Weekend Music -- RIP Hal Blaine

We would be remiss not to note the passing this week of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame session drummer Hal Blaine at the age of 90.  You may not have heard of Blaine (born Harold Simon Belsky), but you've almost certainly heard him.  That's because he played drums on 150 top 10 hits in the '50s, '60s and '70s.  He played drums on virtually every hit by the Mamas and Papas, Simon and Garfunkel and Beach Boys (sorry, Dennis Wilson), as well as on songs recorded by Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.  Blaine nicknamed and was an original member of "The Wrecking Crew," a group of Los Angeles- based studio musicians that were ubiquitous in rock and pop recording sessions from the '60s to early '70s.  If you have any doubt of the importance of Blaine in musical history, check out the "partial" list of songs he played on here.

We selected a few of those songs to honor his legacy...

Then He Kissed Me -- The Crystals

Wouldn't It Be Nice -- The Beach Boys

America -- Simon and Garfunkel

... and the song in which many consider his drumming to be the most influential and imitated,

Be My Baby -- The Ronettes









BONUS:  The New Yorker has an appreciation that says it better than we can.

Mid-Week Troubled Waters Song

After the vile murder of worshipers at the Tree of Life synagogue last Saturday, and a week of terror brought on by a fanatic's desire to bomb Trump's "enemies," and so much more, we're in troubled times. Perhaps this ageless song from Simon and Garfunkel will remind us that we're far from alone, and we have the wind at our backs and the sun in our faces. Time will heal and change will come.

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all (all)
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Weekend Music

Happy 75th birthday (!) to musician/ singer/ songwriter Paul Simon. We have to admit we're more fans of his earlier work with Art Garfunkel than we are of his solo efforts, as beautiful and as highly acclaimed as they are. So, we're highlighting two Simon songs from his early collaboration with Garfunkel, "Kathy's Song" from 1965's "Sounds of Silence" album, and "America" from 1968's "Bookends." A few points: the Kathy in the eponymous song is former Simon girlfriend and British muse Kathy Chitty, whose 1964 road trip with Simon also served as an inspiration for "America." Also, you may recall "America" was used in some early ads by Sen. Bernie Sanders when he ran in the Democratic primaries. Now, we've all come to look for America in the past 11 months, because it's not what we thought it was. Hope you enjoy.

Weekend Herbal Remedy Song

Happy 75th birthday tomorrow to Art Garfunkel, musical partner to Paul Simon and man of many other talents. With the stress of the approaching election (vote straight ticket Democrat!), we thought a beautiful traditional song co- arranged by Art might be a nice antidote to the unpleasantness of the moment. Here's "Scarborough Fair/ Canticle" from Simon and Garfunkel's 1966 album, "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme." Chill and enjoy.

Weekend Songs

It's Art Garfunkel's 70th (!) birthday on Saturday, so here are two songs from the extraordinary "Bookends" album. So this weekend, no fakin' it America!

Saturday Song