December 27, 2016
December 17, 2016
December 13, 2016
December 6, 2016
Darlene Love's Christmas Show
It's not Christmas season until I break out the Phil Spector Christmas album from 1963 featuring Darlene Love. I'll be seeing her Christmas show this weekend in the lovely town of Beverly, Massachusetts.
What a swell, early Christmas present. Whoopppeeeeeee!
UPDATE: I now have a new Christmas tradition since Darlene remarked that she'd be back next year. What an incredible voice and what a blowout of a show. Love sang her well-known Christmas songs, her iconic 1960s hits and tunes from her new album. Wonderful band and backup singers. Terrific show all around. I was extremely impressed.
Darlene lent her voice for this hilarious Saturday Night Live short.
What a swell, early Christmas present. Whoopppeeeeeee!
UPDATE: I now have a new Christmas tradition since Darlene remarked that she'd be back next year. What an incredible voice and what a blowout of a show. Love sang her well-known Christmas songs, her iconic 1960s hits and tunes from her new album. Wonderful band and backup singers. Terrific show all around. I was extremely impressed.
November 27, 2016
Motown on Ready Steady Go!
Dusty Springfield introduces Motown to England via RSG!
Here's a terrific documentary about the Motown Revue touring Great Britain in 1965 right before they appeared on Ready Steady Go!
Here's a terrific documentary about the Motown Revue touring Great Britain in 1965 right before they appeared on Ready Steady Go!
November 12, 2016
The English Beat
On a recent vacation to California, a friend and I happened upon a free, outdoor concert. Lo and behold, the highlight of the show was The English Beat, one of my favorite groups from the 1980s. Thanks universe! What a fantastic show. No wonder why I loved them so much.
Their music is a fusion of soul, pop, reggae and ska.
• Save It For Later
• Save It For Later, live on tv
• I Confess
• Mirror in the Bathroom
• Too Nice To Talk To
• Best Friend
• Tears of a Clown
The 1967 version by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.
Their music is a fusion of soul, pop, reggae and ska.
• Save It For Later
• Save It For Later, live on tv
• I Confess
• Mirror in the Bathroom
• Too Nice To Talk To
• Best Friend
• Tears of a Clown
The 1967 version by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.
November 6, 2016
Levi Stubbs
One of my favorite singers of all time, for obvious reasons.
• Baby I Need Your Loving, 1964
• Ask the Lonely on Hullabaloo, 1965
• I Can't Help Myself, live with 2 drummers
• Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever, 1966
• Something About You, 1965
• 3-song medley, 1967
• Bernadette, 1967
• Baby I Need Your Loving, 1964
• Ask the Lonely on Hullabaloo, 1965
• I Can't Help Myself, live with 2 drummers
• Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever, 1966
• Something About You, 1965
• 3-song medley, 1967
• Bernadette, 1967
November 3, 2016
Junior Walker
Junior Walker does his thang at London's Ram Jam Club in 1967. Would someone please hurry up and invent a time machine already?! Thanks in advance. Whooooooooooooaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!
November 1, 2016
best cat video ever
I cannot stop laughing at this cat watching this Psycho scene. It's reacting to a cat toy being waved around, but it's still purrrrrrrfect.
October 29, 2016
October 26, 2016
Six O'Clock Rock tv show
Six O'Clock Rock was a teenage music program from Australia that aired from 1959-1962. All that spinning is making me dizzy.
• The host Johnny O'Keefe, 1959
• December 1960
• The host Johnny O'Keefe, 1959
• December 1960
October 21, 2016
Halloween's a comin'
Shake it with Wednesday while she does the James Brown.
How cute is this circa 1964 elementary school Halloween parade?
Here is some excellent footage of another parade from 1932.
Here is some excellent footage of another parade from 1932.
October 19, 2016
October 15, 2016
Little Green Bag
October 7, 2016
London's Marquee Club
Let's drop into The Marquee for a little afternoon shimmy...
• Michael the Lover, The Ram Jam Band
• You Don't Know Like I Know, The Ram Jam Band
• I Take What I Want, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
• I'll Take Good Care of You, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
• Hey Joe, Jimi Hendrix
• My Generation, The Who
Here's another version of Michael the Lover and Garnet Mimms' original version of I'll Take Good Care of You with intro by Otis.
• I Take What I Want, Sam and Dave here and here
• You Don't Know Like I Know, Sam and Dave
• Michael the Lover, The Ram Jam Band
• You Don't Know Like I Know, The Ram Jam Band
• I Take What I Want, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
• I'll Take Good Care of You, Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
• Hey Joe, Jimi Hendrix
• My Generation, The Who
Here's another version of Michael the Lover and Garnet Mimms' original version of I'll Take Good Care of You with intro by Otis.
• I Take What I Want, Sam and Dave here and here
• You Don't Know Like I Know, Sam and Dave
September 30, 2016
Gladys Knight
Growing up in the 1970s, one of my favorite groups was Gladys Knight and the Pips. I'm so excited to hear that beautiful voice tonight.
I can't stop watching this terrific version of I Heard it Through the Grapevine from a V.A. hospital performance in 1970 during the Vietnam War. What a wonderful thing they did. I love their exit.
• The End Of Our Road
• If I Were Your Woman
• If I Were Your Woman
• I Don't Want To Do Wrong
• I Really Got To Use My Imagination, circa 1975
• I Heard it Through the Grapevine on Soul Train
• Friendship Train
• Neither One of Us
• You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
UPDATE: I was knocked out by Gladys Knight's show. It started with a mash-up of Nitty Gritty and Shake Your Body Down to the Ground. She then sang covers by Adele, Sam Smith and others. Her four young backup singers (2 male, 2 female) came forward and performed a Prince tribute while Gladys hung out in the background, letting them have the spotlight. The tribute ended with Knight coming forward and belting out Purple Rain. She closed the show with a very audience-involved rendition of Midnight Train to Georgia. She's called "The Empress of Soul" for a reason. Wow.
I can't stop watching this terrific version of I Heard it Through the Grapevine from a V.A. hospital performance in 1970 during the Vietnam War. What a wonderful thing they did. I love their exit.
• The End Of Our Road
• If I Were Your Woman
• If I Were Your Woman
• I Don't Want To Do Wrong
• I Really Got To Use My Imagination, circa 1975
• I Heard it Through the Grapevine on Soul Train
• Friendship Train
• Neither One of Us
• You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me
UPDATE: I was knocked out by Gladys Knight's show. It started with a mash-up of Nitty Gritty and Shake Your Body Down to the Ground. She then sang covers by Adele, Sam Smith and others. Her four young backup singers (2 male, 2 female) came forward and performed a Prince tribute while Gladys hung out in the background, letting them have the spotlight. The tribute ended with Knight coming forward and belting out Purple Rain. She closed the show with a very audience-involved rendition of Midnight Train to Georgia. She's called "The Empress of Soul" for a reason. Wow.
September 16, 2016
September 5, 2016
Uptight and outta sight
Here's a 16-year-old Stevie Wonder singing live, circa 1966.
Here's another great clip. It looks like Swingin' Time.
Here's another great clip. It looks like Swingin' Time.
August 28, 2016
Swing the Jingle
Swing the Jingle was a 1965-1974 advertising project that had popular music groups and singers recording the Coke jingle in their own musical style and sound. Have a listen to these groovy radio spots.
August 21, 2016
August 13, 2016
South Dakota Rocks!
The Beatles had a huge influence everywhere. Who knew that South Dakota had such a groovy, mid-1960s music scene?
August 7, 2016
The J. Geils Band
On rainy days when I was forced to hang out indoors, I would rummage through my family's albums and play records. I discovered one of the greatest live albums while listening to Full House.
Here is the band in 1973, a year after Full House was released.
Their concert at Holy Cross College in Massachusetts from 1972
The 1962 version of Homework by Otis Rush
1965's version of Homework by Al Perkins and Betty Bibbs
I finally saw Peter Wolf in 2019. One of the best shows I've ever seen.
Here is the band in 1973, a year after Full House was released.
Their concert at Holy Cross College in Massachusetts from 1972
The 1962 version of Homework by Otis Rush
1965's version of Homework by Al Perkins and Betty Bibbs
I finally saw Peter Wolf in 2019. One of the best shows I've ever seen.
August 2, 2016
July 23, 2016
July 17, 2016
July 8, 2016
June 25, 2016
June 22, 2016
June 17, 2016
June 14, 2016
New England Rock and Roll History
I recently discovered the Music Museum of New England which contains intriguing, first-hand accounts of growing up in the early years
of rock and roll. The Surf at Nantasket Beach was the swingingest.
Sonny and Cher at Canobie Lake Park shortly after becoming big.
The Rockin' Ramrods were the house band at The Surf.
The Stones played the Manning Bowl and mayhem ensued.
Suffolk Downs in East Boston hosted The Beatles in 1966.
of rock and roll. The Surf at Nantasket Beach was the swingingest.
Sonny and Cher at Canobie Lake Park shortly after becoming big.
The Rockin' Ramrods were the house band at The Surf.
The Stones played the Manning Bowl and mayhem ensued.
Suffolk Downs in East Boston hosted The Beatles in 1966.
June 10, 2016
May 29, 2016
Something's Burning
When my mom cooked steak, the smoke alarm would always go off.
We would all then sing this. Happy Memorial Day and watch the steak.
We would all then sing this. Happy Memorial Day and watch the steak.
May 13, 2016
April 15, 2016
Al Green
Magnificent, mostly-live performances by Al Green.
• You Ought to Be With Me
• Love and Happiness – Live on Soul Train
• Tired of Being Alone (in pleather hot pants no less)
• Tired of Being Alone – Live
• Let's Stay Together – Live
April 10, 2016
Sunday afternoon dose of The Beatles
The Beatles perform live on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1965.
• I Feel Fine • I'm Down • Ticket to Ride • Help!
How endearing are these girls in their cateye glasses? The girl behind them in the center is bawling her head off. Poor thing. :o
• I Feel Fine • I'm Down • Ticket to Ride • Help!
How endearing are these girls in their cateye glasses? The girl behind them in the center is bawling her head off. Poor thing. :o
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