The more time I spend looking into the history of music and musicians, the more I realize the magnitude of my ignorance. I've always enjoyed music, but for most of my life it was pretty much just an aural experience for me, and I seldom delved too deeply into the backgrounds of the musicians themselves. … Continue reading Dinah Washington – Queen Of The Blues
Category: Oldies
Songs That Tickle (Part II) – Rock & Roll Oldies
In my first installment on this subject, I tried to make the case that country music is tops when it comes to songs with strange titles. I still believe that to be true, but every genre has its share of goofiness although it might be of a different type. When I reflect on rock and … Continue reading Songs That Tickle (Part II) – Rock & Roll Oldies
Bad Boys Of Early Rock – Gene Vincent
Teenagers in mainstream America who followed pop music in the 1950's had a lot of choices, but most could be classified in one of two groups -- the good guys or the bad boys. The former were those singers who were perceived as clean-cut, well-dressed, respectable, and - well - safe. The poster boy was … Continue reading Bad Boys Of Early Rock – Gene Vincent
Ridin’ The Rails To Detroit City
If you could somehow look into a geezer's head and identify all the various segments and what they contain, you'd almost certainly find a train-buff section. It might be big, it might be small, but it would be there. Mine is pretty large and well-developed (my train-buff portion - not my brain) and I think … Continue reading Ridin’ The Rails To Detroit City
Teresa Brewer And Her B-Side Million-Seller
I'm not one to brag about the reliability of my memory. In fact, just the opposite -- I'll be the first to admit that my memory is so full of holes that you could use it to make a chain-link fence. That's why a lot of the songs I remember from my childhood are a … Continue reading Teresa Brewer And Her B-Side Million-Seller
REVIEW: Various Artists – Swamp Gold – Volume 8
If you were a teenager in the South in the 1950's or 1960's, you might think some of the music on this album is very familiar. If you grew up in South Louisiana, following the music and hitting the bayou dancehalls, it's almost a sure thing that you'll remember a lot of these songs. Swamp … Continue reading REVIEW: Various Artists – Swamp Gold – Volume 8
The Monkees – More Than Just Beatles Wannabes
Before the mob with torches starts marching to my castle, let me hasten to assure you that I'm not equating the Monkees with the Beatles. Far from it. On the one hand, you have a band that was a pop icon in the 1960's and on the other hand you have the Beatles. Wait -- … Continue reading The Monkees – More Than Just Beatles Wannabes
A Music Contrarian Warms To The Beatles
Let me get the following statement out of the way first. Believe me, I completely understand that the Beatles don't need me to validate them, and I realize that they've already carved out their place in musical history without any help from me. I also understand that Paul McCartney has a lot of other things … Continue reading A Music Contrarian Warms To The Beatles
Elvis Presley And The Genesis Of Rockabilly
Here's an amazing fact -- in August of this year, it will have been thirty years since Elvis died. Of course, it might not be as amazing to you as it is to me, but I'm willing to bet that most of us wouldn't have guessed that it had been that long since he took … Continue reading Elvis Presley And The Genesis Of Rockabilly
REVIEW: Paul Brown & Friends – White Sand
I always feel a little torn when I do a review of a smooth jazz album, but in spite of the disregard in which it's held by many jazz fans, it is a very popular musical format. Personally I have a kind of love-hate relationship with it, although that might be a little strong -- … Continue reading REVIEW: Paul Brown & Friends – White Sand
Geezer Music Club 