Tag Archives: Linus and Lucy

Music Monday: September 29, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Some of the very best friends I have ever known are celebrating an extremely big anniversary in a few days. The Peanuts comic strip debuted 75 years ago on October 2, 1950. As stated on their website, it was on that day when “Charles M. Schulz introduced a brand-new comic strip with an unlikely round-headed hero, “Good ol’ Charlie Brown.” PEANUTS was born”.

“In 2025, Peanuts Worldwide celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Charles Schulz’ beloved creation, and the whole gang of personalities who have joined the cast along the way: philosophical Linus and his crabby big sister Lucy; piano-playing Schroeder; attention-grabbing Sally; history-making Franklin; not to mention Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Pigpen (and his famous dust cloud) and more. But no one has stolen the show quite like Snoopy, the coolest beagle on the planet”.

The Peanuts are fun, comfort, wisdom, great music & pop culture defined. Thank you, Mr. Schulz, for the gift of such beautiful and relatable characters.

Top: The very first Peanuts comic strip from October 2, 1950. Middle: Charles M. Schulz circa 1967 in front of a drawing of Charlie Brown. Bottom: The stamps issued by the USPS in 2022 in honor of the 100th anniversary of Schulz’s birth anniversary. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Bobby Bloom released his self-titled debut album 55 years ago in the summer of 1970. It did not make much of an impression, staying on the charts for only three weeks & peaking at #126 by the end of the year. But the first single-a calypso style number celebrating a popular destination spot in Jamaica-fared much better, peaking at #8 in November 1970.

My first introduction to this song came when I was in elementary school. I had a very progressive gym teacher who knew that dance routines & choregraphed movements were great forms of exercise. She led us in a dance to two songs every year-the first was to the beautiful instrumental track, “Love Is Blue”, by Paul Mauriat (which I featured on Day 13 of my Lockdown Countdown). The second was Bloom’s Top Ten hit from 1970. To this day, I cherish those memories & both of these songs.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In my February 24, 2025 post, I focused on a few of the top selling songs from 50 years ago. This week I am focusing on three more of my favorite #1 songs of 1975 – Part 2.

The Doobie Brothers had their first #1 song in 1975. It was written by guitarist, vocalist & songwriter, Patrick Simmons, and was featured on their 1974 spectacularly titled album, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. His song was the B-side to the first single (“Another Park, Another Sunday”) but was not discovered by radio stations until the end of 1974. Three months later, it hit the #1 spot on March 15, 1975 for one week. The track is Simmons’ ode to the Delta Blues with a nod to New Orleans. It features an inviting a cappella section and a commanding viola arrangement. As a teenager who played that instrument in junior high & high school, it was an absolute thrill to discover that not only did one of my favorite bands use it in a song, but it was on one of their most successful tracks.

The Doobie Brothers circa 1975 (L-R): Patrick Simmons (guitar), Tiran Porter (bass), Keith Knudsen (drums), Tom Johnston (guitar) and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (guitar). (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Patti Labelle started singing in the group, The Ordettes, in the early 1960’s when she was still known as Patricia Holte. The group would change their name many times over the next decade, finally settling on LaBelle in 1971. Three years later, they signed with Epic Records and had incredible success with their soul, R&B, funk & rock infused album, Nightbirds, released in September 1974. It featured the #1 hit that reached the top spot on March 29, 1975 for one week, helping LaBelle become the first black vocal group to grace the cover of Rolling Stone for the July 3, 1975 issue. 

LaBelle on the cover of Rolling Stone’s July 3, 1975 issue (L-R: Sarah Dash, Nona Hendrix (middle, seated) and Patti LaBelle. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In 1974 Elton John wrote a song to honor his friend, tennis star & World Team Tennis MVP, Billie Jean King. That year she became the first woman to coach a professional sports team with both male & female players. The track not only became their anthem but also one for the city they played for. It was the second of EJ’s three #1 hits in 1975 (“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” & “Island Girl” were the other two).

Tennis legend Billie Jean King (L) and Elton John (R) circa 1975. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bonus: Fifty five years ago on August 22, 1970, Bread hit the #1 spot in the country with a song written & produced by David Gates. It was one of my mother’s favorite songs & it is still one of mine. I dedicate it to her today on what would have been her 86th birthday.

“Life can be short or long, love can be right or wrong”.

Vince Guaraldi Trio: “Linus And Lucy” (1964, written by Vince Guaraldi).

Bobby Bloom: “Montego Bay” (1970, written by Jeff Barry and Bobby Bloom).

The Doobie Brothers: “Black Water” (1974, written by Patrick Simmons. It hit the #1 spot on March 15, 1975 for one week).

Labelle: “Lady Marmalade” (1974, written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan. It hit the #1 spot on March 29, 1975 for one week).

Elton John: “Philadelphia Freedom” (1975, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It hit the #1 spot on April 12, 1975 for two consecutive weeks).

Bread: “Make It With You” (1970, written by David Gates).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: November 28, 2022

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

Music Monday

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I hope you all had a wonderful extended holiday weekend of eating, shopping, resting or all three. Before we get to today’s songs (yes, plural as we have another triple play) let me remind you that the Christmas Music Coundtdown begins on December 1. For each of the 25 Days of Christmas, I will feature a different holiday song. I would love to hear some of your favorite music choices for this festive season so please share them with me in the comments below.

Today we are celebrating three milestones with three songs. The first is about one of my childhood heroes. Charles M. Schulz, the absolute genius who gave us Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts Gang, was born 100 years ago on November 26, 1922. Nothing in my life was ever the same after my first glimpse of the characters Schulz created. Meeting that brilliant, warm, quirky, kind, wise, friendly, talented, and irascible group introduced me to some of the best friends I ever had.

Their holiday specials, books and the comic strip, the merchandise & the movies remain as much a part of my life now as they ever did. And it is all thanks to the man known as “Sparky” to his friends. Part of the appeal of his gang was how relatable and human they were-they had real feelings, real hopes, real wants, real needs and real fears. They were children but not childish. And they loved to have fun which translated into lots of music and dancing to grown up songs. How do you thank one man for so much?

CB and Sparky

Family Circys Schulz tribute

For Better For Worse - fb_c221126.tif

Lockhorms Schu;lz tribute

Top: Charles M. Schulz and his famous friend, Charlie Brown, circa 1965. Then three of the many cartoonists who remembered Sparky on the 100th anniversary of his birth including Bil and Jeff Keane of “Family Circus“, Lynn Johnston’s “For Better or For Worse” and Bunny Hoest and John Reiner’s “The Lockhorns“. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Twenty years later one of the most iconic films of all time was introduced to the world when Casablanca  premiered on November 26, 1942. Eight decades later, Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman’s tale of love and loss during World War II remains one of the most beloved movies of all time with a theme song no one can ever forget.

Casablanca

Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in a scene from “Casablanca:. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

That same year one of the greatest musicians to ever set an instrument on fire-both figuratively and literally-came into the world. James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix was born  November 27, 1942 in Seattle, WA. A singer, songwriter and performer best remembered as one of the premier guitarists in rock music made a name for himself with original songs but also with one of a kind covers of Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower” and our National Anthem.

According to his website, Hendrix was a member of the “Screaming Eagles” paratroop division during his serivce to the U.S. Army in the early 1960’s. By the middle of that decade, he was playing with Ike and Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, the Isley Brothers, and Little Richard before forming his own band, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. The rest is rock music history. Despite his death over 50 years ago, Hendrix is still unsurpassed in his esteem & tenure as one of the greatest of the greats.

Jimi

Jimi Hendrix circa 1967. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Vince Guaraldi Trio: “Linus And Lucy” (1964, written by Vince Guaraldi).

Frank Sinatra: “As Time Goes By” (1962, remastered in 1999, written by Herman Hupfeld).

Jimi Hendrix: “Little Wing” (1967, written by Jimi Hendrix).

Stay safe and well.

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 6

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

charlie brown with the tree

Courtesy of Lee Mendelson Film Productions / MGN 

Today we celebrate not just one song, but several from what is arguably the best Christmas special ever made.  Last night this holiday favorite aired for the 54th year in a row and yes, I was front and center.  It leaves me all warm and cuddly inside while hitting all the points of the season:  good will towards men, non-commercialism, listening to special holiday music with people you care about, choosing to decorate (and celebrate, for that matter) in a way that makes you happy, even if that way is not the conventional approach, knowing that anything is beautiful with a little love and the core religious aspect of what Christmas is all about.  Plus it stars some of my best friends in the universe, the Peanuts.

Linus speech

Courtesy of Lee Mendelson Productions / MGN 

Based on the successful comic strip started in 1950, the animated holiday special was commissioned and sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company which obviously knew a good thing when they saw it.  It was the first TV appearance for the Peanuts characters and catapulted them and their creator from a mere phenomenon to super stardom.  Merchandise of all kinds was created and it was not just limited to toys.  Other items like cookie jars, home decor & accessories, watches, clothing, greeting cards, lunch boxes, Pez dispensers, banks, etc. were also marketed.  You name it, it is out there.  And today it is still a billion dollar industry that all began with this special from 1965.  Not to mention its incredible unforgettable grown-up soundtrack that critic Shawn M. Haney wrote ” “introduce[d] contemporary jazz to youngsters with grace, charm, and creativity.”  If this were the only Christmas album I could listen to for the rest of my life, I would be perfectly fine with that (but please don’t tell Bruce Springsteen!!!).

Peanuts Christmas

Other Peanuts TV specials followed, as did movies, including a 3-D one in 2015.  And the comic strip also continued for the next 35 years.  Sadly it came to an end in February 2000 when its glorious creator was forced to retire due to his failing health.  He died the day after the last strip was published.  His official cause of death was cancer.  Unofficially, I think it was due to a broken heart.  We all knew from the last words of that final strip how much it hurt to say goodbye to the characters he created who became our beloved friends.  His words were ones we could all identify with:

“Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy…..how can I ever forget them?”

Thanks to “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, none of us ever have to.  But how do we ever thank you, Charles M. Schulz, for the gift of our dear sweet cherished Peanuts?

Peanuts Album.jpg

“Christmas Is Coming” (1965, instrumental by The Vince Guaraldi Trio, written by Vince Guaraldi in 1965).

“Christmas Time Is Here” (1965, vocal version by choristers from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Rafael, California, written by Lee Mendelson & Vince Guaraldi in 1965).

“Christmas Time Is Here” (1965, instrumental version by The Vince Guaraldi Trio, written by Lee Mendelson & Vince Guaraldi in 1965).

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (1965, vocal by choristers from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in San Rafael, California, based on a 1739 Christmas carol with various writers including Charles Wesley and George Whitefield).

“Linus and Lucy” (1965, instrumental by The Vince Guaraldi Trio, written by Vince Guaraldi in 1965).

“O Tannenbaum” (1965, instrumental by The Vince Guaraldi Trio, written by Vince Guaraldi in 1965).

“Skating” (1965, instrumental by The Vince Guaraldi Trio, written by Ernst Anschutz in 1824).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  🙂

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!