Weekend Tribute Music

 

Ronnie Spector, one of the most iconic voices and presences in rock and roll history, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 78.  The lead singer for The Ronettes, Spector had both the fortune and great misfortune of being married to mad evil genius producer Phil Spector, who launched her career but later stifled it, literally forbidding her to perform (it was much worse than that, as Ronnie details in her Be My Baby memoir).  During her career, she collaborated with the likes of Bruce Springsteen and members of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Ramones.  At her death, the outpouring of love and respect from her peers attested to her place in the heart and history of rock and roll. A great lady and great talent.

Rock in peace.

 

  

  

 

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.

Weekend Rainy Music Threefer

We've had a month's worth of rain here in the last few days which, of course, puts us in a soggy mindset. There must be thousands of songs, spanning every generation, with rain as a theme or symbol. We just picked three and headed back in time, with The Eurythmics (1984), Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970), and The Ronettes (1964). Hope you enjoy.