By GREGORY KATZ, Associated Press
LONDON – Eleanor Rigby: fact or fiction?
That question, which has bedeviled Beatles' fans for decades, may be answered in part by a 1911 hospital payroll sheet to be auctioned in London on Thursday.
The document, sent by Paul McCartney in 1990 to the director of a music charity who had asked for funding, contains the signature of a scullery maid named "E. Rigby" who worked in a Liverpool hospital.
The director of the company auctioning the document believes the woman who signed the payroll is the same Eleanor Rigby buried in 1939 in a Liverpool graveyard next to the church where McCartney met the young John Lennon.
"I've spoken to the person who lived in the house where she used to live, and they've confirmed that the signature is the same signature of the person in the graveyard," said Tom Owen of the Fame Bureau auction house, adding that the finding may contradict McCartney's longtime assertion that the song was based on a made-up character.
"It's intriguing that McCartney owned it because he says he created the song around a fictitious figure," said Owen. "And yet, how did he have this document and why did he have it? When he was asked to donate money, he sent this."
Interest is so high it's estimated the document may fetch $750,000.
Read the rest of this interesting story here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081125/ap_en_mu/eu_britain_beatles_mystery
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Hendrix Classic
Hendrix' Electric Ladyland Gets Reexamined on December 9th
What is arguably Jimi Hendrix greatest album, Electric Ladyland, will get the full historical treatment on December 9 through Universal Music Enterprises. The album will be examined on the new DVD At Last...The Beginning: The Making of Electric Ladyland along with a CD/DVD combo set.
Electric Ladyland was Hendrix' third and last album with the original Experience and was the apex of the sound that he was trying to create with the group. With such well known songs as Crosstown Traffic, All Along the Watchtower and Burning the Midnight Lamp, the album is the only one by the artist ever to make it to the top of the Billboard Album chart.
Not only was the album the ultimate amalgamation of psychedelic and funk, but it also contained numerous special techniques in echo, backward tape and flanging that had previously not been combined in such a way.
The DVD documentary contains interviews with many of Hendrix associates from forty years ago, including Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Buddy Miles, Jack Cassady, Steve Winwood and Dave Mason. The recording techniques are demonstrated by original engineer Eddie Kramer, showing examples of how they were created using the original multitrack tape. The documentary is based around the original Classic Albums show on Electric Ladyland with over 40 minutes of additional program.
The CD track listing:
...And The Gods Made Love
Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)
Crosstown Traffic
Voodoo Chile
Little Miss Strange
Long Hot Summer Night
Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)
Gypsy Eyes
Burning of the Midnight Lamp
Rainy Day, Dream Away
1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)
Moon, Turn The Tides...Gently Gently Away
Still Raining, Still Dreaming
House Burning Down
All Along The Watchtower
Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
The DVD track listing:
Prologue
Burning of the Midnight Lamp
...And The Gods Made Love
All Along The Watchtower
Rainy Day, Dream Away
Still Raining, Still Dreaming
Voodoo Chile
Crosstown Traffic
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)
Little Miss Strange
Gypsy Eyes
South Saturn Delta
House Burning Down
1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)
Long Hot Summer Night
Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)
Epilogue
What is arguably Jimi Hendrix greatest album, Electric Ladyland, will get the full historical treatment on December 9 through Universal Music Enterprises. The album will be examined on the new DVD At Last...The Beginning: The Making of Electric Ladyland along with a CD/DVD combo set.
Electric Ladyland was Hendrix' third and last album with the original Experience and was the apex of the sound that he was trying to create with the group. With such well known songs as Crosstown Traffic, All Along the Watchtower and Burning the Midnight Lamp, the album is the only one by the artist ever to make it to the top of the Billboard Album chart.
Not only was the album the ultimate amalgamation of psychedelic and funk, but it also contained numerous special techniques in echo, backward tape and flanging that had previously not been combined in such a way.
The DVD documentary contains interviews with many of Hendrix associates from forty years ago, including Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell, Buddy Miles, Jack Cassady, Steve Winwood and Dave Mason. The recording techniques are demonstrated by original engineer Eddie Kramer, showing examples of how they were created using the original multitrack tape. The documentary is based around the original Classic Albums show on Electric Ladyland with over 40 minutes of additional program.
The CD track listing:
...And The Gods Made Love
Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)
Crosstown Traffic
Voodoo Chile
Little Miss Strange
Long Hot Summer Night
Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)
Gypsy Eyes
Burning of the Midnight Lamp
Rainy Day, Dream Away
1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)
Moon, Turn The Tides...Gently Gently Away
Still Raining, Still Dreaming
House Burning Down
All Along The Watchtower
Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
The DVD track listing:
Prologue
Burning of the Midnight Lamp
...And The Gods Made Love
All Along The Watchtower
Rainy Day, Dream Away
Still Raining, Still Dreaming
Voodoo Chile
Crosstown Traffic
Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)
Little Miss Strange
Gypsy Eyes
South Saturn Delta
House Burning Down
1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)
Long Hot Summer Night
Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)
Epilogue
New Vinyl Releases
Asobi Seksu: Citrus
(vinyl reissue)
Austrian Death Machine: A Very Brutal Christmas
(single)
Brian Jonestown Massacre: Spacegirl and Other Favorites
(vinyl reissue)
Britney Spears: Womanizer
(import single)
Coldplay: Prospekt's Prospekt's March [Vinyl] [EP]
(import)
Fennesz: Black Sea
(vinyl)
Iggy & The Stooges: Raw Power
(vinyl reissue)
Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes: Live at the Greek
(3-LP vinyl)
Judas Priest: Hero Hero
(vinyl reissue)
Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla
(vinyl reissue)
Julian Cope: You Gotta Problem with Me
(vinyl)
Lydia Lunch: Frankie Teardrop
(vinyl)
Motley Crue: Dr. Feelgood
(vinyl reissue)
Motley Crue: GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS [LP VINYL]
(vinyl reissue)
Motley Crue: Saints of Los Angeles
(vinyl reissue)
Motley Crue: Shout At the Devil
(vinyl reissue)
Motley Crue: THEATRE OF PAIN
(vinyl reissue)
Motley Crue: Motley Crue - Too Fast for Love
(vinyl reissue)
Nada Surf: Vinyl Box Set 1994-2008
(7-disc vinyl box set)
Replacements: Tim
(vinyl reissue)
Santana: Abraxas Santana " ABRAXAS " REMASTERED 180 Gram Vinyl Record Album {ORIGINAL MASTER RECORDING} MFL
(vinyl reissue)
Santana: Santana
(vinyl reissue)
Supersuckers: Get It Together
(vinyl)
Surf City: Surf City
(vinyl)
Was (Not Was): Boo!
(vinyl)
Fireman (Paul McCartney) Electric Arguments
LP
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Live at Massey Hall 1971
(vinyl reissue)Austrian Death Machine: A Very Brutal Christmas
(single)Brian Jonestown Massacre: Spacegirl and Other Favorites
(vinyl reissue)Britney Spears: Womanizer
(import single)Coldplay: Prospekt's Prospekt's March [Vinyl] [EP]
(import)Fennesz: Black Sea
(vinyl)Iggy & The Stooges: Raw Power
(vinyl reissue)
Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes: Live at the Greek
(3-LP vinyl)
Judas Priest: Hero Hero
(vinyl reissue)Judas Priest: Rocka Rolla
(vinyl reissue)Julian Cope: You Gotta Problem with Me
(vinyl)Lydia Lunch: Frankie Teardrop
(vinyl)Motley Crue: Dr. Feelgood
(vinyl reissue)Motley Crue: GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS [LP VINYL]
(vinyl reissue)Motley Crue: Saints of Los Angeles
(vinyl reissue)Motley Crue: Shout At the Devil
(vinyl reissue)
Motley Crue: THEATRE OF PAIN
(vinyl reissue)Motley Crue: Motley Crue - Too Fast for Love
(vinyl reissue)Nada Surf: Vinyl Box Set 1994-2008
(7-disc vinyl box set)Replacements: Tim
(vinyl reissue)Santana: Abraxas Santana " ABRAXAS " REMASTERED 180 Gram Vinyl Record Album {ORIGINAL MASTER RECORDING} MFL
(vinyl reissue)Santana: Santana
(vinyl reissue)Supersuckers: Get It Together
(vinyl)Surf City: Surf City
(vinyl)Was (Not Was): Boo!
(vinyl)Fireman (Paul McCartney) Electric Arguments
LPNeil Young & Crazy Horse - Live at Massey Hall 1971
As Taboos Ease, Saudi Girl Group Dares to Rock
By ROBERT F. WORTH
JIDDA, Saudi Arabia — They cannot perform in public. They cannot pose for album cover photographs. Even their jam sessions are secret, for fear of offending the religious authorities in this ultraconservative kingdom.
But the members of Saudi Arabia’s first all-girl rock band, the Accolade, are clearly not afraid of taboos.
The band’s first single, “Pinocchio,” has become an underground hit here, with hundreds of young Saudis downloading the song from the group’s MySpace page. Now, the pioneering foursome, all of them college students, want to start playing regular gigs — inside private compounds, of course — and recording an album.
“In Saudi, yes, it’s a challenge,” said the group’s lead singer, Lamia, who has piercings on her left eyebrow and beneath her bottom lip. (Like other band members, she gave only her first name.) “Maybe we’re crazy. But we wanted to do something different.”
Because this is copyrighted material, I can't post the whole article. To read the rest of this interesting piece, please visit the N.Y. Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/world/middleeast/24saudi.html?_r=1&bl&ex=1227675600&en=bd682c7ab16daa1e&ei=5087%0A#
JIDDA, Saudi Arabia — They cannot perform in public. They cannot pose for album cover photographs. Even their jam sessions are secret, for fear of offending the religious authorities in this ultraconservative kingdom.
But the members of Saudi Arabia’s first all-girl rock band, the Accolade, are clearly not afraid of taboos.
The band’s first single, “Pinocchio,” has become an underground hit here, with hundreds of young Saudis downloading the song from the group’s MySpace page. Now, the pioneering foursome, all of them college students, want to start playing regular gigs — inside private compounds, of course — and recording an album.
“In Saudi, yes, it’s a challenge,” said the group’s lead singer, Lamia, who has piercings on her left eyebrow and beneath her bottom lip. (Like other band members, she gave only her first name.) “Maybe we’re crazy. But we wanted to do something different.”
Because this is copyrighted material, I can't post the whole article. To read the rest of this interesting piece, please visit the N.Y. Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/world/middleeast/24saudi.html?_r=1&bl&ex=1227675600&en=bd682c7ab16daa1e&ei=5087%0A#
Top Ten TV Theme Songs
Let's explore PasteMagazine.com's list of theme songs, this time see what made #4 on their list:
4. Peter Gunn - Henry Mancini
The P.I. wouldn't have been nearly as hip if his every move wasn't accompanied by music from Mancini. The theme music has been covered by everyone from Duane Eddy and Jimi Hendrix to Aerosmith, Pulp and The Cramps. Even Quincy Jones has recorded a version of it—and when Jones covers a song, you know it's cool.
Peter Gunn was an American private eye TV show that aired on the NBC and later ABC television networks from 1958 to 1961. The title character (played by Craig Stevens) was a private investigator and a sophisticated "hipster" who loved cool jazz; Peter Gunn was portrayed as the epitome of "cool".
The show's use of jazz, at a time when most TV shows used orchestra for the soundtrack, was another unique touch that set a trend for many years to come.
The main theme from Peter Gunn became an instant hit for Mancini, earning him an Emmy Award and two Grammys and which has since been covered by numerous jazz, blues, and rock artists.
interesting tidbits:
In Stephen King's novel Misery, Annie Wilkes poisons a cat named Peter Gunn.
After the two-season run on NBC and the single season on ABC, Edwards made numerous attempts to revive the character in other media. A novel and a comic book were released in 1960.
A feature film, Gunn, was made in 1967, and ABC carried a pilot in 1989 with Peter Strauss in the lead role, but they failed to catch on.
There are various vinyl releases of the music and the Lp's range from $10-50, depending on which copy you have.
4. Peter Gunn - Henry Mancini
The P.I. wouldn't have been nearly as hip if his every move wasn't accompanied by music from Mancini. The theme music has been covered by everyone from Duane Eddy and Jimi Hendrix to Aerosmith, Pulp and The Cramps. Even Quincy Jones has recorded a version of it—and when Jones covers a song, you know it's cool.
Peter Gunn was an American private eye TV show that aired on the NBC and later ABC television networks from 1958 to 1961. The title character (played by Craig Stevens) was a private investigator and a sophisticated "hipster" who loved cool jazz; Peter Gunn was portrayed as the epitome of "cool".
The show's use of jazz, at a time when most TV shows used orchestra for the soundtrack, was another unique touch that set a trend for many years to come.
The main theme from Peter Gunn became an instant hit for Mancini, earning him an Emmy Award and two Grammys and which has since been covered by numerous jazz, blues, and rock artists.
interesting tidbits:
In Stephen King's novel Misery, Annie Wilkes poisons a cat named Peter Gunn.
After the two-season run on NBC and the single season on ABC, Edwards made numerous attempts to revive the character in other media. A novel and a comic book were released in 1960.
A feature film, Gunn, was made in 1967, and ABC carried a pilot in 1989 with Peter Strauss in the lead role, but they failed to catch on.
There are various vinyl releases of the music and the Lp's range from $10-50, depending on which copy you have.
Album Cover Art
Let's continue our look at the Gigwise.com list of the top 50 dirtiest and sexiest album covers (as compiled by their staff- Gigwise comments in quotes):
28. Herbie Mann: ‘Push Push’ – "From a heterosexual male perspective, it’s hard to see what could possibly be rousing about Herbie Mann’s 1971 record with Duane Allman. Flouting his thick curly chest hair and ominously holding his flute as if it’s some kind of sex toy, to us at least, it’s stomach-churningly cheesy. Mr Mann seems to be pleased with himself. The dirty bugger."
Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), better known as Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flautist and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played saxophones and clarinets (including bass clarinet), but Mann was among the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute and was perhaps jazz music's preeminent flautist during the 1960s.
Mann was an early pioneer in the fusing of jazz and world music. He incorporated elements of African music in 1959 following a State Department sponsored tour of the continent, adding a conga player to his band, and the same year recorded Flautista, an album of Afro-Cuban jazz. In 1961 Mann took a tour of Brazil and returned to the United States to record with Brazilian players including Antonio Carlos Jobim and guitarist Baden Powell. These albums helped popularize the bossa nova. Many of his albums throughout his career returned to Brazilian themes. He went on to record reggae in London (in 1974), Middle Eastern (1966 and 1967) (with oud and dumbek), and Eastern European styles.
28. Herbie Mann: ‘Push Push’ – "From a heterosexual male perspective, it’s hard to see what could possibly be rousing about Herbie Mann’s 1971 record with Duane Allman. Flouting his thick curly chest hair and ominously holding his flute as if it’s some kind of sex toy, to us at least, it’s stomach-churningly cheesy. Mr Mann seems to be pleased with himself. The dirty bugger."
Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), better known as Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flautist and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played saxophones and clarinets (including bass clarinet), but Mann was among the first jazz musicians to specialize on the flute and was perhaps jazz music's preeminent flautist during the 1960s.
Mann was an early pioneer in the fusing of jazz and world music. He incorporated elements of African music in 1959 following a State Department sponsored tour of the continent, adding a conga player to his band, and the same year recorded Flautista, an album of Afro-Cuban jazz. In 1961 Mann took a tour of Brazil and returned to the United States to record with Brazilian players including Antonio Carlos Jobim and guitarist Baden Powell. These albums helped popularize the bossa nova. Many of his albums throughout his career returned to Brazilian themes. He went on to record reggae in London (in 1974), Middle Eastern (1966 and 1967) (with oud and dumbek), and Eastern European styles.
This Date In Music History-November 25
Birthdays:
Percy Sledge ("When A Man Loves A Woman") turns 67.
Folk/rocker Bob Lind, who went to #5 with "Elusive Butterfly" in 1966, was born in 1944.
Christian pop singer Amy Grant was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1960.
They Are Missed:
Dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (inspiration for the song "Mr. Bojangles") died in 1949.
Jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler was discovered drowned in the Hudson River in 1970. His death at age 34 soon becomes the stuff of legend, with some speculating he committed suicide, while others claim he was tied to a jukebox.
In 1974, 26 year-old Nick Drake, an English singer, songwriter and musician best known for his acoustic tunes, died from an overdose of amitriptyline, a type of anti-depressant. Although he failed to find a wide audience during his lifetime, Drake's work has grown steadily in stature, to the extent that he is now widely considered one of the most influential English singer-songwriters of the last 50 years.
History:
Miles Davis made his first recordings as part of Charlie Parker's band in 1945.
John Lennon returned his MBE to the queen. The attached note reads, "Your Majesty, I am returning this MBE in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam, and against 'Cold Turkey' slipping down the charts. With love, John Lennon of Bag."
The Band's final concert in 1976, called The Last Waltz, was given at San Francisco's Winterland. It included appearances by Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Ringo Starr, Emmylou Harris, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Hawkins and Neil Diamond.
The Beatles' "White Album" was released in 1968.
In London in 1965, Harrod's department store stayed open for two hours so the Beatles could do their Christmas shopping.
In 1966, Jimi Hendrix was introduced to the British press when the Experience play London's Bag O'Nails club.
"Incense and Peppermints" by The Strawberry Alarm Clock hit the top of the Billboard Pop chart in 1967. The recording was initially intended as a 'b-side' and the lead vocal is actually that of a friend of the band, 16 year old Greg Munford, who was just hanging around during the session. Munford was not even a regular band member, but ended up singing a tune that would become a Rock and Roll standard and sell over a million copies. Despite this success, Munford never actually joined the group and drummer Randy Seol sang the song in concert (the single didn't chart at all in the UK).
In 1968, over 10,000 fans saw Cream play their final two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London. During the shows, the crowd chanted "God save the Cream."
In 1986, for the first time in Billboard chart history, the top three spots were occupied by female artists. #1 is Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors", #2 is Tina Turner with "Typical Male" and #3 is Janet Jackson's "When I Think Of You".
The Beatles' album simply titled "1", a collection of their UK and US chart toppers, reached number one in Great Britain in 2000. It will top the US chart a week later and will become the best selling album in a total of 28 countries worldwide.
Percy Sledge ("When A Man Loves A Woman") turns 67.
Folk/rocker Bob Lind, who went to #5 with "Elusive Butterfly" in 1966, was born in 1944.
Christian pop singer Amy Grant was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1960.
They Are Missed:
Dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson (inspiration for the song "Mr. Bojangles") died in 1949.
Jazz saxophonist Albert Ayler was discovered drowned in the Hudson River in 1970. His death at age 34 soon becomes the stuff of legend, with some speculating he committed suicide, while others claim he was tied to a jukebox.
In 1974, 26 year-old Nick Drake, an English singer, songwriter and musician best known for his acoustic tunes, died from an overdose of amitriptyline, a type of anti-depressant. Although he failed to find a wide audience during his lifetime, Drake's work has grown steadily in stature, to the extent that he is now widely considered one of the most influential English singer-songwriters of the last 50 years.
History:
Miles Davis made his first recordings as part of Charlie Parker's band in 1945.
John Lennon returned his MBE to the queen. The attached note reads, "Your Majesty, I am returning this MBE in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam, and against 'Cold Turkey' slipping down the charts. With love, John Lennon of Bag."
The Band's final concert in 1976, called The Last Waltz, was given at San Francisco's Winterland. It included appearances by Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Ringo Starr, Emmylou Harris, Muddy Waters, Ronnie Hawkins and Neil Diamond.
The Beatles' "White Album" was released in 1968.
In London in 1965, Harrod's department store stayed open for two hours so the Beatles could do their Christmas shopping.
In 1966, Jimi Hendrix was introduced to the British press when the Experience play London's Bag O'Nails club.
"Incense and Peppermints" by The Strawberry Alarm Clock hit the top of the Billboard Pop chart in 1967. The recording was initially intended as a 'b-side' and the lead vocal is actually that of a friend of the band, 16 year old Greg Munford, who was just hanging around during the session. Munford was not even a regular band member, but ended up singing a tune that would become a Rock and Roll standard and sell over a million copies. Despite this success, Munford never actually joined the group and drummer Randy Seol sang the song in concert (the single didn't chart at all in the UK).
In 1968, over 10,000 fans saw Cream play their final two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London. During the shows, the crowd chanted "God save the Cream."
In 1986, for the first time in Billboard chart history, the top three spots were occupied by female artists. #1 is Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors", #2 is Tina Turner with "Typical Male" and #3 is Janet Jackson's "When I Think Of You".
The Beatles' album simply titled "1", a collection of their UK and US chart toppers, reached number one in Great Britain in 2000. It will top the US chart a week later and will become the best selling album in a total of 28 countries worldwide.
I have posted many stories about independent record shops (mainly ones that are still open) but this story really hit home. It is up to us, the vinyl record consumers, to visit our local record shops and spend our money there. Otherwise we have the closings of historic audio meeting places. I found this online (http://www.greeleytribune.com) and thought I would share it:
Bye, bye to The Finest records
“I went down to the sacred store,
Where I’d heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn’t play.”
Don McLean - American Pie
It’s an unfortunate sign of the times.
The closing of The Finest records in Greeley is like the demise of the drive-in or the closing of the last soda fountain. It signals the end of an era.
Consumers, it seems, are no longer buying their music at retail stores. Most are downloading their favorite songs directly onto their computers, and either burning their own discs or putting it directly into their iPods.
The Finest owner Jim Risser bravely withstood the technology boom longer than many others. Since 2003, 3,100 music retailers have closed across the United States. Of those, 1,400 were independent retailers like The Finest.
Risser tried to change with the times. He sold vintage vinyl records for the collectors. He set up a kiosk where patrons could download music. He sold novelty items and trimmed his budget.
Still, it wasn’t enough. And so as soon as Risser can liquidate his inventory, he will close his doors at his Hillside store, 2529 11th Ave.
It will be a blue day in Greeley when The Finest shuts its doors. Risser has spent 32 years with the store, first as a customer, then as a clerk, manager and eventually store owner. He will keep his Fort Collins store open through at least August, when his lease is up for renewal. Then he’ll decide whether to keep the store or close it like its sister store in Greeley.
This has been a difficult year for many Greeley businesses large and small. K-Mart, Dillards, The Bread Board, The Red Roaster and Hallmark have joined The Finest in closing their doors.
These closings should serve as a reminder to us all, especially this holiday shopping season, that we must support our local businesses. Not only is it good for the stores, it’s good for our local economy, keeping those sales tax dollars in Greeley rather than leaving them in nearby municipalities such as Loveland and Denver.
We wish Risser, and others who have been forced to close their doors, the best of luck in their future endeavors. They will be missed.
Like drive-ins and soda fountains, a few small record stores may remain for novelty sake. But in the end, most won’t survive the iPod generation. And for that, we are nostalgic, and even a bit sad.
“Bye, bye Miss American pie ...”
Bye, bye to The Finest records
“I went down to the sacred store,
Where I’d heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn’t play.”
Don McLean - American Pie
It’s an unfortunate sign of the times.
The closing of The Finest records in Greeley is like the demise of the drive-in or the closing of the last soda fountain. It signals the end of an era.
Consumers, it seems, are no longer buying their music at retail stores. Most are downloading their favorite songs directly onto their computers, and either burning their own discs or putting it directly into their iPods.
The Finest owner Jim Risser bravely withstood the technology boom longer than many others. Since 2003, 3,100 music retailers have closed across the United States. Of those, 1,400 were independent retailers like The Finest.
Risser tried to change with the times. He sold vintage vinyl records for the collectors. He set up a kiosk where patrons could download music. He sold novelty items and trimmed his budget.
Still, it wasn’t enough. And so as soon as Risser can liquidate his inventory, he will close his doors at his Hillside store, 2529 11th Ave.
It will be a blue day in Greeley when The Finest shuts its doors. Risser has spent 32 years with the store, first as a customer, then as a clerk, manager and eventually store owner. He will keep his Fort Collins store open through at least August, when his lease is up for renewal. Then he’ll decide whether to keep the store or close it like its sister store in Greeley.
This has been a difficult year for many Greeley businesses large and small. K-Mart, Dillards, The Bread Board, The Red Roaster and Hallmark have joined The Finest in closing their doors.
These closings should serve as a reminder to us all, especially this holiday shopping season, that we must support our local businesses. Not only is it good for the stores, it’s good for our local economy, keeping those sales tax dollars in Greeley rather than leaving them in nearby municipalities such as Loveland and Denver.
We wish Risser, and others who have been forced to close their doors, the best of luck in their future endeavors. They will be missed.
Like drive-ins and soda fountains, a few small record stores may remain for novelty sake. But in the end, most won’t survive the iPod generation. And for that, we are nostalgic, and even a bit sad.
“Bye, bye Miss American pie ...”
Monday, November 24, 2008
Top 5 eBay Vinyl Record Sales
Week Ending 11/22/2008
1) 45 rpm - Don Drummond "Bellvue Special" / "No More" Caribou - $3,000.00 Start: $9.99 Bids: 13
2) LP - The Beatles "Please Please Me" Parlophone UK Stereo - $2,963.20 Start: $148.00 Bids: 18
3) 12" - Led Zeppelin "Road Box" - $2,296.48 Start: $74.00 Bids: 31
4) LP - Joki Freund Sextett " Yogi Jazz" CBS Germany - $2,080.55 - Start: $1,000.00 Bids: 6
5) 45 rpm - Innersouls "Just Take Your Time" / "Thoughts" Plemmons - $2.075.00 Start: $29.00 Bids: 19
A Ska 45 out of Jamacia tops the list this week. Ska originator Don Drummond's rarest 45 sells for exactly $3k. In the #2 spot, The Beatles appear again this week, and again its with an original Please Please Me LP. This one, a stereo edition, sells for over $2.9k.
And here's another recent visitor to the Top 5. A Led Zeppelin "Road Box" bids up past $2.2k.
Jazz saxophonist Joki Freund's "Yogi Jazz" LP goes to almost $2.1k for the #4 spot.
Last, a 70's funk 45 from Innersouls sells for over $2k.
As always, I want to thank Brian at http://ccdiscoveries.blogspot.com, for this great data. Stop by Counter Clock radio and hear some forgotten oldies!
1) 45 rpm - Don Drummond "Bellvue Special" / "No More" Caribou - $3,000.00 Start: $9.99 Bids: 13
2) LP - The Beatles "Please Please Me" Parlophone UK Stereo - $2,963.20 Start: $148.00 Bids: 18
3) 12" - Led Zeppelin "Road Box" - $2,296.48 Start: $74.00 Bids: 31
4) LP - Joki Freund Sextett " Yogi Jazz" CBS Germany - $2,080.55 - Start: $1,000.00 Bids: 6
5) 45 rpm - Innersouls "Just Take Your Time" / "Thoughts" Plemmons - $2.075.00 Start: $29.00 Bids: 19
A Ska 45 out of Jamacia tops the list this week. Ska originator Don Drummond's rarest 45 sells for exactly $3k. In the #2 spot, The Beatles appear again this week, and again its with an original Please Please Me LP. This one, a stereo edition, sells for over $2.9k.
And here's another recent visitor to the Top 5. A Led Zeppelin "Road Box" bids up past $2.2k.
Jazz saxophonist Joki Freund's "Yogi Jazz" LP goes to almost $2.1k for the #4 spot.
Last, a 70's funk 45 from Innersouls sells for over $2k.
As always, I want to thank Brian at http://ccdiscoveries.blogspot.com, for this great data. Stop by Counter Clock radio and hear some forgotten oldies!
Music News & Notes
Vatican Likes Beatles-Forgives Lennon
The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano wrote in its Saturday edition that the Beatles music is better than today's "standardized, stereotypical" sounds. The comment was in reference to the 40th anniversary of the group's White Album.
They also wrote off John Lennon's comment that the group was more popular than Jesus, calling it the bragging of a young man in the middle of unusual success. Sure wait until almost 30 years after his death, it may have meant something if he was still alive. The papal jury's still mum about forgiving Yoko.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whip It!
Devo is working on their first album of new material since 1990's Smooth Noodle Maps.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old Onions
Booker T. Jones is also assembling his first solo album in twenty years with the help of the Drive-By Truckers and Neil Young.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ye- Haw!
Ricky Skaggs went into the studio recently with the Raconteurs and Ashley Monroe to record a new version of the groups song Old Enough. It will premier on music.yahoo.com on December 2.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Order is to Go
Tito Jackson has evidently quit Taco Bell (yes, David Letterman reference) and is moving to England where he plans on starting a solo career at the age of 55. His last recording was 1989's 2300 Jackson Street.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
No Doubt Plans Reunion Tour, Album
So much for Gwen Stefani's crummy career as a solo artist: She's getting back together with No Doubt to record a new album.
The band made the announcement through a pseudo online chat box posted on its website this weekend. Although no details were given, No Doubt indicated it'd return to the road to fire up some inspiration before it heads into the studio to work on a new album.
No Doubt hasn't recorded an album since 2001's Rock Steady.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freebie From Bruce!
Bruce Springsteen's new single can be downloaded free of charge — for one day.
Springsteen is offering free downloads of "Working on a Dream" on iTunes and his official Web site. The track will have a fee attached on iTunes from Tuesday through December 9.
It's the first offering from Springsteen's upcoming album, also titled "Working on a Dream," which will be released January 27, five days before the rock star and the E Street Band perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in Tampa, Florida.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unhappy Togther
The people who own the rights to the Turtles' Happy Together are suing Ford over the use of the song in commercials for the Brazil and Argentina market. They are seeking $200,000 in damages.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
60's Relived Again
Marianne Faithfull has released a new song, a very different take on the Smokey Robinson classic Ooh Baby, Baby. With the title shortened to OO Baby and help from Antony Hegerty, the single moves from subdued R&B to a rocked out ending over a long eight minutes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not Too Old To Rock & Roll
AC/DC have appeared for the first time on Billboard's Dance Music chart as "Rock N Roll Train" premiered at number 48.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Divorce for Madonna/Ritchie
Madonna and Guy Richie were granted a preliminary divorce today in a London court. Neither attended the hearing. A final divorce decree can be made in six weeks and one day.
The papers showed that Madonna had filed for the divorce, citing Ritchie's "unreasonable behavior" and that no family law need be applied as they had worked out division of assets and custody. I guess Madonna wasn't cited for "unreasonable behavior," as she has always been a saint.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annie Lennox to Release Postponed Collection
Annie Lennox will release a 14-song solo career retrospective on February 10 via Arista. The Annie Lennox Collection collects twelve older recording from over the artist's 15 year solo career along with two new tracks. The album was originally scheduled for August 6 but was postponed when, two weeks later, Lennox had spinal surgery.
Over those years, Lennox has recorded four albums (Diva, Medium, Bare and Songs of Mass Destruction) which have earned her four Grammys and, along with her work with Dave Stewart in the Eurythmics, has made her the most successful female British artist of the last fifty years with sales of 78 million albums.
"It seems like the time has come to release the Collection this year," Lennox says of her first best-of set. "I'm very proud of these songs. They are timeless and have become 'classics' in their own right."
Of the new songs, Pattern of My Life was written by Tom Chaplin of Keene and Shining Light was recorded by Ash in 2001.
Lennox will receive a special award of merit at this Sunday's American Music Awards and will perform live for the first time since her spinal surgery.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Converge Writing New Album
Converge is getting ready to destroy your ears once more.
The hardcore act revealed it started writing tunes for the follow-up to No Heroes (review) (Epitaph), and hopes to place the still-untitled album into stores next year from Epitaph. No further details about the set were given.
The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano wrote in its Saturday edition that the Beatles music is better than today's "standardized, stereotypical" sounds. The comment was in reference to the 40th anniversary of the group's White Album.
They also wrote off John Lennon's comment that the group was more popular than Jesus, calling it the bragging of a young man in the middle of unusual success. Sure wait until almost 30 years after his death, it may have meant something if he was still alive. The papal jury's still mum about forgiving Yoko.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whip It!
Devo is working on their first album of new material since 1990's Smooth Noodle Maps.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old Onions
Booker T. Jones is also assembling his first solo album in twenty years with the help of the Drive-By Truckers and Neil Young.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ye- Haw!
Ricky Skaggs went into the studio recently with the Raconteurs and Ashley Monroe to record a new version of the groups song Old Enough. It will premier on music.yahoo.com on December 2.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Order is to Go
Tito Jackson has evidently quit Taco Bell (yes, David Letterman reference) and is moving to England where he plans on starting a solo career at the age of 55. His last recording was 1989's 2300 Jackson Street.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
No Doubt Plans Reunion Tour, Album
So much for Gwen Stefani's crummy career as a solo artist: She's getting back together with No Doubt to record a new album.
The band made the announcement through a pseudo online chat box posted on its website this weekend. Although no details were given, No Doubt indicated it'd return to the road to fire up some inspiration before it heads into the studio to work on a new album.
No Doubt hasn't recorded an album since 2001's Rock Steady.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freebie From Bruce!
Bruce Springsteen's new single can be downloaded free of charge — for one day.
Springsteen is offering free downloads of "Working on a Dream" on iTunes and his official Web site. The track will have a fee attached on iTunes from Tuesday through December 9.
It's the first offering from Springsteen's upcoming album, also titled "Working on a Dream," which will be released January 27, five days before the rock star and the E Street Band perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in Tampa, Florida.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unhappy Togther
The people who own the rights to the Turtles' Happy Together are suing Ford over the use of the song in commercials for the Brazil and Argentina market. They are seeking $200,000 in damages.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
60's Relived Again
Marianne Faithfull has released a new song, a very different take on the Smokey Robinson classic Ooh Baby, Baby. With the title shortened to OO Baby and help from Antony Hegerty, the single moves from subdued R&B to a rocked out ending over a long eight minutes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not Too Old To Rock & Roll
AC/DC have appeared for the first time on Billboard's Dance Music chart as "Rock N Roll Train" premiered at number 48.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Divorce for Madonna/Ritchie
Madonna and Guy Richie were granted a preliminary divorce today in a London court. Neither attended the hearing. A final divorce decree can be made in six weeks and one day.
The papers showed that Madonna had filed for the divorce, citing Ritchie's "unreasonable behavior" and that no family law need be applied as they had worked out division of assets and custody. I guess Madonna wasn't cited for "unreasonable behavior," as she has always been a saint.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annie Lennox to Release Postponed Collection
Annie Lennox will release a 14-song solo career retrospective on February 10 via Arista. The Annie Lennox Collection collects twelve older recording from over the artist's 15 year solo career along with two new tracks. The album was originally scheduled for August 6 but was postponed when, two weeks later, Lennox had spinal surgery.
Over those years, Lennox has recorded four albums (Diva, Medium, Bare and Songs of Mass Destruction) which have earned her four Grammys and, along with her work with Dave Stewart in the Eurythmics, has made her the most successful female British artist of the last fifty years with sales of 78 million albums.
"It seems like the time has come to release the Collection this year," Lennox says of her first best-of set. "I'm very proud of these songs. They are timeless and have become 'classics' in their own right."
Of the new songs, Pattern of My Life was written by Tom Chaplin of Keene and Shining Light was recorded by Ash in 2001.
Lennox will receive a special award of merit at this Sunday's American Music Awards and will perform live for the first time since her spinal surgery.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Converge Writing New Album
Converge is getting ready to destroy your ears once more.
The hardcore act revealed it started writing tunes for the follow-up to No Heroes (review) (Epitaph), and hopes to place the still-untitled album into stores next year from Epitaph. No further details about the set were given.
Top Ten TV Theme Songs
Let's continue our look at Paste Magazine's list of the Top TV Songs, this time #5 on their list:
5. All in the Family - "Those Were the Days" by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse
Few intros are as simple or as memorable as Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton at the spinnet piano live in front of a studio audience every week. This was the first song I (and many others) learned on the piano, as it used only the black keys. But only now have I learned that the closing lyrics are "Gee, our old LaSalle ran great." Or that a LaSalle was a GM automobile that went out of production in 1940.
All in the Family is an American situation comedy that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971 to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, the show was revamped, and given a new title, Archie Bunker's Place. This version of the sitcom lasted another four years, ending its run in 1983.
Produced by Norman Lear and based on the British television series Till Death Us Do Part, the show broke ground in its depiction of issues previously considered unsuitable for U.S. network television comedy, such as racism, homosexuality, women's liberation, rape, miscarriage, breast cancer, menopause and impotence.
In a warning to viewers, CBS ran a disclaimer before airing the first episode (which disappeared from the screen with the sound of a toilet flushing):
"The program you are about to see is All in the Family. It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns. By making them a source of laughter we hope to show, in a mature fashion, just how absurd they are."
All in the Family was notorious for featuring language and epithets previously absent from television, such as "fag" for homosexual, "hebe" for Jews, "spic" for Hispanics, "mick" for Irish, "dago" and "wop" for Italians, "chink" for Chinese, "Jap" for Japanese, "gook" for southeast Asian, "spade" for blacks, and phrases such as "God damn it." It was also famous for being the first major television show to feature the sound of a flushing toilet; it became a running gag on the show.
The show ranked #1 in the yearly Nielsen ratings from 1971 to 1976. As of 2008, The Cosby Show has been the only other show to top the ratings for at least five consecutive seasons. The series finale brought in 40.2 million viewers. TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time ranked All in the Family as #4. Bravo also named the show's protagonist, Archie Bunker, TV's greatest character of all time.
interesting tidbits:
Archie and Edith's chairs are now in the Smithsonian Institution.[17] Originally purchased by the show's set designer for a few dollars at a local Goodwill thrift store, the originals were given to the Smithsonian (for an exhibit on American television history) in 1978. It cost producers thousands of dollars to create replicas to replace the originals.
Part of the Bunker kitchen set was used more than 25 years after the show's debut for another CBS sitcom, "Everybody Loves Raymond".
Popular T-shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers showing O'Connor's image and farcically promoting "Archie Bunker for President" appeared around the time of the 1972 presidential election. A number of voters were said to have voted for the fictional TV character as a write-in candidate.
I still love the show, it ranks in my top ten of all time. Everybody, black, white, mixed- whatever- has some of Archie Bunker in them (although some would never admit it).
Vinyl of the show goes for around $10-20 for an LP
5. All in the Family - "Those Were the Days" by Lee Adams and Charles Strouse
Few intros are as simple or as memorable as Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton at the spinnet piano live in front of a studio audience every week. This was the first song I (and many others) learned on the piano, as it used only the black keys. But only now have I learned that the closing lyrics are "Gee, our old LaSalle ran great." Or that a LaSalle was a GM automobile that went out of production in 1940.
All in the Family is an American situation comedy that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971 to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, the show was revamped, and given a new title, Archie Bunker's Place. This version of the sitcom lasted another four years, ending its run in 1983.
Produced by Norman Lear and based on the British television series Till Death Us Do Part, the show broke ground in its depiction of issues previously considered unsuitable for U.S. network television comedy, such as racism, homosexuality, women's liberation, rape, miscarriage, breast cancer, menopause and impotence.
In a warning to viewers, CBS ran a disclaimer before airing the first episode (which disappeared from the screen with the sound of a toilet flushing):
"The program you are about to see is All in the Family. It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns. By making them a source of laughter we hope to show, in a mature fashion, just how absurd they are."
All in the Family was notorious for featuring language and epithets previously absent from television, such as "fag" for homosexual, "hebe" for Jews, "spic" for Hispanics, "mick" for Irish, "dago" and "wop" for Italians, "chink" for Chinese, "Jap" for Japanese, "gook" for southeast Asian, "spade" for blacks, and phrases such as "God damn it." It was also famous for being the first major television show to feature the sound of a flushing toilet; it became a running gag on the show.
The show ranked #1 in the yearly Nielsen ratings from 1971 to 1976. As of 2008, The Cosby Show has been the only other show to top the ratings for at least five consecutive seasons. The series finale brought in 40.2 million viewers. TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time ranked All in the Family as #4. Bravo also named the show's protagonist, Archie Bunker, TV's greatest character of all time.
interesting tidbits:
Archie and Edith's chairs are now in the Smithsonian Institution.[17] Originally purchased by the show's set designer for a few dollars at a local Goodwill thrift store, the originals were given to the Smithsonian (for an exhibit on American television history) in 1978. It cost producers thousands of dollars to create replicas to replace the originals.
Part of the Bunker kitchen set was used more than 25 years after the show's debut for another CBS sitcom, "Everybody Loves Raymond".
Popular T-shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers showing O'Connor's image and farcically promoting "Archie Bunker for President" appeared around the time of the 1972 presidential election. A number of voters were said to have voted for the fictional TV character as a write-in candidate.
I still love the show, it ranks in my top ten of all time. Everybody, black, white, mixed- whatever- has some of Archie Bunker in them (although some would never admit it).
Vinyl of the show goes for around $10-20 for an LP
Album Cover Art
Let's continue our look at the Gigwise.com list of the top 50 dirtiest and sexiest album covers (as compiled by their staff- Gigwise comments in quotes):
29. Catherine Wheel: ‘Adam & Eve’ - "With their 1997 album, Great Yarmouth’s Catherine Wheel transferred art into reality when they took the naked models of the cover art and welcomed them on stage during their live shows to promote the record. The type of people you often find in the Green Fields of Glastonbury, then."
This from Rolling Stone:
Catherine Wheel began, in the early '90s, as a moody, distortion-heavy "shoe gazer" band, but the English group's attention and ambition have since shifted to the stars. With its fourth LP, Adam and Eve, it eschews the guitar-heavy haze of previous efforts for appealing melodies and a sense of drama and musical sweep rarely found in '90s guitar rock. "Here Comes the Fat Controller" offers a beautiful melody filtered through a fuzz-toned fog; "Delicious" adds textured guitars and psychedelic sounds to power-pop energy; and "Future Boy" conveys naked emotion on a scale so grand that it would make Billy Corgan proud. Steering clear of art-rock excess, on Adam and Eve, Catherine Wheel deliver beautifully embellished pop with a sonic scope rarely seen since Pink Floyd's prime. (RS 771) ROBERT LEVINE
29. Catherine Wheel: ‘Adam & Eve’ - "With their 1997 album, Great Yarmouth’s Catherine Wheel transferred art into reality when they took the naked models of the cover art and welcomed them on stage during their live shows to promote the record. The type of people you often find in the Green Fields of Glastonbury, then."
This from Rolling Stone:
Catherine Wheel began, in the early '90s, as a moody, distortion-heavy "shoe gazer" band, but the English group's attention and ambition have since shifted to the stars. With its fourth LP, Adam and Eve, it eschews the guitar-heavy haze of previous efforts for appealing melodies and a sense of drama and musical sweep rarely found in '90s guitar rock. "Here Comes the Fat Controller" offers a beautiful melody filtered through a fuzz-toned fog; "Delicious" adds textured guitars and psychedelic sounds to power-pop energy; and "Future Boy" conveys naked emotion on a scale so grand that it would make Billy Corgan proud. Steering clear of art-rock excess, on Adam and Eve, Catherine Wheel deliver beautifully embellished pop with a sonic scope rarely seen since Pink Floyd's prime. (RS 771) ROBERT LEVINE
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Top Ten TV Theme Songs
Let's continue our look at Paste Magazine's list of the Top TV Songs, this time #6 on their list:
6. The Jeffersons - "Movin' On Up" by Ja'net Du Boise
How's this for the inter-connectedness of Hollywood? Du Boise played Willona Woods on Good Times. Janet Jackson was also on Good Times. Justin Timberlake caused a little wardrobe malfunction with Janet Jackson during Super Bowl XXXVIII. Fellow Mousketeer alum Keri Russell starred in Mission:Impossible III. The original Mission:Impossible TV show aired on CBS alongside All in the Family. The Jeffersons was an All in the Family spin-off. OK, so that was pretty random, but you can't argue against the greatness of "Movin' On Up."
Lyrics
Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Beans don't burn on the grill.
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in teh big leagues
Gettin' our turn at bat.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
There ain't nothin wrong with that.
Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons, and a total of 253 episodes produced by T.AT. Communications Company from 1975-1982 and Embassy Television from 1982-1985. It is the longest running comedy (or series of any genre) with a predominantly Black cast in the history of American television.
The show focused on George and Louise Jefferson, an upper middle-class Black couple. The show was launched as the second spin-off of All in the Family, on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker.
Nielsen Ratings
1974-1975 #3
1975-1976 #21
1976-1977 #24
1979-1980 #8
1980-1981 #6
1981-1982 #3
1982-1983 #12
1983-1984 #19
interesting tidbits:
The Jeffersons was a spinoff of All in the Family in which the Bunkers' black next-door neighbors moved to a "deluxe apartment in the sky." This gospel-tinged song described their progression "on up."
The Jeffersons featured TV's first mixed-married couple, a white husband and a black wife. It had its own short-lived spinoff, Checking In.
This is commonly played at sporting events when a team which has previously been doing poorly makes a startling comeback and hence moves back "up" to its previous status.
6. The Jeffersons - "Movin' On Up" by Ja'net Du Boise
How's this for the inter-connectedness of Hollywood? Du Boise played Willona Woods on Good Times. Janet Jackson was also on Good Times. Justin Timberlake caused a little wardrobe malfunction with Janet Jackson during Super Bowl XXXVIII. Fellow Mousketeer alum Keri Russell starred in Mission:Impossible III. The original Mission:Impossible TV show aired on CBS alongside All in the Family. The Jeffersons was an All in the Family spin-off. OK, so that was pretty random, but you can't argue against the greatness of "Movin' On Up."
Lyrics
Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
Fish don't fry in the kitchen;
Beans don't burn on the grill.
Took a whole lotta tryin'
Just to get up that hill.
Now we're up in teh big leagues
Gettin' our turn at bat.
As long as we live, it's you and me baby
There ain't nothin wrong with that.
Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons, and a total of 253 episodes produced by T.AT. Communications Company from 1975-1982 and Embassy Television from 1982-1985. It is the longest running comedy (or series of any genre) with a predominantly Black cast in the history of American television.
The show focused on George and Louise Jefferson, an upper middle-class Black couple. The show was launched as the second spin-off of All in the Family, on which the Jeffersons had been the neighbors of Archie and Edith Bunker.
Nielsen Ratings
1974-1975 #3
1975-1976 #21
1976-1977 #24
1979-1980 #8
1980-1981 #6
1981-1982 #3
1982-1983 #12
1983-1984 #19
interesting tidbits:
The Jeffersons was a spinoff of All in the Family in which the Bunkers' black next-door neighbors moved to a "deluxe apartment in the sky." This gospel-tinged song described their progression "on up."
The Jeffersons featured TV's first mixed-married couple, a white husband and a black wife. It had its own short-lived spinoff, Checking In.
This is commonly played at sporting events when a team which has previously been doing poorly makes a startling comeback and hence moves back "up" to its previous status.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
