Jeff Pophistory

Hammerin’ Hank

I Had a Hammer Henry Louis Aaron was born in Mobile, Alabama on February 5, 1934. Hank Aaron went on to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Still, the first memory of the man that usually comes to mind is one swing of the bat on April 8, 1974.

Aaron had started his professional baseball career with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League in 1951. Aaron experienced the effects of racism during that time and throughout his career. He endured, though, to became a hero to many people.

Breaking Babe Ruth’s Home Run Record

While playing for the Atlanta Braves late in his career, Aaron received a large amount of racist hate mail. The mail came in response to his approach to Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record of 714 home runs.

Aaron ended the 1973 season with 713 home runs. On the cusp of the record, he endured various death threats in the off-season. Many others, though, voiced their support for The Hammer.

Aaron persevered. He hit home run number 714 on April 4, 1974 in his first at-bat in the 1974 season. That home run came in Cincinnati off Reds pitcher Jack Billingham.

Then, back in Atlanta on April 8, 1974, the 40-year-old Aaron came to bat against Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Al Downing. This video shows what happened next.

After Breaking the Record

After his famous home run in 1974, Aaron continued to play baseball. He continued to follow the motto that helped him through tough times: “Always keep swinging.”

And, on May 1, 1975, now a Milwaukee Brewer, Aaron broke baseball’s all-time RBI record. Babe Ruth had held that record too.

On July 20, 1976, Aaron hit his 755th and final home run. Aaron’s record stood until Barry Bonds broke it on August 7, 2007. Despite the controversy about Bonds’s alleged used of steroids, Aaron graciously appeared on the JumboTron in the San Francisco Giants stadium to congratulate Bonds.

Since his playing days, Aaron has worked as an executive with the Atlanta Braves, run his own business, and helped others through his charitable work. In 1990, he published his excellent autobiography, I Had a Hammer, which I listened to as an audio book years ago. Aaron passed away on January 22, 2021.

In 1982, Aaron was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His election came with one of the highest vote percentages ever. But by then, he had long been enshrined in our hearts.

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Dion: “New York Is My Home”

New York Is My Home Paul Simon

Dion Dimucci is releasing a new album, New York Is My Home. The album features ten new songs, mostly co-written by Dion, that focus on Dion’s experience in New York City. On the title track, he is joined by Paul Simon.

The Bronx-born Dion says he knew Paul Simon would understand the song “New York Is My Home” because Simon grew up in Queens. The Italian Tribune quotes Dion stating, “We share a love for rock ’n’ roll street music, the way it was done when we were kids. I knew Paul would ‘get’ this song. And he did.”

Dion released a video for the title track, the first single from the album. Check it out.

Dion has explained that some other songs on the album, like “The Apollo King” and “I’m Your Gangster of Love,” are based upon people Dion knew. Dion imagined “Visionary Heart” as a message that the late Buddy Holly might send to him. For various reasons, Dion remains connected to Buddy Holly in a number of ways. As discussed in more detail in another post, Dion was touring with Holly when Holly was killed in a plane crash.

Dion has continued to create some overlooked outstanding music late in his career, including some fantastic blues albums. So, I’m looking forward to the new music. The album New York Is My Home, which features guitar and keyboards from Jimmy Vivino of Conan O’Brien’s show, is available starting February 12, 2016.

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How Smokey Robinson Inspired a Who Song

Tracks of My Tears In Who Are You: The Life of Pete Townshend, author Mark Wilkerson recounts how Pete Townshend came to write “Substitute” for The Who. Musically, Townshend was inspired to write the song after hearing a rough mix of “19th Nervous Breakdown” by The Rolling Stones. But lyrically, he came up with the title word because of the way Smokey Robinson sang the word in “The Tracks of My Tears.”

The Miracles released “The Tracks of My Tears” as a single in 1965. In one of the verses of the song — which was written by group members Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarpli — Smokey Robinson sings:

“Since you left me if you see me with another girl,
Looking like I’m having fun;
Although she may be cute, she’s just a substitute,
‘Cause you’re the permanent one.”

The song made a big impression on Townshend. In a 1987 interview, Townshend explained that “The Tracks of My Tears” was his favorite song of all time.

Bur more than that, when Townshend heard the song back in 1965, he could not help focusing on the way that Robinson sang one word. “Smokey Robinson sang the word “Substitute” so perfectly,” he later explained, “that I decided to celebrate the word with a song all its own.” So, he sat down and wrote “Substitute” for The Who “very quickly.”

Townshend also explained that when he wrote “Substitute,” he merely wrote it as a play on words. But the song and lyrics went on to have a life of their own, becoming one of the Who’s most quoted lyrics as listeners found a deeper meaning in the song. Without revealing much, Townshend also explained that the song came to have a deeper meaning for him over the years too.

“The Tracks of My Tears” is not the only song that influenced “Substitute.” Townshend also noted that he took the riff from a song called “Where Is My Girl?” by Robb Storme & the Whispers. Townshend said that although “Where Is My Girl?” was not a hit, it had an “electrifying riff” and he “pinched it.” You may hear “Where Is My Girl?” below, and you may be tempted to sing “Substitute” over it.

One year after The Miracles released “The Tracks of My Tears,” The Who released “Substitute” as a single in 1966, and it would later appear on the compilation album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy (1971).

Although “Substitute” only made it to number five on the UK charts, it continues to be a fan favorite through the years. Like “The Tracks of My Tears,” The Who’s song often appears on lists of greatest songs of the era.

And that is the story behind the song.

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Marty Brown Releases “Make You Feel My Love”

Country Make You Feel My Love

Country singer-songwriter Marty Brown launched a major comeback on America’s Got Talent when he stood on the stage and sang Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love.” Now, Brown has made an official recording of the song, which is available for download starting February 5.

The new single was produced in Nashville by Keith Stegall. As we have previously noted on Chimesfreedom, “Make You Feel My Love” is one of Dylan’s great late-career classics, and Brown reminds us of that with his wonderful rendition of the song. His performance of the song on America’s Got Talent continues to win new fans for the singer, who had his first taste of success in the early 1990s. So, it is fitting that he is now releasing an official version of his cover of the Dylan classic.

To help promote the release of “Make You Feel My Love,” Brown created a short video announcing the release and playing us a sample. Check it out.

To celebrate the release of “Make You Feel My Love,” Brown’s Facebook page contains a special event page, and there is a Google+ link too. Learn more about upcoming shows on Marty Brown’s website.

April 2016 Update: Below is the official Marty Brown video for “Make You Feel My Love.” That’s Brown’s real-life wife joining him in the diner.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

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1970 Radio Interview With Townes Van Zandt

Townes Radio Interview

In 1970, Townes Van Zandt sat down for a radio interview with Juliet Brown on Pacifica Radio in Houston, Texas. Through the wonders of the Internet, you may listen to an excerpt of the interview below.

In 1970, Van Zandt’s career was on the upswing after releasing his first three albums: For the Sake of the Song (1968), Our Mother the Mountain (1969), and Townes Van Zandt (1969). His personal life, however, had hit some road bumps as he had recently divorced his first wife Fran Petters.

Van Zandt is engaging and playful in the interview, even reading some news from Paul McCartney about the Beatles. The highlight, though, is when Van Zandt plays his guitar and sings “Nothin'” (around the 3:55 mark).