Tag Archives: Pete Yorn

Music Monday: July 29, 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.)

Another big loss in music for 2024. Singer Abdul “Duke” Fakir died on July 22 at age 88. He was the last surviving member of The Four Tops, one of Motown’s premier vocal groups. The four original members were together for 44 years without any personnel changes, a feat nearly unheard of in the music industry. On top of their success with Motor City material, the Tops also covered songs from outside of that genre including “If I Were A Carpenter” and “Walk Away Renee”, a cherished favorite of mine. They were also the only Motown group to perform at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia in 1985. It is indeed the end of a beautiful era of music.

Abdul
Four Tops

Top: Abdul “Duke” Fakir in 2009 at the 51st Grammy Awards ceremony where The Four Tops received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Bottom: The group circa 1968 (L-R): Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Levi Stubbs, Fakir and Lawrence Payton. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Happy birthday to singer/songwriter Pete Yorn who just celebrated his 50th. Born July 27, 1974 in New Jersey, he first rose to fame in 2001 with his incredible debut, musicforthemorningafter. Ten more studio albums followed along with several live ones and EPs. He has also covered a few songs by that other guy from Jersey, Bruce Springsteen: “Dancing In The Dark” and “New York City Serenade”. Yorn’s take on the Albert Hammond 1972 classic, “It Never Rains In California”, was featured in the 2003 movie, “Stuck On You”. Yorn just announced his new record, The Hard Way, will be released next month.

Pete

Pete Yorn circa 2022. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I just rewatched “After Life” for the 900th time since it ended in 2022. The incredibly beautiful series, written & directed by my spirit animal, Ricky Gervais, affected me in a way no other series ever has. That is saying something given the fact that TV has been a lifelong constant of mine. The series was spectacularly real, heartbreaking, funny, brave and unbelievably eloquent. And the music chosen for each episode was absolute perfection.

A song featured in S2 E2 was one I had never heard before and the sheer beauty of it hit me to my core. It was written by one of my favorite songwriters, the American treasure known as Jimmy Webb. His longtime friend & musical collaborator, Glen Campbell, recorded it first for his 1988 album, Light Years.  Then he recorded it with Webb the same year for a Canadian TV show but it was not released until 2012 on Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb: In Session.  Webb recorded it himself for his 1996 album,  Ten Easy Pieces, and it is this version that was featured in the show. I never thought I could love Webb more after the elegance of “Wichita Lineman” but I was wrong.

Jimmy

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Four Tops: “7 Rooms Of Gloom” ( 1967, written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland).

Pete Yorn: “Lose You” (2001, written by Pete Yorn).

Jimmy Webb: “If These Walls Could Speak” (1996, written by Jimmy Webb).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: June 12, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I am woefully behind in streaming many shows and movies, so much so that I will probably never catch up. That has a lot to do with me rewatching the shows I absolutely adore. So really I am OK with waiting to find new ones. Until I stumble upon one that envelops every part of me. Then I am all in.

When I was watching “Veep” during its seven year run (2012-2019), one of the recurring guests I really enjoyed was Hugh Laurie as Senator Tom James. I remember him as Rachel’s airplane seat neighbor on an episode of “Friends” (he broke the news to her that she & Ross were indeed on a break LOL!). I also saw him a lot during several award seasons for his many nominations for his role as the title character in “House” (for which he won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series in 2006 & 2007). But I kept putting off that series. Until now.

It is exactly how every one described-hilarious, sad, touching, quirky, smart, insightful and relatable in more ways than one. And despite the fact that Dr. House acts very much like an adult Eric Cartman most of the time, the doctor’s brilliant diagnostic skills are unmatched by any other medical specialist who might be in a 9,000 mile radius. I fell into the series in the middle when I watched a S5 episode with a friend who told me I was starting with the darkest episode of the series. No spoilers for anyone who has not seen it yet (even though it was broadcast from 2004-2012, but then I was deeply invested in the ABC series, “Lost”). And Laurie is also a musician who plays the piano, guitar and harmonica in the series. How could I not like that?

Like many shows “House” features great acting, great writing, great storytelling and great music. And the episode I started with featured today’s song which fit the arc perfectly. The singer happens to be another guy from New Jersey I am quite fond of, Pete Yorn. His acoustic cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark” made me a fan for life, not to mention so many of Yorn’s original tracks like today’s pick. It is from his incredibly wonderful 2001 debut album, musicforthemorningafter. Every time my intense love of music aligns with my passion for a great series, all is right in my world.

“Stop before you fall into the
Hole that I have dug here
Rest even as you are starting
To feel the way I used to”.

Hugh 1A

Yorn

Top: Hugh Laurie as Dr. House. Bottom: Pete Yorn’s 2001 debut album. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Pete Yorn: “Lose You” (2001, written by Pete Yorn).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: February 13, 2023

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

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

There have been many losses in the music world lately but this one is almost too much to bear. Burt Bacharach died on February 8, 2023 at the age of 94. And saying farewell to this absolute genius is hitting me incredibly hard.

Yes, he lived a very long unbelievably rich life where he established himself as one of the premier songwriters the world ever gave us. I discovered the ravishing music he wrote through his stunning collaborations with his equally talented lyricist, Hal David. The first time I heard “One Less Bell To Answer” I knew I had stumbled upon something glorious. And it only got better from there.

But any time I hear any one of their songs, I always come back to the first one. And any time a song transports me back to the innocent days of my childhood, when my world was beautiful, complete and whole, then I am reminded that for a little while, all was right in my universe. Nothing illustrated that point better than the soundtrack of that moment. And Bacharach was a significant contributor to mine.

I know I am not alone in my feelings. Tributes to this man are everywhere. Another one of my early musical loves, Michael McDonald, shared this on his Facebook page: “It’s hard to quantify the importance much less the beauty and pure joy of the musical legacy of Burt Bacharach. It will live on in the hearts of all of us who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s, and no doubt, inspire this world with “Love Sweet Love” for generations to come”.

Pete Yorn shared this on on Twitter: “Burt hits home. Even though he had a great run, long life, so much music, his sound just reminds me of being a kid/driving around with my parents, and of that moment in time, of their time, brings it all up”.

And one of Bacharach’s friends, not to mention another musical legend, Herb Alpert, shared this on Instagram: “Burt was a dear friend, who was a humble creative giant with a big heart”.

In a post I wrote back in 2020 I described that when I first heard today’s Bacharach & David song, I absolutely swooned.  The singer is not one of my favorites but her work with this extraordinary writing team was a powerful force in the 1960’s.  Her voice is so soft and pretty, and delivers a great vocal to a gorgeous arrangement.  It is the best of what a sad love song should be:  succinct, poignant, evocative and leaving you begging for one more note.  I love so many Bacharach & David compositions (“Anyone Who Had A Heart”, “This Guy’s In Love With You”, “A House Is Not A Home” “The Look Of Love” to name a few) but this one I adore. I also love the sultry version of this track by Mr. Soul himself, Isaac Hayes.

Farewell, Mr. Bacharach. Artist. Maestro. Genius.

Top: Hal David, Dionne Warwick & Burt Bacharach circa 1964. Bottom: Bacharach circa 1972. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dionne Warwick: “Walk On By” (1964, written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David).

Isaac Hayes: “Walk On By” (1969, written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: March 21, 2022

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

Music Monday

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

We all have songs that take us back to some of the best memories of our lives. Moments when we were truly complete & happy. When for a short time a million years ago we had a real life, a whole life, a beautiful life. Those memories may sometimes feel like a dream that could not have possibly happened. But it did. And the songs we remember from those times bear witness to those memories & remain a testament to that period of time. Today’s song is one of my most beloved rides back to my Camelot.

The track is from 1972 but more than 30 years later I heard a fabulous cover of it in the 2003 movie, “Stuck On You”. That version introduced me to a musician I was thrilled to discover, Pete Yorn. But even his extraordinary take on this song cannot match the emotional comfort I get from the original, even all these years later.

“Got on board a westbound 747
Didn’t think before deciding what to do
Oh, that talk of opportunities, TV breaks and movies
Rang true, sure rang true“.

Albert Hammond 1972

albert-hammond-new

Top: Albert Hammond circa 1972. Bottom: Hammond circa 2015. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Albert Hammond: “It Never Rains In Southern California” (1972, written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood).

Stay safe & well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 396

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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?

May 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.

One of my favorite movies of all time is “Breakfast at Tiffany’s“. I loved everything about it-the era it took place in, the beautiful city it was set in and, of course, Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly. Her facial & verbal expressions, her wardrobe, her apartment…..it was all fabulousness defined. And how many times have we all wanted to run away & start our lives over again some place new, but she actually did it! Yes, it caught up with her but still, she did it!!!

I also loved the sweet look on the face of her neighbor, Paul (George Peppard) as he watched Holly playing guitar & singing from his apartment window. The lyrics of that song were written by Johnny Mercer & the music was by premier film composer Enrico Nicola Mancini, known professionally as Henry Mancini. It earned him the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1962. Born on April 16, 1924 in Ohio, he also wrote the theme to several movies including “The Pink Panther” series. His arrangement of the “Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet” (a/k/a “A Time For Us”) spent two weeks at #1 in the summer of 1969. Mancini also wrote the themes to a number of television shows including “Peter Gunn”, “Newhart”, “Hotel” & Remington Steele”.

Some of my favorite artists have performed their own exceptional renditions of today’s song including Rod Stewart, Pete Yorn, and my great musical loves Elton John and Eric Clapton (with Jeff Beck). But as much as I love those, it is the movie version I come back to whenever I need to relive the beauty & the magic of the film all over again.

“Two drifters off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end
Waitin’ ’round the bend“.

Breakfast-at-Tiffanys

George Peppard and Audrey Hepburn in a scene from 1961’s classic, “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Audrey Hepburn: “Moon River” (1961, music written by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer).

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 344

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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.

On February 26, 1985 my great musical love & New Jersey’s favorite rocker Bruce Springsteen won his first Grammy Award for Best Male Vocal Performance for the original recording of today’s song. It was the first single from his ginormous 1984 album, Born In The USA.. The title track was misinterpreted as an American anthem when in reality it was a protest song about what happened to the men & women when they returned home after their service in the Vietnam War. The video for the track made it appear like a song of US pride as well. The Boss was decked out in red (bandana), white (t-shirt) & blue (jean jacket) while he pumped his fist in the air each time he sang the chorus.

The dark message of today’s original track was also disguised by the video. The fast tempo song, performed on a stage with a slick set design and Springsteen’s dance moves with a pre-“Friends” Courtney Cox, looked like nothing but pure fun. In reality the song was a bleak tale of self-loathing where the singer wanted to change everything about himself & his surroundings and basically run away from who he thought he was. He felt there was something more to life, yet did not know of a way to start the change. But it was a hit record anyway and one of the highlights of Springsteen’s live shows to this day as he still invites someone on stage to dance with him during the coda.

Another very talented singer & songwriter from New Jersey, Pete Yorn, was not a fan of Springsteen’s or his 1984 release because he was bothered by the popularity of the album & because he was into metal music at that time. But years later a friend suggested that Yorn listen to “New York City Serenade” from Springsteen’s second album, The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle. Yorn was instantly entranced, became a fan of The Boss’ music and eventually recorded his own version of that tune.

Yorn also recorded a cover of today’s song as a stripped down acoustic track. It was an excellent choice and adding a harmonica was inspired. Springsteen has reworked many of the tracks from Born In The USA in concert over the years and today’s song sounds like his touch which is a huge compliment to Yorn’s skill & talent. The slower tempo of his version gives the song a pensive tone which helps to underscore the dismal feeling of the lyrics. In doing so Yorn turned his cover of today’s track into one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful songs I ever heard, let alone a Springsteen cover.

Yorn has a really nice voice-evocative, steady and strong but not too overpowering as to drown out the message of the lyrics. What he has done with today’s song by highlighting those words gives it new significance, one that means more to me at this stage of my life than the original does. It is by far the best Springsteen cover I have ever heard.

“The situation’s getting clearer, radio’s on and I’m moving around my place
Check my look in the mirror, wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain’t getting nowhere, just living in a dump like this
There’s something happening somewhere, baby I just know that there is“.

Bruce Courtney

Pete Yorn

Top: Courtney Cox (L) dances with The Boss (R) in the 1984 video for “Dancing In The Dark”. Bottom: Pete Yorn circa 2018. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Pete Yorn: “Dancing In The Dark” (2001, written by Bruce Springsteen).

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 223

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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?

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.

There are songs from my childhood that have followed me my entire life. I may have lost track of them occasionally along the way but then they always find me and usually at the most unexpected times. I remember watching the 2003 movie, “Stuck On You” (Greg Kinnear was a RIOT!!!) and hearing the melody of today’s song. Immediately my memory started humming along with it and suddenly I was singing the chorus. The supreme version in the movie was by the sorely underrated musician Pete Yorn. The original was by Albert Hammond. (His son, Albert Hammond Jr., is the guitarist for The Strokes).

Today’s track may be what Hammond is best known for as a singer & songwriter but he also co-wrote other big hits including “The Air That I Breathe” by The Hollies (1974), “When I Need You” by Leo Sayer (1977), “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before” by Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias (1984), “One Moment In Time” by Whitney Houston (1988) and over a dozen others. Hammond is also credited as a co-writer for the song “Creep” by Radiohead (1992) because the band admitted they based that song on “The Air That I Breathe”. But no matter how many other tunes Hammond has helped create, it is today’s song, released October 21, 1972, that I will cherish forever. Swoon.

“Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it
Had offers but didn’t know which one to take
Please don’t tell ’em how you found me
Don’t tell ’em how you found me
Gimme a break, give me a break”.

Pete-Yorn

Albert Hammond

Top: Pete Yorn circa 2000. Bottom: Albert Hammond circa 1972. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Albert Hammond: “It Never Rains In Southern California” (1972, written by Albert Hammond & Mike Hazelwood).

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

Stay well.