Melinda Wilson, Brian Wilson’s wife of the past 28 years, has died.
Brian released this statement to the press:
My heart is broken. Melinda, my beloved wife of 28 years, passed away this morning.
Our five children and I are just in tears.
We are lost.
Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior.
She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career.
She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart.
She was my anchor. She was everything for us. Please say a prayer for her.
Love and Mercy
Brian
This has to be an incredibly trying time for Brian emotionally and our hearts go out to him. We may have all seen our last Brian Wilson concert. (kk)
Billboard’s latest “Forever Number One” chapter spotlights Melanie’s HUGE hit “Brand New Key” from 1971 …
>>>I see that at #8 this week in 1964 is "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um" by Major Lance and I am curious if there are any tapes of DJ's playing the song from that time frame. As a former DJ, I am wondering how they announced the song - seemed like it could've been a bit of a challenge. (Joe Cantello)
>>>Johnny Rivers cut a remake in 1977 but titled it “A Curious Mind (Um Um Um Um Um Um.) kk
HA! Good question, "um," Joe!
While I did play it on my show then, I can't say for sure if I have any "um" airchecks of me doing that! I do remember thinking at the time it was a, "um," dumb title! I think that, "um," Johnny Rivers, adding the parenthetical addition of, "um", "Curious Mind" to the title was, "um" a good idea!"
I have a vague recollection that when I did announce it, I did so by Lance's name only, and when rarely otherwise, I counted the "ums" first ( six) to say it right!
Thank Goodness, the Beatles didn't title their song, "Nah, Nah Nah, Nah Nah, Nah, Nah, Nah Nah!" I don't think that would have made it ”better, better, better, better, better!" Still, it is fun to sing along with, as is the Beach Boys with their handful ( 5 ) of "Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-Barbara Ann" refrains!"
Buell
And, speaking of Buell …
Just to get Chuck wired up, I am sending this "who really cares?" information ...
The recorder was initially called the fipple-flute.
By the time of the Tudors’ reign in England, recorders were so popular, that it was a standard household item.
Henry VIII is said to have had a collection of more than twenty recorders.
It sounds as if recorders were the equivalent of guitar collecting at one point.
Shelley
And probably a whole lot easier to lug around! (kk)
Shelley also tells us …
Darren Dowler (formerly of Paul Revere and the Raiders) will be touring in the Happy Together Tour with Jay and the Americans this year.
Shelley
Oh, wow … he’s great! (kk)
Kent,
So according to CB, February is "Canned Food Month." Well, here are two songs (records) I thought of immediately ...
First, Norman Greenbaum's follow up to SPIRIT IN THE SKY was CANNED HAM.
Also, in 1961 a group called the Revels had an instrumental called CHURCH KEY.
There might be one or two more I'm missing. (I may be stretching it a bit on the church key connection.)
Larry
Many, many, MANY Easters ago I featured “Canned Ham” along
with The Jelly Beans’ recording of “I Wanna Love Him So Bad” … two Forgotten
Hits for sure! (kk)
Emerson, Lake & Powell “The Complete Collection” 3 CD Box Available April 12, 2024
Spirit of Unicorn Music are proud to announce the release of Emerson, Lake & Powell “The Complete Collection,” a 3 CD box set which pays a fitting tribute to the power and creativity of this all-too-brief powerhouse collaboration.
In the early 1980’s, many of the established progressive rock artists were experiencing a rough ride. The musical landscape was changing. The arrival of punk rock and new wave meant that for many, the grand, creative indulgences which were de rigueur throughout the 1970’s, were fast becoming outdated. During a time of rapid change, bands had to adapt to survive. By 1979, Emerson Lake & Palmer, one of the biggest bands in the world during the 1970’s, were struggling and quietly called time on their once supergroup status band.
Having both explored solo careers, come 1984 Keith Emerson (The Nice, Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and Greg Lake (King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer) were considering their next move. Carl Palmer (PM, Asia, Emerson, Lake & Palmer) was busy enjoying enormous success with Asia. Thus, the legendary Cozy Powell (Rainbow, Whitesnake) stepped in to occupy the drum stool.
“When Cozy came in, he really dazzled us. We didn’t intend to put the group back together but he was such a good technical drummer and such a good performer, we thought it might be a good idea to go back out with a new version of the band,” Greg Lake told the LA Times back in 1986. And so, Emerson, Lake & Powell came to pass.
This 3 CD box set includes the band’s one and only studio release: “Emerson, Lake & Powell,” featuring three bonus tracks. Also included is their live album, “Live In Concert” and a CD of rehearsals, “The Sprocket Sessions,” which has previously only been released as a bootleg.
All material included in the box set has been re-mastered by renowned engineer Andy Pearce. It is also presented with an enhanced booklet with sleeve notes written by Prog Magazine editor, Jerry Ewing.
If you are a fan of ELP, you cannot afford to have this part of Emerson and Lake’s history missing from your collection.
The last word goes to Ewing, who says “Savor the music. We’re unlikely to ever see their like again.”
And, on the topic of progressive rock, Jon Anderson of Yes fame says he wouldn’t mind another round of music with his former bandmates …
Anderson told Mojo Magazine that he's open to a reunion with his former Yes bandmates Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman.
"I was talking to [my touring band] the Band Geeks and said, ‘Hopefully, we can play in London, and Steve will get up and do a couple of songs with us, maybe Rick, too.’
“It just means talking. When I’m out there singing on my own, I still think I’m part of Yes. They still feel like my songs."
Anderson last joined his bandmates when Yes was inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017. (It was an incredible acceptance speech by all parties involved.) This marked his first time performing with the band since 2004. Anderson and Wakeman had toured together in 2010 and then again in 2017, but, other than their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame appearance, the band hasn’t worked together since their 35th-anniversary tour in 2004.
More Here: Jon Anderson Says He's Open to Reunion With Former Yes Bandmates |
FYI ... If you want to feel young ... or old ...
GJ Kubat
Got this from a few people yesterday so it must be circulating around the oldies community. (I remember this question coming up last year … so here’s a pretty good benchmark.) Of course FH Timmy asks, “How many will be around in December?” Sadly, that’s a more realistic response than most of us care to consider. (kk)
Timmy also sent us this photo …
Yep, I got roped into this a few times …
You end up buying albums you probably wouldn’t even have considered otherwise, just to meet your quota … and then pay thru the nose for the rest of your club membership … but it WAS a quick way to build an album collection! (Of course I was denied my first mortgage because I hadn’t completed my Columbia House obligation yet … but other than that, it was fine!) kk
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
2/1/64 – Governor Matthew Walsh attempts to ban The Kingsmen’s hit “Louie Louie” from radio station airplay in the State of Indiana.
(Great timing, Guv ... the record is already on its way down the charts ... any perceived, unspecified damage has already been done!)
Also on 2/1, the first Boeing 727 flight takes place from Miami to Washington, DC
