UB40

One of the tightest, most "together" bands I've seen live. Great musicians these guys, even if they are just playing 3 chords! When I FINALLY did get to see them the couple of times I was lucky enough to see them, I was soo excited! The wait was worth it, I mean they are really GREAT!

Once upon a time there was a promoter (who shall not be named, but you know who you are!)who promised and advertised UB40 at a reggae festival we went to on Catalina in 1984. When he couldn't produce UB40, he had the horn section of The Untouchables (who were GREAT btw) play instead. Trouble was, he didn't tell anybody! AND he left the island to avoid controversy. And they didn't live happily ever after... Well, UB40 did, the promoter not so much, so far.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXQCZ5i7U8Q&feature=related

File Under: I HATE THIS SONG!

1. The Knack- My Sharona
I saw this video late night last night, I was in bed so I wasn't gonna find the remote and mute it or change the channel. BUT, right now it's on the Music Choice Classic Alternative channel and I refuse to listen to it again. It has a catchy hook, but it is so dated. Definitely NOT a song that stands the test of time. Plus it's like "It's A Small World", it stays in your head forever! So instead of listening to it, I'm starting a free for all blog entry, called I HATE THIS SONG! Feel free to contribute a song YOU hate!

Tempted

I used to be and still am a huge Squeeze fan. Songs like this are the reason why.
What a great vocal by Paul Carrack on this one. One of my all time favorite songs


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PmtS_qMdXg

From The Beginning- ELP

One of THE MOST beautiful songs recorded! I love the sort of melancholy, far away feeling I get when I hear this song. You Were Meant To Be Here! You thought I was going to post "Lucky Man" didn't you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm1OJ0LAgt4

Rosanne Cash- The List

This song, "I'm Movin' On" from her latest cd (The List) just kills me! It is soo good! Great way to say farewell to a tired, old love affair. "The List" refers to the list of the 100 essential country (or American, cuz it covers rock, blues, pop) songs her Dad wrote out for her while she was on tour with him right after she graduated from high school...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXT9oxIScGg

Almost Blue/Nighthawks

Somehow I feel like the GREAT Edward Hopper painting "Nighthawks" goes along perfectly with "Almost Blue." It's just a blues feelin' I get. My friend Terri and I saw the play, "Nighthawks" a few years ago. The set was this painting, the people in it came to life and told the story of these late night loners. Very melancholy and fantastic! Multi-media: music, art, and performance. What could be better? I can only dream of what Billie Holiday could do with this song, she'd have us all in tears...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zju3lT02PiE

Lancers!

I heard this song while crusin' around running errands, then later in the day took this photo of the Lego Lancer. Love the Beach Boys and the Endless Summer album especially. This song has it ALL!! To all of the Lancers: past, present and future, Be True To Your School!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4dHkSAciJs

LR loves LR!!

Leslie Rallings loves Linda Ronstadt! Put on her Greatest Hits cd and you'll be singing along to every song! This woman has some pipes, she can just belt out a song with no effort! I remember watching her Canciones de Mi Padre with some friends. We didn't understand much, but we were completely enthralled anyway! One of the best to come out of the Southern California music scene in the 70's!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wci-tuggO_M

You Go To My Head- I'm A Fool To Want You

You Go To My Head

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGNc1yLGPug&feature=related

In 2003 I took a Public Speaking class at Golden West College. Our last speech was an informative speech, mine was about Billie Holiday. I had loved her music for years, but doing the research about her life for my speech, and collecting more of her music was a thrilling historical, musical journey!

This post is an exercise in compare and contrast. Billie Holiday near the beginning of her career singing "You Go To My Head". Following with "I'm A Fool To Want You" which she recorded on her final album, Lady In Satin. The later is almost painful to listen to, because her voice, once clear as a bell, is in tatters. BUT, the emotion that she sings with, lets you know she has LIVED the lyrics of the song. Fantastic artist! I love that even though she passed away in 1959, some of these videos, like "Strange Fruit" have millions of views, she's an American icon! These songs also symbolize the beginning and the end of a love affair..

I'm A Fool To Want You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs9P-pfqF6Y&NR=1

Billie Holiday- Rare live video!!

"The blues, to me, is like, being very sad, very sick...or in the church, being very happy. There's two kinds of blues: there's happy blues, and there's sad blues. I don't think I ever sing the same way twice. I don't think I ever sing the same tempo. One night, it's a little bit slow, the next night, it's a little bit brighter- it's according to how I feel. I don't know- the blues is sort of a mixed-up thing. You just have to feel it. Anything I do sing, it's part of my life."
- Billie Holiday

I love watching her watch and listen to the fantastic musicians playing with her!
Everything about this video is Fine and Mellow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtgUbJN8oPE

Frank!

Classic Frank Sinatra inspired by my friend PJ, who is accompanying singers in a Frank tribute in her home town this weekend. Frank is known for his phrasing, singing behind the beat. I've read that he was influenced by Billie Holiday, who pioneered that style. Some old jazz is always great to listen to! Frank had style!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j1KGHOvSkM

River

A hauntingly beautiful song about a young man who,had he lived would have been a HUGE STAR. Or as one writer put it, "After River died, the part was given to Leonardo DiCaprio."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3rv4UFA0uU

These Are Days- 10,000 Maniacs

I've been ignorant enough to basically ignore the 10,000 Maniacs and lucky enough to see Natalie Merchant. 10K Maniacs were opening for Squeeze at the Bren Events Center at UCI, I went with my now "ex-sister-in-law." We really wanted to see Squeeze and were dismissive of the "opening band" that no one had heard of... 3 months later 10,000 Maniacs exploded and were everywhere, and I LIKED them. Faux pas on our part!

Saw Natalie Merchant as a solo artist at The Greek a few years later, in support of her Tigerlily album. She just has the most interesting voice, love Natalie! I love the positive lyrics of this song, a 10,000 Maniacs HUGE hit!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-HLxpWGCzc&feature=related