Tag Archives: Farm Aid

Music Monday: November 3, 2025

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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.

Music Monday: Sept 22, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last week we lost the epitome of a true Hollywood legend. Actor, director, filmmaker & independent movie champion Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025 at age 89. He started his acting career at the end of the 1950’s with roles on TV & on stage then segued into movies. He found fame thanks to such high profile roles in dozens of films including “Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid”, “Jeremiah Johnson”, “The Way We Were”, “The Great Gatsby”, “All The President’s Men” and “The Natural”, just to name a few.

He used the proceeds of his success to start the Sundance Film Festival in 1978. Two years later, he made his directorial debut with 1980’s “Ordinary People” which earned him an Academy Award for Best Director. He went on to direct nine more movies while he continued his acting career. He also became involved in several causes, especially the environment. I loved so many of his roles and movies, especially how he brought “A River Runs Through It” to life not only with his directing skills but with his narration in the film as well. Goodbye, Sundance. Thank you for everything.

Charles Robert Redford Jr.: August 18, 1936 – September 16, 2025.

Robert Redford in Utah in 1969 photographed by John Dominis – The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock for the February 1970 edition of Life Magazine.

Robert Redford in NYC’s Times Square in 1969 photographed by John Dominis – The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock for the February 1970 edition of Life Magazine.

Riley B. King-known professionally as B.B. King-was born 100 years ago on September 16, 1925 near Itta Bena, Mississippi. Known as The King of the Blues, he started his six decade career as a Beale Street musician who went on to redefine the blues genre. He also made notable appearances in such movies as 1985’s “Spies Like Us”, 1993’s “Heart & Souls” and 1998’s “Blues Brothers 2000” as well as several TV shows including the legendary daytime soap, “General Hospital” in 1995 at Luke’s Blues Club opening. He collaborated with a multitude of artists including Eric Clapton, U2, Van Morrison, Elton John, Daryl Hall and many others. King died May 14, 2015 at age 89.

B.B. King circa 2000. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Tomorrow marks the 95th birth anniversary of Ray Charles Robinson. The singer & piano extraordinaire was born on September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia. And this month marks 65 years since he released The Genius Hits the Road in September 1960. It contains his signature tune which was designated as the namesake’s state song in 1979. Charles died on June 10, 2004 at the age of 73.

Ray Charles circa 1990. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Neil Young’s third studio album-After the Gold Rush– was released 55 years ago in September 1970. It includes songs like “Tell Me Why”, “Southern Man” and “I Believe In You” as some of the notable tracks. This year marks another milestone of the legendary singer-songwriter’s career: It is the 40th anniversary of Farm Aid which Young started in 1985 along with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp.

The organization’s first concert was held on September 22, 1985 in Champaign, Illinois and raised $7 million dollars. According to its website, the organization was founded “in response to the growing crisis faced by American family farmers during the 1980s. The inaugural concert marked a historic moment in the farm movement, to support struggling family farmers, but more importantly, raising awareness of the impacts of the crisis.“

Young, who will turn 80 this November, was part of the lineup over the weekend for the Farm Aid 40 concert held in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 20. Some of the other performers included Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Nelson’s son, Lukas and Dave Matthews, who is also on the organization’s board.

Top: Neil Young’s 1970 album. Middle: Young, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp at the first Farm Aid concert in Illinois in September 1985. Bottom: Nelson, Young, Dave Matthews and Margo Price from Farm Aid 40 on September 20, 2025. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

B.J. Thomas: “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for the 1969 film, “Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid“. The song was the #1 hit in the country for four consecutive weeks 55 years ago in January 1970).

B.B. King: “Three O’Clock Blues” (1951, written by Lowell Fulson).

B.B. King: “The Thrill Is Gone” (1970, written by Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins).

Ray Charles: “What’d I Say, Pt. 1 & 2” (1959, written by Ray Charles).

Ray Charles: “Georgia On My Mind” (1960, written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell).

Neil Young: “After The Gold Rush” (1970, written by Neil Young).

Neil Young: “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” (1970, written by Neil Young).

Stay safe & well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 171

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Bruce quote
(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

He was introduced to the world as Johnny Cougar on his debut album in 1976. By his third album in 1979 he was billed as John Cougar. In 1983 he added his real last name so he became known as John Cougar Mellencamp. Eventually he was simply John Mellencamp. He has been singing about his love of music and his midwestern roots for nearly 45 years in close to 25 studio albums. He co-founded “Farm Aid” in 1985 with Willie Nelson & Neil Young which still continues today with one big concert each year.

Whatever name you associate with him, you probably immediately recall Mellencamp’s more well known hits like “Jack & Diane”, “Hurts So Good” or “Lonely ‘Ol Night”, to name a few. My favorites include “Check It Out”, “Cherry Bomb” and “Pink Houses”. But to narrow it down to one, today’s song wins in an extremely close race. It is from his fourth album, 1980’s “Nothing Matters And What If It Did”, produced by soul legend & guitar great, Steve Cropper. This was Mellencamp’s third career single and the first to crack to top 40. The premise is a lot like “Fooled Around And Fell In Love”, where the singer describes how he was the love them & leave them type until he met the one he could not walk away from. I must admit I really like songs where guys own what the right one does to their heart.

“You got your arms around my shoulders
You got my soul confused with my heart
You were too smart to believe all those tired lines
And I was too dumb to know what had started“.

John Cougar Mellencamp circa 1980 (L) and 2019 (R). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

John Cougar Mellencamp:  “This Time” (1980, written by John Cougar Mellencamp).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

Happy Birthday, Happy Autumn

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Bruce sp

Bruce Springsteen (original source:  Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com).

It has been one heck of a year for this man who has already racked up decades of good ones.  Since his last birthday, he has been starring in his Tony Award winning Broadway show.  It was originally supposed to run for only about two months, but due to the incredible demand for more performances, he extended it to the end of this year.  While several singers have chosen to headline residencies in Las Vegas, Springsteen has chosen a more intimate setting that has reinvented his epochal music in a new and even more illuminating way.  That is an unbelievable feat that could only be accomplished by a talent like his.  Happy birthday, Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen.  You are a beautiful man with a beautiful soul.

We are also officially in the fall season.  Yay.  That deserves a song, too.  So today I am sharing two with you.

For The Bossman’s birthday, I chose the title track of his 2009 record.  In typical Springsteen fashion, he describes holding on to a vision of a better life despite all the road blocks that appear in its way.  And how love will help the dream along.

“I’m working on a dream
Though trouble can feel like it’s here to stay
I’m working on a dream
Well our love will chase trouble away.”

Bruce Springsteen:  “Working On A Dream”

The second song honors the new season.  This iconic singer/songwriter performed here in Connecticut yesterday with a little help from some of his fellow musician friends at this year’s Farm Aid concert.  It sets the tone of this new autumn season perfectly.  And how love makes everything better.

“When we were strangers
I watched you from afar
When we were lovers
I loved you with all my heart.”

Neil Young:  “Harvest Moon“.

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some of the people & music I love with you.

Until next time, happy digging.