My journey through the 1960s continues. 1965Billboard’s Top Seller – “Wooly Bully” by novelty rock ‘n’ roll band Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs Grammy for Record of the Year (1966) – “A Taste of Honey” Jerry Moss (producer) & Herb Alpert (producer & artist) performed by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Grammy for […]
Read MoreMy journey through the 1960s continues. 1964Billboard’s Top Seller – “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles. They also had the No. 2, “She Loves You,” No. 13, “A Hard Day’s Night,” No. 14, “Love Me Do,” and No. 16, “Please, Please Me” spots! Grammy for Record of the Year (1965) – “The […]
Read MoreMy journey through the 1960s continues. 1963Billboard’s Top Seller – “Surfin’ U.S.A.” by The Beach Boys Grammy for Record and Song of the Year (1964) – “Days of Wine and Roses” by Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer (songwriters) performed by Henry Mancini This was also the year that Streisand won best album of the year. Again, what a […]
Read MoreMy journey through the 1960’s continues. 1962Billboard’s Top Seller – “Stranger on the Shore” by Acker Bilk Grammy for Song of the Year (1963) – “What Kind of Fool Am I” by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley, and performed by Anthony Newley Grammy for Record of the Year (1963) – “I Left My Heart in San Francisco, […]
Read MoreMy journey through the 1960s continues. 1961 Billboard’s Top Seller – “Tossin’ and Turnin” by Ritchie Adams and Malou Rene and performed by Bobby Lewis Grammy for Song of the Year and Record of the Year (1962) – Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer (songwriters) for “Moon River” performed by Henry Mancini, released in early 1961. […]
Read MoreAt the start of 1960 I turned five years old. By the end of 1969 I was just days from turning 15. That decade saw some of the biggest changes in popular music and I was there to experience to it. For the next two weeks I will take you on a bit of a […]
Read MoreI’m ending this weeks posts where I started with Rhiannon Giddens. I’m drawn to this voice. It’s honest, and vulnerable and strong at the same time. I’m shedding some of my musical snobbery thanks to her. Simplicity can be a beautiful thing. I don’t need all my music to be complicated to satisfy my musical […]
Read MoreToday’s post isn’t so much about one song. It’s really about a musical force of Nature – Sister Rosetta Tharpe. She is brand new to me. But she seems too forceful, too full of musical life to ignore. A voice made of power and muscle and devotion. She came out of the gospel tradition which […]
Read MoreTom Waits has got to be one of the most original balladeers alive. His raspy voice doesn’t pretend to be anything except for the experienced and world weary vehicle for his poetry. I find his music amazing in how his songs capture something that feels so specific. I can’t really put my finger on it. […]
Read MoreI started talking yesterday about Country Music. As I said, I’m really not down with classifications. A good song is a good song. It tells you something about yourself, or at a minimum shows you another epoch or slice of humanity in a way you can understand. Ideally one that touches your heart. Here is […]
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