Word circulated yesterday that Antoine "Fats" Domino, regarded by many as one of the godfathers of rock and roll, passed away yesterday at the age of 89. Fats was a survivor in the literal sense of the word. When Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans in 2005, Domino remained in his 9th ward home, riding the … Continue reading Rest in peace, Fats Domino: “Lady Madonna” (1968)
collecting
Rest in peace, Jimmy Beaumont: The Skyliners, “Since I Don’t Have You” (1959)
(Above: Sheet music for "Since I Don't Have You.") Read this morning that Jimmy Beaumont passed away in Pennsylvania at the age of 76. That might not be a name that you immediately recognize, but you more than likely have heard his work. He's also the subject of a great article/obit in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. … Continue reading Rest in peace, Jimmy Beaumont: The Skyliners, “Since I Don’t Have You” (1959)
Songs of sock hops: The Billboard Hot 100: October 6, 1984
(Above: This sort of rain calls for a forecast of drama and commitment.) Another weekend, another opportunity to catch the VJ Big 40 Countdown on Sirius XM's 80s on 8 Channel. This weekend they chose to go back to 1984 - my junior year of high school. It would have been right around Homecoming time … Continue reading Songs of sock hops: The Billboard Hot 100: October 6, 1984
Positively Petty: A TP Top 40
The news early this morning confirming the death of rock legend Tom Petty is still a shock. Petty, just 66, had completed a major tour this summer and was active on his Twitter account as recently as Saturday. I alluded in yesterday's post to a long-lost mixtape of all Petty songs being a staple in … Continue reading Positively Petty: A TP Top 40
Soundtrack for the first day of school (Various)
(Above: First day of school, 1974.) Today is the first day of school for Grand Valley State University (and for many other colleges, high schools, grade schools, etc.) Many schools have started already: you've no doubt noticed your time line filling up with pictures of kids heading off for school as relieved parents plan to … Continue reading Soundtrack for the first day of school (Various)
Summer’s almost over: The Billboard Hot 100, August 23, 1986
(Above: Madonna, from the video of the song sitting at #1.) It's just about the end of August, 1986. My friends from my high school class, in most cases, are headed off to their freshmen years of college. I'm not going anywhere; I didn't necessarily make the best choices about college at the end of … Continue reading Summer’s almost over: The Billboard Hot 100, August 23, 1986
A celestial soundtrack: Music To Watch an Eclipse By, August 21, 2017
(No, she's not on it.) In case you have been avoiding any and all news coverage for the last week, today's the day when a good portion of the United States is plunged into darkness for reasons other than someone saying "Hold my beer while I do this a sec." For the first time since … Continue reading A celestial soundtrack: Music To Watch an Eclipse By, August 21, 2017
It was fifty – and forty – years ago today: The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
(Above: Odds are good that I don't have to explain what this is.) Much has been written, and will be written yet, about the anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. June 1 is the anniversary of the American release, as it was out in Britain for several days before that. … Continue reading It was fifty – and forty – years ago today: The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
She’s your cover now: The Songs of Bob Dylan
(Above: Dylan from the Blonde on Blonde gatefold, with pliers.) Bob Dylan turns 76 today. I've been writing this blog for about nine months now and have yet to include a Dylan song in it. In a way, that's a means of checking myself: I love his music, and would be tempted to do … Continue reading She’s your cover now: The Songs of Bob Dylan
A sixth-grader’s records: The Billboard Hot 100, May 17, 1980
(Above: The place where my radio career started, in a very loose sense of the word.) The big story in the middle of May 1980 was the eruption of Mount Saint Helens in Washington State. More than fifty people lost their lives in the blast, and it dominated the news cycle for several days. … Continue reading A sixth-grader’s records: The Billboard Hot 100, May 17, 1980
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 