Ken Nordine passed away today at the age of 98. You may not know Ken's name, but you know his voice. Nordine has done more than a small amount of voiceover work, including this legendary Levi's ad that might just make you OK with plaid pants. But Nordine is best known for Word Jazz, a … Continue reading Rest in peace, Ken Nordine: Colors (1966)
Author: Len
New this week in ’69: February 15
(Above: The top debut of the week.) February 15, 1969 Yesterday Pope Paul VI issued a document called Mysterii Paschalis. One of the things that it did was remove names from the Roman calendar of saints. Among them was Valentine, even though we still celebrate the saint today. Five days from now President Nixon will … Continue reading New this week in ’69: February 15
Great lost hit: Us3, “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” (1994)
(Above: If you haven't taken this off the shelf in a while, now's a good time.) I've had a lot of extra car time in the last few days due to the weather. One of the ways I pass the time on the commute is with - why not? - an iPod. Some days I'll … Continue reading Great lost hit: Us3, “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” (1994)
New this week in ’69: February 8
(Above: If you look up "groovy," you get this image.) February 8, 1969 The final issue of The Saturday Evening Post is published. It makes a brief return as an every-so-often magazine a year later. Tomorrow morning, a new airplane will make its maiden flight - a jumbo jet that Boeing has dubbed the 747. … Continue reading New this week in ’69: February 8
Soul sounds: WGES-AM/Chicago Top 30 Tunes, February 1, 1962
(Above: The back of the WGES survey, complete with on-air lineup.) One of the great tragedies of history occurs any time we lose something we can't get back. Along the way to doing the research for my dissertation, I learned quickly that the efforts made to preserve popular culture aren't equal, and there's no better … Continue reading Soul sounds: WGES-AM/Chicago Top 30 Tunes, February 1, 1962
New this week in ’69: February 1
(Above: Tommy James and a blogger, March 2009.) Continuing on with our series - it's a new month, and there's new songs to write about that are turning 50. February 1, 1969 On this date President Nixon starts meeting with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger to plan talks with China. Andrew Brietbart, who founds the … Continue reading New this week in ’69: February 1
Rest in peace, James Ingram: “Just Once” (1981)
Word circulated this afternoon that Grammy-award winning singer James Ingram passed away today at the age of 66. In total Ingram put 21 records on the Billboard R&B chart and crossed over to the Pop chart 11 times. All but three of those songs made the Top 40, and two of them - "Baby Come … Continue reading Rest in peace, James Ingram: “Just Once” (1981)
Grade school earworms: Songs Of the Letter People (1972)
(Dude had an appetite, apparently.) I'm susceptible to earworms - those bits of music that get inside of your head and stay there. Usually, they happen when you hear a song, and then the whole tune (or a piece of it) stay on repeat in your mind. In many cases the worse the song is, … Continue reading Grade school earworms: Songs Of the Letter People (1972)
Rest in peace, Michel Legrand: Noel Harrison, “The Windmills Of Your Mind” (1968)
Michel Legrand passed away in Paris yesterday at the age of 86. Here's where it's tempting to say "Where do I know that name from?" It could be from the three Oscars that he one: one for Yentl, one for Summer of '42, and one for The Thomas Crown Affair (the subject of this post). … Continue reading Rest in peace, Michel Legrand: Noel Harrison, “The Windmills Of Your Mind” (1968)
New this week in ’69: January 25
(It went to #2, because CCR never got to #1.) On this day in 1969, heavy rains in Southern California trigger mudslides that killed nine people. The winter storm system will take 95 lives in total and cause almost a billion dollars in damage in today's money. Albert Hammond was wrong. The following day Elvis … Continue reading New this week in ’69: January 25
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 