Hot Butter - Pop Corn (1972)
Anyone remember this one? Could be one of the strangest smash hits ever. It was a huge hit in several countries, getting to number 1 in France and Switzerland, actually being the best selling single in both countries in 1972. The song also got to number 1 in Germany, the Netherlands and Norway (for 9 weeks!).
102 years ago today the composer of this song Gershon Kingsley was born. This German-American composer was a pioneer in electronic music and on the moog synthesizer. Pop Corn first appeared on his 1969 album Music To Moog By. Gershon Kingsley passed away in 2019. I will let him have the last words in this post, on a clip from 2007.
The Shadows - Frightened City (1961)
Happy Birthday to Hank Marvin of The Shadows. This English guitarist is turning 83 today. The Shadows may look and sound a little innocent and cheesy today, but they are an important part of the history of rock and roll, filling in the vacum between 1950’s wilder rock and roll (Elvis, Little Richard etc.) and “the British Blues Boom” (Beatles, Stones etc.), and inspiring countless of bands in several countries.
Also Hank Marvin’s guitar playing was an inspiration for more or less the whole 60’s generation of English guitarists, among them Pete Townshend, Steve Howe and Tony Iommi, not forgetting the big three Beck, Clapton and Page. So cheers to Hank, Happy Birthday
Lee Clayton - I Ride Alone
Here’s one to the memory of Lee Clayton (1942-2022), yet another great forgotten American singer and songwriter. Today he would have turned 82
Alice Cooper - Welcome to my Nightmare
Although IMO the whole album (same title as song) is apt for this time of year
Grace Slick - Seasons
Happy Birthday to Grace Slick, best known as the singer in Jefferson Airplane/Starship. She also did a few solo and collaboration albums. Around 1990 she retired from the music scene, and is quoted as sayng: “All rock-and-rollers over the age of 50 look stupid and should retire.”
Apart from a select few brief appearances here and there, Grace Slick has stayed true to her words. Instead she has been focusing on painting and drawing. Today this lady, nicknamed both “The Acid Queen” and “The Chrome Nun”, is turning 85 years old. I raise my glass to Grace Slick on her birthday.
Grace Slick’s signature song is of course White Rabbit. Even though it’s been posted twice above (in two different versions), I just can’t leave this post without it. So here is a third version, this one from the Woodstock festival.
Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit (live 1969)
Lulu & The Luvvers - Shout (1964)
Happy Birthday to Scottish singer Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie, better (and more conveniently) known to the world as Lulu. She is turning 76 today.
Hot damn what a voice from a 15 years old girl!
because it was interpreted again in the current season of ‘The Voice’ …
brilliant song with an unusual/disturbing story:
one of my all-time favorites… and one of the few where I can hardly resist the urge to turn up the volume:
Heart - “Barracuda”
Squeeze - His House Her Home
Happy Birthday to Chris Difford, who is turning 70 today. He is co-founder, co-songwriter, guitarist and occasional singer in the English new wave/pop/rock band Squeeze, a band who started out in 1974 and is still going strong (albeit with two breaks). Squeeze charted a few times between 1979 and 1996, the highest position being number 2, which happened twice in 1979.
To celebrate Chris Difford’s birthday, here’s an excellent pop song from their 1982 album Sweets From A Stranger. On this one he is the singer. Happy Birthday, Chris
Let us pay tribute to Quincy Jones, who passed away yesterday at the age of 91. With a career in music spanning 70 years, this man is huge in the history of modern popular music. Best known as record producer, songwriter, composer and arranger, he also did quite a few records under his own name.
The list of artists this man has been involved with is simply amazing. Allow me: Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Cannonball Adderly, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, The Isley Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Donna Summer and so on. And then there’s Michael Jackson’s biggest albums.
Quincy Jones is a man who for sure has left his mark on music.
Quincy Jones - Body Heat (1974)
Ken Hensley - Easy Livin’ (live in Norway, 2005)
Ken Hensley (1945-2020) would have turned 79 today. He was a big part of my musical upbringing. The first rock albums I bought for my own money was Uriah Heep Live, together with Led Zeppelin III. Must have been late 1973, so there’s some fond memories here. To Ken Hensley
While we’re at it, a song from Ken Hensley’s solo career.
Ken Hensley - Out of my Control
Today Herman Brood would have turned 79
Due to his heavy drug and alkohol addiction, he tried to kick the habit and suffered withdrawal symptoms such as incontinence, delirium and epilepsy.
On Juli 11 2001 he jumped of the roof from the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam, he left a note with “make a party out of it”
this was his biggest hit, also #1 in the USA
Herman Brood & His Wild Romance - Saturday Night
another great song of him that i really loved in my younger years was this one
Herman Brood & His Wild Romance - I love you like i love myself
Joni Mitchell, with Brandi Carlile & The Joni Jam Band - A Case of You (live 2024)
Happy Birthday to Joni Mitchell, who is turning 81 today! And believe it or not, this remarkable and unique singer/songwriter is still performing. This clip is recorded less than four weeks ago. Joni is one of a kind. Happy Birthday!