Music Bender

It’s official!  Sir Paul McCartney will be returning to the Ed Sullivan Theater this Wednesday to guest on The Late Show with David Letterman!

Now, all I can tell you is that he’ll be doing the usual interview then a performance — presumably a cut from his new-ish album, Electric Arguments.

But don’t put it past Macca to run through one of the Fab Four hits, or maybe even one from his Wings days.

The interview occurs just two days before his month-long “mini-tour” begins (three sold-out shows in NY’s Citi Field, then on to Landover, Md., Boston, Mass., Atlanta, Ga., Tulsa, Okla and Arlington, Texas.

Incidentally, Paul was not mad at Michael Jackson for outbidding him on The Beatles’ musical catalogue.  Here’s his views on it:

“Some time ago, the media came up with the idea that Michael Jackson was going to leave his share in the Beatles songs to me in his will which was completely made up and something I didn’t believe for a second.
Now the report is that I am devastated to find that he didn’t leave the songs to me. This is completely untrue.”

So now you know!! And I wouldn’t be surprised if Macca were to touch on Jackson’s recent death during the Letterman interview.   Nonetheless, this will definitely be “must-watch TV” for millions of Sir Paul’s fans (and, with school still out, it’ll be a great way to introduce your youngster to one of the living legends of rock!).

THESE SHOES WERE MEANT FOR WALKIN’

As a man who loves to walk (I put in seven to ten miles a day!), I can tell you that you need some really sturdy, comfortable footwear when you’re out there on the pavement or trail.
Now, if you’re tired of looking through mounds of shoes at a local department stores, just to find them ill-fitting or too high-priced, here’s a fantastic way of finding just the right pair for you — and at prices you’ll smile about!
When you click on the link I’m about to give you, you’ll find a store that specializes in creating the finest and most attractive footwear to work with the natural form of your foot!
You can choose from selections for both men and women (and also accessories!), and even customize your search results with their special drop-down menu!
But that’s not all! If your order comes to over $59.98 (still a great deal!), your order is shipped free!
So, for the best in Naot shoes (where nature meets nuturing), just click on that link now!
Your feet are really gonna thank you for it!

A very special edition of Rock Band is gonna be debuting on 9/9/09 in the form of The Beatles (incidentally, 9 was John Lennon’s favorite number.

Of course, everyone’s excited about the new edition. Even Sir Macca himself is eager for its release (considering his background screens during his Coachella appearance was pretty much a commercial for it)!

It’s billed as a “first-of-its-kind music-based video game offers a revolutionary tour of The Beatles’ music, career, and legacy.”
September 9, btw, is also the date the Beatles’ entire discography is released in digitally remastered format.

The game will have 45 songs, with these verified so far:

“I Saw Her Standing There”
“I Want To Hold Your Hand”
“I Feel Fine”
“Taxman”
“Day Tripper”
“Back In The USSR”
“I Am The Walrus”
“Octopus’s Garden”
“Here Comes The Sun”
“Get Back”

And dig this: they’re promising all of the Abbey Road album for future download purchase, as well as others from the discography!

HITTING #1

This past weekend, the popular UK band THE FORE hit the #1 spot on the Unsigned Chart show — for the second time!
And now they’re goin’ for the gold at Overplay, where their hit You’ll Be Mine is already #4 this week on the main charts, #2 on the pop charts (remember, they’ve got a lot of competition for the position!).
Now, just as you helped them get the top spot on Unsigned, you can do the same at Overplay!
Just click this link (it takes you to the chart where you can play the hit) and give You’ll Be Mine a listen! With each click, the lads get closer to #1! (Oh … did I mention it’s also a free download?)
And, on behalf of Spencer, Matt, Si and Nathan, thanks for your helping the band get to the top at Unsigned! You all are amazing!

“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 …

SuperRocker Sir Paul McCartney is putting the pressure on the European Parliament to ban the sale of all seal products.

The former Beatle has added his famous name to The Humane Society and Respect For Animals petition urging the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) to make the trading of goods made from seals illegal The goal is to stop hunters from brutally beating these amazing mammals for their meat and skin.

“The fate of millions of seal pups is in the hands of elected members of the European Parliament,” he said recently. “In the next few weeks, they will have a historic opportunity to stop the cruel trade in seal products throughout the European Union. I’ve signed the petition to ask MEPs to seize this momentous opportunity to end, once and for all, this trade in animal cruelty. Please, make your voice heard too — join me in signing this important petition today.”

Sir Paul has been a supporter of the seal protection campaign for a long time and even visited the harp seal nursery on Canada’s east coast in 2006.

I’m in full agreement, having already signed petitions in the U.S. The brutality is very real … and sickening. Read what the Humane Society has to say, and see if you don’t get a funny feeling in your gut:
“This year’s Canadian seal kill — the largest slaughter of marine mammals on Earth — has just taken place off the country’s east coast. The 2009 quota was set at 280,000 animals — and more than ONE MILLION seal pups have been clubbed or shot to death over the last four years.”

To add your name to the petition, just click here.

INSURING YOUR FUTURE

You’ve seen the ads on TV, heard them on the radio and maybe have even gotten mail from various life insurance companies. And, while we realize the need to protect our families in the event of our passing, but how do we know we’d be getting the best coverage for our premium dollar? The “hype” doesn’t always match the “truth”!
Well, there’s one site that’ll help you find the right company — with coverage that’s not only right for you, but won’t tear a hole in your wallet!
These people study the 168 companies that offer the insurance, then pick out the best 25 — and match your requests and needs to get the best quotes for you!
You’ll also find some fantastic and informative articles, a Life Insurance Calculator and more!
All you have to do is click on the following link to find affordable life insurance … for the safety and security of your loved ones!

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 …

Welcome back! Over a few posts, we’ve been talkin’ about some of the U. S. acts that made some noize during the early Invasion years, but we obviously can’t overlook the British contributions to the Top 40 (D-UH!! Why’dja think they called it The _____ Invasion?!?).

Especially the Department of Duos, which gave us some of the best harmonies this side of rock-n-roll heaven. Duos like The Merseys (which was an offshoot of the famous Merseybeats. Recorded “Sorrow”), David and Jonathan (with a cover of “Michelle”), and two of the most famous — and still very active — duos on the scene:

London’s Chad and Jeremy and Liverpool’s Peter and Gordon.

Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde recorded such hits as What Do You Want (With Me)?, If I Loved You, and their signature charttopper, Summer Song. They played packed houses in England and America — even did stints on TV’s Batman, The Patty Duke Show, Laredo and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Their folk-rock harmony was considered the Brit’s answer to our Simon and Garfunkel, though without S&G’s intricate lyrics. After a string of folk/soft-rock hits — and due in part to the success of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper — the duo pushed the envelope a bit by introducing psychedelic-folk-rock to audiences. This move resulted in two cult-classic LPs, The Ark and Of Cabbages and Kings.
For the next thirty years the duo had an on-again/off-again musical relationship. But, here in 2009, the duo is back with the same determination and fervor they started with, and are, once again, playing to packed audiences throughout the world.

Peter Asher and Gordon Waller are remembered for hits like World Without Love, Nobody I Know (both written by Lennon & McCartney), Lady Godiva, True Love Ways (the Buddy Holly classic), Woman (written by McCartney under the pseudonym Bernard Webb) and I Go To Pieces (written by Del Shannon expressly for them).
These two were close mates with the Fab Four, and were more ballad-rock than folk. They were more private than C & J, but they certainly knew their craft.
The two parted ways after their last hits in 1967, and Peter (whose sister, Jane, was romantically linked to Paul during the early Invasion years) went on to produce great stars like Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Cher and 10,000 Maniacs, often lending his splendid tenor to their backing. Gordon went on to perform solo as well as act in various productions throughout England. Four years ago — during a rock reunion fundraiser for the late Dave Clark Five organist Mike Smith (who, after a brutal fall, became tetraplegic — think Chris Reeve and you’ll know what I mean.  Sadly, Mike left us last year …) — the two got back together and performed for the first time in almost forty years!

The live crowd went wild, prompting Peter & Gordon to resume touring and recording. When Sir Paul (McCartney) heard of their reunion, he told them he was glad they’d decided to do it. So are we all. Although, of course, they’re older, they still sound great!

If you get a chance to see either act, go!! You’re in for a mountain of memories — and some fantastic music!

QUIZ-TIME!! (Didn’t think I’d leave this out, didja?!?) Jeremy Clyde (the taller of the C&J phenoms) had a very famous and direct ancestor whose actions may have changed the face of Europe (€’mon — you heard about him in elementary school!!). Who was this person? First one to get it right gets a mention in the blog. If no one gets it, I’ll run the answer in about a week.

COMPUTING IT ALL

It seems that, today, the cost of everything’s going up while your income goes down a bit.  That really hits home when we’re shopping for a good computer!
Let’s face it — your PC will eventually need replacing.  But, if you shop around for a decent one, it could take days, lots of calls and driving, and the occasional pushy-salesman who may or may not know what you need.
Then there’s the subject of price.  Many of the good ones are getting more and more expensive.
But there’s one place where you can get a great model at a price that’ll make you and your wallet comfortable!  Its four-step process to purchase is easy and free: just register, find the one you’re looking for, make a bid on it, then pay for it.  In about six working days, you’ll be enjoying your new computer in the comfort of your own home!
Of course, this site offers much more, and every transaction is super-safe!  These folks are an accredited business with the BBB, and they’re one of the most trusted merchandise sites on the web!
So do yourself  a favor and click on this link for the best in wholesale computers .  You’ll be glad you did!

Well, that’s it for this session. Til 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!

Man, I am totally B-Side myself about my mates,  The Fore’s explosion onto i-net and terra radio.  Seems like everybody wants their new CD and …
(ummm … waitaminnit. B-side myself?? That’d mean there’d be two of me. WHOA! Scary thought, America! Ummm … let’s move on)

But talkin’ about “B” sides brings back mems of some of rock’s coolest sounds, unplayed because so many jocks were too lazy to flip the vinyl over and give a listen!  It’s sad (snif!) that these poor, underfed li’l orphans went unnoticed, scratchin’ at the back door, shiverin’ from the drenchin’ rain that was rock (WOW! I could be a writer someday!!).

These cats missed songs like Ben Franklin’s Almanac, which was the flip side of the Cryan Shames’ awesome cover of Sugar and Spice. It had a heavy beat for the time, and the lyrics, while simple (”Inside out, how I feel, far and near, can’t be real”), would stick in your mind for centuries.
Another group had a one-hit charter with a song that was written to motivate its members. “We Ain’t Got Nothin’ Yet” by the Blues Magoos was backed with “Gotta Get Away”, which was a musical strike for personal freedom.

Natch, we had some novelty flippers as well. Consider Napoleon XIV’s They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaaa! – played backward on side 2. Now, remember when the buzz was that reverse-playing hid messages from Satan? (Hell … my ex never even made a record!) Wonder what Jerry Samuels (aka XIV) had to say on his “B” side?

A few extraquickers and mentions: One of the best harmonicas in an early rocker belonged to Ol’ Sol, the flip side of the DC5’s Everybody Knows.
But if you just friggin’ wanna feel totally good, ya just gotta flip Let It Be over and get into You Know My Name, Look Up The Number (GOD, I love WordPress’s italic button!).

And the B-side of Help! — a down-and-dirty rocker called I’m Down, was actually cleaned up before bein’ released here in the states.  In Jolly Olde, Paul was told “keep your hands to yourself.” Here, he’s hadta keep his “hearts” to himself.
Weird censorship back then, huh?
Hey, listen … what were some of your favorite “B” sides? Lemme know, and I’ll list ‘em on a future post, okay?

Now …(as I’ve been known to thrown these in every once-in-awhile), it’s QUIZTIME: The music of Credence Clearwater Revival has a staying power better than a fresh application of Crazy Glue on onionskin paper!  Of their hits, Lookin’ Out My Back Door had a guitar solo influenced by a national anthem.  (Incidentally, Fogerty built the song’s tune around it.) Which country’s was it?

Well, that’s it from this side of the trax. But stay tuned … there’s gonna be more in about 24!  So, until then, remember to

keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music … and I’ll see ya on the  the flip side!

Now, you might’ve expected a run-down on last night’s Grammy Awards.  Yep, there were parts that really stood out — and you can find my take on ‘em here.

Now … let’s move on:

Sir Paul McCartney is set to share the stage with Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder to benefit filmmaker David Lynch’s meditation charity.

The concert – which will also include Sheryl Crow and Moby – will take place at the Radio City Music Hall in New York on April 4, with proceeds going to the David Lynch Foundation.

Lynch set up the charity to provide funds for in-school “Quiet Time” programs utilizing the stress-reducing Transcendental Meditation technique. In the past year, the Foundation has provided millions of dollars for thousands of students, teachers, and parents to learn to meditate. It also provides funds for independent research institutions to assess the effects of the program on creativity, intelligence, brain functioning, academic performance, ADHD and other learning disorders, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.

More information about the concert can be found here.

Bee Gees co-founder Robin Gibb has joined a host of celebrities to record a song to benefit this year’s Comic Relief Red Nose Day.

The singer appears on a new version of Islands In The Stream alongside stars such as Tom Jones, Rob Brydon and Gavin and Stacey stars Ruth Jones and Joanne Page, which is slated to be released March 13 – the date of this year’s Red Nose Day.

Comic Relief uses comedy to help raise awareness and funds for those in need and are especially committed to helping end poverty and social injustice in the UK and around the world. Red Nose Day is their major annual fundraising appeal.

Girl group The Saturdays have also joined the appeal and have recorded a version of Depeche Mode’s Just Can’t Get Enough for the charity, to be released on March 3.

“This year Comic Relief are putting a real focus on mental health problems which, as an ex-psychiatric nurse, I’m really glad about,“ said comedian Jo Brand. “We want to rid the world of the stigma that surrounds mental illness.”

More information about the appeal can be found here.

Okay … that’s all for this short edition, but stay tuned … we’ll get back up-to-speed in less than 24!

Listen … before we go on with this particular post, remember that it’s the 50th anniversary of the plane crash that took Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper from us. To read more about it, click here.

Now, if you’re lookin’ for some prime office space, ya might wanna check out a cool location in London. But it’s not any building …

Y’see, the five-story structure (located at 3 Savile Row, in case you wanna take a look-see) is where The Beatles headquartered their Apple Corps in the late ’60s. In fact, the band bought it for an easy £500,000.
And on January 30, 1969, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr played a very famous performance on its rooftop! They’d been recording their final album, Let It Be, in the basement studio, before staging their first live performance for nearly three years (it was also their absolute last).

But it has even more history: It was constructed in 1735, and was once bought by Lord Horatio Nelson for his mistress Lady Hamilton.
Owners Kier Property plan to sell it for office space but they believe the Beatles connection will send the value up quite a bit.

Leigh Thomas, Kier’s associate director, said: “It’s being marketed internationally. If someone wants a bit of heritage with a bit of history of the band, then this is the place. I still get goose bumps in here. It’s the world’s biggest piece of memorabilia!”

HERE’S THE GIG THAT MADE THAT ROOFTOP FAMOUS:

So that’s it for now … but stay tuned: there’s more in 24!
‘Til then …
see ya on the flip side …