As soon as I read the information regarding the 'Celebration for Andy Rob' and read "Hawaiian shirts encouraged, pina colades optional - laughter essential" my mind went back to the time he requested Jimmy Buffett singing 'Margaritaville'.

The slight difference between Hawaiian and Caribbean shirts or having a margarita instead makes this track seem ideal. 

From his 1977 album 'Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes' this is Jimmy Buffett for Andy. 

Some more music memories next week. 

   

Over the coming months I will be remembering friends we have recently lost and the good memories that they hold.

While today is one year on from my daughter getting married, I thought a quirky love song might get those thoughts of happier times started. 

80s indie synth-pop group A Flock Of Seagulls with 'Space Age Love Song' is today's track. Lead singer Mike Score (real name!) had some crazy haircut back then, google him today and he doesn't have any hair !!

I actually discovered this track in a music video from the movie 'Career Opportunities' featuring Jennifer Connelly and Frank Whaley in an in-store dance sequence. Here's that music video for you: click here

  

I remember my son Scott would play the Foo Fighters 'Best of You' every morning before traipsing off in the sunshine to school. It was 2005 and he played it all Summer long !

I have a track that has the same 'feel good' effect for me.

Robert Jon & The Wreck with 'Highway' has that 'get up and go' and enjoy the day energy. Not that the two songs sound similar, just the feelings they convey. 

I've been playing this track daily as therapy for the times. So this is for me ... and naturally you. I hope the prescription works >

Robert Jon & The Wreck are from Southern California and this single is off their soon to be released new studio album 'Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes'.

To me vocally Robert Jon sounds like Phil Collins on 'Highway'. Check out other tracks from their previous albums. 

i.e.: ‘Hate to See You Go’ (very Allman Bros) here. 

 

An occasional music spot - remembering places around the World

The place in this instance is a time and place. Namely Summer 1980 and the European 'Grand Tour'.

Time for some nice pictures and 'pastoral' music. Literally a musical portrayal of the joys and emotions associated with being in the countryside. 

While driving around the countries of Europe in 1980 the music we played more than any other was Beethoven's Symphony No.6. It just fitted in so well with the unfolding scenery. 

Ludwig van ...

  

"It's 12 noon in London, 7am in Philadelphia, and around the world it's time for Live Aid"

Saturday 13th July 1985. Where were you ?

I was in front of my television, where I'd remain for the next 16 hours. Listening on the radio while watching the show from Wembley stadium and then from just after 10pm the American concert from John F. Kennedy stadium in Philadelphia. 

You may well have forgotten all those who performed that day. Here's the running order link:- Live Aid.

This is a song that always makes me smile. Taking the stage around 2:20 Nik Kershaw sang four songs including this hit single - the one with the nonsense lyrics and confused ramblings of an 80s popstar - hence the title 'The Riddle' >

  

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary. Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out ! Call it what you like (or switch it off, if you don't like). 

Another big show this last weekend in Birmingham saw Black Sabbath play what was billed, along with the title 'Back to the Beginning' and an all-star cast, as their last ever show. We will see ....

Time for this song originally from their second album released in 1970. It's an anti-war protest song and bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler says "it's about how these rich politicians and rich people start all the wars for their benefit and get all the poor people to die for them" - sound familiar ?

I heard it the other day and thought the guitar and drum playing towards the end sounded brilliant, so had to post it. Considered the greatest ever Heavy Metal song and one of the group's best tracks, this is 'War Pigs' >

All about that Birmingham show (link here) 

  

"Do you remember" Gigs you went to ? Of course you do !

The recent passing of guitarist Mick Ralphs caused this track to pop into my head. As a founding member of Mott the Hoople, Ralphs left in 1973 to form Bad Company. So wasn't playing on today's track, but as the lyrics reveal he was very much apart of those earlier 'Saturdays Gigs'.

All about 'Live' shows - 

- Mott the Hoople played a reunion of five nights at Hammersmith Odeon back in 2009. We were there to see Ian Hunter and Mick Ralphs and other original band members. Nice article worth a read (here). 

- And I just read about a 'Mottfest' scheduled for this October in Ross-on-Wye. See story.

- Finally, you've probably heard 'Live Aid' was 40 years ago this month and the BBC have some programmes lined up 'When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World', starting this Sunday and I believe the entire Wembley show is getting a repeat performance on 13th July.  

  

"Bobby Troup was sitting behind the wheel of his '41 Buick, with his wife Cynthia, driving 

from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, when an idea for a song documenting their  

trip began to take shape in his mind. It was February 1946 and Troup, a singer, musician  

and songwriter, was heading West to Chicago, where they picked up the 2,448 mile long US Highway, that would take them all the way to LA - on Route 66 ! "

Finally the reason behind the build up of recent 'Road Music' can be disclosed. Today marks 40 years since Route 66 was officially decertified by the Highway authorities in 1985 (nearly 60 years after it had opened). The romance surrounding the route continues to this day, if in fact following the original road, which has disappeared in parts, is less continuous. John Steinbeck in his book 'The Grapes of Wrath' called it the Mother Road and it symbolises escape, loss, freedom and hope for a new beginning. 

The song by Bobby Troup '(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66' mentions the places they passed along the way - I'm sure you know the words. In March 1946 it was recorded and released a month later by Nat King Cole. His jazz inflected swing rendition was a bit hit. While 15 years later the song was reinvented for a whole new generation by Chuck Berry. I first heard the song as the opening track on the debut LP by the Rolling Stones, their version was a transformation of Berry's straight three-chord 12-bar blues 1961 recording. 

So Chuck Berry is today's Star Track artist. With a great video full of nice memorabilia >>>

In case you wondered - a Shasta caravan refers to travel trailers manufactured by the Shasta Corporation that captured the imagination of lovers of 'Van Life'.

🚙 Also you may remember an early 60s TV series called 'Route 66', an American adventure crime drama. The theme to the show was by Nelson Riddle and goes like this (link).

🚙 OR Get Your Kicks On The Stones version 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTG9dKW7EaA&list=RDuTG9dKW7EaA&start_radio=1

     R e m e m b e r i n g    

 -    B R I A N   W I L S O N   - 

o f  T h e  B e a c h  B o y s

Who passed away earlier this month. You have perhaps seen this video from former Beach Boy and cousin Mike Love, of his song 'Brian's Back'. An emotional and touching tribute to the life and work of "the driving creative force behind The Beach Boys’ best work". 

> Reminds me of the time on Long Island in 1998. We'd gone to a balloon festival out East and as we entered there was music coming from the other side of the field. Easily recognising the songs and I said 'boy these guys are good, they sound JUST like the Beach Boys'...
'That's because they ARE The Beach Boys' !

   

I've finally decided on this week's track, which not only featured in a Top 50 best road trip songs list (see here) at No.23, but also was the subject of a Rick Beato video I'd found called 'The Greatest Guitar Solo You Can’t HEAR! '

Christopher Cross 'Ride Like the Wind' released in 1980 was his debut record and after 45 years it has finally received an official music video created by director Andrea Calvetti, with wild ’70s energy and cars tearing through the desert.

The guitar solo you can't hear, played by Cross, is at the end...

Here's the Rick Beato video explanation I mentioned, for your interest (click link).