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