Story Songs: Love is in the Air

With Valentine's Day around the corner, here are a few love songs that I have enjoyed through the years. 

The Bee Gees's last Top 10 hit in the U.S. was "One" in 1989, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard chart.  The song was written by the Gibbs brothers, one of the greatest songwriting teams in history.

James Taylor's "Only One" didn't crack the Billboard Top 100 in 1985 but it was No. 6 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The JT-penned song was on his "That's Why I'm Here" album.

The late, great Jim Croce's "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" was No. 9 (No. 1 in AC) in 1974, a year after his death in an airplane accident. I've often wondered why he's not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Elton John's "Your Song," written by John and Bernie Taupin, was his first big hit at No. 8 in 1971.  I first heard the tune in the movie "Friends" and became a big fan of his music. 

One of the greatest Beach Boys' songs is "God Only Knows," written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher. It is on the masterpiece "Pet Sounds" album, released in 1966 with Carl Wilson doing the lead vocals. Although charting at only No. 39 (with "Wouldn't It Be Nice"), Rolling Stone magazine rated it No. 11 on its greatest rock songs of all time. 

From the doo-wop era comes "I Only Have Eyes for You," a No. 11 cover by The Flamingos in 1959. The song was written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin for the movie Dames in 1934.  It was a No. 18 song for Art Garfunkel in 1975.

Daryl Hall and John Oates, we know them as Hall & Oates,  had an upbeat love song with "You Make My Dreams," a No. 5 tune in 1981 written by Hall, Oates, and Sara Allen. 

There are countless other love songs I've admired and appreciated through the years but I wanted to keep this list manageable (I've blogged about other love songs so check my past posts under Story Songs). 

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Until the next time . . . 

Get Fans Involved in Rock Hall Nomination Process

 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recently announced the nominees for the 2022 class. Now fans can vote for their favorite five artists for inclusion in the hallowed hall. 

This year's nominees include Fela Kuti, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Lionel Richie, Judas Priest, A Tribe Called Quest, Dionne Warwick, Pat Benatar, Eminem, Rage Against The Machine, New York Dolls, Kate Bush, MC5, Eurythmics, DEVO, Duran Duran, and Beck.

According to the Rock Hall, to be eligible for induction a band or solo artist must have had a commercial recording at least 25 years before nomination.

So how are they nominated? The Rock Hall says ". . . ballots are sent to an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, and members of the music industry." 

Among the criteria for consideration are "musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and body of work, innovation, and superiority in style and technique," according to the Rock Hall website.

Since fans are allowed to vote daily on the nominations (this year through April 29), why not let them nominate musical artists as well? Maybe the Hall could limit the total nominees from fans to 10 or 15 and combine with that from the voting body, keeping the final number to 25 or so.

I've been a follower of rock music for many years, even before The Beatles (that's how old I am). Every year, especially since social media came along, I've heard laments and gripes from fans about those groups who have been overlooked. I've griped as well. I cheered when The Moody Blues were finally inducted four years ago.

I've heard the Hall of Fame being referred to everything from the Hall of Shame to the Hall of Lame.  I'm sure there are other words to describe it from disgruntled music fans.

Maybe solo artists and bands such as Steppenwolf, Jethro Tull, Tommy James and the Shondells, Three Dog Night, Foreigner, Bad Company, Connie Francis, Cher, Bobby Vee, Freddy Cannon, Petula Clark, Bobby Rydell, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Jim Croce, Herman's Hermits, The Grass Roots, The Turtles, The Association,  The Monkees, Lou Christie, Tommy Roe, Tom Jones, and other fan favorites through the years could finally get recognized.

I'm not going to comment on this year's nominees other than saying I'm surprised by a few of the finalists. But that happens every year.

What do you think about giving fans more of a say in the process?

Until the next time . . .

Back in the Groove and Recent Reads

 I'm back to writing again on a daily basis. Since my last post, I've written more than 15,000 words on my next novel.

I guess you could say I got back in the groove. I've always said and advised others that the best way to write a novel (or nonfiction) is to do it on a daily basis. Some days are better than others, but after time you eventually reach a point where the words begin to flow.

That's where I am. While I don't produce 3,000-4,000 words a day like I did in my younger days, I do write more than 1,000 and that seems to increase by the day. I do get somewhat mentally tired but that's okay because it makes for a better nap. And when I go back to my work-in-progress, I pick right up where I left off. Even during the break, my overworked mind discovers more creative pathways to enhance and expand the story.

By the way, this manuscript is the sixth book in my John Ross Boomer Lit series. I'll disclose more about it in the coming weeks. 

However, there is one thing that I did to kickstart my writing. While having coffee with a writer/friend, he mentioned that he was using an outline to write a novel. He said it was the first time he had ever tried doing that. He's more of a panster, like I have been when writing most of my novels.

The discussion reminded me of using an outline on a novel in the past. It was a loose outline, but it gave me some direction on where I wanted to take the story. So I did the same on my current work. By the way, another good reason to have a writer/friend to talk about writing, books, etc.

Since then I've been writing each and every day. Some days I don't even look at the outline because the words are pouring out. On other days, I will give it a quick look to make sure that I'm still moving in the right direction.

As I have with other novels, I'm not concerned about editing. That will come after I complete the first draft. For me, there will likely be 10 or more rewrites before I feel comfortable enough to submit it to my editor. 

And now for a few recent reads:

Noted murder mystery novelist Chris Helvey writes about a guy going through several crises: midlife, moral, and even misconduct. The protagonist, Dave Wertz, the protagonist, leaves Lexington, Ky., and goes to his hometown of Frankfort, trying to find some answers to the questions in his life as he reexamines his stale and unfulfilled life. Helvey constructs a novel with a cast of interesting characters that will keep readers guessing if Wertz can find peace of mind.

Jack N. Lawson's novel is centered on a wild and wacky retirement village in North Carolina, where nothing is really as it seems with the staff and elderly residents. Some are political, some are horny, and most simply want to make the most of their declining years. Lawson has a variety of distinct characters that keep the story flowing from in this crazy comedy. It's a fun trip for readers who will probably view older folks in a different light. And seniors will probably note that old age is more than napping in a rocking chair.  

Until the next time . . .