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Talk about slaying... Manfred Mann's Earth Band slayed Bruce's song on the Midnight Special. They made it their own. One of my favorite MS performances. They were on fire that night! I'll watch this performance at least a couple or three times a year.
What a performance! Enjoy!!!
https://youtu.be/E5tJxTZOcHA?list=RDE5tJxTZOcHA
dressed up like a d oucheQuote:
Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg
*** HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES FROM RZ MUSIC THREAD ***
181. Today is my 79th birthday. Can you identify me ?
I was the founder and lead singer of the band, Spirit . We had the hit song "I Got a line on You." (Peaked at #25 on Billboard Hot 100 in 1969 )
I left Spirit to form the band Jo Jo Gunne. We took our band name from the Chuck Berry song. We had the hit song "Run, Run, Run." (Peaked at #27 on Billboard Hot 100 in 1972)
My biggest hit came from my second solo album. It was the title track of the album and peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978 and featured slide guitar work from a famous rock guitarist of a legendary band.
I composed the score for the NBC version of The Office ; also the entire score of Nightmare on Elm Street 5 ; the soundtrack for NCIS: Los Angeles and much more.
Who am I and what was the title of my biggest 70's hit. Some say it's the best Yacht Rock classic ever.
Spirit wrote timeless music. It sounds as fresh today as it did back then. Jay Ferguson is the person that you are thinking of. And 'Thunder Island' is his biggest hit.
Here is Spirit song written by Jay Ferguson that always gets my toe a'tapping. "Sends them reaching out for their dollar"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltsF6x17LkY&list=RDltsF6x17LkY&start_radio =1
Yes, I saw Jo Jo Gunne.
https://randymeisnerretrospective.co...ril-28th-1973/
Jo Jo Gunne "Run. Run. Run." lyrics.
I kid you not.
Quote:
Doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Run run run
Run run run
Doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Run run run
Run run run
You'd better ride on baby
You was born outside of the law
Run
Run
Doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Run run run
Run run run
Doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Run run run
Run run run
Oh, load up your mama
We'll ride on out to the line
Run
Run
Run
Oh
Run
Doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Run run run
Run run run
Doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo
Run run run
Run run run
Oh welcome to the party
We're all just papers in the wind
Run
Run
Frey: "That crowd ain’t big enough for an encore." Man, Frey and Henley were a-holes from the genesis.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg
Happy 79th BDay, Jay Ferguson !
https://youtu.be/m_iU0sxxbiM?list=RDm_iU0sxxbiM
Joe Walsh did the lead slide guitar work on this track, which contributed to its signature sound.
My favorite Jay Ferguson lyric:
They treat you like a dog, but you're only human
You miss your home, Lord, you miss that woman
The captain laughs, he says, "You boys want some sex?
You can squeeze the sails, you can lick the decks"
--- Jay Ferguson("Shakedown Cruise")
Another Yacht Rock classic:
https://youtu.be/eCwdIUWBltA?list=RDeCwdIUWBltA
A couple of more ON THIS DATE IN ROCK HISTORY questions:
182. On this date , MAY 10, in 1969 this band played a special performance at the White House , as guests of Tricia Nixon. According to the band's frontman, they snorted cocaine off of Abraham Lincoln's desk in the library, which they had been given access to for their dressing room. One bandmember was so high and intoxicated that he fell off the stage at least five times during the set in what was described as a "notorious and bad" performance. The bandmember who kept falling off the stage was also seen hitting on LBJ's daughter in front of her husband.
Who were these bad boys?
183. On this date in 1964, this British gal made her TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, singing her hit that peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and # 4 on the UK Singles charts. It was her debut solo single. This same song charted several more times .
In 1976, a Scottish pop rock band of teen idols took it again to #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the UK singles chart. My gal, Nicolette Larson, took the song to #53 in 1982. Her record was produced by her hubby, Andrew Gold. The Tourists also covered the song( #4 UK Singles) in '79 and Samantha Fox took the song to #31 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989 . The song's writer , Mike Hawker, wrote the song for his new bride, Jean Ryder.
Can you name the singer who debuted the song on The Ed Sullivan Show on this date in 1964 and can you name the Scottish pop boy band who made it a big hit again in 1976?
182 is the Turtles
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/arti..._stoned-151574
183. The 1976 Scottish boy band has to be THE BAY CITY ROLLERS. The song must be I only wanna be with you.
The girl on Ed Sullivan and his really big shoe might be dating the Son of a Preacher Man.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg
https://youtu.be/HeZDgZqVd64?list=RDHeZDgZqVd64
https://youtu.be/VVKyIsRjxls?list=RDVVKyIsRjxls
One of my 80's "Crushes" :
https://youtu.be/7lVZ-Kq0c2Q?list=RD7lVZ-Kq0c2Q
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg
#4 /March 1970 :
https://youtu.be/bDRbF80NKDU?list=RDbDRbF80NKDU
#16/March 1970
https://youtu.be/Czuc4q4axqU?list=RDCzuc4q4axqU
184. This is the story of one of the most bizarre songs in the history of Billboard charted music. We have to go back more than 55 years for this one. The song in question here was recorded in 1970 by a five-member American pop band that formed in the Wilkes Barre /Scranton PA area back in 1965. They released eight singles during their active run between 1969 and 1975, but it the biggest of those singles that is the subject of this question. In fact, it is the only major hit this band ever had.
The band had signed a single record deal with Scepter Records (same record label as BJ Thomas). But when the label refused to provide the financial assistance to promote the record, the band called on a young 20 year-old singer/songwriter for help. The writer's plan was to let controversy promote the record. He would write a song with an implied subject matter so controversial that the song would be banned, thus generating interest and boosting record sales. We all know that controversy creates interest.
The writer's inspiration came from the country song " Sixteen Tons" and the Tennessee Williams play Suddenly, Last Summer, combining a tragic miner's tale with the taboo topic of cannibalism.
The writer wanted the song to get played on the radio but , at the same time, he wanted the dark, macabre subject matter to get the song banned by radio stations to create buzz. To get past radio censors and drum up buzz, and make the song appealing to listeners, he disguised the borderline-gruesome lyrics to a degree by juxtaposing them against a light, bouncy melody with a heavy emphasis on brass and string orchestrated and conducted by Howard Reeves. Whenever I think of this song , I am reminded of Warren Zevon's "Exciteable Boy," a song with a very dark subject matter of rape and murder of a prom date , but with a light, bouncy, pop melody.
The writer's plan worked to perfection. Radio stations caught on to the dark theme and immediately started banning the track. However, the controversy made teens highly curious, leading to massive record-buying and relentless song requests that forced other stations to play it to keep up with demand . Another thing of note, once Scepter Records realized the song was climbing the charts, they panicked and tried to quiet the outrage by telling DJs that the subject of the song was actually a mule, rather than a human. The writer pushed back , however, confirming the song was indeed about cannibalism.
The young writer and arranger of this song also played piano on the track, just as he did on "Tracy, " the hit song by the Cufflinks in 1969. He also played the signature piano riff on the '76 hit "A Glass of Champagne," by the British rock band , Sailor, and then went on to have his own #1 hit in 1979 and another top 10 hit in 1980.
Do you know the title of this controversial song , which peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1971(it was #87 for all of 1971) ? Also, do you know the name of the writer , arranger, and piano player on the record? And , can you name his huge hit, which peaked at #1 in 1979 , and holds the unique distinction of being the only pop song in history to ascend to #1 on Billboard in two different decades(same chart run) ? It was the last #1 song of the 70's.
I know this because it is one of the worst songs of all time, and I want to say Dave Barry did a book and mentioned it. There is cannibalism in the lyrics!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg
Timothy by the Buoys. Rupert Holmes wrote it, played piano.
Terrible!
Good job, Dom.
#17 in May , 1971:
https://youtu.be/AXn0uIF60iU?list=RDAXn0uIF60iU
Trapped in a mine what had caved in
And everyone knows the only ones left
Was Joe and me and Tim
When they broke through to pull us free
The only ones left to tell the tale
Was Joe and me
Timothy, Timothy
Where on earth did you go?
Timothy, Timothy
God, why don't I know?
Hungry as hell, no food to eat
And Joe said that he would sell his soul
For just a piece of meat
One enough to swing for two
And Joe said to me, "I'll take a swing
And then there's some for you"
Timothy, Timothy
Joe was looking at you
Timothy, Timothy
God, what did we do?
I must have blacked out just 'round then
'Cause the very next thing that I could see
Was the light of the day again
My stomach was full as it could be
And nobody ever got around to finding Timothy
Timothy, Timothy
Where on earth did you go?
Timothy, Timothy
God, why don't I know?
Timothy, yeah, oh Timothy
Timothy, yeah, Timothy
--- Rupert Holmes
#1 in 1979 :
https://youtu.be/whwp1PeCiLc?list=RDwhwp1PeCiLc
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dom Heffner
Yeah, I knew Barry called it the worse song ever written. I disagree. There are many that are far worse. I'd listen to "Timothy" all day long before I'd listen to Debby Boone or Bobby McFerrin.
I could get on board if you were saying 'Escape' was one of the worst songs of all time. Every time it comes on the oldies station here, I feel like gnawing on the DJ's leg. Come to think of it, Timothy probably was thinking about 'Escape' the whole time they were gnawing on his leg.
It was one of those songs back in the day, like with Abba or Air Supply, that we told our friends what a piece of crap it was but when we were alone in the car and the song came on we sang along to the piece of crap and knew every word of the lyrics.Quote:
Originally Posted by texasdave
Back to the "Timothy" song for just a moment. There is a really odd coincidence around the backstory to that song. The band was from the Wilkes-Barre area of Pennsylvania The song's setting deeply resonated in Pennsylvania's coal-mining region. Many listeners connected it to the real-life 1963 Sheppton Mine Disaster in Schuylkill County, which also sparked rumors(apparently unfounded) of cannibalism. However, Holmes stated he had never even heard of the Sheppton disaster until after the song was already released. The band members have also confirmed that Rupert had never heard of the incident prior to the release of the song. I've read interviews where Rupert has said he wouldn't have written the song had he knew of the incident. I've seen interviews of Rupert, who seems like the nicest, most humble, and appreciative guy you'll find anywhere. I believe him when he said the song received no inspiration whatsoever from the horrible '63 Sheppton Mine Disaster. But, man , what an odd concidence !
Much to the chagrin of my friend, tdave, let's go back just for a moment to "Escape."
Do you know what the line " If you like pina coladas, gettin' caught in the rain" was originally ? It was "If you like Humphrey Bogart, gettin' caught in the rain." Rupert made a split second decision(about ten seconds, in fact) when recording the song to change the words from "Humphrey Bogart" to "pina coladas." Good choice, Sherlock(Holmes)!
Also, many think that "Escape" was the last #1 of the '70's as well as the first #1 of the '80's. However, KC and the Sunshine Band was #1 on Billboard for the first week in 1980, with "Escape" going back to #1 in the second week. There was a rumor that someone from Atlantic Records(KC's label) paid off Billboard to switch Rupert's song and KC's and make "Please Don't Go" the first #1 song in 1980. You see, Rupert's label(Infinity) had just gone out of business and the talk was that some important folks wanted Atlantic to be in the top spot at the beginning of the new decade. There might be something to it. It is kinda odd that "Escape" went right back to #1 in Week 2 of 1980 on Billboard, and remained #1 on Cashbox and Record World.
If you like the song, or even if you don't , here's a really interesting and enjoyable video with Rupert talking about how the song came to be, including his split second decision to change "Humphrey Bogart" to "pina coladas."
https://youtu.be/4eUNZrxDQd8
I may be too young to appreciate it out of its context.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg
Songs about cannibalism are tough to relate to haha
185. This Tongan-American band of eight brothers and sisters from Minneapolis got their name from a big Elton John hit of the 1970's . Their family name of Wolfgramm was a difficult stage name, so they originally called themselves "The Quasars," after a popular brand of television from way back in the day. I'm sure most of your parents or grandparents had a Quasar at one point in time. I know mine did. Anyway, this name was short-lived, as they wanted something that was shorter, punchier, and easier to remember. So, the band's manager suggested the name that borrows from the famous Elton John song. That's the name they adopted.
The band of youngsters had five top 10 hits in the latter part of the 1980's . One of their songs was famously featured on the Beverly Hill Cop II soundtrack. But it's their biggest hit that I want to feature here. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March of 1987 and was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart for two weeks. It was written by a well-known singer/ writer/arranger/composer for his young daughter. The singer/ songwriter wanted to pen a song that his 10 year-old daughter, Wendy, would enjoy listening to, especially knowing it came from her father.
Sadly, and tragically, Wendy died suddenly from an undiagnosed brain tumor before the song was ever released. The little girl never got to hear the song her father wrote for her. That singer/ songwriter was... Rupert Holmes.
Do you remember this group of young Mormon siblings(no, not that one) who hit it big in the mid and , especially, the late eighties and had five top 10 hits, including the Rupert Holmes' penned ballad that he wrote for his daughter, Wendy?
Who was the group and what was the hit song ?
You Got It All - The JetsQuote:
Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Yeah, not saying I particularly ate it up but it did have pretty nice , upbeat melody. I like the Zevon song about rape and murder , better, though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dom Heffner
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg
Billboard #3 (1987)
I wonder if Rupert could even listen to this song back in the day. It would be way too difficult for me. The young lady singing lead is Elizabeth Wolfgramm. She was only 12 years old when she recorded "All Over You." The recording took place in 1985, and because she was too young to understand the song's romantic lyrics, her manager famously told her to imagine she was singing the song to a puppy to get the right emotional delivery. She nailed it!
https://youtu.be/Dr1pZHPExlE?list=RDDr1pZHPExlE
I think you meant to say: Songs about cannibalism are tough to swallow. :laugh:Quote:
Songs about cannibalism are tough to relate to haha
Rupert Holmes may be the All-American male, but the only two song lyrics that I know from him are about 1) cannibalizing a fellow worker, and 2) cheating on your 'own lovely lady'. :D
He also penned a NY Times Bestseller in 2023 entitled Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide.Quote:
Originally Posted by texasdave
One of the things I always liked about Holmes is the same thing that attracted me to Zevon's music. Both enjoyed dark and/or twisted humor/satire. Zevon had real demons. I think with Holmes it's a case of being extremely curious about the nature of human behavior... even really bad human behavior. I'm the same way. Always been fascinated with serial killers.
Billboard #6 (1980) :
https://youtu.be/KKfZ_OO0oYw?list=RDKKfZ_OO0oYw
Today's Yacht Rock Revisit comes from a guy whose first band was the Oat Stump Straddlers, a bluegrass band he formed in high school. He also played in LA garage bands Western Union and The Red Roosters. He rose to prominence as the lead singer and keyboardist for the psychedelic jazz-rock band Spirit (1967) and later founded the rock band Jo Jo Gunne (1971). We mentioned him a few days ago.
This is a fun summer song. Jay Ferguson with "Shakedown Cruise."
Peaked at #31 in 1979 :
https://youtu.be/3lS57QJVUTI?list=RD3lS57QJVUTI
186. The multifaceted American artist below worked as a cartoonist, playwright, poet, songwriter, and children's author. He was a prolific songwriter (more than 800 songs to his credit) who wrote every song but one on this band's first two album releases in the early 70's. Who's the band and who's the songwriter?
https://cdn-test.poetryfoundation.or...48698c4f5.jpeg
Timely...Quote:
Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg
Shel Silverstein
Without his talents we probably never would have heard of Dr Hook. He also wrote "A Boy Named Sue" and "The Unicorn Song". Folks actually from Ireland are quick to point out that the Unicorn song is not Irish. They don't generally play that in pubs in Ireland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EPsuOEH1fY
Shel Silverstein's pairing with Dr Hook was a match made in rock 'n roll heaven. His talents worked so well with the personality of that band.
As many of you know, "Sylvia's Mother" is autobiographical for Shel and very true. Some of the names and places were changed but the story was true. Sylvia was Sylvia Pandolfi, Shel's ex-gf, who he attempted to call to try and win back. Sylvia's mother , who intercepted the call , was Louisa Pandolfi. Oddly enough, she lived to be 101 years old and outlived Shel by 10 years. In the song, Sylvia was packing to leave to marry a man in Galveston. Actually, she was packing for Mexico City to marry a painter and bullfighter there.
For those interested, here's the real Sylvia and her mother, Louisa, talking about the events that inspired the classic Dr Hook hit, "Sylvia's Mother." Dennis Locorriere did such a great job expressing the hurt felt during a phone call like that. I've been on the bad side of a Sylvia's Mother call. Not a good feeling. Great job by Dennis.
https://youtu.be/qZMUx2CfpXI
Just popping in to say I freaking love Thunder Island. It’s the sound of summer beach cocktail hour for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg
One of my favorite memories: Years ago when we lived in Virginia Beach, my wife and I bought a condo right on the Chesapeake Bay. It was in rough shape, which is why we could afford it. We fixed it up nice with the help of some great friends.
I had recently gotten into standup paddle boarding. It’s a great workout and also can be incredibly relaxing, and it’s an unbelievable feeling to essentially be standing on the water. After work, I would come home, walk down the back steps, grab my board and be in the water in no time. I would go for a sunset paddle, watch the fish jump and see the pelicans fly by so close, I felt like I could reach out and touch them. My ritual was that once I was done, I would come inside, grab a beer, and blast Thunder Island while I looked out at the water from our balcony. There was no better feeling in the world.
Sha la, la, la, la, la, my lady
In the sun with your hair undone
Can you hear me now
Callin' your name from across the bay?
Happy belated birthday to Jay Ferguson!
RIP to the guy whose voice was a big part of the soundtrack of my youth. The distinctive voice of Dr Hook.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...XcOcOCJXhYOg&s
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichRed
Just a fantastic summer song. Loved Thunder Island and Shakedown Cruise. Gosh, to go back to those fun times!!! Jay is a very talented writer and musician.
Shel wrote more than 100 songs for country legend , Bobby Bare, including the hit "Marie Laveau." He wrote "A Boy Named Sue," which went to #1 on the country chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Cash. He wrote "One's on the Way," the country hit for Loretta Lynn. And, of course, he wrote pretty much every Dr Hook song on their first two albums, including "Sylvia's Mother" and "Cover of the Rolling Stone."
The emotion that Dennis put into this is right on. Every version I've seen has that, including the one on Youtube done on Shel's houseboat where Shel is doing the harmonica part.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg
I think the Galveston thing is still accurate because Mexico is "down Galveston way" from where she was living at the time
I'll also add that I don't think Shel would've made a good husband. I doubt he would have stayed faithful to anyone but that's just my view from afar. He had incredible creative skills but I don't think he was much of a family man