Well it’s August & the summer is 3/4’s over. ERRR! Bummer! Summer is always my fave season. It’s hot & clothing optional. Laundry is light & the beer is cold. You can sweat out all your evil fluids & refresh your skin in the salt water of the beach. The outdoors is lush & green & the fruits & veggies are fresh & tasty. There are a few minor issues = mosquitoes & major pet shedding. But it’s the season of social activities & the enjoyment of life. And besides Christmas – a great theme for music. I was fortunate to spend many summers in Wildwood NJ. Mom had the station wagon prepped & loaded on the last day of school & would reluctantly reverse the process the day before school resumed. I didn’t see my friends all summer, but that was never a concern. Hell I had all school year for local socialization. It was a beach world & boardwalk nights! I remember one night walking up to the “boards” with my parents & passing the current “summer controversy”. You see the local hippies had rented an abandoned church & opened up a “discotheque”. The residents were enraged & declared the location as “blasphemous”. (This was the mid 60’s after all – no Woodstock Generation upstarts welcome here!) As we approached the location I peered into the front entrance & witnessed the spectacle of the brethren performing various dances of enjoyment to the latest Motown sounds. That moment made a major impact on me. It was so magical & I wanted to be a part of it. Damm – the closest thing I ever saw was the sanitized televised American Bandstand. NOT! So dear friends that was my first foray into the active participation of the modern dance. (Kiddie birthday parties just didn’t cut it!) So I present to you a small fraction of my fave Summer Songs. They possess all distinct memories of Summers passed. The Theme to A Summer Place by Percy Faith was the cut the Captain of the tour boat “The Sightseer” blasted as we pulled out of the dock & into the bay. I LOVE THE SUMMER!!
Finally — Now it can be said: I LOVE ABBA!! They are my #1 fave band. Just listen how precise & polished their musical repertoire is. It’s a fine tuned & oiled aural machine. The songs that were recorded at Polar Studios in Sweden are magical. Benny & Bjorn’s intricate arrangements + the ethereal vocals of Agnetha & Anni-Frid were an international phenomenon. The drums – bass- keyboards/synths & guitars are perfectly structured to the tempo & atmosphere of the song. They can burn up a dancefloor or melt you with the perfect ballad. Anywhere on the planet Earth you will find a ABBA song on the jukebox or on the radio airwaves. They were always placed in the pop genre, but ABBA could ROCK too! Their sound ranged from funky electro to killer Glam! Always catchy & fun. The way music should be. I am so glad they are being presented with this honor. They are an essential exponent of Rock/Pop music history. They rank #4 of the all-time best selling music artists in history. Starting as Swedish “folkies”, they captured the 1974 Eurovision Contest with “Waterloo” & conquered the World. There have been requests for a reunion, but with their steady income from royalties it would not be authentic or practical. So in celebration of this deserving moment I furnish you with some of my fave ABBA selections for your listening pleasure. You may now chose your matching stage ensemble. And practice those dance moves! Cheers & “Hello Sweden!!”
I loved The Runaways!! Ha! There I said it & it feels good! As a teenage menace I embraced these ladies. Come on – five 16-17 year old female rockers! “Oh Yeah Buddy!” They were to be a Kim Fowley packaged femme power machine, but these gals could Rock out raw Cali Sunset Strip style! The combo of Lita Ford & Joan Jett provided ripping guitars & in your face vocals. Front fatale Cherie Currie provided lead vocals & a corset collection that could give Agent Provocateur a run for their money. Ahhh & then there was Sandy West…(ok she’s the one I had the “hots” for). Sandy could pound the skins & shake the foundation of every venue. Sadly we lost Sandy as she lost her battle against cancer. There were multiple bassist changes, too many to detail here. I was fortunate to see The Runaways perform at CBGB’s. Our posse reserved a front table (you could call & do that back in the day) & witnessed an amazing performance! They rocked out & Joey Ramone came on stage & did 2 songs with them. (The Runaways were support band for the Ramones during their tour) Way up there in my top shows! Joan & Lita are still rockin’ & Cherie is a major chainsaw artist in Cali. I’m skeptical on bio films, especially on rock performers (don’t get me started on Velvet Goldmine!!) But we shall see if Kristen & Dakota pull this off. The film was intentionally shot on a super 8 gritty source & some of the clips hold up well. Just have to deal with their vocal performances. Joan Jett was on set to maintain authenticity. Your comments & reviews are welcome. Till then it’s time to prime you up with a few of my fave Runaway cuts for your enjoyment. Sorry no “Cherry Bomb” or Neon Angels…” on this post – those cuts will have plenty of exposure in the film & trailers. There are some live & unreleased goodies. So are YOU ready – Get set – Fishnets & corsets on – Crank it Up!! LET’S GO!!
Round 2 here in the Northeast for the 2010 Penquin Pleasing Snowlympics! Since this is a SUNNY themed blog and that I am always on “island time”, I do not welcome these conditions. ( My feline partner is also not pleased. ) But let the rouge vin + Tullamore Dew prevail & await the final thawdown. February is the worst weather + shortest month. Till then we can look forward for the swallows to return to Capistrano. Meanwhile I will provide you with some snow related sounds to froth the hot chocolate of your psyche. So spark up the home fires – light up a fatty – dry your stinky footwear – fill up your cauldron with liquid pleasure & let your feline friend knead your post-shoveling back pain. Spring begins on March 20th. So start sowing your indoor seeds now! Also enjoy this vintage Phylis Diller pitch for Snowy Bleach… Ha Ha Ha.
Wow! Alice & his band were a major exponent that enabled me to survive my teenage existence!! The band had a distinct raw sound & were very tight. Drummer Neil Smith is among my fave rock drummers. (last I heard he’s a major real estate entrepreneur in Connecticut) Their early tripped-out material was brought to the attention of Frank Zappa who signed them to his Straight label. The rest is a momentous chapter in rock history folks! I first saw Alice at Madison Sq. Garden during the Welcome to my Nightmare tour. Our Alice Cooper high school entourage took over 2 rows of seats that night. I regret I never caught the original line up & stage show. Thank god for the “Good to see you again, Alice Cooper” dvd & You-Tube clips. I also remember his appearances on ABC TV’s In Concert – The Muppet Show – Soupy Sales Show (yes he was “pied”) – The Snoop Sisters (no relation to Snoop Dog’s Ho’s) & Hollywood Squares. I’ll still remember the photos in Circus & Cream magazines & the huge flat-bed billboard sign that cruised the streets of London promoting his live show. My fave Alice cut is “Halo of Flies” but at 8:22 min. – not on this post. Besides that can ONLY be enjoyed at a maximum decibel levels! One person who was heavily influenced by Alice & Band contributed to the liner notes on the box set released by Rhino in 1999. That was none other than John Lydon of Sex Pistols / PIL fame. Happy 62nd B-Day to you Alice!! I hope Alice is “on the links” in ‘Zona enjoying HIS day. He certainly deserves it. Thanks soooo much for being there for me Alice! Alice Cooper – Apple Bush Alice Cooper – Shoe Salesman Alice Cooper – Long Way To Go Alice Cooper – You Drive Me Nervous Alice Cooper – Luney Tune
It’s amazing the body of work that Mr. Jobim has blessed us with. He was a major component in the roots of the Bossa-Nova movement. His compositions inspire a mood that is serene and exudes “aural pleasure”. The string arrangements augment the poetry of the Brazilian-Portuguese sultry vocals. A multitude of artists have embraced his songs & influence. No matter what type of day or mood I’m in, when a Jobim song is on… everything becomes warm & perfect. Obrigado Mr. Jobim for providing us with your tropical treats! Antonio Carlos Jobim & Elis Regina – Aguas De Marco Antonio Carlos Jobim & Astrud Gilberto – Agua de Beber Antonio Carlos Jobim & Astrud Gilberto – O Morro Nao Tem Vez
Yay! I’ve landed on the blogosphere. For the 1st entry I will post a cut that shares the title of this blog. It’s a track from the Canadian band Lighthouse – “Sunny Days”. Lighthouse was among those “rock-horn” bands that were popular in the late 60’s & 70’s. (Chicago / Blood, Sweat & Tears / Chase) They had a one hit wonder in 1971 with “One Fine Morning”. This is a summer song, but with the cold weather here in the northeast, it should bring a little warmth. I dedicate this 1st blog entry to all the fellow Capricorn Sisters & Brothers in the house. Below is a sunset pix from my Cayman Island abode. That’s a subject that I will detail on another post. Lighthouse – Sunny Days
