OK, back to the 60's: This '64 Dylan "gorgeous vignette" was released on "Another Side Of Bob Dylan" and rarely performed live by him. He claimed to have had "no idea" what it was about but, according to Paul Williams, it was a profile of a Gypsy girl (hint, hint!) Dylan was involved with at the time. The song was a staple of the pre-fame Byrds' repertoire at Ciro's in West Hollywood and was included in their '65 debut album "Mr. Tambourine Man". Covered by Dion in '78.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwCgdHvLg5w

Yesterday's answer: "Brand New Key" by Melanie Safka. Who can forget Heather Graham as Roller Girl in "Boogie Nights" - "I NEVER take my roller skates off!". Interesting how divergent Freud's, Adler's and Jung's interpretations of "lock and key" in dreams are! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIFknAdVvNM

"Brand New Key" by Melanie Safka.

OK, back to the 70's: This Queens native wrote her biggest hit in 15 minutes after coming off a "cleansing" fast and stopping at a McDonald's for a burger. A "novelty" pop tune, it topped the charts in '71-'72, selling over 3 million copies worldwide. Also known as "The Rollerskate Song". Banned by some radio stations because of alleged sexual innuendo and Freudian references. Featured in "Boogie Nights" in '97. Artist? Song? (Definition of "innuendo": an Italian suppository {yo!})

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIFknAdVvNM

Yesterday's answer: "Blue Skies". The "bluebird of happiness" theme has been used extensively in song, poetry and film in the US, Europe and among Native Americans. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSCplj40uuY.

"Blue Skies"

OK, back to the 20's: This pop 1926 pop classic was written by Irving Berlin for the Rodgers & Hart musical "Betsy". Belle Baker drew 24 (!) encores for the song on opening night. First recorded by Ben Selvin and His Orchestra with Charles Kaley on vocals as "The Knickerbockers" in '27, topping the Pop charts. One of the 9 songs by Al Jolson featured in the 1st "talkie", "The Jazz Singer". Count Basie and Benny Goodman charted with it in '46. My favorite version happens to be Willie Nelson's from "Stardust" in '78 which topped the Country charts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSCplj40uuY

Yesterday's answer: "Falling Slowly". From Jeff Bluml: "Glen is also a standout in the movie "The Commitments." We blended their version of Al Green's Take Me To The River with The Talking Heads and Al's. We actually give credit to Al Green's Committed Talking Head." Me: Agree 100% - beautiful tune and the movie is not to be missed!
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DCoSL_qayMCc&h=97e00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoRQAEem2oI

"Falling Slowly"

OK, back to the 00's: This Grammy-nominated ballad was written and performed by Glen Hansard on guitar and Marketa Irglova on piano backed by Hansard's band The Frames. Written for the '07 indie film "Once", in which they star. They play it in a music store in Dublin on the film. It won the Oscar for Best Original Song. #2 Ireland, #61 US. Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox did a killer rendition on Season 9 of Idol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoSL_qayMCc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoRQAEem2oI

Yesterday's answer: "These Boots Are Made For Walkin' " by Nancy Sinatra. "THE boots" still exist and have been made into lamps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRkovnss7sg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPtfsk4ETjM
Originally Hazlewood meant the song to be done either by himself or another male - can you imagine?!

"These Boots Are Made For Walkin' " by Nancy Sinatra.

OK, more 60's: This Lee Hazlewood composition topped both the US and UK Pop charts in '66. Hazlewood told the artist to sing it "as if (she) were a 16 year-old girl giving the brush-off to a 40 year-old man". The Wrecking Crew provided the instrumental backup. The famous trademark "falling" bass line comes from Carol Kaye on electric bass and Chuck Berghofer on double bass playing off each other. The song introduced the Fembots in the first Austin Powers movie (yeah, Baby, yeah!). Jessica Simpson's version peaked at #14 in '05. Song? Artist?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRkovnss7sg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPtfsk4ETjM

Yesterday's answer: "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler. "Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?/ Where's the street-wise Hercules to fight the rising odds?" is popularly considered a nostalgic yearning for the unreachable or for what is gone. Ubi sunt (literally "where are...") is a phrase taken from the Latin Ubi sunt qui ante nos fuerunt?, meaning "Where are those who were before us?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f_HsjpSVaI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0liLXrCovc

"Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler.

OK, more big-hair 80's: This Jim Steinman/Dean Pitchford composition was 1st recorded by Bonnie Tyler in '84 for the "Footloose" soundtrack. It peaked at #34 US and #2 UK. The classic opening couplet is a modern example of the nostalgic literary ubi sunt motif. Also part of the "Shrek 2" and "Short Circuit 2" soundtracks. Masterfully covered by Joss Stone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f_HsjpSVaI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0liLXrCovc

Yesterday's answer: "Hold On, I'm Comin' " by Sam and Dave. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9iiO-EVb-A My dear friend and lead guitarist in our H.S. band, Arturo Marchand, used to do a very respectable rendition of the trumpet work on his Fender Mustang run through a big bad Super Reverb.

"Hold On, I'm Comin' " by Sam and Dave.

OK, back to the 60's: This '66 Sam and Dave classic on the Stax label topped the Hot Black Singles chart and peaked at #21 on Billboard's Hot 100. David "Dave" Porter and Isaac Hayes were at the Stax studios, where an intricate electronic arrangement had been fashioned between the main console and the men's room (!) to create echo and reverb. The composing just wasn't going as planned. Dave was taking a little longer in the men's room than Isaac thought was necessary so he yelled at him, "Hurry up!". Dave's answer inspired the song! Backup tracks by Booker T. And The MG's and the Mar-Key Horns. The Blues Brothers were patterned after Sam and Dave and this song plays on an 8-Track in the Bluesmobile during the movie's 1st chase scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9iiO-EVb-A



Yesterday's answer: " 'Til" by The Angels. Beautiful tune. I particularly like The Vogues' version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yf8TpILBCc