Category Archives: Music Monday

Music Monday: October 30, 2023

Posted in Holidays, Music, Music Monday by

Hi, everyone. Welcome to the Halloween triple play edition of Music Monday.

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Before we get to the music, I want to take a minute to share how truly brokenhearted I am over the loss of actor Matthew Perry. “Friends” is part of my DNA and his portrayal of Chandler Bing is a huge part of that. To lose such a beautiful person so unexpectedly at such a young age is an absolute shame, not to mention truly crushing. It is just too sad for words but I am forever grateful for the legacy he left behind.

Matthew Perry
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Top: Matthew Perry circa 2004. Bottom: The cast of “Friends” circa 2004 (L-R): David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Perry, Lisa Kudrow and Matt LeBlanc. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

On a much lighter note, happy Halloween, everyone. I have three songs to help you celebrate this special day.

The first is a his and her version from two of the best voices we have ever been privileged to hear. Hers belongs to the great Ella Fitzgerald. Her jazz infused take gives me “The Great Pumpkin” vibes as it reminds me so much of the soundtrack created by Vince Guaraldi for those fabulous and iconic Peanuts specials. His is by the Chairman Of The Board, Francis Albert Sinatra. You cannot go wrong with either and they both add a touch of elegance and style to what is traditionally known as a children’s holiday.

The second feature is a staple for kids of all ages this time of year, whether you embrace the spooky side to the holiday or not. It is just campy light-hearted fun. And it is part of the soundtrack of my life thanks to my mother who introduced it to me when I was a child.

The third song of the day is a surprise to me as I was never a fan of the artist. Donovan was primarily known as a folk singer and later embraced a psychedelic sound, neither of which were genres I related to. But much to my surprise, I heard his spooky track on an episode of “House” (S3 E11) and could not believe the song I was enjoying was by the same man who sang “Jennifer Juniper”. I also never knew his daughter is actress Ione Skye from one of my favorite movies, “Say Anything”.

Enjoy the last day of October, everyone.

Peanuts Halloween

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Frank Sinatra: “Witchcraft” (1957, written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh).

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

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

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

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: October 23, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Our first feature turned 50 years old earlier this year. It was released in May of 1973 and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1973. It later appeared on Three Dog Night’s ninth studio album, Cyan, which came out in October 1973. Led by an incredible vocal by group co-founder Cory Wells, it is not only my top pick of theirs but also one of my favorite songs of all time. I was overjoyed when it was featured in one of my most beloved shows in 2007. So if this track does not give you “Lost” vibes picturing Hurley, Charlie, Sawyer, Jin and Vincent enjoying a van ride on a not so deserted island, then we cannot be friends.

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Lost Tricia Tanaka

Top: Three Dog Night circa 1972. Back L–R: Joe Schermie, Floyd Sneed, Michael Allsup and Jimmy Greenspoon. Front L–R: Danny Hutton, Cory Wells and Chuck Negron. Bottom (L-R): Vincent the Lab, Charlie, Jin, Hurley and Sawyer in front of the VW van which would transport them back to 1973, courtesy of the first of today’s three songs. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

A song turning 35 this year was covered by Phil Collins for his 1988 movie, Buster. I never saw the film but adored this version of the track from the very first note. It was originally recorded by The Mindbenders in 1965. If you are a “Friends” fan, you know that Chandler was escorted down the aisle by his parents to a beautiful string instrumental version of this tune at his & Monica’s wedding. But even before that I loved Collins’ take on this pretty romantic ballad.

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The movie poster for the 1988 film, Buster. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Another track turning 35 in 2023 is from the debut album from what is arguably music’s most premier super group. Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 was released October 25, 1988 and reacquainted us with five enormous musical powerhouses: Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne & Tom Petty. What these five men accomplished on their own, in prior bands and together is one of the best chapters of rock music’s history.

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The Traveling Wilburys (L-R): Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison and Tom Petty. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

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

Phil Collins: “A Groovy Kind of Love” (1988, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and Toni Wine, music by Muzio Clementi).

The Traveling Wilburys: “Handle With Care” (1988, written by The Traveling Wilburys: Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne & Tom Petty).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: Oct 16, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Happy 75th birthday to Jackson Browne. Born on October 9, 1948 in Germany where his father was stationed, the family moved to California three years later and Browne has called that state home for nearly all of his life. His professional music career started in 1966 when he joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and became part of the Laurel Canyon music scene. His songs were recorded by several artists including Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles (Browne co-wrote “Take It Easy” with Glenn Frey), Gregg Allman and others.

By 1971 Browne was signed to Asylum Records. Despite his well received 1972 self-titled debut album, it was his 1977 album, Running On Empty, that put Browne on the map. His days as an advocate for social and political change started in that decade as well, marked by his participation in the 1979 “No Nukes” concerts in New York City.

As much as I like many of his songs-“Running On Empty” (featured so wonderfully in Forrest Gump), “You Love The Thunder”, “Tender Is The Night”, “Somebody’s Baby”-Browne is one of those artists who stays on my periphery much more than he should, especially for such a talented singer & songwriter. And today’s track proves that so beautifully.

“I’m gonna find myself a girl
Who can show me what laughter means
And we’ll fill in the missing colors
In each other’s paint-by-number dreams“.

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jb recent

Top: Jackson Browne sometime in the 1970’s. Bottom: Brown circa 2022. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Jackson Browne: “The Pretender” (1976, written by Jackson Browne).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: Oct 9, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today marks the 83rd birth anniversary for the intelligent and passionate man who was first introduced to the world as a Beatle. John Winston Ono Lennon was born October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England. His love of music began young and by the time he was 15, he had formed The Quarrymen. That is how he met Paul McCartney and later, George Harrison.

Out of the ten albums Lennon released separately from The Beatles (an 11th album, Milk and Honey, was released posthumously in 1984), half were with Yoko Ono. But the album turning 50 this year is credited to him only.

It was recorded in the summer of 1973 at the famous Record Plant Studio (where Bruce Springsteen recorded Born To Run) in New York City, the place where Lennon made his home after leaving the United Kingdom. It was released in October 1973 and was his first time as the sole producer, having previously shared that role with Phil Spector. The album went to #9 & the title track went to #18 on the Billboard charts in December 1973. More importantly, the song had the line which became synonymous with one of Lennon’s basic views on life:

“Love is the answer and you know that for sure“.

Sending “limitless undying love” across the universe to the man who gave us so much and who took a big part of our hearts when he left over 40 years ago.

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Top: John Lennon during his Beatles days circa 1965. Middle: His 1973 album. Bottom: Lennon in the studio in 1980. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

John Lennon: “Mind Games” (1973, written by John Lennon).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: Oct 2, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

One of Sir Elton John’s most revered records is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, his first double LP, his seventh studio album and the one widely regarded as his crowning achievement, was released September 29, 1973. (That is according to EJ’s Instagram page, although his website lists the date as “October 5, 1973, on MCA Records in the US and Canada”). It hit the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 Albums chart for the last eight weeks of 1973. As of 2020, it has reportedly sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

Between the title track (which peaked at #2 in December 1973), today’s three featured songs (see below for stats), his ode to Marilyn Monroe, “Candle In The Wind” (which was re-written in 1997 to honor his friend, Princess Diana. That version spent 14 weeks in the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 that year) and all the other incredible tracks on this record, it is easy to see why it is one of EJ’s most successful and well loved albums.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It bears mentioning that Goodbye was the second album he released in 1973. In January he and Taupin gave us, Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player (a #1 record for two weeks in March 1973), which gave us gems like “Daniel” (which peaked at #2 in June 1973) and “Crocodile Rock” (a #1 song for three weeks in February 1973). Both of these songs, especially “Daniel”, were the main reason I purchased EJ’s “Greatest Hits” (1974), the first album I ever bought myself. They began the soundtrack of my life. And my love affair with John-Taupin music has never waned.

Elton_John_-_Don't_Shoot_Me_I'm_Only_the_Piano_Player

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

As if the golden anniversary of these two albums were not enough to celebrate, both men remain as vital and active today as they ever were. EJ just retired from the road but is still doing music collaborations, hosting his Aids Foundation Oscar gala each year and his “Rocket Hour” radio show on Apple Music. He and his husband, David Furnish, have been together since 2005, married since 2014 and are raising two sons. Last month Taupin released his autobiography, “Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me”. I just received my copy and cannot wait to read the journey from Taupin’s perspective. He and and his wife, Heather, will be married 20 years in 2024 and have two daughters.

Thank you, Elton and Bernie, for every record, every note and every word. I cannot imagine the universe without the two of you in it. “How wonderful life is” with your presence in my world and everyone else’s.

bernie book
bernie

(Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Elton John: “Bennie And The Jets” (1973, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It hit #1 for one week in April 1974).

Elton John: “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” (1973, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It peaked at #12 in September 1973).

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

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: September 25, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Three big songs (plus a bonus one) are celebrating milestones in 2023.

The first is from my favorite Beatle, George Harrison. It is from his fourth solo album, Living in the Material World, which was released 50 years ago in May 1973. The following month, the first single reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week. Both the song and album feature Gary Wright on organ. He had his own hits in the 1970’s with “Dream Weaver” (used spectacularly in the 1992 movie, “Wayne’s World”) and “Love Is Alive“. Both songs reached the #2 spot in the country in 1976. Wright died earlier this month on September 4, 2023 at the age of 80.

Bonus: 55 years ago on September 28, 1968 The Beatles had the #1 song in the country. The track stayed in that position for nine consecutive weeks. Name that tune!

George circa 1969
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Top: George Harrison circa 1969. Bottom: The Beatles perform on a TV show in 1968. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

In October 1973 Gladys Knight & the Pips released their 11th studio album, Imagination. One of the singles from it reached the #1 spot on 10/27/73 for two consecutive weeks. It was the group’s only top selling song but it quickly became their signature tune. It has stood the test of time, reaching iconic status and forever cemented in pop culture with shows like “Will & Grace (2001)“, “30 Rock (2008)” (which featured her majesty Gladys Knight herself appearing at the end of the song), “House (2010)” and “Modern Family (2013)” having characters perform the exemplary track.

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Gladys Knight & The Pips in the 1970’s (L-R): Edward Patten, Merald “Bubba” Knight, Gladys Knight and William Guest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In August 1978, Boston followed up their massive record breaking debut album (it spent a whopping 138 weeks on Billboard’s 200 chart) with their second studio release. It may not have been as successful as their first but the follow up did go on to sell over seven million copies. The record’s title track peaked at #4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 on October 4, 1978 while the album reached the #1 spot in the country for two weeks a month earlier, a feat the first album did not achieve (it peaked at #4 in December 1976). Back in the day and now 45 years later, it is clear Boston avoided the “sophomore slump”.

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Boston circa 1977 (L-R): Barry Goudreau, Tom Scholz, John Thomas “Sib” Hashian, Brad Delp and Fran Sheehan (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

George Harrison: “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” (1973, written by George Harrison).

Bonus: The Beatles: “Hey Jude” (As performed on David Frost’s “Frost On Sunday” show in September 1968. Released the same year, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Gladys Knight & The Pips: “Midnight Train To Georgia” (1973, written by Jim Weatherly).

Boston: “Don’t Look Back” (1978, written by Tom Scholz).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: September 11, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

First, let us take a moment to remember that today marks 22 years since 9/11. Prayers for our country and all those still directly affected by the impact of this day. Never forget.

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“Raising the Flag at Ground Zero” photograph by Thomas E. Franklin taken on September 11, 2001. (Image found online.)

Now to the music.
In July 2022 I got my tickets to see Bruce in concert on March 12, 2023 in CT. Unfortunately it was cancelled due to illness and rescheduled for September 16. Last week, Bruce revealed he is suffering from peptic ulcer disease so he will need to cancel the rest of his performances for this month, maybe even next. Of course, I am heartbroken but very hopeful he will regain his health soon.
In about two weeks The Boss will celebrate birthday #74. He was born September 23, 1949 in Long Branch, New Jersey and grew up in nearby Freehold. He released his first two albums in 1973: his debut, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J., came out on January 5 (read more about that here) and its follow up, The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle, which was released 50 years ago today-September 11, 1973-as per The Boss’s website.
These two records predate long time E Streeters-Roy Bittan, Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg-who joined the band in time for Bruce’s exquisite third record, Born To Run. But they and two previous members of The E Street Band-Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez and David L. Sancious-were inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame with the rest of the group in 2014. I had the pleasure of attending that show and heard them-with Bruce, of course-perform two songs from the second album: “Kitty’s Back” and “The E Street Shuffle”. I chose today’s track to celebrate the album’s golden anniversary, to honor today being Patriot Day and as a shout out to Bruce recuperating at his residence across the river from my home state of New York.
Happy early birthday, Bossman. Get well soon. Thank you for every note.

“It’s midnight in Manhattan
This is no time to get cute
It’s a mad dog’s promenade
So walk tall or baby don’t walk at all“.

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Bruce 1973 B
Bruce 1973 A

Top: The cover of Springsteen’s second album. Middle: An alternative picture for the album’s back cover (seated: Bruce and Clarence Clemons with Danny Federici standing next to him. Back row (l-r): David L. Sancious, Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez and Garry W. Tallent. Bottom: An alternative picture for the album’s front cover. (Images found online.  Original source: David Gahr.)

Bruce Springsteen: “New York City Serenade” (1973, written by Bruce Springsteen).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: September 4, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In the spirit of the Labor Day holiday, I pay homage to one of the hardest working genres of music which started over six decades ago and remains one of my favorites of all time.

In 1958 Berry Gordy Jr. borrowed $800 from his family (equivalent to about $8,500 today) to start Tamla Records in Detroit, Michigan which became Motown Records. The website does not list an actual date for this event only the year. But many music sites list the founding date as June 7, 1958. Regardless of the actual day it was started, 2023 marks the 65th anniversary of one of the greatest & most soulful styles of music the world ever saw.

Gordy’s affinity for music began when he owned a record store and started composing songs. After co-writing “Reet Petite” for Jackie Wilson and discovering The Miracles in 1957, Gordy was inspired to start his own label (which is owned today by the Universal Music Group) after he received a royalty check for only $3.19 in 1958 after leasing the first two Miracles singles to End Records in New York. Gordy used the knowledge he learned from his time as a Ford automotive worker by using the company’s assembly line philosophy to prepare his artists for musical careers. There were lessons in singing, choreography, stage performance and all night rehearsals of every kind.

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Berry Gordy Jr. circa 1961 (top) and circa 2011 (bottom). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

From those hallowed halls of Hitsville, USA we were introduced to Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Marvelettes (who had the first #1 hit for the label, the first of today’s three songs), The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Mary Wells, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Junior Walker & The All Stars and more. The label also gave us one of the greatest house bands of all time, The Funk Brothers.

This year two seminal Motown albums celebrate their golden anniversary. Wonder’s sixteenth studio album, Innervisions, was released on August 3, 1973. Gaye’s thirteenth record, Let’s Get It On, was released on August 28, 1973. The title track hit the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 on September 8, 1973 for the first of two inconsecutive weeks.

Thank you, Berry Gordy, for the priceless and phenomenal gift of Motown. And to nearly every artist on the label in its first unbelievably great decade, I remain in complete awe of the beauty of your songs.

Top: A Marvelettes compilation album. Middle: Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions album. Bottom: Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On album. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Marvelettes: “Please Mr. Postman” (1961, written by Robert Bateman, Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman and Brian Holland).

Stevie Wonder: “Living For The City” (1973, written by Stevie Wonder).

Marvin Gaye: “Let’s Get It On” (1973, written by Marvin Gaye and Ed Townsend).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: August 28, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Earlier this month we said goodbye to music mogul & co-founder of A & M Records, Jerry Moss, who died on August 16, 2023 at the age of 88. Best known as the “M” of the label to pair with his friend and partner, Herb Alpert, who was the “A”. Together they brought us music by Cat Stevens n/k/a Yusuf Islam, Carole King, The Carpenters, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Peter Frampton, The Police, Janet Jackson, not to mention Alpert and his group, The Tijuana Brass and so many others.

Known for their artist friendly approach and for giving the ruthless recording industry a human touch, Moss and Alpert nurtured their talent and took their label-which started in a garage for $100 in 1962-and grew it to the $500 million dollar empire they sold to PolyGram in 1989. About a decade later, they received an additional $200 million for a breach of the integrity clause. Both Moss and Alpert reminded us that music is not only about the people who create it, but the people in the industry like they were who gave those artists the platform to make music so it would reach the rest of us.

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Jerry Moss The Carpenters

Top: Herb Alpert (L) and Jerry Moss outside their studio in 1966. Middle: Alpert (L), the A to Moss’s (R) M circa 1972. Bottom: Moss with Richard (L) and Karen Carpenter in 1969. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Allman Brothers Band fourth studio album, Brothers and Sisters, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Released in August 1973, it was the group’s first full non-live release after two devastating losses: The death of co-founder & guitarist Duane Allman from a motorcycle accident on October 29, 1971 at the age of 24 and the death of bassist Berry Oakley also as a result of a motorcycle crash a year later on November 11, 1972 at the same age of 24.

Thankfully, he recorded two songs for the 1973 album before he died and one of them is today’s second highlighted pick. Written and sung by guitarist Dickey Betts, who will turn 80 later this year on December 12, it was the lead single from the album and features the musician at his best. The track also gave the band commercial success in the traditional sense as it was their only record to hit the Top Ten, peaking at #2 in October 1973.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I am not a fan of rap. It is just not a genre that ever spoke to me. But when Lauryn Hill’s debut solo studio album-The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill-was released on August 25, 1998, it was everywhere so I could not help but take notice of it. Plus the music was not only rap but a blend of that, hip-hop, R&B and neo soul which gave many of her songs a different and unique type of sound. The first time I heard the third of today’s featured songs, I felt like I had been gut punched. I immediately got its message from the pain and honesty Hill expressed in the lyrics and her vocal delivery. It spoke to me and so many women I knew who had found ourselves in similar situations at one point in our lives, so there was no way we could not relate to the power of her writing.

Hill went on to work with Aretha Franklin and a few other artists and released a live album in 2002 (MTV Unplugged No. 2.0). But despite the enormous success of Miseducation (it won five Grammy Awards in 1999, including Album Of The Year), the former Fugees frontwoman never released another studio record. There are a multitude of stories and theories on that subject and I do not want to take part in any speculation. I just know that the song I fell in love with was fabulous and as someone who lives for music, I wish to acknowledge that.

Hill

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Carpenters: “Superstar” (1971, written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell).

The Allman Brothers: “Ramblin’ Man” (1973, written by Dickey Betts).

Lauryn Hill: “Ex-Factor” (1998, written by Lauryn Hill).

Stay safe and well.