Music Monday: November 11, 2024

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

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President Harry S. Truman delivered the quote below on April 17, 1945 during his address over Armed Forces Radio following the death of his predecessor, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. As a WW1 veteran himself, Truman also shared his firsthand experience:

“I know the strain, the mud, the misery, the utter weariness of the soldier in the field. And I know too his courage, his stamina, his faith in his comrades, his country, and himself.”

To all our veterans & to the men and women currently in uniform, thank you for your service.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dan Fogelberg’s second album, Souvenirs, just turned 50 years old. Released in October 1974, all 11 songs were written by the singer/songwriter himself. The most well know track was “Part Of The Plan” and set him up for the future success that followed. In 1978 he collaborated with flutist Tim Weisberg for Twin Sons of Different Mothers which includes a song I really enjoy, “The Power Of Gold”.

But when 1979’s album, Phoenix, came out featuring the hit, “Longer”, I must admit it put Fogelberg on my periphery. It did not speak to me at all and was way too soft rock for my taste. But 1981’s “Hard To Say” & 1982’s “Missing You” were more my vibe and put him back into my focus. And what holiday season is complete without his sweet reflective “Same Old Lang Syne”?

As for Souvenirs, it also has a great song for anyone who has ever felt the need to “stay inside for a while” when the noise starts to drown out the peace.

Don’t you think it’s kind of sad to say
Don’t you think it’s gonna change
Makes you think you’ll have to stay inside
For a while
“.

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Dan Fogelberg’s 1974 album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Herb Alpert hit the #1 spot in the country 45 years ago. His 1979 top selling song-co-written by his nephew, Randy “Badazz” Alpert-stayed in that position for two consecutive weeks. Herb’s first #1 song, “This Guy’s In Love With You”, topped the charts for 4 weeks eleven years earlier in June 1968. And if you know your GH trivia, you know what controversial scene the 1979 song was featured in (hint: It involved Luke & Laura).

The 89 year old trumpeter-who released his 50th album, 50, in September-is actively touring with his wife, Lani Hall, and will be joined by The Tijuana Brass early next year in anticipation of the 60th anniversary of Whipped Cream & Other Delights which was released in April 1965.

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Herb Alpert’s 1979 album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Julian Lennon released his debut album in October 1984. It was produced by Phil Ramone and had two Top Ten songs, the title track and “Too Late For Goodbyes”. The comparisons to his father, John, were inevitable, especially due to the similarities in their voices and their looks. But Julian’s inner voice was very much his own and came through in every song on this record. Six more albums followed (including his 2022 release, Jude) while Julian found other passions to pursue as well. In 2010 a book featuring his Beatles memorabilia collection was published. That same year, he was featured in the first of several photography exhibits, a passion he discovered while taking pictures for the 2007 musical tour for his half brother, Sean.

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Julian Lennon’s 1984 debut album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Fortunate Son” (1969, written by John Fogerty).

Dan Fogelberg: “Changing Horses” (1974, written by Dan Fogelberg).

Herb Alpert: “Rise” (1979, written by Randy “Badazz” Alpert and Andy Armer).

Julian Lennon: “Valotte“: (1984, written by Justin Clayton, Julian Lennon and Carlton Morales).   

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: November 4, 2024

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

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Lindsey Buckingham celebrated birthday #75 last month. Born October 3, 1949 in Palo Alto, CA, he is the man credited as the driving force behind Fleetwood Mac from the moment he joined the band at the end of 1974. And by now we all know his only condition to becoming a member of the group was that his then girlfriend, Stevie Nicks, be invited as well.

It was not only Buckingham’s undeniably impressive skills as a musician featuring his notable fingerstyle technique on electric and acoustic guitar along with the banjo, or his talent for songwriting but his prowess for arranging and producing that made him invaluable to the group’s success in its second life. Formed in 1967, the band’s sound was more blues based before it shifted its focus to rock led by his lead guitar which helped to introduce FM to a much wider audience, leading to their enormous success and recognition.

Buckingham’s presence was evident in 1975’s self titled album and the one which followed that documented all the romantic drama that took place (including his & Nicks’ breakup in 1976) and became the subject for the next album, 1977’s Rumours, which catapulted the group to superstardom. By 1981, he released his first solo album, Law And Order, and by 1987 he left FM for a creative and personal break.

In 1993 Buckingham joined the band for a performance of “Don’t Stop” for the Clinton inauguration. That opened the door for some other collaborations with the group before they reunited for 1997’s, The Dance, which he co-produced. Over the next 20 years he continued with FM while also working on solo projects and other collaborations including his 2017 album with Christine McVie. As much as I loved that, I will forever be grateful to Lindsey for appearing on “Saturday Night Live” in 2011 to participate as himself in the ongoing skit, “What’s Up With That“, where he was portrayed by Bill Hader. Funny stuff.

McVie’s death in 2022 effectively laid FM to rest, but many fans including myself believe the band officially ended in 2018 when Buckingham was fired due to an ultimatum Nicks made to the rest of the group. Some reports say she was upset with his behavior at an awards function while others said it stemmed from her not being included on his & McVie’s album while the two other members of FM-Mick Fleetwood and John McVie-were a part of it.

However, it has been well documented by Nicks herself in nearly every interview I have seen (most recently last month’s appearance on CBS Sunday Morning) that she continues to blame Buckingham for choices she made over four decades ago, indicating there is a great deal of baggage behind her reasons for forcing the band to choose between them. He sued the group for his termination and by the end of 2018 the case was settled. If the magnitude of his shadow did not speak for itself, the fact that not one but two other guitarists were brought in to replace him for FM’s 2019 tour puts it into perspective quite clearly. But without Buckingham, it was just not the same.

That same year he underwent emergency heart surgery which reportedly affected his vocal chords. Thankfully, he recovered and released his self-titled seventh solo album in September 2021. He has been married to Kristen Messner since 2000 and together they have three children. To me, he remains the heart & sound of Fleetwood Mac. And I am forever thankful for that.

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Top: Lindsey Buckingham & the rest of Fleetwood Mac on the back cover of 1977’s smash album, Rumours (large photo l-r: John McVie, Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie). Middle 1: Buckingham circa 1979. Middle 2: The 2017 Buckingham McVie album cover. Bottom: The artist circa 2017. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

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

Fleetwood Mac: “Go Your Own Way” (1977, written by Lindsey Buckingham).

Fleetwood Mac: “The Chain” (1977, written by Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie and Stevie Nicks).

Lindsey Buckingham: “Trouble” (1981, written by Lindsey Buckingham).   

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: October 28, 2024

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

1940s Halloween

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Witch circa 1940s

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

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

It is by Lady Ella. Enough said.

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

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

Have a happy Halloween, everyone!

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: October 21, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: October 14, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: October 7, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: September 30, 2024

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

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Kris Kristofferson: June 22, 1936-September 28, 2024

My heart is so sad.

Over the weekend we lost one of the greatest artists this country ever produced. Kris Kristofferson was a poet, a songwriter, an actor, a singer, an entertainer, a Highwayman, a Rhodes Scholar & a veteran. His 1970 self-titled debut gave us four iconic tunes: “Me And Bobby McGee”, “Help Me Make It Through The Night”, “For The Good Times” and “Sunday Morning Comin’ Down”.

He was born June 22,1936 in Texas and except for having to watch him die in the 1976 version of “A Star Is Born”, I have loved-actually, adored-everything he has ever done. And don’t even get me started on those unbelievably gorgeous eyes, the hair, the beard and every part of his swagger that made him one of the most beautiful men I ever laid eyes on.

Rest in peace, Kris. Thank you for everything, especially some of the most beautiful songs I ever heard.

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Top: Kris Kristofferson circa 1990. Bottom: The artist circa 2015. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Tina Turner’s fifth solo album, Private Dancer, was released in May 1984. To say it was her breakthrough record is a remarkable understatement. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart 40 years ago on September 29, 1984 and produced the following singles: “Let’s Stay Together” which peaked at #26 in March 1984, “What’s Love Got To Do With It” which was a #1 hit for three weeks in September 1984, “Better Be Good To Me” which peaked at #5 in November 1984 and the title track which peaked at #7 in March 1985. The international release included a cover of a Beatles 1965 hit that The Queen Of Rock & Roll made her own as well.   

The album’s success propelled her to superstar level fame. In 1985 she was one of the featured voices on the charity single, “We Are The World”, sang a few songs with Mick Jagger at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia, was featured in the movie & soundtrack for “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” and on a duet with Bryan Adams. A collaboration with Eric Clapton followed in 1986.

The singer-born nearly 85 years ago as Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939 in Brownsville, TN-passed away in May 2023 at age 83. Her career began in 1956 and took off in the mid 1960’s as the lead singer for The Ike & Tina Turner Revue. But her 1984 album proved her massive talent was undeniably all her own.

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Top: Turner’s 1984 album cover. Bottom: Turner on stage circa 1988. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Kris Kristofferson: “Help Me Make It Through The Night” (1970, written by Kris Kristofferson).

Tina Turner: “Help” (1984, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Bryan Adams & Tina Turner: “It’s Only Love” (1984, written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance).

Eric Clapton & Tina Turner: “Tearing Us Apart” (1986, written by Eric Clapton and Greg Phillinganes).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: September 23, 2024

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

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Happy 75th birthday to Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen!

Born September 23, 1949 in Long Branch and raised in the town of Freehold, he has been one of New Jersey’s (and America’s) most celebrated sons since his first album was released in January 1973. Five decades later, The Boss is still writing songs, performing his marathon concerts and proving why he is the word legend defined.

It is so fitting that his birthday coincides with the start of fall. The first time I bought one of his records-the masterpiece that is Born To Run-was in October following a very difficult summer. The world had become so dark I forgot what light was like.  But one listen to Springsteen’s album and suddenly all that changed.

Despite all the exquisite colors the autumn season already had to offer, in that moment of discovering BTR for the first time, fall suddenly had a new hue. It was so exquisite and grounding I never saw things quite the same way again.  That color gave me back a glimpse of hope that maybe I could look forward to a future after being in such a dark place. But even if it came for me again, I had Springsteen’s words to hold on to.  

I love him for many things, but giving me back my hope is the biggest reason why.  It is a debt I will never be able to repay.  The mantra of my life, even after all these years, is from the first track on BTR, “Thunder Road”: “What else can we do now except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair.”.  Those words, which carry me through my life, are the glorious ties that connect my heart to his.

Thank you for being the constant in my life, Bossman.  Happy birthday & happy Fall.

You sit and wonder just who’s gonna stop the rain
Who’ll ease the sadness who’s gonna quiet the pain
It’s a long dark highway and a thin white line
Connecting baby your heart to mine
“.

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Two outtakes and the final choice for the cover of Springsteen’s 1975 masterpiece, Born To Run. Photos by Eric Meola.

Bruce Springsteen: “The Ties That Bind” (1980, written by Bruce Springsteen).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: September 16, 2024

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

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Barry White was born 80 years ago on September 12, 1944 in Galveston, TX. Below is from a post I wrote about him in 2020:

Barry Eugene Carter, better known to fans around the world as Barry White, is another example of someone being saved by music.  He went to jail for four months when he was 16 for stealing.  It was there he heard Elvis Presley singing “It’s Now or Never” on the radio which White took as an inspirational message to straighten out his life.  As if we needed another reason to worship Elvis.

In their obituary of White, the New York Times said his “deep voice and lushly orchestrated songs added up to soundtracks for seduction”.  Between the first of today’s songs, “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” and “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me”, White found his musical niche and ran with it.  And it was fantastic.  So was every episode of “Ally McBeal” that featured White’s songs, especially the one where White himself appeared in April 1999.  Watching the entire cast dance in front of him was one of the highlight’s of that show for me and anyone else who adores the magic of this Icon of Love.

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Barry White circa 2000. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Paul Carrack is currently on tour for the 50th anniversary of today’s second featured song and it is one of my absolute favorites. The original 1974 version has an incredible baseline, a great story told in succinct and clever lyrics and literally causes whiplash as it catapults you to the mid 1970’s from the first note in a simply timeless way.

For decades I thought it was about a guy finding out his girlfriend was cheating on him. But in actuality, Carrack wrote it after finding out a member of his band at the time, Ace, was secretly playing with two other groups as well. The track peaked at #3 on May 31, 1975. Ace-which was formed in 1972 in Sheffield, England-released their debut album, Five-A-Side, in 1974 with today’s second pick as the first single. They may be a one hit wonder, but probably have the best song to ever place in that category. And lucky for us, Carrack went on to sing on his own along with Squeeze and Mike & The Mechanics.

He also recorded a solo version for his 1995 album, Blue Views, and he changed it up a little to where the baseline is replaced with a slowed down version of the first verse. And it works unbelievably well. I actually think it is stunning.

Ace circa 1970
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Top: Paul Carrack (L) with the rest of Ace circa 1970. Bottom: Carrack circa 2020. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Jeff Healey Band released their debut album, See The Light, in September 1988, the same year the blues/rock/pop group were signed to Arista Records. It peaked at #22 on the Billboard 200 chart, a great showing for any first record. A year later, the second single from that record peaked even higher-at #5-in September 1989. It put the group on the map and four other albums followed over the next decade. After that Healey, who started playing guitar at age three, focused more on a jazz sound and toured with esteemed performers like B.B. King, The Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton and others before Healey died of cancer in 2008 at only 41 years old.

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Jeff Healy circa 1988. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Barry White: “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe” (1974, written by Barry White).

Ace: “How Long” (1974, written by Paul Carrack).

Paul Carrack: “How Long” (1995, written by Paul Carrack).

The Jeff Healey Band:  “Angel Eyes” (1988, written by John Hiatt and Fred Koller).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: September 9, 2024

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

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The Cars released their fifth studio album, Heartbeat City, in March 1984. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 four months later. My favorite track is the third single which features lead vocals by bassist Benjamin Orr, who died in 2000. It became the band’s highest charting single, peaking at #3 on Sept 29, 1984. I loved the video, too, which was directed by actor Timothy Hutton and featured Ocasek’s girlfriend at the time, Paula Porizkova (the couple married in 1989 and separated two years before Ocasek’s death in 2019). My other favorite song by the group, “Good Times Roll”, peaked just outside the Top 40 at #41 in May 1979.

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Top: The Cars 1984 album. Bottom: The band circa 1984 (L-R): Benjamin Orr, David Robinson, Ric Ocasek, Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

One of my favorite movies is turning 40 years old. “All Of Me” starring Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin-who just celebrated birthday #85 on September 1-was released Sept 21, 1984. Directed by Carl Reiner, the film is named for the 1931 pop & jazz standard that was first made famous by Billie Holiday in 1941. Frank Sinatra and Willie Nelson also recorded well known covers of the song-1948 and 1978, respectively-but for the film, it is Joe Williams version recorded specifically for the movie (he previously recorded it with Count Basie in 1953) that plays during the closing credits while Martin & Tomlin share a fabulous dance together. Their enjoyment & fun in that moment comes across in what is probably the best scene in the entire movie.

Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin in All of Me


Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin in “All of Me”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Another of my favorite songs is from 30 years ago but was one I did not discover until probably a decade or more later. I was on a road trip to New England and at the part of I-95 when I was losing my NY radio stations, I scanned around and discovered The Gin Blossoms. Specifically the track I heard that day was the second release from their second studio album, 1992’s New Miserable Experience. They may be better known for the first single, “Hey Jealousy”, which peaked at #25 in October 1993. That is the same position the second release reached on the Hot 100 in February 1994, two months after the song’s writer & band cofounder, Doug Hopkins, died by suicide more than a year after being dismissed by the group for addiction issues. The Gin Blossoms may be another rock & roll band with a tragic story but one of their best songs endured to find me that day in the car.

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Gin Blossoms in a circa 1992 publicity photo for A&M Records (L-R): Robin Wilson, Bill Leen, Douglas Hopkins, Jesse Valenzuela and Phillip Rhodes. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Cars:  “Drive” (1984, written by Ric Ocasek).  

Joe Williams: “All Of Me” (1984, arranged by Billy May. Written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons).

Gin Blossoms: “Found Out About You” (1993, written by Doug Hopkins).

Stay safe & well.