When You Were Big and I Was Small - Katie Theasby

The other evening I watched the wonderful The Job of Songs on Prime - Irish musicians in Doolin. One of them is the woman singing this, Katie Theasby. I've listened to it a half dozen times, and I cry every time. Wonderful song. She refers to Grapefruit Moon, the Tom Waits song, and Come On Eileen, by Dexy's Midnight Runners.

Grace Kelly - Trying To Figure It Out

I so love this.

The Heavy Heavy - Go Down River (Live in Chicago)

Until (if?) I find my writing self again, I’ll post something from a newish band whose work I love. You may read more about them here. I delight in their sound which is reminiscent of older times, but also fresh and new. It is music that makes me feel uplifted and cheery. In the bio they make reference to some bands I love. "Peter Green - era Fleetwood Mac (my favorite period of that band), The Rolling Stones, British Invasion pop acts like The Hollies, and folk-blues Delaney and Bonnie." The last one is a group I was wild about, but they aren’t mentioned much anymore. I even bought Bonnie Bramlett’s album after Delaney died, and one by their daughter Bekka. And there were so many great British Invasion groups that I still listen to and get great joy from.

 

Diana Krall - Autumn In New York (Official Video)

The sun went into Libra at 2:50 am today so it is now autumn. And here is Diana Krall singing and playing piano so very beautifully to help celebrate the season. Such a great video, too.

Come Monday - Jimmy Buffett

We have a radio in the barn, and it is set to an independent radio station in Montpelier, Vermont. There is a daily segment of what is called 33 1/3, when the DJ plays a cut from a record. Because it was Labor Day Weekend, the DJ played Jimmy Buffett's Come Monday. The DJ said it is the best song about traveling and missing your loved ones. It had been a while since I'd heard it, and I was so, so happy. I have been a fan for as long as he has been recording. And I have a delightful, and really unexplainable Jimmy Buffett story. In 1980, we flew to Houston to be Godparents to my childhood friend's baby daughter. We got off the plane, and my friend's husband asked what we would like to do in Houston. The words popped right out of my mouth, "see Jimmy Buffett". He said that there was a show. We got tickets, and saw the most wonderful concert. It was the first show I had been to that sold cocktails, obviously margaritas!

Why on earth would I have said that? Who knows, but it sure was amazing. 

I'm quite sure that the DJ played the song on September 1. And so very sadly, he died that night. 

Today's song - I'm Old Fashioned

In honor of the wonderful Tony Bennett, one of my favorites.

Harry Styles, Stevie Nicks - Landslide Live

I thought this was pretty great!

Noah Kahan - Stick Season (Official Music Video)

I love this song, and this man's work. My nephew actually met him a while ago. They went to the same camp as kids.

Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder

 

 The campaign for a federal holiday in Martin Luther King's honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed three years later on January 20, 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000. 

 Stevie's album with this song on it came out in 1980. 

 "Happy Birthday" 

 You know it doesn't make much sense 

There ought to be a law against 

Anyone who takes offense 

At a day in your celebration 

'Cause we all know in our minds 

That there ought to be a time 

That we can set aside 

To show just how much we love you 

And I'm sure you would agree 

What could fit more perfectly 

Than to have a world party on the day you came to be 

 Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you

 Happy birthday Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday 

 I just never understood

 How a man who died for good 

Could not have a day that would

 Be set aside for his recognition 

Because it should never be 

Just because some cannot see 

The dream as clear as he 

that they should make it become an illusion

 And we all know everything 

That he stood for time will bring

 For in peace our hearts will sing 

Thanks to Martin Luther King 

 Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you 

Happy birthday Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday 

 Why has there never been a holiday 

Where peace is celebrated all throughout the world 

 The time is overdue 

For people like me and you 

Who know the way to truth 

Is love and unity to all God's children 

It should be a great event 

And the whole day should be spent

 In full remembrance 

Of those who lived and died for the oneness of all people 

So let us all begin

 We know that love can win

 Let it out don't hold it in

 Sing it loud as you can 

 Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday 

Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday 

Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday

 Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday 

Happy birthday Happy birthday Happy birthday Ooh yeah Happy birthday 

 We know the key to unity of all people 

Is in the dream that you had so long ago 

That lives in all of the hearts of people 

That believe in unity 

We'll make the dream become a reality 

I know we will Because our hearts tell us so

Frank Sinatra & Ella Fitzgerald - Moonlight In Vermont

This is a beautiful version of the song "Moonlight in Vermont". Here's something cool I learned on a jazz radio show. I was amazed to learn that each verse is a haiku. From the dictionary: a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world.

Blur - To the End (Live at Alexandra Palace 1994)

 

 I love this song. I've been listening to the Parklife album today, and Blur is one of those bands I so wish I had seen.

The Kinks - "Waterloo Sunset"

The Kinks page I follow on Instagram says that today is the 55th anniversary of the achingly lovely "Waterloo Sunset". In the video, they are performing on a German TV show in June of 1967. The music critic Robert Christgau once said that it is "the most beautiful song in the English language"!

Both Sides Now, covered by Brandi and Evangeline Carlile

Just a little video to melt your heart!

Today's song - "Giving You Away" / Lukas Nelson and Promise Of The Real

Music still gettin' me through the never-ending pandemic. This is a perfect father and daughter song at a wedding. Makes me cry. 

Today's song - This Happy Madness - Stacey Kent

I've been hearing this lately on a jazz station I listen to, and thought I'd share it. Stacey Kent is one of my very favorites, and I have been buying her albums for years. In the early days of the blog, I offered a Stacey Kent week. Of course hardly anyone read my blog in those days, let alone commented!     

Warren Haynes - New Year's Eve

For all of us who have lost loved ones, or just plain had a tough, tough year "watching time go by."

"New Year's Eve"
(feat. Railroad Earth)

Next year's gonna be better
Next year will surely be the one
And it's right around the corner
Hell, it's just about begun
So what am I still sitting here for
When everyone's inside?
What am I doing drinking whiskey
And looking for a place to hide?

Yeah, old buddy, I sure miss you
You and old "What's his name?"
And I know if y'all were here now
This party wouldn't be so damn lame
There'd be dancing, and fighting,
And cussing, and laughing
Raise our voices to the sky
Bring the new year in right
Instead of watching time go by

Yeah, sometimes I wonder what
The world would be like
If I didn't have strangers as my best friends
I'm sitting here on new year's
Thinking 'bout old friends and old times
We'll never see them again

Yeah, sometimes I still wonder what
My life would've been like
If I didn't have angels at my defense
I'm sitting here on new year's
Singing 'bout old friends and old times
We'll never see them again

But next year's gonna be better
Next year will surely be great
Well, I guess I should say "This year"
Geez, how did it get so late?
What am I still sitting here for?
When did everybody leave?
What am I doing here drinking whiskey?
Oh yeah, it's New Year's Eve

"Just Breathe" - Live At Austin City Limits - Pearl Jam

On his 56th birthday, thought I'd share an older song sung by Eddie Vedder. In my very most humble opinion, he has the best voice in rock music.

Alice's Restaurant - Original 1967 Recording

On November 22, 2006, I wrote my very first blog post. It is quite unbelievable to me that 14 years have gone by.To celebrate I am going to offer you a song for the season. It takes a few minutes to listen but is oh, so worth it!  

 

Today's Song - Blossom Dearie/ Rhode Island is Famous for You

I was listening to Jazz 24 the other day when the DJ played Back Home in Indiana, and introduced it by whimsically asking "how many electoral college votes does Indiana have?". It made me think of this song. It is a wonderfully witty and delightful way of looking at our states in a non-political way. 

 

Today's song -The Marcels - Blue Moon

On this night of the blue moon, I could have posted Ella or Billie or Sinatra singing, but honestly I couldn't resist The Marcels version from my childhood which I really do love!