Story from: UDiscoverMusic.Com
“Tennessee Ernie Ford wasn’t the first artist to record “Sixteen Tons,” but he made it his signature. The song, inspired by the travails of the real-life coal miners of Kentucky, was first recorded by one of his forerunners on the Capitol label, Merle Travis, in 1947.”
“That popular version, of a song that bore Travis’ songwriting credit from then on, didn’t show up on the Billboard charts on the day, even though Travis was emerging with other hits at the time. By 1955, it was ripe for a remake – and would later become the title of one of Ford’s Capitol albums.”
“Tequila” is a 1958 Mexican-flavored rock and roll instrumental written by Chuck Rio and recorded by the Champs. “Tequila” became a No. 1 hit on both the pop and R&B charts at the time of its release and continues to be strongly referenced in pop culture to this day.[2] – WIKI
“In 1957, Gene Autry’s record label, Challenge Records, signed Dave Burgess (born 1934), a rockabilly singer-songwriter from California who often recorded under the name “Dave Dupree”. At the end of 1957, having produced no hits, Challenge Records looked to Burgess, who organized a recording session on December 23 in Hollywood. In the studio that day were Burgess on rhythm guitar, Cliff Hills on bass, the Flores Trio (Danny Flores keyboards, Gene Alden on drums, and lead guitarist Buddy Bruce), and Huelyn Duvall contributing backing vocals. Flores, also a saxophonist, suffered a jaw injury the night prior to the session in a brawl at a local establishment. He was unable to play saxophone for the session so another saxophonist was called in to play the trademark “dirty sax” solo at the last minute. [3] They gathered primarily to record “Train to Nowhere”, a song by Burgess, as well as “Night Beat” and “All Night Rock” (a song that has never been released).” Read more…
“Deacon Blues” is a song written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen in 1976 and recorded by their group Steely Dan on their 1977 album Aja. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard charts and number 17 on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100 in June 1978. It also reached #40 on the Easy Listening chart. In Canada, it peaked at #14, a position it occupied for two weeks,[6] and #20 Adult Contemporary. – WIKI
Steely Dan – Deacon Blues Live with the lovely Caroline Leonhart
On this date in 1969, CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION by TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (August 19, 1969)
Composed by Eddie Gray, Tommy James and Mike Vale, CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION motored on a gentle-tempoed garbage groove built around a prominent organ part with an understated arrangement.
The sound was more akin to The Rascals’ at the time than to James’s contemporary efforts with psychedelic rock. It included melodic passages for an acoustic guitar, as well as a bass pattern, played between the bridge and the third verse of the song.
According to James’s manager, James was actually inspired by his readings of the Book of Ezekiel, which (he remembered as) speaking of a blue Shekhinah light that represented the presence of the Almighty God, and of the Book of Isaiah and Book of Revelation, which tell of a future age of brotherhood of mankind, living in peace and harmony.
“‘I wrote ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion’ with Eddie Gray and Mike Vale,” explained Tommy James.
“Eddie came up with the little guitar riff, and Mike and I did the lyrics. And it just felt very right as a sort of semi-religious poetic song, but it turned out to be one of the hardest records I’ve ever made.”
“It’s out of the Bible. The imagery was right out of Chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation, about the lake of crystal, and just what John sees. The imagery was just right there. ‘Crystal blue persuasion,’ although those words aren’t used together, it was what the image meant to me.”
The lyrics, “It’s a new vibration,” are about James becoming Christian, but many listeners had their own interpretation.
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He explained: “Of course, everybody thinks if they don’t understand what you’re talking about it must be about drugs. But it wasn’t. We were going through a real interesting time back then, and a very wonderful time. Everybody in the band, by the way, became Christian. And we’re very proud of it. And ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion’ was sort of our way of saying that in a kind of pop record way.”
This would have made a great performance at Woodstock, and the song was peaking on the charts at the time of the famous festival.
Tommy James & the Shondells were invited to appear, but, as Tommy explains: “Like dopes we turned it down. I gotta tell you what – we were in Hawaii at the foot of Diamond Head. This was in August of ’69, and we played a date in Hilo, and then we had two weeks off and then we were gonna play in Honolulu. They put us at these gorgeous mansions at the foot of Diamond Head, right on the ocean. And our biggest decision of the day was, Do I go in the ocean or in the swimming pool? We were sitting around drinking margaritas, and it was wonderful. And I get this call from JoAnn, my secretary, and she said, ‘Artie Kornfeld was up,’ Artie Kornfeld was one of the principals at Woodstock, and he was also a friend of mine. He produced the Cowsills and a whole bunch of other acts, and he was very successful producer. We had the same lawyer. And so she said, ‘Artie was up and asked if you could play at this pig farm up in upstate New York.’ I said, ‘What?!?’ ‘Well, they say it’s gonna be a lot of people there, and it’s gonna be like a really important show.’ And I said, ‘Did I hear you right? Did you say would I leave paradise, fly 6,000 miles, and play a pig farm? Is that what you just asked me?’ She said, ‘Well, you could put it like that, but it’s gonna be a big show. It’s important.’ I said, ‘Well, I’ll tell you what, if I’m not there, start without us, will you please?’ And I hung up the phone. And they did. And by Thursday of that week we knew we messed up really bad. (laughing) But in the end I think I got probably more mileage out of that story.”
When he wrote this song, Tommy James was working with a group called Alive ‘N Kickin’. According to their keyboard player, Bruce Sudano (who later married Donna Summer), James wanted them to record “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” but the head of James’ label wouldn’t let him give up the song. James ended up writing another song for Alive ‘N Kickin’ called “Tighter, Tighter,” which ended up being a big hit for the group.
“Sleep Walk” is an instrumental tune written, recorded, and released in 1959 by brothers Santo & Johnny Farina, with their uncle Mike Dee playing the drums.[] Prominently featuring steel guitar, the song was recorded at Trinity Music in Manhattan, New York City. “Sleep Walk” entered Billboard’s Top 40 on August 17, 1959. It rose to the number 1 position for the last two weeks in September[] and remained in the Top 40 until November 9. “Sleep Walk” also reached number 4 on the R&B chart.[] It was the last instrumental to hit number 1 in the 1950s and earned a gold record for Santo and Johnny.[5] In the UK it peaked at number 22 on the charts.[]
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Berry Lipman
Real Name:
Friedel Berlipp
Profile:
German composer, band leader and producer, born 11 January 1921 in Burgdorf, Germany, died 21 August 2016 in Bergheim, Germany.
Please see the following bands / groups / orchester if credited that way or similar:
Berry Lipman Band
A lot of us like to say, that Columbus discovered America.
I like to say, that I discovered, AyseDeniz.
This classy woman with hectares of talent is, good looking, brilliant, vivacious, personable – in fact – she’s bursting with personality.
Ayşedeniz Gökçin (Anglicised as “AyseDeniz Gokcin“) is a Turkish classical pianist and composer who was born in 1988.
After graduating in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree from Eastman School of Music,*[3] Gökçin completed a master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music in 2011.[1][4]
She is known for recording an EP of her arrangements for solo piano of the music of the rock band Pink Floyd in the style of Franz Liszt, Pink Floyd Lisztified.[1] The EP comprises three tracks, which, she says, form a fantasia. These are: “Hey You”
“Wish You Were Here” and “Another Brick in the Wall.”
*these notations are from a WiKi page.
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Here is AyseDeniz performing an impossible rendition of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean:
Here’s more stuff about AyseDeniz: Biography, Short
AyseDeniz is a classical/rock crossover pianist currently splitting her time between Los Angeles, London, and Istanbul. She started playing piano at age five and was considered a child prodigy in her native home of Turkey. She completed her Bachelor’s in Piano Performance at Eastman School of Music in New York and her Masters in Piano Performance at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
AyseDeniz is recognized internationally for her ability to unite the classical genre with classic rock and creating original rock arrangements and compositions, which she now performs for fans worldwide to sold-out shows. She has appeared on BBC News, Vogue, Classic FM, Prog Rock Magazine, and more. The Arts Council England endorses her under the Exceptional Talent Visa.
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