Tag Archives: The Sopranos

Music Monday: October 7, 2024

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

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In September 1981 Journey’s seventh album, Escape, hit the top of the Billboard 200 chart for one week, giving the band their only #1 album. Two months earlier today’s featured song-the first single-was released and surprisingly it charted higher (it hit #4 in October 1981) than the second single which became the band’s signature song (“Don’t Stop Believin'” peaked at #9 in December 1981). The album’s third single, “Open Arms”, became the band’s highest charting single of their career, hitting #2 in February 1982.

The group was founded in San Francisco in 1973 as a backup band for local groups. It consisted of guitarists Neil Schon and George Tickner, keyboard player Gregg Rolie and bassist Ross Valory. But by 1981, only Schon and Valory were left with Steve Smith on drums, Steve Perry (who turned 75 in January) on vocals and Jonathan Cain on keyboards. It was this lineup that would achieve the success and popularity together until 1985 when Smith and Valory were unceremoniously dismissed (they returned in 1995 only to be fired again in 2020).

I was a big Journey fan back in the day and today’s song is my favorite track of theirs. Over the years the fighting, the egos, the personnel changes and the rest of the drama (in August a number of European tour dates were cancelled while Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain continued to battle) just soured me on the group to the point where even the placement of “Don’t Stop Believin'” in the series finale of “The Sopranos” could not change my mind. But my love of today’s song prevails and it is not because of the line referencing my favorite album of all time 😀

“One love feeds the fire
One heart burns desire
I wonder who’s crying now
Two hearts born to run
Who’ll be the lonely one
I wonder who’s crying now“.

Journey

Journey’s 1981 album and the band (L-R): Ross Valory, Jonathan Cain, Neil Schon, Steve Perry and Steve Smith. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Journey: “Who’s Crying Now” (1981, written by Jonathan Cain and Steve Perry).

Stay safe & well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 150

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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?

Charlie Brown No Music No Life

(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.

We have hit another benchmark as we are now at day 150 of the pandemic.  Wow.  So let’s commemorate it with an extra special song & singer to make it easier to realize the five month mark.

Otis Redding.  Otis Redding.  Otis Redding.  My heart belongs to this beautiful talented singer with the most intense, passionate & soulful voice I ever heard.  I swoon over every single note of his music each time it is played.  When I really need an Otis fix, I watch his Monterey Pop Festival performance from 1967 where he literally stole the show from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Jefferson Airplane and other well established musical acts.  Redding’s music has been featured in movies like “Dirty Dancing” (“These Arms Of Mine” & “Love Man”), “Love Actually” (“White Christmas”), “Platoon” (“Dock Of The Bay”) and in TV shows like “The Sopranos” (season 2 episode 9 featured “My Lover’s Prayer”) and in the original “Magnum, P.I.” (season 7 episode 16 featured “Try A Little Tenderness”).  Today’s song, which is included on the album, “Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul”, arguably his best album released in September 1965, was featured on “The Wonder Years” in season 1 episode 6 where Kevin & Winnie danced to it at a school function.  Only Redding’s music could make a show as great as that one even better.

“I’ve been loving you a little too long
I don’t want to stop now, oh
With you my life
Has been so wonderful
I can’t stop now“.

Otis

Otis Redding at the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967.  (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Otis Redding:  “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (1965, written by Otis Redding and Jerry Butler).

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

Stay well.