The Story Behind 'Michelle' by the Beatles

From the Jan. 31, 2021, American Profile "Stories behind the songs" by Jim Farber.

"MICHELLE"

WRITERS:  Paul McCartney and John Lennon, 1967

Before the Beatles' "Michelle" took the prize, no rock band had ever won a Top Song Grammy.  In truth, "Michelle" couldn't have rocked less. -- it swayed to a lilting melody penned by McCartney to recall his days as a student taking in Parisian culture.

But, because McCartney didn't speak French, he reached out to a friend for an assist with the translated part.  He also got help from Lennon, who devised the "I love you, I love you, I love you" bridge of the song.

"Michelle" went on to become one of only two Top Song winners to feature non-English lyrics.  The other:  "Volare," the very first winner in the category in the Grammy's inaugural year, 1959.

--RoadDog

Music Deaths 2021: Michael Fonfara and Sylvain Sylvain

MICHAEL FONFARA, 74

Died 8 January 2021

Pianist / keyboard player.  Long term collaborator with Lou Reed.

SYLVAIN SYLVAIN, 69

Died 13 January 2021

Guitarist with New York Dolls.

Music Deaths 2021: Gerry Marsden of Gerry & the Pacemakers, British Invasion

GERRY MARSDEN, 78

Died 3 January 2021

Singer / guitarist / leader of Mersey Beat band Gerry & the Pacemakers.

One of the big bands on the British Merseybeat scene.  In common with the Beatles, they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein and were recorded by George Martin.

Their most famous song refers to the "Ferry Cross the Mersey" refers to the Mersey River which  flows past Liverpool.  His older brother, Fred, was also in the band.  They had three #1s in the UK before getting airplay in the U.S.

This was definitely one of the 1964 bands that made an impression on the very young me.  "Ferry Cross the Mersey" always reminds my of my MYF group at church.

Some of their hits, U.S. positions and year:

"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying"  (#4-1964)

"How Do You Do It"  (#9-1964)

"I Like It"  (#17-1964)

"It's Gonna Be Alright"  (#23-1965)

"Ferry Cross the Mersey"  (#6-1965)

"I'll Be There"  (#14-1965)

Music Deaths 2021: Misty Morgan, 'Tennessee Bird Walk'

MISTY MORGAN, 75

Died 1 January 2021

Country singer.  Performed with husband Jack Blanchard.  Biggest hit was "Tennessee Bird Walk."

Their novelty song "Tennessee Bird Walk" went to #1 on the Country Charts in 1970 and hit #23 on the Pop Charts.  Their follow up novelty song that year, "Humphrey the Camel" went to #5 Country.

WLS Top Ten for the January 25, 1971: 'One Bad Apple'

These were the Top ten songs in Chicago and tunes making their debuts fifty years ago this week.  That's half a century for those of you counting.

1.  I HEAR YOU KNOCKING--  Dave Edmunds

2.  YOUR SONG--  Elton John

3.  LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH--  Stephen Stills

4.  IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN--  Gladys Knight & the Pips

5.  BORN TO WANDER--  Rare Earth

6.  REMEMBER ME--  Diana Ross

7.  ONE BAD APPLE--  Osmond Brothers

8.  KNOCK THREE TIMES--  Dawn

9.  IMMIGRANT SONG--  Led Zeppelin

10.  1900 YESTERDAY--  Liz Damon's Orient Express

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

DEBUTS

28.  HAVE YOU SEEN THE RAIN--   Creedence Clearwater Revival

29.  AMOS MOSES--  Jerry Reed

30.  SWEET MARY--  Wadsworth Mansion

HBD  SHE'S A LADY--  Tom Jones

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Hey Girl, Whatcha Doin' Down There Dancing Alone Every Night While I Live Right Above You."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Knock Three Times"

Music Deaths: Alto Reed, Played Sax for Bob Seger

ALTO REED, 72

Died 30 December 2020

Saxophonist, long-time member of Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band.

That's him on "Turn the Page" and "Old Time Rock and Roll."  Toured with Bob Seger for 42 years.

Also has played with Foghat, Grand Funk Railroad, Little Feat, Dave Mason and George Thorogood.

Music Deaths: Phyllis McGuire of the McGuire Sisters

PHYLLIS McGUIRE, 89

Died 29 December 2020

Singer with the vocal trio McGuire Sisters.

The last living member of the trio.  Grew up near Dayton, Ohio.

Two #1s:

"Sincerely" 1955

"Sugartime"  1957

2020 Movie Scratches: Dolittle-- Prey

Movie Scratches--  A Dog's Eye View of movies I saw at the theater in 2020.

Little did I know at the time, but when I saw Birds of Prey at the Fox Lake Theater in Fox Lake, Illinois, on February 28, that that would be the last movie I saw for 2020.  And, here in January 2021, I still haven't been back to the theater and there is a good reason for it.  Something spelled virus.

Hopefully this year I will be able to go back into a theater.  I'm chomping at the bit so hard to see one, I will even buy that super expensive popcorn as well.

I'm just hoping the virus doesn't (or didn't) put the local chain, Classic Cinema, out of business.

For 2020, them, I saw a total of 14 movies.  I usually see at least 40 a year and often 50-60 movies a year.

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

13.  DOLITTLE--  2-18--  What an animal menagerie.  I especially liked the cowardly gorilla.  The dragon goes on an armor and bagpipe free diet.

14.  BIRDS OF PREY--  2-28--  Harley gets over her breakup with the Joker.  Dodges person wishing her ill health.  Does a lot of kicking.  Gotta love Harley.

So Much for 2020.  --RoadGottaSeeMoreMovies

Music Deaths: Leslie West of Mountain

LESLIE WEST, 75

Died 22 December 2020

Guitar player / vocalist with rock band Mountain.

One of the bands considered as the forerunners of Heavy metal.

The group performed on the second day of Woodstock with an 11-song set.

I'm listening to that great album "Mountain Climbing" as I type this.  More cowbell, please.  Give a listen to their "Sittin' on a Rainbow."  Too bad it is just 2:20 long.  More cowbell!!!

"Mississippi Queen"  (#21-1970)

Music Deaths: K.T. Oslin, Country Singer

K.T. OSLIN, 78

Died 21 December 2020

Country singer / songwriter

Had several years of commercial success in the late 1980s with four #1 Country hits:

"Hold Me"  1989

"Do Ya"  1987

"I'll Always Come Back"  1988

"Come Next Monday"  1990

Past Movie Scratches: Story-- Story-- Oz-- Malificent-- Godfather-- Despicable-- Taken-- Trek

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I Saw in 2019.  Well since we are now in 2021 I figure this is as good of a time as any to finish 2019.

Let's see, it's Christmas time.  What possible movie could I be watching twice in a row?   No clue.

121.  A CHRISTMAS STORY--  12-25--  Mouth soap is a leading cause of blindness in kids.

122.  A CHRISTMAS STORY--  12-25--  The vaunted Triple Dog Dare.

123.  THE WIZARD OF OZ--  12-25--  How to kill a witch.  Drop a house on her or throw water at her.  Regardless, Dorothy is getting good at it.

124.  MALIFICENT--  12-25--  She was nicer than I thought.  People made her that way.  Mean old humans.

125.  THE GODFATHER II--  12-27--  We see Michael move the family and business to Nevada and attempt to go legit and how his dad became the Godfather.

126.  DESPICABLE ME 3--  12-27--  Gru meets his brother Bru as they battle Mullethead Brad, 80s child star gone bad.  Great 80s music and "The Dance Fight."

128.  STAR TREK--  12-28--   The prequel as we see how the gang got together.  "Are you out of your Vulcan mind?"

--RoadFlick

Need a Shot of 1969-- Part 3: 'Down On the Corner'

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE--  John Lennon

WHIPPING POST--  Allman Brothers Band

I CAN'T GET NEXT TO YOU--  Temptations

SPACE ODDITY--  David Bowie

RED HOUSE--  Jimi Hendrix

LAY LADY LAY--  Bob Dylan

A SALTY DOG--  Procul Harum

DOWN ON THE CORNER--  Creedence Clearwater Revival

VENUS--  Shocking Blue

GIMME GIMME GOOD LOVIN'-- Crazy Elephant

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog

"Give Peace A Chance"

Music Deaths: Chad Stuart of Chad & Jeremy

CHAD STUART, 79

Died 20 December 2020

Singer with folk/pop duo Chad & Jeremy.

Born David Stuart Chadwick.

Group consisted of him and Jeremy Clyde and formed in 1962.  Unlike the rock sound of others in the British Invasion, they had a more soft and folk-inflected style.  I loved their appearance on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" as the British band, "The Redcoats."

And, I have always gotten their songs confused with those of Peter & Gordon.

Some of their big songs:

"Yesterday's Gone" (#21-1963)

"A Summer Song"  (#7-1964)

"Willow Weep for Me"  (#15-1964)

"If I Loved You"  (#23-1965)

Music Deaths: Pelle Alsing of Roxette

PELLE ALSING, 60

Died 16 December 2020

Drummer with pop-rock band Roxtette.

Co-founder and one half of Swedish band (other member was singer Marie Fredriksson).

His death came almost exactly one year after her death.

"The Look"  (#1-1989)

"Listen to Your Heart"  (#1-1989)

"It Must Have Been Love"  (#1-1990)

"Joyride"   (#1-1990)

They had two other #2s.

Music Deaths: Carl Mann, Rockabilly

CARL MANN, 78

Rockabilly singer/piano player.  "Mona Lisa"

Born in Tennessee.  Signed with  Sam Phillips' Sun Records.

As a 16-year-old, had his first and only big hit, a cover of Nat King Cole's "Mona Lisa" which peaked at #25 on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart in 1959.

WLS Top Ten for Week of January 18, 1971: 'One Bad Apple'

That's right, 50 years a go.  That's half a century for those of you counting.

1.  I HEAR YOU KNOCKING--  Dave Edmunds

2.  LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH--  Stephen Stills

3.  IMMIGRANT SONG--   Led Zeppelin

4.  KNOCK THREE TIMES--  Dawn

5.  YOUR SONG--  Elton John

6.  IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN--  Gladys Knight & the Pips

7.  LONELY DAYS--  Bee Gees

8.  REMEMBER ME--  Diana Ross

9.  BORN TO WONDER--  Rare Earth

10.  ONE BAD APPLE--  Osmond Brothers

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

DEBUTS

27.  WHEN I'M DEAD AND GONE--

28.  MAMA'S PEARL--

29.  IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND--

30.  GROOVE ME--

HITBOUND   HAVE YOU SEEN THE RAIN--  Creedence Clearwater Revival

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Hey Girl Whatcha Doin' Down There?"  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Knock Three Times"

WLS Top 30 for Week of January 11, 1971-- Part 5: 'Love the One You're With'

The Top Ten songs in Chicago fifty years ago.  

*  Means the song is climbing the chart.  The number behind the artist is how high it got on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

10.  STONED LOVE--  Supremes   #7Who needs Diana?

9.  MY SWEET LORD--  George Harrison     #1

8. *IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN--  Gladys Knight & the Pips     #9

7.  *YOUR SONG--  Elton John    #8    His first big hit.

6.  DOMINO--  Van Morrison      #9

5.  *LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH--   Stephen Stills      #14

4.  *IMMIGRANT SONG--  Led Zeppelin     #16

3.  *I HEAR YOU KNOCKING--  Dave Edmunds     #4    His first and by far biggest hit.

2.  LONELY DAYS--  Bee Gees     #3

1.  KNOCK THREE TIMES--   Dawn      #1     With that Tony Orlando fella, you know.

Name That Tune (From the above songs):  "Don't Want To Discuss It, Think It's Time For A Change."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Domino"

Music Deaths: Charley Pride

CHARLEY PRIDE, 82

Died 12 December 2020

Country singer had 1971 hit "Kiss an Angel Good Morning."  (#1)

His greatest musical success was in the early to mid-1970s.  One of just three Blacks in the Country Hall of Fame.  During peak years of his recording career (1966-1988) he had 53 Top Ten Hits on the Country Charts,  30 of which went to #1.

Some of his hits:

"Is Anybody Going to San Antone (#1-1970) Mentions Route 66 in it.

"Mountain of Love"  (#1-1982)

"I Ain't All Bad"  (#6-1975)

He has a greatest hits CD on my Ultimate Jukebox.  Enough said.

"And here I am walking down 66."