When Japanese pop singer Kyu Sakamoto's ballad "Ue O Muite Aruko (I Look Up When I Walk)" first became a hit in his home country, it had nothing to do with sukiyaki, a familiar meat and vegetable dish. But "Sukiyaki" was the name given to the song by record promoters when it was brought to … Continue reading Sakamoto’s Hit Song Was Not About Food
Tag: Music History
Hank Cochran Will Be Missed
Country music fans were saddened to hear of the recent passing of singer/songwriter Hank Cochran, who died at age 74 in his home near Nashville. Although he was a polished performer, the long-time associate of Willie Nelson is probably best known for writing hit songs for other singers; including Eddy Arnold's "Make The World Go … Continue reading Hank Cochran Will Be Missed
The Mission Of Lalo Schifrin
Soundtrack music is something that most of us take for granted, but it's vital to the mood and pacing of a film. It also has to do its job while not distracting from the action on the screen, even though in some cases the music might be better than what you're watching. It's not surprising … Continue reading The Mission Of Lalo Schifrin
The Complete Shirley Bassey
Although she has never quite conquered the American market in a consistent way, one of the biggest stars in Great Britain over the past half-century has been Shirley Bassey. Enormously popular in her home country, she remains mostly a mystery to American music fans who only know her as the brassy voice on the familiar … Continue reading The Complete Shirley Bassey
The Many Talents Of Rupert Holmes
Rupert Holmes is probably currently best-known as a Tony-winning playwright, having picked up two awards for his Broadway musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. But the multi-talented artist first rose to fame years earlier as a popular recording artist, whose best-known song -- "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" -- rocketed to the top of the … Continue reading The Many Talents Of Rupert Holmes
Picnics And Music – The Curious Case Of ‘Moonglow’
In the aftermath of the holiday weekend and the many activities enjoyed by folks, my thoughts turned to the musical side of picnics, and that led me to one of the most interesting pairings in music. It's the curious case of an old standard that became so closely identified with a movie theme that the … Continue reading Picnics And Music – The Curious Case Of ‘Moonglow’
Waylon’s Hero – Sonny Curtis
One of the longest-running and most intriguing careers in popular music has been that of singer/songwriter Sonny Curtis, who is still active after more than a half-century in the business. Along the way, the Texas native has had connections with everyone from Buddy Holly to Mary Tyler Moore. Like Holly, Curtis grew up in the … Continue reading Waylon’s Hero – Sonny Curtis
Self-Styled ‘Shockumentary’ Introduced Classic Song
We all remember the days when movies were much milder -- not only in terms of language, nudity, or sexual themes, but also in content. That might be at least part of the reason why some otherwise forgettable films made such an impression on us in those days by pushing the envelope a little. But … Continue reading Self-Styled ‘Shockumentary’ Introduced Classic Song
Paris Sisters Spanned Two Eras
All-girl singing groups have been a part of music for a long time, and have often featured singing sisters. During the heyday of the big bands, groups like the Andrews Sisters were big stars, and in later decades there were pop groups like the Shangri-Las and others, but there were some that stretched across both … Continue reading Paris Sisters Spanned Two Eras
A Wake-Up Call From The Jersey Boys
Although I've enjoyed 'oldies' music for a long time, I actually came a little late to that appreciation. I've written before about my teen years and how my eclectic music tastes included everything from jazz to country music, but I think I always had my ears open to the latest thing too, and as time … Continue reading A Wake-Up Call From The Jersey Boys
Geezer Music Club 