I don't really recall Your Hit Parade as a radio program, but after it made the jump to TV in 1950 it eventually became a regular part of my family's viewing schedule. The show, which was also sometimes called the Lucky Strike Hit Parade (since the American Tobacco Company paid the bills) had a pretty … Continue reading Did Rock & Roll Kill Your Hit Parade?
Category: Nostalgia
Warming Up To Hank Snow On The Philco
Today I was scrolling through the thousands of songs on my little MP3 player and then playing some of them while admiring the album art. After that I listened to the built-in FM radio for a while, and during all this the thought once again occurred to me that it would be easy to take … Continue reading Warming Up To Hank Snow On The Philco
From Billie Holiday To Doris Day – The Songbirds
What do Norma Deloris Egstrom, Frances Rose Shore, Eleanora Fagan Gough, and Doris Mary Ann von Kappelhoff have in common? You'd probably have an easier time guessing if I gave you their stage names: Peggy Lee, Dinah Shore, Billie Holiday, and Doris Day. By now you've figured out that they were all famous singers (and … Continue reading From Billie Holiday To Doris Day – The Songbirds
REVIEW: Manhattan Transfer – The Symphony Sessions
Fans of The Manhattan Transfer might find themselves in a bit of a quandary with this new release, The Symphony Sessions. There's nothing wrong with the music - it's outstanding - but the album is a reinterpretation of many of their past hits, so it stands to reason that fans would probably already have most … Continue reading REVIEW: Manhattan Transfer – The Symphony Sessions
Dads And Daughters – Nat And Natalie Cole
A couple of months ago I wrote a piece about how movie music was the MTV of my day, but it wasn't until I recently read something about MTV itself turning 25 that my nostalgia bone was tickled. (It resides right next to my funny bone, but is sometimes a little tougher to activate.) 25 … Continue reading Dads And Daughters – Nat And Natalie Cole
Who Was The REAL All-American Boy? Elvis, Bobby Bare, Or…
I've written before that I wasn't a devotee of early rock music in the fifties, but I wasn't immune to its allure. Even though I was more fond of big band music and modern jazz, I have to admit that I was definitely aware of the new stuff pouring out of jukeboxes. After all, it … Continue reading Who Was The REAL All-American Boy? Elvis, Bobby Bare, Or…
REVIEW: George Benson & Al Jarreau – Givin’ It Up
Alwin Lopez "Al" Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) There are so many "partnership" albums around - always have been, I guess - that sometimes it seems as if the choice of artists is more about showing something different than about being musically valid. No such problem exists with this new offering on … Continue reading REVIEW: George Benson & Al Jarreau – Givin’ It Up
Walkin’ Wild In New Orleans With Jimmy Smith
It's nice to see New Orleans making progress on a comeback from the devastation of Katrina, although it's obvious that it's going to be a uphill battle and the city might never again have quite the same unique character. It's a place that's special for a lot of reasons, and one of those is it's … Continue reading Walkin’ Wild In New Orleans With Jimmy Smith
REVIEW: Dave Brubeck Quartet – Best Of Brubeck 1979-2004
As a fan of over 45 years I was eager to tackle this particular review, but I found that I had to try to tamp down my memories of the original quartet to a certain extent. I wanted to judge this album on its own merit, rather than try to compare it to those of … Continue reading REVIEW: Dave Brubeck Quartet – Best Of Brubeck 1979-2004
Graveyards, Outhouses And Musical Memories
One of the things I enjoy most about music - and I know I'm not alone in this - is how a single song can transport you back in time, triggering a vivid memory that might not have anything to do with the subject matter of the song. In the latest occurrence for me, it … Continue reading Graveyards, Outhouses And Musical Memories
Geezer Music Club 