Have I the Right? Beats me?!

Have I the Right to Hold You?

What a great question.   This is the title of a 1964 song by The Honeycombs, an English group formerly known as The Sheratons.  The group was founded by Martin Murray, who played the rhythm guitar.  Murray was a hair stylist and he brought into the group his assistant, Honey Lantree, who played the drums.   Honey never had lessons and was pioneer in her field at the time.  There were very few female drummers.  It was her name (Honey) and profession (salon assistant) that led to the  inspiration for the group's name, as in, "HONEY COMBS" hair for a living.  Get it

Conspicuous in "Have I the Right?" is the prominence of the drums, whose effect was enhanced by members of the group stamping their feet on the wooden stairs to the studio. Meek recorded the effect with five microphones he had fixed to the banisters with bicycle clips. For the finishing touch someone beat a tambourine directly onto a microphone. The recording was also somewhat sped up.

 
Take a listen and let me know what you think.

Until next time, keep singing.

Kimmie

It'll Be Alright...

So says B J Thomas in 'Rock and Roll Lullaby'. This is one of his lesser known songs but is a really great one. The melody, the lyrics, and, of course, his voice. All make for perfect music.

 "Rock and Roll Lullaby" is a song written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil that was a 1972 hit single performed by B. J. Thomas. "Rock and Roll Lullaby" reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Thomas's third number one on the Easy Listening chart, where it spent one week in March 1972. The song was a smash-hit in Brazil, because of its appearance as love theme in the soap opera Selva de Pedra.

The song is sung in a first-person narrative of an adolescent or adult raised by single teenage mother since birth during the early years of rock-and-roll. Despite the bleakness of their situation, whenever the child cries, the mother sings him to sleep with a 'sha-na-na-na-na-na-na, it'll be all right...sha-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na, just hold on tight'. In the second verse, the narrator calls attention that despite hardships, they'd 'dream of better mornings when Mama sang her song', and that while it didn't make sense to try to recall the words, the loving meaning beneath them was all that mattered. 



Take a listen:

Hey, Baby, they're playing our song!

Hi there, lovers of all music.

I've missed you.  I have had a lot of major life events that have prevented me from continuing my blog and my All You Need is Love Facebook page.  I won't bore you all with the details....we all have 'stuff' in our lives, right?   It seems that I had more than my fair share, but who's to say?

I'm hoping that better days are ahead and I'm able to get back to sharing one of my hobbies, listening and sharing great music, like this one.

Hey, Baby, They're playing our song, by the Buckinghams!

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

Take care of all your memories for you cannot relive them....

Hello, my dear friends.

This is such a hectic time of year for so many.  Holiday parties, dinners, family time, work obligations, decorating the house, gift buying, and the list goes on.  In the midst  of all the things this wonderful season brings, I wanted to take a minute to share some iconic music with you that I hope will give you an opportunity to slow things down a little, breathe a little slower, and just listen quietly.

Today I will be showcasing one of my all time favorite songs by Bob Dylan.

Bob Dylan ( born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American songwriter, singer, and artist.  He has been influential in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s, when his songs chronicled social unrest. Early songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin' " became anthems for the American civil rights and anti-war movements. Leaving behind his initial base in the American Folk music revival, his six-minute single 'Like a Rolling Stone', recorded in 1965, enlarged the range of popular music.

Dylan was born in Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota.  I don't know why but I alway picture these history-making musicians being born in some hippie commune with their mom and dad dancing around the fire on the beach somewhere.  He moved to New York in 1960 and began playing clubs in Greenwich Village.  He became well-known for his songwriting talents and many others had hits with Dylan's songs in the early 1960s including The Byrds, Sonny and Cher, the Hollies, Peter, Paul and Mary, The Turtles, and the Association.

Here's a little known fact:  In the late 1970s, Dylan became a born again Christian and released two albums of contemporary gospel music featuring the guitar accompaniment of Mark Knopler (of Dire Straits) and was produced by veteran R&B producer Jerry Wexler. Wexler said that Dylan had tried to evangelize him during the recording. He replied: "Bob, you're dealing with a 62-year-old Jewish atheist. Let's just make an album."

So, here's the original recording made on a 45 RPM record. You can hear a little of the 'crackling' at the beginning of the song that I think is pretty cool.  Enjoy.

                                                                            

            

Until next time, my friends, be kind to each other, and rejoice in the miracles
of this blessed season.  

Peace and much love,

Kimmie

You are confined only by the walls you build yourself....

Hello again, friends. Hope you all had a truly blessed Thanksgiving. I know I did, so many things to be thankful for. One of the things that I am thankful is the wonderful musical artists who bless us all with their talent. As you know, I wouldn't be writing this blog if music wasn't an important part of me and my life. I don't remember a time when I wasn't singing (albeit off key) or listening to music. AND my taste runs the gamut...from the 60's anthems to the 90's, from bubblegum (I know, I'm hanging my head in shame as I write this), the dance music of the 80's and even some country thrown in there for good measure.

I'm finding that I am being drawn to country music these days. Now, now, don't panic!  I'm not talking about the old Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline stuff. I enjoy country music from the 80's and 90's as long as they aren't singing about their dog running away, getting drunk, and momma's cookin'.  I guess I'm a music snob that way but you like what you like.

One of my favorite country singers of ALL time is Dwight Yoakum. His music really is different from what most would consider 'country'. His lyrics just draw you in and you listen to every word. I forget where I am or what I am doing. His songs have an awesome melody and powerful words. In his concerts, there is very little talking, just melding one song into another.

Today's offering is a song written and recorded by Dwight Yoakum and is included on his "If There Was a Way' album. This song peaked at #5 on the Country Billboard but many of his fans feel 'he wuz robbed'.  LOL.  All that being said, here is 'You're The One'.  Give it a listen and I think you'll enjoy it as much as I do.

                       

So until next time, be kind to each other.

Kimmie

It is not happy people who are thankful...it's thankful people who are happy

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

This has been a kind of chaotic few weeks for me and the Thanksgiving holiday is closing in upon us; yet,  I still wanted to be sure to post one of my favorite songs by Dwight Yoakum.  This song wasn't published until 1990, a little later than most of the songs that are on my 'short list' of favorites.

I saw him in concert in 1990 and that little move he does with his leg in this video? Well, that has become his trademark move.  You should  try it sometime in skinny leg jeans - it's not as easy as he makes it look.  :-)  Also, around the 1:15 to 1:25 mark in the video, you will hear the reason this is at the top of my favorite song list.  There is also some phenomenal guitar playing by Pete Anderson who partnered with Yoakum from 1984-2002, a partnership that resulted in numerous platinum records, sold-out tours, and some darn fine music.

Here's 'I'm a Thousand Miles from Nowhere' for your listening pleasure.





Wishing you and yours a truly blessed Thanksgiving.

Namaste.

Kimmie

Make space to listen to your wise heart.  What you seek lies within.

Breathe In Peace, Breathe Out Love

The presidential election is just around the corner.....I'm sitting here listening to some really fine music ..... makes all the craziness seem a lot more tolerable.  But then good music usually does that to me.

I guess I'm on a southern rock kick here for the last few weeks.  As you know, I love pretty much all music EXCEPT for hip-hop.  (Sorry, folks, but if you ain't singing  the lyrics, it just ain't music!)

I heard this song the other day and think it's one that I need to share with you all.

This was recorded in 1973 by The Allman Brothers and peaked at number 2 on the charts that year.  Did you know that Greg Allman (the founder of the group) married Cher in 1975?  Just a little trivia.....   The song had originally been recorded by Hank Williams in the 1950's and it was WAYYY more country sounding than this version.  The band was a little reluctant to record it because they really weren't into all that twangy stuff. They decided if they were going to make it, they were going to do the best job they could.  And they sure enough did.

Here's Ramblin' Man for your listening pleasure:





So, my music friends, until next time, be kind to each.

Peace and love.

Kimmie

Be Somebody Who Makes Everybody Feel Like A Somebody

Hello, my dear music lovers.

Today's post is going to be short but sweet.

Normally I concentrate on rock, folk, soft rock genres of music from the late 50's, 60's, and 70's.  But today I want to travel to 1977 and share one of my all time favorite songs.  I guess it resonates with my Appalachian roots, well, kind of, one generation removed.  But I still have many, many fond memories of my great-grandma and her kin up on the mountains.  These boys are from Spartanburg, SC.

This song was recorded in 1977 and is considered Southern Rock.  Give it a listen and see if it brings back lots of fond memories around the campfire.  That's where I am taken.  The flute playing on this stands unchallenged, in my opinion, as some of the sweetest sounds you'll ever hear.

And with that, I lovingly share with you, "Heard It in a Love Song" by the Marshall Tucker Band. Sing the chorus if you don't know the rest of the lyrics.  Enjoy!

Speaking of Appalachian roots, below is a photo of a woman playing her mountain dulcimer.  You may be surprised to know that Cyndi Lauper plays a dulcimer.  (Psssst...I have a dulcimer, too, that I have been teaching myself to play.  Shhhh..it's my little secret. )

And on that note,

Be kind to each other.  Peace and love.

Kimmie

Wherever you go, go with all your heart

Hello there.

Another glorious autumn day in my neck of the woods.

I've been listening to some 'lighter' music these last few weeks; songs whose meaning is pretty upfront and you don't have to dig too deep to figure out exactly what they're singing about..

Today's song is from 1967, where it peaked to number 4 on the charts and stayed in the top 10 for 6 weeks.  I was a mere child (actually, I really was!) but I still remember it well.  My friends and I were fantasizing about our boyfriends and singing this song....ah, a simpler time.

This is the third album by pop star band Tommy James and the Shondells.  (What's a Shondell??) 
The original album cover was black with two pairs of yellow footsteps walking side by side, then facing each other near the top of the cover. (Scandalous!) This was considered to controversial at the time (in 1967??) so the album cover was changed to a yellow cover with a photo of the group .  So, if you stumble across this album with the yellow footsteps, GRAB IT!  You won't find very many of them.  Hey, if you find one, and don't want it for yourself, post a comment and let me know.  I'll send you my contact info so I can take it off your hands. 

Ok, folks. today's song is 'I Think We're Alone Now'.



So, until next time, be kind to each other.

Peace and love,
Kimmie

Fall Seven Times; STAND UP EIGHT!

Happy Friday, friends. 

What a glorious day we have today.  There is little doubt as to why this time of year is the favorite season of so many.  Vibrant fall colors, cool evening air perfect for a bonfire and your favorite music playing in the background.

I have chosen a song for you that I'm pretty certain that you remember from the 1960's,  BUT this version is going to have a little surprise for you. I'm even going to tell you the name of today's choice.

'Don't Worry Baby' written by The Beach Boys is the subject of today's post.

A little trivia for you:

 Don’t Worry Baby" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian, produced by Wilson and first recorded by American rock band the Beach Boys. The band's version, a tender ballad with falsetto lead vocal by Wilson, was first released on their 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2. It was also released as the B-side of The Beach Boys' first US number-one, "I Get Around", also reaching number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its own right.

The song "Don't Worry Baby" is part of the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list. It is ranked as the 176th greatest song of all time in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and Pitchfork Media placed it at number 14 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s".

The song, as originally performed by the Beach Boys, is sung from the point of view of a teenager who reluctantly agrees to a challenge to race a rival after rashly bragging about his car, and is reassured by his girlfriend's plea to take her love with him when he races.
David Howard wrote that "Don't Worry Baby" was a "subtle harbinger for the growing dichotomy within the California Sound. While 'I Get Around' symbolized the sunshine ideal in all its carefree splendor, 'Don't Worry Baby' suggested something entirely more pensive and even slightly dark underneath its pristine facade."

This song was recorded January 7, 1964.  Take 12 was the one used as the master recording.  Brian Wilson cited the song as his attempt to capture the essence of his all-time favorite record, "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes. Wilson estimates he has listened to the song "more than 1,000 times."

So, what's the surprise, you ask??  The version in today's blog is actually performed by BILLY JOEL, and is amazing!  I actually like it better than the Beach Boys version.  I know, blasphemy, right? 

 

Take a listen and see what you think.  (Indulge me, please, as Billy Joel dedicates the song to his daughter in the very beginning of the video or just grab the scroll bar at the bottom and scroll right past that part).

Until next time, be kind to each other.

Peace.


Kimmie

There is no path to happiness; Happiness is the path.

Hello, my friends of great music.

I have been listening to some great music since my last post and I keep coming back to this tune.

This song was recorded in 1967 by The Turtles, their most successful year. It reached number 3 on the US charts in late spring and actually out-charted "Happy Together" overseas, reaching #4 in the UK.

The Turtles are an American rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band had several Top 40 hits beginning with their cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965. They scored their biggest and best-known hit in 1967 with the song "Happy Together".

The band broke up in 1970. Kaylan and Volman later found long-lasting success as session musicians, billed as the comedic vocal duo Flo & Eddie. In 2010, a reconstituted version of the band, the Turtles Featuring Flo & Eddie, began performing live shows again.

The Turtles have created a 'Happy Together' Tour that I had the pleasure of seeing live a few years ago, and I have to say, they sound great!  Everybody was singing and dancing in the aisles.

So, have you figured out today's song?

I present to you, for your listening pleasure, the one, the only Turtles performing 'You Know She'd Rather Be With Me.'

I really wish that today's music was more like these songs.  You can't help but feel good when you hear this!

     

 

  1967 - a very good year

 

Until next time, be kind to each other.

Peace.

Kimmie

 

Old Hippies Never Die....They Just Sing

Happy, Happy Friday, friends.

So, I got up this morning, with this fantastic song in my head and I just KNOW it was a message from the cosmos that I was to share it with you.  I know you will know every single word and every single La-tee-dah in it.  

This is Van Morrison's 'Brown-Eyed Girl'.  First of all, I didn't know that Van Morrison was from Northern Ireland.

In March, 1967, over a two day period and TWENTY TWO takes, Morrison was finally happy enough with the recording to release it.  The song's original title was 'Brown-Skinned Girl' because he thought the song had a kind of Calypso beat to it.  He changed the name 'accidentally', according to him.  Who knows?  Maybe he did.

Some of the radio stations thought the lyrics were too risque (makin' love in the green grass) and  Morrison changed the lyrics to accommodate the radio stations.  However, the ORIGINAL version still can be found easily enough.  Personally, I happen to like the original version...gives me a better picture of what he is trying to say.

'Brown-Eyed Girl' was ranked in November, 2004, as number 110 of the top 500 songs of ALL TIME, and in 2007, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Not too shabby, huh?

So, here it is.    Sing. Dance.  Grab your loved one and ENJOY.

So until next time be kind to each other.

Kimmie

Poverty with Dignity is Better than Wealth Based on Shame

Hello, my friends.

I was traveling in my car with my Sirius Radio on (as always....I don't go anywhere without my music) and this tune came on a couple times within a couple days.  I took that as a cosmic sign that this was to be my next selection for you.  :-)   Besides this is ANOTHER great tune that I associate great times and great memories.

So, where were YOU in 1974?

This song is by The Doobie Brothers and was recorded in 1974.  Michael McDonald didn't join the group until 1976 so it's not him that you hear singing the lead vocals.  Who knew?   All this time, I thought it was him.  AND here's another factoid, the title of this song is actually a small town in Texas, population 1,719.

S0, do you know what today's song is?  If you guessed "China Grove', you are correct.

Crank it up so 'You can hear the music at night'.  :-)

(Check out the groovy hair on the guys.  Love it!)

     


Enjoy.

Namaste.

Kimmie 

CHERISH YESTERDAY, DREAM TOMORROW, AND LIVE TODAY

Good day, my friends.

I have found ANOTHER (there seems to be an endless supply) fantastic song that is sure to take you back to some great memories, great times, in your life. 

This is a song that was written and performed by Jackson Browne in 1977.

It was written while he was driving to the studio each day to make The Pretender, according to Rolling Stone magazine: "I was always driving around with no gas in the car," Browne is quoted. "I just never bothered to fill up the tank because — how far was it anyway? Just a few blocks."

The song may be meant to describe the rigors of a musician's day-to-day life on the road, and its effect on his life as a whole, in connection with the themes of much of the album, but the lyric is more generally applicable, as well:

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels —

Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields.

In '65 I was seventeen and running up 101

I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on ...

The lyric's ages and years match up with Browne's:

In '69 I was twenty-one and I called the road my own

I don't know when that road turned onto the road I'm on.

Rolling Stone writer Paul Nelson saw "Running on Empty" as embodying a "tenacious, win/lose duality" and being "what daydreamers have nightmares about":

You know I don't even know what I'm hoping to find ...

Running into the sun, but I'm running behind.

I'm sure you figured it out.  Today's offering is 'Running on Empty' by none other than Jackson Browne, one of my all time favorite artists.  Now, this video has the lyrics included so......you know what to do.   Enjoy!

                  

Until next time, live in peace.

Kimmie 

I Want to be a Sunflower; So Even on the Darkest Days, I will Stand Tall and Find the Sunlight

Namaste, friends.

I'm bringing you today a song that takes me wayyyy back (well, maybe not so wayy back) but back to high school.  Lots of good memories, lots of great music.  I don't know about you but I just can't get into today's music.  I suppose it has a lot to do with the music with which we associate great times of our life. I remember my mother-in-law one time saying that her favorite music was 'big band music'.  I was like, 'Whhaaat?'  But now I get it.  That was time in her life that she has great memories from.

So, today, I'm bringing you 'Doctor, My Eyes' by Jackson Browne.  It was written and performed by Jackson Browne in 1972, on his debut album Jackson Browne.  The song made it to number 8 on Top 100 Billboard for 1972 and became a concert mainstay for Browne.

Here's an interesting fact:  David Crosby and Graham Nash sang backup vocals.  Not too bad, huh?

Glenn Frey (of The Eagles fame) would tell the story of listening to Jackson working on the song for months at a time in his apartment.  You see, Frey had an apartment next door and could hear him through the walls at work every single morning for..months.  I find it intriguing how so many young artists paths crossed as they found their way to stardom.

Browne was holding a concert relatively close to where I live and I had heard he was introducing some 'new' music he had written.  Maybe I'm stuck in a rut, but I want to hear classic Jackson Browne! 

Hope you enjoy 'Doctor My Eyes' by Jackson Browne.

   

                                

Peace and all good things.

Kimmie

Holding onto Anger is Like Drinking Poison and Expecting the Other Person to Die.....

Howdy, fellow lovers of music. I have just returned from a little vacation and am now renewed, re-energized (is that a word??), and ready to devote more time to this blog.

If you've been paying attention, (and I'm sure you have), the heading of each post has an inspirational quote for you to think about. Some, more than others, may 'speak' to you, and that's my hope.

So, all that aside...there is another fantastic song that I've selected for you that 'speaks to me'. AND I know when the title is revealed, you are going to be very surprised, as I was. I thought it was just a great song from the early 70's. (Who knew?) This is actually a popular and well-known Christian hymn first published in 1931. It has words by English author Eleanor Farjeon and is set to a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune known as "Bunessan" (it shares this tune with the 19th century Christmas Carol "Child in the Manger"[1]). It is often sung in children's services.

This song was recorded in 1971 by Cat Stevens, who wrongfully is often credited for writing the lyrics. The song was recorded by numerous other artists such as Neil Diamond, Art Garfunkle, and Kenny Rogers to name a few, but none were as successful as Cat Steven's version.

Here is 'Morning Has Broken'.

 (PS I'm learning to play this on my mountain dulcimer. Beautiful tones!) So, sit back and enjoy!


             


Namaste, my friends.

Love Yourself For What You Are, Instead of Hating Yourself For What You are Not....

Happy, happy day, lovers of great tunes.  I  have chosen a song for today by Jefferson Starship that I haven't heard in FOREVER.  And boy, did it ever take me back to a time when life, well, life was just kind of groovy. (I bet you were wondering when I was going to throw that word in there!)

Jefferson Airplane was a San Francisco, California-based band who pioneered the American counterculture movement as well as psychedelic rock. Formed in 1965, the group defined the San Francisco Sound and was the first from the Bay Area to achieve international commercial success.

The origin of the group's name is disputed. "Jefferson airplane" is slang for a used paper match splint to hold a marijuana joint that is too short to hold without burning the fingers – an improvised roach clip.^[4] A popular conjecture suggests this was the origin of the band's name, but band member Jorma Kaukonen has denied this and stated that the name was invented by his friend Steve Talbot as a parody of blues names such as Blind Lemon Jefferson.^[5] A 2007 press release quoted Kaukonen as saying:

"I had this friend [Talbot] in Berkeley who came up with funny names for people," explains Kaukonen. "His name for me was Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane (for blues pioneer Blind Lemon Jefferson). When the guys were looking for band names and nobody could come up with something, I remember saying, 'You want a silly band name? I got a silly band name for you!'"

They were headliners at the three most famous American rock festivals of the 1960s—Monterey (1967), Woodstock (1969) and Altamont (1969)—in addition to the first Isle of Wight Festival (1968) ^[1] in England. Their 1967 break-out record Surrealistic Pillow ranks on the short list of most significant recordings of the "Summer of Love". Two songs from that album, "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit", are among Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

The "classic" line-up of Jefferson Airplane remained stable from 1967 to early 1970, and consisted of Marty Balin, Jack Casady, Spencer Dryden, Paul Kantner, Jorma Kaukonen and Grace Slick. The group broke up in 1972, and essentially split into the two bands, Hot Tuna and Jefferson Starship. Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, and honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. 

Today's selection is 'Runaway' recorded by Jefferson STARSHIP.

Hope you enjoy it.

And, as always, be kind to each other

Namaste.

Kimmie