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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Before we get to the songs, I want to give a shout out to a couple of TV anniversaries close to my heart.

Two of my favorite TV cops-“Starsky & Hutch”-came to life in the show’s pilot which premiered on April 30, 1975. Due to its success, it was picked up for a series with the first episode broadcast 50 years ago on Sep 10, 1975. The two cops were not only partners but best friends who were dedicated to keeping the streets of their city safe. They had heart, smarts and great instincts and were adorable to watch, especially if you were a young girl experiencing her first real crushes. It was one of Aaron Spelling’s biggest hits in the early days of his TV empire. To me, David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser remain the best part of that universe.

David Soul (L) as Detective Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson and Paul Michael Glaser (R) as Detective David Starsky. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

A decade later, I met four women who I will adore for all of eternity. “The Golden Girls” premiered 40 years ago on September 14, 1985. They gave us seven seasons of fun, laughter, jokes, sarcastic quips and life lessons served up with a side of cheesecake. For many of us, they remain the best surrogate mothers to those of us who desperately need them. A very special thank you goes out to the show’s creator, Susan Harris (who will turn 85 next month, who also gave us the hilarious 1970’s series, “Soap” & is from my home state of New York), who took her vision of women in their second & third acts & turned it into one of the greatest shows ever made. The show was nominated six times for the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy Award – it won two years in a row, 1986 & 1987 – and all four leading ladies won Emmy Awards for their work on the show. Thank you Estelle, Bea, Rue & Betty for making the wonderful world of Sophia, Dorothy, Blanche & Rose such a great place to be.

Four iconic women sharing a story & a laugh over a slice of cheesecake (L-R): Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo, Bea Arthur as her daughter, Dorothy Zbornak, Betty White as Rose Nylund and Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Sir George Ivan “Van” Morrison OBE celebrated birthday #80 last month. Born August 31, 1945 in Belfast, Ireland, he grew up listening to his father’s extensive record collection, finding inspiration in artists like Ray Charles and Solomon Burke, among others. Morrison started playing guitar at age 11 and eventually would learn the harmonica & the saxophone as well. He was playing in bands by age 12 and by age 19, he was a member of the band, Them. The success of songs like “Gloria” and “Here Comes the Night” not only inspired the band, The Doors, but gave Morrison the push to start a solo career, which he did after quitting Them in 1966.

His debut album, Blowin’ Your Mind!, was released a year later and produced the Top Ten hit, “Brown Eyed Girl”. His sophomore album, Astral Weeks, came out in 1968 and that was followed by my personal favorite-Moondance-which was released 55 years ago in January 1970. Between the title track, “Crazy Love”, “Into The Mystic”, “These Dreams Of You” and other stand out songs, Morrison’s talents for songwriting, musicianship and vocals infused with a blend of rock, soul and rhythm & blues were irrefutable.

He released another album at the end of 1970-His Band and the Street Choir-which produced his second Top Ten hit, “Domino”. He has released nearly 50 albums in his career, some as collaborations (including 1988’s Irish Heartbeat with the Irish band The Chieftains & 2015’s Duets: Re-working the Catalogue) and some covering his favorite songs (2023’s Accentuate the Positive).

Morrison has received numerous accolades for his work including an Academy Award nomination in 2022 (for “Down To Joy” from “Belfast”), two Grammy Awards (1998-Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals with John Lee Hooker for “Don’t Look Back” and 1996-Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals with The Chieftains for “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” ) and the Ivor Novello Award in 1995. Morrison’s music has been used on numerous movie soundtracks and he was a featured performed in The Band’s 1978 concert film, “The Last Waltz”. He has influenced artists like Rod Stewart, Elton John, John Mellencamp, Glen Hansard, Damien Rice and many others.

Van Morrison through the years, first circa 1968 (top), in the 1970’s (middle) and circa 2015 (bottom). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Rod Stewart’s sixth solo album, Atlantic Crossing, was released 50 years ago in August 1975. He recorded it in Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama & it includes covers of the Dobie Gray classic, “Drift Away”, The Isley Brothers’ “This Old Heart of Mine” (which Stewart would record again in 1989 as a duet with Ronald Isley) and Gavin Sutherland’s “Sailing”.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The movie “Fame” premiered 45 years ago on May 16, 1980. The film, directed by Alan Parker, follows a group of talented teenagers from their acceptance to the New York High School of Performing Arts and their subsequent life experiences over the next four years as they hone their drama, music & dance skills. The movie introduced us to Irene Cara who starred in the film & was the voice behind its theme song. And I was today years old when I discovered that another tune she performed in the film-my favorite track-was co-written by 60’s teen sensation/girl singer Lesley Gore (“It’s My Party”, “Judy’s Turn To Cry” & “You Don’t Own Me”).

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

David Soul: “Don’t Give Up On Us” ((1977, written by Tony Macaulay).

Bea Arthur (as Dorothy Zbornak): “What’ll I Do” (Written by Irving Berlin. From “The Golden Girls” S7 E18, “Journey to the Center of Attention”, broadcast on February 22, 1992).

Van Morrison: “Caravan” (1970, written by Van Morrison).

Van Morrison: “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)” (1972, written by Van Morrison).

Van Morrison: “Hard Nose The Highway” (1973, written by Van Morrison).

Rod Stewart: “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” (1975, written by Danny Whitten).

Irene Cara: “Out Here On My Own” (1980, written by Lesley Gore and Michael Gore).

Stay safe & well.