Years ago I remember listening to John Landecker's morning show at WJMK/Chicago, and he made a comment about how he'd like his next job to be the guy who picks out old music to use in movies and television shows. The right song at the right time can evoke a pretty powerful feeling. Not only … Continue reading Fast away the old year passes: The Zombies, “This Will Be Our Year” (1969)
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New this week in ’69: November 1
(Above: Wal-Mart used to look a bit different.) November 1, 1969 The Internet turned fifty this past week - sort of. It was on October 29, 1969 that the first message was sent over ARPANET, a forerunner of the modern net, from UCLA to Stanford. The plan was to send the letters "L-O-G" to Stanford, … Continue reading New this week in ’69: November 1
Rest in peace, Vinnie Bell: Ferrante and Teicher, “Midnight Cowboy” (1969)
Word circulated that Vincent "Vinnie" Bell passed away on October 3 at the age of 84. Bell's is not a name you would immediately recognize if you're looking for it on record labels. That is, of course, unless you happened to pick up a copy of "Airport Love Theme" in 1970, which lists him as … Continue reading Rest in peace, Vinnie Bell: Ferrante and Teicher, “Midnight Cowboy” (1969)
Rest in peace, Dr. John: “Right Place Wrong Time” (1973)
(Above: 1973's In the Right Place LP cover) Malcolm John Rebennack, better known as Dr. John, passed away today in New Orleans of a suspected heart attack. He was 77. Renneback's career started as a backup and session musician in the 1950s. He cut his teeth in New Orleans, working with luminaries such as Professor … Continue reading Rest in peace, Dr. John: “Right Place Wrong Time” (1973)
Rest in peace, Doris Day: “Everybody Loves a Lover” (1958)
Word circulated through the media this morning that actress and pop star Doris Day passed away at the age of 97. In a bit of irony, I got the news in my Facebook feed just as I was beginning a lecture in a communications class about death and mourning on social media, and how that … Continue reading Rest in peace, Doris Day: “Everybody Loves a Lover” (1958)
New this week in ’69: March 15
(Above: Do not stare directly at this album cover.) March 15, 1969 In the news today: there's a lot of war. President Nixon extends the Vietnam bombing zone into Cambodia, and the bombs begin falling Tuesday. It's a secret mission that the press doesn't find out about until three months later. Meanwhile the Soviet Union … Continue reading New this week in ’69: March 15
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)
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)
40 Christmases ago in Chicago: The WLS Top Forty-Fives, December 23, 1978
(Above: Clearly, someone was keeping score at home.) Christmas 1978 would have placed me in the fifth grade at Helen Keller Elementary School in Tinley Park, Illinois. The upcoming year would see me start to pretend that I was on a radio station for a class assignment; this career aptitude (or ineptitude) would not be … Continue reading 40 Christmases ago in Chicago: The WLS Top Forty-Fives, December 23, 1978
Leonard Chess at 100: Jackie Brentston and his Delta Cats, “Rocket 88” (1951)
(Above: Leonard Chess, who I don't think looks like Adrien Brody.) One hundred years ago today - March 12, 1917 - Lejnor Czyz was born in Motal, which was in Poland then but is in Belarus today. I'm sure that no one in the village had any idea that he'd go on to become a … Continue reading Leonard Chess at 100: Jackie Brentston and his Delta Cats, “Rocket 88” (1951)
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 