All Blog Posts (1,465)

ROCKOLLECTIONS: FALL FASHION SHOW - SHOES PT.2

We continue with the Rockollections Fall Fashion Show with Shoes.

It's strange, but no matter how minor or innocuous some Theme Shows and Series are- and this certainly is not in any way profound- there are always serious songs within that Theme.

I'll be playing…

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Added by Mike Pell on September 27, 2012 at 2:33am — 8 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: FALL FASHION SHOW - SHOES PT.1

Being your average guy with important things on my mind like the Baseball season winding down, Football starting up, and Hockey on the horizon, those big deal Fall Fashion Shows always come and go...THEN I find out about them.

Is is too much to ask that they be held in the FALL so I might at least think of them in time,…

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Added by Mike Pell on September 25, 2012 at 1:26am — 12 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: 1967 AND THE SUMMER OF LOVE PT.14

A lot of traveling in this episode, finishing up in L.A. and then a trip across country back to New York.

After that, short stop on Long Island, before the long journey across the pond to more of the scene in England.

The end of Summer is just days away, and I…

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Added by Mike Pell on September 20, 2012 at 1:30am — 16 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: 1967 AND THE SUMMER OF LOVE PT.13

In these waning days of Summer 2012, I realize just how impossible it is to play all the songs I want to in this 1967 AND The Summer Of Love series.

I'll need to re-invent this with a different name in the future, maybe as future-quickly as next week, lol!

In this opening half, something I couldn't ignore, Protest Music...just a…

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Added by Mike Pell on September 18, 2012 at 12:48pm — 7 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2012 PT.2 END

Over the years since September 11th, 2001 we have grown more divided, and that saddens me.

We were so united in those days following the attacks by muslim terrorists.

And those happy-go-lucky muslims continue- today invading the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and…

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Added by Mike Pell on September 12, 2012 at 3:56am — 17 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2012 PT.1

That picture of the remarkable statue was taken by me not long ago.

It is prominently displayed at St. Ephrem's R.C. Church, about a mile or so from where I live in Brooklyn, an area with traditional values and a long memory.

To be honest, I was quite surprised…

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Added by Mike Pell on September 11, 2012 at 4:57am — 14 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: 1967 AND THE SUMMER OF LOVE PT.12

Having done that whole show for the 45th Anniversary of Sgt. Pepper, I have been avoiding the Beatles in this 1967 And The Summer Of Lover series.

I cannot any longer, as one of the year's highlights took place June 25, 1967, on LIVE Television.

Anyone who…

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Added by Mike Pell on September 6, 2012 at 2:45am — 22 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: 1967 AND THE SUMMER OF LOVE PT.11

After a week off, a return to that great year 1967, And The Summer Of Love.

AM Radio back then was Top Forty, but for a number of years that wasn't even true- they played about 25 records, sometimes 23.

Think about that...the SAME 25 songs over and over!

The advent of FM Radio as a Rock force brought with it not only far more songs, but other forms of…

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Added by Mike Pell on September 3, 2012 at 10:58pm — 10 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: 1967 AND THE SUMMER OF LOVE PT.10

The Theme for Rockollections much of this Summer has been a return to 1967 for the Summer Of Love.

I have two stories in this chapter, each prompting the playing of two songs.

One about a girl I knew who was probably the first I thought was beautiful, but at my…

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Added by Mike Pell on August 23, 2012 at 1:28am — 6 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: 1967 AND THE SUMMER OF LOVE PT.9

Continuing our celebration of the 45th Anniversary of 1967 & The Summer Of Love, a return to its birthplace, San Francisco.

I'll begin with the FIRST actual hit song to come out of the San Francisco Rock scene.

Bet you haven't heard this one…

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Added by Mike Pell on August 21, 2012 at 12:41am — 22 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: 1967 AND THE SUMMER OF LOVE PT.8

More of my Remembrances of the 45th Anniversary of 1967 & The Summer Of Love.

This time a visit to the West Coast and a return to the East Coast, in pursuit of experimental and progressive Rock.

All with the assistance of a couple of, at varying times, very very popular bands!

Simple as that.

No need to write much on a hot, humid August night in New York City.

In fact the humidity is 10 points higher…

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Added by Mike Pell on August 16, 2012 at 2:03am — 6 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: 1967 AND THE SUMMER OF LOVE PT.7

I will continue our celebration of a year, 1967, as we go back in time with the help of Mr. Fantasy.

Two title tracks from 1967 albums to begin.

Then I'll talk about something you know or didn't know.

Back in the 60's, albums in England were ordinarily released with 14 tracks on them.

Here in the U.S. it was the custom to have only 12 songs!

So what would happen- for example to Beatle albums- is that the American…

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Added by Mike Pell on August 14, 2012 at 3:54am — 16 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: THE 113TH HOBOS CONVENTION PT.2 END

Yes, there really is a Hobos Convention, held each year on the second weekend in August in Britt, Iowa- been doing it since 1900.

And I am commemorating it, celebrating these free spirits!

Guess there's a bit of the non-comformist in me...you think,…

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Added by Mike Pell on August 9, 2012 at 1:37am — 15 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: THE 113TH HOBOS CONVENTION PT.1

"Movin' on, movin' on, movin' on...the steam engines beckoned as they built up momentum heading towards a new horizon, towards an adventure.

Many a man heard that call, when the rules become too hard to take.

This man, born to dream not conform, that man without a job and out of luck - they heard the call, movin' on...movin' on.

Hobos they're called, a word with as many possible origins as there are…

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Added by Mike Pell on August 6, 2012 at 11:40pm — 12 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF...PT.4 END

In this final chapter, I will examine the”supergroup” West, Bruce & Laing.

Jack Bruce coming in from the legendary Cream.

Just 3 years removed from that other “super” teaming of Blind Faith, let’s take a close listen to West, Bruce & Laing, shall we?

I’ll start off with the title track of the LP Why Dontcha?

From a review, “Jack Bruce mixes the blues…

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Added by Mike Pell on August 2, 2012 at 1:08am — 7 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF...PT.3

As we open Part 3, I will dip back into that solo Leslie West album from 1969, back when there was no group called Mountain.

His version of a Bob Dylan song made famous by the Band, and also by Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & Trinity as the theme to the British comedy Absolutely Fabulous.

In an attempt to avoid being compared to Cream, the group added a keyboardist.

So we will return to Mountain proper, for a series of…

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Added by Mike Pell on July 31, 2012 at 2:54am — 6 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF...PT.2

Looking at that picture, I confess that these shows were originally called Making A Mountain Out Of A Fat Guy, a rather coarse play on the expression about making one out of a molehill.

That long, unwieldy and insulting title has been shortened.

Guess I have…

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Added by Mike Pell on July 26, 2012 at 12:10am — 17 Comments

ROCKOLLECTIONS: MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF...PT.1

We’ll begin a multi-part exploration of the music of Leslie West and Mountain.

If you are a fan of guitar playing wizardry, you should enjoy this.

Though not having anything on the charts in years, Mountain remains popular in this section of the East Coast.

And to his credit, Mr. West has lost considerable weight in the years since his heyday!

Mountain played hard rock, and were forerunners of Heavy Metal Music.

In the beginning there was no…

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Added by Mike Pell on July 24, 2012 at 2:08am — 18 Comments