We remember Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996)

The great Ella Fitzgerald was born on this day in 1917.   She is known to many as "The First Lady of Song", a well deserved title in my opinion.

Ella had lots of problems as a young woman.  She was an orphan by 15 and had trouble with the law.    Eventually, she left that and became a very successful performer.

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Remembering "Summer Wine" by Nancy and Lee!

"Summer wine" was a great song recorded many summers ago.

It's a song about a stranger who meets a stranger. I guess that I will leave the rest of the story to your imagination.

I love the song because it lends itself to a male and female vocalist.

The woman repeats the chorus over and over again. ("Strawberry cherries and an angel's kiss in spring....my summer wine is really made from all these things.")

The man tells the story.

Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood recorded the original version of "Summer wine".

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1956: "Heartbreak hotel" by Elvis was # 1 this week

  

Elvis recorded this song in January 1956 and it became his first # 1 and gold record.   "Heartbreak hotel" is one of the greatest rock songs of all time.  

It launched Elvis and everything that followed, from more gold records to movies.   I learned later that Chet Atkins played guitar and Floyd Cramer the piano in this recording.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

1719: Robinson Crusoe was published

It was 1719 and a wonderful new book by Daniel Defoe was published in England.   

It was about a shipwrecked sailor who spent years on a deserted island.   It was apparently based on the experiences of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor lost off the coast of South America in the early 1700's.

By the way, I recently saw this 1953 movie about "Robinson Crusoe".  It was interesting.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

April 1968 and "McArthur Park" by Richard Harris

"Mac Arthur's Park" was released in April and was heard on the radio during the summer of 1968.

In an unusual move, Richard Harris, the great actor, got together with composer Jimmy Webb and the result was MacArthur Park. 

Webb was a great songwriter.   He wrote Glen Campbell's "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", "Galveston" and "Wichita Lineman", The Fifth Dimension's "Up, up and away" and Art Ganfunkel's "All I know".

"MacArthur Park's" arrangement was over 7 minutes long!   It is really two songs, the vocal portion and a wonderful instrumental bridge in the middle.

Today, some people think that "MacArthur Park" is one of the worst songs ever recorded. (Pop music madness)

Some people really like it! (Macarthur Park is the greatest song ever)

It was many many years ago.  Here is the song and the lyrics:    

"Spring was never waiting for us, girl

It ran one step ahead As we followed in the dance

Between the parted pages and 

were pressed In love's hot, fevered iron

Like a striped pair of pants

MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark

All the sweet, green icing flowing down

Someone left the cake out in the rain

I don't think that I can take it'

Cause it took so long to bake it

And I'll never have that recipe again Oh, no!

I recall the yellow cotton dress

Foaming like a wave

On the ground around your knees

The birds, like tender babies in your hands

And the old men playing checkers by the trees

MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark

All the sweet, green icing flowing down

Someone left the cake out in the rain

I don't think that I can take it' Cause it took so long to bake it

And I'll never have that recipe again Oh, no!

There will be another song for me For I will sing it

There will be another dream for me

Someone will bring itI will drink the wine while it is warm

And never let you catch me looking at the sun

And after all the loves of my life

After all the loves of my life You'll still be the one

I will take my life into my hands and I will use it

I will win the worship in their eyes and I will lose it.

I will have the things that I desire

And my passion flow like rivers through the sky

And after all the loves of my life

After all the loves of my life I'll be thinking of you

And wondering why

MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark

All the sweet, green icing flowing down

Someone left the cake out in the rain

I don't think that I can take it

Cause it took so long to bake it

And I'll never have that recipe again

Oh, no! Oh, no No, no Oh no!! "

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember Lew Krausse (1943-2021)

We say happy birthday to Lew Krausse, who was born on this day in 1943.   He died February 2021.

Krausse came up with the Kansas City A's in 1961 and won 38 games between 1966-69.   Frankly, he pitched for some very bad teams.

Back in 1970, The Seattle Pilots moved to Milwaukee just in time to start the season.   They barely had time to change "Pilots" for "Brewers" on their uniforms.

It was Lew who started that first game against the Angels.   The home team lost 12-0 but baseball was back in Milwaukee.

In 1970, he went 13-18 pitching for a second year expansion team.   He was eventually traded to Boston, St Louis and finished in Atlanta.

Great trivia question:   Who threw the first pitch in Brewers' history?   Now you know the answer!

Lew finished his career in 1974:   68-91, & 4.00 ERA.    

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

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We remember Conrado "Connie" Marrero (1911-2014)

Conrado "Connie" Marrero was born in Sagua La Grande, Cuba, on this day in 1911.   He died in 2014.

Marrero was born in my father's hometown.  He pitched in the majors in the 1950's with the Washington Senators.   

He was 39-40 with a 3.67 ERA & selected to the 1951 AL All Star team.  Without question, his statistics have to be seen in the context that the Senators were a very bad team.  

In other words, wonder how many games Marrero would have won with a better team?

My late father told me many stories of Marrero pitching in the old Cuban winter league.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

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