Tag Archives: Paul McCartney

Music Monday: August 11, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It was 60 years ago today that The Beatles’ second film, Help, was released in the U.S. on August 11, 1965. Categorized as a comedy adventure where the group is running from a cult trying to get their hands on a piece of jewelry stuck on Ringo’s finger, it also provided fans with an accompanying album which debuted a week earlier.

A second film for the group was no surprise as it followed their landmark career altering arrival in America in February 1964 which prompted the release of their first film, A Hard Day’s Night, on August 12, 1964.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

As successful as a new movie & album were for the band, there was an even bigger milestone on the horizon for The Fab Four that year. This Friday marks the 60th anniversary of their historic concert at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York. At that time it was home to baseball’s NY Mets & football’s NY Jets, but on Sunday, August 15, 1965 the Beatles used it to become the first band to ever play a stadium concert. The music was inaudible over the screams of the majority of young girls in the audience of 55,600 attendees, but the band played their 12 song set anyway as follows:

  • “Twist & Shout”
  • “She’s A Woman”
  • “I Feel Fine”
  • “Dizzy Miss Lizzy”
  • “Ticket To Ride”
  • “Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby”
  • “Can’t Buy Me Love”
  • “Baby’s In Black”
  • “Act Naturally”
  • “A Hard Day’s Night”
  • “Help”
  • “I’m Down”

The BBC made a 50 minute movie of the concert which was first broadcast in 1966, the same year The Beatles returned to Shea for another show which took place on August 23, 1966 as part of their final tour. The stadium was demolished in 2009 with Bill Joel holding the last concerts there a year earlier. Dubbed “The Last Play At Shea”, he welcomed several special guests to bid farewell to the place where The Beatles made history, including Sir Paul McCartney. He & Joel closed the final show with a performance of “Let It Be”.

It was also McCartney that played the first three inaugural concerts in July 2009 at the new stadium, Citi Field, which is located a few blocks from where Shea once stood. He included a song from the 1965 concert playlist, “I’m Down” and it can be heard on the live album set, Good Evening New York City, which McCartney released in November 2009.

In April of that year, Citi Field became the new home for the NY Mets. According to ESPN, the team will pay tribute to the historic Shea concert anniversary before their scheduled home game against the Seattle Mariners this Friday night.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last week we said goodbye to American hero James Arthur Lovell Jr. The astronaut, test pilot, naval aviator and mechanical engineer died on August 7, 2025 in Lake Forest, Illinois at age 97. In 1968, he & two other men-Frank Borman (March 14, 1928 – November 7, 2023) and William Anders (October 17, 1933 – June 7, 2024)-became the first three astronauts to orbit the moon during the Apollo 8 mission. Then in 1970, Lovell commanded Apollo 13 and brought it back to Earth safely after an oxygen tank exploded in the service module 48 hours into the flight. Ron Howard’s film based on that mission was released 30 years ago on June 30, 1995 starring Tom Hanks as Lovell.

He was born March 25, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison before graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952. A decade later, he was selected as an astronaut by NASA which issued this statement after his passing:

“We are saddened by the passing of Jim Lovell, commander of Apollo 13 and a four-time spaceflight veteran,” the space agency said. “Lovell’s life and work inspired millions. His courage under pressure helped forge our path to the Moon and beyond—a journey that continues today.”

Lovell and his wife, Marilyn Gerlach, were married 71 years before her death two years ago on August 27, 2023. The couple had four children.

James Arthur Lovell Jr.: March 25, 1928 – August 7, 2025.

Jim Lovell in 1969 (top) and circa 2015 (bottom). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Beatles: “Help” (1965, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” (1965, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “I’ve Just Seen A Face” (1965, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “I Feel Fine” (1964, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “Ticket To Ride” (1965, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “I’m Down” (1965, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Elton John: “Rocket Man” (1972, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: July 7, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today we celebrate birthday #85 for Sir Richard Starkey, better known by his professional name, Ringo Starr. He was born on July 7, 1940 in the place he & his three bandmates put on the map-Liverpool, England.

He joined The Beatles in 1962 & proved to be the missing piece that elevated the group from a quartet to a super band. During their eight years together, they released a string of revolutionary albums that altered the course of music history & pop culture in a decade that moved faster than any other before or since. Starr was known as “The Funny One” to the public and the peacemaker in the band. Today he continues to spread the message of peace & love, especially every year on his birthday when he asks the public to pause at noon in their time zone to think exclusively about those two things.

Top: The Beatles circa 1965 (L-R): John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Bottom: The band four years later in 1969 (L-R): Lennon, Harrison, McCartney and Starr. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

After The Beatles broke up in 1970, Starr continued making music and collaborating with other artists including all three of his old bandmates along with Billy Preston, Steve Cropper, Merry Clayton, Brian Wilson and many others.

In 1989 the former Beatle formed Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, a revolving group of musicians who previously included such esteemed members as Clarence Clemons, Nils Lofgren, Rick Danko, Levon Helm and Todd Rundgren, to name a few. The current band just announced several U.S. concert dates for this fall.

Starr also tried his hand at acting and while that might not have been the most successful chapter of his career (not counting his wonderful turn as The Conductor in the “Thomas & Friends” children’s series), that foray did lead to his second marriage to actress & model Barbara Bach in 1981. They met on the set of the movie released the same year, “Caveman”.

Prior to that he was married to Maureen (nee Cox) Starkey from 1965-1975. Together they had three children: sons Zak (b 1965) and Jason (b 1967) and daughter Lee Parkin Starkey (b 1970). Starr is also stepfather to Bach’s two children, Francesca Gregorini (b 1968) and Gianni Gregorini (b 1972).

Happy birthday, Ringo! Peace & love to you always. Thank you for everything.

Top: Starr in 1964. Second: The musician circa 1969. Third: In concert in Wantagh, NY in 2012 (photo by me). Bottom: A recent picture of Starr from his website. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown except where noted.)

The Beatles: “I Wanna Be Your Man” (1964 (U.S. release), written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “With A Little Help From My Friends” (1967, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “Don’t Pass Me By” (1968, written by Richard Starkey).

Ringo Starr: “It Don’t Come Easy” (1971, written by Richard Starkey).

Ringo Starr: “Photograph” (1973, written by George Harrison and Richard Starkey).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: April 7, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Beatles had the top selling song in the country 55 years ago. The title track from their final studio release, Let It Be, reached #1 on April 11, 1970 for two consecutive weeks.

The album-which debuted a month later on May 8, 1970-also reached the top spot in the U.S. for a month later that year (June 13 – July 10), knocking Paul McCartney’s self titled solo debut from the #1 spot after its three week hold in that position. The release of his own record on April 17, 1970 came one week after he officially announced he was leaving The Beatles, marking the end of what was arguably considered to be the greatest musical group the world had ever seen. Luckily the year ended with the release of another post Beatles solo record: George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass. The first single, “My Sweet Lord” reached the #1 spot on December 26, 1970.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Beatles never officially finished Let It Be, however. The final mixing was done by American music producer Phil Spector who took what was known as the “Get Back” tapes and turned it into the band’s last collaborative effort. It produced another top selling song, “The Long & Winding Road”, which hit #1 on June 13, 1970 for two consecutive weeks. Incidentally, an earlier rendition of “Get Back”-credited as The Beatles with Billy Preston (the keyboard extraordinaire who played on the song with them) was released as a single a year earlier and reached the top spot in May 1969 for five consecutive weeks.

A film under the same title as the album, directed by Sir Michael Edward Lindsay-Hogg, was released on May 13, 1970. Most of it features The Beatles in the studio rehearsing the Let It Be songs at the beginning of 1969 and ends with the rooftop concert the band performed on January 30, 1969.

The Beatles performing on the roof of the Apple building in January 1969 (L-R): Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison. . (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Many years later, that film became my first real introduction to the band. It was running on a loop on cable during the summer before I started junior high and I watched it every chance I got. I bought the album, read every book I could get my hands on about the group and started my life long obsession with their music.

Despite their official breakup in 1970, there would be a number of Beatles releases after that including Let It Be… Naked, released in 2003. It stripped the Wall Of Sound effects Phil Spector had added so the new album just featured the music we heard all throughout the movie. And 55 years later, both are still testaments to the magic of The Beatles.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Beatles: “Two Of Us” (1970, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “I Me Mine” (1970, written by George Harrison).

The Beatles: “The Long And Winding Road” (1970, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “Let It Be ” (Naked version, remastered in 2013, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Stay safe & well.

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.

Music Monday: February 3, 2025

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

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This month marks 61 years since The Beatles arrived in America-on February 7, 1964-and changed music, Sunday nights & pop culture forever with their first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show”-on February 9, 1964.

Here is the post I wrote about this epic event on the 55th anniversary in February 2019:

February 9, 1964.  One night.  One show.  One band.  And the rest, as they say, was history.

Ed Sullivan with The Fab Four on February 9, 1964. (Photo courtesy of CBS. Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Beatles on February 9, 1964. (Photo courtesy of CBS. Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

There isn’t anything to add to this moment in history.  It was perfect.  And it changed music and subsequently the world forever.  Thank you, Mr. Sullivan, for introducing us to John, Paul, George & Ringo.  For all they gave us, for all those they inspired and all those that came after them.  This was the moment that started it all.

The performance of this song does not get as much recognition as the other songs they sang that night, but it was during this number that each of the Beatles were identified by their first name.

The Beatles:  “Till There Was You” (1963, written by Meredith Willson).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: August 12, 2024

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

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Robert Palmer would have celebrated birthday #75 this year. Born January 19, 1949 in England, the incredibly gifted soul singer who oozed suave sophistication and elegance in his bespoke suits, honed his craft listening to blues, jazz and soul music while living in Malta during his father’s service in the British Naval Intelligence Division.

After his tenure in the jazz-rock fusion band, Dada, Palmer was signed as a solo act for Island Records in 1974. His early hits included 1979’s “Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)” and 1980’s “Looking For Clues”. In 1984 he joined forces with drummer Tony Thompson of Chic, guitarist Andy Taylor and bassist John Taylor-the brothers from Duran Duran-to form the supergroup, The Power Station. The quartet’s self-titled debut album was released nearly 40 years ago in March 1985 and peaked at #6 a month later on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

That record set the stage for Palmer’s solo breakthrough with his album, Riptide, released in November 1985. It peaked at #8 on the US Billboard 200 chart in May 1986, the same month he hit #1 with “Addicted To Love” (also made memorable thanks to its striking video featuring an all girl rock band). He also had a #2 hit with “I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On” in November of the same year. In June 1988 he released the album, Heavy Nova, which produced another #2 hit with “Simply Irresistible” in September 1988. Palmer died of a heart attack in September 2003 at the very young age of 54.

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RP
Robert-Palmer

Top: The Power Station circa 1985 (L-R): Tony Thompson, John Taylor, Robert Palmer and Andy Taylor. Middle: Palmer & his all girl band from the “Addicted To Love” video. Bottom: Palmer circa 1990. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

On August 12, 1964 The Beatles first movie was released in the United States. “A Hard Day’s Night”, which opened in the U.K. a month earlier, introduced us to more of their incredible music, capitalized on their enormous popularity and showcased the comedic side to The Fab Four. And it was hilarious.

The U.K. soundtrack album was released at the same time the movie opened there, but the U.S. soundtrack was released in June 1964. It featured a different cover picture and several different song selections than the U.K. version, most notably instrumental versions of “I Should Have Known Better”, “And I Love Her”, “Ringo’s Theme (This Boy)” and the title track.

US Hard Days Night
HardDayUK
Movie poster

Top: The U.S. soundtrack album for the movie along with the UK version (middle). Bottom: The movie poster. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Robert Palmer: “Every Kind Of People” (1978, written by Andy Fraser).

The Power Station: “Some Like It Hot” (1985, written by Robert Palmer, Andy Taylor and John Taylor).

The Beatles: “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: July 8, 2024

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

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

A Hard Day’s Night, the first movie by The Beatles, opened in the United Kingdom 60 years ago on July 6, 1964. It premiered in the United States a month later. With Beatlemania in full swing, the film was a huge success and turned the band into megastars. It also showcased their comical sides, brought out their personalities and let the audience see them as individuals as well as a collective group of musicians.

This anniversary coincided with Ringo Starr’s 84th birthday on July 7. The movie was the perfect way for the fans to finally hear from the man behind the drums. We saw his affable charm and his naturally funny demeanor highlighted by his wry wit. It helped earn him the moniker “The Funny Beatle” and his own theme in the movie.

It was an instrumental version of a Lennon & McCartney tune that was originally released by The Fab Four in 1963. Their producer, Sir George Martin, arranged the movie track which featured musician Vic Flick on guitar. His expertise was previously showcased on the James Bond Theme song, written by Monty Norman, which was heard first in 1962’s Dr. No movie.

Beatles
Ringo 1964
Ringo

Top: The movie poster for “A Hard Day’s Night”. Middle: Ringo Starr circa 1964. Bottom: Starr circa 2010. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Beatles: “This Boy” (1963, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The George Martin Orchestra: “Ringo’s Theme” (1964. Arranged by George Martin, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: March 25, 2024

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

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Lately I have been drowning myself in John Lennon’s songs from his years with The Beatles. With each album he became more and more eloquent about what was on his mind. And it was deep, beautiful & thought-provoking. Sometimes I think today’s pick from The White Album does not get enough recognition for being the exceptional track it is. And the message it sends is an uplifting one delivered in Lennon’s succinct yet effective manner. What a way to make the listener feel nothing but love and acceptance. Thank you, John.

“The sun is up
The sky is blue
It’s beautiful
And so are you“.

Version 1.0.0

The Fab Four’s extra gift to fans who bought The White Album-individual pictures of the band (L-R): George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Beatles: “Dear Prudence” (1968, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: February 5, 2024

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

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This week marks 60 glorious years of The Beatles taking America by storm. The band from Liverpool released two albums in the UK in 1963-Please Please Me in March and With The Beatles in November. Building on that momentum, the group then released two records in the United States, Introducing… The Beatles and Meet The Beatles, within two weeks of each other in January 1964. That helped add to the excitement and anticipation of the band’s first trip to America which brought them to New York’s JFK Airport on February 7, 1964.

The-Beatles-Feb 7 1964
The Beatles 2

Top: The Beatles at JFK Airport on February 7, 1964. Bottom: Their first press conference later that day. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Two days later, February 9, 1964, The Fab Four appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” for the first time where they performed a total of five songs to 73 million fans and their parents watching at home. About four seconds into the first track, the world changed into a new color known as John, Paul, George and Ringo. It was-and remains-an extraordinarily beautiful hue.

The band made a total of three appearances on Sullivan’s show that month, but that first show 60 years ago signified the pop culture phenomenon known as Beatlemania. They took the country from the darkness of the Kennedy assassination less than three months earlier and catapulted it into a musical and cultural movement known as The British Invasion.  

Beatles Ed Sullivan 1
Beatles Ed Sullivan 2

Top and bottom: The Beatles first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Sunday, February 9, 1964. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The band changed our lives, their lives and history during an incredible ride that ended when they broke up in April 1970. But for 6 magical years, we watched those four men teach us all the power of love, music, life and peace. And their songs continue that legacy today. 

Let’s relive the magic of February 9, 1964 with the five songs the Beatles performed that night:

The Beatles: ”All My Loving” (1963, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney). 

The Beatles: ”Till There Was You” (1963, written by Meredith Wilson).

The Beatles: ”She Loves You” (1963, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: ”I Saw Her Standing There” (1963, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: ”I Want To Hold Your Hand” (Performed live on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on Sunday, February 9, 1964. Recorded in 1963, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: July 24, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last Friday we lost the man arguably considered to be the greatest crooner who ever was. And yes, even the Chairman Of The Board-Frank Sinatra-called Tony Bennett “the best singer in the business”. Anthony Dominick Benedetto died July 21, 2023 at the age of 96. A native New Yorker born in Astoria, Queens on August 3, 1926, Bennett was probably the greatest champion for the Great American Songbook and many of the most iconic jazz tunes in history. He sang & recorded with everyone from Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Armstrong, Count Basie, Paul McCartney, Elton John, James Taylor, Diana Krall, k.d. lang, Bono and countless others. Bennett’s death closes out one of the longest, most prolific, most important & most beautiful chapters of American music we will ever see again. Thank you, Tony, for every single note.

Tony

Tony Bennett circa 1950. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The woman Bennett considered the greatest singer he ever heard held her last U.S. concert 55 years ago on July 20, 1968. Judy Garland headlined the show, held at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which also featured Count Basie and Jackie Wilson. She performed about 20 songs, leaving everyone in attendance clamoring for more.

Judy

Judy Garland circa 1947. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This month also marks the 75th birthday for Yusuf Islam f/k/a Cat Stevens. Born Steven Demetre Georgiou on July 21, 1948 in London, England, he began his professional musical career in 1967 with the release of his debut album, Matthew and Son. Aside from a 17 year respite between 1978 and 1995 while he devoted himself to religion and his family, Islam’s career spans over five decades. He remains one of the most beloved and inspirational artists of the 1970’s.

Yusuf Cat Stevens HOF

Yusuf Islam in 2014 at his Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in Brooklyn, NY (picture by me).

Tony Bennett: “When Will The Bells Ring For Me” (1990, written by Charles DeForest).

Judy Garland: “Over The Rainbow” (1939, written by Harold Arlen and Edgar Yipsel “Yip” Harburg).

Yusuf Islam f/k/a Cat Stevens: “Trouble” (1970, written by Cat Stevens n/k/a Yusuf Islam).

Stay safe and well.