Tag Archives: Phil Everly

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.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 525

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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?

Aug 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.

This weekend we lost a pioneer in two musical genres. Isaac Donald “Don” Everly died August 21 at the age of 84. Born February 1, 1937 in Kentucky he and his younger brother, Phil (January 19, 1939 – January 3, 2014), were a trailblazing duo in both country music & the birth of the rock & roll era who used harmonizing vocals to create their signature sound. Don sang lead and Phil provided the harmony.

The two men started singing with their parents on their father’s radio show on KMA in Iowa in the 1940’s as The Everly Family. They moved to TN in the early 1950’s where the brothers pursued music full time once Don graduated from high school in 1955. They were soon discovered by guitarist Chet Atkins who helped introduce them to Acuff Rose publishers & the songwriting team of Boudleaux Bryant.

They wrote the brothers’ first hits in 1957, “Bye Bye Love” (a cross over hit on both the country & rock & roll charts) & “Wake Up Little Susie”. The duo was also the first to record the Boudleaux Bryant song “Love Hurts” in 1960 before it became a hit for Roy Orbison a year later. The boys did write some of their own songs including “Cathy’s Clown” (1960, written by Don) & “When Will I be Loved” (1960, written by Phil).

The brothers success led to their 1960 contract with Warner Brothers Records for one million dollars. At that time it was an unprecedented amount of money for a rock & roll act and would keep the boys with the label for ten years. But the unrelenting work schedule took its toll on the duo. So did contract disputes, sibling rivalry, drug use and more which led their official break up in 1973. They did reunite a decade later but their relationship remained strained.

Some of the biggest names in music were fans of The Everly Brothers. In his 1976 Wings song “Let ‘Em In”, Paul McCartney mentioned the duo by their first names (“…Martin Luther, Phil and Don”). George Harrison recorded a demo of today’s song that was included on his 2012 posthumous album, Early Takes: Volume. His friend & Traveling Wilbury bandmate Bob Dylan covered today’s song for his 1970 album, Self-Portrait. Both Everly Brothers sang on the track “Graceland” by another of their admirers, Paul Simon. In 1986 they were a part of the inaugural class inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame by Neil Young.

Today’s song was based on a French recording of “Je t’appartiens” from 1955. It was a Top Ten hit for the brothers in 1959. As much fun as their faster songs are, I think it is the ballads that show off their vocal harmonies best. Rest in peace, Don Everly.

“Each time we meet love
I find complete love
Without your sweet love
What would life be“.

Don and Phil

Don (L) and Phil Everly circa 1957. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Everly Brothers: “Let It Be Me” (1959, written by Gilbert Bécaud (music), Manny Curtis (English lyrics) and Pierre Delanoë (French lyrics).

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

Stay well.