Everybody, Have You Heard??

Hey, lovers of great music.

This is one of my favorite songs - so much fun to sing and watch the video of Carly Simon and then-husband James Taylor perform.

This was recorded on Simon's 4th album, 'Hotcakes', released in 1974.  I LOVE the album name.  It just sounds so 'happy', kind of like the song.  The song was actually written in 1963, and was considered a 'novelty' song.  It was recorded in 1965 by Dusty Springfield and in also performed in 1965 by the queen of soul Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles.

In my humble opinion, it's pretty hard to beat Carly Simon and James Taylor's version.

I'm not going to write a lot here tonight, just going to let you enjoy this great tune.

So, here it is:  Mockingbird.  (I bet you can't listen without tapping your foot and singing at least part of the lyrics.)

            

Until next time, be kind to each other.

Kimmie

I said 'Lay Down, Sally!'

Yeah, I know.  I've been MIA for a while.  I launched an online business late December and I am really tickled how it took off.  BUT that hasn't stopped me from listening to some good tunes.  I have satellite radio (thank heaven!) and this song came up a couple days ago.  Of course, I HAD to sing along.  I mean, who wouldn't?)

This song was recorded by Eric 'Slowhand' Clapton. He is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time. Clapton ranked second in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and fourth in Gibson's "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". He was also named number five in Time magazine's list of "The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players" in 2009.

Clapton has been the recipient of 18 Grammy Awards, and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2004 he was awarded a CBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music. In 1998, Clapton, a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, founded the Crossroads Centre on Antigua, a medical facility for recovering substance abusers.

Not too shabby, huh?

Now, 'Lay Down Sally' was written by Clapton with George Terry and Marcella Detroit in 1977 and is a cross-over song, meaning country blues.  You are NEVER going to guess who sang backup on this song.  It was Yvonne Elliman!   Yvonne Elliman who recorded in 1970 'I Don't Know How to Love Him' from Jesus Christ Superstar AND in 1977, 'If I Can't Have You' of Saturday Night Fever fame.  THAT Yvonne Elliman.  Who knew??

It appeared on his November 1977 album Slowhand, and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Now, let's listen to some classic Clapton with  'Lay Down Sally'.  I know you all know what to do now ...time to sing!

I'll keep listenin' to some really great tunes, and I hope you will, too.  If you want to hear something special, just post it on my Facebook page 'All You Need Is Love'.  If you like what you hear and see, please 'LIKE' my FB page. 


In the meantime, be kind to each other.

Peace and love.

Kimmie

Bittersweet Memories

Hey, hi, howdy, you all.

It dawned on me that I haven't posted for a while.  Holidays and all have gotten me off my routine.

I've had this song rolling around in my mind for a couple weeks now and I'm going to take that as a sign to share it with you all.   This one takes me back to being a very young, newlywed in the early 70's.  

Leon Russell, born Claude Russell Bridges, was involved with numerous brstselling records over a 60 year career.  (He took the name Leon from a friend who lent him a fake ID to get into clubs he was legally too young to perform in.) His collaborations rank as some of the most successful in music history and as a touring musician, he performed with hundreds of Hall of Fame artists. He recorded 33 albums and at least 430 songs. He wrote "Delta Lady", recorded by Joe Cocker, and organized and performed with Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour in 1970. More than 100 artists have recorded his "A Song for You" (1970).

As a pianist, he played in his early years on albums by the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean. On his first album, Leon Russell, in 1970, musicians included Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. One of his biggest early fans, Elton John, said Russell was a "mentor" and "inspiration". They recorded The Union in 2010, which was later nominated for a Grammy. Russell produced and played in recording sessions for Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, Ike & Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones, and others. He wrote and recorded the hits "Tight Rop and "Lady Blue". He performed at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971 along with Dylan and Eric Clapton, and in 2011 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

 As a pianist, he played in his early years on albums by the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean. On his first album, Leon Russell, in 1970, musicians included Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. One of his biggest early fans, Elton John, said Russell was a "mentor" and "inspiration". 

So, here is REALLY one of my all-time favorite songs of that time in my life.  Where, oh, where did the years go?   Leon Russell's Lady Blue.   Bittersweet memories.

Peace and love, my friends.

Kimmie