December 31, 2017

Tower of Power

A friend bought some tickets to see Tower of Power at one of my favorite venues for Friday night’s show. I had no idea what I was in for. The band is now fronted by the charismatic, entertaining “Memphis Soul Man” Marcus Scott and the rhythm and horn sections were superb. This show blew me away. It also didn't hurt that we were in the second row.

My parents always relinquished control of the car radio to their kids.
I knew all of the latest pop songs from the car. I’ll often hear a tune and immediately think “car radio song”. So Very Hard to Go is my quintessential car radio song. How can I not throw in What Is Hip?

Very interesting interviews with Emilio Castillo and David Garibaldi



Have a listen to Stop by Howard Tate, one of the songs mentioned in Castillo's interview (above) that inspired the Tower of Power sound.

December 20, 2017

Joy to the World

This is my Christmas present this year. Screw aluminum.

December 17, 2017

Santa smokes?

He comes down the chimney and IS a chimney. Happy Christmas!

December 9, 2017

Three Dog Night

Earth is the insane asylum of the universe. Yet the show must go on.

Check them out early in their career on the Hy Lit tv show. This syndicated program from Philly aired from 1965-71. You go, white boy.

Easy to Be Hard    • Liar    • Eli's Coming     Shambala
Mama Told Me Not to Come     • One     • Black and White
Family of Man     • Joy to the World     Celebrate

December 3, 2017

leaf me alone



Billy Fury performs Nothin' Shakin' on Ready Steady Go!.

November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving

Most importantly, give thanks. Then eat, eat and eat some more. Just
do it 'til ya satisfied. Have that 5th slice of pie in your sweatpants.

November 18, 2017

November 11, 2017

Flowers on the Wall

The Statler Brothers perform for all you country bumpkins.

October 27, 2017

Candy Man

Every Halloween I'm reminded of all the candy that I only had at this time of the year – Razzles, Good and Plenty, Milk Duds, Pom Poms, Bit-O-Honey and especially Baby Ruth bars (rich in dextrose!).

I can't wait to decorate my Christmas table this year with Baby Ruths.

Roy Orbison sings Candy Man, circa 1965.
• The Buckinghams perform Candy Man on a local Chicago talent program in 1965. I think the go-go girls are trying to fly away.

October 21, 2017

Sweet Jesus



Listen to what Lawrence Welk described as a "modern spiritual."

October 14, 2017

Splendor in the Grass

Here's a good ole classic for a rainy day if you've never seen it.

October 4, 2017

Barcelona, Spain

If you dig architecture (Antoni Gaudi), art (Picasso, Miro, Dali), a blow-out of a festival and delectable food (tapas, pinchos), then go
to Barcelona before you die. Did I mention sangria and mojitos?

During the third weekend in September is La Merce, a festival that began in 1902 – musical acts, performances and lots of drumming (check this out). When was the last time you went to a fun parade?
For me it was never, until I saw The Parade of Giants.

The people of Spain can really throw a party. Arriba! Andale!



The swell drumming in the movie above is from this video.

September 29, 2017

don't point

I cannot stop laughing at the hilarious paintings of these fools.

September 16, 2017

September 10, 2017

Honey Lantree

Honey wails on the skins in 1965's Pop Gear, a.k.a. Go Go Mania.

Tobacco Road, Nashville Teens • Big Energy, Sounds Incorporated

September 2, 2017

Larry Graham and Dave Koz

I like to keep my posts short and sweet, but I need to gush for this one. I received a last-minute invite to see a legend perform at the cozy and wonderful Cabot Theater last night. It ended up being one of the best shows I've ever seen. The energy and talent were overwhelming and the audience participation was a blast. They had everyone singing, groovin', and clapping double-time at one point. Larry Graham, funk pioneer, was one of the original members of Sly and the Family Stone and invented the bass-slapping technique. He also collaborated extensively with Prince. Their renditions of Sly's and Prince's songs were perfection with Koz as the horn section with his sax. Prince was looking down for sure.

Graham playing bass with Sly and the Family Stone
Dave Koz with Postmodern Jukebox

August 26, 2017

Saturday morning dose of kitsch

I love this alien. The man with the alligator head, not so much.
Looking forward to seeing this exhibit at the PEM in Salem, MA.

August 19, 2017

Nashville Cats

The Lovin' Spoonful pay tribute to the Nashville Cats in 1966.

August 5, 2017

July 22, 2017

Leonard Cohen

I was recently telling my friend Suzanne about this beautiful song.

July 15, 2017

here piggy wiggy

Just when everything is groovy, your pig goes missing. Damn it.

July 9, 2017

Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)

Who better to have backing you up than The Edwin Hawkins Singers. They sing live with Melanie on a Dutch tv program in 1970. Wowza!

July 4, 2017

Happy 4th of July

Let freedom ring! And I'll take mustard on my hot dog please.

June 29, 2017

Gladys Kravitz

We've all encountered those pesky gossips. What's up with them?

June 24, 2017

hey space cadet


Planning a trip on Virgin Galactic? Get a new do for the occasion.


June 17, 2017

Elvis Costello

In an era when my friends and peers were swooning to Journey and REO Speedwagon, I thankfully had Elvis (the second one). Explore:

Pump It Up
Oliver's Army
The Beat
Radio, Radio
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
Watching the Detectives
Accidents Will Happen
Green Shirt
Alison live
This Year's Girl


June 10, 2017

Shebang tv show

Here's a complete episode of Shebang from 1967 featuring Motown. Shebang was an LA-based dance show that aired from 1965-1968.

For me, Kasem will always be the voice of Shaggy. Punch it!


June 2, 2017

that's a spicy meatball

An early birthday present is taking me to see Mamma Mia! at Boston's Opera House tonight. Listening to the radio in the 1970s, Abba was all over the place. I cannot stop thinking of this commercial from 1969.


May 28, 2017

De La Soul

If you dig 1980s and early 90s hip hop, then you probably already know these guys. If not, sharing is caring...



Say No Go
Me, Myself and I
The Magic Number
Buddy
Eye Know


Eclectic sampling at its best:

Five Feet High and Rising, Johnny Cash (1959)
You Showed Me, The Turtles (1968)
Peg, Steely Dan (1977)
Schoolhouse Rock (1973)
I Can't Go for That, Hall and Oates (1981)

May 13, 2017

so long



A rock and roll pioneer and trailblazer has passed. A huge thanks to Chuck Berry. The clips below are from a 1965 Belgian television show.

Maybellene
Roll Over Beethoven
Memphis
No Particular Place to Go
Promised Land/Johnny B. Goode medley

May 6, 2017

Good, Good Lovin'



I'll be seeing the tremendous Darlene Love tonight in Boston and I'm sure she'll be getting some good, good lovin' from the audience. In the video above, The Blossoms perform on the very last episode of Shindig! in January 1966. Groove along with them on Shindig!:

Dancing in the Street
Needle in a Haystack
I Like It Like That
Night Time is the Right Time with The Righteous Brothers
• Backing up Aretha Franklin

UPDATE: I was once again blown away. Gotta love Love!

April 29, 2017

Shirley Ellis

1965 was an energetic year. It was a good one for Shirley too.


April 22, 2017

Saturday morning dose of the 70s

Time to put on my "Get on Down!" t-shirt. Yeah, baby.

April 14, 2017