Music Archives - Page 174 of 244

The Music Is You, John Denver

A John Denver Tribute album, The Music is You, is being released April 2. The album features such artists as Train (“Sunshine on My Shoulder”), Dave Matthews (“Take Me to Tomorrow”), Kathleen Edwards (“All of My Memories”), Lucinda Williams (“This Old Guitar”), Mary Chapin Carpenter (“I Guess He’d Rather Be in Colorado”), Amos Lee (“Some Days are Diamonds”), Allen Stone (“Rocky Mountain High”), and Emmylou Harris with Brandi Carlile (“Take Me Home, Country Roads”), among several others. The new album is a nice combination of Denver’s hits with some of his lesser known songs.

It is hard to believe that John Denver’s death in a plane crash occurred 15 years ago. If he were still around to hear the new album, he would be 69 years old right now. Although I doubt anyone else can record the definitive version of a John Denver song besides Denver (although Peter, Paul, and Mary came close many years ago), the new album is an interesting collection and it is great that today’s artists are making Denver’s music relevant for a new generation. Among the tracks, I particularly like the version of “Darcy Farrow” by Josh Ritter and Barnstar! If you wish to hear more, for now you can listen to the whole album streaming on NPR.

What is your favorite John Denver song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris Pay Tribute to Joan Baez

Duet of the Day: Cass Elliot and John Denver “Leaving on a Jet Plane”

The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris

Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell On “The Traveling Kind”

The First Farm Aid

The “Other” Wrecking Ball: Emmylou Harris

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Elvis Goes Into the Army: March 25, 1958

At the age of 23, Elvis Presley went into the U.S. Army in March 25, thus suspending his promising career that had already altered the music landscape.

On December 20, 1957, Elvis was drafted while he was celebrating Christmas at Graceland, and three months later on March 25, the 23-year-old Elvis went into the U.S. Army. During his time in the Army, Presley served as a member of two armor battalions, first completing basic and advanced training with Company A, 2d Medium Tank Battalion, 37th Armor, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas until September 1958.

Starting in October 1958, Presley served in Germany until March 2, 1960, as a member of the 1st Medium Tank Battalion, 32d Armor. It was during this time in Germany that he met the young teenager Priscilla Beaulieu, who would become his wife. Elvis left active duty on March 5, 1960 and received his discharge from the Army Reserve on March 23, 1964.

This newsreel has the story of the induction.

There were some downsides to these Army years. It was during this period that Elvis began abusing prescription drugs, a practice that would later lead to his death. As Elvis went into the Army, many wondered how his absence would affect his career.

When Presley returned from the Army, he showed he could still generate pop hits like “It’s Now or Never.” Additionally, he would return to making movies, but he was an adult and further away from his teenage rebel rock and roll years.

Although Presley would still make great music after his army years, the music scene had changed during the short time he was gone. In addition to the loss of Elvis during those years, Chuck Berry fell into trouble with the law, Little Richard joined the ministry, Jerry Lee Lewis lost his popularity when he married his young cousin, and Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, and Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in Iowa in early 1959.

While the survivors of those years would resurrect their careers to varying degrees, American music was never again like it was before the date in 1958 when Elvis went into the U.S. Army..

Do you remember when Elvis went into the Army? Leave your two cents in the comments.

Elvis Presley With the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: “If I Can Dream”

The Impromptu Million Dollar Quartet

The End of Maryland’s Death Penalty and “Green, Green Grass of Home”

Longing for the Freedom of My Chains: Dobie Gray’s “Loving Arms”

Although the Oscars Passed Over “Little Richard: I Am Everything,” You Shouldn’t

Esquerita, the Man Buried in an Unmarked Grave Who Inspired Little Richard and Rock and Roll

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

John and Yoko Interview September 9, 1971

Lennon interview

On September 9, 1971, the day John Lennon’s album Imagine was released, journalist and radio personality Howard Smith had one of several conversations with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The conversations in their St. Regis Hotel room in New York City covered a variety of topics.

In this newly released excerpt prepared for Salon, Lennon and Ono talk about their relationship during this interview that precedes a later period of separation. Both Lennon and Ono respond to questions such as whether it is possible for people to be “too close.”

Of course, much of the conversation also drifts into the other Beatles. In particular, Lennon discusses how his song “How Do You Sleep?” on his new album is a response to Paul McCartney’s song about him, “Too Many People” from Ram (1971). [2019 Update: Unfortunately, the excerpt is no longer available online but below is what is apparently the complete interview.]

Salon has an interesting article on the background about how the tape was found, as well as other information about the recordings.

What do you think is the most interesting part of the Lennon-Yoko interview? Leave your two cents in the comments.

The Latest and Last Beatles Song: “Now and Then”

Ringo Starr Records a John Lennon Song (with a little help from Paul McCartney)

New Beatles ‘A Day in the Life’ Video

The Silly Girl of The Beatles’ “Martha My Dear” Was a Dog

“A Really Big Shock”: McCartney on Hearing of Lennon’s Death

The Beatles’ “Black Album” from “Boyhood”

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Steve Earle Performing “The Low Highway” and “Invisible”

Steve Earle recently performed two songs from his upcoming album The Low Highway on the Ron and Fez radio show. Check out “The Low Highway” and “Invisible” below.

We have previously featured the video for “Invisible,” Earle’s new song about the homeless. The Low Highway will be released April 12.

What do you think of Steve Earle’s new songs? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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Steve Earle Performs Tracks from “The Low Highway” on KEXP

Steve Earle Sings About the Homeless on “Invisible”

Steve Earle Performs “Invisible” on David Letterman and Announces Box Set

Steve Earle’s “The Low Highway” Coming Soon

Nanci Griffith’s Superstars on Letterman: “Desperados Waiting for a Train”

I woke up this morning, and none of the news was good: Steve Earle’s “Jerusalem” (Song of the Day)

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” in Music

In a recent discussion of the song “The Raven” from The Alan Parsons Project album Tales of Mystery and Imagination: Edgar Allan Poe, I promised to revisit the 1976 album. My favorite song on Tales of Mystery and Imagination tells the saga of one of my favorite Edgar Allan Poe stories, “The Cask of Amontillado.”

“The Cask of Amontillado” is narrated by a man taking revenge upon a person named Fortunato for some unnamed insult. The narrator tempts Fortunato to his basement with a cask of the alcoholic beverage Amontillado, a type of sherry. And then begins his plan.

This fan video for The Alan Parsons Project song helps illustrate the disturbing tale, beginning with the wonderful opening haunting line by The Alan Parsons Project that encapsulates Poe’s story: “By the last breath of the four winds that blow / I’ll have revenge upon Fortunado.”

Toby Keith used the idea of “The Cask of Amontillado” in a video for his song “A Little Too Late” from the CD White Trash With Money“ (2006). In the video, Keith uses the same idea that appears in the Poe story of building a tomb of bricks around one’s “enemy.”

Although Keith’s song is not literally about the Poe story, the video, directed by Michael Salomon and featuring actress Krista Allen, gives a humorous twist to the original disturbing ending of the Poe story. Check it out.

“The Cask of Amontillado” has inspired other songs, TV shows, etc., in pop culture, such as an episode of The Simpsons where Mr. Burns tries the tactic on Homer. The twist in the Toby Keith video reportedly copied a 1971 episode of Rod Serling’s Night Gallery called “The Merciful” (available on Hulu) so it is unclear how much the director was thinking of Edgar Allan Poe and how much of Rod Serling.

Finally, did you know there is a word for building a wall around someone so they die? “Immurement.” Anyway, these immurements made some interesting stories and songs.

What do you think of “The Cask of Amontillado”? Leave your two cents in comments.