All Blog Posts (1,465)

ROCKOLLECTIONS: VOL.1- THE ORIGINALS PT.1

It's simple this time.

There are many songs we know very well, maybe were Big Hits.

And some were Originally done by other solo artists or groups.

In a lot of these cases, that is a big surprise, unknown to us.

In other cases, we know or have heard about these Originals.

That's it, I'll be playing them...simple as that.

One great memory, there is a version of a Folk Ballad in here with such great acoustic…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on April 7, 2014 at 12:04am — 12 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: ART AND ARTISTS PT.4 END

Loudon Wainwright III set the table at the end of the last Chapter.

This final time out it's songs about Famous Artists In History!

Beginning with the man who brung us to the party.

I'll have a song in here I particularly like from 1968, one that I would have found a reason to play someday even without this Series.

But it fits!

Included are some album cuts from both a commercial failure and a smash…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on April 2, 2014 at 12:58am — 8 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: ART AND ARTISTS PT.3

Hope I don't scare you with that picture.

I can't explain it, but it always makes me laugh that people are afraid of Clowns, lol!

I will Paint You A Picture if that's what it takes to keep your interest in Art and Artists.…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on March 30, 2014 at 8:05pm — 15 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: ART AND ARTISTS PT.2

Some Themes are tougher to do than others, that is the case with this one.

I'm not complaining mind you, there are many times I simply enjoy the challenge- that's the case here too.

What's the most famous Painting you can think of?

I'll have my answer in here and much more.

You are invited to join me for a Chapter that is truly a mixed bag- I think you will enjoy this one, certainly hope you do.

It is very very…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on March 26, 2014 at 1:59am — 16 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: ART AND ARTISTS PT.1

I am refreshed after the Birthdays re-runs, and thought I would take some risks.

Looking at the Calendar, I saw that March 30th would have been the 161st Birthday of Vincent Van Gogh.

That got me to wondering if there was enough Music to do a Theme show on Art & Artists.

There is and I will.

In fact, it seems I can do two full shows, or 4 parts here.

I had to go to the dark recesses of my Music Library for many…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on March 23, 2014 at 10:04pm — 10 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY PT.4 FINAL

Well as they say, the Party's Over.

This is it for Birthdays anyway- until I get the itch to do it again someday with different Music.

I promised all Good Feelings for this episode.

Let's see if I can deliver.

Happy Birthday Everyone...whenever it is!

Here are the links to your…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on March 19, 2014 at 10:46am — 2 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY PT.3

Continuing with our celebration of ALL Birthdays Around The Calendar, I even have a song for those who don't want to be included.

Musical selections include a Happy Birthday that doesn't seem Happy, one that does, a song that captures almost all parts of my growing up by what I saw on TV, and as beautiful an interpretation of a Beatle song as you will ever hear (and remarkably it came out the same year the Beatles…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on March 16, 2014 at 11:12pm — 4 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY PT.2

We are celebrating Birthdays, all around the Calendar.

So from me to you, whenever it is, Happy Birthday!

You can put that in the bank and cash it when your Birthday comes around.

This time around a musical look at nostalgia as we move on in years.

That feeling that the best days are behind us, when they may just possibly lie ahead.

Plus, I have always felt that your birthday is your own Personal Holiday…YOU are a…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on March 11, 2014 at 11:33pm — 12 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY PT.1

It is hard to believe that in all these years I have never tackled the subject of Birthdays as a Theme.

I'll take care of that beginning here and now.

Birthdays are fascinating- some people eagerly look forward to them while others dread them.

But the one indisputable fact is that we all have them!

Everyday is someone's birthday.

So a Celebration of All Birthdays Within the Calendar Year, leaving no one out.…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on March 10, 2014 at 12:17am — 7 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: NAMEDROPPING PT.4

I'll finish up with the Namedropping for now...until it's brought back at some vague time in the Future.

This time it's Songs containing the Names of Classic Rock & Rollers!

I was thinking, the whole point of dropping names is that the listener KNOW the names, and who the people mentioned are.

You need a Sense Of History, which sadly seems lacking, shamefully…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on March 4, 2014 at 11:48pm — 6 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: NAMEDROPPING PT.3

Let's do another round of Namedropping.

Beginning with a song that not only mentions the Mamas & Papas, Donovan and the Beatles, but features credible impressions of each.

After that, I thought I'd play the Namedropping of famous Artists and Composers of American Standards.

You'll have to trust me on this, I will be playing Rock & Roll Music!

And…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on March 2, 2014 at 11:34pm — 8 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: NAMEDROPPING PT.2

The Name of the Game is Namedropping.

I will continue with some Folk and Folk Rock.…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on February 25, 2014 at 10:49pm — 4 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: NAMEDROPPING PT.1

You have heard me mention Namedropping frequently over the years.

That's when a song contains a mention in the lyrics of a Musician, a Group, a Movie Star, a Politician...anyone famous and well-known.

You'll easily know what I mean after after a few songs.

I've been meaning to do shows with Namedropping songs for many years.

It finally starts today, and I…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on February 23, 2014 at 11:29pm — 14 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: REMEMBRANCES PT.2 END

In this second half of the show, the Remembrances turn to two legendary Rockers- Lou Reed and Phil Everly.

Reed was a member of the groundbreaking group Velvet Underground, who continued breaking ground as a solo artist and was a large part of the New York rock scene.

Phil Everly was one half of the most successful and influential Duos of all time in Rock & Roll.

And honestly, for all the years I listened to them, I…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on February 19, 2014 at 1:18am — 6 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: REMEMBRANCES PT.1

It happens every now and then, I sit down with a show planned and at the last moment I suddenly and inexplicably change my mind- sending me scurrying for records and CD's for the change.

That's the case here.

I just felt this urge to pay tribute to a few of the big names in Rock & Roll who passed away recently.

Although this first guy was not at all a Rocker.

I am talking about Pete Seeger, who wrote or adapted many…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on February 17, 2014 at 6:53pm — 8 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: THE BRITISH INVASION PT.4

50 years on, this will close the British Invasion out...for now.

It was too much fun and the Music was too damn good to just drop it completely.

So I will return to it periodically.

But for this Chapter, I'll start with a song that was # 8 on the Billboard charts in 1965.

And I don't seem to have ever heard it!

How'd that happen, lol?

From there, some assorted and…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on February 12, 2014 at 3:00pm — 4 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: THE BRITISH INVASION PT.3

As I write this, 50 years ago tonight, Feb. 9th 1964, the Beatles performed on the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time.

I watched it as a kid, and it's an odd feeling knowing what you did PRECISELY on a given date a half century ago!

In fact, it's never…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on February 9, 2014 at 8:56pm — 12 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: THE BRITISH INVASION PT.2

As noted before, 50 years ago on Feb. 7th 1964, the Beatles landed at Kennedy Airport met by reporters and mostly screaming girls, and Beatlemania and The British Invasion commenced to be born.

Those two terms may seem interchangeable now, but I'll point out the difference.…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on February 5, 2014 at 12:06am — 4 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: THE BRITISH INVASION PT.1

50 years ago on Feb. 7th 1964, the Beatles arrived at Kennedy Airport here in New York, marking the beginning of Beatlemania and The British Invasion.

Also making a whole lot of people feel very old this week, lol!

As it happened, I didn't like their…

Continue

Added by Mike Pell on February 2, 2014 at 11:35pm — 6 Comments