songs from 1975 that may not have been #1 hits, but I think they deserve honorable mentions. In April of that year, the Scottish group Pilot released a single in the U.S. from an album that came out in the UK the year before. The song became an international hit, reaching #1 in Canada and #5 in the U.S. in the summer of 1975. Sadly, as has became the fate of too many songs that bring back great memories, the track is now used in a TV ad for medication, which in this case, is Ozempic.

Pilot’s debut album was released in 1974. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In May 1975, 10cc released a song that would peak at the number #2 spot in the country two months later on July 26, 1975. And two years after that-in April 1977-the group reached the #5 position with “The Things We Do For Love”. Two members of the group who left in 1976-Kevin Godley and Lol Creme-not only became a musical duo but a cutting edge directing team as well which began with the release of their own innovative video for their 1985 song, “Cry”.

10cc circa 1975 (L-R): Lol Creme, Kevin Godley, Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Ghost of Tom Joad was released 30 years ago on November 21, 1995. It was Bruce Springsteen’s 11th studio album and another acoustic effort similar to 1982’s Nebraska.

If you are a fan of writer John Steinbeck, you know that the record’s title is a nod to the protagonist in his 1939 novel, “The Grapes of Wrath”. It was made into a movie 85 years ago starring Henry Fonda as Tom Joad. Like the book, the film tells the story of his family who were poor sharecroppers who lost what little they had in Oklahoma in the 1930’s due to the Dust Bowl so they traveled west to California to find work and, hopefully, a better life. But with so many families in the same situation, the workers in the west are exploited by the corporate farmers paying them low wages. Some of the laborers attempt to unionize which leads to tragic consequences.

Springsteen has long been known as the guy who tells the story of those less fortunate, so his take on the modern day Tom Joads of the world not only make sense, it was expected because regardless of those who prosper in life-like Springsteen himself, who rose from the streets of New Jersey to achieve international fame in the mid 1980’s and won his first Oscar in 1994-his blue collar roots were always in his rear view mirror, reminding him of those who lived the antithesis of his success. The ones who struggle day to day just to make ends meet, the ones who are alone because love never found them, the ones without any hope because too many of their dreams died along the way and those “waiting for a moment that just don’t come”. Springsteen does not take for granted that he is the exception to the rule and not the rule itself and continues to showcase the voice of the latter, even today.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Lee Michaels: “Do You Know What I Mean” (1971, written by Lee Michaels).

Freddy Fender: “Before The Next Teardrop Falls” (1975, written by Vivian Keith and Ben Peters).

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds: “Fallin’ In Love” (1975, written by Ann Hamilton and Dan Hamilton).

Pilot: “Magic” (1975, written by Billy Lyall and David Paton).

10cc: “I’m Not In Love” (1975, written by Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart).

Bruce Springsteen: “The New Timer” (1995, written by Bruce Springsteen).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: November 17, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

One of the architects of the Motown label turned 85 this year. William “Smokey” Robinson Jr. was born February 19, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan. The music icon started singing as a teenager in a doo wop group, The Five Chimes, with future Miracles members Ronald White and Pete Moore. By 1957 Bobby Rogers and his cousin, Emerson (Sonny) Rogers joined them under the new group name, The Matadors. Emerson was replaced that year by his sister, Claudette Rogers, when he enlisted in the Army.

In 1958 Marv Tarplin joined the group who was touring Detroit clubs as The Miracles. That year they released their first single, “Got a Job” with the help of Berry Gordy who they met when they auditioned for Brunswick Records the year before. When he founded Tamala Records in 1959, The Miracles were one of the first groups signed to the label. Robinson became one of its top performers, songwriters and soon its Vice President.

The Miracles circa 1962 (L-R): Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin, Ronnie White, Smokey Robinson and Claudette Rogers Robinson (not pictured Warren Pete Moore). (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Miracles released six albums between 1961 and 1964. In 1965, they became known as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. The first album under their new name-Going to a Go-Go-was released 60 years ago in November 1965 (The Rolling Stones released a fabulous live cover of the title track in 1982).

And 55 years ago they released the single, “Tears of a Clown”, in July 1970. It was first introduced in 1967 on the album, Make It Happen. The track reached the #1 spot in the country for two weeks in December 1970. The group released nearly a dozen albums together until 1972 when Robinson went solo and the remaining members became known once again as The Miracles.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

He married Claudette in 1959 and they had two children before they divorced in 1986. Throughout his 60+ years in entertainment, Robinson has received numerous awards and accolades that continue in the present. In April 2025, he was one of the honorees at the third annual American Music Honors show, presented by The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music on April 26, 2025 at The Pollak Theatre at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Robinson is also currently on tour and the dates are available on his website.

A performance at the third annual American Music Honors show on April 26, 2025 at The Pollak Theatre in New Jersey featured (L-R): Bruce Springsteen, Marc Ribler, Steven Van Zandt and Robinson. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Temptin’ Temptations was released 60 years ago on November 1, 1965. It was their third album for Motown and the first single-which came out five months earlier-was a Top 20 hit, peaking at #17 in August 1965.

Earlier that year in March they released their second album, The Temptations Sing Smokey, which contains their signature tune released in December 1964 & featured the inimitable David Ruffin on lead vocal. It became the group’s first #1 record, hitting the top spot for one week in March 1965 (Three more #1 songs would follow: “I Can’t Get Next To You” in 1969, “Just My Imagination (Running Away From Me)” in 1971 and “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” in 1972). In their career the Temptations charted 53 times with 15 Top Ten songs. They remain one of Motown’s most successful groups and one of my personal favorites.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Stephen Stills released his eponymous debut solo album 55 years ago on Nov 16, 1970. The singer/songwriter/musician/producer-who turned 80 in January-wrote all 10 tracks himself & the first single peaked at #14 in January 1971. The front cover photo was taken by Henry Diltz who also took the cover picture for Crosby, Stills & Nash’s 1969 debut album. Before becoming a member of that supergroup, Stills had established his talents in Buffalo Springfield, so it made sense that several guests joined him on his solo record including John Sebastian, Cass Elliot and Stills’ bandmates-David Crosby & Graham Nash-on backing vocals. Several acclaimed musicians also appear on the album including Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Booker T. Jones and Jimi Hendrix, who died two months before the album was released. He befriended Stills in 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival, leading Stills to dedicate the album to him in the liner notes under his formal name, James Marshall Hendrix.

“Well there’s a rose in a fisted glove
And the eagle flies with the dove
And if you can’t be with the one you love honey
Love the one you’re with”.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: “Going to a Go-Go” (1965, written by Pete Moore, William “Smokey” Robinson Jr., Bobby Rogers and Marv Tarplin).

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: “The Tears of a Clown” (1970, written by Hank (Henry) Cosby, William “Smokey” Robinson Jr. and Stevie Wonder).

The Temptations: “My Girl” (1964, written William “Smokey” Robinson Jr. and Ronald White).

The Temptations: “Since I Lost My Baby” (1965, written by Pete Moore and William “Smokey” Robinson Jr.).

Stephen Stills: “Love The One You’re With” (1970, written by Stephen Stills).

Stephen Stills: “Church (Part Of Someone)” (1970, written by Stephen Stills). ​

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: November 10, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day here in the U.S. We owe a debt of gratitude to the men & women who have served and to those currently in active duty. Each person who volunteers to defend our country does so by paying at minimum the price of personal sacrifice. But many struggle with trauma long after their active duty ends. That impacts their ability to work, to keep themselves sheltered and to seek the medical support they require.

There are many organizations that are doing what they can to offer assistance to our Veterans. If you are in a position to do so, you can help as well by making donations directly to local organizations in your community or to national ones like the Gary Sinise Foundation or the Veterans Administration.

To all our veterans, thank you for your service. Welcome home.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Fifty years ago in 1975 the band Stealers Wheel broke up after only three years together. At the core of the five man Scottish folk rock band were two former schoolmates – Joe Egan (October 18, 1946 – July 6, 2024) and Gerry Rafferty (April 16, 1947 – January 4, 2011). Both men were singers, songwriters and musicians.

Gerry Rafferty (L) and Joe Egan (R) of Stealers Wheel circa 1973. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The group’s self-titled debut was released on A&M Records 53 years ago in November 1972. It was produced by the songwriting duo/production team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. One track became a Top Ten hit that peaked at #6 in the U.S. in 1973. But creative differences & the producers own business issues drove the band apart, so both Egan and Rafferty went on to pursue solo careers.

However, Stealers Wheel best known hit continues to endure. It was prominently featured in the 1992 Quentin Tarantino film, “Reservoir Dogs“. In 2016, a kick ass acoustic cover was released on social media by one of the coolest guys on the planet, Izzy Stradlin. As if his role as the original rhythm guitarist for Guns N’ Roses was not enough, his musical prowess and vocal ability shines in his version of this classic track.

The 1973 debut album by Stealers Wheel. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Izzy Stradlin in a 2016 video. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The biggest success for Rafferty came courtesy of his second solo record, City to City, released in January 1978. A month later, the second single was released and four months later, it had peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in June 1978. A great story told through an expressive vocal with a great sounding band helped the slow jazzy number gain momentum, but the soaring saxophone riff played in between the verses by British musician Raphael Ravenscroft put it over the top. That pushed the album to the #1 spot in the country for one week in July 1978. Another track, “Right Down The Line”, peaked at #12 three months later.

Rafferty released 10 solo albums in his lifetime. His 1992 record, On a Wing and a Prayer, features his former bandmate Egan on backing vocals for 8 of the 12 songs. He left the music business shortly after that and passed away in July 2024 at age 77 following a stroke. Rafferty died in 2011 at age 63 from liver failure. His daughter, Martha, released his posthumous album, Rest in Blue, in 2021 which consisted of the demos he was working on at the time of his death.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Jimi Hendrix: “The Star Spangled Banner” (Live at The Woodstock Music & Art Fair, August 18, 1969. Written by Francis Scott Key).

Stealers Wheel: “Stuck In The Middle With You” (1972, written by Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty).

Gerry Rafferty: “Baker Street” (1978, written by Gerry Rafferty).

Izzy Stradlin: “Stuck In The Middle With You” (2016, written by Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: November 3, 2025

Posted in Music Monday by

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Neil Young will turn 80 years young next week. Born November 12, 1945 in Toronto, Canada, he was in his first band while he was in junior high but eventually quit school to pursue music on a full time basis. While playing in local clubs with the band The Squires, he met Stephen Stills & eventually the two men (and three others) formed Buffalo Springfield in Los Angeles in 1966. Their song, “For What It’s Worth” was written by Stills to reflect the pushback the counterculture was experiencing at that time. Despite that early success, the band broke up two years later due to internal & external struggles.

Young released his self-titled debut album in 1968. He would join Stills again in Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young from 1969-1970 where he found his own words of protest when he wrote, “Ohio” about the 1970 Kent State college campus tragedies. Young continued his solo work which eventually became his main focus. Fast forward nearly 60 years later, Young has obtained legendary status, is still making music and supporting causes he believes in like one of his own, Farm Aid, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in September (more about that here).

My favorite song by Young was released in 1972 on his fourth studio album, Harvest. A 50th anniversary edition deluxe CD box set came out in December 2022. It includes a DVD of a concert recorded on February 23, 1971 at the BBC Radio Theatre in London, England & first broadcast in the the UK on April 1, 1971. Two videos from that performance were uploaded to Young’s YouTube channel. Despite having heard those songs thousands of times before, there is something about his voice in this show that makes me ache for a home I no longer have. Sigh.

Happy birthday, Neil Young. Thank you for every song.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Top: Neil Young circa 1972. Bottom: The artist on stage at Farm Aid 40 in September 2025. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos was released 55 years ago on November 9, 1970. It is the group’s only album but the title song remains one of the most iconic & definitive songs in classic rock’s illustrious history. The band-which consisted of Eric Clapton on guitar & vocals, Jim Gordon on drums, Carl Radle on bass and Bobby Whitlock on piano and vocals-initially met as members of Delaney & Bonnie and Friends and formed when all four men were together during the 1970 recording sessions for George Harrison’s extraordinary debut album, All Things Must Pass.

As if Clapton’s lyrics & angst ridden vocals combined with the band’s electrifying sound were not powerful enough on their own, guest musician Duane Allman brought his own remarkable spin with his lead & slide guitar contributions. He & Clapton were already fans of one another and finally met when their mutual producer, Tom Dowd, brought the Dominos to an Allman Brothers show just as the Layla sessions were starting in August 1970. Allman wanted to come to the studio and Clapton insisted he bring his guitar. History was made with Allman playing on 11 of 14 tracks-nine originals and five cover songs-including Jimi Hendrix’s, “Little Wing”.

Clapton-the surviving member of the band-has continued to play several of the tracks throughout his career. He reconfigured the title song into a slower number without the piano coda for his “Unplugged” performance in 1992. It became a Top 20 song that fall.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Top: Derek & The Dominos 1970 album. Middle: The band (L-R): Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon and Carl Radle. Bottom: A photo from August or September 1970 during the recording of the album (L-R): Duane Allman, Gordon, Radle, Whitlock and Clapton (seated). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Patti Smith’s debut album, Horses, was released 50 years ago on November 10, 1975. She was one of the first performers to contribute to the punk rock genre by combining her poetry with music as a means to celebrate both art forms. The album’s eight tracks are original songs with two of them using excerpts from rock classics.

The album cover is a photograph of Smith taken by her friend, Robert Mapplethorpe. On Day 67 of my Lockdown Countdown, I mentioned how much I loved her 2010 book. Specifically I wrote, “If you are a fan of Smith’s writing, I encourage you to read her memoir, “Just Kids”.  It is about her life in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s when she was living in Manhattan and met artist Robert Mapplethorpe.  It is a great read and she tells their story beautifully.” I echo those sentiments today.

Initially Smith’s androgenous look in the photo for the album was met with some resistance by her record company, Arista. But Smith insisted and eventually the president of the label, Clive Davis-who signed her to his label after seeing her perform at NYC’s legendary club, CBGB-gave it his blessing.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Top: Patti Smith’s 1975 debut album. Bottom: The cover of Smith’s 2010 memoir features a photo of her & Robert Mapplethorpe on the cover. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: “Helpless” (1970, written by Neil Young).

Neil Young: “Heart Of Gold” (Live performance recorded on February 23rd 1971 at the BBC Radio Theatre in London, England. First broadcast in the UK on April 1st 1971. The video debuted in December 2022 for the 50th Anniversary Edition of Harvest, originally released in 1972. Written by Neil Young).

Neil Young: “Old Man” (Live performance recorded on February 23, 1971 at the BBC Radio Theatre in London, England. First broadcast in the UK on April 1, 1971. The video debuted in December 2022 for the 50th Anniversary Edition of Harvest, originally released in 1972. Written by Neil Young).

Neil Young: “Powderfinger” (1979, written by Neil Young).

Derek & The Dominos: “Layla” (1970, written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon).

Derek & The Dominos: “Bell Bottom Blues” (1970, written by Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock).

Patti Smith: “Gloria (part one: “In Excelsis Deo” / part two: “Gloria” (1975, part one written by Patti Smith, part two written by Van Morrison).

Stay safe & well.