Until the next time... is a blog usually focused on writing, music, and travel to places near and far. It concerns some of the things I've learned and some of the things I've messed up through the years. The blog also appears at www.michaelembry.com/blog.html.
Showing posts with label The Moody Blues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Moody Blues. Show all posts
After waiting quite a few years, my wife and I made the pilgrimage to Cleveland to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, located in an imposing glass pyramid on the banks of Lake Erie.
The Moody Blues exhibit
I've wanted to visit the Rock Hall for a long time but must confess that I vowed that not to make the trek until my favorite band, The Moody Blues, was inducted. It was long overdue, but it finally happened in 2018.
While on a trip to New England last fall, listening to a SiriusXM Radio oldies channel, I learned that the exhibits for the 2018 inductees would be removed and replaced by the new members in March. I had planned to drive to Cleveland after hearing the news but decided against it because of inclement weather. So we visited on a sunny, but cold day in late February.
Elvis is King!
The Rock Hall is definitely worth the visit (and senior rockers get a discount). It can be a daylong activity taking in all the floors—if you've got the energy. We spent about 3.5 hours, and plan to return someday. It's also handicap accessible, and furthermore, it's easy to find the place and there's plenty of parking (I was told Tuesday is the least-crowded day and that's when we made the drive from our old Kentucky home).
The Beatles display
There are six levels to the building, starting with the roots of rock on the ground floor and rock TV on the top. As you take in every floor, you'll see artifacts of rock legends, short films such as the history of American Bandstand and the Power of Rock Experience, where I discovered Prince was an electrifying guitarist, a room of pinball machines (remember Pinball Wizard?), and much more. For more information on the exhibits, click here. You can also order tickets on the website and view a calendar of upcoming events to help plan your visit.
As Mick Jagger and Keith Richard wrote in 1974, "I know it's only rock and roll, but I like it, yes, I do..."
This year's inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced last month. The Moody Blues finally got in, nearly 30 years after becoming eligible. Others include rockers Bon Jovi, The Cars, and Dire Straits—groups who established their fame in the 1980s. The remaining inductees are Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
I had almost given up hope on the Moodies gaining entrance since the Rock Hall hasn't been overly kind to progressive-rock acts. But there was still a glimmer when, in the past couple of years, ELO and Yes were inducted.
But what about the artists from the 1950s, '60s and '70s? Has time run out on them? I've compiled a list of those I think have been overlooked and deserve recognition. You may not agree with the list. And to be honest, there are a few that I didn't especially follow (we all have different music tastes), but still believe they are worthy candidates (with some notes courtesy of artist websites, Wikipedia, All-Music, and other music sites).
Pre-British Invasion (with some overlap):
Paul Anka—The Canadian-American singer and songwriter recorded 31 Top 40 hits over 40 decades including three that reached No. 1 in the U.S.—"Diana" in 1957, "Lonely Boy" in 1958, and "You're Having My Baby" in 1974. Among the song he wrote include "She's A Lady" for Tom Jones and Frank Sinatra's "My Way." He continues to perform today. And he's an author, penning "My Way: An Autobiography" in 2014. Connie Francis—She recorded 29 Top 40 hits in the 1950s and '60s, including two chart-toppers. Worldwide sales estimated at 200 million. Francis was named the top female artist by various trade publications for six consecutive years, beginning in 1958. And the 80-year-old songstress still performs and has recently published a memoir, "Among My Souvenirs: The Real Story."
Jan and Dean—The California beach sound duo had 15 Top 40 songs including the No. 1 "Surf City" in 1963. Jan Berry and Dean Torrance were the hosts of the "T.A.M.I. Show" in 1964, a movie that included The Rolling Stones, Leslie Gore, James Brown and the Famous Flames, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas and several other top acts. Dean wrote a memoir about their career in "Surf City: The Jan and Dean Story."
Cliff Richard—The British musician has sold more than 250 million records worldwide in his 60-year career. The knighted (in 1995) singer has sales of more than 21 million singles in the United Kingdom and ranks as the third-top-selling artist in UK Singles Chart history, behind the Beatles and Elvis Presley. Although Richard hasn't received similar acclaim in the U.S., he had a No. 6 hit in "Devil Woman" in 1978 and No. 7 in 1979 with "We Don't Talk Anymore."
Tommy Roe—He had nine songs in the Top 40 including "Sheila" and "Dizzy" at No. 1. While performing in England in the early 1960s, he was the headliner in a tour that included The Beatles. Roe is often labeled a "Bubblegum" artist but his resume includes songs such as a great rendition of "Stagger Lee" in 1971, a Top 25 hit. And besides, isn't "Bubblegum" a genre that should be recognized as well?
Bobby Rydell—He had 19 Top 40 hits in the '60s including "Wild One" and "Volare."Rydell was a co-star in the movie, "Bye Bye Birdie," the enviable role of Ann-Margret's boyfriend, Hugo Peabody. He received a double-organ transplant in 2012, but that hasn't stopped him from a busy performance schedule that includes "The Golden Boys" tour with Frankie Avalon and Fabian. He's also been a vocal advocate for organ donation.
Neil Sedaka—Hiscareer started in 1957, and since that time he has sold millions of records as an artist (20 Top 40 songs and three No. 1 hits). Sedaka has written or co-written over 500 songs (a Brill Building alum) for himself and others including "Stupid Cupid" (Connie Francis) and "Love Will Keep Us Together" (Captain & Tennille). His long and prolific career has spanned seven decades.
The Shadows—They are the third most successful act in the UK singles chart, behindElvis Presley and Cliff Richard. The Shadows and Cliff Richard & the Shadows each have had four No. 1 selling EPs. Their big instrumental hit was "Apache" in 1960. And Hank Marvin is one helluva guitarist. You might call them the British counterpart of The Ventures (Rock Hall inductees in 2008).
Bobby Vee—According to Billboard magazine, Vee registered 38 Hot 100 chart hits, ten of which reached the Top 20. He had six gold singles in his career including No. 1 "Take Good Care of My Baby." Vee got his big break when he was asked to fill in after Buddy Holly was killed in a tragic plane crash in 1959 that also claimed the lives of the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. One of his early, and brief, bandmates was Bob Dylan. Vee, whose last name was Velline, died in 2016 of complications from Alzheimer's disease. Bobby Vinton—From 1962 through 1972, Vinton had more Billboard No.1 hits (four) than any other male vocalist, including Elvis and Sinatra. He had 29 songs in the Top 40 in his career. The multi-talented musician, a graduate of Duquesne University, is known as "The Polish Prince." The next installment is Post-British Invasion.
I spent an enchanted evening on Valentine's Day, attending Justin Hayward's "Wind of Heaven Tour," at the Lexington Opera House.
Hayward, along with virtuoso guitarist Mike Dawes and multi-talented keyboardist/background singer Julie Ragins, performed 14 songs, a mix of Hayward's solo efforts and Moody Blues' standards.
Justin Hayward
Hayward, who turned 70 last October, delivered heartfelt and emotional ballads as well as a few uptempo tunes from his vast catalog of music. I'm not sure his voice has improved with age (he was at the top of his game during the Moodies' core seven era from 1967-72), but there is still the sincerity and honesty in his voice that has connected with music lovers for more than a half-century.
Mike Dawes, Justin Hayward and Julie Ragins
Appropriately, Hayward opened with "Tuesday Afternoon" and closed with the timeless "Nights in White Satin," followed by an encore "I Know You're Out There Somewhere," to an appreciative audience of 800 or so fans.
Among the other songs were "The Best Is Yet to Come," "One Day, Someday," "In Your Blue Eyes," and "Forever Autumn."
Mike Dawes
The concert started with Dawes playing several awe-inspiring instrumentals before Hayward took the stage. Dawes certainly has to rank as one of the best guitarists with what he can do with the instrument.
This marked the first time I've seen Hayward without his MB mates. I've seen the Moodies nine times, dating back to 1971 in Kansas City. I've never been disappointed.
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Moodies' groundbreaking "Days of Future Passed" album, which the group is commemorating with a tour this summer.
I must have been a good boy in 2016 because I scored some nice tickets for Justin Hayward's "The Wind of Heaven" concert tour.
Hayward, the singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the legendary Moody Blues, will be performing at the Lexington Opera House on Feb. 14.
Justin Hayward
I had received several email notifications about the concert, and my son Justin heard announcements on the radio about the event and texted me about the date. He thought it would be a lovely way to spend Valentine's evening with his mom so I put it on my calendar. This morning at 10, I was on the Ticketmaster website to see if I could get decent tickets. It was a slow process and I was about to give up after an excruciating 25 minutes.
I chose the option of letting Ticketmaster find two tickets, but the best it could do were rows J and K, and the seats weren't next to each other.
So I gave it one final shot of finding seats, thinking they would be on the second level (which I wouldn't want). But to my amazement, perhaps a bit of shock, there were two tickets on the second row from the stage.
Are you kidding me?
I told my wife Mary what was available and she said go for it. And I got them. Whoopee!
There will be four seats between us, but that's not a big deal. I mean, we bought the tickets to see and hear Justin Hayward perform, not to sit next to each other. For a couple of hours we'll get lost in the music, something that would have happened regardless of our seats. And then we'll sit next to each other on the way home in the car and (hopefully) talk about a wonderful concert by one of our favorite performers. I'm not much of a concert-goer these days. I don't like large crowds, dealing with the traffic and parking, and poor acoustics. Those things shouldn't be much of a problem at the Lexington Opera House. Hayward, who recently turned 70, presents a more intimate performance on the tour, playing an acoustic guitar, accompanied by guitarist extraordinaire Mike Dawes and keyboardist/backup vocalist Julie Ragins. I recently purchased Hayward's "All The Way" CD, a compilation of some of his solo recordings since the mid-1970s. My only regret is that it has only 15 songs; it could have been a two-disc set, featuring other tunes from his songbook.
Now the countdown begins to the show. I'm looking forward to the new year.
Recently I rediscovered Mike Pinder, the former keyboardist extraordinaire (especially with the mellotron) for The Moody Blues.
I downloaded "The Promise/Among the Stars," recordings from the mid-1970s ("The Promise") and "Among the Stars" (mid-'90s).
Pinder penned Moodies' classics such as "Melancholy Man," "(Thinking is) the Best Way (to Travel)," "Lost in a Lost World," and "A Simple Game."
One of my favorites from the recent download is the upbeat "The Best Things in Life," a wonderful feel-good tune about the the joys in life that money can't buy.
It opens:
"Each time you see your baby smile
Each time you hear that someone is a mother to be
The best things in life are free.
"Each time you hear a waterfall
Each time you see the sunset or the fruit on a tree
The best things in life are free"
And then he sings about the special person in his life:
"The world turns around and around
The moon moves the sea
I'm thinking of you in my life
Getting closer to me"
And it closes:
"Next time you take a breath of air
Remember people everywhere will agree
The best things in life are free"
I believe most of us would agree with Pinder that the best things don't carry a price tag.
Mike Pinder
Pinder, who is now 72, left the Moody Blues in 1978 after their "Octave" release. The download also includes two songs by The Pinder Brothers (Michael Lee and Matt), Mike's two sons, accompanied by retired Moody co-founder Ray Thomas on the flute.
You'll also find some ballads, uptempo songs, and three instrumentals on this two-album release that rekindles some sounds from the "core seven" Moodies' releases while showcasing Pinder's distinctive voice, musicianship, and songwriting.
The Moody Blues reflected on lost love in "Your Wildest Dreams."
Lead singer/guitarist Justin Hayward penned the song, which reached No. 9 on the Billboard charts in 1986.
The narrator recalls youthful times, possibly a first or teenage love, and how circumstances in life pulled them in different directions. And he reminisces:
"I wonder where you are I wonder if you Think about me Once upon a time In your wildest dreams"
We learn that the singer is gravitates to music and away from the person he cares about, a decision in which he expresses some regret because they had something special between them:
"Once upon a time Once beneath the stars The universe was ours Love was all we knew And all I knew was you I wonder if you know I wonder if you think about it"
And in the final verse, he again reveals that he thinks about her but wonders if she thinks about him:
"I remember skies Mirrored in your eyes I wonder where you are I wonder if you Think about me"
Do you ever wonder if those you cared about in your past still think about you?
The music video was named Video of the Year by Billboard magazine. The legendary Moodies recorded a sequel to the song two years later, "I Know You're Out There Somewhere," also written by Hayward.
