I don't remember a time when I didn't love music. I'm told that has a toddler I had a Mickey Mouse Club snare drum that I wore around my neck and played while toddling through the house. Apparently family would put records on and command me to start dancing like some trained monkey. To be honest, I probably didn't need much commanding. My mom would call me her little John Denver when I was a child. I was blond, wore glasses, and was born at the right time (1973), so it makes sense. I guess all of these things were the foundation. I don't remember any of them first hand, but I've heard the stories a million times over.
The parts I do remember begin with a little portable record player I had in the bedroom I shared with my older brother Scott. I had a ton of Disney records, the soundtracks to those classic animated films are really my first musical memories. That type of music didn't last long though. My sisters were listening to stuff down the hall that intrigued my little ears. I quickly fell in love with bands like Fleetwood Mac, the Cars, and a little later the Go Go's. It was the popular music of the day, and I loved it.
I guess my transition album was the 1980 album "Chipmunk Punk". This Alvin and the Chipmunk's album was my introduction to many artists I would come to love later in life. Alvin and the boys covered "Refugee" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Call Me" by Blondie, and believe it or not "Good Girls Don't" by the Knack. I was 8 years old and officially bitten by the Rock and Roll bug. By the following year I had my own little transistor radio and I was listening to Top 40 AM radio any chance I got.
Part 2 -"The 80's" coming soon.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Friday, January 10, 2014
Inspiraation
I was driving home from work today wondering what the topic of my next blog was going to be. I'm sure eventually they will come naturally and hit me like a lightning bolt of inspiration. Right now, I think I'm working too hard at it, and nothing is coming. It's like looking for something in your house; the minute you stop looking for it that's when you find it. Inspiration is that lost pair of glasses.
Inspiration, maybe that's a good topic. Where do great song writer's get their inspirations from. I know it's a question they hate, I wonder how many interviews Bob Dylan has walked out on because some rookie asked "Where do you get your song ideas from?" Probably more than he cares to remember. But the honest truth is they have to come from somewhere.
Paul McCartney's inspiration for the Beatles song "Martha My Dear" off of the White Album was his English sheep dog Martha ( the one pictured on the cover of the McCartney album).
U2 was inspired to write "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by the political unrest in their native Ireland.
Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore" was inspired by The Lord of the Rings.
A family pet, a work of literature, world events. Inspiration can and will come from anywhere you just have to be ready and recognize it when it does.
Inspiration, maybe that's a good topic. Where do great song writer's get their inspirations from. I know it's a question they hate, I wonder how many interviews Bob Dylan has walked out on because some rookie asked "Where do you get your song ideas from?" Probably more than he cares to remember. But the honest truth is they have to come from somewhere.
Paul McCartney's inspiration for the Beatles song "Martha My Dear" off of the White Album was his English sheep dog Martha ( the one pictured on the cover of the McCartney album).
U2 was inspired to write "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by the political unrest in their native Ireland.
Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore" was inspired by The Lord of the Rings.
A family pet, a work of literature, world events. Inspiration can and will come from anywhere you just have to be ready and recognize it when it does.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Bye Bye Love
I feel that as I music fan I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge yesterday's passing of a musical legend. Phil Everly, one half of the amazing Everly Brothers, died Friday morning at the age of 74. Along with his brother Don, Phil was responsible for a number of hits in the late 50's and early 60's including, “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Bye Bye Love,” “Cathy’s Clown,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream” and “When Will I Be Loved?"
I first became aware of the brothers Everly in 1982, I was nine years old. My dad was a fan of Simon and Garfunkel and someone bought him their reunion album "The Concert in Central Park." It was a two record set and the second song on the second side of the first record was "Wake Up Little Susie." I loved that album, my dad would listen to it often, and when he couldn't find it, it was because it was in my bedroom on my little portable turntable. I learned quickly that "Wake Up Little Susie" was not a Simon and Garfunkel song. Even at that early age I would pour over the album covers and read everything printed about the records I enjoyed. The writing credits on "Susie" were not "P. Simon" as all the other songs were. They were Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, the husband and wife songwriting team responsible for most of the Everly Brothers hits. At that point though I didn't think to go any further than that, I liked the song, but had no interest in finding out who performed it originally.
As I got older I heard Everly Brothers songs on oldies radio stations but never really paid much attention to them. As a matter of fact in my teens I dismissed them as being not real "rock and roll" and therefore not worth my time. I knew the hits but didn't really care if I heard them or not. Then one day, in 1992, (I"m now 19 for those keeping track), I heard "Wake Up Little Susie" again. This time being performed by the Grateful Dead, who were my favorite band at the time. It was on a live album of theirs recorded in 1970 at the Filmore East in New York. This gave me pause, maybe there is something more to the Everly Brothers than what I'm seeing. It was a fleeting thought though, and on I went to other things.
Fast forward now, 2006. A friend at work turns me on to a band from the 80's called Rockpile. They made one album called "Seconds of Pleasure". My friend loans me his copy, I like it a lot so I order it through Amazon. It arrives and much to my surprise it's a deluxe edition with bonus tracks, many of them covers of, you guessed it, Everly Brothers songs. O.K. now I start to pay attention. If so many musicians I like and respect (Simon and Garfunkel, Grateful Dead, Rockpile) like and respect the Everly Brothers, maybe I'm missing out on something. It is time to start taking them seriously. I start listening to them with a more attentive ear. I start doing research about them, and I quickly become an Everly Brothers fan.
Our final chapter begins December 30, 2013, as I sit here, 5 days ago. My wife April and I are in Wal-Mart, she's looking for discounted Christmas decorations. I spot a bin with hundreds of CD's thrown in Helter Skelter, and a sign on it that says $5. I say to April, "You know, I've been thinking about the Everly Brothers lately, we don't have any of their albums, maybe there is a greatest hits CD or something in that bin, I'm going to go look." After about 10 minutes of digging around I have found some great stuff, Boz Scaggs, The Doors, Otis Redding, just as I am about to give up, I pull from the bottom of the bin "The Very Best of The Everly Brothers." I buy it, bring it home, listen to it a couple of times, and add it to my vast music library.
What possessed me, four days before Phil Everly's death to actively search for an Everly Brothers CD in a clearance bin at Wal-Mart? What were the chances that I would actually find one? I don't know, call it coincidence, call it something supernatural or spiritual. All I do know is that the world lost a true artist yesterday whose legacy will live on through his recordings and the impact he and his brother had on rock and roll and the musical journey of this fan.
I first became aware of the brothers Everly in 1982, I was nine years old. My dad was a fan of Simon and Garfunkel and someone bought him their reunion album "The Concert in Central Park." It was a two record set and the second song on the second side of the first record was "Wake Up Little Susie." I loved that album, my dad would listen to it often, and when he couldn't find it, it was because it was in my bedroom on my little portable turntable. I learned quickly that "Wake Up Little Susie" was not a Simon and Garfunkel song. Even at that early age I would pour over the album covers and read everything printed about the records I enjoyed. The writing credits on "Susie" were not "P. Simon" as all the other songs were. They were Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, the husband and wife songwriting team responsible for most of the Everly Brothers hits. At that point though I didn't think to go any further than that, I liked the song, but had no interest in finding out who performed it originally.
As I got older I heard Everly Brothers songs on oldies radio stations but never really paid much attention to them. As a matter of fact in my teens I dismissed them as being not real "rock and roll" and therefore not worth my time. I knew the hits but didn't really care if I heard them or not. Then one day, in 1992, (I"m now 19 for those keeping track), I heard "Wake Up Little Susie" again. This time being performed by the Grateful Dead, who were my favorite band at the time. It was on a live album of theirs recorded in 1970 at the Filmore East in New York. This gave me pause, maybe there is something more to the Everly Brothers than what I'm seeing. It was a fleeting thought though, and on I went to other things.
Fast forward now, 2006. A friend at work turns me on to a band from the 80's called Rockpile. They made one album called "Seconds of Pleasure". My friend loans me his copy, I like it a lot so I order it through Amazon. It arrives and much to my surprise it's a deluxe edition with bonus tracks, many of them covers of, you guessed it, Everly Brothers songs. O.K. now I start to pay attention. If so many musicians I like and respect (Simon and Garfunkel, Grateful Dead, Rockpile) like and respect the Everly Brothers, maybe I'm missing out on something. It is time to start taking them seriously. I start listening to them with a more attentive ear. I start doing research about them, and I quickly become an Everly Brothers fan.
Our final chapter begins December 30, 2013, as I sit here, 5 days ago. My wife April and I are in Wal-Mart, she's looking for discounted Christmas decorations. I spot a bin with hundreds of CD's thrown in Helter Skelter, and a sign on it that says $5. I say to April, "You know, I've been thinking about the Everly Brothers lately, we don't have any of their albums, maybe there is a greatest hits CD or something in that bin, I'm going to go look." After about 10 minutes of digging around I have found some great stuff, Boz Scaggs, The Doors, Otis Redding, just as I am about to give up, I pull from the bottom of the bin "The Very Best of The Everly Brothers." I buy it, bring it home, listen to it a couple of times, and add it to my vast music library.
What possessed me, four days before Phil Everly's death to actively search for an Everly Brothers CD in a clearance bin at Wal-Mart? What were the chances that I would actually find one? I don't know, call it coincidence, call it something supernatural or spiritual. All I do know is that the world lost a true artist yesterday whose legacy will live on through his recordings and the impact he and his brother had on rock and roll and the musical journey of this fan.
Friday, January 3, 2014
A Horse With No Name, But A Saturday Night Live Connection
I know that many consider their music as cheesy, corny, syrupy, or whatever other food related analogy you prefer, but I love the band America. The trio of Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, and Dan Peek created some very memorable hits in the 1970's and have become a staple of classic rock radio. "A Horse With No Name", "Ventura Highway", "Sister Golden Hair", are all perfect little 3 minute pop tunes that have stood the test of time. Great lyrics, beautiful harmonies, and catchy tunes, I keep going back to their 1975 greatest hits album again and again. I pulled it out a few minutes ago while I was thinking of a topic for my next blog when I was reminded of an interesting fact about the album that I thought I would share with you all.
Phil Hartman, the late great Saturday Night Live cast member, has a connection to America' Greatest Hits. Hartman studied graphic design at Cal State Northridge and after graduation opened his own graphic arts business, which in 1975 was hired to design the cover for the aforementioned America album.
This wasn't his only contribution to the world of music at the time. His company designed over 40 different album covers in the mid to late 70's and was responsible for designing the classic Crosby Stills and Nash logo that we all know today.
Phil was a great comedic talent who tragically left us too early. But every time I look at this album cover I' m reminded of his skills as a graphic artist as well.
Phil Hartman, the late great Saturday Night Live cast member, has a connection to America' Greatest Hits. Hartman studied graphic design at Cal State Northridge and after graduation opened his own graphic arts business, which in 1975 was hired to design the cover for the aforementioned America album.
Phil was a great comedic talent who tragically left us too early. But every time I look at this album cover I' m reminded of his skills as a graphic artist as well.
I'm Back.....Hopefully This Time For A While
It has been almost three years, but I'm back. And this time I plan on sticking with it (I've got a friend that's going to hold me to task). Let me tell you what prompted this return to blogging about my favorite subject, music.
I received an instant message yesterday morning from a good friend named Jon. We used to work together but I hadn't seen him in a while. He asked if I wanted to meet him downtown for coffee in fifteen minutes. I was doing nothing important, just grading 5th grade math tests, so I said of course. I grabbed my keys and headed out the door, anxious for good coffee and good conversation.
We grabbed a table by the window and started catching up, sharing stories about family and the holidays. But soon, as conversations with Jon tend to do, the topics got deeper. We started discussing how fulfilling life can truly be when you follow your passions. Now, I love teaching, I can't think of a more rewarding career, but my real passions, as Jon knows, are in music. Not creating music, listening to music, turning people on to music, sharing stories about music, etc. We started talking about how I can fulfill that passion, which led to a discussion about blogging and podcasts.
Well, I've looked into podcasting, I even tried recording a sample. It felt awkward. I'm more comfortable in this forum so here I am, back to something I started almost three years ago. Hope you like it. Share it with your friends or family members that are also music fans. If there is an artist, album, or song you want me to talk about, let me know. My loves are classic rock, blues, and jazz, but I'm open to new experiences. "The more you love music, the more music you love."
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Synchronicity or Coincidence?
You probably saw the title of this blog and knowing that it is the musings of a music geek assumed that it had something to do with Sting or the Police. Not this time. Maybe later. This is music related though. I'm wondering if there is something amazing and mysterious about the story I am about to tell you or if it is truly just coincidence.
My wife April and I share many musical tastes. It was a love of the Beatles that brought us together as high school seniors. One place where are musical loves diverge however is on E Street. I am a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen, one of my rock idols. April however tolerates him at best. Just never been a big fan. That tidbit of history is needed to fully appreciate this story.
April works late nights at Safeway many nights a week. About two weeks ago she was working the 10PM to 6AM shift. Sometime that night I had a very vivid dream. I was at a record collectors convention browsing the booths, looking at the items people had brought to sell. In the dream I stumble upon a man selling mint condition copy of "The River" (my favorite Springsteen album) in the original vinyl. I buy it and walk out of the convention center. End of dream.
That morning about 6:30 I hear April come in the house. I go downstairs to greet her and start the coffee. She says to me, "I thought of you last night. The Safeway radio station played a Springsteen song I didn't know, something about a Cadillac, but it wasn't "Pink Cadillac". She starts to hum the song. I recognize it right away. I run upstairs, grab the Cd, say "is this it?' and pres play.
The song was "Cadillac Ranch", and yes ladies and gentlemen, it is on "The River." Was this coincidence or after twenty years together are my wife and I so psychically linked that she is sending signals to me from across town?
Would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
My wife April and I share many musical tastes. It was a love of the Beatles that brought us together as high school seniors. One place where are musical loves diverge however is on E Street. I am a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen, one of my rock idols. April however tolerates him at best. Just never been a big fan. That tidbit of history is needed to fully appreciate this story.
April works late nights at Safeway many nights a week. About two weeks ago she was working the 10PM to 6AM shift. Sometime that night I had a very vivid dream. I was at a record collectors convention browsing the booths, looking at the items people had brought to sell. In the dream I stumble upon a man selling mint condition copy of "The River" (my favorite Springsteen album) in the original vinyl. I buy it and walk out of the convention center. End of dream.
That morning about 6:30 I hear April come in the house. I go downstairs to greet her and start the coffee. She says to me, "I thought of you last night. The Safeway radio station played a Springsteen song I didn't know, something about a Cadillac, but it wasn't "Pink Cadillac". She starts to hum the song. I recognize it right away. I run upstairs, grab the Cd, say "is this it?' and pres play.
The song was "Cadillac Ranch", and yes ladies and gentlemen, it is on "The River." Was this coincidence or after twenty years together are my wife and I so psychically linked that she is sending signals to me from across town?
Would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
First Blog
My music listening of late has been limited to one group and one group only, The Beach Boys. Maybe because as a teacher I am lamenting the end of yet another summer vacation and the Wilson brothers et al. are the only way to hold on to August (he posts on the 4th day of September).
Now if you are like a lot of people you hear Beach Boys and dismiss the idea as a bunch of teeny bopper early 60's pop music. You would be wrong. There was so much musical genius going on in that group and most of it coming from Brian Wilson. Listen to "God Only Knows" from the classic album "Pet Sounds". Crank it up and really listen to it (with a good set of headphones even) and you would be surprised at the intricate beauty going on under that sweet vocal by brother Carl Wilson.
As a matter of fact the album "Pet Sounds" was such a masterpiece Brian had a nervous breakdown trying to top himself. Those never before released tapes will finally surface as a box set entitled "Smile" (which was supposed to be the original title of these recordings). I for one am waiting for November 1st with baited breath. I'm sure it will be nothing short of genius.
Now if you are like a lot of people you hear Beach Boys and dismiss the idea as a bunch of teeny bopper early 60's pop music. You would be wrong. There was so much musical genius going on in that group and most of it coming from Brian Wilson. Listen to "God Only Knows" from the classic album "Pet Sounds". Crank it up and really listen to it (with a good set of headphones even) and you would be surprised at the intricate beauty going on under that sweet vocal by brother Carl Wilson.
As a matter of fact the album "Pet Sounds" was such a masterpiece Brian had a nervous breakdown trying to top himself. Those never before released tapes will finally surface as a box set entitled "Smile" (which was supposed to be the original title of these recordings). I for one am waiting for November 1st with baited breath. I'm sure it will be nothing short of genius.
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