CHEERS to Bill and Michael in PWM, our Wyoming-based friend (and DNC delegate in Philadelphia) Irish Patti and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend .... and week ahead.
ART NOTES — an exhibition entitled Sicily: Culture and Conquest is at the British Museum in London, England through August 14th.
Now at the British MuseumHAIL and FAREWELL to the Scottish-born jazz baritone saxophonist Joe Temperley— who performed in bands both in the UK and after relocating to the US (such as Duke Ellington and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and described as having “married gruff New York attitude with Scottish romance”) — who has died at the age of 86 ……….... and to the Alabama native (and long-time Brooklyn resident) Susannah Mushatt Jones— who has died at the age of 116, less than two months short of her 117th birthday. This leaves 116-year-old Emma Morano (of Verbania, Italy) not only as the unofficial world's oldest person … but also the last living person with three sources of ID as having been born in the 1800’s (1899).
YUK for today — from the Economist magazine’s Business this Week section:
In a nod to the presidential election, Budweiser, which is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, a Belgian-Brazilian brewing giant, said it would emblazon “America” on its beer cans between late May and the vote in November. The rebranding is part of Budweiser’s campaign theme that “America is in Your Hands”.
From late May to NovemberWhose hands, and whether they are adequately sized …... is an entirely separate matter.
HAPPY TRAILS to the Toronto-born journalist of 60 Minutes, Morley Safer— who has been with the show since 1970 — announcing his retirement at age 84 (and there will be a tribute to him this evening).
AFTER C&J MEET-UPS I always dutifully turn-in these w/receipts …… yet I still have yet to receive any of the Soros Money we are supposed to get. What the hey?
Where’s my Soros Money?ONE VERY INTERESTING link that Meteor Blades featured the other day had to do with the TTiP treaty— with this quote that sums-up why opposition has arisen:
Like most modern trade deals, TTIP has less to do with tariffs than with so-called “non-tariff trade barriers,” — a euphemism for ordinary health, safety, environmental, and financial regulations that corporations want to weaken both at home and abroad.
THURSDAY's CHILD was rescued by firefighters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from an automobile engine compartment …. and will be up for adoption.
Frightened Florida kittehADMITTEDLY this may seem like weak tea …. but in a victory for its center-left prime minister Matteo Renzi, the Parliament in Italy — the last major Western democracy not to legally recognize gay partnerships — voted to allow civil unions.
In a Facebook post, published before the confidence vote, Mr Renzi spoke fondly of a party colleague, Alessia Ballini, who died of cancer aged 41.
While serving in Mr Renzi's Florence mayoral administration (before he became prime minister) she campaigned for gay rights and against homophobia.
"In these crucial hours I keep close to my heart the thought and memory of Alessia," Mr Renzi said. "And that's enough for me. Because laws are made for people, not for ideologies. For those who love, not for those who make declarations.
"Let's write another important page for the Italy that we want."
FRIDAY's CHILDREN are named Tucker the Dog and Sokka the Cat — and after returning home from surgery, Tucker was immediately comforted by Sokka.
Tucker … and Sokka the CatBRAIN TEASER - try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC, as well as the Science Friday quiz from NPR.
THE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a look at some new books written by my friends— one about being Blue in a Red State, and one about world travel in middle age — and what they may have to offer you.
SEPARATED at BIRTH — “Animal House” protagonist Greg Marmalard (as portrayed by James Naughton) and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Greg Marmalard A young Mitt Romney...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… sometimes a performer is so difficult to categorize, it may harm their overall popularity (though not necessarily their overall success) in the music business. One such performer is Jackie DeShannon– who was ahead of her time as a singer-songwriter, yet too sophisticated to be a teen idol – and so she is largely remembered as a performer for two songs from the 1960’s. But as a songwriter she has remained successful long after the spotlight left her.
She was born Sharon Meyers in western Kentucky, and began her music career early: singing country songs on the radio in 1950 (at age 6) and by 11 was hosting her own radio show. Her family moved to Chicagoland after that, and (still a teenager) began recording songs under such names as Sherry Lee or Jackie Dee.
While they didn’t sell, some of her country songs caught the ear of guitarist Eddie Cochran– who introduced her to his songwriter girlfriend Sharon Sheeley– who (after the death of Cochran in a car crash in 1960) formed a writing partnership with the 16 year-old Meyers. They wrote hits such as "Dum Dum" for Brenda Lee and "I Love Anastasia" for the Fleetwoods - becoming the first commercially successful female songwriting team in popular music.
Still a 16 year-old, Liberty Records offered her a recording contract later that year, but were unenthusiastic about the name Sharon Meyers. In an interview with Terry Gross - she thought that with her low voice, the gender-neutral name Jackie would work well. But Jackie Dee was considered too close to Brenda Lee, so she adapted Jackie Dee Shannon (Shannon being the name of an ancestor). And when people heard it as Jackie DeShannon – a stage name was born.
She had middling success for a time as a performer, with her cover of the Sonny Bono tune Needles and Pins as well as When You Walk in the Room - her own composition. Both were much bigger hits for The Searchers in Britain, but Liberty stuck with her (in a way they may not have with others) for several reasons. She had the songwriting capability, was photogenic and - having dated Elvis Presley, as well as Love guitarist Bryan MacLean, became friends with Rick Nelson and the Everly Brothers and appeared on a teen movie with Bobby Vinton – all helped make her an important performer.
Her breakthrough came in 1964, when she was chosen to be an opening act for the first US tour of The Beatles – with her back-up band including a young Ry Cooder – and was told when she introduced herself to Paul McCartney - "I know who you are, we used to listen to all your records and demos". Her song "Don’t Doubt Yourself, Babe" was covered by The Byrds for their debut album.
She moved to England for a time in 1965, and began writing songs with a then-unknown session guitarist, including “Don’t Turn Your Back on Me" and the song Come and Stay With Me for Marianne Faithfull – which was a Top Ten hit for her in the US & UK. It has been long speculated that her songwriting partner (Jimmy Page) wrote the Led Zeppelin song Tangerine about her.
She then moved to New York where she found another emerging songwriting partner in Randy Newman – and they composed "Did He Call Today Mama?", “Hold Your Head High" as well as "You Have No Choice" for a then-unknown (see a pattern here?) guitarist named Delaney Bramlett. Finally, Jackie DeShannon had her breakthrough own recording … but not with one of her own songs. Instead, it was the Burt Bacharach-Hal David tune What the World Needs Now is Love– which made her a household name, and the song a classic.
She continued as a performer (appearing in the 1967 film C’mon, Let’s Live a Little with Bobby Vee) but her career as a headliner was uneasy, as alluded to in the first paragraph. She was too sophisticated to be a pop singer, yet the age of the singer-songwriter was still a few years away, her material would not have fit in country music back then, and she was too young to be a Vegas act.
It was not until 1969 that she sang her other mega-hit, Put a Little Love in Your Heart– which was her own composition – and "Love Will Find a Way", which was a minor hit.
While she never stopped recording and touring – with many critically-acclaimed recordings through the 70’s and guest appearances on albums by Van Morrison and others – it was her work as a songwriter that has kept her a vibrant presence in music. Jackie DeShannon (and her songwriting partner Donna Weiss) won the 1982 Song of the Year award at the Grammys for Bette Davis Eyes– the hit for Kim Carnes. In addition, Jackie’s song "Break-a-Way" (which was originally recorded by the New Orleans R&B singer Irma Thomas) was a major 1983 hit for Tracey Ullman. In an NBC period drama American Dreams, she was portrayed by the singer Liz Phair– someone who also didn’t fit into a standard niche.
Jackie DeShannon recorded a comeback album in 2000 called You Know Me– yet true to form, it garnered critical praise yet low sales. More recently, there have been some earlier and later compilation albums, as well as a 2015 release of some lost recordings from the early 1970’s. And beginning in 2009, she joined Sirius satellite radio as an entertainment broadcast correspondent — reporting historical anecdotes and current Beatles band members' news for Breakfast with the Beatles on weekends.
But her legacy at age 74 is secure, as in 2010 she was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame plus the Hit Parade Hall of Fame as well. And lemme ask you - any songwriter whose work has been performed by Ella Fitzgerald, Steppenwolf, Mahalia Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, the Isley Brothers, Jim Croce, Al Green, the Carpenters …. has to be doing something right, huh?
Jackie DeShannon in the 60’s … and in more recent yearsFor a work of hers that is less well-known — here is a song that she co-wrote in 1964 with future Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page ….. Dream Boy shows a different side of the two of them from fifty-two years ago.
Gentle and kind I love him 'cause he treats me oh so fine
Dream boy Oh he's so nice Doesn't treat me like a chore It will come true someday I know we’ll go away together Oh together He lets me be myself …
I love it when he wears his coat of leather
Just the way he stands …… A smile upon his face …. Tears me up so bad …. It's so hard not to chase Dream boy
x YouTube Video