This is the stuff of nightmares.
Yearly Archives: 2018
George Theiss 1949-2018. Bandmate of Bruce Springsteen in his first band The Castiles
George Theiss passed away this past Friday, July 13.
From Backstreets.com:
GEORGE THEISS, 1949-2018 
George Theiss died on Friday after a two-year battle with lung cancer. He was 68. Theiss was Bruce Springsteen’s bandmate in their teen-years band The Castiles; Springsteen is now the last surviving member of that band.
Theiss formed The Castiles — named after the shampoo that he used — in late 1964 and was the band’s lead singer. He had been dating Virginia Springsteen for a while before learning that her brother could play the guitar; George soon invited Bruce to join the band. In his Born to Run autobiography, Springsteen identified The Castiles as “my first real band”…. He also described George Theiss as “the best vocalist we had. He had a real voice and charisma and did the job well. I was considered toxic in front of a microphone…
The Castiles actually got as far as playing New York City’s famous Café Wha? and doing a bit of recording. Their two-track recording of “Baby I,” a song that Springsteen and Theiss wrote together, was featured on Chapter and Verse, the 2016 compilation released in conjunction with the Born to Run autobiography. After The Castiles broke up, George Theiss remained a fixture on the Jersey Shore music scene through the 1970s and 1980s, later leading Cahoots and The George Theiss Band, and continuing to write and perform.
Harry Chapin
A really nice remembrance of a great artist from my friend Kevin Fura
“I meant to post this yesterday on the 37th anniversary of his death. I had the opportunity to see Harry Chapin perform only once in my life. It was early 1980 at Allentown Symphony Hall in Allentown, PA. I went there expecting a fine performance and left with much more. Harry’s plane was late and the show started with a 30-45 minute emergency performance by Tom Chapin. He was so entertaining that nobody really noticed the time. Suddenly a roar came through the crowd as Harry ran through the center row, guitar in hand, and jumped up onto the stage. He was very apologetic and promised an extra long performance that evening. All of the standards were covered plus some obscure tunes. It was just Harry and Tom, the band was not with him that evening.
Toward the end of the concert, Harry announced that they would be available after the show to sign autographs, pitch his causes, and just bullshit. Needless to say I waited after the show to meet him. Tom and I had a long conversation about the status of the New York Knicks and he graciously provided me with an autograph. After waiting for a little while, I got a chance to meet Harry. Words cannot express the kindness he provided in making small talk and signing an autograph. The most remarkable thing was the lack of bodyguards or any entourage, it was just Harry, Tom, and their fans. I still have the autographs. Harry’s is matted with a photo from the “Heads & Tails” album. I will never forget that evening and will always “remember when the music”.
Song of the Day July 17 George Ezra “Paradise”
George Ezra is a 25 year old (!) English songwriter who had some fame a few years back with the song Budapest. This past spring he put out his second album, Staying at Tamara’s, which raised his craft to an entirely new level. So many great songs on this album, hard to choose one. But Paradise is definitely a pleaser!
July 17
July 17
1965, ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag’ by James Brown is released. It goes on to sell over 2 million copies, and is considered seminal to the emergence of funk music as a distinct style.
1975, Bob Marley and the Wailers start a two night stand at The Lyceum, London, performances of which appear on a live album released later that year. The single off the album was ‘No Woman No Cry.’
Song of the Day 7/17/18 Houndmouth “Sedona”
First heard this song a couple years ago and it’s been on heavy rotation in my summer playlist ever since.
July 16 This Day in Music History
1969, The Beatles begin work on two new George Harrison songs, “Here Comes the Sun” and “Something” during recording of Abbey Road. Harrison was apparently inspired to write “Here Comes the Sun” after spending the day in the garden at Eric Clapton’s house.
1977, One hit wonder Shaun Cassidy, half brother of Partridge Family heartthrob David Cassidy, went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Da Doo Ron Ron’, a cover of the 1963 hit by the Crystals. Is a one hit wonder less of a wonder if the hit is a cover?? He also was in the Hardy Boy Mysteries, a late 70’s TV series.
2007, The White Stripes played their ‘shortest live show ever’ in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, when Jack White played a single guitar C# note accompanied by a bass drum/crash cymbal hit from Meg White. At the end of the “show”, Jack announced, “We have now officially played in every province and territory in Canada.” They then left the stage and performed a full show later that night in St John’s. Why? Why not? From This Day in Music.com
Sources: This Day in Music.com; Wikipedia
Song of the Day 7/16/18 Lilly Hiatt “Trinity Lane”
Lilly Hiatt is the Daughter of singer songwriter legend John Hiatt. Some how she manages to remind me of him without sounding like him with her ability to write interesting lyrics and make music that gets in my head and stays there. Along with this one ,check out “ The Night David Bowie Died”
Song of the Day Frank Turner “Someone to Love” cover
One of the many things that I’ve always loved about Frank Turner are the covers that he does both on his albums and live in concert. What’s great about them is the wide variety of musical styles that he’ll cover, everything from ABBA’s Dancing Queen to the Motown classic Build me up Buttercup to Born to Run. One of my favorites though is this cover of the Queen classic Someone to Love which also happens to be one of my favorite Queen songs. This is the studio version off of his compilation The Third Three Years, although you should check out the many great live versions on YouTube. Frank definitely does Freddie Mercury proud.
My daughter Claire at the Grace Vanderwaal concert this past Feb. at 930 Club
Mike and Paul's Music Blog 