Tag Archives: Linda Ronstadt

Music Monday: July 20, 2026

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

#musicmonday #musicblog #musicandlyrics

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Multi genre music royalty Linda Ronstadt turned 80 years young last week. The incomprable singer was born July 15, 1946 in Arizona and raised on a 10 acre farm. Her father’s ancestry would later inspire her Mexican recordings. She started her career as part of the folk trio, The Stone Poneys, who had a Top 20 hit in 1967 with a song written by Mike Nesmith of The Monkees. Ronstadt released her first solo album in 1969.

This is from my post on Day 486 of my Lockdown Countdown:

“Ronstadt has sung nearly every genre of music in her career from pop to country to big band to Mexican to jazz and more. On her 34th birthday in 1980, she expanded her repertoire when she appeared in Joseph Papp’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance in Central Park in NYC. But I still love the song that started her career and introduced us all to her unbelievably fabulous voice. Here’s to 100 more birthdays for this legendary artist“.

Linda Ronstadt in the 1970’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ronstadt in the 1970’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ronstadt circa 1999. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This year also marks the golden anniversary of Ronstadt’s seventh studio album, Hasten Down the Wind. It was released 50 years ago by Capitol on August 9, 1976. A month later, it peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200, giving her the third platinum album of her career.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The man who wrote the title track to Ronstadt’s 1976 album-Warren Zevon-released his own self titled album 50 years ago in May 1976. His original take on the song strikes me as even more heartbreaking than hers, probably because it is amplified by the gorgeous harmony vocals by Phil Everly. In the 1970’s Zevon worked as the band leader, musical coordinator and keyboard player for The Everly Brothers and later worked with both Phil and Don Everly on their solo tours. Another of Zevon’s friends-fellow singer/songwriter, Jackson Browne-produced Zevon’s 1976 album and contributed guitar & harmony vocals to four of the eleven tracks. JD Souther, Lindsey Buckingham, Bonnie Raitt and many other artists also contributed to Zevon’s record.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Warren Zevon (L) and Phil Everly (R) circa 1971. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Zevon (L) and Jackson Browne (R) circa 1976. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Blues, rock & country singer-songwriter & musician Delbert McClinton had a Top Ten hit in February 1981 with a song that peaked at #8. That technically makes the singer-who turned 85 last November-a one-hit wonder. However, he had a hit duet with country superstar Tanya Tucker-“Tell Me About It”-which reached #4 on the country chart in July 1993.

McClinton is also a four-time Grammy winner with awards in 1992 for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for the song, ” Good Man, Good Woman” with Bonnie Raitt; in 2002 & 2006 for Best Contemporary Blues Album – or Contemporary Blues Recording for Nothing Personal (2002) and Cost Of Living (2006) and for Best Traditional Blues Album for Tall, Dark, & Handsome in 2020. Not bad for a one-hit wonder.

Delbert McClinton circa 1981. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bonnie Bramlett (L) of Delaney & Bonnie provided the backing vocals for McClinton’s 1981 hit. They are pictured here together circa 1978. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The pilot episode of “Six Feet Under” premiered 25 years ago on Sunday, June 3, 2001. The Fishers-Nathaniel, Ruth, Nate, David & Clare-helped us explore death in their family-owned funeral home along with their life challenges, romances, neurosis and their own struggles living in the same place where the reality of death is ever present. The IMDb tagline for the show-“When death is your business, what is your life?”-tells you all you need to know.

To closeout the Christmas episode in S2 (E8 which oddly enough aired in April 2002) one of the main characters, Nate-the oldest son who reluctantly inherits half of the family business he wanted nothing to do with after his father’s sudden death-takes a moment of freedom from his new reality by escaping it via a motorcycle ride. But perhaps as a reminder to Nate’s profession and how near the end may be for any one of us, the song underscoring Nate’s temporary escape is none other than the Blue Oyster Cult classic released 50 years ago in May 1976 from the album, Agents Of Fortune. Or perhaps it was a direct message to all of us to literally not fear the moment we are all headed towards by not letting it stop us from living. Ten years ago in 2016, that song was covered as a beautiful slow mournful ballad, giving it new life & a new audience.

The cast of “Six Feet Under” L-R: Rachel Griffiths, Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Mathew St. Patrick, Freddy Rodriguez, Lauren Ambrose (seated) and Frances Conroy. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Stone Poneys: “Different Drum” (1967, written by Mike Nesmith).

Linda Ronstadt: “Love Has No Pride” (1973, written by Eric Kaz and Libby Titus).

Linda Ronstadt: “You’re No Good” (1974, written by Clint Ballard Jr.).

Linda Ronstadt: “Lose Again” (1976, written by Karla Bonoff).

Linda Ronstadt: “That’ll Be The Day” (1976, written by Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly and Norman Petty).

Linda Ronstadt: “Hasten Down The Wind” (1976, written by Warren Zevon).

Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville: “Don’t Know Much” (1989, written by Barry Mann, Tom Snow and Cynthis Weil).

Rosemary Clooney & Linda Ronstadt: “Time Flies” ( Evening At Pops with John Williams live performance May 24, 1993. Written by Jimmy Webb).

Warren Zevon: “Hasten Down the Wind” (1976, written by Warren Zevon. Harmony vocals by Phil Everly).

Warren Zevon: “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” (1976, written by Warren Zevon).

Warren Zevon: “Carmelita” (1976, written by Warren Zevon).

Delbert McClinton: “Giving It Up For Your Love” (1980, written by Jerry Lynn Williams).

Blue Oyster Cult: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” (1976, written by Buck Dharma a/k/a Donald Brian Roeser).

Denmark & Winter: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” (2016, written by Buck Dharma a/k/a Donald Brian Roeser).

Stay safe & well.

25 Days Of Christmas Music: Day 14

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

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

2025 was the year I finally entered the Marvel universe-i.e., I watched the first two phases of the Marvel movies. I do realize I am 17 years late to the party but since I was never a comic book fan, watching movies about comic book characters-even the non animated kind-did not really appeal to me. But once I started I made it all the way to Phase 3 in three months time and got halfway through that before stopping when winter turned to spring and my hibernation ended.

Three words were the impetus for me to start the franchise: Robert Downey Jr. I have adored him F-O-R-E-V-E-R yet I had zero clue he was Iron Man (and sold out by Jeff Bridges in the first movie…..Dude!!!). I also missed Downey when he played Larry Paul in “Ally McBeal” in seasons 4 & 5.

The future Tony Stark showed us yet another of his remarkable skills when he performed today’s song during S4 episode 6 and it was quite beautiful. When the track was released in 2000 as part of A Very Ally Christmas, it featured a cello arrangement that when combined with Downey’s pensive vocal turned the song into an absolutely exquisite moment. There does not seem to be anything that man cannot do.

The same year he started on “Ally”-2000-was the same year Linda Ronstadt released A Merry Little Christmas. She included a cover of the same song, done with a lovely delicate string arrangement that is quite stunning. And given her immense talent, it is no surprise that Ronstadt made this song her own as well.

Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Linda Ronstadt circa 1975. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The writer of today’s song-Joni Mitchell-recorded it for her 1971 album, Blue. Since then it has been covered by an array of artists including one who played on that album (although not on this song). And 25 years later in October 2006, he released his own version on James Taylor at Christmas.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Joni Mitchell: “River” (1971, written by Joni Mitchell).

Robert Downey Jr.: “River” (2000, written by Joni Mitchell).

Linda Ronstadt: “River” (2000, written by Joni Mitchell).

James Taylor: “River” (2006, written by Joni Mitchell).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Music Monday: February 24, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Several now classic and legendary songs hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts 50 years ago. This week I am focusing on three of my favorite #1 songs of 1975 – Part 1.

The year started with Elton John in the top spot for two weeks with his cover of a 1967 Beatles song. One of the song’s co-writers-John Lennon, billed on the cover track as “Dr. Winston O’Boogie”-played guitar and contributed backing vocals to it. The two artists collaborated on Lennon’s song, “Whatever Gets You Through The Night” in 1974. It became a #1 hit on November 16 that year, a feat John predicted would happen. That forced Lennon to settle a bet by appearing on stage at John’s concert at NYC’s Madison Square on Thanksgiving night on November 28, 1974 where the two performed that song & a cover of The Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There”.

John ended the year with two other #1 songs: “Philadelphia Freedom” hit the top spot for two weeks in April & “Island Girl” was #1 for three weeks in November 1975. He also provided backing vocals on Neil Sedaka’s song, “Bad Blood”, which was #1 for three weeks in October that year. That same month, John became godfather to Lennon’s second son, Sean. 1975 was one of several outstanding years for Elton John.

Elton John (L) and John Lennon (R) on stage at NYC’s Madison Square Garden on November 28, 1974. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The next song to hit #1 in 1975 was by Barry Manilow. The first top selling record of his career reached that position for one week on January 18. Two more #1 records would follow for him over the years along with 11 Top Ten hits to add to his previous success as a jingle writer, a theme song writer & a pianist for The Divine Miss M, Bette Midler. I love a couple of other songs by him-“Weekend In New England” and “Trying To Get The Feeling”, specifically-but Manilow’s #1 track from 1975 had me from the line, “You kissed me and stopped me from shaking”.

Barry Manilow’s second album was released in October 1974. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

On February 15, 1975 Linda Ronstadt took over the #1 spot for one week with a track from her fifth album, Heart Like A Wheel. That proved to be her breakthrough record, as it reached #1 on the Billboard Albums chart the same day her cover of the 1963 song by Dee Dee Warwick (sister to Dionne) gave Ronstadt the biggest selling song of her career. Ten Top 10 hits would follow in the next several decades as she successfully explored a number of different genres of music, but 1975 was the year Ronstadt broke through as one of the industry’s greatest talents.

Today’s Linda Ronstadt’s song is from her fifth album, released in November 1974. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elton John: “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” (1974, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Barry Manilow: “Mandy” (1974, written by Scott English and Richard Kerr).

Linda Ronstadt: “You’re No Good” (1974, written by Clint Ballard Jr.).

Stay safe & well.

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 13

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 13A

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

Several years ago I heard an absolutely gorgeous song on a TV show which helped me discover the artist-Ryan O’Neal-who performs under the moniker, Sleeping At Last. That led me to his simply gorgeous take on today’s song which I have featured before. This year I found another incredibly beautiful version of that song by singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff.

I discovered her years ago courtesy of Linda Ronstadt who recorded three songs by Bonoff (“Lose Again”, “If He’s Ever Near” and “Someone to Lay Down Beside Me”, with the last two also featuring her on backing vocals) on 1976’s Hasten Down The Wind. Bonoff released those three songs on her self titled debut in 1977. In August 1982 she had her own Top 20 hit with “Personally”. Ronstadt’s 1989 duet with Aaron Neville, “All My Life”, was also written by Bonoff.

Over a decade later, I heard her stunning cover of “The Water Is Wide” when my favorite soap, “Another World” featured it during an episode in January 1997. And this week I finally heard her 2020 album, Silent Night. I love when Christmas comes early.

sleeping-at-last-releases-new-already-gone-cover-1-med

Ryan O’Neal of Sleeping At Last. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

karla

Karla Bonoff circa 2020 from her website. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Sleeping At Last: “The First Noel” (2017, traditional).

Karla Bonoff: “The First Noel” (2020, traditional).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Music Monday: July 31, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Such heartbreaking news last week to learn that former Eagles co-founder, bassist, singer and songwriter Randy Meisner died at age 77. The band was one of my favorite groups when I was growing up but all the fighting really soured me on them. It also bothered Meisner, too, as it was reportedly the main reason for his departure from the group in September 1977, six years after they formed. That and because the band was freezing him out due to his reluctance to be in the spotlight, which never sat well with his ego-driven fame-hungry bandmates and fellow co-founders, Glenn Frey and Don Henley.

Meisner was the one member I always adored. His harmonies were pristine & beautiful, plus his vocals on “Take It To The Limit” (which was the band’s first million-seller, according to a Twitter post by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame) and today’s song are my top favorite moments by the band. And the latter was written solely by him, a feat one of the primary antagonists for the group-Henley-never accomplished.

Before The Eagles, Meisner did session work for James Taylor and Waylon Jennings in addition to playing with Poco and Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band. After he left the Eagles Meisner released three solo albums, had a few bands of his own including Randy Meisner & the Silverados and The Roberts-Meisner Band, while continuing to play on various tours until 2008. He also contributed to records by Linda Ronstadt, Danny O’Keefe, Dan Fogelberg and Richard Marx, amongst others.

Reportedly Meisner was not invited to participate in the 1994 “Hell Freezes Over” tour indicating that both group’s dictators-Frey and Henley-were still harboring resentment over their former bassist’s decision to quit the band 17 years earlier. In 1999 Meisner supposedly asked to take part in the group’s New Year’s Eve show & was refused. Even in the statement on the band’s website about Meisner’s death, they fail to list his contributions as a songwriter, only his roles as a bassist and vocalist. With Frey out of the picture since his death in 2016, this puts the onus clearly on Il Duce, a/k/a Henley. (In the group’s 2013 documentary, he and and Frey made it clear they seized their self-appointed leadership roles using the philosophy that a band is not a democracy but rather an entity requiring leadership. So they ran the show-period. But it made an already bad situation even worse because both men were constantly fighting with each other, too.) 

Randy Meisner on stage circa 1970’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It is not only passive agressive but ironic since Henley is the only founding member who failed to write any of the group’s songs entirely on his own. And after a review of his five solo studio albums, only one track-a filler one at that-on 1984’s Building the Perfect Beast is credited solely to Henley. Despite how famous he became in the group and as a solo artist, I find his need to constantly cause trouble-whether within the band, against his record company, by attacking YouTube’s practices or whomever annoyed him the day before-to be quite distasteful. Add to that Meisner revealed in an interview in 2000 that he & Bernie Leadon (another co-founder) were initially left out of the financial profits for the band’s “Greatest Hits” record. Both men had to formally pursue their share which was not only ridiculous but essentially fraudulent. It left me feeling nothing but disgust for Henley, a singer & musician I once truly admired, especially for his efforts in establishing The Walden Woods Project.

But he or anyone else who might have tried could not stop Meisner’s prescence with the rest of the group at their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1998. And the man who replaced him-Timothy B. Schmit-was all class in his tribute to Meisner that night, recognizing that his predecessor was the man in the “trenches” with the band. Meanwhile, Frey and Henley stayed as far away as possible from where Mesiner was standing. Then Frey rewrote the narrative about the band’s well documented reputation on fighting (including the petty vicious ones between he and Henley) and said the members got along fine, they just disagreed (read: disagreed with him and Henley). And those members who dared to question the two dictators were eventually dismissed and/or robbed of their rightful profits: Leadon, Meisner and Don Felder, who joined the band in 1974. No wonder the two in charge are known as oppressors.

When I went on my first road trip to Vermont in October 2005, I somehow forgot to include my Hotel California cd in my music stash. Within 24 hours I started to have withdrawals. I needed to hear today’s song so badly that I actually went to a record store (remember those?) to buy another copy of it. I listened to this track so much it was as if Meisner was in the car with me. Well, he was but you know what I mean.

His final years were sadly riddled with both physical and mental challenges, but Meisner was one of the good ones. It was all about the music for him, not the fame or the spotlight. And that should have been respected. Rest in peace, Randy. You will be missed.

“Right or wrong, what’s done is done
It’s only moments that you borrow
But the thoughts will linger on of the lady and her song
When the sun comes up tomorrow“.

Randall Herman Meisner: March 8, 1946-July 26, 2023.

Randy 2

Randy Meisner circa 1970’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Eagles: “Try and Love Again” (1976, written by Randy Meisner).

Stay safe and well.

Music Monday: May 8, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Another year, another huge disappointment by The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. They announced their nominees for the Class of 2023 a few weeks back. After a 20+ year wait, the list finally included the gifted eloquent singer & songwriter, Warren Zevon. And despite fans voting him in, the HOF ignored their voice and chose instead to induct other people. I cannot even use the word artists as that term does not apply to some of the unworthy “acts” getting in this year. The process to gain entry has been a popularity contest for years and has absolutely nothing-NOTHING-to do with talent. Yet every year I get sucked into believing the HOF will do the right thing. I feel like Charlie Brown with that lousy football.

While there are several artists getting in that I am thrilled for-namely lyricist extrordinaire Bernie Taupin in the Musical Excellence Award category, The Spinners as Performers and Don Cornelius (creator, producer and host of the TV show, “Soul Train”) as the recipient of the Ahmet Ertegun Award-I am just sick about Zevon. In their description of him on the Hall’s nominating page, they wrote: “Warren Zevon was an artist’s artist. One of the most talented and significant singer-songwriters to emerge in the 1970s, Zevon wrote poetic but offbeat songs, often with darkly humorous and acerbic lyrics, and delivered them with a dry wit and a twisted energy like no other performer could”. Yet they passed him over.

According to Zevon’s website, it was Long Island’s own Billy Joel who spearheaded this year’s nomination in a letter to the Hall’s nominating committee that read:

“If anyone deserves to be, he does. He was a real original, and I don’t know if that’s appreciated enough. The first minute I saw him, I was knocked out. He was like the crazy brother I never had. He was fearless, and it stuck with me. I never thought he got the attention he deserved.” On that, Billy, we can agree.

Warren William Zevon was born January 24, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. As a young teenager, he had the good fortune to occassionally visit the homes of two remarkable conductors-Igor Stravinsky and Robert Craft. By 1966 Zevon was part of the duo, Lyme and Cabelle, with Violet Santangelo. His debut solo album, Wanted Dead Or Alive, was released in 1970. One of its songs was retitled & recorded by Leslie Miller for the soundtrack to Midnight Cowboy.

Six years later after a stint as band leader and keyboardist for the Everly Brothers, Zevon’s self-titled second album-produced by Jackson Browne-came out. Like the first one, it was a critical success but did not sell. However, it did include two songs which Linda Ronstadt would also record: “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” and “Hasten Down The Wind”. In 1978 Zevon achieved both commercial & critical acclaim with his third album, Excitable Boy (also produced by Browne along with guitarist Waddy Wachtel). That introduced the world to “Werewolves Of London”.

Per the HOF’s rules, an artist is eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first album. That means Zevon qualified in 1995. Even if the HOF wanted to use his major label debut date to qualify him-album #2 in 1976-that put his eligibility in 2001. That was two years before he died from mesothelioma on September 7, 2003 at age 56. In case you are too tired to do the math, that was 20 years ago. 

After he found out about his health, Zevon spent the fall of 2002 recording his final album, The Wind. It was released on August 26, 2003 and won two Grammy Awards in 2004: Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for his duet with Bruce Springsteen, “Disorder In The House“. The album featured appearances by several of Zevon’s other friends including Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Joe Walsh, Tom Petty, Emmylou Harris and John Waite, amongst others.

As much as I love the collaboration with Springsteen, today’s song is my favorite track on the album. It was nominated for Song Of The Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance but that is not why I adore it. The message of it is just beautiful. It was Zevon’s goodbye to his family (daughter Ariel and son Jordan-who accepted Zevon’s Grammys on his behalf in 2004-and her two sons, Maximus and Augustus), his friends and his fans. It closed out the album, his recording career and his life in a stunning and heartbreaking way. It also proved that if talent could get a true artist like Zevon into the R&R HOF, he would already be in.

“Shadows are fallin’ and I’m runnin’ out of breath
Keep me in your heart for a while
If I leave you it doesn’t mean I love you any less
Keep me in your heart for a while“.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Warren Zevon: “Keep Me In Your Heart” (2003, written by Jorge Calderón and Warren Zevon).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: July 18, 2022

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

Music Monday

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

July is filled with several high profile musical birthdays. In fact, there are so many I decided to break them up into two separate posts to do the artists justice. This week we will focus on three female performers and next week will be all about the men. So stay tuned for another triple play next week.

The month began with the lead singer of an iconic group turning 77 years young. Deborah Ann Harry was born on July 1, 1945 in Miami, Florida but grew up in Hawthorne, New Jersey. She & her group, Blondie, defined rock & roll cool and New York City suave in the 1970’s until the new millennium and gave the group superstar status. Harry was not just the pretty face of the group-she was also the voice and one of its primary songwriters, too. She made her way to the small & big screens, with her roles in 1988’s “Hairspray” & 2003’s “My Life Without Me” as my favorites. Her 2019 autobiography, “Face It: A Memoir”, is worth the read as well.

Debbie

Debbie Harry sometime in the 1980’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Christine Anne McVie was born July 12, 1943 in Bouth, UK. making her 79 years young. One of the beautiful talented women of Fleetwood Mac, it was one of today’s song that turned out to be the group’s first hit, just one of many penned by McVie. Her prowess on the keyboards has helped define the band’s sound in every decade of their existence & led to her own successful solo career.

McVie

Christine McVie circa 2000. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

One of the premier voices of all time turned 76 this month. Linda Maria Ronstadt was born July 15, 1946 in Tucson, AZ. She helped define the Laurel Canyon sound of the late 1960’s & early 1970’s, dominated that decade & the 1980’s as a solo performer before ending the latter decade with hit duets with Aaron Neville. She branched out into several diverse musical genres such as Broadway, Big Band, Mexican and Opera, amongst others. The sheer power & beauty of her voice continues to influence every generation after her & helps insure her place as one of the best selling artists in music history.

Linda

Linda Ronstadt in the 1970’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Blondie: “Dreaming” (1979, written by Deborah Harry and Chris Stein).

Fleetwood Mac (featuring Christine McVie): “Over My Head” (1975, written by Christine McVie).

Linda Ronstadt: “Heart Like A Wheel” (1974, written by Anna McGarrigle).

Stay safe & well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 331

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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?

Feb 2021 Blog

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life 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.

When I remember the albums that changed my life while I was growing up, Born To Run, Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs, Elton John’s Greatest Hits & Let It Be are amongst the first ones I recall. But before I heard any of them, I was in love with another one that I did not even know existed. I only knew I was in love with songs like “I Feel The Earth Move” and “It’s Too Late” and the woman behind them when I was only a little kid. It was not until I heard today’s song that I finally sought out the album all three songs were a part of. It was Tapestry by Carole King, released 50 years ago today, Feb 10, 1971. It was not only transformative in teaching me about great music, it also taught me how talented one person-a woman-could be. She wrote & performed her own songs, arranged them and played her own accompaniment as well.

King, who was born Carol Joan Klein in NYC 79 years ago on February 9, 1942, started playing piano as a child. She learned from her mother who played as well. King met her songwriting partner & future husband, Gerry Goffin, when they were both students at Queens Community College and were married in 1959 when King was 17. Soon they became songwriters at the Brill Building & after the success of 1960’s “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” they were on their way. Ten years later King recorded her landmark album, released before she turned 30 years old. And by 1977, it had spent a record breaking 302 weeks on the Billboard albums chart.

I adore several female artists and each has her own gifts. Aretha Franklin is the undisputable Queen of Soul, Linda Ronstadt’s voice has an undeniable power & range all its own and Joni Mitchell is an eloquent poet & story teller. But King has an unbelievable gift and uniqueness that separates her from a group even that distinguished. And the songs from her 1971 album are absolutely invaluable to music. Happy birthday, Carole King. And happy anniversary to the beautiful Tapestry.

“Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely
Nothing else to do but close my mind
I sure hope the road don’t come to own me
There’s so many dreams I’ve yet to find“.

Tapestry

Carole King’s iconic 1971 album, Tapestry. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Carole King: “So Far Away” (1971, written by Carole King).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 315

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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?

Shakespeare music

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life 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.

One of country music’s most iconic & revered singers celebrated a milestone birthday last week. Dolly Parton, who was born in 1946 in TN, turned 75 years young on January 19. She has been a staple in the genre for over 50 years in a career that has seen her cross over into pop & mainstream music, acting, business ventures including her own amusement park, Dollywood, writing books and countless charity endeavors including her reading initiative, Imagination Library.

But it is her songs that she is probably most beloved for including her tale of confronting the other woman in “Jolene” to the famous theme song to the movie “9 To 5” to Whitney Houston’s chart topping rendition of “I Will Always Love You” to Parton’s work with fellow artists Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and so many others. Another of her most cherished songs, “Coat Of Many Colors” inspired TV movies based on Parton’s childhood. There is almost nothing this woman has not tried or done in the last five decades. And currently 3.9 million followers on Instagram are eagerly awaiting her next move.

I have always thought of today’s song as the female take on Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through The Night”. It is from her 1977 album Here You Come Again & tells the story of a woman looking for company on a lonely night-a hook up, if you will. For a woman in any genre of music to tackle this subject in 1977 was controversial, but for a country artist it was down right risky. Yet for Parton it was a powerful statement that not only worked, it became a #1 song for two weeks in May 1978 & was featured in the 1979 film, “Norma Rae”. It is also one of the best vocals of Parton’s career. Happy birthday, Dolly.

“The amber sunset glow has died
My needs are very much alive
Is it ok if I stop by
It’s all wrong, but it’s all right“.

Dolly circa 2010

Dolly Parton circa 2010. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dolly Parton: “It’s All Wrong But It’s All Right” (1977, written by Dolly Parton).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 214

Posted in Music by

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?

Thoreau quote 2

(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.

Throughout her career Linda Ronstadt sang many songs originally recorded by other artists like Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou”, Chuck Berry’s “Back In The USA” and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ “Ooo Baby Baby”, amongst others. But she also worked with unknown songwriters and helped establish their careers through her interpretations of their tunes. One of the composers she collaborated often with is Eric Kaz. He co-wrote several of her songs including “Love Has No Pride” (Day 15), “I Won’t Be Hangin Round”, “Sorrow Lives Here” & today’s track. His music has also been recorded by country superstars George Strait and Alison Krauss, former Eagle Randy Meisner and Bonnie Raitt, to name a few. Today’s song is the title track from Ronstadt’s 1989 album and I think it is one of her best.

“Life isn’t easy
Love never lasts
You just carry on
And keep moving fast“.

Eric Kaz

Linda

Top: Songwriter Eric Kaz. Bottom: Linda Ronstadt. Both pictures circa 1975. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Linda Ronstadt: “Cry Like A Rainstorm” (1989, written by Eric Kaz).

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

Stay well.