Music has always had a significant role in my life. First, I hear the music, and then I listen to the lyrics. Some of the songs I listen to I can personally relate to, while others remind me of times past – mainly the sixties and seventies.

On this page, I will post a song that randomly comes to my mind and share its history. The majority of the songs will be from the 1960s and the 1970s.

I’ve already posted a couple songs on my Facebook page. I am moving them here. So, if you follow me on FB, you probably already heard the first few. After posting those few, I will only display the daily songs here. If you are interested in the music I share, you will want to follow this page. I am also interested in your introspection. If you took the time to stop by this page, then knowing your thoughts is important to me – so please share if you are comfortable doing so. (All videos and songs posted to this page are only for educational and entertainment purposes. No infringement is intended) – FAIR USE ACT – Copyright law provides for the principle, commonly called “fair use,” that the reproduction of copyright works for certain limited, educational purposes does not constitute copyright infringement.

As I hear and think of a song, I dive into its history of who wrote it, when it was recorded, and how far up the Billboard charts did it go.

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May 4, 2023

Kent State Universtiy and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young

It was 53 years ago that Neil Young picked up the May 15 edition of Life Magazine. There on the cover was a Pulitzer Prize photo of Mary Vecchio kneeling over the body of Jeffery Miller, a Kent State University student killed by the Ohio National Guard. After seeing the photo and reading the article, the song “OHIO” came to him.

According to Songfacts, David Crosby recalled Young “was silent for a long time, then picked up his guitar and 20 minutes later had this song.”

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young recorded the song in Los Angeles on May 21, 1970, seventeen days after the tragic event happened, and released it on June 4.

Richard Nixon won the presidency in part because he promised to end the Vietnam War. However, in April 1970, the United States invaded Cambodia, which intensified the war. On April 30, Nixon took to the airwaves and announced the invasion, which had to be done because the North Viet Cong sought sanctuary there. The event intensified the war protests in the United States and led to why the Ohio National Guard was sent to Kent State.

I came across an article on the Kent State website that gives further details of what occurred on the horrible May afternoon. The article was written by two former Kent State professors, Jerry M. Lewis and Thomas R. Hensley, who was teaching at Kent State on the day Miller and three other students were killed. If you would like to read more about the tragic events of that day see THE MAY 4 SHOOTINGS AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY: THE SEARCH FOR HISTORICAL ACCURACY.

When Graham Nash talked about the killings and the song in a 1990 interview, his voice was still filled with anger about what took place. He stated that the song had to be written, recorded, and released at once, even if they already had released “Teach Your Children.” The four young men were adamant about releasing “OHIO” because the kids needed it and the government needed to hear it.

Billboard Chart

The song debuted at #58 in June 1970 – Peaked at 14 on the hot 100 in August and 16 in Canada, and remained on the chart for nine weeks, three weeks in the top 20 and seven weeks in the top forty.

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August 4, 2020

I wasn’t planning on posting a song today, but after last night’s Silver Spring Township’s supervisors voted 4-1 in favor of HSS’s development agreement, I decided I needed a pick me up. It is raining today, which suits the disappointment I feel after last night’s vote. The rain, however, is much needed. We have had so many dry and hot days in the high 90s, rain is welcomed. AND I love rainy days!!

So, today’s song is ‘A Place in the Sun’ sung by Stevie Wonder and written in 1966 by Bryan Wells (music) and Ron Miller (lyrics). Wonder recorded the song in 1966. It made number 9 on the Billboard charts and number 3 on Billboard’s R&B Charts. There isn’t a whole lot more written about the song.

In what I found online, some found the song as a religious song – maybe for some, it can be – I see it as a hopeful song during a time of weariness and uncertainty – kind of like the present-day – ALL around the world. So, here is one little song of hope, and I hope it lightens your day and gives you hope. Enjoy.

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August 3, 2020

The other day I heard the song, ‘Everybody’s Talkin’ sung by Harry Nilsson. I thought, “this is an interesting song, and sometimes I feel this way,” so, I did some googling and found the following information.

Initially written by Fred Neil and who first recorded the song in 1966, but the song did not become a major hit until 1969 when Harry Nilsson recorded it. The song peaked at number two for the year on the Billboard charts.

The song became such a significant hit because of the movie, Midnight Cowboy starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight. “Everybody’s Talkin” became the theme song for the film which won Film of the Year for 1969. The movie itself has a fascinating history. It is the first “X”* rated movie to achieve Emmy wins – Best Director: John Schlesinger, Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Waldo Salt. What is also interesting is that neither Jon Voight nor Dustin Hoffman, who were up for Best Actor, won. Another interesting fact is that Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid grossed the most revenue for 1969 and did not win. Midnight Cowboy came in third with the most income. *”X for its depiction of prostitution and homosexuality” – later changed to R.

Here is a link to Ultimate Classic Rock if you want to learn more about Harry Nilsson, Midnight Cowboy, and ‘Everybody’s Talkin’. (right-click link to open in new tab)

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/harry-nilsson-midnight-cowboy/

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Songs Posted on FB in July –

“and those of tender years . . .” Teach Your Children is a well-known song written by Graham Nash and performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. In an interview Nash did with NPR’s Bob Edwards, Nash says the song idea came from a photograph he saw of a child holding a toy hand grenade in Central Park. The photo depicted an angry young boy whose parents recently divorced, and who felt alone and abandoned. To Nash, the photo caused him to think of the messages that society gives to children about war and other issues. Listening to the lyrics and reading the words and knowing the background of the song helps the listener and reader understand what the songwriter is saying about society and the impact it has on children. The song was first recorded in October 1969, released in May 1970. The song only ever reached number 16 on the Billboard charts.

Lyrics

You who are on the road
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good-bye.
Teach your children well,
Their father’s hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picks, the one you’ll know by.
Don’t you ever ask them why, if they told you, you will cry,
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you.
And you, of tender years,
Can’t know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die.
Teach your parents well,
Their children’s hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picks, the one you’ll know by.
Don’t you ever ask them why, if they told you, you will cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

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Today’s song is “Summertime” sung by Janis Joplin. Written in 1934 by Ira Gershwin for the musical “Porgy & Bess.” The musical is based on a book written by DuBose Heyward and published in 1925. The story is based on the African American community in Charleston, SC. “Summertime” has been covered at least 25,000 times, but Joplin’s rendition gets a lot of attention. Joplin’s version never made it to the music charts. Still, her sultry, crying voice raised more eyebrows than that of Billie Holiday’s version. As many know, Janis’s life was cut short in October 1970 when she died in LA of a heroin overdose. She was only 26 years old.

Lyrics

Summertime and the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high
Your daddy’s rich and your ma is good lookin’
So hush, little baby, baby, don’t you cry
One of these mornin’s, you’re gonna rise up singin’
Then you’ll spread your wings and you’ll take to the sky
But ’til that mornin’, there is nothin’ can harm you
With Daddy and Mummy, Mummy standing by
Don’t you cry…
The following link gives you more information about the song and Joplin performing the song in 1969 in Texas.

https://societyofrock.com/janis-joplins-1969-performance-of-summertime-is-rocks-best-kept-secret/?

Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote the song “They Long to Be (Close to You)” in 1964 for Richard Chamberlain. The song only received minor recognition. Throughout the sixties, various artists such as Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warrick tried to make a success with the song. Still, again it didn’t reach the expectation – at least – not until Bacharach approached the brother/sister duo – The Carpenters. The duo recorded the song in May 1970, and on July 25 of that year, the song hit number 1, replacing “Mama Told Me Not to Come” by the Three Dog Night. Quite the contrast in music. The Carpenters with their hit remained on top until August 22 when Bread’s “Make it With You” hit number 1.

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Each day I look for one song that is thought-provoking and helps me to get my day started – today’s song is Homeward Bound sung by Simon & Garfunkle – Written by Paul Simon in 1964. Two years later, the song charted on Billboard’s Hot List at #5 in the U.S. and remained there for 12 weeks. In the UK the song charted at #9. Simon wrote the song as he returned home to Brentwood, England.

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Hang on Sloopy came out in 1965 and was recorded by The McCoys. The song peaked at #1 in the U.S. and #5 in the UK. How could we not dance to this song? yey!!