Music Bender

Bruth-uhs an’ Sisss-tuhhhs, they’s POWWWW-uhhhh in th’ MEWWWW-zikkk!! Howl-lay-loo-yuh!! (ahem … okay, so much for my preacher impersonation. Now ya see why I’m a writer …)

Hey … it’s true! Sixties rock — especially that which hit our shores from the “British Invasion” — carried with it an amazing ability to heal! (hmph … wish my dog would learn tha … oh. That’s “heel”, right? Sorry.)

Y’see, many of the early hits had a definitive rhythmic “bounce” to them. They were danceable, to be sure … but also easy to keep time with. This, according to psychologists, helped improve physical biorhythm. And the harmony helped add substance to the song, thus their listenability.
It caught the listener’s concentrated attention as well (for example, one of the reasons the Vanity Fare hit, Hitchin’ A Ride, was so popular is that kids were listening for the one note that was offkey at the end of each verse of the chorus).

Largely, harmony can evoke intense feelings, depending upon the song: romance, sadness, happiness and courage. But the hook of the song is what would get the song into the subconscious, where the listener would hear it over and over. (In fact, Over and Over is also an example! But the greatest of the time, obviously, was the Beatles’ She Loves You.)
And, if the song is something that’s lively, happy and is embedded there, then it can help fans out of any “blues” they feel.

Now … going to the instrumental side for a moment: Early bands were sometimes inspired by the lower-four-string style of American guitarist Duane Eddy. The deeper sounds are often considered physically therapeutic as well as emotionally.

KEEPING IT CLEAN

With recent medical news broadcasts stressing the importance of colon health, much of America is beginning to see that its cleansing provides some great long-term results as well as ward off the fear of cancer in that region.
The only problem we face, in fact, is finding the best cleanser to use. Many stores (from department to pharmacies) will carry different items and brands, and we can easily become confused as to their effectiveness.
But there’s one spot on the web that’ll review the best colon cleansers on the market today, and all so you’ll feel more at-ease when choosing one! They research cleansing power, ingredients, benefits, value, customer reviews and more. In fact, they even give you a “heads-up” about the “free-trial” scams that end up doing more harm than good.
So, for the peace-of-mind you deserve, click on that link you just passed and compare the top colon-cleansing products — then you can choose and use the best with confidence!

Now … that’s all the time we have for this post,  but check back in about 24 or so for more on the “Healing Power of ClassicRock” and other tidbits. Until then, remember: Keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music …

and I’ll see ya on the flip side!

The legendary ’80s band, Cheap Trick, is planning to interpret The Beatles’ classic album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” during a September Las Vegas gig.

The band will kick off the shows, complete with a full symphony orchestra, 13 September at the Las Vegas Hilton. It’ll run for nine nights and will feature “special musical guests to be announced later,” according to promoters.

“We are going to make rock ‘n’ roll history by incorporating this legendary American rock group with the music of The Beatles,” said Bill Edwards, the show’s producer, in a press statement. “This is a groundbreaking performance that everyone said couldn’t be done live, but Cheap Trick has perfected it.”

The shows (with seats starting at only $65 apiece) will take place at the Hilton Theater, where Elvis Presley held an 837-night engagement in the early ’70s, according to a press release.

Audio production of the show will be overseen by Geoff Emerick, who was the original audio engineer on “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” working alongside producer George Martin. The production’s stage will be constructed by veteran set designer Rene Lagler.

Cheap Trick’s latest album, appropriately titled “The Latest,” is due in stores June 23.

The set, produced by Julian Raymond, follows 2006’s “Rockford,”  the group’s first set since 2003’s “Special One,” which was hailed by fans and critics alike as a return to form for the veteran rockers.
Before hitting Vegas, the band will head out on the road for a lengthy tour this summer with Def Leppard and Poison. The 40-city trek kicks off June 23 in Camden, NJ.

It actually was almost true:

The members of Lynyrd Skynyrd had seriously thought about disbanding following the deaths of two more members earlier this year.

“We really were at another crossroads, wondering what we should do,”  says guitarist Rickey Medlocke.  He went on to say it took a great deal of soul-searching before the band decided to keep performing.

Skynyrd’s no stranger to tragedy, of course. In 1977 their touring plane crashed, killing singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backing singer Cassie Gaines and three others on board.
This past January,  keyboardist Billy Powell died of a suspected heart attack, while bassist Ean Evans passed away from cancer just last month.
Medlocke, who played drums with  the band in th early ’70s then returned as guitarist in 1996, (he was with Blackfoot in-between) says with their new album God & Guns (due out this September), Skynyrd finally cemented the decision to continue.

He says: “We’re one big family. We spend so much time on the road together. When you get to be that close you take things heart.
“When you lose somebody you can’t help but step back and think, ‘How much longer do we want to continue losing people like this?’
“We really were at another crossroads, wondering what we should do here.

“We’re rock musicians, you know? We were born to play music and that’s what we should be doing. They would want us to carry on and do the best we can.
“So we’ve got Robert Kearns on bass and Peter Keys on keyboards now, and we’re really looking forward to the album coming out. People are saying it’s the strongest thing we’ve done in years.”

We’re all hopin’ they’ll stay strong for decades and generations to come!

The Rolling Stones played there. So did The Beatles, The Kinks and The Who. Producer/legend Alfred Hitchcock frequented the place as well.

Now it’s in danger of closing for good …

And Mick Jagger is now using his clout to front a campaign to save the EMD Cinema in Walthamstow, north-east London,.

It’s listed as a Grade II historic building. Sold in 2003, planning permission to keep it open, unfortunately, has been denied.

“Cinemas and live venues like the Granada in Walthamstow where the Stones played in the early days, learning our craft on the way, are the lifeblood of our cultural history,” said the Stones front man. “They helped launched British popular music on to a world stage and should continue to function as places of entertainment and enjoyment.”

“It’s heartbreaking to hear about such a beautiful, important historical building and center of entertainment being lost to the local community.
I fully support the campaign to keep it open and provide film, music and the arts for generations to come.”

To many Londoners, its closing would be much like The Flamingo Club closing its doors … or having The Cavern shut down in Liverpool (as we all know, the original was razed … then rebuilt!). Taking such an important piece of musical history and just throwing it away is, IMHO, idiotic! The tourist value alone would more than pay for its continued upkeep!

Now, joining Sir Mick in supporting the campaign is Tony Robinson — but even you can get involved! Just click on their Facebook page for more.

YESSSS!!! It’s about time …

On the fortieth anniversary of the original peace and love gathering on Yasgur’s Farm, we’re gettin’ the full set of the performances that made a generation!

All … six CDs full of them!

The 77-song package will recreate the festival’s 33 sets chronologically.  For anyone who was there (or knew about this from some serious study of the festival), you’ll also get the famous “brown acid” warnings as well as the confrontation between activist Abbie Hoffman and The Who’s Pete Townsend!

HERE’S WHAT WE’RE GETTING, PEOPLE:

WOODSTOCK - 40 YEARS ON: BACK TO YASGUR’S FARM

Disc 1

1. “Handsome Johnny” - Richie Havens
2. “Freedom (Motherless Child)” - Richie Havens
3. “Choppity Choppity” - John Morris
4. “Look Out” - Sweetwater
5. “Two Worlds” - Sweetwater
6. “Jennifer” - Bert Sommer
7. “And When It’s Over” - Bert Sommer
8. “Smile” - Bert Sommer
9. “There Goes Marilyn!” - John Morris
10. “Hang On To A Dream” - Tim Hardin
11. “Simple Song Of Freedom” - Tim Hardin
12. “Flat Blue Acid” - John Morris
13. “Raga Puriya-Dhanashri/Gat In Sawarital” - Ravi Shankar
14. “Momma Momma” - Melanie
15. “Beautiful People” - Melanie
16. “Birthday Of The Sun” - Melanie
17. “Coming Into Los Angeles” - Arlo Guthrie
18. “Wheel Of Fortune” - Arlo Guthrie
19. “Every Hand In The Land” - Arlo Guthrie
20. “All You Funny People” - John Morris

Disc 2

1. “Joe Hill” - Joan Baez
2. “Sweet Sir Galahad” - Joan Baez
3. “Hickory Wind” - Joan Baez
4. “Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man” - Joan Baez w/Jeffrey Shurtleff
5. “Bring Scully His Asthma Pills” - John Morris
6. “Insulin” & Quill Intro - John Morris
7. “They Live The Life” - Quill
8. “That’s How I Eat” - Quill
9. “I Understand Your Wife Is Having A Baby” - Chip Monck
10. “Donovan’s Reef” - Country Joe McDonald
11. “The ‘Fish’ Cheer”/”I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” - Country Joe
McDonald
12. “Persuasion” - Santana
13. “Soul Sacrifice” - Santana
14. “How Have You Been” - John B. Sebastian
15. “Rainbows All Over Your Blues” - John B. Sebastian
16. “I Had A Dream” - John B. Sebastian
17. “The Letter” - Incredible String Band
18. “When You Find Out Who You Are” - Incredible String Band
19. “She Is Lost” - Chip Monck

Disc 3

1. “We’re In Pretty Good Shape” - Chip Monck
2. “Going Up The Country” - Canned Heat
3. “Woodstock Boogie” - Canned Heat
4. “The Brown Acid Is Not Specifically Too Good” - Chip Monck
5. “Blood Of The Sun” - Mountain
6. “Theme For An Imaginary Western” - Mountain
7. “For Yasgur’s Farm” - Mountain
8. “For Those Of You Who Have Partaken Of The Green Acid” - Chip Monck
9. “Green Acid Advice” - Jerry Garcia & Country Joe McDonald
10. “Dark Star” - Grateful Dead
11. “Green River” - Creedence Clearwater Revival
12. “Bad Moon Rising” - Creedence Clearwater Revival
13. “I Put A Spell On You” - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Disc 4

1. “Work Me, Lord” - Janis Joplin
2. “Ball And Chain” - Janis Joplin
3. Medley: “Dance To The Music”/”Music Lover”/”I Want To Take You
Higher” - Sly & The Family Stone
4. “The Politics Of The Situation” - Abbie Hoffman
5. “Amazing Journey” - The Who
6. “Pinball Wizard” - The Who
7. Abbie Hoffman vs. Pete Townshend
8. “We’re Not Gonna Take It” - The Who
9. “The Other Side Of This Life” - Jefferson Airplane
10. “Somebody To Love” - Jefferson Airplane
11. “Won’t You Try”/ “Saturday Afternoon” - Jefferson Airplane
12. “We Got A Whole Lot Of Orange” - Grace Slick
13. “Volunteers” - Jefferson Airplane
14. “Breakfast In Bed For 400,000″ - Wavy Gravy
15. “It Just Keeps Goin’” - John Morris
16. Max Yasgur Speaks

Disc 5

1. “Feelin’ Alright” - Joe Cocker
2. “Let’s Go Get Stoned” - Joe Cocker
3. “With A Little Help From My Friends” - Joe Cocker
4. The Rainstorm
5. “Rock & Soul Music” - Country Joe & The Fish
6. “Love” - Country Joe & The Fish
7. “Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine” - Country Joe & The Fish
8. “Summer Dresses” - Country Joe & The Fish
9. “Silver and Gold” - Country Joe & The Fish
10. “Rock & Soul Music” (Reprise) - Country Joe & The Fish
11. “Leland Mississippi Blues” - Johnny Winter
12. “Mean Town Blues” - Johnny Winter
13. “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy” - Blood Sweat & Tears

Disc 6

1. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” - Crosby Stills & Nash
2. “Guinnevere” - Crosby Stills & Nash
3. “Marrakesh Express” - Crosby Stills & Nash
4. “4 + 20″ - Crosby Stills & Nash
5. “Sea Of Madness” - Crosby Stills Nash & Young
6. “Wooden Ships” - Crosby Stills Nash & Young
7. “No Amount Of Loving” -The Butterfield Blues Band
8. “Love March” - The Butterfield Blues Band
9. “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” - The Butterfield Blues Band
10. “Get A Job” - Sha Na Na
11. “At The Hop” - Sha Na Na
12. “Get A Job” (Reprise) - Sha Na Na
13. “The Star Spangled Banner” - Jimi Hendrix
“Purple Haze” - Jimi Hendrix
“Woodstock Improvisation” - Jimi Hendrix
14. “Woodstock Farewell” - Chip Monck

Need I say more??

‘WOODSTOCK - 40 YEARS ON: BACK TO YASGUR’S FARM’ will be released on August 17th through Rhino Records.

IT’S MORE THAN JUST A SONG TITLE

Actually, rehab is definitely serious business! As with many of us, I have friends who’ve been addicted to various substances (and mores) and have needed help in breaking them! And many colleges throughout the nation (including one from my hometown, University of North Carolina, Charlotte campus, have joined in the effort to help (in larger cities, of course, the need is more prevalent).

And there’s one center that’s known for not only its varying forms of treatment, but its amazing success rate! More importantly, though, is that it treats not just the body, but the mind and spirit of the patient (and there are few who actually care enough to go that far!).
But it doesn’t stop there:
They also have a tremendous alumni program — realizing that “followup” is just as important as the initial treatment!
If you wanna learn more about this place where alternative medicine meets drug rehab , just click on the link you just passed …
then, spread the word! They’re there to help you — totally!

John Lennon’s first wife, Cynthia Lennon, and their son, Julian, are about to launch a new exhibition of memorabilia in the name of a new charity.

White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon is being held in conjunction with Liverpool’s Beatles Story museum, and will include belongings and photos of Lennon’s family life. The White Feather Foundation is also the name of a charity that’s being set up by the Cynthia and Julian that’ll on environmental and humanitarian issues.

“The white feather is so prevalent in my life,” Julian says. “One thing for sure is that it’s always represented peace to me. And one of the things my father said to me was that should he pass away, if there was some way of letting me know he was going to be okay, or that we were all going to be okay, it was by in some way, shape or form presenting me with a white feather.

“I hope this exhibition lets people see another aspect of his life and our time together as a family. This collection represents something of great importance to us as it is part of our history.”

The exhibition opens at the Mersey Ferries terminal building at Liverpool’s Albert Dock on June 17 and runs until December 31. More information can be found at the official website.

Back when I started this blogging thing, I was searchin’ for a special song for National Children’s Day (which I sorta helped revive back in the ’80s). The reason? The “B” side of Lies by The Knickerbockers is as true a story as could’ve been told back then. We were The Coming Generation … and, sure enough, we’ve fulfilled this prophetic song (e.g.: “One day we’ll give you a President” George W. Bush, 60 … as bad as he turned out, he wasof the same “Generation”!).

Right … couldn’t find the song anywhere — until the dynamic (and inspiring) US rockmeister Pete Dintino plugged me into where I could get it. Heard it a few times … then the mighty YouTube™, sadly decided to remove it. But, to kinda spark yer memory, you can find a snip of it (by a band called The Gremlins) here.

Now, the torch is being passed to a newer, younger and more innovative generation … and this song should be theirs (if you’ve got a copy of The Knickerbocker’s hit, Lies, just flip the 45 over to the B side and listen …)! It’ll be as true to them someday as it was to us.

We held the future in hands and voices that actually changed the world around us: Those united voices and hands brought the end of a terrible war, equality for women, civil rights, lowering the voting age and more! IMAGINE what the children of today can do for our collective future!

But they have to realize they hold the future in their hands! And this song, above all others, can do it.

See ya on the flip side!

Remember to circle July 10 on your calendars!

The reason? Beatlemaniacs from around the world will be celebrating their favorite band during Beatles Day 09 — and raise money for Yoko Ono’s Imagine Appeal which will use their share for the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital (the largest children’s hospital in Europe). Part of the receipts will also go to the Marina Dalglish Appeal for a radiotherapy center in Liverpool.

Officially launched by Julia Baird (John Lennon’s sister) and Ricky Tomlinson, the event will take place in places as diverse as China, Russia, New Zealand and, natch, the Beatles’ hometown of Liverpool.

Last year’s event (which was actually the first, and raised a few international eyebrows as one of the highlights is for everyone to wear Beatle wigs) raised over £45,000.
Liverpool will once again host a concert as part of the event, and there will be loads of merchandise and happenings available.

Oh … in case yer wonderin’, July 10 was chosen as the date because it’s the anniversary of the Beatles triumphant return to Liverpool from the States and the premiere of the film ‘Hard Day’s Night’ in 1964. On that day, the streets were lined with thousands of adoring fans, and organizers hope to they can recreate the same sort of Beatlemania atmosphere this year.

The Summer Pops promoter, Chas Cole, said, “It’s 24 hours when people can show their love for the Beatles and celebrate the legacy of their music. The concert at the Echo Arena will be a great way to finish, but Beatles Day is really a chance for the ordinary people of Liverpool and other towns and cities all over the world to take part in Beatles-related fundraising activities and events. The most important thing is to have fun whilst raising money.

Liverpool will be the center of events on 10th July. It would be a great time to visit and let the people show you what makes this city truly great; its heritage, humor, boundless enthusiasm under pressure and above all, its ability to not take itself too seriously. BEATLES DAY here we come!

Since 1914, the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital has led the way in the care of sick children and now treats more than 200,000 young patients every year.

To find out more about this event, here’s the article from the Liverpool Echo.

“Caught the early plane back to London/Fifty acorns tied in a sack/The men from the press said, ‘We wish you success, it’s good to have the both of you back’”

You remember the words from “The Beatles’” Ballad Of John and Yoko (I put the Fab Four’s name in quotes because only John and Paul played on the recording). It referred to the Acorn Peace effort that Yoko Ono and husband John Lennon made in 1969.
Though John’s been gone from us for nearly 29 years, Yoko will recreate the promotion to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

She’ll send acorns to 123 world leaders – including President Obama – urging them to strive for world peace. Each world leader will receive two acorns in a transparent box with the inscription “Acorn Peace by John And Yoko, Spring 2009″.

Here’s how it all started:
“On 15 June 1968, John Lennon and Yoko Ono planted two acorns for peace at Coventry Cathedral. The acorns were planted in east and westerly positions, symbolizing the meeting of the couple and the union of their two cultures. This was the first of many peace events that the couple would initiate throughout their lives. They followed the planting by sending acorns to world leaders in the hope that they would plant oak trees in their gardens”.

If there’s anything that the couple taught us, it’s that peace begets peace. In other words, you can fight, you can scream, in the hope that it accomplished your dream; but the only way to make them understand is to reach out and take them by the hand.
For the peace is there for all of us to share; it’s fragile and it’s agile and too delicate to scare. So put away your guns and killing other’s loved ones … and reach out your unarmed hand … in love … in understanding … in peace*.

From A Peace-meal Song, composed and performed by this writer in 1968.

iPhone, YOURphone

Seems like everybody’s catching the “iPhone” craze these days — and for good reason: They’re powerful, accessible, web-compatible and portable!
But, if you have one, you know that accessories are just important as the phone itself. Now, while most areas have stores that sell those, you know it can (a) take forever to get a salesperson that’ll help you, (b) cost you a bundle for whatever you’re buying, and (c) offer no guarantee that it’s gonna work on your phone!
Want a better way to shop for those accessories … and at a more wallet-smiling price? It’s simple:
Just click this link that’ll take you to the best, most reliable and affordable in iphone accessories.
You’ll be glad you made the choice, believe me!

Now … all that bein’ said, I’ll see ya on the flip side …

AC/DC NOT APPEARING BECAUSE …

they never said they would! Actually, the legendary hard-rockers have accused Romanian promoters of “falsely advertising” them as headlining the Bucharest Rock Arena festival, which runs on 30-31 May. Now, this must’ve been a pretty convincing scam, because you could buy tickets online as well as at different retail outlets in the country’s capital.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the only time it’s happened to a band. Y’see, the fact is that, somewhere along the gig route, someone “representing xxx band” is gonna contact a promoter and strike a deal for that “band” to appear.
Then, once a partial is paid to this “rep”, he/she takes off for the vast unknown, leaving the promoter with “egg on his/her face” when the real band doesn’t show.
By showtime, the fake “reps” will be long gone … and it takes a ton of paperwork as well as some crafty detective work to find them. Sadly, all too often, the courts give ‘em a “slap-on-the-wrist” when they’re found.

IS THE BEEBS REALLY PRO BONO?

Seems that the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) is under fire again, thanks to their allegiance to the Irish rock band, U2.

Not only have they given over a million pounds’ worth of free publicity to the band (whose latest album, No Line On The Horizon, entered the charts at #1) and apparently beginning to edit on-air remarks that question the band’s sincerity.
Apparently, Bono and the boys have moved their company to The Netherlands, thus giving them a big tax break … even while they’re pushing the Irish government to increase its aid budget!

Now, the BBC did pretty much the same thing, publicity-wise, for The Beatles, and there wasn’t much flak at the time. As far as editing goes: The Beebs seems to have forgotten a cardinal rule that governs today’s shows: If it’s not obscene and doesn’t promote hatred or racial prejudice, run with it; it could be a ratings boost!

QUICK UPDATE: Check out my new website at Doc Rock Online for news, views and more!

Okay … that’s it for this go’round. Until tomorrow, remember: Keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music … and I’ll see ya on the flip side!

After the death of founding member and saxophonist LeRoi Moore, the legendary Dave Matthews Band put on an understandably emotional show the night of his death … and continued plans for a new album.

Well, the CD’s complete, and Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King, and is due in stores on June 2.
They’ve made the lead single from the album, Funny The Way It Is available for free download here, and also released a pretty emotional video trailer talking about the record, and what it’s like moving on after a death in their rock “family”.

If this is the last album that I make, it’s the only album I hope people listen to, Dave says.

Moore died unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 19, 2008, in Los Angeles from complications an ATV accident that occurred two months earlier on his farm in Virginia. He’d returned to his L.A. home to begin an intensive physical rehab program.
You can read more about it behind this link.

People, I’ve said it once, I’ve said it twice, and I’ll say it until the book closes:
Some of the GREATEST stories of resilience and triumph are found in the lives of our ROCK STARS, whether privately or as acts, individually or collectively!

“Such as …??” Well, off the top of this bald head are: “Moulty” Moulton (of the legendary Barbarians), Ringo Starr (he was with some group lol), James Hetfield (and Metallica as a whole), Peter Dintino, Rick Allen (of Def Leppard fame), Eric Clapton, Jennifer Hudson … and the list just keeps on growing!

Got more examples?  Please … send ‘em on in via the “comments” page!  I wanna do a series exploring these amazing heroes!  If you’ll submit your star (whether local or world-renowned), I’ll give ya credit as co-writer of his/her article!

Well, that’s all for now … so, until later this evening, see ya on the flip side! 

Ahhh, yes … memories …

This is probably the biggest difference between classic and oldies rock. Here’s why:

Most of us can name at least three hit songs (and possibly recite part of the lyrics) and the lineup of Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones or The Beatles. We can tell (without lookin’ at a book or web article) the story of Janis Joplin (and name a few of her hits) as well as Tina Turner.

Now … can we do the same with Hoobastank? Alice In Chains? Smashing Pumpkins? How about Pink? Fergie?

See my point? As great as these acts are (and I’m particularly fond of AIC and Black-Eyed Peas), they just don’t have the intergenerational impact that these others did.
Awww, it’s not that they haven’t had as much time in the trenches. It’s that, most importantly, they don’t reach deep enough to hit the soul of the listeners! They get onstage, play some great stuff — but how much of it do they really feel … and get across to their fans?
Yardbirds, that’s the main difference! You can remember your favorite teacher because he/she makes/made an impact on your life — boosted your spirit, touched your soul somehow. It’s the same way with classic sounds …

Now, some bands can be “average”, but have a singer or instrumentalist who eventually becomes a classic in his or her own right.

For example, Tico and the Triumphs had an excellent guitarist/singer (in fact, he was Tico himself!) who, later on, became one of America’s top songwriters/poets/singers.
But first …
he joined up with another great vocalist and, together, they made an indelible mark on modern folk/rock. His partner? Art Garfunkel!
So … who was the guy known as Tico? Of course: It’s Paul Simon!!

Jeremiah Was A … WHAT??

We all know the words, right? “JER-E-MI-AH WAZZZ uh BULL-frawgggg …” When those words left Chuck Negron’s (Three Dog Night) mouth, we knew we were ready to PARRRR-DEEEE with “Joy To The World”!!

But … who in the heck was “Jeremiah,” really? I mean, outside the cat in the Good Book. Who was Three Dog Night singin’ about? Was it an old, skid-row chum when they “helped him drink his wine”? Mebbe some foreign dude, considering they “couldn’t understand a single word he said”?

Actually, Rockaholics, “Jeremiah” was … a throwaway! Y’see, when Hoyt Axton first penned Joy To The World, he couldn’t come up with an intro line to immediately juice the song. Soooo, he just wrote the first thing that came into his head!

He’d intended to change it to something that had some relation to the song itself, but, when he gave the song to TDN, he’d forgotten to do it! He rushed to the threesome before they were to lay trax for it, hoping they’d give him a chance to change it, but … they dug it just like it was! So, now, ya know …

That bein’ said, I’m gonna cut it short here and see ya in less than24 … on the flip side …

Hey … y’all still with me out there?!?! Good! Now, how about givin’ me a hand in openin’ this vault again, huh?? Got some more rockin’ trivia for ya:

• ABBEY ROAD is known as the last music ever recorded by The Beatles, at least as a foursome. But what you didn’t know is that the last trax of side 2 were laid to reflect their final bow, as such. After Carry That Weight (a reference to the fact that all four would be stereotyped as a Beatle for years to come), they kick in with some serious garage-style rock in a guitar-driven tuned called Love You. That was to “go out with a bang,” as they came into the rock world. Following that, the harmonic The End were their parting words … ending in a beautiful crescendo. And that was it for any more new stuff from The Beatles. They were done. Now, if you’ll notice, the rest between that and the last track was a split-second longer than normal; that signified the transition — and then, with one electric chord cementing that, it breaks into Paul’s solo ditty, Her Majesty. That was John, George and Ringo’s way of saying, “Okay … if HE wants to keep going, it’s just HIS now.” It was cut short because … well, that’s all the time they had on the LP.
• THIS DIAMOND RING, the first hit by Gary Lewis and The Playboys, actually had none of the group playing on it! And Gary’s vocals were heavily backed by the overdubs of Ron Hicklin (incidentally, Al Kooper — who went on to form Blood, Sweat and Tears — wrote the song … and wasn’t happy with the way the Playboys’ version sounded).
• TORN BETWEEN TWO LOVERS, by Mary McGregor, was actually recorded in an empty bathroom, because McGregor liked the natural echo!
• A reader once sent me a RelicMail asking what the most expensive record would be. Well, it belongs to Paul McCartney and is worth around $180,000! The song is That’ll Be The Day and was recorded in 1958 by a group called The Quarrymen, with Paul, John, George, Colin Hanton and John Duff Lowe.
• Tommy James’ hit, MONY, MONY, was actually named so thanks to the blinking initials on the Mutual of New York Insurance building! (Oh … the cover for Tommy James and the Shondells’ album, It’s Only Love, was the first pro photo shoot for Paul McCartney’s wife, Linda Eastman).
• If you have an old 45 of The Beatles’ TICKET TO RIDE, check under the title and see if it has the fine print that says “From the United Artists Release Eight Arms To Hold You”. That was the original title of the movie Help!

REACH FOR THE CEILING!

As springtime progresses and the oh-so-hot summertime approaches, we all start lookin’ to stay cool, right?  Now, many of us have ceiling fans in our houses or apartments that not only help provide the relief we’re lookin’ for but also look great in our living rooms, bedrooms, etc.
Sometimes, though, the ones that come with our residence doesn’t exactly fit our decor or blend in with the ambience we want.
Now, we can go shopping for new ones, but, more often than not, we’re faced with limited selections, higher prices, salesmen that are hard to find and lonnng lines at the checkout.
Hey … why not take a better route and click the link I’m about to share with you?  Not only will you find the greatest selection of ceiling fans anywhere, but at prices anyone can afford!  Not only that, but you’ll also have free shipping on certain orders over $75.00, no sales tax if you live outside New York, and fast delivery! And ordering is a snap … and guaranteed secure!
So why wait?  To find the best in ceiling fans online, just click that link … and get ready to enjoy a comfortable summer!

And, with that, I think it’s time to end this edition. Until next time, remember: Keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music … and I’ll see ya on the flip side.

From the vault of the Rock Relic, this is … TRIVIA!

Okay, Rockaholics … here’s where we do a little nitpicking over the oldies rock scene. We’re diggin’ wayyyyyy down deep in the pile to find stuff you might not know concerning your faves:

For example,

• did you know that an airport in England used to play Tina Turner songs at full blast on its runways … to scare away birds?
• If you noticed that Ricky Nelson’s song, Travelin’ Man had some of the same notes as Sam Cooke’s Another Saturday Night, it’s because the song was written for Cooke! He turned it down, and it made gold for Rick!
• The velvety-voiced crooner, Perry Como, was literally the seventh son of a seventh son … (take THAT, Johnny Rivers!)
• Monster Mash singer, Bobby “Boris” Pickett, once found his tour bus breaking down outside the town of … Frankenstein, Mo.!
• Cher was a background vocalist on The Righteous Brothers’ You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.
• The word toke in One Toke Over The Line by Brewer and Shipley actually was (and still is) a slang version of the word token (remember: They were “sittin’ downtown in a railway station”)
• Two of Jim Croce’s biggest hit songs were inspired by real people. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown was a member of the Air National Guard who’d gone AWOL; and Big Jim Walker (You Don’t Mess Around With Jim) really was a pool-shootin’ son-of-a-gun from south Philadelphia.
• Darlene Love, who sang lead vocals on The Crystals’ hits like He’s A Rebel, played Danny Glover’s wife in all four Lethal Weapon movies.
• Disc Jockey Murray the K (aka “The Fifth Beatle”) and Bobby Darin were soaking their feet after playing a game of softball. Murray called his mother and told her what they were doing. She later called him back and said she had an idea for a song: Splish Splash, take a bath. They worked on the lyrics … and Darin’s hit song was born!
• Fats Domino’s Blueberry Hill was probably his biggest hit … but many old-timers might remember it … because it was also a #1 hit with bandleader Glenn Miller back in 1940!
• The Ballad of John and Yoko (which was banned because John was said to be using “Christ’s name in vain” [he wasn't. Listen to the lyrics in the chorus. He was addressing Christ, and, in angst, called out his name loudly as if to get His attention]) wasn’t actually the Beatles per se. The entire song (including instruments) was recorded only by John and Paul.
  

AN EYE FOR CREAM

There are so many creams out there that claim to fade away wrinkles and make your face look smooth and younger  Unfortunately, you won’t find a lot of them that are strong enough to work around the one place you need it:  the eyes.
So, whenever you go to a cosmetics store (or even the drug store) to find these creams, how can you be sure you’re finding one that does help take out the circles and puffiness, etc., around your eyes?  And, even if you do find one, can you be certain it’s safe? Or at a price you can afford?
Well, there’s one way you can find out for sure:  Just click on the link I’m about to give you!  You’ll find a comparison of the best of these — their effectiveness, quality, power, safety — and where you can purchase these at the lowest price!

If this sounds good to you (and anybody who uses anti-wrinkle creams will certainly think so, right?), then click this link to find the right eye cream for you!

Now, we’ll continue the trivia in the next post. Until then … (hey … it’s late! Gotta get some sleep here …) keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music .. and I’ll see ya (with more from the Relic Vault) on the flip side …

Well, if ya haven’t heard already, guess I better letcha know so ya won’t be caught offguard:
Keith Richards, guitarist and resident gonzo for the Rolling Bones — er, Stones — is writin’ a “tell-all” book due for publication – possibly as early as next year (geez … I … I wonder if his life is all that interesting to write about??!?)

Actually, his compadre and penpal, James Fox, is doin’ the writing for him (WHAT?!?! Is that a “D-UH!!!” I hear from the audience?? Hey … don’t blame me if they don’t write books in Crayola anymore …), takin’ from the zillions of memories that Keef has unloaded into a tape recorder and tryin’ to make sense out of it all.

Still, you gotta admit that Richards has one hellacious story to tell, and the SuperRead is gonna go #1 with a bullet!

Ron Wood’s got an auto-bio already, btw … and if ya think the youngest Stone doesn’t have a lot to yak about, do yerself a favor and Google his name (But be careful; I understand that, in some religions,it’s a sin …) and you’ll find that the ex-Faces guitarist has more background than my lazy 400-lb Cousin Pearl (she who testdrove the new hybrid Ojit automobile. The car sees her waddling closer and closer and the alarm goes off: “o-JIT! o-JIT!!”).
Seriously: Ron’s gone through some very rough waters (and, if you’ve read the news, he’s still got a coupla waves to tackle; but he’ll do it!)  … and is learning some serious lessons along the way! But as far as the book’s concerned, it’s a dynamite read, 4 sure!

WHY QUIZTIME ANSWERS ARE MISSING… Actually, they’re not … they’re on “hold” while some of you are still lookin’ up names, checkin’ facts and sending in your answers. (Guess some of you are still gettin’ my July, 1994 issue, huh??) But, in a couple more clicks, I’ll start givin’ the answers … and adding a few new touches to RockTown.

SECURITY FIRST

It’s rather obvious that one thing we all look for is security within our own home and workplace.  With break-ins always on the minds of home and business owners, it’s imperative that we have the best security systems in place.
But, sometimes, these systems can be costly … and may need someone to come over and install them for you (which means “labor costs”). Now, that can be a hassle — unless you visit the folks behind the link I’m gonna give you in a moment!
They not only present you with the best selection of security systems, but ones you can easily install yourself — and at prices that are extremely comfortable.
But they do more than that:
They also offer a 60-day 100% moneyback guarantee, free shipping on all orders over $150 (and a flat rate of $8.95 on all others), super deals, secure purchasing and much more!
Listen … it’s worth it for your family’s protection … for your business’ protection … to click here for the best in wireless security systems now!

That being said, Keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music, and I’ll see ya on the flip side …