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