Tag Archives: Bruce Springsteen

25 Days of Christmas Music 2024: Day 4

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

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A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today’s song turned 90 years old last month & is still a cherished track for the Christmas season. It was written in 1934, recorded first by Harry Reser and His Orchestra but it did not reach the masses until American actor & comedian Eddie Cantor performed it on his radio show in November that year. In the 1940’s it was covered by performers like Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters. By the 1960’s, a few vocal groups recorded versions of their own including The Crystals.

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Top: A pressing of the first recording of today’s song. Bottom: The 1963 Christmas album featuring The Crystals. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

But the song’s big breakthrough came in 1970 thanks to the Rankin/Bass production team who turned it into an all star holiday animation special in 1970 starring Fred Astaire as the mailman/storyteller as well as the voice behind the theme song, Keenan Wynn as the Winter Warlock and Mickey Rooney as the voice of Santa Claus. It remains a Christmas tradition for anyone who grew up watching it.

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 Two scenes from the Rankin/Bass 1970 holiday special. Top: Fred Astaire’s mailman/narrator character. Bottom: A young Kris Kringle in his early days as The Man In The Big Red Suit (with one of his pet besties at his side). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

In December 1975, an up & coming rock star from New Jersey decided to perform his own take on the song in front of a college concert crowd on Long Island, NY. However, it did not hit the radio airwaves until 1981. In 1985, it was released as the B-side on the seventh single from his phenomenal album, “Born In The USA”, which turned the 10 year old recording into a holiday staple ever since.

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Top: Bruce Springsteen’s 1985 single. Bottom: My perpetual Christmas list. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

In 2003’s incredibly delightful holiday move, “Elf”, the song helped bring power to Santa’s sleigh when Buddy’s love interest, Jovie, led a sing-a-long in Central Park to remind people that a little faith can make dreams happen.

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Buddy

Two scenes from 2003’s “Elf”. Top: Zooey Deschanel as Jovie. Bottom: Will Ferrell as Buddy and Ed Asner as Santa. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Crystals: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” (1963, written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie).

Fred Astaire: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” (1970, written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie).

Bruce Springsteen: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” (1981 & 1985, recorded live at C.W. Post College in Brookville, NY on December 12, 1975, written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Music Monday: September 23, 2024

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

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

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: June 17, 2024

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

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

If I could go back in time to experience music as a full fledged adult, I would choose 1967. Why? For the first 11 months of that year, all of my great musical loves were making music in the universe.

January: The Doors released their debut album which introduced one of America’s greatest bands and the poetry of Jim Morrison to the world.

Doors

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

April: Marvin Gaye finished recording sessions for the biggest hit of his career, “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, furthering his reign as one of the world’s greatest voices & Motown’s legacy as one of music’s most soulful genres.

Marvin

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

May: The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Beatles

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

June: Otis Redding stole the show at the Monterey Pop Festival.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

November: Eric Clapton was a member of Cream and they released Disraeli Gears.

Cream

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ongoing: Bruce Springsteen was in his first band, The Castiles. And 1967 was the year that Elton John and Bernie Taupin answered the same ad for songwriters that brought them together, forming one of the greatest partnerships music has ever had.

Castiles

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bernie Taupin (L) and Elton John (R) circa 1967. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Redding’s performance took place 57 years ago on June 17, 1967. He sang five songs: “Try A Little Tenderness”, “Respect”, “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”, a cover of The Stones’ “Satisfaction” and today’s pick. Redding used every ounce of energy he had for the 20 minute set where he exhibited nothing but pure unadulterated joy on that stage. And his achingly impassioned vocal just shattered the bar for any singer who followed him because no one could come close to his ability for expressing every emotion he had in every note he sang. It was the highlight of a tragically short career that helps in keeping Redding the legend he remains more than five decades after his death. If I could attend ANY show in history, this would be the one.

The entire concert is available on Max along with the stand alone videos of both Redding’s and Jimi Hendrix’s performances from the shows as well. They are well worth every second of your time.

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Otis Redding on stage during the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Otis Redding: “Shake” (Live performance at The Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967. Originally recorded in 1965. Written by Sam Cooke).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: June 10, 2024

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

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Rock & roll singer Gary Levone Anderson-better known as Gary U.S. Bonds-just celebrated birthday #85. He was born June 6, 1939 in Jacksonville, Florida and began singing in church as a child. He followed that by performing with some groups before setting out on his own. He is known for his hits “New Orleans” and “Quarter to Three” in 1960 and “School Is Out” from 1961.

Twenty years later, Bonds had a career resurgence courtesy of Bruce Springsteen. He had a few songs that were not used on his 1980 double album, The River, so he gave them to Bonds: The title track, “Dedication”(the album peaked at #27 in 1981), “Your Love” and “This Little Girl”, which became a Top Twenty hit in April of the same year. Steven Van Zandt contributed the song, “Daddy’s Come Home” and was one of the album’s producers along with Bonds, Springsteen and Rob Parissi, who was formerly the front man of the group Wild Cherry (he wrote their 1976 #1 hit, “Play That Funky Music”) .  

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Top: Gary U.S. Bonds in 1961. Bottom: His 1981 album. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

William Royce “Boz” Scaggs was born in Canton, Ohio 80 years ago on June 8, 1944. The singer, songwriter & guitarist played with friend Steve Miller several times, including a stint as his band’s lead singer in the late 1960’s. Scaggs eventually became a solo performer who achieved success in the 1970’s with hits like “Lido Shuffle” and “Look What You’ve Done To Me”, then “Miss Sun” and “Heart Of Mine” in the 1980’s. The musicians Scaggs chose for his 1976 album, Silk Degrees, went on to form the band, Toto. Scaggs was also the owner of two San Francisco clubs, The Blue Lights & Slim’s but his jazz & blues infused sound is what he is best known for.

Boz circa 1969
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Top: Boz Scaggs circa 1969. Bottom: Scaggs circa 2000. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

I cannot believe it has been nearly 20 years ago since I first discovered Amos Lee. The singer-songwriter who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania released his debut album in March 2005 and I fell in love with his sound especially through the songs “Colors” and “Arms of a Woman”. I had the opportunity to see Lee in concert in 2014 at a small venue on Long Island. He did not disappoint.

Today’s song is from his 2011 album, Mission Bell. I just discovered a new version of this song which he added to his YouTube channel last year. It features an absolutely exquisite string arrangement and I am completely obsessed with it.

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Top: Amos Lee circa 2000 & 2024, bottom. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Gary U.S. Bonds: “Jole Blon” (1981, traditional, arranged by Michael Hurley and Moon Mullican).

Boz Scaggs: “Lowdown” (1976, written by Boz Scaggs and David Paich).

Amos Lee: “Violin” (2011, written by Amos Lee).

Amos Lee: “Violin” (With strings. 2023, written by Amos Lee).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: May 27, 2024

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

Memorial Day

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Forty years ago Bruce Springsteen’s phenomenal seventh studio album broke through to the mainstream and turned him into megastar. Born in the U.S.A., which was released on June 4, 1984 by Columbia Records, spent four consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart a month later. It reclaimed the top spot again in January 1985 for 3 straight weeks.  

Seven of the 12 songs-“Dancing In The Dark”, “I’m On Fire”, “Cover Me”, “Glory Days”, “My Hometown”, “I’m Going Down” & the title track-became Top Ten hits. But all 45 minutes of the album solidified Springsteen’s place in music and pop culture history as it took on a life of its own, thanks in large part to five performance videos that were in heavy rotation on MTV.

To celebrate the record’s 40th anniversary and in honor of those who gave their lives in service to our country, below is my post from Memorial Day 2022.

Mem Day 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today we pause to honor those who made the greatest sacrifice for our country, our privilege & our way of life. But let us not forget their family, friends and those they fought beside who were left behind as well. They live with that loss every day, not just on Memorial Day. It makes the phrase, “we don’t know them all, but we owe them all” resonate with even more meaning. Thank you to all the heroes & those who will carry them in their hearts and minds always.

When Bruce Springsteen released his 1984 career changing album, I remember reading a review that said in one verse from the title track, The Boss probably gave us the best definition of war ever put into words. And it is not defined by location, generation or ideology. It is defined by duty, sacrifice, bravery, honor and loss. And giving everything you have in the name of freedom.

“I had a brother at Khe Sanh
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They’re still there
He’s all gone“.

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The front & back covers of Bruce Springsteen’s iconic 1984 album. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Born In The U.S.A.” (1984, written by Bruce Springsteen).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: April 29, 2024

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

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

On January 16, 1964 a little club opened opened on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. Singer Johnny Rivers was the first performer at The Whisky a Go Go that night. Over the last 60 years hundreds of acts have followed including legendary bands like Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and Guns ‘N’ Roses. Many of my great musical loves played there as well including Otis Redding, Elton John and The Doors. In fact, the latter were discovered there during their four month stint in 1966 and signed to a contract with Elektra Records.

Their self-titled debut album, released in January 1967, was an instant smash. It included a blues cover-Willie Dixon’s “Back Door Man”-along with original tracks like “Break On Through (To the Other Side)”, “The Crystal Ship” and the #1 hit, “Light My Fire”.

As much as I love this album, I tend to listen to the band’s subsequent ones more because of songs like “Roadhouse Blues”, “L.A. Woman” and “Hello, I Love You”. Then a random online poll asked for the best last track on an album. My usual answer is Bruce Springsteen’s “Jungleland”, a nine minute rock opera which is not only my favorite song of all time, it closed out the 1975 masterpiece, Born To Run.

But then I remembered the epic last track on The Doors first album. An unbelievably haunting, fearless, disturbing, brave and alarming saga set to music. Part song, part spoken word in a musical odyssey that takes us from the sublime (the music, Morrison’s incredibly rich baritone voice) to the shocking (an exploration of the Oedipal complex) while an unbelievably mesmerizing guitar riff flows throughout bookmarked with intense drumming and a remarkable organ & Fender piano bass arrangement. It is an experience, not just a tune.

To have the courage to write and record a psychedelic song of this magnitude is unbelievable enough, but to put it on your first record is just as bad ass as it gets. And it made its debut at The Whisky in 1966. For eleven & a half minutes, the listener is paralyzed into a hypnotic haze inside Jim Morrison’s mind which in this case was not an easy place to go. But what a stunning ride it was and continues to be.

“Can you picture what will be?
So limitless and free
Desperately in need of some stranger’s hand
In a desperate land“.

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The Doors 1970

Top: The Whisky A Go Go in 1966, the year The Doors were discovered there. Middle: The Doors circa 1966 (L-R): Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek). Bottom: The band circa 1970 (L-R): Krieger, Morrison (back), Densmore and Manzarek. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Doors: “The End” (1967, written by The Doors: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: April 15, 2024

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

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

One of the most important albums of the 20th century has turned 60 years old. It is Bob Dylan’s third album and the title track became the anthem for the 1960’s.

His second album, 1963’s The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, gave us three now classic songs-“Blowin’ In The Wind”, “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”. His 1962 self-titled debut album contained traditional and cover songs along with his tribute to his hero, Woody Guthrie, in “Song To Woody”.

But it was album #3 in as many years that would deliver Dylan’s reflective ballad on an era of change. It was released in February 1964, a mere three months after the assassination of President Kennedy and foretold of the social upheaval which would follow later in the decade.

According to Dylan’s website, he first performed the song in October 1963 at a show at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Many sources indicate he wrote in the spirit of an Irish or Scottish ballad to give a voice to the civil rights movement and other social changes he saw developing from his perspective as a 22 year old folk singer.

There have been countless covers of the title track by Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman and Nina Simone, amongst others. My favorite is by fellow American artist Richie Havens. But Dylan’s original is the one that remains the sound heard by a generation and a movement that changed the direction of our country. What an incredible legacy.

“The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast“.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bob Dylan: “The Times They Are A-Changin‘” (1964, written by Bob Dylan).

Richie Havens: “The Times They Are A-Changin‘” (1987, written by Bob Dylan).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: March 18, 2024

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

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Thirty years ago-March 21, 1994-Bruce Springsteen won the Oscar for Best Original Song for the track he wrote for the film, “Philadelphia”. The Boss was already a megastar, thanks to the massive success of his album, “Born In The U.S.A.” ten years earlier. And that blockbuster came 11 years after the release of his debut album in 1973.

As Springsteen noted in his acceptance speech, it was the first time he wrote a song for a movie. And he hit it out of the park. Just like a Boss. You can watch his performance from the 66th Academy Awards and hear his acceptance speech here. Watching it all these years later, and knowing how much The Boss regretted not having The E Street Band inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame with him in 1999, I would say they are the only thing missing in this clip.

Speaking of that career honor, which came during the 14th annual induction ceremony on March 15, 1999 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, it was U2 frontman Bono who was given the privilege to usher Springsteen into the Rock Hall. With speech highlights that included gems like-‘”Bruce took us from Haight-Ashbury to Asbury Park” and “He’s not The Boss-he works for us!”, Bono expressed what all Springsteen fans feel-that he is singing only for us. And for that, we are most grateful.

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Top: Bruce Springsteen on Oscar night in March 1994. Bottom: Bruce (L) and Steven Van Zandt (R) during The Boss’s performance following his induction in 1999. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Streets Of Philadelphia” (1993, written by Bruce Springsteen).

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” (Live performance at the R&R HOF induction ceremony, March 1994. Originally recorded in 1975. Written by Bruce Springsteen).

Stay safe & well.

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 22

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

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My very own grown up Christmas list. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The film “Philadelphia” was released 30 years ago today on December 22, 1993. The groundbreaking movie earned over $200 million and became one of the highest-grossing films of that year. It also gave Bruce Springsteen his first Oscar nomination and win for Best Original Song in 1994 for “Streets Of Philadelphia”.

The track also earned the New Jersey native four Grammy Awards the same year as well: Best Song Written Specifically For A Motion Picture Or For Television, Best Rock Song, Best Male Rock Vocal Performance and Song Of The Year. If Born In The USA turned him into a megastar, his Academy Award secured his status as a legend. Merry Christmas, Bossman.  

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Top: The sleeve for the single with today’s song as the B-side. Bottom: A festive Bossman. 

(Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” (1981 & 1985, recorded live at C.W. Post College in Brookville, NY on December 12, 1975, written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 14

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Blog day 14

A beautiful rustic Christmas tree with pinecones galore featured in Country Living Magazine. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today’s song was first recorded in 1947 by the band of one of the songwriter’s, Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers. The lead vocal is by singer & pianist Charles Brown, who went on to co-write and sing another successful holiday hit as a solo artist with “Please Come Home For Christmas” in 1960. 

My favorite version of today’s track is by my great love, Bruce Springsteen, released as part of 1987’s compilation album, A Very Special Christmas (it was also the B-side to his cover of “War” of all tracks in 1986). His rendition is followed closely by the cover by my other great musical love, Otis Redding. No surprise there. But I got so comfortable with these three renditions, I did not look for any others. Until this year. And what a shock to find two more unbelievably great versions by two unequivocal music legends.

Tina Turner recorded hers in 1964 when she was singing with her first husband. It is a rousing, funky, powerful no holds barred rendition delivered in a way only Tina could. Needless to say, it is glorious. We may have lost this force of a woman earlier this year, but finding this gem of a cover proves that music is the gift that just keeps giving, no matter how long it takes to find it.   

The King took on this song for himself as well. His website calls his version “as unlikely as it was welcome in the antiseptically “wonderful world of Christmas” and is that ever an understatement. I was so used to hearing the ballads and rock inspired tunes by Elvis, not to mention his gospel tracks, that this just reminded me why he is called The King. There was nothing-NOTHING-he could not sing, including a bluesy piano & guitar driven version of a great old Christmas tune. Shame on me for not finding it until 2023, but thank goodness I finally did. 

All five renditions are below for you to choose your favorite. And if you cannot choose, you have five great additions to your seasonal playlist.  

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Tina circa 1973
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Picture 1: Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers. Picture 2: Tina Turner circa 1973. Picture 3: The jacket for Otis Redding’s 1968 holiday release. Picture 4: The jacket to Elvis Presley’s 1971 holiday single. Picture 5: The Boss in a festive mood in an undated picture. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers: ”Merry Christmas Baby” (1947, written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore. Lead vocal by Charles Brown.) 

Ike and Tina Turner: “Merry Christmas Baby” (1964, written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore).

Otis Redding: “Merry Christmas Baby” (1968, written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore).

Elvis Presley: “Merry Christmas Baby” (1971, written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore).

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: “Merry Christmas Baby” (1986, written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!