It’s A Beautiful Day - White Bird (1969)
February 26, 2009
One of the tunes that helped launch a new band - the FM radio band. If you heard this one on the radio back in the day, you were probably tuned into the new “Progressive FM” station.
Buy it on Amazon:
Were You Born To Be Mild?
February 26, 2009
In the sixties, some kids just hung out at the beach in their cut-off jeans and rocked out to Purple Haze.
However, the good kids danced to nice pop music and always wore clean socks.
Tommy James Autobiography - “Me, The Mob and Music” - To Be Filmed By Martin Scorcese
February 25, 2009
This could put a whole new spin on classics like Mony - shoot em down, turn around, come on - Mony and Crystal Blue Persuasion. “The reason it’s all such a compelling story is what Roulette Records was. I was there for the bulk of my career and Roulette Records was a front for the Genovese crime family. We didn’t know that when we signed in 1966. Here we were making these pop records and there is this really hairy story going on behind it.” That’s according to Tommy himself on ContactMusic.com who also tells us Scorcese “happened to be a fan and he’ll be directing the film through Triangle Pictures”. We haven’t heard what Martin Scorcese has to say about the potential bio-pic yet… so more to come.
U.K. Commentary Has A Party - Ridiculing The Way Americans - Particularly BabyBoomer Women - “Par-tay”
February 17, 2009
I’m still steamin’ a month after reading this one. What I thought was going to be to be a “witty” article about the Obama Inauguration/Celebration snipes at everything from the way Americans “par-tay” to Prince (the funky one, not one of theirs) to Hershey’s chocolate. Hershey’s chocolate?
Wow. I thought Obama’s message of “We Are One” was somewhat about unity and finding the best in others. And that maybe, just maybe, a new positive spirit was being felt around the world - partly because of a bit less stereotyping. Obviously it hasn’t reached across the pond yet.
Imagine reading this commentary immediately after seeing “Last Chance Harvey”. You come home all Kumbaya after seeing Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson bring out the best in each other. Then, feeling all warm and fuzzy about your friends in the U.K., you read this gem: Barack’n'roll! America finally gets the chance to prove it can throw a par-tay.
ClassicRockForever has just two words for ya: lighten up.
Lost And Found: Society’s Child
February 17, 2009
Janis Ian performs Society’s Child on the Smothers Brothers show. [Read more]
Discover Montreal This Spring And Give Peace A Chance
February 11, 2009
This year marks the 40th anniversary of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed-in staged in Montréal in May 26 to June 2, 1969 at The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel,which promoted a message of peace.
To commemorate the event, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (www.mmfa.qc.ca), in collaboration with Yoko Ono, has curated an exhibition called IMAGINE: JOHN & YOKO’s PACIFIST ANTHEM which will run from April 2 to June 21, 2009. The exhibition will be free.
The exhibition will follow the wide-ranging artistic and musical dialog that took place in the name of peace conducted by the pop icon and the conceptual artist with ties to the Fluxus group.
The bed-in instantly grabbed worldwide media interest; John and Yoko spoke to over 150 journalists each day, and in the US alone, 350 radio stations carried reports on the world’s best known peaceniks, who wanted to get their message out to all those around the world already protesting against the war in Vietnam.The highlight of this unique event was John Lennon’s composition of Give Peace A Chance on June 1st. He wrote the song on the spur of the moment and converted the suite into a recording studio under the direction of André Perry. Some 50 people contributed to the recording of the song, which was immediately broadcast worldwide. Celebrities included Tommy Smothers, Dr Timothy and Petula Clark.
Through the presentation of various documents, works of arts, records, soundreals and photographs, the exhibition will raise awareness of the historical and political context of 1969 which formed the backdrop to the Bed-In and will revive the thinking John Lennon and Yoko Ono and their urgent message for peace.
WHERE TO STAY
To mark the 40th anniversary The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel invites guests to relive the legend and experience their own bed-in through the IMAGINE PACKAGE.
The package includes one night accommodation; One CD featuring Give Peace a Chance; Breakfast in bed for two or buffet breakfast in Le Montréalais restaurant and a copy of the lyrics of Give Peace a Chance. This package is available from March 1 to June 21, 2009, subject to availability. Rates start from $199 per night, based on double occupancy, in a Fairmont room or from $599 per night, based on double occupancy, in the actual John Lennon and Yoko Ono Suite (#1742) where the bed-in took place.
For more information pleasevisit: www.fairmont.com/queenelizabeth.
To make a reservation in the Lennon Suite, please call the hotel directly at 514-861-3511.
For visitors seeking a more economical alternative, twenty plus hotels in Montréal are offering A SECOND NIGHT AT HALF PRICE package with rates starting at $104. This sweet deal runs from January 1 until May 31, 2009.
For more informationand to book a room please visit: www.tourisme-montreal.org/Offers/Winter or call 1-877-BONJOUR.
Deep Purple: Hush
February 5, 2009
Hef: ”Your first big hit was Hush and I really think
that it would groove the kids if you did it”
Deep Purple on Playboy After Dark (1969)
Thinking Is The Best Way To Travel
February 3, 2009
“And you can fly
High as a kite if you want to
Faster than light if you want to
Speeding through the universe
…Thinking is the best way to travel”
From The Moody Blues In Search of the Lost Chord (1968) “The Best Way To Travel”
A Lost Chord Found - On Thunder Island
February 3, 2009
Jay Ferguson “Thunder Island” (1978)
(Ain’t Nothin’ But A) House Party: J. Geils Band To Reunite At The House Of Blues
February 3, 2009
It’s been ten years since Peter Wolf, Jay Geils, Magic Dick, Seth Justman and Danny Klein performed together. According to the Patriot-Ledger, The J. Geils Band hits the stage February 19th at the new House of Blues in Boston.