70s Songs

“BEAUTIFUL” by Carole King

March 5, 2015

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It’s Throwback Thursday! Today’s #tbt song is from one of my all time favorite albums of all time – Tapestry by Carole King, released in 1971. 

I grew up on Carole King. I was only a very young child when Tapestry was released in 1971, but in my early youth it became one of my favorite albums and it has stayed on that list. I love every song off the album and I can sing the words to all of them.

I did not know until years later that Tapestry was one of the most highly celebrated albums of all time. The album won four Grammy Awards, including the biggest awards of the year – Album of the Year and Song of the Year. Carole King also won Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Female and Record of the Year. In addition, the album is ranked #36 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. It definitely has staying power and is probably loved by even more people today than it was back then. Carole King is a music legend!

The album has been getting a lot of play time at our home after we went to see the musical, “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical” on Broadway a couple of weeks ago. Wow! What an incredible show. I was not the only one who was singing along as the show progressed through Carole King’s repertoire of fabulous music. If you get a chance to see the show, I would definitely recommend it. I loved it!

This is such an incredible song and I love the powerful message. I hope that it might spark you to crank those old Carole King tunes again too.

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SONG OF THE DAY – “LANDSLIDE” by Fleetwood Mac

October 9, 2014

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It’s Throwback Thursday! Today’s #tbt song is one of my favorite songs of all time by one of my favorite musical groups of all time. This song was originally released in 1975 on the self-titled album, Fleetwood Mac. 

Growing up, Fleetwood Mac was my favorite group and I knew every word to every song … actually I still do.

I decided to post a song from them today because they just started a reunion tour (On With the Show) and everyone is back this time, including Christine McVie. Earlier this week, the band played at Madison Square Garden and, although I was not able to attend, I am dying to see them perform live during their reunion tour. If I was picking one band that I have always wanted to see live, they would be at the top of my list. It sounds like I will be lucky because, just this morning, they announced that they are expanding their reunion tour and adding 28 more shows, including a return to NYC. If you are an American Express holder, it sounds like tickets will be available on October 13; otherwise, they go on sale October 20. I plan not to miss it!

After listening to them perform live today on the Today Show, I have to admit that I still love Fleetwood Mac and their music. It was a difficult decision to choose just one song by them because they have so many good ones, but I have always loved this incredible song. They lyrics have such deep meaning and emotion and I love the guitar rhythms – just an awesome song. I also have to say, Steve Nicks’ voice is still as amazing as ever.

SONG OF THE DAY – “POEMS, PRAYERS & PROMISES” by John Denver

July 31, 2014

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It’s Throwback Thursday! Today’s #tbt song is from John Denver’s 1971 album by the same name.

Okay, I have to admit it, I have always been a John Denver fan. I know nearly all of his songs and can pretty much sing along to every one. I grew up on his music at home, loved going to his concerts, and was sad when he passed away much too early. It is hard to imagine a music blog without at least one song by him.

I am sure after reading my post yesterday, you know that I am feeling a little sentimental and maybe even a touch sad this week and there is nothing quite like a John Denver song to bring out the melancholy. He certainly has plenty of music that is knee-slapping and jovial, but he had an incredible  way of capturing everyday emotions in his poetry and music. I truly believe that there is a John Denver song for almost every emotional moment in life. This song certainly captures my moment now.

How many of you have listened to “Annie’s Song” (my personal favorite), “Leaving On a Jet Plane,” “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” “or “Take Me Home Country Roads” when there was absolutely nothing else that could capture the moment quite like the lyrics of a John Denver song. I have a hard time believing that I am the only one who has done that at some point. Even to this day when I am in the mountains, there is no song that I love to hear more than “Rocky Mountain High!” In fact, I am sitting here listening to it now and it just makes me feel the freedom of that space even though I am sitting here in my house far from the mountains I love. Factoid: Did you know that the Colorado legislature adopted that song as the second official song of Colorado in 2007? It certainly seems like a natural fit.

Although I don’t listen to his music very often, I would probably have to list John Denver‘s music among my very favorites – so many great songs and even more years of memories that it awakens.

John Denver was born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. in Roswell, New Mexico on December 31, 1943. He was hugely popular throughout the 1970s and early 80s. He was well-known not only for his music, but also for his activism – a humanitarian and an environmentalist. He died shortly before his 54th birthday, in October 1997, when the plane he was piloting went down over Monterey Bay, California. Oddly, as I was thinking about posting this song today, I saw that John Denver’s former Aspen (Rocky Mountain) home went on the market and was listed in the Wall Street Journal today. Weird coincidence. Anyone in the market? 🙂

SONG OF THE DAY – “IT’S TOO LATE” by Carole King

June 12, 2014

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It’s Throwback Thursday! Today we are going way back to 1971 for the #tbt song. 

Today I got to spend the day with a dear friend of mine who I don’t get to see nearly often enough. It was such a sweet day and I loved the time together. We spent the morning walking the entirety of Central Park, talking and catching up on life the entire time. During the conversation we both mentioned that the one show we were dying to see on Broadway is “Beautiful – The Carole King Musical.” If you are not familiar with the show,” it is the story of Carole King’s life and it is currently one of the most popular shows on Broadway, with tickets that are nearly impossible to obtain. It just seemed to make it a fitting day to use one of her song’s as my TBT song.

Carole King is one of my all time favorite artists. She is literally one of the most talented songwriters and singers of this generation, and just an all-around classy lady. Plus, what about that piano! I would have to credit my parents with introducing me to Carole King back in my growing up days. We used to listen to her music around the house all the time.

One of my very favorite albums of all time is Tapestry. Today’s song is from that album, which was released in 1971. It was difficult for me to pick just one song! Once I got started playing the album, I kept saying “Oh, this is the one. No, I am going to do this one. Wait … maybe this one.” This went on for a solid hour as I just sat and enjoyed listening to this amazing album. I finally decided on this song because it was one of her biggest hits as a singer and it is a great example of what she is so well known for … honest, powerful, emotional music that just really connected with the listeners. It is still as powerful today as it was when it was released so many years ago.

Carole King started as a songwriter, penning songs for other artists. It was thanks to encouragement from her friend, James Taylor, that she began singing her own songs. What an incredible decision that was, as she has since become one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of all time. The album, Tapestry, has been listed by Rolling Stone Magazine as #36 in the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.  This is really no surprise … is there anyone out there who can’t sing along with at least one of the songs on this album? My son was amazed that I could sing every single word to this album while we were listening to it tonight. It is a Masterpiece!

Enjoy this throwback today! I hope it inspires you to go back and listen to the entire Tapestry album.

SONG OF THE DAY – “SOLSBURY HILL” by Peter Gabriel

March 27, 2014

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It’s Throwback Thursday! Today’s #tbt song goes way back to 1977 and was originally posted as my daughter’s Song of the Day on October 9, 2010.

This is an amazing, classic song that I have always loved. The sound of the song and the emotion that comes from the music is just incredible; it is such a recognizable, unique sound. This song was the debut single from Peter Gabriel’s first self-titled solo album, released in 1977. Peter Gabriel, an English singer-songwriter, was a founding member of the the band Genesis and was with the band from 1967 to 1975 as the lead singer and flutist. Gabriel left the band in 1975, which is probably why I always thought of him as more of a solo artist and never really related him to Genesis when I was growing up … when I think of Genesis, I always think of Phil Collins who was the drummer and replaced Gabriel as lead singer in 1975 and was very influential during my all important teen years. 🙂

Peter Gabriel has been described as one of the most innovative artists in rock and roll, and he has certainly been recognized for that by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2010, as a member of Genesis, Gabriel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and he is scheduled to be a 2014 inductee as a solo artist. Pretty impressive! He has won many awards, both musical and otherwise. In fact, in 2008, TIME Magazine listed him as one of the top 100 Most Influential People in the World, recognizing him as a Hero and Pioneer, for both his musical contributions and his humanitarian work.

Anyway, I hope this song brings back some good memories for you … or, if you are a young thing and not familiar with the song, I hope you enjoy it. It is certainly a great song to add to your playlist.  Much Love!