The Beach Will Never Be The Same….Without Annette Funicello.

The Passing of America’s Sweetheart was a sad announcement Monday. All I could think of another part of my youth gone, a much to frequent events coming more and much faster over the last year.

No more is it just my parents era of entertainment, it’s mine.

In reality I honestly cannot really remember sitting and watching the Mickey Mouse Club. Born in 57′ I probably had at some point but I can say I watched every single film that Annette Funicello & Frankie Avalon made together. Every single beach movie. No swearing, no naked bodies, just a more innocent time. We begged our parents to let us buy the newest 45rpm and what we watched and listened to made us feel happy.

Annette stood for these times. The world watched her grow up and blossom and she did so with class. The movies and the music will live on and always keep her memory alive and when we see and hear them if only for a moment, it will still be our innocent time.

Thank You Annette.

God Speed to her family & friends.

 

Friday Freak Flag Flying ~ “I Don’t Mind” ~ MC5

Some Early Vintage MC5 aka Motor City Five
Recorded in 1965
Written by James Brown & Pete Shelley.

This recording amazingly sounds to me a little like The Beatles. Not many songs that James Brown & The Fabulous Flames did could ever be out done, but in reality I like the MC5 cover better. Or maybe because I’m also vintage Detroit. LOL

And the song of course was recorded here in Detroit pre-Electra days and with Pat Burrows on bass and Bob Gaspar on drums were also pre-Michael Davis and Dennis Thompson.

So yes there was music from the group prior to their initial release of 69′ Kick out The Jams. Although most unreleased until 1999 when a CD called 66 Breakout brought out to life the ones recorded during 1965-66 time period.

To me this showcased even more of their talent before they really got radical and loud. And before Robert Derminer turned into Tyner.

Saturday “Spirit” ~ 1968 In Full

My God how I actually sat and felt like I had indeed slipped into a time capsule and then wondered how I almost forget the greatness of Spirit’s earliest muse.

All I could think of is WABX.

This entire album was phenomenal from the classic chord and muse changes of “Fresh-Garbage”, trippy guitar work on “Mechanical World”, the melodic acoustic work on “Taurus” and then a little citar sound classic of the acid rock era into “Girl in your Eye” to the straight out Jazz of “Free Spirit” & “Elijah”, along with both Rock & Jazz fused in throughout many songs. And one of the first rock bands of that time using strings.

Definitely a psychedelic mix of all.

Spirit’s epic self-titled debut has measured up to time that sounds as good now as the first time our FM radio stations gave us our initial taste of them.

The songs were so damn good because you never knew where they were going to take you.

Thank You Andy Griffith For The Simpler Times.

For one generation he was “The Face In The Crowd” and a few years later became everybody’s Paw. For another “Matlock”.

Personally growing up watching The Andy Griffith Show to me he’ll always be Sheriff Taylor with a son named Opie and a Aunt Bea. And it feels like a family member has been lost.

The show defined an era of Parents who were parents and the kids who were the kids and everyone knew the difference. How this generation could learn from it.

Andy Griffith was just likable and filled our black and white TV sets with some joy and laughter and we will forever be greatful and he will never be forgotten.

Thanks Paw.

Wednesday When It Was Music ~ Walk On By ~ Dionne Warwick

In reality the video itself tells the story of the magic that was created with Composer Burt Bacharach, Co-Writing Lyricist partner Hal David and Singer Dionne Warwick.

It was the time of an era that spoke to you through the muse, words and vocals like none other. And it was the beginning of one of the best combinations of Music Ever.

Something today that nobody seems to have anymore. A collaboration that lasts because it’s that good.

“Walk On By” was just one of multitudes of hits she would sing with Bacharach & David who wrote over a 100 songs together in the early sixties alone with a good portion of them with Warwick in mind.

Over a 20-year period, beginning in the early 1960s, Warwick charted 38 singles co-written or produced by Bacharach and David, including 22 Top-40, 12 Top-20, and nine Top-10 hits on the American Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Motown Monday ~ Mary Wells ~ Bye Bye Baby

Written by Mary Wells.
Recorded (1959) and Released in 1960.

This video footage was from the 1962 Motortown Revue. The revue was filmed during a December 1962 week-long stand at the Apollo Theater. And yes those are the Temptations singing in the background with Mary before David Ruffin joined the group.

Tuesday Temptation ~ Tom Jones ~ “Without Love (There is Nothing)”

Man I’ve got to do a complete blog on this sexy man as in all of his songs.

I remember I still was very young when Tom Jones hit the scene and got HOT. And I’m mean Hot! As in sizzling….

Woodstock 42TH Anniversary (via Longshot’s Blog)

BY THE TIME WE GOT TO WOODSTOCK, WE WERE HALF A MILLION STRONG~!   It took place Aug. 15-18. It was the Concert of ALL Concerts. And it only seemed like yesterday. There was no Violence nor Chaos at the venue in the 4 days. The only disruption there was, was trying to get there. For the conditions that took place with lack of water, food, & personal necessities. Woodstock remained Peaceful throughout the four days without incident. In th … Read More

via Longshot’s Blog

Monday Morning Madness ~ Flashback ~ Iron Butterfly ~ In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

 

Songs of the Night ~ Lazy ~ Deep Purple

Released in 1972 from Machine Head

From the days of ” Hush ” in 1968 a Power House of music has came from this Band.

SONG OF THE DAY. The Dovells ~ You Can’t Sit Down.

Released in 1963. Group consisted of  Arnie Silver, Mark Gordesky, Len Borisoff, Jim Mealey (alias Danny Brooks) William Shunkwiler and Jerry Sirlin ( Summers ).