Chuck Berry Tribute Show at Flushing Town Hall

 

Lee and I ventured out in the cold last night to see a Chuck Berry Tribute show at nearby Flushing Town Hall.  This event was part of their Black History Trilogy.  Keith "The Captain" Gamble was the group leader who covered many of Chuck Berry's hits in the concert's first half.  He had a very impressive backup band.  In the second half, they covered several soul music hits.

Keith Gamble

American Pie by Don McClean - For the 64th Anniversary of a Tragic Plane Crash

 

It is hard to believe that 64 years ago today there was a plane crash in Iowa that killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson), and Richie Valens.  I discussed this tragedy on its 50th Anniversary so it's not necessary to repeat it.  I will say that the expression "The Music Died" is not appropriate and has been overused by Don McClean and others over the years.

Charlie Thomas of The Drifters Passes Away at 85

 

Since the beginning of 2023, several entertainers have passed away.  Yesterday we found out about the death of Charlie Thomas one of the lead singers of the Drifters.  That group had many personnel changes over the years, Charlie sang lead on Sweets for My Sweet which peaked at #16 on the Billboard chart.  May Charlie rest in peace.

Barrett Strong -Songwriter and Producer for Motown Passes Away at 81

Barrett Strong's only hit was Money (That's What I Want) which hit the charts in 1960.  The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin covered it.  Barrett was best known as a songwriter and producer for Motown as he wrote the lyrics for many of the Temptation's hits.  He teamed up with Norman Whitfield to write many other hits by numerous Motown artists.

St. Johns 75 Georgetown 73 at Madison Square Garden

 

The game was pretty close as St. Johns led for most of the first half, but the Georgetown Hoyas were in command for most of the second half.  The only score that counts is the final after 40 minutes of play.  David Jones led St. John’s with 17 points and AJ Storr scored the game-winning 3-pointer with four seconds remaining as the Red Storm took down Georgetown 75-73 on Sunday.

St. Johns is now 14-8 overall and 4-7 in the Big East Conference.  I don't think St. Johns has had a nationally ranked men's basketball team since the legendary Lou Carnesecca retired.

Don't Hang Up by The Orlons - Oldie of the Day

 

I was thinking about this song last Saturday night when I waited for 3 1/2 hours to talk to Cousin Brucie.  It paid off eventually as I spoke to him for 4 minutes about the Facebook Page and the Oldies Meet and Greet.  I never phone sports talk shows as the caller is usually limited to one minute or less with the host.  It is frustrating when put on hold when calling customer service for a bank or retailer.  At times you will get a message asking for your phone number for a callback.  I think radio shows should do the same thing.

Bob Dylan's Fragments, Time out of Mind - Bootleg Series #17 Was Released Today

 

My delivery of the deluxe 5CD set has not yet arrived (4:30 PM) but I am listening to it courtesy of Amazon Prime Music.  If one orders a CD, he gets the electronic version with it. Time Out Of Mind, released in 1997) is one of Dylan’s most commercially successful and critically acclaimed albums and won three Grammy Awards, including Album Of The Year. It includes such iconic songs as “Love Sick”, “Not Dark Yet” and “Make You Feel My Love”,  This CD set includes alternate versions, studio outtakes, and concert recordings of the songs in the original album.

I suggest my readers look at this review by Anne Margaret Daniel, a distinguished Dylan scholar.  She is more qualified to analyze these recordings than I am.

I wish that a future Bootleg Series include a sampling of recordings from the Never Ending Tour emphasizing songs that Dylan didn't write.

Dylan will be 82 years young in May.  Hopefully, the Never Ending Tour will resume within the next few months.  Rough and Rowdy Ways, his last album of new recordings, is now two years old.  Is a new CD in the works?