Joe Jeffrey去世

1960年代晚期的黑人男歌手Joe Jeffrey，九月四日不幸病逝於克里夫蘭家中(80歲)，Joe Jeffrey出生於紐約Buffalo，是一位唱歌帶一點靈魂味的搖滾樂手及吉他手。

由於1950年代有一位非常出名的女歌星叫Jo Stafford，為避免混淆他把Joe Stafford的原名改為Joe Jeffrey。

1969年Joe Jeffrey有一首"My Pledge Of Love" 曾經獲得第14名，是他唯一一首進排行榜前一百名的歌，不過他的另一首只得到第115名的My Baby Loves Lovin’，經｢泡泡糖搖滾｣White Plains合唱團翻唱後，於1970年得到過第13名。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvwSOiVE8Cs

MY PLEDGE OF LOVE

Songwriters: JOE STAFFORD JR

I woke up this morning baby

I had you on my mind

I woke up this morning baby

You know that I felt so fine

You know I need you

You know that I love you

This is my pledge of love to

My pledge of love

My pledge of love

Darling, darling, darling to you

Yeah, to you, yeah

I woke up this morning baby

I had you on my mind

I felt so much love this morning

Little girl, little girl you feel so fine

You know I need you

You know that I love you

Darling this is my pledge of love

My pledge of love

My pledge of love

Darling, darling, darling to you

Oh yeah, to you Yeah yeah

Sky gettin dark above me

Baby I need your lovin

Got to have all of your lovin

Baby I want your lovin

Baby (baby), baby (baby)

Baby (baby), baby (baby)

Baby (baby), baby (baby)

Baby (baby), baby (baby)

I woke up this morning baby

That's when I caught your name

I felt so much love this morning

Little girl, little girl for shame

You know I need you

You know that I love you

This is my pledge of love to

My pledge of love

My pledge of love

Darling, darling, darling to you

Yeah

Got to have your lovin

Baby you know I want your lovin

FADE

Michael Nesmith獲獎

前The Monkees合唱團的團員Michael Nesmith十月一日將會在德州達拉斯舉行

的影視節獲頒 Ernie Kovacs Award，這個獎是紀念已故電視諧星Ernie Kovacs而設。

Michael Nesmith出生於達拉斯，在加入The Monkees合唱團之前已經是一位職業音樂人，曾替Stax/Volt唱片公司的錄音室工作，寫過Linda Ronstadt的成名曲Different Drum，1977年他創立自己的製作公司Pacific Arts，拍過幾部電影。

Michael Nesmith & The First National Band是他個人在離開The Monkees之後組的團，只有一首歌進入排行榜前四十名，即1970年第21名的Joanne。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_pu6V6_BEA

Joanne

Songwriters

 Nesmith, Michael

Her name was Joanne, and she lived in a meadow by a pond.

 And she touch'd me for a moment,

 with a look that spoke to me of her sweet love.

 Then the woman that she was drove her on with desperation,

 and I saw as she went a most hopeless situation.

 For Joanne, and the man, and the time that made them both wrong.

She was only a girl, I know that will, and still I could not see;

 That the hold she had was much stronger than the love she had for me.

 But staying with her, and my little bit of wisdom,

 broke down her desires like a light thru a prism;

 into yellows and blues and a tune that I could not have sung.

Tho' the essence is gone,

 I have no tear to cry for her

 and my only tho't of her is kind.

Her name was Joanne, and she lived in a meadow by a pond.

 And she touch'd me for a moment,

 with a look that spoke to me of her sweet love.

 Then the woman that she was drove her on with desperation,

 and I saw as she went a most hopeless situation.

 For Joanne, and the man, and the time that made them both wrong.

 For Joanne, and the man, and the time, that made them both wrong.

一曲成名的搖滾樂團

八月25日於芝加哥US Cellular Field球場舉行的美國職棒大聯盟｢白襪｣對｢水手｣的比賽，請到1960年代後期的搖滾樂團The Ides of March來唱開場國歌，終場地主白襪隊以7比6勝水手隊。

The Ides of March是於芝加哥組成的搖滾樂團，主唱叫Jim Peteric，他們的團名來自莎士比亞的劇本｢凱薩大帝｣中的台詞，Jim Peteric後來擔任過1980年代另一個芝加哥搖滾樂團Survivor的主奏吉他手。

The Ides of March是一個只有一首排行榜前四十名暢銷曲的One Hit Wonder，他們只有1970年的Vehicle曾經獲得第二名，但是Survivor就不同了，他們是1980年代第36名的合唱團，替電影｢洛磯第三集唱的主題曲Eye of The Tiger曾經獲得六周排行榜冠軍(1982)。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiLaNEFyCiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4

Vehicle

Songwriters

 JAMES PETERIK

Hey well

 I'm a friendly stranger in a black sedan

 Won't you hop inside my car.

 I got pictures, got candy

 I'm a lovable man

 And I can take you to the nearest star.

 I'm your vehicle baby

 I'll take you anywhere you want to go.

 I'm your vehicle woman

 But I'm not sure you know

 That I love ya

 I need ya

 I want ya,

 Got to have you child,

 Great God in heaven you know I love you.

 Well if you want to be a movie star

 I'll get a ticket to Hollywood.

 But if you want to stay just the way you are

 You know I think you really should.

 I'm your vehicle baby

 I'll take you anywhere you want to go.

 I'm your vehicle woman

 But I'm not sure you know

 That I love ya

 I need ya

 I want ya,

 Got to have you child,

 Great God in heaven you know I love you.

 Hey well

 I'm a friendly stranger in a black sedan

 Won't you hop inside my car.

 I got pictures, got candy

 I'm a lovable man

 And I can take you to the nearest star.

 I'm your vehicle baby

 I'll take you anywhere you want to go.

 I'm your vehicle woman

 But I'm not sure you know

 That I love ya

 I need ya

 I want ya,

 Got to have you child,

 Great God in heaven you know I love you.

 And I'm your vehicle babe.

 You know

 I love ya

 I need ya

 I want ya,

 Got to have you child,

 Great God in heaven you know I love you.

黑人鄉村歌手Charly Pride

有不少歌手曾講過，當別人在那邊講不知道甚麼歌會賣得好之時，他們知道自己已經錄了一首暢銷曲。

按照Charly Pride的說法，1971年的冠軍曲Kiss An Angel Good Morning對他而言是一個意外。

Charly Pride說:我對我錄的歌完全沒有概念，我也不覺得那一首歌會暢銷，只是剛錄好的時候覺得很喜歡那一首歌。

Ben Peters寫了Kiss An Angel Good Morning，Charly Pride聽了之後覺得很喜歡，想進錄音室錄下來，但他真的沒期待那一首歌後來會得排行榜冠軍。

Charly Pride的單曲Kiss An Angel Good Morning於1971年10月23日進鄉村歌曲排行榜，獲得五周冠軍。

Kiss An Angel Good Morning在流行歌曲排行榜則獲得第21名，並獲得Grammy鄉村歌曲獎。

Charly Pride出生於密西西比州Sledge，是最成功的黑人鄉村歌星，有29首歌獲得鄉村歌曲排行榜冠軍。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw7VYF8hM8s

Kiss An Angel Good Morning

Whenever I chance to meet

 some old friends on the street

 They wonder how does a man get to be this way

 I've always got a smiling face

 Anytime and any place

 And everytime they ask me why

 I just smile and say

 You've got to

 Kiss an angel good morning

 and let her know you think about her when you're gone

 Kiss an angel good morning

 and love her like the devil when you get back home

 Well people may try to guess

 The secret of a happiness

 but some of them never learn it's a simple thing

 The secret i'm speaking of

 Is a woman and a man in love

 and the answer is in this song

 that i always sing

 You've got to

 Kiss an angel good morning

 and let you know you think about her when you're gone

 Kiss an angel good morning

 and love her like the devil when you get back home

 Kiss an angel good morning

 and let you know you think about her when you're gone

 Kiss an angel good morning

 and love her like the devil when you get back home

Ringo Starr做曾祖父了

前The Beatles披頭合唱團的鼓手Ringo Starr做曾祖父了，八月14日他的孫女Tatia Starkey 生了兒子Stone Zakomo Low，Tatia是Zak的女兒，她在一個叫Belakiss的合唱團擔任貝斯手與主唱，而她爸爸Zak目前在The Who這個當年和The Beatles齊名的合唱團當鼓手。

Ringo Starr 1940年出生於英國利物浦Dingle，早先在Rory Storm and Hurricanes合唱團擔任鼓手，1962年加入了The Beatles披頭合唱團，披頭解散後1970年Ringo 開始個人的演唱生涯，曾經參加過一些電影及電視節目的演出，包括披頭老隊友Paul McCartney的電影Give My Regards To Broad Street及美國公共電視 PBS的Shining Time Station，他的太太是影星Barbara Bach。

Ringo Starr約請過很多超級歌手組The All Star Band 去巡迴演唱，個人也出過很多唱片，其中名次最好的歌是老隊友George Harrison和聲並用12弦吉他伴奏的冠軍曲Photograph，另外一首冠軍曲則由Nilsson(Without You的主唱)和聲，Paul McCartney用卡組笛伴奏的You’re Sixteen。

Ringo Starr在The Beatles的時代亦曾經主唱過幾首歌，包括Yellow Submarine、With A Little Help From My Friends、Act Naturally等。

他個人在歷年暢銷歌星排行榜獲得第347名。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6CMSuT98-E

Photograp

Songwriters

 R. STARKEY, G. HARRISON

Every time I see your face

 It reminds me of the places we used to go

 But all I've got is a photograph

 And I realize you're not coming back anymore

I thought I'd make it

 The day you went away

 But I can't make it

 Till you come home again to stay

I can't get used to living here

 While my heart is broke, my tears I cry for you

 I want you here to have and hold

 As the years go by, and we grow old and gray

Now you're expecting me to live without you

 But that's not something that I'm looking forward to

I can't get used to living here

 While my heart is broke, my tears I cry for you

 I want you here to have and hold

 As the years go by, and we grow old and gray

Every time I see your face

 It reminds me of the places we used to go

 But all I've got is a photograph

 And I realize you're not coming back anymore

Dean Martin的小兒子也去世

上一世紀娛樂界名人，影星與歌星Dean Martin的小兒子Ricci Martin八月三日在猶他州家中因不明原因意外身亡(62歲)，Ricci 曾經於九零年代Dino, Desi & Billy合唱團復出歌壇時，代替他哥哥Dino Martin演出, Dino於1987年服國民兵勤務時因飛機失事喪生(35歲)。

Ricci Martin和the Beach Boys的主要團員Carl Wilson在七零年代時曾經一起製作過一張專輯唱片，最近還在一齣向他父親致敬的節目中演出，他寫的書"That's Amore"(取自Dean Martin名曲歌名)在2002出版。

Dino, Desi & Billy是二位演藝圈名人的小孩所組的合唱團，Dino是Dean Martin之子，Desi是諧星露西鮑兒之子，Billy則是他們在比佛利的高中同學，Dino和女星奧莉薇荷西及奧運滑雪選手Dorothy Hamill先後結過婚，在演藝界前途看好，可惜英年早逝。

Dino, Desi & Billy於1965年推出的I’m A Fool獲得過第17名，是他們在排行榜上名次最好的歌。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_wh9Mc8GUQ

I’m A Fool 

You know where I can be found

 Don't you know I'll be waiting

 By the telephone, girl

 While you're out

 Running around, yeah

 I'm sitting home all alone

 I'm a fool, just a silly fool

 To be in love with you

 You can't be kind to me, girl

 You always treat me bad, girl

 But I can't let you go, I know

 It would only make me sad

 I'm a fool, just a silly fool

 To be in love with you

 You treat me just like dirt

 You have all the fun

 I stay at home and hurt

 Baby, I wish I knew, yeah

 Just how to get you

 Off my mind, girl

 To put you down and

 Say we're through, yeah

 I think about you all the time

 I'm a fool, just a silly fool

 To be in love with you

 Baby, I wish I knew, yeah

 Just how to get you

 Off my mind, girl

 To put you down and

 Say we're through, yeah

 I think about you all the time

 I'm a fool, just a silly fool

 To be in love with you

 I'm a fool, I'm a fool

 I'm a fool, I'm a fool

SPIRAL STARECASE 主唱去世

The Spiral Starecase的主唱與吉它手Pat Upton七月27日去世(75歲)，他去世之前已長期為病魔所苦。

Pat Upton出生於阿拉巴馬州Geraldine，當年在空軍服役的時候，曾在加州Sacramento和四位同僚參加過一個才藝競賽，退伍後他們取名the Fydallions，在當地歌唱界表現得到Columbia唱片公司的青睞，於是找他們簽約，但是條件就是要改團名，他們參考一部老電影的片名"The Spiral Staircase"，改團為the Spiral Starecase。

有一回Pat Upton在拉斯維加的一家旅館房間裡回味著Bobby Goldsboro的歌，突然福至心靈的寫了"More Today Than Yesterday"這首1969年獲得12名的暢銷曲，後來他們還有幾首歌如"Baby What I Mean" (#111-1968)、"No One For Me To Turn To" (#52-1969) 及 "She's Ready" (#72-1970)，但是名次都不好。

1970年the Spiral Starecase因團員不合而宣告解散，Pat Upton改幫Rick Nelson當伴奏吉他手，然後回阿拉巴馬州的Guntersville開一家俱樂部當老闆，這家俱樂部也是Rick Nelson因飛機失事喪命前最後演出的地方。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGmMei4HsBs

More Today Than Yesterday  

SPIRAL STARECASE

I don't remember what day it was

I didn't notice what time it was

All I know is that I fell in love with you

And if all my dreams come true

I'll be spending time with you

Every day's a new day in love with you

With each day comes a new way of loving you

Every time I kiss your lips my mind starts to wander

And if all my dreams come true

I'll be spending time with you

Oh, I love you more today than yesterday

But not as much as tomorrow

I love you more today than yesterday

But, darling, not as much as tomorrow

Tomorrow's date means springtime's just a day away

Cupid, we don't need ya now, be on your way

I thank the Lord for love like ours that grows ever stronger

And I always will be true

I know you feel the same way, too

Oh, I love you more today than yesterday

But not as much as tomorrow

I love you more today than yesterday

But only half as much as tomorrow

Every day's a new day

Every time I love ya

Every way's a new way

Every time I love ya

Every day's a new day

Every time I kiss ya

Every day's a new day

Fade out...