A biography of Bruce Springsteen reports that Janis Joplin once unsuccessfully pursued a romance with Springsteen. One can only dream about the talented children they would have had. Although Springsteen and Joplin never performed together, Joplin was known for her performance of the show-stopper “Raise Your Hand” and Springsteen often highlights the song too.
We never got a Springsteen-Joplin pairing on “Raise Your Hand,” but in 1969, Joplin sang the song with an interesting choice. That year, Tom Jones and Janis Joplin sang “Raise Your Hand” together on the This is Tom Jones TV show. I must say, it is pretty awesome. Not Springsteen-Joplin-baby awesome, but awesome nonetheless.
This is Tom Jones ran on TV from 1969 to 1971. Jones featured a lot of big stars from the day, including Dusty Springfield and Stevie Wonder.
Can you think of an odder pairing than Tom Jones and Janis Joplin? Leave your two cents in the comments.
Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington. Various articles linked below commemorate the 70th anniversary of his birth.
Unlike some artists who died young, it is not too hard to imagine Hendrix around today still playing relevant music even though he died more than forty years ago on September 18, 1970. His music like “Hey Joe” was timeless in that he could be both cutting edge while being steeped in the history of the blues too.
Some features about Jimi Hendrix’s birthday provide interesting quotes. San Francisco Weekly Blog has a collection of 13 quotes from Hendrix, including a quote from his final interview (“I don’t feel the need to dress up so much now I see others doing it”). ABC News has quotes from other rock stars remembering Hendrix.
Some other articles feature cool photos. ABC News Blog has a collection of photos from Hendrix’s life and career (make sure to check out Hendrix in a tie with Curtis Knight and the Squires in 1965). Huffington Post has a slide show of items from a new Jimi Hendrix exhibit at Seattle’s EMP Museum. The Albany Sun Times Blog remembers Hendrix’s one year in the military with photos of excerpts from a deposition by Hendrix’s not-too-happy sergeant.
But it is not just about the past. Rolling Stone magazine discusses a new album from Hendrix — People, Hell & Angels (released March 5, 2013). Antimusic has a track-by-track description of the twelve previously unreleased studio recordings on the album. The Future Heart also has a track-by-track description, along with other stories about Hendrix including a video of The Experience’s May 3, 1969 concert in Toronto.
Happy birthday Jimi.
What is your favorite Jimi Hendrix performance or song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
Darrell Scott is a talented musician who has written some popular country songs, so even though you may not know his name, you might know some of his songs. He has released his own albums, including Long Ride Home (2011), but you might know him best for songs covered by other artists.
“It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” written by Darrell Scott and recorded by Travis Tritt. Here is Scott singing his version of the song.
Here is the cover by Tritt:
“Long Time Gone” and “Heartbreak Town” were written by Darrell Scott and recorded by the Dixie Chicks.
Here’s the Dixie Chicks singing “Long Time Gone.”
Those are some catchy country tunes. While I like the glossy covers, Scott does a nice job in the small live performances too. Scott continues to write and perform, and he has a new live album out with Tim O’Brien, We’re Usually A Lot Better Than This. What do you think of Darrell Scott’s songs? Leave your two cents in the comments.
If you are planning on deep frying a turkey this year, take some cautionary advice from William Shatner, set to music, of course. Check out “Eat, Fry, Love: A Cautionary Remix.”
The musical tale is based on a real experience that Bill Shatner had, so he teamed up with State Farm to make the video.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Do you have any frying turkey stories? Leave your two cents in the comments.
As rockets land near Jerusalem and more violence and fighting seems imminent, it seems like a good time to revisit Steve Earle’s song, “Jerusalem,” the title song from his 2002 album.
A biography of Bruce Springsteen reports that Janis Joplin once unsuccessfully pursued a romance with Springsteen. One can only dream about the talented children they would have had. Although Springsteen and Joplin never performed together, Joplin was known for her performance of the show-stopper “Raise Your Hand” and Springsteen often highlights the song too.
(released March 5, 2013). 
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