Whether solo or with Roxy Music, this is one of the few Bryan Ferry tracks that cracks a wide smile, sending up his jet-set image while celebrating it at the same time. Originally recorded by soul singer Dobie Gray, “The “In” Crowd” often gets confused for a Motown number, thanks to the label’s arranger Gene Page, who gave the single the Motown touch. Before Ferry tackled the tune, Ramsey Lewis Trio recorded a live instrumental version in 1964; later, Cheap Trick performed a cover of Ferry’s cover. Confused yet?
In the US, Gray’s powerful version, complete with brass section, reached #11 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chartand #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 20, 1965. Outside the US, “The “In” Crowd” went to #25 on the UK Singles Chart and #8 in Canada.
Bryan Ferry’s 1974 singles release reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart. His album cover for “Another Time, Another Place”, which featured “The ‘In’ Crowd”, is one of the coolest in a James Bond kind of way.
By Dobie Gray in 1964, here is the original “The “In” Crowd”.
And this is what it sounded like when Bryan Ferry recorded it.
And just because it’s my post and I can do whatever I like 😄 this is the RamseyLewis Trio showing us how to do jazz right.
That’s today’s Twofer Tuesday plus one! Thanks for stopping by!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a fan of the great Mel Brooks. Combine that with my fascination with gladiator movies and my own sense of humor and this is the result. Originally written in 2021, I’ve donesome tweaking and now present to you one of my favorite fun stories. I hope you enjoy ‘Maximus Overdrive’!
Maximus Gluteus caught a glimpse of his reflection on a sheet of polished tin which his wife Labia used as a mirror. He had really let himself go! He was a disgrace, not just to himself but the entire world of gladiators.
Originally known as Maximus Biceptis, he was no longer the god-like hero of the arena. Where was that formidable champion of the amphitheater? Gone were the defined, well-built curves visible through his tunic, the muscles straining against the fabric at the forearms, biceps and chest. His sculpted calves, broad back and wide neck were flaccid, as were other parts of his anatomy which Labia was quick to point out.
Maximus was not only popular with the general public; he was greatly admired by the Roman emperor Sartorius for having won many battles against highly skilled adversaries. The emperor was particularly impressed by his heroics and rewarded Maximus with more palaces and riches than he could have asked for; he went so far as to honor Maximus with his prized solid gold chariot and team of Berber horses.
Besides gladiator matches, there was something else the Romans were famous for – partying! Those wild and crazy worshipers of Bacchus, the god of wine, knew how to have a good time. Maximus and Labia threw lavish Bacchanalia and partied like it was 999; debaucheries of every kind were practiced freely and enjoyed by all. Party-goers would spend uninhibited all-nighters dancing, watching circus performers, feasting on fattening foods and decadent desserts, engaging in unbridled sex and, of course, drinking themselves into a stupor.
Labia, a once-famous gladiatrix, was considered an exotic rarity by all who knew her. Attempting to maintain her impressively athletic yet feminine physique, she exercised frequently in the gymnasium and swam in the warm baths. Maximus, however, had become lazy and spiritless. He encamped himself in the large atria overlooking the Mediterranean, reclining for hours on end in the lavish gardens which had been planted with grape orchards, orange groves and trees bearing olives, figs, almonds, walnuts and chestnuts.
Maximus reveled in the good life, laying on his chaise lounge listening to poetry while the palace harpist played softly. Naked dancing nymphs performed for him, slaves fanned him with exquisite peacock feathers and beautiful servant girls fed him cheese, pheasant, figs dipped in honey, meaty chestnuts and wine. A life of gluttony and pleasure suited Maximus; he was a well-sated man.
Maximus became so fat, Labia refused to have sex with him. Even his concubines were repulsed by him but knew they had to do the deed or risk being executed. It got so bad, the poor girls resorted to pulling straws to see who would share their master’s bed. The ladies, however, had little to fear; most nights Maximus was so drunk he was in no condition to get it on …. even with the sensual songs of Marvin Gayeus playing in the background.
It didn’t take long before Labia began spending more and more time away from the palace. She would go for long walks along the seashore with her beloved greyhounds, Lingus and Limbus. It was during one of those walks that Labia first laid eyes on the newest and most popular gladiator who recently transferred to Rome – Maximus Erectus.
He was quite a sight to behold, especially when exercising naked on the beach. To say that he was well-built was an understatement. Erectus was perfection from head to toe. Tall, blond and powerful, sinewy muscles rippled down his arms and legs and across his Herculean back and chest. He was broad-shouldered with a flat, rock-hard abdomen. His body was bronzed from the sun and glistened with sweat. He was one ripped Roman!
Labia stared transfixed at the spectacle before her; even the dogs sat in quiet attention. Finishing up his exercise routine, Erectus ran toward the sea, jumped into the waves and swam for a long while. When he came out, he spotted Labia standing on the beach watching him. Without any hesitation or embarrassment, he walked directly to her. Smiling broadly, he reached down and patted Lingus and Limbus, laughing as they responded by happily wagging their tails. Labia’s tail had already been wagging.
The two struck up a conversation. All the while they were speaking Labia’s eyes kept drifting down toward Erectus’ magnificent member which seemed to take on a life of its own. When Labia mentioned she, too, enjoyed exercising and swimming, Erectus commented that she looked like she was in terrific shape and invited her to join him on the beach whenever she desired a partner.
Now, there’s no denying Labia had a few years on Erectus, but she was still firm and supple. She decided to join him on the beach the following week; it wasn’t long before the duo became partners in every way.
Labia packed her bags and left Maximus Gluteus for her new lover. Tossing everything into the golden chariot, she clicked her tongue and the team of Berbers trotted off. Labia laughed gaily as she shouted over her shoulder, “So long, fat ass!”
But Maximus Gluteus was too drunk to hear her.
That night Emperor Sartorius had a dream that he would be overthrown. He consulted the wisest philosophers and dream interpreters who all agreed this would indeed be his fate. Fearing torture and a slow death at the hands of his enemies, Sartorius made it known that should such an uprising occur, Maximus Gluteus was to be summoned to execute him; he trusted Maximus would end his life as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Sartorius was indeed overthrown and, per his wishes, Maximus was summoned. However, since Labia had absconded with the golden chariot, Maximus had no choice but to travel by foot to emperor’s palace. Alas, his massive weight slowed him down terribly and Maximus did not arrive in time to save Sartorius from an excruciating death.
Due to that unfortunate event, the expression “Lardum Asina” came about. Today we know it as “Lard Ass”.
From the comedic genius mind of Mel Brooks, this is a clip from the movie “History Of The World, Part I” featuring Bea Arthur and Mel Brooks who wrote, directed and produced the 1981 film.
When you listen to the many great tunes of The Temptations, I’m sure the one thing you don’t know or even imagine as possible is that their first seven singles were commercial failures. In contrast their hit soul/R&B single “The Way You Do The Things You Do”, released in 1964 from their album Meet The Temptations, was a huge success. It peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went to #1 on the Cash Box R&B chart. “The Way You Do The Things You Do” was written by Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers of The Miracles; now that you know that I think you’ll hear that familiar Miracles’ influence.
Otis Williams of The Temptations recalled in 2009: “The first time we heard the song, we loved it. The melody swung, and the lyrics had lots of charm.It was typical Smokey talkin’ about how to get a girl and he made it all work. It got a good response whenever we did it live, so our hopes were up. We knew from past experience that even the best tracks don’t always click.”
I guess after seven flops, Otis knew what he was talking about.
From 1964 here are The Temptations with their first hit, “The Way You Do The Things You Do”.
And this is what was on the B side – “Just Let Me Know” written by Berry Gordy, Jr.
Thanks for joining me today for a little Monday Motown Magic.
Written for Weekly Writing Prompt #363 where we are asked to write something in exactly 42 words, incorporating the word “cabinet”. This is my story in 42 words.
When the landlord came calling for the rent, she pleaded for more time.
He refused and viciously slapped her across the face.
She fell against the cabinet and a rage grew in her like never before.
Daughters-in-law are our grandchildren’s mothers. As such, they carry our fortunes downstream. Under their guidance, our hopes become others’, Giving their force to a much larger dream. How lucky we are to have you for the carer That nurtures the hearts of our hearts, that they may Each be a lover, a giver and sharer, Remaking the world in their image each day. So do we all, like streams from the mountains, In time become joined in the souls we have made, Now mingled forever, eternal companions, Linked by our love in a bond that won’t fade. As you in your noontime your work of love do, We watch from the hillside, grateful for you.
Today’s theme at Song Lyric Sunday is all about songs that reached #2 on the charts but never got to #1. Be sure to stop by and read Jim’s post, “Fell Short“.
On November 21, 1968, I had the pleasure of seeing the debut performance of Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Fillmore East in NYC; I was actually there for the headliners, Deep Purple, but that’s another story. This post is all about CCR.
Here’s one indisputable fact: Creedence Clearwater Revival was one of the biggest commercial successes of the late 1960s and early ’70s. During a time when psychedelic rock, R&B, Motown soul, funk and metal were all on the rise, CCR’s unique blend of driving ’50s-style R&R and classic Americana imagery made them one of the biggest standouts of the era. With John Fogerty’s singular voice and songwriting skill, CCR was in a league all its own, and audiences on both sides of the Atlantic responded by making them a huge draw for albums, singles, and live performances.
Here’s another indisputable fact: Creedence Clearwater Revival has had the most #2 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 without ever having a #1 hit. Somehow, the band that defined their generation wasn’t able to ever sit atop the singles mountain. If nothing else, CCR’s lack of #1 singles is a testament to how fickle the Hot 100 chart can be and how lucky an artist has to be in order to score a #1 hit. Month after month for years on end, CCR would throw classic song after classic song out into the world, scoring nine top ten hits and five #2 singles without ever cracking the top of the chart.
The lack of a #1 hit never seemed to affect the band’s popularity, however, as they landed two #1 albums with Green River and Cosmo’s Factory. The band continued to sell out large venues as a live act, and its last top 10 hit ‘Sweet Hitch-Hiker’ came even as the band was falling apart. No one could say that CCR wasn’t popular enough to get a #1 song, but for whatever reason, they could never quite scale the mountain.
After Proud Mary and Bad Moon Rising stalled out at #2, John Fogerty believed he had the perfect answer: the title track to the band’s upcoming album Green River. But while the album went all the way to #1, the song “Green River” once again got stuck at #2.
To add insult to injury, CCR was beaten out at #1 by a group that wasn’t even a real band! The Archies were based on the characters from the Archie Comics series, which had its own cartoon series on CBS at the time. Manager Don Kirshner originally created The Monkees but was frustrated that the members began taking control of the project. Cartoons couldn’t talk back so Kirshner got session musicians and songwriters to fill in the rest. Just in case you’re wondering, The Monkees have three #1 hits with ‘I’m A Believer’, ‘Last Train To Clarksville’, and ‘Daydream Believer’.
FYI – the remaining two CCR songs that stalled at #2 were both double-A sides: “Travelin’ Band/Who’ll Stop The Rain” and “Lookin’ Out My Back Door/Long As I Can See The Light”. They were beat out by Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No MountainHigh Enough”, respectively.
From July 1969 this is Credence Clearwater Revival with “Green River’ from the album of the same name.
LYRICS
Well, take me back down where cool water flows, y’all
Although the band members were only together for four years, they managed to accomplish more than many artists do in their entire career – releasing seven studio albums (five of which were on the Billboard Top Ten), and a seemingly endless string of memorable singles (including nine Top Ten hits). The group also performed a historic headlining set at Woodstock and toured the world before disbanding in 1972. In 1993 they were inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame. CCR’s music endures today, on the radio and regularly in films and TV shows. Having sold over 30 million albums in the US alone, Creedence received a rare Diamond certification from the RIAA in 2016, marking 10 million units in sales for their 1976 compilation album, Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits.
Big thanks to Jim for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday.
“The Midnight Cowboy Theme” Written by: John Barry Recorded: 1969 Engineer: Chris Malone Arranger: John Barry
Released: August, 1969
Available on: Midnight Cowboy – Original Motion Picture Score Best of John Barry Multiple recordings released worldwide
Personnel: Toots Thielemans – harmonica Featuring The John Barry Orchestra Various Artists
Although “Everybody’s Talkin’” by Nilsson is the most memorable and popular song from Midnight Cowboy, the film’s actual title song is “The Midnight Cowboy Theme,” a haunting instrumental written by the prolific songwriter John Barry, who has done numerous soundtracks. The theme is immediately recognized by the lonely harmonica which serves as the main instrument. There are lyrics, though the song has rarely been recorded as a vocal.
Midnight Cowboy was one of the first films to make extensive use of pop artists and songs. John Barry supervised the music and composed the score, winning a Grammy for Best Instrumental Theme. The movie is still shown at the cinema school at UCLA as the epitome of how songs should be used in the movies.
John Barry also composed eleven soundtracks for James Bond films between 1963 and 1987 as well as the famous “James Bond Theme” from Dr. No, the first Bond film. He also wrote the award winning scores to the films Dances With Wolves and Out Of Africa as well as the scores for The Lion in Winter, Born Free, and Somewhere in Time.
Midnight Cowboy is the only X-Rated movie to have won an Academy Award for Best Picture.
This is “The Midnight Cowboy Theme”
May your Saturday be smooth sailing. Thanks for stopping by.
Written for The Unicorn Challenge where we are asked to get creative in 250 words or less using this photo as inspiration. Here is my story. If you would like to read previous adventures of George and Martha, you may click here and here.
“Take a look around, George. Do you see any sign of fine dining?”
“Perhaps it’s the shabby chic part of town. The French are famous for that look.”
“You know, George, for a man who prides himself on having the navigation skills of a homing pigeon, you’ve achieved the impossible and gotten us lost …. again.”
“Objection! May I remind you, Madam, that you’re the one who wrote down the name and address of this place.”
“Overruled! What’s your point, George?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Is it my fault that your chicken scratch is indecipherable?”
“It’s called cursive writing, you plebian, and it’s perfectly legible.”
“Ha! That’s highly questionable, Martha! Looks like hieroglyphics to me.”
“Bottom line, George …. we are lost.”
“Speaking of lost, Martha, I do believe we just passed a bar. I’m going to lose myself in a nice dry martini.”
“Don’t even think about it, George! We came all this way for a decadent dessert at ‘Le Sugar Factory’, the most exclusive pâtisseriein Saint-Tropez. I’m not leaving until I have it.”
“Settle down, Martha. I’ve heard hippopotami pass a kidney stone quieter than you!”
“Look, George! What’s the name on that building?”
“Mon dieu! That’s the same name you wrote down, Martha. See …. we’re not lost!”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, George! That says, ‘serrurerie’, locksmith; I wrote ‘sucrerie’, Sugar Factory! We’re still lost!”
“Chicken scratch, Martha. And I still need a martini!”
Many rock fans will undoubtedly remember the only child of George Harrison when the then 24 year old Dhani Harrison appeared at the Concert For George in 2002. Two years later he was at his father’s 2nd induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (once as a Beatle and then for his solo work) where Dhani performed “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” alongside Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne and Prince.
Dhani Harrison has since released a great deal of work as a solo artist, as part of the bands thenewno2 and Fistful of Mercy. Thenewno2 have been credited with the album design for George Harrison’s “Brainwashed” and “Dark Horse Years” box set, the Concert for George and the menu design for the 2005 Concert for Bangladesh DVD. Dhani Harrison has also scored many movies and television shows.
Of course the physical resemblance to his father is incredible but the similarity in voice and stage presence is undeniably strong. During an interview, George once commented that he said to Dhani “You look more like me than I do”; that was George’s humor to a T. I chose to feature one of the Beatles’ songs on which George sang lead so you can experience just how strong the Harrison family genes really are.
This is Dhani Harrison with “Savoy Truffle” from 2014’s “Georgefest” at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood.
Thanks for joining me today. See you on the flip side. 😎
Locking eyes across the room, Jaclyn and Mark gave each other the signal. A discreet nod toward the door meant it was time to bail on the noisy frat party. Clutching each other’s hands, the teens bounded down the stairs and ran across the yard until they reached the thick grove of tall maple trees.
Fiercely kissing, they fell to the ground, groping and tearing at their clothes.
“Mark, my hair is stuck in some sticky glop” Jaclyn protested, then screamed as she spied the enormous web suspended over them.
Too late, Mark felt the agonizing sting of giant toxic pincers.
Did you ever find yourself in a situation that was so intense, everything around you ceased to exist? It’s an extraordinary feeling, one that’s difficult to explain without using every adverb and adjective and superlative in the English language.
The date was October 5, 1995 – a most inauspicious day – and yet I remember every detail of the events of that evening almost 30 years ago. At the time I was quite active in my church as a choir member, leader of song, and director of the children’s choir. Our adult choir was one of the best in the county and we were selected by Cardinal O’Connor of New York to sing for His Holiness Pope John Paul II during his visit to St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, New York. When the Cardinal requests someone’s services, it is an honor and should be treated as such.
For those of you old enough to remember Pope John Paul II, he was universally beloved and is now Saint John Paul II after his beatification on May 1, 2011. He possessed a spirituality that is rare among men, a divine nature of love, peace, kindness and forgiveness.
On that October day in ‘95, in the evening after vespers, it was arranged for John Paul II to have a walkabout around the grounds of the seminary. It was then that I had the greatest honor of my life .… to meet His Holiness and to receive his blessing. The moment I placed my hand in his and looked into his most serene and forgiving blue eyes, I knew I was in the presence of a divine being. There is no other way to describe how I felt other than to say it was rapturous; I had never felt that way before or since.
I have led a charmed life when it comes to meeting famous people …. just a matter of being in the right place at the right time …. but there is nothing that will ever surpass this encounter.
Time and events have a way of changing our perspective and I am no longer a member of the Catholic Church; however, my break from Catholicism has not and never will change the events of October 5, 1995 nor how I felt that day. It is something that will remain with me until my final days on earth.
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Billy Joel Born May 9, 1949 in New York, New York
Written for Glyn’s Mixed Music Bag #19, where we are asked to write about a song by a group or solo singer beginning with the letter I or J.
Iron Maiden is an institution. Over the course of 48 years they have come to embody a spirit of fearless creative independence, ferocious dedication to their fans, and a cheerful indifference to their critics that’s won them a following that spans every culture, generation, and time-zone. A story of gritty determination and courageous defiance of the naysayers, theirs has been an adventure like no other. Every one of their songs is a story and that for me, as a storyteller, is one of the key ingredients to their success. They are unique and different from every other heavy metal band with song lyrics covering such topics as history, literature, war, mythology, society and religion.
Iron Maidenhas released 41 albums, including 17 studio albums, 13 live albums, four EPs and seven compilations. They have also released 47 singles and 20 video albums, and two video games. The band has played some 2,500 live shows and is still touring today. Iron Maiden has become one of the most influential and revered rock bands of all time.
On the evening of October 2, 1982, my husband Bill and I hired a babysitter for our boys and drove into Manhattan for what would be one of our final rock concerts. It had been a while. Now that we had kids, who knew when we would be able to have this experience again. We were all grown up with a different set of priorities but this was one event we could not miss. Performing that night at Madison Square Garden were two British groups Bill and I didn’t have a chance to see B.K. (Before Kids). They were Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. And one of the songs Maiden performed that night was “The Number Of The Beast”.
Upon release in 1982, the song caused controversy in the United States where its religious subject matter caused outrage among religious groups. In spite of this, it remains one of the band’s more popular songs, reaching #18 in the UK singles charts on its original release, and #3 on two successive occasions in 1990 and 2005. It has been performed on almost all of their concert tours.
According to the song’s writer, bassist and band-founder Steve Harris, it was inspired by a nightmare he had after watching the film “Damien: Omen II” late at night, in addition to the poem “Tam o’ Shanter” by Robert Burns. The song opens with a spoken word passage which quotes Revelation 12:12 and Revelation 13:18. The track is known for its very long, high-pitched and guttural wail at the end of the intro, which AllMusic describes as “the most blood-curdling Dickinson scream on record“.
Live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, this is Iron Maiden with “Number Of The Beast”
Written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt #361; we are asked to get creative in exactly 57 words and include the word “classic”. This is my response.
“Oh, baby, you gotta see her! She’s a real beauty! What curves, what style! And the color is perfect …. it’s called Marina Blue and the paint job is amazing! Brand new dash, broad grille, quad headlights and a tail sporting a fan-shaped alcove on both side panels. I’m telling you, honey …. this one’s a classic!”
Author’s Note: That’s what my husband sounded like when he called to tell me about his ‘new’ vintage car …. a 1958 Chevy Bel Air. That was back in 1969 and he was still my boyfriend at the time. He was crazy about that car and took such good care of it. After about 8 months, someone stole it right off his driveway; that was one of a handful of times I’ve seen my husband cry.
Leonard Cohen’s career was at a low point when he wrote “Hallelujah” in the early 80s, and his record label had no interest in even releasing the track or the rest of the songs that eventually came out on 1984’s Various Positions. The track was a fan favorite, but it didn’t receive much love until the Velvet Underground’s John Cale created a stripped-down piano version for a 1991 Leonard Cohen tribute album.
Jeff Buckley used Cale’s version as the basis for his stunningly beautiful version of the song on his 1994 LP Grace. The track wasn’t a single, but after Buckley’s tragic death in 1997 the song slowly started to become recognized as a classic. In 2004 Jeff Buckley’s version of “Hallelujah” was ranked #259 on Rolling Stone‘s “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
This is “Hallelujah” by the man himself, Leonard Cohen
And this is what it sounded like when Jeff Buckley recorded it
Have you ever roller skated? As a child I had the type of roller skates that attached to my shoes and tightened with a key. I would skate in my neighborhood with my friends; since the number of cars on the road back then was much less than now, it was safe for us to take over the whole street and skate for hours. I never had a pair of professional-type skates with the beautiful wood wheels, the ones that laced up like ice skates, nor did I ever go to a roller skating rink. My experience was limited to street skating in strap-on skates with my friends … and lots of skinned knees!
2. Have you ever ridden a horse (or donkey) Yes, I’ve actually ridden both. When I was a young girl in The Bronx, I remember there was a truck that would travel around the area making stops along the way. It was not a very large truck, similar to the vehicles belonging to private landscapers you see today. The truck traveled around and played music like an ice cream truck but instead of ice cream, it carried two ponies and offered rides to children whose parents were lucky enough to have an extra 5¢ to spend. The rides didn’t last long, just up and down our street with the truck driver/pony handler holding the rein and leading us around. For city kids such as myself, this was an exciting and memorable event! One summer my sister-in-law and I took our young children horseback riding while on vacation in Montauk. It started out nice but as the day progressed, the weather became increasingly hot and humid and we were all extremely uncomfortable. Since it was a half day tour for beginners, we weren’t exactly galloping bareback down the beach on wild horses which would have provided a cooling breeze. At the end of the day, we were all sweaty, sunburned and covered with mosquito bites … not to mention that we walked like John Wayne for the next two days! There are quite a few horse stables where I currently live and it’s not unusual to see people on horseback crossing the local streets going from one trail to another. It’s a lovely way to spend a few hours but horseback riding isn’t anything I see myself doing again. While in Sicily I rode donkeys fairly often. Many of the streets in my father’s home town are so narrow, the only way to go from one place to another is by foot or on a donkey. Riding a donkey is nothing like riding a horse. Donkeys are much slower than horses; they are approachable and lovable, overall non-reactive and less likely to go into a flight response. Even though I rode horses several times, I did not grow up around them so it was natural for me to feel safer being around a donkey than a horse. You’re also much closer to the ground should you take a tumble! Our donkeys were always saddled, a much more comfortable and safer way to ride.
3. What was your favourite ride at a fun fair? The rollercoaster, without a doubt. I love rollercoasters – the good old-fashioned ones with lots of steep climbs and drops – none of this crazy upside down nonsense you see these days. Just give me an old rollercoaster and I’m a happy camper. All the rides that spin and twist and twirl and go upside down make me terribly nauseous and I steer clear of them. Also I will never go on any ride that involves a free fall; to me that is just insanity. I also used to love water parks and riding the huge twisty-turny slides into the giant pools. They were great fun and an instant way to cool off but these days I can’t walk around theme parks for hours on end because of my arthritis. As my husband always says, “I’m too old for this crap!”
4. Choice of fun fair prizes: coconut, cuddly toy, £10/$10 cash prize. Well, money is always nice but I’d say a cuddly toy to give my granddaughter (unless it’s an elephant which I’d keep for myself! 🐘). We don’t have coconut as a prize here which is too bad because I love coconut. But we do have cotton candy and what’s a day at the fair without the sweet fluffy clouds of pink cotton candy? The legendary Coney Island is an hour’s drive from my house and Palisades Park (made famous by the video below) is only 30 minutes away in New Jersey across the Hudson River. We went to both places often when we were younger. For my UK friends, our Coney Island in Brooklyn was inspired by your seaside resort of New Brighton. We now live about 10 minutes away from Playland Park in Rye, NY, an old and very well-known amusement park/beach. I’m a fan of the Dragon Coaster and the arcade but we spend most of our time (at least for now) in Kiddie-Land where our little 4 year old granddaughter can have fun on the kid rides and play mini-golf, which is the only type of golfing I’m into! And let’s not forget the Tunnel of Love for me and my mister!
In 1960, Berry Gordy signed a talented group of vocalists called The Contours as one of Motown’s first acts. “Do You Love Me?”, recorded in 1962, was The Contours third single, far and away their best-known record. This song blazed its way up the charts and became a smash hit before being goosed all the way up the charts again more than 25 years later thanks to a little movie called Dirty Dancing.
As with many American R&B songs of the 1960s, “Do You Love Me” was recorded by several British Invasion groups. A 1963 version by Brian Poole and the Tremeloes reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. It also became a hit for the Dave Clark Five, reaching #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. “Do You Love Me” appeared twice on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching #3 in 1962 and #11 in 1988.
This song is not just a big hit; it’s an enduring classic that’s still going strong!
From 1962, here are The Contours asking an age-old question: “Do You Love Me?”
And this is what was on the B Side – “Move, Mr. Man”
Thanks for joining me today for Monday Motown Magic.
I was lost, a bit frightened and filled with regretfor not making a note of the address. A hazy moon began to make her appearance in the evening sky, leaving the tiny Palermo street awash in a warm orange glow. Squinting in the darkness, I saw what appeared to be a tunnel at the end of the street; there was no way I was going to walk into the black unknown. Slowly I inched closer and discovered the tunnel was actually a stairway. Just as I quickened my pace, an arm shot out of a hidden doorway and pulled me inside, pinning me against a wall. A deep voice I knew intimately whispered in honeyed Sicilian tones “Picchì ci haiu misu tantu tempu, amuri miu? Ti vogghiu beni!”º Passionate kisses drifted down my neck. Breathless, I murmured “I’m here now, my love. Show me.”
Kiss me now, my love, In the warm glow of the moon You possess my heart
Today’s theme at Song Lyric Sunday is about songs by performers on American Idol.
In case you’re wondering about the title of today’s post, The Original Amateur Hour began on radio in 1934 as “Major Bowes’ Amateur Hour” and ran until the 1946 death of its creator, Major Bowes. Ted Mack, a talent scout who had directed the show under Bowes, revived it in 1948 for ABC Radio and the DuMont Television Network. The show lasted on radio until 1952 and until 1970 on television, where it ran on all four major networks, ending as a Sunday afternoon CBS staple. A success in the early days of television, the program set the stage for numerous programs seeking talented stars, from The Gong Show to Star Search to American Idol to America’s Got Talent.
On June 11, 2002 a new type of TV show aired. Some called it reality TV while others dubbed it a talent show; critics and TV executives alike said it was “unparalleled in broadcasting history …. the most impactful show in the history of television”. As a lover of music and talent and competition, which is what this show was all about, I called it fabulous! For 15 years my husband and I watched together each week as contestants auditioned, performed and were either sent on to the next round or sent packing.
The show, of course is American Idol and the only reason we stopped watching regularly after 15 years was our overall dislike of the new panel of judges. After 22 years, the show is still alive and well and making Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest a ton of money! Here’s something you may not know!
Idol has spawned 345 Billboard chart-toppers and a platoon of pop idols while remaining a TV ratings institution. For an unprecedented eight consecutive years, from the 2003-04 television season through the 2010-11 season, either its performance show or results show was ranked #1 in US television ratings – not bad at all for a little talent show.
While there are many American Idol winners who have gone on to become major music stars, I have often felt not winning (while spirit-crushing at the time) was just the impetus a young singer needed to become a household name; Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson, Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken and Kelly Pickler are perfect examples of artists whose loss on Idol was exactly what they needed to jumpstart their careers. Such is the case for my featured performer today, one of my personal favorite also-rans from American Idol.
Haley Reinhart first rose to prominence after placing third in the 10th season of American Idol. In July 2011, Reinhart signed a recording deal with Interscope Records. Her debut album, Listen Up!, was released on May 22, 2012, to critical acclaim and she subsequently became the first AI alumna to perform at Lollapalooza. She is the only Season 10 contestant who has over one million views on six of her YouTube performance videos: her renditions of Adele’s “Rolling In the Deep”, Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets”, Ben E. King’s “I (Who Have Nothing)” and her version of “House of the Rising Sun”. In addition, her performance of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless The Child” hit one million views in March 2014 and the video of her American Idol audition performance of the Beatles’ “Oh! Darling” also reached one million views in March 2016. Reinhart was the only contestant in Season 10 who received three standing ovations from the judges in consecutive weeks for “House of the Rising Sun”,“I (Who Have Nothing)” and Led Zeppelin’s “What Is and What Should Never Be”.
Haley Reinhart garnered widespread recognition in 2015 for performing and touring with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, my favorite part of her career so far. Her most notable collaboration with the band on a jazz cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” spent 58 consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Jazz Digital Songs chart and received high praise from critics. In the same year, she gained additional notice when her cover of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love” which was used in a television commercial, became a viral sensation, peaked at #16 on the US Adult Contemporary chart and was later certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 31, 2023. Reinhart won a Cannes Lion for Entertainment and a Clio Award for the song in 2016. Additionally, she made her voice acting debut as Bill Murphy in the Netflix animated comedy, “F Is For Family” on December 18, 2015. She reprised the role as a main cast member in the series’ second, third, fourth, and fifth seasons.
Let’s get back to “Bennie and Jets”. E! Online ranked Reinhart’s cover of as the series’ 14th best performance. TVLine ranked the performance as the 6th best in Idol history and BuzzFeed ranked it 1st on their list of the “17 Most IconicAmerican IdolPerformances of All Time.”
I’ve never really cared for “Bennie and the Jets” but what do I know?! Since Haley Reinhart’s performance garnered so much praise and coverage, I’m featuring it today. You’ll see the judges thought it was ”A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!”
Live from American Idol’s results night, this is Haley Reinhart with “Bennie and the Jets”.
LYRICS
Hey kids, shake it loose together The spotlight’s hitting something That’s been known to change the weather We’ll kill the fatted calf tonight So stick around You’re gonna hear electric music Solid walls of sound
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet Ohh, but they’re so spaced out, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful Oh Bennie she’s really keen She’s got electric boots a mohair suit You know I read it in a magazine Oh oh, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Hey kids, plug into the faithless Maybe they’re blinded But Bennie makes them ageless We shall survive, let us take ourselves along Where we fight our parents out in the streets To find who’s right and who’s wrong
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet Ohh, but they’re so spaced out, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful Oh Bennie she’s really keen She’s got electric boots a mohair suit You know I read it in a magazine Oh oh, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Hey kids, plug into the faithless Maybe they’re blinded But Bennie makes them ageless We shall survive, let us take ourselves along Where we fight our parents out in the streets To find who’s right and who’s wrong
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet Ohh, but they’re so spaced out, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful Oh Bennie she’s really keen She’s got electric boots a mohair suit You know I read it in a magazine Oh oh, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets Bennie and the Jets
Big thanks to Jim for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday and for allowing be to take up residence here for the last 10 weeks. I had a great time coming up with the themes but even I got tired of seeing my name week after week on Jim’s SLS posts, I can just imagine how you feel!
Thanks for stopping by. See you on the flip side. 😎
“Stranger On The Shore” Written by: Acker Bilk, Robert Mellin Recorded: 1961 Producer: Denis Preston Engineer: Adrian Kerridge Arranger: Leon Young
Released: October 1961
Available on: Stranger On The Shore Is This The Blues
Personnel: Acker Bilk – clarinet Featuring The Leon Young String Chorale
Acker Bilk said he thought up the song’s melody in a taxi and named the gentle tune ‟Jenny” in honor of his daughter. Having scored several hits since his first, 1960’s ‟Summer Set”, Bilk was famous enough to be asked to create the theme for a BBC TV children’s series about a French au pair in Brighton. Bilk offered them ‟Jenny” but was asked to change its title to the name of the program, Stranger on the Shore. Its wistful, airy tones, with Bilk’s ‟liquorice stick” accompanied by silken strings, was heard on TV on Sunday afternoons, accompanying the culture-shocked lead character longingly staring out across the English Channel towards her home in France. The song is certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).
This is “Stranger On The Shore” by Acker Bilk
May your Saturday be smooth sailing. Thanks for stopping by.
Written in response to The Unicorn Challenge where we are asked to be creative in 250 words or less by using the photo you see below. This is my story.
NB. My story is another perspective prompted by C.E. Ayr’s intriguing response to this week’s Unicorn Challenge. Please check out C.E.’s story here and/or here. I hope you enjoy my version and his.
Contrary to popular opinion, sometimes these things really do just happen – at least that’s how it was for me.
My husband was out for the day … the monthly visit with his son from his first marriage. I never fault him this time alone; it’s good for him and it gives me the chance to spend a day in my favorite book store.
One day while on my way home, I paused to watch the swans; from the bridge I saw a man emerge from his boat. As if drawn by my presence, he glanced up at me and waved. I waved back. Then the most unexpected thing happened: he beckoned me. I went down to greet him and that was the beginning of our affair.
Now I live for my husband’s monthly visits with his son.
This month my husband’s son is backpacking with friends and there is no visit. He busies himself with tennis and darts at the pub. Desperate to meet my lover, I bailed on our tennis game, pretending to be sick, and my husband went off alone to find a partner.
The afternoon with my lover was heavenly; half-way home I turned around and returned to the boat.
How could I know my husband had paused on the bridge to watch the swans and saw me leave the boat?
How could my husband know that while he was plotting his jealous revenge, I had returned to the boat and was inside when he torched it?
When you’re the daughter of one of the most poignant vocalists of all time, it’s nearly impossible not to carry on the tradition. With a voice as crisp as her father’s, Natalie Cole carved a career path of her own with hits including “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” and “Inseparable.” She made Grammy Award history by being the first black artist to win Best New Artist in 1976 and the first black woman to win Album of the Year for her tribute album to her father, Unforgettable .… With Love, in 1992.
“This Will Be” was Natalie Cole’s debut single, released in April 1975, and one of her biggest hits, becoming a #1 R&B and #6 pop smash in the United States, also reaching the UK Top 40. She won a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, a category that had previously been dominated by Aretha Franklin. It would also help her win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
From 1975, this is Natalie Cole and the classic soul sound of “This Will Be”
“Gee, the house sure is quiet. I wonder where everybody’s gone. Bobby’s been a little distant lately and that makes me sad. I mean, we’ve been best buds ever since he was a little guy. We did everything together and he wouldn’t go anywhere without me. And he gave the best hugs at night. Shh! Here he comes now! Bobby! I just knew you wouldn’t leave without me. What’re we doing today?”
“I’m watching TV with Becky …. alone.”
“Gosh, Bobby. You’re my bestie. Who’s this Becky chick?”
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Engelbert Humperdink Born May 2, 1936 inChennai, India
An old man lived alone in the country. He wanted to dig up his garden and plant vegetables, but the ground was too hard. He sat down and wrote a letter to his son, who was in the state penitentiary.
Dear Fred,
It looks like I won’t be able to plant my garden this year. I’m too old to be digging up a garden plot. If only you were here, I know you’d dig the plot for me and all my troubles would be over.
Love, Dad
A few days later he received a letter from his son.
Dear Dad,
Whatever you do, don’t dig up that garden — that’s where I buried the bodies!
Love, Fred
Early the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.
The following day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Dad,
Go ahead and plant your garden now. That was the best I could do under the circumstances.
And this is what it looks like now after a few weeks of water and sun; I just repotted into a larger pot; now I’m going to stand back and watch what happens. I’ve been thinking I should name it Audrey III!
It looks a bit prehistoric, doesn’t it? All that new reddish growth will unfurl into giant-sized leaves; if you look closely you can see some are already beginning to unfurl. This is one of the largest plants I have. Stay tuned for Audrey III’s growth over the next few weeks.
The Elephant's Trunk 