Sunday, 23 August 2015

More Beatles Playlist and dialogue from my radio shows.

Kingsburyman is also Daddy Cool   Remembering The Beatles.
 
On this Blog, I am celebrating 1968. The Beatles had returned from India at the beginning of spring, disillusioned by the Maharishi and his hanger-on's. While there, though, they worked on a lot of tunes which became the fertile material for the album released late in  1968 as a double album, nowadays  referred to as "The White Album" ; Although back in 1968, it had no title except the words "The Beatles"  simply embossed on the cover.  The very first pressings, certainly in Britain, were actually individually numbered in sequence. Those early numbered albums are highly collectible now.
First on the Playlist is Glass Onion from the white album.
 
 
SONGS
 Glass Onion 2:18 The Beatles
Fixing A Hole 2:37 The Beatles
 
Glass onion was followed by Fixing a hole; originally on Sgt. Pepper's album but also used in their Yellow Submarine animated movie.
 
Coming up is Instant Karma from John Lennon & the Plastic Ono Band, followed by Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, and another hit from 1968 -- Judy In Disguise by  John Fred and his Playboy Band. At  the time, Lucy in the Sky was supposed to be a veiled reference to the drug LSD. The Beatles vehemently denied it back then, claiming that people were reading too much into a co-incidence. Now, they readily admit it was very much their LSD imbibing phase. John Fred's song was clearly meant as an homage to the Beatles tune, he even makes the phrase "Judy in Disguise" sound like "Judy in the Sky". Including a lot of other psychedelic imagery in the lyrics.
  
SONGS
Instant Karma 3:24 John Lennon & Yoko Ono   2
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 3:29 The Beatles Rock Sgt. Pepper's
Judy In Disguise 2:59 John Fred  Hits Of 1968 
 

Still featuring  Beatles material from the White album are songs featuring girl names in their titles. Dear Prudence, Martha My Dear, Sexy Sadie and Julia. That last one Julia, is by John written to his Mother Julia Lennon, who, when his father died while John was only 5, Julia Lennon left him with his aunt Mimi who raised him. Julia died young herself when John was only 17. A lot has been made of the possibility that the song is also for Yoko Ono who John referred to as "Mother".
 
SONGS
 
Dear Prudence 3:56 The Beatles Rock
Martha My Dear 2:29 The Beatles Rock
Sexy Sadie 3:15 The Beatles 
Julia 2:57 The Beatles Rock The Beatles (White Album) [Disc 1] 1
 
In England, films were first released in an area know as the "West End " of London, where there were a lot of cinemas. Sometimes after weeks or months of playing in the West End, the films got released to suburban theatres. Being young and trying to keep up with what's the latest hits, my friends and I often went to the West End we did not want to wait for the suburban release.  In 1966, we had gone to see, I think, James Coburn in Our Man Flint. I was walking In Leicester Square to get to the tube to go home, when I spotted a Rolls Royce outside a theatre. I was walking passed it thinking "Nice, wonder whose it is?" when a young couple came running out of the cinema -- I was now between them & the Roll's open door, The young Man crashed into me, knocking me over. He stopped, helped pick me up and asked "You all right, Mate?" I was and gave a dumb-struck nod to Paul McCartney and Jane Asher. "You sure?" -- I was. They smiled, jumped into the Rolls and sped off.
 
Here is a tune Paul was working on in early 1966: Paperback writer.
 
SONGS
Paperback Writer 2:20 The Beatles (1966)
You Won't See Me 3:20 Beatles Revolver
Taxman 2:39 The Beatles Rock Revolver 
 
After Paperback writer we heard You won't see me from Rubber Soul and Taxman, which was from the Revolver album. Taxman is sung by John, but was written by George Harrison who had just discovered how high their Tax rate was -- 95% hence the line where the Taxman says "There's one for you, nineteen for me". The high level of taxation on their creativity was also a spur to setting up Apple Corp to have more ownership& control of their productivity.  
 Now two songs from Ringo & John's solo careers. First is Ringo's cover of the Platter's 1950 hit Only You. Done as a smooth ballad not in the Do-wop style. Love by John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band phase. Also a haunting slow love song.
 
SONGS 
Only You (And You Alone) 3:24 Ringo Starr
Love 3:23 John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band

A trio of memorable tunes from their early days : First a couple of covers sandwiched around  one of their most popular love songs.
Arthur Alexander's Anna (Go To Him). The only singer-songwriter of this era who was covered by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. Then the Beatles' All My Lovin', and followed by Larry William's Dizzy Miss Lizzie from their Hamburg days, but also in the movie Help!
  
SONGS
Anna (Go to Him) 2:57 The Beatles 
 All My Lovin'  2:05 The Beatles
Dizzy Miss Lizzy 2:57 The Beatles  

 Here are the Beatles with 2 rarely heard songs from the White album, Good Night and Long, Long, Long, but before them is the fun song from Sgt. Pepper : Good Morning, Good Morning. I hope you are listening to this on your stereo radio or Tuner because the Beatles and George Martin had a lot of fun with the sound effects and the Stereo separation. The fox hunters on horses run from one speaker to the other as do the barking dogs!!  This was a very popular song in 1967  for the Summer of Love stoners to experience via headphones. Cool, Man!
 
SONGS
 Good Morning Good Morning 2:41 The Beatles
Good Night 3:14 The Beatles
Long, Long, Long 3:06 The Beatles
 
More songs from Beatles For Sale & Revolver, and a smattering of other faves , but starting with
 Good Day Sunshine which is from Revolver
 
SONG 
Good Day Sunshine 2:09 The Beatles 

As an opening to their more well known songs we are also presenting a couple of early tunes -- Besame Mucho (approximates to Kiss me a lot in Spanish,).
It was a 1940's hit which indicates the wide background of tunes the early Beatles played to keep the drunken masses happy in the bars in Hamburg. This is their take on the tune done for their  audition for a contract with Decca Records.
That's Alright, Mama, a blues song from Arthur Big Boy Crudup, which was also Elvis Presley's first release done for Sun Records. It was not a hit. 
 The Beatle's recording is from the POP Goes the Beatles BBC radio show in 1963.
Then a Demo of a John Lennon song Continuing story of Bungalow Bill.
 
 
SONGS
Besame Mucho [Artist-Test] 2:37 The Beatles
That's All Right (Mama) [Live: BBC For "Pop Go The Beatles" 16th July, 1963] 2:56 The Beatles
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill [Home-Demo] 2:33 The Beatles 
 
While in India, the  Beatles wrote a bunch of songs. On their return they set about making Demos of them at George Harrison's house.
The demo heard here, was recorded on George’s four track Ampex tape machine and features The Beatles playing acoustic guitars, along with some banging on furniture, handclaps, etc., for percussion. Accompanying John’s lead vocal, we hear a second vocal track with John speaking to Bungalow Bill and some rudimentary jungle animal noises in the background.
 Playing this now in the Summer of 2015 is exceedingly apropos. There is all the world wide  attention on the killing of Cecil the Lion in Africa; John wrote this about an incident in India when one of the people with the Beatles left for a break and went hunting; He came back with his trophy shot.
You can find quite a lot on the Internet if you wish to dig deeper. Here I'd rather press on with a great tune from George:  Awaiting on You, from his solo album, All Things Must Pass; plus a solo hit for Ringo -- Back Off Boogaloo, and the weird but catchy, Maxwell's Silver Hammer.
 
 SONGS
Awaiting on You All 2:49 George Harrison  All Things Must Pass
Back Off Boogaloo 3:20 Ringo Starr 
 Maxwell' Silver Hammer 3:30 The Beatles 
 
Now 3 perennial Beatles favourites and sing along tunes. Everybody knows these.  All My Lovin' ; All You Need Is Love and , If I Fell in Love.
 
 SONGS
 All My Lovin' 2:05 The Beatles 
All You Need Is Love 3:47 The Beatles 
If I Fell in Love 2:24 The Beatles  
 
If I fell was John's first attempt at a Ballad and he said the precursor to In My Life. If I fell was for Hard Day's Night movie. In my life was on Rubber Soul.
 
Now Can't Buy Me Love the big hit from March 1964. It was still  number 1 in the week of April 4 1964 when the Beatles had all 5 places in Billboard's Hot 100, with a further seven singles in the charts. Then follows Girl and Run For your Life from Rubber Soul and Got to Get You into my Life from Revolver.

SONGS
Can't Buy Me Love 2:13 The Beatles
Girl 2:32 The Beatles 
Run for Your Life 2:21 The Beatles
Got to Get You into My Life 2:29 The Beatles 
 
 The back ground material for this Blog comes from two books -- Ian MacDonald's' Revolution of the Mind and Beatlesongs by William J. Dowlding plus Wiki of course.
 
 
PLAYLIST SONGS
 Glass Onion 2:18 The Beatles
Fixing A Hole 2:37 The Beatles
Instant Karma 3:24 John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 3:29 The Beatles Rock Sgt. Pepper's
Judy In Disguise 2:59 John Fred  Hits Of 1968 
 
Dear Prudence 3:56 The Beatles Rock
Martha My Dear 2:29 The Beatles Rock
Sexy Sadie 3:15 The Beatles 
Julia 2:57 The Beatles Rock The Beatles (White Album)
 Paperback Writer 2:20 The Beatles (1966)
You Won't See Me 3:20 Beatles Revolver
Taxman 2:39 The Beatles Rock Revolver
 
 All My Lovin' 2:05 The Beatles 
All You Need Is Love 3:47 The Beatles 
If I Fell in Love 2:24 The Beatles 
 
Can't Buy Me Love 2:13 The Beatles
Girl 2:32 The Beatles Rock
Run for Your Life 2:21 The Beatles
Got to Get You into My Life 2:29 The Beatles 

Sunday, 2 August 2015

Sir Peter O'Sullevan - Obituary from The Independent. with due acknowledgement.

Peter O'Sullevan was one of my father's favourite racing commentators and writers. Dad poured over O'Sullevan's column in the Daily Express  religiously looking for Tips !!
We watched his BBC broadcasts together often. Dad was not a book lover, but he had Peter 's books & autobiography on his bedside table always.
Similarly, Dad always favoured Lester Piggott's mount. A truly great rider who needs to be rehabilitated in the public canon. He was railroaded. I love the Queen's comment on the case.

Sir Peter O'Sullevan's voice provided the soundtrack to horse racing for more than six decades. (My emphasis.) His commentaries, whether at the Grand National, the Derby, or during wet afternoons at the gaff tracks, had a distinct air of hard-earned authority as he called home the greats such as Arkle, Red Rum, Desert Orchid, Sea Bird, Nijinsky, Dancing Brave. He became a legend himself and led an extraordinary life, both on the Turf and beyond.

Another broadsheet writer remarked that the voice had a mellifluous beauty, and mused: "The sound of Sir Peter calling the horses should be one of our exports into outer space to signify the depth of our civilisation." That last bit gets somewhat carried away, something that O'Sullevan himself would never do, at least not on air. His style – perhaps best once characterised as a "hectic drawl" – remained grounded, focused on the specifics of the action.

When working on BBC radio or TV broadcasts (51 years), or writing for the Daily Express for 35 years (a time of that paper's heyday), O'Sullevan never showed a trace of conceit, was invariably frank, had friends from all walks of life (the Etonian, horse-breeding high Tory Jakie Astor called him "Peter O'Socialist"), and built a formidable array of contacts to help inform followers of his Express copy and tips, and his own wagers.
{ Sir Lester Piggott, considered the greatest English jockey of the post war generation was found guilty of tax evasion, he was stripped of his peerage and sent to prison. Peter O'Sullevan was a great supported of Lester. My parenthetical observation.}

While sitting next to the Queen at Windsor sometime later, O'Sullevan decided to express his feelings on the matter. Recounting the occasion to a Daily Telegraph interviewer in 2014, he said: "So I thought this was an opportune moment, and launched into my Lester spiel to Her Majesty, who put down her knife and fork, and looked at me quite seriously for a moment.
"She put down her knife and fork, as I say, and said: 'I Iike the way you put it, but he was rather naughty, you know. He was not only rather naughty, but he was very stupid, because he paid it [his tax bill] on a bank that hadn't come up in the case, and hadn't been investigated.' "

{The Queen is a horse lover, too, and loves the Races. She is also, obviously, well informed of the country's peccadillos!}

Horses, though, were the first priority. Knowledge of racing was proven in a trial following a job interview with the Press Association's Fleet Street racing department, where he began working in October 1944. He started working for the BBC in 1946, with his first Grand National radio commentary in 1947.
In 1950 he joined the Express, and a year later married Canadian-born Pat.
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Sir Peter O'Sullevan, broadcaster and journalist: born Kenmare, Co Kerry 3 March 1918; Kt 1997; married Patricia Jones (died 2009); died 29 July 2015.
 
 

   
 

Friday, 24 July 2015

Annoying phone calls cont'd

I wrote the following two years ago : -

I am sure that there are many other people/households who are being taunted by annoying phone calls. What I would like to know, is how can a company get away with using # s such as 000 000 0000? And more annoyingly, today 613-704-0070 called me, of course it was a scam and I was not willing to listen all the way through -- yet, I could not hang up the phone, nor disconnect from that number. I pressed Off. Then, talk again, and the female voice was still rabbiting on !! Three  attempts to disconnect did not work.

How can they get away with this?
I have blocked the number now... but it still disturbs me that the phone company permits some business to have a number that is a permanent link.

OK,WHY is this still happening. We have an election coming up; Let's all remember to quiz the politician begging for our attention to pay attention to our needs. How come companies carrying out fraudulent practices get non-functioning telephone numbers. Let us make this illegal and fine the phone company along with the perpetrators.

(yes, yes, there are lots of other things for the politicians to address too. I have not forgotten.)

Miksworld Play list -- Oldies

Welcome, I am Michael Lavalette and this is When  The Lights Come On Again.

 SONGS
You Are My Sunshine 2:36 Bing Crosby

That was Bing Crosby's version of You Are my Sunshine. A hit from 1939 that has become one of the State Songs of Louisiana because it was a hit for country singer Jimmie Davis who also served as Governor of that State ,twice. This wonderful song has been covered by many others in different genres.
Another beautiful song that has been a hit for many others is Love Letters In the Sand. Here is Pat Boone's 1957 hit. Then a Satisfied Mind by Porter Wagoner followed by Moonglow by Morris Stoloff.

SONGS
Love Letters in the Sand 2:14 Pat Boone 
A Satisfied Mind 2:43 Porter Wagoner
Moonglow & Theme from 'Picnic' 2:51 Morris Stoloff & His Orchestra
This version of Moonglow is actually a medley of the older hit with the Love theme from the 1955 movie Picnic. It was a pop hit too for Morris Stoloff & the Columbia Pictures Orchestra.

 Now, Jo Stafford with another of her hits from this era -- Make Love to Me, followed by Shine on Harvest Moon by Vera Lynn, The UK forces favourite, and Patsy Cline with He Called me Baby.

 SONGS
Make Love to Me 2:42 Jo Stafford
Shine On Harvest Moon 3:32 Vera Lynn 
He Called Me Baby 2:39 Patsy Cline

That Patsy Cline song was re-done as an RnB hit in 1969 for Ella Washington. I love both versions.

 One of my mother's favourites songs was Amapola.  Yet again, I remember trying to get this song  for her in the record store at the height of the Rock and Roll and Beatlemania to no avail. Now, I found it easily on the internet from home !
Amapola  is by Helen O'Connell & Bob Eberly they  were featured vocalists with Jimmy Dorsey at one time.  Helen O'Connell was described as the darling of the G.I.s in WWII.
And the fabulous Half As Much by the Great Hank Williams. Then, You Always Hurt the One you Love by the Mills Brothers, another perennial hit.

SONGS
Amapola 3:26 Helen O'Connell & Bob Eberly
Half As Much 2:45 Hank Williams 
You Always Hurt the One You Love 3:25 The Mills Brothers
Coming up are 2 country songs and one from the American Standard songbook.
Keep a Knockin' But You Can't Come In by Bob Willis & The Texas Playboys. Very much in the Western Swing tradition. However, a similar song was also a rock n roll hit for Little Richard & others covered it too. While they sound similar, I found nothing linking them on many music web pages. Maybe I should write a book about this song!
 Deep In The Heart Of Texas, a rousing version by Bill Schallen and Skeets Herfut.
followed by a swinging Mr. Sinatra doing You Make Me Feel So Young.
.
SONGS
Keep a Knockin' But You Can't Come In 2:34 Bob Willis & The Texas Playboys
Deep In The Heart Of Texas 2:42 Bill Schallen & Skeets Herfurt with Alvino Rey Orch.
You Make Me Feel So Young 2:58 Frank Sinatra

A tune from the 1930's, Fascination , here a 1957 version from Nat King Cole. Then I'll Walk Alone, a No.1 hit for Dinah Shore in 1944.  This obviously resonated with an audience affected by the separation of the war. However, it remains popular into the Sixties as both country and Pop genres recorded it.
After, Stormy Weather by the lovely Lena Horne, and the vivacious Rosemary Clooney and the unique Come-on-a my-house.

SONGS
Fascination 2:29 Nat "King" Cole 
I'll Walk Alone 2:46 Dinah Shore 
Stormy Weather 3:24 Lena Horne 
Come On-a My House 1:58 Rosemary Clooney

That was Rosemary Clooney a big star and aunt to George Clooney who went on to have many more hits in the 1950's.

Coming up is one-hit wonder, Harold Dorman with Mountain of Love. Harold had not other hits but this song was covered successfully by others in the Sixties.  A classic do-wop tune from the early 50's. Earth Angel by the Penguins. As a youth in London reading the music papers, the Letters' Pages were filled with people's opinions on the first "true rock & Roll" hit. This was one contender.
Finally tonight, the ever mellow Platters with Twilight Time.

 SONGS
Mountain Of Love 2:25 Harold Dorman
Earth Angel 2:58 Penguins
Twilight Time 2:48 The Platters
 
You have been listening to When the Lights Come On Again with Michael Lavalette on 97.5CIOE-FM. Obviously, you can connect with me by tuning in, or alternatively, go to our web page at 97.5Communityradio.ca  the show streams Live on Mondays at 9pm Atlantic Summer Time.
 
If you had tuned in on July 15th, this is the show you would have heard.

 

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

Playlist for Miksworld


 
I host a show on  CIOE-FM  called  The Beatles Remembered.
 
Here is a recent Beatles Remembered  playlist:
it focussed on the epitome of Sixties Beatle culture -- Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields Forever.
This 45 was a double A sided single in most of the world, save for America. Penny Lane was the big hit.
 
SONGS
Penny Lane 3:01 The Beatles 
Strawberry Fields Forever [Take 26] 3:25 The Beatles 

That is the hit version of Penny Lane with  Strawberry Fields Forever. (Take 26) not the version on the 45RPM disc.
Much was made of the fact that this Beatles single never made Number 1 in Britain. It stopped at No.2 in the charts.
Is Beatlemania finished the newspapers wondered.
The single was released in February 1967.
By February 1968 the Beatles were in India with the Marharashi and I was in North London teaching economics 3 days a week & regularly walking along Abbey Road to get to the school. I was still doing that in June & July when they were back at Abbey road studios working on "The Beatles" LP.
 
June 68, Paul was working on Blackbird. If only I had stopped & looked into the parking lot. I'm sad
I missed so many opportunities to see him then, but I was fortunate to meet him another time .
Here is Blackbird from The Beatles LP.
 
 
SONGS
Blackbird 3:24 The Beatles
From Me To You 1:58 The Beatles
From Us To You (BBC Radio) 0:33 The Beatles 
 
 
We are back with The Beatles Remembered.
After Blackbird, we heard their early hit "From Me To You"  followed by a twist on the same tune called 'From Us to You', done on their radio show in 1963.
 
A lot is made of the craziness of the period  dubbed as Beatlemania, but in the UK there was an immense awakening of  youthful energy in clubs with groups not simply copying Beatles material, but more significantly, covering the US groups that spurred their original popularity.
 
Here are 3 songs the Beatles themselves covered. Shout, an Isley Brothers original, recorded on  a TV show, later a hit for Lulu; 
I just don't understand a top 10 hit for Ann-Margaret, here the Beatles  do it on their BBC radio show;  Then Chains done originally by the Cookies. A girl  group.
 
SONGS
Shout! - From "Around The Beatles" TV Special [Redifusion-TV] 2:05
I Just Don't Understand (Live at the BBC For "Pop Go The Beatles" 20th August, 1963) 2:48
Chains 2:25 The Beatles 

 
Here are 3 Beatles tunes ranging from the early days to the later days --
A Taste of Honey, Things We Said Today and Maxwell's Silver Hammer.
 
SONGS
A Taste of Honey 2:03 The Beatles 
Things we said Today 2:38 The Beatles
Maxwell's  Silver Hammer 3:30 The Beatles
   
The first serious pop album from a Beatle as a solo artist was McCartney's self titled release in early 1970.  However, I have chosen  Another Day for the Playlist,  which wasn't released till 1971 but Paul had in fact recorded it before his first solo LP.  
Then follows songs from the others solo material , George Harrison's huge hit,  My Sweet Lord;   Ringo Starr's Photograph and Mind Games from John Lennon.
 
SONGS
Another Day 3:45 Paul McCartney
My Sweet Lord 4:41 George Harrison
Photograph 3:58 Ringo Starr
Mind Games 4:16 John Lennon   

 
In early '63, when their popularity  in Britain & Europe was erupting-- Brian Epstein wanted them to write songs for others in his stable.  Here is the Demo for How Do You Do It, a big hit for Gerry & the Pacemakers. The Beatles demo wasn't officially released till the 1990's. Do You Want to Know a Secret, from their first LP; It was a UK No.1 hit for Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas. 
The Beatles version  was never a single in Britain, but was released as a single in the US after their Ed Sullivan show exposure & made the top 40 there.
Finally two classics, Norwegian Wood, from Revolver LP that shows their development with the use of Indian instruments,  ending this playlist with the Long & winding road.
 
 
SONGS
How Do You Do It [Artist-Test] 1:58 The Beatles 
Do You Want to Know a Secret 1:57 The Beatles
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Take 1) 2:02 The Beatles
The Long And Winding Road 3:38 The Beatles 
  
 Enjoy!
 

 

 

 

Wednesday, 8 July 2015

July 10

As the phrase goes -- "people of a certain age", normally code for aging Baby Boomers, -- you eagerly went to the record store {Huh, what's that?} on Friday in England to listen and possibly, buy, the latest music release.
However, 50  years ago, the Beatles & Rolling Stones berated the industry that released their material on different days around the world, sometimes with different covers. (Great for dedicated memorabilia collectors now,  but not then, because it just added to confusion of what you were purchasing.)
That was one reason they started their own labels, not simply to get a larger share of the pie; there was a definite creativity link.
In Canada, for years, we have been getting new music -- and videos, of course for this Century, on Tuesday.
Well, it all changes on July 10th. Not only has the World's many countries talked to each other, whoa, they even agreed on something.
All digital material will have the same release date around the world -- Friday.
Beginning with this Friday, July 10th.
Ok, Apple, how about some freebies to emphasize this fact-- & not 3 months free streaming for an otherwise expensive streaming music "radio" to compete with the other worldwide ones.

Come on Mick, how about a free copy of Beggar's Banquet that Decca wouldn't let you use, or Paul & Ringo -- the Beatles For Sale free with the gross bloody dolls cover. Just a thought..

Tuesday, 30 June 2015

movies about music

I feel fortunate to have seen some great movies or documentaries about music and musicians lately. (Well, within the last 10 months.)
 I would like to recommend them to you, especially if you want to learn what drives particular artists; and where some of the new stuff is coming from.

First -- the Jersey Boys, about the rise of the Four Seasons in the sixties. An unusual American group that  survived  the Beatles invasion of North America. They had hits, some number 1s, before and AFTER the so-called English invasion. They also toured successfully through out those years. That is very unusual, many of the pre-Beatles American groups could no longer get bookings anymore. It is also interesting because in an industry known for its corruption and back biting, Frankie Valli and Bob Crewe never had anything more than a  handshake to bind them. In the film they somewhat jokingly call it a 'Jersey Contract'. [Of course, in Britain, that is known as a Gentleman's Agreement and is legally binding.] It has a wonderful soundtrack from mine, and many other's youth.

Get On Up. Is a dramatic presentation of the life of James Brown. Again, a huge star with so many interesting social  and cultural touchstones. See it !

Of course, there is also the Mr. Dynamite/James Brown documentary from HBO that is closer to the true story of James Brown, with interviews with the Rolling Stones. Mick Jagger was the producer behind this project. Clearly shows how Jagger developed his idiosyncratic moves after James Brown, especially when the two groups met at the taping of the seminal T.A.M.I. show in 1965. That show was long talked about. I remember reading about it in the sixties; But it was not till much later -- Eighties I  think, that a good tape of the show surfaced and was released. Now it regularly features on PBS fund raising weeks !!

The two part Eagles documentary on HBO is a fascinating look at a group that are a classic example of Too Much, Too Soon. Immature Southern Californian types who felt they knew how the world worked... or should work... and why isn't the world listening to me. I am taking my ball and I'm out of here !
They fought internally a lot; Partied a little too much to their own detriment. In some fashion, though, they re-invented themselves, cleaning up their back story; depending on which current or past group member one listens to, or whose autobiography one reads. It is definitely worth watching for the music.

Sonic Highways, also on HBO, is a documentary following Dave Grohl as he and the Foo Fighters record their last album at different recording studios around America and looks into what made each studio famous. A terrific documentary  and the Foo Fighters have not been any better than this. Highly recommended.

Last and no means least is Muscle Shoals a documentary on the Documentary Channel (what a co-incidence!) about the Alabama town of the same name that contained Rick Hall's  FAME recording studio.  So many fabulous songs came from there. It is also a story about the meanness and pettiness that permeated the business back in the sixties and seventies. It is also a story about friendship and how talent will out. Good to see great musicians, the Swampers, decide that world wide touring was not for them. They loved their little town of 8,000 people where their family lived and preferred that lifestyle.  They produced great music, and instead, the world -- well known artists, singers and bands, came to them; readily and happily. Watch it.