Earlier this year, John Moreland released High on Tulsa Heat. The album is Moreland’s third full-length solo record, but if you have never heard Moreland, you are bound to be drawn into the opening track on the album, “Hang Me in the Tulsa County Stars.” The guy is the real deal.
Moreland was born in Texas and lived in Kentucky for awhile, but he has been living in Tulsa, Oklahoma since he was ten-years-old, the same age he started writing songs. And while his earlier music included work in punk, rock, and hardcore bands, his most recent work features acoustic guitars and a gravely country voice that places him among the outstanding performers in the Texas singer-songwriter tradition.
Perhaps you will recognize Moreland’s voice because several of his songs have appeared on the Sons of Anarchy TV series. Either way, though, you are in for a treat when you hear this performance of “Hang Me in the Tulsa County Stars” at the TuneIn House at SXSW 2015.
On October 14, 1957, the Everly Brothers scored their first number one song with “Wake Up Little Susie.” The song had been released on September 2 as a follow-up to their hit “Bye Bye Love,” which had only gone to number two on the charts during that summer.
Controversy About the Lyrics
Some critics of “Wake Up Little Susie” raised concerns it was about teenage sex, and Don Everly later reported that the song was actually banned on some Boston radio stations at one point. Others, however, thought the song was a more innocent tale about two teenagers who had fallen asleep at the movies.
No matter how you read the song, you cannot deny it is quite catchy, which, along with the great harmonies by Don Everly and Phil Everly, are the reasons it went to the top of the charts. Check out this Everly Brothers performance from 1957 overdubbed with the hit single.
Simon & Garfunkel Version
Another duo with amazing harmonies, Simon & Garfunkel, later paid tribute to the Everly Brothers by performing “Wake Up Little Susie” at their famous Concert in Central Park on September 19, 1981.
Simon & Garfunkel also had some chart success with “Wake Up Little Susie.” The release of their Concert in Central Park version became Simon & Garfunkel’s last top 40 hit, with the song going to number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982.
A Beginning for the Everly Brothers
Although “Wake Up Little Susie” was the Everly Brother’s first number-one song, it was not their last. The Everly Brothers topped the charts again the following year in 1958 with “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” and they did it again in 1960 with “Cathy’s Clown.”
What is your favorite Everly Brothers song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
In the 1989 film Back to the Future II, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) visited the future date of October 21, 2015. There are a number of ways for us to celebrate this date, including a new Blu-ray/DVD Back to the Future package and the movie’s brief return to movie theaters.
For more instant gratification, you may visit the “Back to the Future Day” Facebook page, and below you may see how the filmmakers envisioned Hill Valley would look in October 2015. I want my flying car.
Back to the Future II was directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Bob Gale. On A.V. Club, Gale recently discussed the odd coincidence of the film predicting the Cubs winning the World Series in 2015 and this year the Cubs being in the playoffs. What item from the Back to the Future II segment set in October 2015 do you most wish were true? Leave your two cents in the comments.
It is always good news when there is a movie from Joel and Ethan Coen on the horizon. The brothers have just released the trailer for their upcoming film, Hail, Caesar! The new movie stars Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill and Ralph Fiennes.
Hail, Caesar! is set during the latter years of Hollywood’s Golden Age, with Brolin trying to track down the kidnapped star (Clooney) of a movie called “Hail, Caesar!” With several stars from previous Coen movies and a kidnapping story, The Guardian has called the new movie an “extremely Coen-y comedy.” Check out the trailer below.
Hail, Caesar! hits theaters on February, 26 2016.
Will you go see Hail, Casar! Leave your two cents in the comments.
One of the recurring highlights of The Late Late Show with James Corden has been the joyful Carpool Karaoke segments, where a famous performer joins Corden for a drive around Los Angeles talking and singing along with the performer’s records. So far, the guests in Corden’s car have included Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart, Jennifer Hudson, Iggy Azalea, and Justin Bieber. One of my favorites is the segment that aired a few weeks ago with Stevie Wonder.
James Corden recently explained how the idea for Carpool Karaoke grew out of a sketch with Comic Relief in England, where he drove around with George Michael. He also noted that taking superstars out by themselves in a car helps them loosen up and show another side of themselves.
The Carpool Karoake segment with Stevie Wonder shows that Wonder can sing anywhere and that he has a great sense of humor. Also, you can see that Corden is genuinely touched when Wonder honors his request to call Corden’s wife and sing “I Just Called to Say I Love You” at around the 3:30 mark. Check it out.
Who is your favorite guest on Carpool Karaoke? Leave your two cents in the comments.
Earlier this year, John Moreland released High on Tulsa Heat
and the movie’s brief return to movie theaters.
