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?

Random Thoughts of the Day

Nothing has yet been said about Bob Dylan Tour Dates for 2023.  I am speculating that it will resume in the Far East.  Bootleg Series #17, Fragments, will be released tomorrow.  Amazon.com states I will get it tomorrow before 10 P.M., but it has not been shipped as of 12 noon today.  Speaking about Dylan, thus YouTube Video about his lead guitarists is excellent.

The maintenance charges for my co-op went up 20%.  That almost eats up the increase in Social Security benefits,

I wonder if Cousin Bruce Morrow will actually come to the next Oldies Meet and Greet as he said in his conversation with me.  We'll see.

 

Follow-Up About My Conversation with Cousin Bruce

 

I was annoyed that I had to wait over three hours to talk to Cousin Brucie. He should take callers on a first come first served basis.  The Cuz should also ask people to phone in only once a month so all his avid listeners should get a fair chance to talk to him.

Will he come to future Oldies Meet and Greet?  He still has an apartment in Greenwich Village but spends most of his time in his house in upstate New York where he does his Saturday night show.  He could travel to Ben's Deli as the show ends at 4 PM, giving him plenty of time to get to the WABC studio in Manhattan to start his show at 6 PM.  We usually hold our event on the second Saturday in November but could change the date to accommodate him.  If he does come, we will have to discuss how to publicize the event.

I Waited for 3 1/2 Hours but I Finally Spoke to Cousin Brucie Last Night

Yours truly with Cousin Bruce at the WABC Cruise in June 2007

I very rarely phone radio stations as I don’t have the patience to stay on hold for long periods.  I tried to phone Cousin Brucie a few times when he was on SiriusXM, but I got busy signals. When he moved to WABC, his listenership increased as anyone with an internet connection can hear the show, so I presumed it would be more difficult to get through.  When I listen to his show, I hear many regular callers.  To be fair, he should limit callers to once a month, but some people must talk to him every week.  I sensed that one must call very early in the show to get through.  I usually eat dinner at 6 PM, when the show begins, and usually finish the dishes by 6:40, so I never tried to get through.  Last night we ate dinner out and returned home at 5:30. At 6:10 I phoned in and reached the screener.  I requested him to play Turn Turn Turn by the Byrds since David Crosby passed away a few days ago.  I waited and waited and at 7:30 he featured a special on Crosby and played that song.  I kept waiting and heard Brenda, a Facebook friend talk to the Cuz.  I had a chat with her and she said she only had to wait 25 minutes.  I was somewhat annoyed at that point since I thought to be fair caller should be heard on a first come first served basis.  Anyway, at 9:30 the screener came on and said the Cuz would take my call but didn’t want to play anything by the Byrds again.  He suggested Mickey’s Monkey by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.  I spoke to the Cuz about the Facebook page that I set up as a fan site.  I also discussed the Oldies Meet and Greet that we have held over the years.  He actually said he would like to come but was afraid to be in an enclosed area because of the COVID situation.  I had to wait 3 ½ hours, but it was worth it.

My four minutes with Cousin Bruce