197 - Copland's Fanfare for The Common Man & Appalachian Spring Suite, Rodeo, Billy Kid

As I walked through the deserted streets of Edinburgh at the start of this week, I was listening to my retro pink iPod and a track from one of my favourite classical CD came through the earphones. The piece was from Copland’s Appalachian Spring suite that was conducted by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. For me, it captured both the beauty of Edinburgh on a fine April morning and the uncertainty everyone in the world is facing with the current COVID19 crisis, and if I could have only one classical CD in my life, it would have to be this one.

Why I hear you cry? Simple I have a history with this CD. My recording of this CD is a copy taken from my Dad’s collection. I think he originally purchased the CD, Copland: Fanfare For The Common Man, Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, Billy Kid, conducted by Leonard Bernstein: New York Philharmonic Orchestra, in the early 1990s, and it had a blue colour. Of course, Fanfare For The Common Man is a very familiar piece of music with a cracking trombone part which incited me in, and Shaker Melody The Gift to be simple was the tune to one of the hymns we sang at Girls Brigade (and we would later sing at my wedding). The first time I think I really listened to the music was with my sister who talked my through all the different pieces in the Billy the Kid Ballet Suite. If you think this might sound really odd for sisters to talk about teenage music in their teens. Both of us studied music at high school and come from a very musical family so we’ve always had a wide range of music available to listen to. I don’t know or remember what led us to listen to talk about that music but from that day, I think I was enchanted and engaged with this CD from that moment on.

So much so, that I adopted the CD as part of my exam preparation and for every exam I have sat (Standard Grade, Higher, University etc), I have listened to this CD and it has given me both hope and courage. For me, the different tempos of the pieces from Springtime - Allegro to the Rodeo - Buckaroo dance gave me whatever I needed to get myself in the mood to sit exams and give me the strength to get through the test.  

Although this music takes me back to exam times, it doesn’t make me think of exams. It is not like having songs which remind you about a past relationship. In fact, it just reminds me that with the right music you can get through anything. Someone said to me last week that I am a very positive person, which I am, but it doesn’t mean that I’m not wobbling during this time of COVID19, because I am but music is one of the things which settles me and brings me back to a place of calm. You may have no interest in ever listening to Copland’s music but I hope if you enjoy listening to music there are pieces that are helping you get through the strange times we live in.

As I would normally do, here is a little bit of knowledge on Arron Copeland. Born in Brooklyn New York in 1900, he started writing songs at the age of eight and took piano lessons with Leopold Wolfsohn between 1913 - 1917.  After a period in Paris in the early 1920s, Copland to New York enthusiastic about the future and his musical opportunity. Living in the Upper West Side, he stayed there for nearly 30 years of his life. In America, the Jazz movement in the 1920s which brought George Gershwin and Louis Armstrong to the front of popular, Copland felt his own musically style had moved away from this style of music however the swing bands of Benny Goodman and Glenn Millar renewed his interest in the genre. 

At the same time (in the 1930s) Copland established himself as a spokesman for composers of his generation and became a well-respected lecturer and writer on European music. During the 1930s and the great depressions, Copland travelled extensively to Europe, Africa and Mexico. His time travellers would influence the development of his ballet Billy The Kid, which together with El Salón México, which was his first commercial successes. Music like Stravinsky’s ballet scores in Russia, Copeland established himself as an authentic composer of American music and give choreographers music for their dance repertory. 

The end of 1930s lead to a very productive 1940s, where his ballet Scores for Rodeo (1942) and Appalachian Spring (1944) were huge successes along with Fanfare for the Common Man (1942) and his Clarinet Concerto (1948) and a number of film scores. 

Unfortunately, Copland’s political views in the 1950s didn’t sit while with the FBI and he was caught up with the Red Scare in America in the 1950s and much of his music was discarded, much to the annoyance to the musical community. Although the politics didn’t stop his musical composition, the moon of the period changed and Copland spent much of his later life focusing on conducting, rather the creating music.

Before I leave you with the links to some of my favourite parts of this CD, I would like to talk briefly about the Shaker Melody “Simple Gifts.” This was composed in 1848 and is attributed to Joseph Brackett, and it was Sydney Carter who turned the medley into a hymn entitled Lord of the Dance, for those who will be quick to correct me that Copland didn’t write it.

What’s interesting about these pieces of music in today’s world is all three of them were written at a time of great uncertainty; the Great Depression and WW2 and it make you wonder what the great composers of this century are up to during this period of isolation the whole world is in. Perhaps we will feel like the pioneers of  Appalachian Spring and look at life with an unnerving excitement when it is safe to go out and explore again. Until next time, happy listening. 

1. Appalachian Spring - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e3rVcSy3IQ
2. Rodeo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3_FRgBKD4o
3. Billy the Kid - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL-j2etBTek

Song 196 - Tiny Dancer by Elton John

Just in case you thought the last blog entry was a one-off, I thought I would follow it up with this hit from Elton John, who like Freddie Mercury has been immortalised in film over the last few years. Interesting fact, the director of both Starman and Bohemian Rhadsopy was Dexter Fletcher, who played Spike in Press Gang. Why I am telling you this? Probably because I was already thinking about becoming a writer when Press Gang was on TV as well as having a massive crush on Dexter Fletcher.  But I am getting sidetracked here, let us get back to song 198 of the jukebox - Tiny Dancer by Elton John. 

I think for me, Elton John has always been one of those artists that have been there in the fabric of my music. Never, someone, I would have rushed out to buy his latest album, but on a trusty, homemade tape mix, his songs would appear and over the years, I have found myself collecting his music. This year has seen the release of the highly delayed, Rocketman, a film charting the early years of Elton’s music journey and struggles with addiction. Having loved the film about Freddie Mercury, I was ready to hate this film as I wondered how they could tell a truthful account of the life of someone who is very much alive. Having now seen it, I was blown away by the whole movie. I thought the use of his music in the movie and the reimagined songs, sung by Aaron Egerton and Jamie Bell to mention the two leads, was incredible. You have to praise Elton John for being able to hand over his life and allow others to tell his story. Yes, I know he had control over the final cut of the movie, but even being in control, you are handed over your life to others to tell your story and that has to be brave. I think we sometimes forget that celebrities are real people and what makes a really good story, requires people to open up themselves and allow people to walk through memories, both bad and good.

For me, I count myself lucky, I have actually seen Elton John live. Not because I spent months planning my tickets, because I  found myself there when other people weren’t able to go.  We saw Elton at St. Johnstone’s McDiarmid Park in Perth. A small gig compared to the dizzy heights of Madison Square Gardens, in New York, but here we were listening to one of the most iconic pop stars. I am glad I can say that I have experienced his music live, even though we didn’t know all the hits. 

Out of all the Elton John hits, Tiny Dancer stands out for me as it makes me think of one of my own character, who I created about 13 years ago, Little Pink. Little Pink is a very personal character as she is a version of myself, who challenges me and reminds me to keep exploring life. When the character first appeared on my page, I saw her as a vision of pink dancing in a hospital corridor, and the lyric from Tiny Dancer, which goes, “Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand. And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand”, fits Little Pink. Although Little Pink is the tiny dancer in my head. 

Written by Elton John & Bernie Taupin, there is a relaxed hopefulness in the song, which never fails to bring a smile to my face. Released in February 1972, it wasn’t an overnight success, and it wasn’t released as a single in the UK as it faired badly in the USA. However, the Canadian markets loved it, and over time it has become one of the most popular songs released by Elton John. The lyrics were written after Bernie Taupin’s first trip to the USA.  I still find it crazy to think that whilst Elton John is one of the most recognisable faces on the planet, Bernie Taupin is a name everyone knows but he could walk past me in the street and I wouldn’t know him from the next guy. And coming back to Rocketman, the beating heart of the movie was the friendship between John and Taupin, who conquered the world with their music but maintain their friendship. I think in life we sometimes forget how important friendship is. Everyone talks about falling in love and being loved, but equally, friendships are so important. You need to have people who are there supporting you, whether you are just about to play live at Wembley or when you feel lost to the whole world. Friends are the family we choose for ourselves and should always be celebrated. 

For me, friendship comes through in the song as it has one of the tunes which makes me think of having big adventures with friends and chilling out afterwards reflecting on the fun you have just had. I don’t know how it makes you feel but I hope you enjoy it:

Listen here to Tiny Dancer

Tiny Dancer by Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Released: 7 February 1972

Album: Madman across the water

Song 195: Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

Originally, many thought this song would never be a commercial success because of its length of nearly 6 minutes when most hit singles were around 3 minutes long. Also, it wasn't written in the normal convention of a pop song,  verse/chorus/verse/chorus. Despite being told the record would never be played on the commercial radio, the single would be the Christmas Number 1 in 1975 and stay at the top of the chart for nine weeks. Then 16 years later, it would reclaim the number one spot for another 5 weeks (the only record to be Christmas Number one for the same artist). It has been at number one for a total of 14 weeks. Yes, the song to relaunch the Juke Box is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

Formed in London at the start of the 1970s, Queen started life as a four-piece rock band consisting of Roger Taylor, Brian May, John Deacon and Freddie Mercury. They first charted in the UK with their second album in 1974 and it wasn't until the release of A Night at the Opera did they achieve international success. Their catalogue of hits range from We will Rock You to The Show Must Go On, and it is hard to imagine the world pop scene without their influence, especially as they have sold in the region of nearly 300 million records, And, if their music wasn't iconic enough, their performance at Wembley for Live Aid is one of those moments in history, where people remember where they were when they saw Queen at Live Aid in 1985. But let's go back to Queen's first number one,  Bohemian Rhapsody as it is still one of the most iconic songs ever written. 

Written by Freddie Mercury for Queen’s 1975 album A night at the Opera, the song is an opera in its own right. Throwing out the normal conventions of a pop song, the tune is split into sections, which contains some of the most powerful lyrics of any modern-day pop together with some of the most fun lyrics to sing at the top of your voices with friends. It is one of those songs which makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, especially when I’ve not heard it in a while.

Part of the success of Bohemian Rhapsody was down to the fantastic Kenny Everett, who teased his radio audience with parts of the record on his radio shows. The snippets of the song left his audience wanting to hear more. Everett would play the song 14 times in 2 days to keep his audience happy and the rest is history. 

Many people debate what Mercury meant when he wrote the song, and I am glad that no one, or perhaps only a very few people, actually knew the meaning behind all the lyrics. There are a thousand theories out there, which you can read about, but for me, I would recommend that you just listen to the music and enjoy it for what it is. 

Mercury’s untimely death in 1991 sent ripples around the world, and I remember listening (and tapping) the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert off the radio and listening to the songs over and over again. The concert for those who haven’t listed to it entwined live performances with clips of Freddie talking about his career. I always remember one of the questions he was asked was “What would he do if he wasn’t a singer” and Freddie said “a Stripper”, which lead to the question, "what songs would you strip to?”, his reply was “to all the songs I’ve written.” 

The song is reported to be the UK's 3rd best-selling single of all times, and it is the most downloaded song of the 20th century, having been streamed/downloaded 1.6 billion times. The 2018 film of the same title brought Queen to a new generation of fans, together with the We will Rock You musical, opened in the West End in 2000.

For me, I never really think of myself as being a Queen fan, but when I look at through my music collection, the number of Queen songs within my library might lead anyone to disagree. I do remember that my headteacher at Primary School was a massive Queen fan and I have vivid memories of her having an 'It’s a kind of magic' t-shirt, which she wore. 

Many of you are probably wondering why to start this blog again after nearly a two-year absence, perhaps because the world has changed so much over the last two years and I want to finish what I started. I have to thank my nephew, Luke, for helping me choose this song. I asked him what was one of his favourite bands and Queen was his answers. Yesterday was Luke's 13th Birthday so I hope he enjoys being the inspirations to get his Auntie back writing again. Thanks, Luke and I hope we can share more music together soon. 

Watch  Bohemian Rhapsody here.

Released: 31 October 1975

Album: A Night at the Opera 

Written by: Freddie Mercury

Performed by: Queen

Song 194 - The White Album - The Beatles

Today is the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles’ - The Beatles album, affectionately known as The White Album, and there is no better other way to regenerate the jukebox than by starting with this album. The trouble is where do you start with this album? It is a feast of musical masterpieces, which starts with Back in the USSR and ends with Number Nine, and shows off the extraordinary talents of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison & Starr. If anything, this for me, this is their sad album because it is the individual talent that shines throughout the tracks and signals that this supergroup is outgrowing each other. 

There is no way I can do this album justice in one blog post so, over the next four weeks, I am going to cover some of the songs on this remarkable album. If I had to pick one song and discard all the others, the one song I would keep is Blackbird. I know it’s the obvious choice, but it is one of the most beautiful songs I think that has ever been written. For years, I’ve listened to this song, without fully appreciating its true meaning. For those, who may not know, Blackbird is not only a reference to the bird but also to the race relations and the plight of African-American Women at that time.  1968 was a poignant year for America as only months earlier  Martin Luther King had been assassinated.

Recorded as a solo performance on the album with McCartney playing a Martin D 28 acoustic guitar, the lyrics brings goosebumps whenever I listen to it. It is a standard out song that captures a moment of history. The tune itself was based on Bach’s Bourée in E Minor, a tune Paul & George tried to teach themselves at school. 

But anyone who listened to the album will know that Blackbird isn’t the only creature to appear on the album, with Rocky Racoon and Piggies both appearing on the album and there’s the reference to the walrus in Glass Onion.  I remember the first few times I heard these songs and how visual the lyrics were in describing these characters.  As I writer and lover of music, I love musicians who can tell a character’s story as strongly as the Beatles.

Listen and enjoy the first four tracks and look out for more over the coming weeks

Blackbird

Piggies

Rocky Racoon

Glass Onion

Tracks from The Beatles

Written by: Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Starr

Released: 22nd November 1968

Song 193 - I just can't wait to be king - from the Lion King

I'm having an African inspired day today so for Saturday Sparkle, it seems really fitting to have "I just can't wait to be king" from The Lion King. The Lion King is, of course, the 1994 smash hit animated film brought to us by Disney and tells the story of Simba and his road in succeeding his father as head of the pride. It is a magical film, which Disney turned into a live musical in 1997. I saw the musical a few years ago and it captures your breath on how they brought such an iconic film to stage. It is understandable, that the musical broke the record of the longest-running musical, which was held by The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.

With the music written by Elton John and Tim Rice, there is a feast of iconic songs that could have been chosen for today so why choose I just can't wait to be king? I love the mischief-making lyrics of Simba and Nala, much to the annoyance of Zanu. They are spirited lion cubs, who don't need to be told what to do by an old hornbill, they do it their way.  It is an attitude that is inspiring, we, of course, know there's going to be consequences for their actions, but sometimes it is better to look at the rules and think how can I break them. I know I got to Africa because someone told me I was too fat to go and walk there. Never one to be told what to do, I put my walking boots and trained the weight off me.  I think what we learn as we get old is the balance of knowing what rules to break and what rules to live by. I'm a rebel at heart like Simba and Nala are. I also feel for Zanu as he is a teacher and being a teacher can be one of the hardest jobs in the world.

To hear this brilliant song, listen here and there is even lyrics so you can sing along:

I just can't wait to be king

Performed by Rowan Atkinson, Jason Weaver & Laura Williams
From The Lion King 
Lyrics - Tim Rice
Music - Elton John

Song 192 - If you could see her from Cabaret

Saturday Sparkle this week comes from Cabaret and the song If you could see her through my eyes.  Sometimes music can capture a moment in time and history, which makes you shiver every time you hear the lyrics. Together with Miss Saigon, Cabaret and its subject matter make me remember how lucky I am.

Adapted from the 1939 book, Good Bye Berlin, by Christopher Isherwood, Cabaret debuted on Broadway in 1966 and found international fame with the film in 1972, which started the legendary Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowels. This film was the first film I remember being told that I was too young to watch. 

A good few years ago now, as I'm now age-appropriate, I saw Cabaret on stage in Edinburgh and was completely moved by it. One of the stand out songs for me from this musical is "If you could see her through my eyes". When Emcee sings it in the musical, he is, of course, talking about the underlying tension for anyone who was Jewish in Germany in 1939. He is trying to get people who he is singing to, to be more open-minded and not fall into the prejudices being portrayed by Nazi Germany. John Kaber and Fred Ebb created a number, which was funny and brutally honest at the same time. 

The powerfulness of the message is still very prevalent for today and for all of us. We don't realise that sometimes we are picking up prejudices that have developed because of something we have read or seen on the TV. To keep an open mind about life, for me, is being open to everything and everybody, and to give everyone a chance to find their place in the world that works for them.

Keep those minds open this Saturday sparkle.

To listen to the song - here's a clip from the film:
If you could see her through my eyes

Performed by Joel Gray

Song 191 - Popular from Wicked

Happy Sparkle Saturday People. Wicked is, possibly, one of my favourite musicals ever, I feel as though I am celebrating my 10th year anniversary of knowing this music. I remember very clearly one of my best friends talking about seeing Wicked in New York. After which, I downloaded the music and listened to it, whilst doing my CIM marketing exams. I think I also remember this as I was also falling in love with my husband, as we had just started dating, and it was the first musical we saw together, first in London and then in New York. 

Popular, even if you haven't seen the musical, is a song where everyone can understand the sentimental between Glinda and Elphaba. Glinda is the most popular girl in school and in trying to make Elphaba fit in, she kind of misses the point, and is the growth between these two friends throughout the musical that entrances you throughout the musical. Steven Schwartz's musical ability is delightful throughout the musical.

Wicked made its premium in New York in May 2003, and since then has dazzled audiences across the world. Bravely must be credited to the production team to take one of the most iconic musicals of all time The Wizard of Oz and do a prequel musical some 70 years later. I've written about Wicked before in this blog so if you want to read more about my views on it, reference song number 10. For now, I'll leave you with Popular.

Song 190 - American Dream from Miss Saigon

Sparkle Saturday this week is taking us to Vietnam and the moving musical Miss Saigon and is a brilliant example of how some songs need to be seen within the context of the musical to understand their brilliance. I must admit when I first listened to the songs on the tape we had of this musical, I was a bit bored with it! Such a child that I was, however, when I saw this performed on stage I was blown away by the depth of this song. To be fair to my younger self, I probably didn't fully understand what happened in Vietnam when I first listen to the songs of this musical.

The American Dream comes right at the end of the musical and is an autobiographical account of Engineer's life and the life he hopes for in America. So much hope and so much promise, the song crescendo only to smash us down with the final scenes between Chris and Kim.  It is the power of storytelling at its finest.

Though it is not surprising that the team who brought us Les Miserables, Claude-Michel Schonbergh and Alain Boubil, could create a powerful and moving account of the destruction of the Vietnam War for the theatre for the people involved. There have been so many accounts of Vietnam on screen, in books and in music and this is one of the best.

For me, today I get to feel less guilty. I took my dad to Miss Saigon about 15 years ago but didn't take my sister and today, my sister and I are going to see the musical in Edinburgh. There is a twist in the tail as the tickets say restricted view (of course, the seats are downstairs!), hopefully, it won't be too restricted!!! Hee Hee, my sister might not be talking to me after today!

Listen here to the American Dream.

Song 189 - Lost Boy - Ruth B

I think one of the most annoying habits I have is that I collect music and sometimes I don't even remember what I have.  But the best thing about having too much choice when listening to music is that you make excellent discoveries. When I heard Lost Boy by Ruth B, it transported me inside one of my own stories and made me think about the relationship of two of the characters. Not many songs do that so I've had a note of it pinned to my notice board.

I loved putting soundtracks into my stories, because I can't imagine my characters not liking music because without music, for me, there would be something missing in life. I suppose that also how I feel about all the books I have read. I mean, can you imagine a world without Peter Pan or Winnie-the-Pooh? Don't even try and answer that questions. 

So thank you Ruth B, for this gem of a song and giving my characters a theme tune. It is interesting to read that her inspiration for the song came from the TV series Once upon a time. Inspired by storytelling, stories are the lifeblood of our society and I hope one day I will share my stories with the world. 

Listen to Lost Boy here.

Written by Ruth B.

Album: Safe Haven

Released: May 2017

Song 188 - Strangers by Sigrid

This is probably going to be one of the tracks of 2018, Strangers by Sigrid. To be honest, the song is still growing on me, but I like the idea of watching new artists and listen to them develop. Sigrid was named as BBC Music Sound of 2018, about 10 days ago, and since then I've listened to her being interviewed by a variety of people.

Coming from Norway, she started hitting our airways in 2017 when she had had first breakthrough hit, Don't Kill my vibe, and with the backing of BBC music, who knows where her music will take her this year. When interviewed by Graham Norton, she said that Adele had been an influence on her (Adele herself won BBC sound of 2008, beating Duffy to the Title) and that the chorus to Rolling in the Deep has inspired her to become an artist.

I think for Jules' Jukebox, I'll be keeping my ears out for her new releases as there is something about her sound that makes me believe she might just become as established in the music industry as Adele has been.  I've also listened to her track, Plot Twist and I'm looking forward to hearing more.

Strangers by Sigrid

Song 187 - "Macavity" from Cats

Saturdays should sparkle. This year, in the Jukebox, whilst I'll dust down the old girl, who has been unplugged for six months, Saturday are going to be show tunes because I love musicals and I can't my playlist without tunes from shows on my playlist. I know musicals aren't for everyone, but if you fall into this category, don't read my blog on a Saturday. Simple!

For me, I have to start with a tune from the first musical I show in the West End, in fact, I think Macavity was the first poem I could recall without having to read it from a book. I still have brilliant memories of the first time we saw Cats. It had been a present from our Grandparents, who lived in London for a day in the West End. There was, of course, a bit of a drama from me (heights in theatres are one of my fears), which has always been met with disapproval from my family, who must go "oh no, here we go again".

But after I went upstairs (we weren't even sitting on a balcony), I was in heaven. The rubbish dump set (with everything on the scale as a cat would see it), was breathtaking and I was transfixed by the next 2 hours of songs, dance and excitement. My addiction to musicals started that day and, even, thinking about it now, I am filled with a warmth as this love is something I shared with my family and the songs from Cats take me to a place of very precious memories of my childhood that can be provoked as soon as you turn on the playlist. But that's music for you and I think everyone listens to music with their own memories.

Anyway, before I go misty-eyed,  Cats would not have happened without T.S. Eliot, and his book of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber who put the poems to music and Trevor Dunn, the director who put it on the stage. Cats had its premiere in London's West End in 1981 and is one of the longest musicals in the West End. I've seen it four times, once in London and three times in Edinburgh. Unless you have a passionate hatred of cats, I would recommend it to you.

My favourite description of Macavity is below with the link to the track,

Macavity's a ginger Cat, he's very tall and thin;
You would know him if you saw him, for his eyes are sunken in.
His brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly domed;
His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed.
He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake;
And when you think he's half asleep, he's always wide awake.

Macavity from Cats the musical

Song 186 - Always on my mind - Elvis Presley

You suddenly realise how old you are getting when a song you love was a Christmas number one thirty years ago in the UK. The Pet Shop Boys covered Always on my mind to mark the 10th anniversary of Elvis' death and like Suspicious Minds, it is the cover that I fell in love with before hearing Elvis' version.

Together with Jonny Christopher and Wayne Carson, Mark James would pen a country song that would become a classic Elvis song. First recorded by Brenda Lee and Gwen McCrae in the early 1970s, Elvis released his version of the song in November 1972, the year he separated from Priscilla Presley, as the b-side to his song  Separate Ways in the USA. When it was released in the UK Always on My Mind  became the A-side and was an instant hit. Whether Elvis's personal life difficulties allowed him to bring more emotion to his vocal, I can't say, but Always on My Mind is said to be one of his standout hits of the 1970s, and a favourite with the British Public who voted no.1. in a poll of his hits in 2013.

I am going to leave you today, with both Elvis and The Pet Shop Boys version. Although I am not normally a fan of covers, their version, to me, merits a place in the jukebox.

Elvis sings Always on My Mind

Pet Shop Boy's Cover Version of Always on My Mind

Written by: Jonny Christopher, Wayne Carson & Mark James
Released by Elvis: November 1972
Released by Pet Shop Boys: November 1987

Song 185 - Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley

Some of my favourite Elvis tracks were made popular to me through other artists. Suspicious Minds was recorded by Fine Young Cannibals in the 1980s and I think this is the first time this song was brought to my attention.

Written by Mark James in the late 1960s, the song was given to Elvis in 1969 when James himself failed to create a commercial hit for himself. The song came to Elvis after his 1968 Comeback Special, after a period of hiatus, where his records had failed to reach the chart and his album Speedway had failed to break the top 70. The 1968 Come Back was a live concert recorded in June that year, which aired at Christmas. Although the music wasn't hitting the high note, Elvis' personal life was booming with the birth of Lisa-Marie, his only daughter. The 1968 Comeback Special opened up the opportunity for Elvis to record at the American Sound Studio in Memphis, which was where Mark James had been recording his material.

Elvis would lay down the track in January in 1969, and although there was initial hesitation on Mark's part that Elvis had made the track too slow, he was blown away by the final version.  Suspicious Minds is the first of two songs that had been written by Mark James, the second being Always On My Mind.  I bet Mark never realised at the time of writing the song that his conflicted feelings between his childhood sweetheart and first wife, would become the last number one for Elvis in the United States when it was released in the autumn of this year.

To hear Suspicious Minds 
Suspicious Minds, performed by Elvis

Written by: Mark James
Performed by: Elvis Presley
Album: From Elvis in Memphis

Song 184 - Love me tender by Elvis Presley

If anyone ever learnt to play a keyboard in the 1990s, they probably learnt how to play Love Me Tender in volume 2 of the music books that went with them. I remember learning and hearing my mum play Love Me Tender on the keyboard. I also remember the afternoon I spilt tea all over the keyboard,  that definitely wasn't a tender moment between mother and child! Anyway, let's get back to Elvis.

Love Me Tender replaced Hound Dog as a number one hit in 1956. Adapted from a Civil War song, Aura Lee, which dates back to 1861, Elvis is jointly credited with writing the song with Ken Darby, who wrote under the name of his wife Vera Matson.  However, this joint accreditation was more to do with the publishing deal that Elvis's record label had which entitled him to 50% credit for the song production if he recorded it.  However, I don't think this affected the relationship between Elvis and Darby, as the latter would talk about Elvis's brilliance and his ability to be able to take a song and make it his own. Darby, himself, was a magnificent musician and composer in his own right. Having read about him in relation to this song, he belongs in my jukebox in his own right. 

Elvis first performed Love Me Tender on the Ed Sullivan Show on September 9th 1956, shortly before the single was released and a month before the film was released.  The single debuted at number 2, the first time a song had debuted on a chart in this position and would take the top spot from Hound Dog, staying at the top for five weeks.   The song reached number 11 on the UK Chart. The succession of number ones meant the Elvis was top of the charts for 16 years, a record that stood until 2004. 

Like many of Elvis's timeless hits, the song has been recorded by many artists since Elvis's recording. For me, the song stood out in the film Backbeat, which is an adaptation of the Beatles'early years in Hamburg and tells the story of the untimely death of Stuart Sutcliffe. If I hear the song at the right moment, tears will glisten in my eyes as there is something authentic in Elvis's voice and you feel the love & passion in his voice.

For me, out of all Elvis's songs, this is the one I wanted to put in the jukebox on the anniversary of his death.  When his death was announced 40th year ago,  it shocked the world so much that 40 years of conspiracy theories and sighting of Elvis has kept the King alive in so many people's hearts. I didn't really understand why people were so disbelieving in death. But now, having lost people central to my universe, I can understand it better now. To have one more day....

To hear Love Me Tender 

Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley

  

Song 183 - Hound Dog by Elvis Presley

Hound Dog has been recorded by over 250 artists. A snappy, foot-tapping song that transports you straight to a 1950s dance hall with teddy boys and a milk bar. This week marks the 40th anniversary of Elvis Prestley's death on the 16th August 1977. Elvis should be in everybody's jukebox because so much of what he did inspired the British pop scene in the 1960s. Along with artists like Little Richards, he became one of the front runners in the musical revolution of the youth.

Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Hound Dog is a 12-bar blue song that was originally recorded by Willie Mae 'Big Mama' Thorton.  When 'Big Mama' released it in February 1953, it sold 500,000 copies and seven weeks at number one. Due to Elvis' version, it is now listed as one of the 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll.

Unsurprisingly, Elvis's recording of Hound Dog, is by far the most popular ever recorded.  Elvis's version came out in July 1956 and sold in the region of 10 million copies worldwide.  The song became a favourite of Elvis' and he would end his live performance with the track.

Elvis recorded the song over a period of seven hours in New York, together with songs Don't be cruel and Any Way You Wanted.  During the recording session, Elvis and his band recorded over 30 versions of the song, which moved the song away from the original way he had performed it live.  Version 28, "an angry hopped-up version", was  eventually chosen for the single, and  Colonel Parker, Elvis's manager, called it though, predicting (rightly) that Hound Dog would rewrite the meaning of a global hit.

On the original release, the song was the B side to Don't be cruel. But it was clear which was the bigger hit and the sides were reversed. On its first release, it sold over 4 million copies and stayed at number one for 11 weeks (a record for the US chart that wasn't broken until 1992) until Love Me Tender replace it.

To hear one of the King's classic number one
Hound Dog by Elvis Presley

Song 182 - Dignity by Deacon Blue

These are meant to be my crazy Saturday Summer Tunes to celebrate the sun and today,  the whole of Scotland seems to be under a cloud of rain. Still that's a Scottish Summer for you and hopefully won't dampen our spirits for the Deacon Blue Gig tonight at Edinburgh Castle.

Released in March 1987, Dignity was Deacon Blue's first song they released as a single. Although it didn't chart, it is fair to say that this tune has gone on to be an anthem that I've heard chanted at many a celebrations. It was even played at the closing cermony at Glasgow's Commonwealth Games in 2014.

There is too much to say to why this is an epic tune and what it means to me so I'll just let you listen and enjoy your own memories. For me, I am going to pray that the weather starts to improve - or we all might be singing the blues in a Raintown!

Dignity by Deacon Blue

Written by Ricky Ross
Performed by Deacon Blue
Released: 1987
Album: Raintown

Song 181 - Long Tall Sally by Little Richards

Happy Fathers' Day to one of all.  As well as being Fathers' day, it is also Sir Paul McCartney's 75th Birthday today and I thought I would do a song by Little Richards as he is someone who influenced the Beatles in their early days as the Quarry Men. Also Long Tall Sally is reported to be the first song Paul McCartney performed in public. What's the connection to Fathers' day you may ask, well Paul McCartney is the same age as my dad and my dad is one of my greatest sources of inspirationsin my life but he hasn't written a hit single so he doesn't really fit into a music blog! However, he has got a fantastic sense of musicality and has introduced me to many a good tune over the years.

Release in March 1956, Long Tall Sally by Little Richards is a 12 bar rock and roll song. It is also one of his biggest hits. Little Richards himself, is one of the most influential rock/pop stars in the world as his style in the 1950s laid the foundation for Rock and Roll. Born in 1932, he was discovered in 1947 by Sister Tharp. From that moment on, his life would be about performing music and it took him 8 years to secure a recording deal with Specialty Records, who signed him as their version of Ray Charles. Little Richard's first single release would be  Tutti Fruit, which was followed up by Long Tall Sally, which became his first number 1 on the R&B chart in 1956.  At the time when racial tensions were strong due to segregation laws in the USA, it is said that Little Richard's music brought race together and broke through the tensions.   Tutti Fruit & Long Tall Sally were the first two hit singles for Little Richards and in the space of 3 years he had secured 18 hit singles and was a millionaire. His music was being covered by stars like Elvis Presley and Eddie Cochran and he was invited to guest star in popular films at the day.

The association between Little Richards and The Beatles came in the early 1960s when Brian Epstein approached him to see whether his band could be one of his supporting acts when he was touring Europe in 1962.  They opened for him in Brighton and Hamburg to name two of his venue. During the time the band spent with Little Richards, he taught them how to sing his songs. This would lead to the Beatles covering the song in 1964, for the Long Tall Sally EP.

When I listen to the track, it makes me want to dance and own a vintage 50s dress so I can dance a Teddy Boy all night long.  Listen to it now but promise me you'll listen to it full blast. If you are able to be with your dad today, have a dance with him!

Listen to Long Tall Sally Here:
Long tall song

Written by: Entrois Johnston, Robert Blackwell and Robert Penniman (Little Richards' real name)
Year released: 1956

Song 180 - The Pink Panther - Henry Mancini

A few weeks ago, we were sitting in our city centre flat in Edinburgh and we started to hear bagpipes from the pup below us. Not a usual sound to hear when you are in Scotland, but it then became more bizarre when I realised they when playing the Flintstone Theme on them. That's the power of music on everyday life; I haven't sat and watched the cartoon in years, but I remember the theme tune as if it was yesterday and the opening/closing credits.

This started me thinking about other theme tunes that become part of your musically DNA and one of my all time favourites cartoon theme tunes is The Pink Panther.  Written in 1963 for the film The Pink Panther, Henry Mancini created a timeless classic and sometimes I feel glad to have grown up at a time when they still had cartoons on television. Mancini's theme would go on to be nominated for an Oscar at the 1964 awards ceremony. Mancini is no stranger to this blog having co-written Moon River, which was song 117 in the jukebox and won an Oscar in 1962.

The theme itself was originally played in the key of E minor, noted for its quirky, unusual use of chromaticism which is derived from the Hungarian minor scale. This music makes you want to pick up an alto saxophone.  I think for me the music stays with you due to the cartoon character and the sublime creation of the animation to fit the music. The cartoon was developed as a spin-off of the opening credits of the films where the animated Pink Panther first appeared. The Pink Panther show first aired in 1969 and our non-speaking panther has been on and off our TV sets ever since. 

During my youth, I remember the theme being popular with the wind bands and brass bands as it was always a favourite at concerts.

To listen to this marvellous tune:
Pink Panther Tune 

And for those who want to remember how slick the Pink Panther was; here's the cartoon:
Pink Streaker


Written: Henry Mancini
Year: 1964

Song 179 - The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens

So June is going to be the month of songs that almost make up some of the soundtracks of my life as I come to terms with this new decade. One of my favourite songs which also reminds me of one of the biggest adventures I've had in my life, is The Lion sleeps tonight, Mbube or Wimoweh depending on which you would prefer.

The version which I remember first is the hit by The Tokens in 1961 which reached number one on the US chart and number 11 in the UK Chart.  But the song itself is far older than the hit I know. 

Written in the 1920s, by Solomon Linda, a South African Singer of Zulu origin,  Mbube (Lion in Zulu) was first recorded in 1939 and within a decade the song had sold over 100,000 copies throughout Africa & in parts of GB. Perhaps not the most mind blowing tune, but there is something in the rhythm and chatting that just makes you smiles and the words "In the jungle, the mighty  jungle the lion sleeps tonight." You can hear that harmonic yodel inside your head as soon as you say the line.


Nowadays, the song is widely linked to The Lion King and the loveable characters Timon and Pumbaa. However, the use of the track in the 1994 smash hit Disney film led to a battle over copyright for the song and the journalist Rian Malan helped to secure the royalties for use of the song were paid to Solomon's estate. Disney and others had thought the song was a traditional folk song. To date, the estate had earnt somewhere in the regional of $15million dollars. It goes to show you only need one success hit song.

In 1982, Tight Fit took the song to the UK number one spot and looking at the date, it is more likely that this is the version I knew as a kid.   But whether it is this version, The Tokens or the Ladysmith Black Mambazo's version; my body will sway, smile and try to sing along all at the same time. Another modern day cultural reference to the song is its use in the hit comedy Friends when Ross sings it to Marcel the Monkey when he returns to New York with the film crew.

Listen to a piece of sunshine yourself:
The Lion sleeps tonight.


Written: Solomon Linda, 1920s
English translation: Luigi Creatore, George David Weiss & Albert Santon

Song 178 Celebrating 50th Years of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles

On June 1st, 1967, an album would be released that would change the pop industry forever. I am of course talking about St. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles. Whether you love or loathe the Beatles the relevance of this record, even in today's music scene, cannot be denied. I haven't hidden the fact that I'm a Beatles geek who believes there is a Beatles' song for every occasion, but forgetting all this, this album should be owned by anyone who loves music.

When the band started writing the album, late 1966,  the press had decided that the Band was in crisis, retiring from touring, not releasing albums every six months, they were obviously heading downwards. Adding to this was the failure for the double A-sided single, Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane to reach number one in February 1967,  this surely meant the end of The Beatles!

What the sceptics didn't understand was the masterpiece being created by the Band and George Martin. Free from the need of having to perform tracks live, the foursome were able to experiment. They created St. Pepper's band as their alter ego, allowing them to push the boundaries like never before. When the Beach Boys had released Pet Sounds, the year before, it had made the Beatles stand up and listen, they wanted to be able to explore their musical creativity, it started with Revolver and exploded with this album.

For me, St. Pepper is the coming of age album of the Beatles and is a crossroad between their early albums and their post pepper material.  It is like growing up with your friends, your boundaries and experiences change, whilst the core remains true; fantastic music.   Also, it is impossible to take away from the cultural significance of the album release at the start of summer 1967, the war babies were turning into adults and pushing the boundaries of society. This rebellious nature would be seen with 3 of their songs being banned from the BBC's playlist due to their references to drugs.  It shows how music listening depends on how old you are, I would have never known that Henry the Horse from The Benefit of Mr Kite, was slang for Heroin when I heard the song at the age of 11. Lucy in the sky with Diamonds is infamous with LSD, even though John Lennon maintained the song was inspired by his son's drawing.  Drug induced or not, the album's 13 songs of colourful characters like Lovely Rita, and heartbreaking ballads, She's leaving home, will have you streaming in tears and laughter in equal measure.

If you're never heard the album, promise me you will enhance your enjoyment of it by listening to in its entirety, the songs were recorded without the natural break between them so it is like a string of music, and if possible, listen to it on a record player. Last year, we invested in a record player and without a doubt, it is the best way to listen to music from the 1960s. Even the cat listens when we have records on.

When you listen to it for the second time, it is the production value that you will start to appreciate; from varispeeding vocals to ADT, dampening to building three-dimensional vocals, it is under surprising that this album took nearly 700 hours to record and cost a reported £25,000 to produce. Their first album Please Please Me cost £400. A little increase in though figures. Rumours had it that some of the band weren't as keen as other with all the fancy production techniques, but hopefully hearing their finished album and knowing that it still tops the top albums ever written, made up for any boredom in the studio.

Then when you listen for the third time sit with the wonderful cover in front of you and try to guess all the famous faces on the album selves. Designed by Peter Blake and Jann Haworth from a stretch drawn by Paul McCartney, there are over 50 famous faces on the front cover. Winning the 1968 Grammy award for Best Album cover, it is instantly recognisable to millions across the world and illustrates the journey of the band, their influences and their heroes to write this album. For me, as I reach my own crossroads to a new decade, the Beatles are part of my cover and their music has shaped who I am.

Thank you, John, Paul, George and Ringo for this album. For giving generations who live after yours, an album that keeps its relevance and music sharpness no matter how old it becomes.

Hear Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club band and enjoy the levels of music.

Released: 1st June 1967,
Written by: Lennon, McCartney & Harrison.
Record label: EMI & Apple