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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

One of my favorite movies is celebrating its 40th anniversary. “The Big Chill” opened on September 9, 1983 with a fabulous cast and a soundtrack to match. A group of college friends who have become lost in their own worlds reunite when one of their own dies (the deceased friend was played by Kevin Costner, but his scenes were deleted). Coming to terms with who they have become in relation to who they were in their idealized younger days is explored in their weekend together after the funeral. The first of today’s three featured songs was just one of the incredible tracks used in the movie. It was originally released 56 years ago in 1967 by The Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

A promotional photo from 1983’s “The Big Chill”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Another event from 1967 was The Doors one & only appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in September of that year. After that show they were banned from ever appearing on it again because they refused to alter the lyrics of one of their songs. A producer asked the group to change the line, “Girl, we couldn’t get much higher” from “Light My Fire” as the powers that be at the show felt the line was a drug reference not appropriate for a family friendly show like Sullivan’s. Keyboard player Ray Manzarek agreed to the change, but once the group was alone they all decided to perform it as written. And they did. Rock & Roll rebellion at its finest, including a beautiful front man with swagger for d-a-y-s.

A black & white view and a color picture of The Doors onstage at “The Ed Sullivan Show” in September 1967 (l-r: John Densmore (drums), Robby Krieger (guitar), Jim Morrison (vocals) and Ray Manzarek (keyboards). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Jim Croce died at the age of 30 in a plane crash on September 20, 1973. I have written before that I do not normally like to observe the day a musician dies, but this year also marked what would have been Croce’s 80th birthday. He was born on January 10, 1943 in South Philadelphia, PA. He started singing while he was a student at Villanova University. By 1972 he was all over the radio with four hits from his third album, You Don’t Mess Around With Jim: “Time In A Bottle”, “Photographs and Memories”, the title track & the third of today’s songs.

In July 1973 Croce celebrated the first #1 record of his career when “Bad Bad Leroy Brown” hit the top of the chart (“Time In A Bottle” also hit #1 that year, three months after his death). Croce was an incredible storyteller, sharing tales of his own life and the observations he made of others. One listen to any of his songs, especially the one I chose from him today, is proof of that. It is also worth noting that the other musician in the video-Croce’s one man band, guitarist, singer & songwriter Maury Muehleisen-died in the same plane crash at age 24.

Jim Croce (L) and Maury Muehleisen (R) in 1973. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Aretha Franklin: “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” (1967, written by Gerry Goffin, Carole King and Jerry Wexler).

The Doors: “People Are Strange” (Performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” from September 17, 1967. Released the same year and written by The Doors: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison).

Jim Croce: “Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels)” (1972, written by Jim Croce).

Stay safe & well.