Happy Birthday to one of the true greats, Brian Wilson, who is turning 82 today! He was the musical brain, main songwriter and one of the singers in the legendary band The Beach Boys, who had huge success in the 1960’s and into the 70’s. Their 1966 album Pet Sounds is generally considered to be one of the best albums ever made in modern popular music. So strap up and allow me a bit of an extravaganza into the history of modern song. Here’s to Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys - In My Room
The Beach Boys - Surf’s Up
When searching for songs here, I came upon this. I’d like to share it here. If someone could make the guitar sing, it has to be this guy
Jeff Beck - Surf’s Up
Now Brian Wilson, together with The Beach Boys had a song which may be called their signature song. However, it has been posted before in this topic. Check it out anyway, it’s summer and this is a summer song!
Happy Birthday to Ray Davies of The Kinks, who is turning 80 today!
Last week it was 60 years since the first recording of this song took place, and it became the band’s big breakthrough. However, The Kinks was not pleased with the initial recording, so a second session took place in July, before the single finally was released in August 1964. The rest is history
There’s a biopic about Brian Wilson, Love & Mercy, in which he’s portraied by Paul Dano and John Cusack. It’s quite a good film, definitely worth watching.
Happy Birthday to Kris Kristofferson, who turns 88 today! He’s a superb songwriter, with songs like Me and Bobby McGee, Sunday Morning Coming Down Down, Help Me Make It Through the Night and To Beat the Devil on his resume. In addition to a successful solo career, his song songs have been recorded by numerous artists, the best known are probably Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. I propose a toast to Kris Kristofferson on his birthday
Kris Kristofferson - Sunday Morning Coming Down
Now buckle up, tomorrow it is…Sunday morning
The Highwaymen - Me and Bobby McGee
With this frontline, the last video is a little bit of music history. I was lucky to get to see The Highwaymen live in 1992, with Kris, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. It’s one of the fondest memories in my personal music history.
I have one more Happy Birthday today, and this one is for Todd Rundgren, who is turning 76 today. He’s known from a long solo career, and from the bands Nazz and Utopia. A versatile musician, who’s been doing garage rock, psychedelia, hard rock, prog rock, synth rock, experimental music and whatever one may want to call it.
Now, Todd Rundgren’s got a good ear for melody, so he has also recorded pure pop songs too, charting on a few occasions. The highest was Hello, It’s Me which peaked at number 2 in the US. Althought the one I post “only” got to number 11, it is still my choice, as it’s an old personal favourite of mine. Happy Birthday to Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren - I Saw the Light
To end this, it may be worth noticing that Todd Rundgren also has worked as a producer for among others, the New York Dolls, Grand Funk Railroad, Patti Smith, XTC and last but not least, Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell. Todd has been around!
Might as well throw in something from home. This is Varjú (meaning crow) by Másfél, a jazz-rock band from Hungary although the song is an instrumental (except for repeating “Varjú” a couple times in the beginning and the end using a didgeridoo apparently) so there is no language barrier. Also it has a fun music video.
If you did like what you heard here, you may have some fine music to get to know. I’m only familiar with most of Todd Rundgren’s 1970’s solo albums, which I can recommend. For the rest your on your own
Today it is 15 years ago, that the king of POP passed away, and with him a great artist, a great performer, a great initiator of charity, and a sometimes misunderstood soul.
One of his projects was a charity song under " USA for Africa " that I will always link to his name.
We are are not there yet I know but July 2nd, will signify the formation in 1971, of The Royal Scots Dragoon Gaurds and I have just been listening to this rather stirring piece of music…
