soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime 2023 - Series Post #3 - 09/26/23 08:00 AM
 
For the third article to this Soundtrack of a Lifetime 2023 series, I present a novelty song by none other than “Weird Al” Yankovic. Yankovic, a musician who can play multiple instruments, chose to use his accordion as his signature instrument. Something of an unusual choice in today’s pop culture.
“Weird Al” is known for his parodies of popular songs by other artists. His hits include "I Love Rocky Road", a takeoff on the song I Love Rock and Roll, made popular by Joan Jett & Blackhearts, and “Jurrasic Park”, a spoof of the hit song MacArthur Park.
The one I chose is … (5 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime 2023 - Series Challenge - Bonus Post - 09/21/23 06:21 PM

One of the nice things about living in the Scottsdale area is the number of local theater companies and small playhouses within an easy drive. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a local theatre production of a play called Tom Foolery. The show was hosted at the Fountain Hills Theatre in Fountain Hills, AZ. The intimate theater seats 89 patrons, making it a comfortable, setting where the audience and performers are only 10 or 15 feet apart.
Tom Foolery is a musical comedy based on the satire and genius of Tom Lehrer.
Although I never remember listening to Tom … (3 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime 2023 - Series Post #2 - 09/20/23 05:37 PM

For my second chapter to this challenge, I will harken back to the early days of Rock and Roll. And at the same time add another blog post to my Soundtrack of a Lifetime. The Soundtrack is a hobby I began in 2018 to discuss the music of my generation.
This one is a novelty song that I remember from the early 1970s. It is one most of you will recognize as well.
Growing up I was a big Chuck Berry fan. I enjoyed his songs like his 1955 hit Maybelline, his 1958 hit Johnny B. Goode, and his 1964 record, No Particular … (6 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime 2023 - Series Post #1 - 09/20/23 05:15 PM
 
As a long-time member of Active Rain, I have written posts and articles about a variety of topics. Real estate of course was the original reason for joining AR. I also wrote at times about my travel experiences, or sometimes the current events happening in the Scottsdale area.
For those of you who followed me over the years, you will recall I wrote a series of articles under the title Soundtrack of a Lifetime. There I discussed the music and songs that impacted my life in some way. The song may be a fond memory from a live performance or a favorite … (7 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Boyz II Men - 06/18/22 03:03 PM
I wanted to include at least one song from each decade in this year’s Soundtrack. So, I looked around my music collection for a good 1990s song, but the cupboard was a bit bare.
Some will argue, but for me, Rock & Roll took a step back in the 1990s. Oh, there were bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden that personified the grunge sound. It was rock, but not the same sound I enjoyed listening to. Pop artists like Mariah Carey and George Michael had replaced Rock and Roll on the charts and Hip Hop was staking its claim as Rock & Roll’s … (4 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Tony Bennett / Lady Gaga - 06/17/22 11:29 AM
Well day 30 has arrived. My it went by fast. Once again, we have listened to some great music. I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane.
If you have followed my Soundtrack over the years, it’s no secret that I enjoy duets, you will find several duets here on The Soundtrack.
I think they are even more fun when the two partners are a mix of stars from different generations. It shows us how some songs can be timeless when properly arranged and performed by great artists.
Everyone knows who Tony Bennett is, and what he brought to the music industry for … (8 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Brewer & Shipley - 06/17/22 11:19 AM
Today’s song likely has the most bizarre history of any song we have listened to on the Soundtrack so far.
In 1970 folk music and the psychedelic sound crossed paths. Turning on, Tuning in, and Dropping out was the buzzword. Two folk/rock singers, Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley, were performing their upbeat protest songs to hippies across the country. A lot of the music and songs of the day centered around drugs and getting high. Their song One Toke Over the Line was a homage to getting high. Taking a toke meant taking a long drag on a marijuana cigarette.
According to certain … (3 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Daryll Hall - 06/17/22 10:58 AM
I like to say that Hall & Oates saved the 1980s from copycats and repetition of the super bands of the 1970s. It was getting hard to find a fresh sound, and Blue-eyed soul was carving a niche left behind by the soul singers of the 1970s. Hall & Oates were producing hit after hit.
They made many legendary Soul and R&B hits during their career like Sara Smile, I Can’t Go for That and You Make My Dreams Come True.
In 2003, Hall & Oates were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They remain the most selling successful duo of all … (2 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Chicago - 06/13/22 12:41 PM
 
Originally from my hometown of Chicago, this band adopted its name after being informed they could no longer use the name Chicago Transit Authority, their original name.
Known early on for their use of a full horn section, unusual for the time they had hit after hit with songs like Color My World and Make Me Smile. In 1978 guitarist Terry Kath died in a tragic accident and his hard-charging guitar and distinctive deep voice changed the band's sound.
In 1982 they released their 16th album which broke away from their old sound reducing the use of horns in exchange for use of … (7 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - The Doors - 06/12/22 09:14 AM
"Light My Fire" is a song by the American rock band The Doors. It was recorded in August 1966 and released in January 1967 on their debut album.
It was later released as a single in April, where it spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and one week on the Cash Box Top 100, nearly a year after its recording.
A cover version of the song was recorded by José Feliciano which peaked at number three on the Billboard chart. After Feliciano’s success, The Doors recording re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 a second time where it again … (8 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - John Lee Hooker - 06/11/22 10:41 AM
How about a little blues to brighten your day? Today’s song is a classic blues song and video filmed for the movie The Blues Brothers. The Blues Brothers movie employed some great music and big-name musicians like Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and John Lee Hooker.
The song Boom, Boom recorded by John Lee Hooker has been a classic blues standard since its release in 1962. The song charted on both the Billboard Hot R&B list and the Billboard Hot 100.
In this video The Blues Brothers production team recreated the old Maxwell Street market in Chicago. That open-air market at one time was … (6 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Billy Joel - 06/09/22 07:54 AM
I listen to a lot of Billy Joel. You might say his songs are music to my ears. But more than anything I like the way he weaves the story of his middle-class upbringing into his songs. I can identify with his music.
Billy Joel of all the artists here on the Soundtrack probably has created the most entertaining videos. They not only have good sound, but an amusing story and great acting by a host of TV and movie stars. It all adds up to fun.
In today’s song/video Uptown Girl we find Billy, a downtown auto mechanic, singing about his high-class … (5 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Bruno Mars - 06/08/22 11:44 AM
Even though my lifetime Soundtrack features a lot of songs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, every so often I find a current artist and a song that I think deserves to be included in my list of favorites. One of those artists is Bruno Mars. Mars who grew up in Honolulu, HI took his act to LA. to find fame and fortune. He succeeded.
Bruno along with his band The Hooligans crosses genres from pop to hip hop, to rock and has success with each sound.
Today’s song is a piano ballad written for his second album Unorthodox Jukebox. It is a … (2 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Bobby Rydell - 06/07/22 11:22 AM
It isn’t often I get requests here on the Soundtrack. Heck I barely get any readers. But recently I got a request from fellow ActiveRainer Kathy Streib  for a song from former teenage heartthrob Bobby Rydell. Rydell was one of the hottest recording artists in the early 1960s. His talent extended beyond records into television and even the movies. He played the role of Hugo Peabody in the 1963 film version of Bye Bye Birdie starring Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke.
Bobby had a lot of hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Placing 34 Top 100 hits, ranking him as … (7 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Procol Harum - 06/06/22 10:27 AM
Here’s another old song that is easily recognizable by its haunting melody. As soon as the song starts to play you recognize it.
The song "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is the debut single by the English rock band Procol Harum, and it harkens all the way back to May 1967.
In 1967 psychedelic music and psychedelic bands were growing in popularity. It was the Summer of Love, and despite footage in this video from the Vietnam War, it wasn't a protest song. A Whiter Shade of Pale became one of the summer's most popular songs.
I had the pleasure to see Procol Harum … (5 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Crosby, Stills, Nash - 06/05/22 07:59 AM
Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) are a folk-rock supergroup made up of American singer-songwriters David Crosby and Stephen Stills, and English singer-songwriter Graham Nash.
The trio began playing together in 1968 when each member left their prior band. Stills had exited Buffalo Springfield, Nash left The Hollies, and Crosby split with The Byrds. They soon discovered their sound meshed together well. They recorded their first album Crosby, Stills, & Nash in 1969. The trio later added Neil Young to create Crosby, Still, Nash & Young in time for their legendary performance at Woodstock in 1969.
While Young added a harder rock element to … (8 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Marty Robbins - 06/03/22 12:19 PM
Growing up I always liked those songs where the lyrics told a story. The story for today’s song is about a cowboy from the west Texas town of El Paso, who falls in love with a cantina dancer. Unfortunately, his love for the beautiful maiden will be his demise.
This number one hit goes all the way back to 1959. It is a country and western song called El Paso and sung by country star Marty Robbins.
In 1959 no record label wanted a song over 3 minutes long, at least as a single. El Paso topped out at nearly 4:40. The song … (8 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Warren Zevon - 06/03/22 06:53 AM
Warren Zevon was a colorful artist who enjoyed having fun with his music. Zevon became known for his dry wit and often sarcastic lyrics.
He produced songs like Lawyers, Guns and Money, Excitable Boy, and Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner, which took a humorous swipe at worldwide political causes.
The origin of today's song Werewolves of London came when one of Zevon’s friends watched the classic film and suggested Zevon write a song about it. Zevon claims he and some friends wrote the lyrics in about 15 minutes, then began to play with the melody. The album recording featured Fleetwood Mac band members … (2 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Firefall - 06/02/22 12:10 PM
Every so often a band comes along that has great success, however if you mention their name in conversation no one remembers who they are. Yet when their song comes on the radio it is easily recognized. One of those bands are a group of artists from Boulder, Colorado that called themselves Firefall.
The band's biggest hit single, "You Are the Woman", peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard charts in 1976. Other hits included “Strange Way” (#11 in 1978), "Cinderella" (#34 in 1977), "Headed for a Fall" (#35 in 1980), and "Staying with It" (#37 in 1981).
I enjoy listening to their music … (4 comments)

soundtrack: Soundtrack of a Lifetime - 2022 - Marvin Gaye - 06/02/22 07:28 AM
In this year’s rendition of the Soundtrack we are spending a lot of time in the 1960s. One reason is because the 1960s were a time of social change. Rock & Roll had shed its image as a trend in music and was now solidly ingrained as the music for generations to come.
Protest songs were all over the radio. As part of that responsibility, Soul, Rock, and R & B artists that had focused on love songs joined the revolution to change the world. One of those artists that jumped on the bandwagon was Marvin Gaye.
Marvin Gaye was a soul singer-songwriter … (5 comments)