2024 Movie Scratches: Dune-- Lisa-- Bad-- Marley

Movies I saw at the theater.

13.  DUNE--2-12--  Fox Lake--  $5--  Very confusing sci-fi movie, but I hadn't seen this when it came out and now part 2 is coming.

14.  LISA FRANKENSTEIN--  2-20--  Fox Lake--  $5--  A love story of a different sort.  A misfit girl falls for a dead beau from the 1800s and Bobbetized a guy.

15.  LAND OF BAD--  2-20--  Fox Lake--  $5--  All the action and high yech you could ever want.  Lots of folks got killed.

16.  BOB MARLEY:  ONE LOVE--  2-27--  Woodstock--  $6--  Great story, and of course, all that great reggae music.

--RoadMovie

Music Deaths in 2022: Allison, Foxx, John, Zeb and Till

I take these from the Hope I Die Before I Get Old site.

**  JERRY ALLISON, 82

Died 22 August.  Drummer with Buddy Holly and the Cricketts.  Want to talk about a Rock and Roll Pioneer!!

**  INEZZ FOXX, 84

Died 25 August.  Singer, worked in pop / soul duo with her brother Charlie Foxx.

*********************************

**  MABLE JOHN, 91

Died 25 August.  Vocalist (blues / gospel).  Worked with Ray Charles.

**  DRUMMIE ZEB, 62 

Died 2 September.  Drummer / vocalist with reggae band Aswad.

*********************************

**  JOHN TILL, 76

Died 4 September.  Guitarist and member of Janis Joplin's band.

Music Deaths: Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Reggae

LEE "SCRATCH" PERRY, 85

Died 29 August 2021

Producer / vocalist / songwriter / reggae. 

Noted for innovative studio techniques and production style.

Worked with Bob Marley & the Wailers, Beastie Boys and the Clash.

"People Funny Boy"

"Run for Cover"

"You Funny Boy"

Music Deaths: Brian Travers of UB40

BRIAN TRAVERS, 62

Died 22 August 2021

Saxophonist / lyricist with reggae/pop band UB40.

Co-founder of the band.  

UB40 has had 39 UK Top 40 singles and 28 Top 40 UK albums and have sold 100 million albums worldwide.  Took name from the British Unemployment Benefit Form 40.

Had big U.S. hits with 

"Red Red Wine"  (#1-1988)

"The Way You Do the Things You Do"  (#6-1990)

"Here I Am (Come and Take Me)"  (#7-1991)

"Can't Help Falling in Love"  (#1-1993)

They are in my Ultimate Jukebox, of course.

Music Deaths: Bunny Wailer, Reggae Superstar

BUNNY WAILER, 73

Died 2 March 2021

Reggae vocalist, percussionist.  Original member of the Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

Considered one of the standard bearers of Reggae.  He is also known as Jah B, Bunny O'Riley and Bunny Livingston.

Big Hits:

Rock and Groove

Blackheart Man

Dance Rock

Cool Runnings

Yah Mon.

Music Deaths: Johnny Nash. 'I Can See Clearly Now'

JOHNNY NASH, 80

Died 6 October 2020

Traditional and reggae singer.  Had hit in 1972 with "I Can See Clearly Now."

Born in Houston, but one of the first non-Jamaican artists to record reggae in Kingston.

Had some minor hits in 50s and 60s, but two huge hits.

"I Can See Clearly Now" (#1-1972)

"Stir It Up"  (#12-1973)

To show you how much I knew about music at one time, Mt dad had gotten two tickets from work to  a Johnny Cash/Sonny James show in Chicago.  At the time, I thought he said Johnny Nash.  At the show, however, Johnny Cash signed my Sonny James album after making a comment.

Music Deaths: Toots Hibbert, Reggae

TOOTS HIBBERT, 77

Died 11 September 2020

Singer and guitar player with reggae band Toots & the Maytals.  Jamaican who performed for six decades and helped establish some of the fundamentals of reggae music.  Multi instrumentalist. 

First big hit was "Funky Kingston."  Also did "Pressure Drop."

Also appeared on Jimmy Cliff's groundbreaking Jamaican film "The Harder They Come."

Maytals is a reference to the Rastafari term "Do the Right Thing."

Lin Brehmer's Shelter In Place Playlist

WXRT's Lin Brehmer  has come up with a list of songs to tide you over and lift your spirit with this "V" Thing.

He sure did a good job in his selections:

1.   BETTER THINGS--  Kinks

2.  THREE LITTLE BIRDS--  Bob Marley

3.  SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW/ WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD--  Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

4.  COUNT ON ME--  The Lone Bellow

5.  GET TOGETHER--  Youngbloods

6.  LET THE DAY BEGIN--  The Call

7.  HEROES--  David Bowie

8.  THIS IS THE DAY--   The The

9.  DEAR ABBY--  John Prine

10.  GOLDEN SLUMBERS MEDLEY--   Beatles

And, even better, you can go to the WXRT site and to this list where every one of these songs can be played.

And, remember, in just a little bit, WXRT, 93.1 FM begins its Saturday Morning Flashback to 1983.  It's three hours from 9 to noon of music from 1981 BC.  (Before You-Know-What).  It streams.

Job Well Done, Lin.  --RoadDog

Laughter Helps With the "V"  (To the tune of "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover."):

"Don't Visit Your Gran, Jan.
Wipe Down Every Toy, Roy.
Don't Hoard All the Food, Dude.
Please Buy Sensibly."

WLS Top 40 for January 12, 1970-- Part 5: "Hey There Lonely Girl"

20.  WONDERFUL WORLD, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE--  Jimmy Cliff   #25     I didn't know it back then, but this was my first taste of reggae music.  The shape the world is in.

19.  EVIL WOMAN--  Crow    #19     Their biggest hit.   Minneapolis, Minnesota rockers.  Mighty fine garage rock...and those horns.  Get your head to bopping like Wayne's World.  Whole name "Evil Woman Don't Play Your Games With Me."

18.  BLOWING AWAY--  Fifth Dimension     #21    Not one of their better-known songs, but all 5D.  And, I sure don't get tired of looking at those two female singers.

17.  HEY THERE LONELY GIRL--  Eddie Holman       #2     You wouldn't expect that voice to come off that man.  Born in Norfolk, Virginia.

16.  WINTER WORLD OF LOVE--  Englebert Humperdinck      #16    Great sideburns there, Engle.    What a voice.

Name That Tune (From the above songs):  "I See The Look Of Evil In Your Eyes.  You've Been Filling Me All Full Of Lies."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Evil Woman"

WLS Top 40 for July 7, 1969-- Part 7: "In the Year 2525"

The Top Ten, fifty years ago in Chicago.

10.  BABY, I LOVE YOU--  Andy Kim    #9
9.  ISREALITES--  Desmond Dekker & the Aces   #9
8.  LOVE THEME FROM ROMEO & JULIET--  Henry Mancini   #1

7.  RUBY, DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN--  Kenny Rogers / First Edition    #6
6.  COLOR HIM FATHER--  Winstons       #7
5.  ONE--   Three Dog Night     #5
4.  IN THE YEAR 2525--  Zager & Evans     #1

3.  GOOD MORNING STARSHINE--  Oliver      #3
2.  SPINNING WHEEL--  Blood, Sweat & Tears   #2
1.  CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION--  Tommy James & the Shondells   #2

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Look Over Yonder, What Do You See."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Crystal Blue Persuasion"

WLS Top Ten for June 23, 1969: "Good Morning Starshine"

That's right, FIFTY years ago.  Half a Century!!

1.  ONE--  Three Dog Night
2.  LOVE THEME FROM ROMEO & JULIET--  Henry Mansini
3.  GOOD MORNING STARSHINE--  Oliver

4.  LET ME--  Paul Revere / Raiders
5.  ISRAELITES--  Desmond Dekker & the Aces
6.  MEDICINE MAN--  Buchanan Brothers
7.  BAD MOON RISING--  Creedence Clearwater Revival

8.  TOO BUSY THINKING ABOUT MY BABY--  Marvin Gaye
9.  SPINNING WHEEL--  Blood, Sweat & Tears
10.  LOVE ME TONIGHT--  Tom Jones

*****************

DEBUTS

29.  IN THE YEAR 2525--  Zager &Evans
30.  MT CHERIE AMOUR-  Stevie Wonder

33.  QUENTINS THEME--  Charles Randolph Greane Sound
35.  PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART--  Jackie DeShannon

36.  DAYS OF SAND & SHOVELS--  Bobby Vinton
39.  MOTHER POPCORN--  James Brown

40.  HUSHABYE--  Jay & the Americans

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "No Is The Saddest Experience You'll Ever Know."   Answer below.  --RoadDog


"One"

WLS Top 40 for January 13, 1969-- Part 1: "Abraham, Martin & John"

The Top 40 Songs in Chicago on January 13, 1969.

(D) is for debut.  The number behind the artist is the highest the song got on the Billboard Top 100.

40.  OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-DA--  Arthur Conley      #51   (D)  A reggae take on this Beatles song  Somebody says the lead guitarist on it was Duane Allman.  His last Top 100.  Discovered by Otis Redding in 1965.

39.  FEELIN' SO GOOD--  Archies    #53   (S.K.O.O.B.Y.-D.O.O.)    (D)  I guess this is not the TV cartoon dog.  Studio group formed by Don Kirshner.

38.  ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN--   Dion      #4   His last  top 40.   "I just looked around and he's gone."  Brings back some memories of 1968.  At this point the song was falling out of the survey.

37.  LOVE CHILD--  Diana Ross / Supremes     #1  That great Motown sound tied to a social issue.

36.  BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP--  Foundations       #3   (D)   Gets the folks up dancing at Captain's Quarters in Antioch, Illinois.    Also, a great Beach Music song.   Their biggest hit.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "And Then Worst Of All (Worst Of All) You Never Call, Baby."

Answer Below.  --RoadDog



"Build Me Up Buttercup"

Dead Folks Earning Big Bucks

Can you guess the top-earning dead people?

Yesterday, the Chicago Tribune printed a list of the Dead Celebrities who are earning the most money. Elvis Presley has reclaimed his Number 1 ranking according to Forbes.com's list of top-earning dead celebrities. Get this, old Elvis earned $49 million even 30 years after he died.

This is due to music royalties, DVDs. licensing deals, and tourism at Graceland.

The Top 13

1. Elvis Presley-- $49 M
2. John Lennon-- $44 M
3. Charles Schulz-- $35 M-- Peanuts
4. George Harrison-- $22 M
5. Albert Einstein-- $18 M-- now, I'm not sure how he gets to this level
6. Andy Warhol-- $15 M
7. Theordore Geisel-- $13 M-- Dr. Seuss, you know
8. Tupac Shakur-- $9 M-- rapper
9. Marilyn Monroe-- $7 M
10. Steve McQueen-- $6 M
11. James Brown-- $5
12. Bob Marley-- $4
13. James Dean-- $3.5 M


And then there's me, way, way, way, way, way down the list.

 Well, Every Day Above Ground is a Good Day. --RoadDog

Internet Radio, Webcasts Threatened with Extinction!!!!

I'm sitting right here at the old 'put, bloggin' and listenin' to 'Fessa John Hook doing the Beach Music Top 40 Countdown on his Endless Summer Network. Sadly, come this time next month, I may not have that opportunity. Same goes with the Surf and Billy Smith down in North Myrtle Beach, SC. It all goes dark July 15th if the Copyright Royalty Board has its way and skyrockets the price of playing music over the net to the point that they will all go off the air. And I'm not just talking about Beach Music, I'm talking about ALL radio over the internet.

This would be a shame. And not just for the listeners, but also for many performers and groups who depend on this as a way to get their music out. The big radio station conglomerates have set playlists prepared by research companies. You just can't crack through to them.

Plus, people like me, who like a niche genre, like Beach Music, or zydeco, or Cajun, or reggae, depend on these stations as a way to get our "fix". You're not going to hear it on the big stations.

In case you're wondering, the stations and webcasters do pay royalties to the artists, just not what they'll have to pay under the new arrangement, if it goes through.

However, internet radio is not going down without a fight. They are asking us to contact our US senators and representatives and ask them to cosponsor the Radio Equality Act, S 1363 in the Senate, and HR 2060 in the House of Representatives.

You can go to www.netradio.org to get all the information you need, including the telephone numbers of you senators and representattive, and what to say.

Don't Let Them Take Away Our Music. --RoadDog