Mike Pell's Blog (1,447)

ROCKOLLECTIONS: BACK DOING IT AGAIN, MY RETURN? PT.1

Just got a new computer, and I don't know this damn new Windows 7, just feeling my way around.

Maybe it's better than Vista, but certainly NOT XP!

I was without anything for a long time.

And it's incredible how much you always LOSE in the process.

Programs and equipment that used to work, are changed- using them must be figured…

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Added by Mike Pell on January 10, 2012 at 12:50pm — 4 Comments

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE PT.2 END

After the Intermission, we continue with 1946's It's A Wonderful Life and the project of inserting an updated Rock & Roll soundtrack into it.

And it is true, I did have a box of tissues nearby.

After all these years, this Movie still gets to me!

I'll pick…

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Added by Mike Pell on December 22, 2011 at 12:48am — 15 Comments

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE PT.1

I have been thinking of trying to do this for a very long time.

Provide a Rock & Roll Soundtrack to the much loved and immensely popular movie- particularly at this time of year- "It's A Wonderful Life".

Soundtracks albums are very important and…

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Added by Mike Pell on December 19, 2011 at 11:26pm — 14 Comments

We continue with Christmas 2011.

You know how at many parties there is someone who starts trouble?

Well, at our Party that Troublemaker will be ME!

With tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek, I'll take a musical look at what I called "the freeloaders who write to Santa Claus and feel entitled to what they asked for", lol!

Even Santa will chime in about that.

I'll also have some Carols that are given very, very different musical treatments…

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Added by Mike Pell on December 14, 2011 at 11:59pm — 2 Comments

THE 2011 CHRISTMAS PARTY PT.1

Welcome to my annual two-week Christmas Party.

It is usually an exercise in experimentation, and this year is no exception.

All I knew when I sat down to do this show was that I had an opening song- then it took on a life of its own.

And that life of its own was to first musically state the obvious, lol!

I invite you to join me for an eclectic collection of Christmas…

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Added by Mike Pell on December 13, 2011 at 1:24am — 2 Comments

REMEMBERING GEORGE HARRISON & JOHN LENNON 2011 PT.2 END

Closing it out as usual this year with John Lennon, who died on Dec. 8th, 1980.

That's 31 years ago- meaning there is a whole generation of people who don't remember it firsthand.

Those of us who do will never forget it.…

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Added by Mike Pell on December 8, 2011 at 6:14am — 2 Comments

REMEMBERING GEORGE HARRISON & JOHN LENNON 2011 PT.1

It is that bittersweet time of year again.

Between the deaths of George Harrison and John Lennon- one by disease, the other murdered.

I hadn't realized it was 10 years ago for George, he died on November 29th, 2001, and we here in New York were still reeling from the attacks of Sept.11th.

As is usual for these shows, I will try to play interesting things you may never have…

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Added by Mike Pell on December 6, 2011 at 6:20am — 10 Comments

THANKSGIVING 2011 PT.2 END

I really miss doing these Thanksgiving shows with Engineer Ken Stanley.

They and the Christmas shows were the most fun for us each year.

Now I am my own Engineer, and Ken has retired.

I have two songs about Going Home in this chapter.

One is a personal favorite I can't seem to ever leave out that I remember being so hard to find…

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Added by Mike Pell on November 23, 2011 at 3:53am — 8 Comments

THANKSGIVING 2011 PT.1

Well, I was expecting you, just open the door and come on in Friend!

That will make more sense after you've heard the opening to the annual Thanksgiving show.

I will set the table, the Thanksgiving table, with a few songs of Peacefulness.

Not always the…

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Added by Mike Pell on November 22, 2011 at 6:51am — 9 Comments

THE AUTUMN SHOW 2011 PT.2 END

Over they years I have found that Autumn Songs are very introspective.

They go far beyond being about the passing of Summer, and well into the passing of our own Time.…

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Added by Mike Pell on November 17, 2011 at 12:52am — 2 Comments

THE AUTUMN SHOW 2011 PT.1

Autumn is rapidly becoming tied for my favorite Season.

It brings with it the promise of my beloved Winter.

I…

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Added by Mike Pell on November 15, 2011 at 2:51am — 4 Comments

ALL SAINTS PT.4 FINAL

Well, this is it, I wrap it up with the Saints, this year's replacement for a Halloween show.

At the end you will hear me say that it is amazing what…

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Added by Mike Pell on November 10, 2011 at 12:44am — 2 Comments

ALL SAINTS PT.3

Exactly one week ago it was All Saints Day.

I pulled out a bunch of songs in acknowledgement, and I am not the kind of guy to just put them back unplayed- there were too many good ones in…

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Added by Mike Pell on November 8, 2011 at 2:17am — 2 Comments

ALL SAINTS PT.2

More honoring the Saints with our Music!

St. Peter is a big-name Saint, and that photo above is the famous and beautiful Basilica named after him in Rome.

He appears in very, very, very many songs, but sometimes you have to listen for it.

That's the case with the first two songs in this chapter.

Followed by one…

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Added by Mike Pell on November 3, 2011 at 12:57am — 16 Comments

ALL SAINTS PT.1

After all the years I have been doing this show, Rockollections finally falls on November 1st, All Saints Day!

I…

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Added by Mike Pell on November 1, 2011 at 12:24am — 15 Comments

THE KINGSTON TRIO PT.4 FINAL

Our final chapter on the Kingston Trio.

In 1961, Dave Guard left the group, and among those considered as a replacement for him was Roger McGuinn of the Byrds,

They agreed on John Stewart, a terrific songwriter who wrote Daydream Believer, a smash for the Monkees.

I have some more fun songs to hear, including a hit in…

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Added by Mike Pell on October 27, 2011 at 12:24am — 12 Comments

THE KINGSTON TRIO PT.3

Well, THIS never happened before or since- an artist DYING while I am featuring him!

Sorry to see you go, NIck.

This episode has more hits by the Kingston Trio.

But most interesting was a song that we all associate with Frank Sinatra.

And finding out in was written for THEM, and recorded by them 4 years before in 1961!

…

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Added by Mike Pell on October 25, 2011 at 8:44am — 17 Comments

THE KINGSTON TRIO PT.2

Continuing with our exploration of the music by the Kingston Trio, I will open with a song that is still to this day their most requested- and yet it never cracked the Top 40 as a single.

Coupled with a story of my friend Dan’s visit to Scotland.

Oh yeah, you can tell he is a friend of mine, lol!

Then the saga of two…

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Added by Mike Pell on October 20, 2011 at 5:26am — 4 Comments

THE KINGSTON TRIO PT.1

This 4-part series may seem surprising- acoustic, a folk act, and from the 50’s & early 60’s!

But the Kingston Trio made their mark, I am a folkie and I get to pick, lol!

I will be taking an extensive look at the Trio, and delving deeply.

If I didn’t think you would enjoy it, I wouldn’t bother putting it up…

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Added by Mike Pell on October 17, 2011 at 11:14pm — 21 Comments