Beggin’ is such an amazing song it doesn’t matter who does their own version it always works.
The Fours Seasons (1967):
Shocking Blue (1974):
Madcon (2007):
Maneskin (2017):
And finally a Spanish language version by Duo Inter from 1967:
Among others.
Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters
Happy Birthday to the American musician Ray Erskine Parker Jr., who is turning 70 today. Ray Erskine Parker Jr. is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. For those of us, old enough to remember, he wrote and performed the theme song for the 1984 film Ghostbusters and it also sounds from the animated series The Real Ghostbusters. Previously, Parker achieved a US top-5 hit in 1982 with “The Other Woman”.
Duane Eddy - Peter Gunn Theme
I’d like to pay tribute to American guitarist Duane Eddy, who passed away two days ago at the age of 86. This legendary guitar player, known for his “twangy” sound, has been cited as an inspiration by several more famous guitarists, among others George Harrison, Hank Marvin, John Fogerty and Mark Knopler.
Though a little forgotten today, Duane Eddy was quite big back in his prime. He made his debut in 1958, and by 1963, he had sold 12 million records, which was quite the respectable sales number back in those days.
Duane Eddy’s version of the Peter Gunn Theme is not his biggest hit, but it is probably his best known song today. The song has been recorded by numerous artists through the year, and I’m sure most of you will recognize the guitar theme. Damn, that guitar sounds great!
Thank you for the music Duane, may you be remembered.
Jeff Lynne & Richard Tandy - Telephone Line (2012)
I want to make one more tribute today. This one is for English musician Richard Tandy, who passed away yesterday at the age of 76. He was one of the original members of the Electric Light Orchestra.
From the start, Richard Tandy was the bassist in ELO, but he soon switched to keyboardis, which is what he will be remembered for. In addition he was important in the studio during recordings. Some has even said he was Jeff Lynne’s right hand man when it came to that.
In Richard Tandy’s memory, here he is on piano, along with Jeff Lynne, with and quiet an lovely song. Thank you for the music Richard, may you be remembered.
While we’re at it, here is ELO drummer Bev Bevan’s tribute to Richard Tandy.
RIP Richard Tandy from the band that has given me some of my best live experiences. I found out I’ve been to a total of five gigs with ELO over the years!
On a more positive note, Happy Birthday to the one and only Lily Allen. No idea what she’s up to nowadays, but I really loved these songs when they came out about 15 years ago.
“A controversial” lady with special lyrics. Good party music, but she doesn’t seem to have released anything in the last 10 years! One from 2014.
a great loss for the music world, although he never played in the foreground, he was one of the basic figures in ELO who helped determine the sound
he also did the distorted voice we all have in our heads when we listen to one of ELO’s biggest hits
Amy Macdonald - This Is The Life
FEUERSCHWANZ - Bastard Von Asgard
You were different from the others
Du warst anders als die And’ren
And yet your f____r’s son
Und doch deines Vaters Sohn
You’re Loki’s bastard and a monster
Bist Lokis Bastard und ein Monstrum
Asgard felt threatened
Asgard fühlte sich bedroht
And they put you in chains
Und sie legten dich in Ketten
Because they feared danger
Denn sie fürchteten Gefahr
And the prophecy came true
Und die Prophezeiung wurde wahr
You are the
Du bist der
Bastard (Bastard of Asgard)
Bastard (Bastard von Asgard)
Bastard (Bastard of Asgard)
Bastard (Bastard von Asgard)
You lie in chains until the world burns out
Du liegst in Ketten bis zum Weltenbrand
Ragnarök (Fate of the Gods)
Ragnarök (Schicksal der Götter)
Ragnarök (break Odin’s chains)
Ragnarök (spreng Odins Ketten)
Because this fight will be your last battle
Denn dieser Kampf wird deine letzte Schlacht
Because you are the one
Denn du bist der
Fenriswolf, bastard of Asgard
Fenriswolf, Bastard von Asgard
This is how you break your bonds
So zerreißt du deine Fesseln
Because you sense the fraud
Denn du witterst den Betrug
And the hand of the god of war
Und die Hand des Kriegesgottes
Be the pledge of his courage
Sei das Pfand für seinen Mut
And then you will free yourself
Und dann wirst du dich befreien
When the world conflagration begins
Wenn der Weltenbrand beginnt
Because your fate is predetermined
Denn dein Schicksal ist vorherbestimmt
You are the
Du bist der
Bastard (Bastard of Asgard)
Bastard (Bastard von Asgard)
Bastard (Bastard of Asgard)
Bastard (Bastard von Asgard)
You lie in chains until the world burns out
Du liegst in Ketten bis zum Weltenbrand
Ragnarök (Fate of the Gods)
Ragnarök (Schicksal der Götter)
Ragnarök (break Odin’s chains)
Ragnarök (spreng Odins Ketten)
Because this fight will be your last battle
Denn dieser Kampf wird deine letzte Schlacht
Because you are the one
Denn du bist der
Fenriswolf, bastard of Asgard
Fenriswolf, Bastard von Asgard
And Ragnarök has come
Und ist Ragnarök gekommen
Do you give Odin his death
Schenkst du Odin seinen Tod
And you will be defeated by his son
Und du wirst besiegt durch seinen Sohn
bastard
Bastard
bastard
Bastard
You bastard
Du Bastard
bastard
Bastard
You bastard
Du Bastard
(Bastard of Asgard)
(Bastard von Asgard)
bastard
Bastard
(Bastard of Asgard)
(Bastard von Asgard)
You are the
Du bist der
Bastard (Bastard of Asgard)
Bastard (Bastard von Asgard)
Bastard (Bastard of Asgard)
Bastard (Bastard von Asgard)
You lie in chains until the world burns out
Du liegst in Ketten bis zum Weltenbrand
Ragnarök (Fate of the Gods)
Ragnarök (Schicksal der Götter)
Ragnarök (break Odin’s chains)
Ragnarök (spreng Odins Ketten)
Because this fight will be your last battle
Denn dieser Kampf wird deine letzte Schlacht
Because you are the one
Denn du bist der
bastard
Bastard
(Bastard of Asgard)
(Bastard von Asgard)
bastard
Bastard
(Bastard of Asgard)
(Bastard von Asgard)
Because you are the one
Denn du bist der
Fenriswolf, bastard of Asgard
Fenriswolf, Bastard von Asgard
Dick Dale - Miserlou (1962)
Today I’d like to celebrate the memory of Dick Dale. “The King of the Surf Guitar” would have turned 87 today. Like Duane Eddy (see my post two days ago), he’s one of the legendary guitar pioneers in rock, who is a little forgotten today.
Dick Dale never had any big hits, but he was a very influential guitarist. Surf acts like the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean often included covers of his songs on their albums. And he has been an inspiration for well known guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Eddie Van Halen and Brian May.
Dick Dale’s best known song is Miserlou, which Quentin Tarantino included on the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction in 1994. This meant a revival of Dick Dale’s career, with a new audience. He kept touring until his death in May 2019. At that time he had tour dates sceduled until November the same year. Here’s to his memory 
Unfortunately, the text will never be out of date
Seems I’m on a roll with older musicians these day. Now it’s time to celebrate the memory of William Samuel McTier, better known as Blind Willie McTell, who was born on this date 120-something years ago today. Oddly enough, though his birth date is known, the year is somewhat unclear. Most sources give 1898 as the year of his birth, but researchers has also suggested 1903, based on Willie’s entry in the 1910 census. If this isn’t enough, his gravestone says 1901-1959.
Blind Willie McTell was bas born blind on one eye, and lost his sight on the other in his late c___dhood. When attending a school for blind, his talent for music was soon discovered. He began his recording career in 1927, and made records and performed extensively in the years up to WW 2. After the war his career was more up and down, and after years struggling with diabetes and a_____lism, he passed away in 1959.
Sadly Blind Willie McTell didn’t live to see the folk and blues revival starting around the time of his death. Now his music and memory have been kept alive by many artists covering his songs, including Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal and Ralph MacTell. His best known song is Statesboro Blues, which the Allman Brothers Band did an epic version of on their Filmore East live album in 1971.
To Blind Willie McTell’s memory, here is his own version of the song. It was first released in 1928 as the B-side on a 78 record.
Blind Willie McTell - Statesboro Blues
A more contemporary musician who’s paid tribute to Blind Willie McTell is Jack White, when the White Stripes released their version of his song Lord, Send Me An Angel as a single in 2000.
The White Stripes - Lord, Send Me An Angel
Black Sabbath - Sweet Leaf
Happy Birthday to Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward, who’s turning 76 today 
Might as well continue to delve into music history here. 22 years ago today American songwriter Otis Blackwell passed away. He’s written or co-written numerous rock classic, so this is a man “everyone” is familiar with without really knowing it.
Otis Blacwell was born in New York in 1931, and after entering the music business in the early 1950’s, he got his breakthrough in 1956, when Little Willie John recorded his song Fever. Soon after followed songs like Don’t Be Cruel, All Shook Up, Great Balls of Fire, Breathless and Return to Sender.
In addition to Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis, Otis Blackwell’s songs have been recorded by atrists such as Ray Charles, James Brown, Otis Redding, The Who, Dolly Parton, Madonna and Beyonce, to name just a few. So this is a man who has left his mark on the history of modern popular music.
So in Otis Blacwell’s memory, here is his breakthrough song (co-written under the pseudonym John Davenport) performed by Little Willie John.
Little Willie John - Fever
I Think We’re Alone Now by Tiffany from 1987. For a long time I thought this was the original version of this song. I’m pretty sure this is still the best known one.
Then I found a version by The Rubinoos from 1977. After discovering this I was sure this had to be the original.
Billie Joe Armstrong also covered it in 2020. I just love this version.
The actual original by Tommy James and The Shondells from 1967. I did not this until today.
And finally a cover by the amazing Weird Al Yankovic from 1988 based on Tiffany’s version.
I love going down these cover song rabbit holes.
I agree that sometimes it is very interesting to follow how a hit, especially from the 50s to 70s, gets “new clothes” like the ones you have here, almost 60 years years later!
