Tranquility Pike

A Happy Tune to Start the Day

The Monkees! While in junior high, I looked forward to their zany, wacky show every week. 

Tom Petty rocked Chicago last night

What a great concert at the United Center last night - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, truly one of America's greatest live bands.

Visiting Headstone Friends

So the guy who created the facebook page for Terre Haute's Headstone Friends said he would kiss the front step if he reached 1,000 fans this week ... and he did! In fact, I think he has something like 1,400 people following the page right now. My brothers, nephew and I happened to be in town for a graduation (congrats Rob!) and so we made sure we were there to see all the action. 

I frequented Headstone from 1971 on and have taken my kids there for music and posters over the years. They love it, too ... 

The guy on the far left is our facebook buddy. At right is Robert, Rob and Mike.

Song of the Week: Oh Carol

Oh Carol ... Oh fun with Chuck teaching Keith a thing or two.

Song of the Week: How You Like Me Now

Fun, cool song from that memorable Kia advert.

Song of the Week: Love Reign o'er Me

The great song from Quadrophenia is re-imagined in an unexpected and wonderful way by Bettye LaVette.

Song of the Week: Being Kind (can hurt someone sometimes)

REO played many street dances on the Indiana State University campus when I was there back in the '70s. Oddly enough, on our way to Terre Haute this week, a couple stations were playing REO and made me think of this great song. 

Song of the Week: Brown Sugar

Song of the Week: Can't Find My Way Home

I see some of the music police on YouTube have put back some of my earlier weekly picks. Thank You!!

Song of the Week Dilemma

How am I going to be able to keep posting my songs of the week when the YouTube deputies keep taking down the video? Why does the music industry insist on irritating their most loyal customers? Wouldn't posting Since I've Been Loving You possibly make you want to go purchase Led Zep III? I DO spend $ on music ... all the time. At least let us have an online listen. I'm only linking, not downloading!

And while I'm on a rant, was that Sly from Sly and the Family Stone I saw on a cooking show the other day? The Food Network or something? I almost fell off the sofa. That's just not right.

Song of the Week: Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Song of the Week: It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)

What this Music Reminds Me of ...

Sneaking into and out of Cromwell Hall after hours. Burning sticks of incense. Candles. Living all week with no money. Black light posters. Granny glasses. Chuck's quadraphonic stereo. Waffle House at midnight.

Song of the Week: More Than One Way Home

Great song and message from Keb' Mo' ...

Song of the Week: While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Song of the Week: I Call Your Name

Just Ringo and a few of his pals ...

 

Song of the Week: Just Dropped In

This one is for all the Lebowski fans out there ... the original.

 

William Shatner Does "Rocketman" (apologies to Elton John)

Three vastly different interpretations of this tune, rolled into one rad video!

Grand Entrance Makes this Wedding Unique. Love It!

Song of the Week: I Wanna Be Your Man

Song of the Week: Kiss From a Rose

Song of the Week: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Look closely and you will notice that Donovan is not using an ash tray.

 

Jake Speed and the Freddies Sing the Ohio River Blues

Another fine performance by Cincinnati's favorite band, Jake Speed and the Freddies. Pay particular attention to my son, the group's guest drummer for the Rivertown Breakdown show. He has a drum solo around 2:30. As their bio says, the music of Jake Speed and the Freddies "leaps right out of Depression-era freight trains and right into Ohio River steamboats" much to the delight of their enthusiastic fans. And most of all, it was fun to see Rory pick up the sticks for this show!

Caveman Music Unearthed by Archaeologists

Seeing Quest for Fire something like two decades ago illustrated the harsh conditions that our caveman ancestors faced as they tried to eek out their daily existence. Now we learn that they did indeed have a little magic in their lives because if music isn't magic, I don't know what is. According to this NPR piece, archaeologists have found the world's oldest musical instruments, flutes fashioned from vulture bone and mammoth tusks, on the floor of a German cave. I find it pretty amazing and a testament to the human need for the emotional pull of music that cave people would take the time and trouble to carefully craft these flutes. 

Are these THE FIRST musical instruments, though? I recall a bit by Little Jimmy Dickens way, way back when Hee Haw was on the air, where he claimed he could play the world's first musical instrument ... a leaf! He whipped out this leaf, placed it horizontally between his lips and proceeded to get all sorts of music out of it. Since cave people were all consumed with finding food and staying safe, I'll bet the very first music was indeed made with things like leaves, sticks and people's voices. Sure wish we could hear it. I'll bet it was absolutely beautiful.

Song of the Week: Let There Be Rock

I've had AC/DC playing in my head all week, due to the commercial below.

Song of the Week: In the Court of the Crimson King

I have a vague recollection of seeing King Crimson open for Yes, but am not sure if it was real or a dream. The '70s were that way ... kind of hazy.

Song of the Week: Nutbush City Limits

By the way, I saw Ike and Tina Turner at the Indiana State University field house a long, long time ago and to this day, there's no better female performer. Wish I could dance like Tina.

Song of the Week: Route 66

Song of the Week: That's the Way I Like IT

Uh-huh!

Song of the Week: Life During Wartime