Music Archives - Page 177 of 247

Elvis Goes Into the Army: March 25, 1958

At the age of 23, Elvis Presley went into the U.S. Army in March 25, 1958, 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

Trying to Make Sense of the Short Life of Justin Townes Earle (Book Review)

In Praise of Fuel Efficiency: Justin Townes Earle’s “Champagne Corolla”

(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.

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Director’s Guillermo del Toro’s Latest Work: A Simpsons Opening

Edgar Allan Poe Put to Music: “The Raven” (Alan Parsons Project)

Internet Venom, Toby Keith’s Death, . . . and Grace from Willie Nelson

Movie Tributes on “The Simpsons”

“The Simpsons” Parody of Stanley Kubrick’s Films

Versions of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”

(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

“Sons and Daughters” on “The Office”

Last night, The Office featured what was apparently edited from the pilot for the abandoned spin-off series Shrute Farms. The episode “The Farm” featured Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) returning home after his aunt had died.

In the episode, we also met Dwight’s brother Jeb (Thomas Middleditch) and his sister Fanny (Majandra Delfino). The three siblings discovered that their aunt left her large farm to the three of them if they would return to take care of the farm.

The enjoyable episode did seem like a pilot with the introduction of characters that you expect to be developed. Also, there were some oddball touches, touching on the strangeness we are used to seeing when Dwight has returned home in previous episodes.

The Office has long been one of my favorite shows in both the American and the U.K. versions. And even though I have missed Steve Carrell, I so hate to end my relationship with the characters that I would have given any spinoff a chance. It would have been interesting to see how Dwight’s life developed. But, alas, it is not to be.

“Sons and Daughters”

One of the interesting aspects of the episode was the appearance of a Decemberists song I really like, “Sons and Daughters.” In one scene, Dwight and his family sit around playing instruments and singing the song.

While it seems odd that the Schrutes would be playing a recent song by the Decemberists instead of an old German folk tune, it was great to hear the Decemberists and “Sons and Daughters” getting some wider exposure. (Update: The original video of the scene is no longer on YouTube, but the video below includes some images from the episode.)

The Decemberists

“Sons and Daughters” appeared as the final song on the Decemberists album The Crane Wife (2006), the band’s major label debut. The album is partly based on a Japanese folk tale about a man who discovers the woman he married is actually a crane he had once helped.

As part of the song cycle on the album, “Sons and Daughters” is a hopeful ending, looking forward to a better future.

When we arrive sons and daughters;
We’ll make our homes on the water;
We’ll build our walls with aluminum;
We’ll fill our mouths with cinnamon, now.

Although it looks like there is no happy ending for Schrute Farms for now, we are hopeful that The Office will pull it together to give us a finale that lives up to this song and the great series. In this video, the Decemberists, who have previously appeared on The Simpsons, play “Sons and Daughters” at Metro Theatre in Sydney in 2010:

What do you think of the final season of “The Office”? Leave your two cents in the comments.