Steel2Velvet

You probably knew this already, but the guy who played Alfalfa had a role in "It's A Wonderful Life." Fortunately he didn't sing in that movie.

I like a good love poem, perhaps more than most folks. Nothing sappy about real love. These are tenderly written, emotionally charged, from-the-heart verses, Marko. I think you could stand a rewrite for this line: "Before I see you my stomach," That one and the next line are pretty awkward. I understand you are saying that you get butterflies in anticipation of seeing this woman, but there has to be a few better ways to express it. Also the word is "cower", not "coward." "I watch you sleep, not caring for anything Only you, you look so beautiful" These are great, softly powerful lines! Well done, Marko.

Only "personality" I ever met was in '86, when Tiny Tim was working in a little traveling circus, playing his ukelele and singing every night to 120 people. I was a (poor) DJ at a little station. My partner and I ("The Good Guys Show", no less) interviewed him. He sat next to me at my mic and I felt VERY uncomfortable. He had bad teeth and purple hair dye and kept calling me "Mr. Ron," though he was 20 years older than me. Just got bad vibes from him. His "handler" sat close by and made sure Tiny cooperated with our softball questions. This was promotion for their circus and my partner and I rode an elephant into the circus ring to start the first show in our town. Standing in the wings later and watching the spotlight on Tiny Tim "singing" to hoots and hollers, I actually felt sorry for this guy. He was as caged as the elephant.

I'll bet Mick even started slowing down some in his 80's.

I understand the part of Yoko will be played by Anna Nicole Smith and Hal Holbrook.

I've been trying to change my avatar as well. The image is under 80 X 80 and file size under 6K, but I keep getting this message: Warning: copy(/Users/songfact/Sites/songfacts/ubbthreads/userimages/29065.jpg): failed to open stream: Permission denied in /Users/songfact/Sites/songfacts/ubbthreads/changebasic.php on line 216 What do I do to change my avatar?

Everytime I see her in a movie, I feel she looks like Meryl Streep's younger sister. Just saw her in Devil's Own with Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford. She was great in that movie. As for bad endings, I loved the movie Groundhog Day, but the last 3 minutes were just, like, thrown at the viewer. It ended so badly in comparison to the way it played so seamlessly throughout.

One other thread is titled Good Country Songs. I brought it to the top for you, LedStones/DC.

Let's bring this to the top for LedStones/DC

There was a post on here a few months back about who would someone listen to if trying to make a smooth transition from R&R to Country. I will try to find it for you and point it out here. I always said I hated country, because all my friends said that. But I got a job as a country DJ/sales exec on a small local station and learned a new respect for the genre. I still prefer the crossovers to the twangy Buck Owens type musicians, but I know country runs the gamut; and that R&R owes much to its older brother.

This poll brought back my belief every since 1966 that that was indeed the best music year I've lived through. It seems good music was ALWAYS on the radio in 1966. I did some research and the following list contains every number one hit, the artist and other songs from that artist that charted (not making it to number one) for that year: The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel (also charted in 66) A Hazy Shade of Winter, I Am a Rock, Homeward Bound Turn! Turn! Turn! - The Byrds (also charted) Eight Miles High We Can Work It Out - The Beatles (also charted) Eleanor Rigby, Yellow Submarine, Rain, Nowhere Man, Paperback Writer, Michelle, Day Tripper California Dreamin? - The Mamas & the Papas Monday, Monday - The Mamas & the Papas (also charted) Words of Love, I Saw Her Again Good Lovin' - The Young Rascals (also charted) You Better Run Paint It, Black - The Rolling Stones (also charted) Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?, Mother's Little Helper, As Tears Go By, 19th Nervous Breakdown Strangers In the Night - Frank Sinatra (also charted) That's Life, It Was a Very Good Year Hanky Panky - Tommy James & the Shondells (also charted) Say Say I Am Summer In the City - The Lovin' Spoonful (also charted) Rain on the Roof, Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?, Daydream You Keep Me Hangin' On - The Supremes You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes (also charted) My World Is Empty Without You Cherish - The Association (also charted) Along Comes Mary Reach Out I'll Be There - The Four Tops (also charted) Standing In the Shadows of Love I'm a Believer - The Monkees Last Train to Clarksville - The Monkees (also charted) (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone Winchester Cathedral - The New Vaudeville Band Lightnin? Strikes - Lou Christie The Ballad of the Green Berets - SSgt Barry Sadler See You In September - The Happenings Except for the last 4 number ones, that is some strong music. Here is a partial list of titles which did not make number one in '66, but aired throughout the year. (The full list is staggering!) Note how many multiple hits the artists had. The prolific output of quality is astounding! Also note how many of these classics have been covered on more recent recordings, up until today. A sure sign of quality. Good Vibrations, Sloop John B, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys Let's Go Get Stoned, Together Again, Crying Time - Ray Charles Blowin' In the Wind, Uptight (Everything's Alright), A Place in the Sun - Stevie Wonder Hungry, Kicks, Just Like Me - Paul Revere & the Raiders (I Know) I'm Losing You, Get Ready, Ain't Too Proud to Beg - The Temptations Mustang Sally, Land of 1000 Dances, 634-5789 - Wilson Pickett Ebb Tide, Soul and Inspiration - The Righteous Brothers Sunny Afternoon, A Well Respected Man - The Kinks A Sign of the Times, My Love - Petula Clark Poor Side of Town, Secret Agent Man - Johnny Rivers Pretty Ballerina, Walk Away Renee - The Left Banke Stop All the Dancing, Bus Stop - The Hollies Mellow Yellow, Sunshine Superman - Donovan See See Rider, Don't Bring Me Down - The Animals I've Got You Under My Skin, Working My Way Back to You - The 4 Seasons I Want You, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 - Bob Dylan Over Under Sideways Down, Shapes of Things - The Yardbirds You Don't Have to Say You Love Me - Dusty Springfield It's a Man's Man's Man's World - James Brown When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge If I Were a Carpenter - Bobby Darin Black Is Black - Los Bravos A Groovy Kind of Love - The Mindbenders Little Girl - The Syndicate of Sound Dirty Water - The Standells Gloria - The Shadows of Knight Psychotic Reaction - Count Five Sunny - Bobby Hebb Wild Thing - The Troggs 96 Tears - ? & the Mysterians I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - B.J. Thomas Time Won't Let Me - The Outsiders You Baby - The Turtles Flowers On the Wall - The Statler Brothers Lies - The Knickerbockers Cherry, Cherry - Neil Diamond Wipe Out - The Surfaris What Becomes of the Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin Gimme Some Lovin' - The Spencer Davis Group These Boots Are Made For Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra I Fought the Law - The Bobby Fuller Four This Old Heart of Mine - The Isley Brothers Love Is a Hurtin' Thing - Lou Rawls 1966 THE year for classic music!

"Down Home" Seals and Crofts What a great album. "Cottonmouth keeps on winding..."

And can´t forget "You Make My Dreams " One of my favorite synchopated beats within any song. What I want, you've got And it might be hard to handle But like the flame that burns the candle The candle feeds the flame What I've got's full stock Thoughts and dreams that scatter You pull them all together And how, I can't explain But you ... You make my dreams come true On a night when bad Dreams become a screamer When they're messin' with a dreamer I can laugh it in the face Twist and shout my way out And wrap yourself around me 'Cause I ain't the way that you found me And I'll never be the same 'Cause you ... You may my dreams come true I'm down on the daydream That sleepwalk should be over by now I know that you... You make my dreams come true

A Day In The Life from Sgt. Peppers (followed briefly by Her Majesty's A Pretty Nice Girl)

Well said, Soulgirl! If those who belittle the abilities of these talented youth honestly imagined themselves upon that stage with all the trappings and considered the honest evaluation based on what a video recording of their own effort at this event might look and sound like ... they might see past their prejudice and appreciate just how admirably these young people have dedicated themselves to a goal. Remember that to gifted singer, the voice IS an instrument.

One of my favorite movies is titled "That Thing You Do." It is probably the least known Tom Hanks vehicle, but it is so accurate in tracing the life of a one-hit band that it merits a mention on this site. I believe it is the first movie in which Liv Tyler had a starring role. She carries one of my "most memorable movie scenes" when she (as girlfriend of the leader of a rock band) hears the band's record being played by the local radio station for the first time and runs down the street with her transistor radio to where her boyfriend is at, in order to tell him it is playing at that moment. Her enthusiasm and vitality is one of the best dead-on acting scenes I have seen. The movie is whimsical, funny, sad and musically accurate to the point that it is a composite of every one-hit group that ever was. If you have not seen it, do yourself a favor and rent it. If you've seen it, but not lately ... it's worth seeing again.

I believe the song came out in '70 or '71 and was by a group called Bloodrock. If you Google their name you might find more info including lyrics.

There are not many bands that attempt 4 part harmonies on a regular basis like the Beach Boys. This helps them to establish that wistful moodiness they achieve in many of their songs. It's very effective when that 4 part harmony, in perfect unison, cuts off dramatically during "Good Vibrations." I especially like "Surfer Girl" and the portrait it paints of a wind blown girl silhouetted against the ocean.

"Abraham, Martin and John" by Dion - 1969 This has a lot of historical relevancy to the time it was recorded. The events featured changed the world, while the somewhat profound lyrics are wrapped in a great musical arrangement.

Until Mad Dogs and Englishmen by Joe Cocker at al, the only movie soundtrack I ever bought was Goldfinger. I was 15 when I saw that movie in a theatre with surround sound and huge speakers. The opening montage drew me in as Shirley Bassey's voice blew me away! That last note of the title song went on forever and after the dust settled .... the movie was just starting. Wow!

Glad you included your discalimer .. it explains a lot. I might write from a perspective such as yours if I answered a survey on how The Depression impacted my life.... I know it did, but I'm not really sure how. To really understand the Beatles, one must understand a little of the surroundings in which they ascended. Like so many, I am a "Babyboomer," those conceived when veterans returned from WWII (starting to be discharged in Europe around 1939) and coming home to establish families as late as 1952. Though this catastrophic war was over and a new generation was exploding in numbers, the darkening threat of an even more terrible global war permeated into every aspect of world culture. The eventual outcome of the perception of one nation's desire for domination and another nation's defense against domination, caused parents to seriously look at digging holes in their backyards into which they might one day have to stuff their children in order to perserve their lives. We, as children, were regularly drilled on the techniques of huddling under our desks at school at a moment's notice. I recall having the general direction of Wright-Patterson Air Force base pointed out to me and it explained that would be the probable origin of the blast force should we see a mushroom shaped cloud arise from a very bright light. No one talked much about fear, but everyone lived in it. Or tried to escape it through whatever means possible to them. Important to remember as well; the living two generations before the Boomers, though proud they had survived 2 world wars, were too saddened about the world they prepared for us to want to hear us complain about it. The young were taught to be silent and respectful. I was 14 when the Beatles first global hit song was played on my hometown AM rock station in Dayton, Ohio. I had always enjoyed music and gravitated toward Rock and Roll where the message seemed to be, "The old ways are not my ways; a new time is at hand." The first time I heard "I Want To Hold Your Hand," I thought, "What's the big deal?" But then I watched along with almost everyone else when The Beatles first appeared on Ed Sullivan. These guys were having fun! They didn't care what Ed (or any older person) thought about their appearance or their desire to laugh at the absurdities around them .. they actually enjoyed their youth, proud of being alive with potential and were excited about life. And they were speaking aloud from their guts while wrapping those thoughts in catchy melodies. Fear was not part of their agenda. And unlike the fearless Marlon Brando/James Dean message of cynical rebellion that seemed to exhort, "Rip down the old and throw it out into the garbage heap where it belongs," The Beatles message resounded in each new song they recorded, "Build up the new, in spite of what circumstances brought us to the place we find ourselves." Faced with the two platforms of change through anarchy or through love, most (not all) chose love. That the Beatles were so very musically gifted and creatively attuned to the emotional needs of the world community, were the one-two punches that secured their place in the forefront of musical and emotional evolution that travelled from from "..lay off my blue suede shoes" to "..love is all you need." The Stones, The Who and other offshoots capitalized on appeal to the "tear it down" crowd (well represented) with "Get Off My Cloud" and "Won't Get Fooled Again." However, the majority of Boomers preferred remaining non-combative. They wanted instead to expand their hearts and minds and become saviors of what can be good about mankind. The Beatles music is permeated by this theme of, "Yes, much is wrong, but WE TOGETHER can make it better because I ALONE can make a difference." This is the core of their appeal to the majority of any generation. Because those who seek to destroy will always be in the minority of mankind. As to the comment that their music was "simplistic." I would say that like all profundity, there is a surface meaning and a deeper thematic meaning to nearly all their work. Angst, greed, danger, self doubt are all themes explored regularly just below the surface of words they entwined around love, peace and understanding. Who would call "Nowhere Man" or "Eleanor Rigby" or "Penny Lane" simple songs? Only the lazy who will not look below the surface of simply beautiful music. It was a pretty profound guy who once said: "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction." - Albert Einstein

I always thought this was considered the Beatle's final single record. Paul plays and sings harmony, George plays guitar and I just figured that was Ringo on drums.

George - Got My Mind Set On You Paul - Maybe I'm Amazed John - Watching The Wheels Go Round Ringo - anything that has Eric Clapton playing real loud on it.

Actually "Soul" music metamorphised toward R&B then disco starting in the early 70's. I feel the best pure soul peaked in the late 60's. Wilson Pickett - Land of a Thousand Dances Rascals - People Got To Be Free OJs - Love Train Aretha Franklin - Respect Three Dog Night - Shambala Sonny Charles - Black Pearl Marvin Gaye - Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby James Brown - I Feel Good Mitch Ryder - Devil With the Blue Dress On About the best pure soul act to survive from the 70's until now is Hall and Oats

I was at perhaps the last, big gathering of the Monterey/Woodstock genre, the Atlanta Pop Festival in the summer of 1970. The crowd of close to half a million (at its largest) lived, unpoliced and totally free, for a weekend in a pecan grove on the ground around a huge raised stage. BB King, Jimi Hendrix, Allman Brothers, Johnny Winter, 10 Years After, musically stand out in my mind. But my mind was in an altered state from almost the first minute there. The free flow of drugs coupled with the lack of authority were the most pervasive attraction and while the large crowd was peaceful, the aura of paranoia and OD was always close at hand. I was a 20 year old sailor temporarily stationed at Brunswick, Georga for a Naval training school. I drove the 180 miles to Byron (just north of Atlanta) alone to be a part of this "love fest." Walking the mile and a half from the parking area, I was offered mescaline (which I had never done before.) Later that evening, during Jimi Hendrix' set, I threw my car keys into a field because I was convinced materialism was evil. I can laugh now, but I remember walking through that field for hours the next day. Eventually I had to hitch back to the base, get my spare key, hitch back to Byron and amazingly my car was the only one sitting in that field used for parking. Later that summer I saw Steppenwolf in Savannah, but it was more controlled, like a Lollapolooza today. The weekend in Byron was never repeated in America with such rustic conditions again. Too much risk and liability for promoters, I would guess. Concert goers at Atlanta in 1970 were so stoned and so vulnerable to outside forces, I marvel now that no major catastrophy visited that July 4th weekend. I love rock and roll. I really enjoy sex. But, I must say, drugs is a dead end street.