Week of 25 June 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of June 25 - July 1:

June:
25 - Ian McDonald (Foreigner), 1946; Allen Lanier (Blue Oyster Cult), 1946; Carly Simon, 1945; Eddie Floyd, 1935
26 - Billy Davis, Jr. (Fifth Dimension), 1940
27 - Bruce Johnston (Beach Boys), 1944
28 - Bobby Harrison (Procol Harum), 1943
29 - Evelyn "Champagne" King, 1960; "Little" Eva Boyd, 1943 (died 2003)
30 - Adrian Wright (Human League), 1956; Hal Lindes (Dire Straits), 1953; Andy Scott (Sweet), 1951; Glenn Shorrock (Little River Band), 1944; Florence Ballard (Supremes), 1943 (died 1976)

July:
01 - Debbie Harry (Blondie), 1945

In remembrance of those who left us:

25 Jun 2009 - Michael Jackson
27 Jun 2002 - John Entwistle (The Who)
01 Jul 1995 - Wolfman Jack

Did I forget anybody or make an error?  If so, please let me know in the Comments.

Thank you and have a nice week!

Week of 18 June 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of June 18 - 24:
18 - Paul McCartney, 1942
19 - Ann Wilson (Heart), 1950
20 - Lionel Richie, 1949; Anne Murray, 1945; Brian Wilson (Beach Boys), 1942
21 - Joey Kramer (Aerosmith), 1950; Joey Molland (Badfinger), 1948; Ray Davies (The Kinks), 1944
22 - Alan Osmond (The Osmonds), 1949; Todd Rundgren, 1948; Howard Kaylan (The Turtles), 1945; Kris Kristofferson, 1936
23 - June Carter Cash, 1929 (died 2003)
24 - John Illsley (Dire Straits), 1949; Jeff Beck, 1944; Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac), 1942

In remembrance of those who left us:

18 Jun 2011 - Clarence Clemons

Did I forget anybody or make an error?  If so, please let me know in the Comments.

Thank you and have a nice week!

Week of 11 June 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of June 11 - 17:

11 - Joey Dee (The Starliters), 1940; Frank Beard (ZZ Top), 1949; Graham Russell (Air Supply), 1950
12 - Len Barry, 1942; Reg Presley (The Troggs), 1941; Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), 1951
13 - Bobby Freeman, 1940; Dennis Locorriere (Dr. Hook), 1949
14 - Rod Argent, 1945; Barry Melton (Country Joe and the Fish), 1947; Alan White (Yes), 1949
15 - Russell Hitchcock (Air Supply), 1949; Steve Walsh (Kansas), 1951; Waylon Jennings, 1937 (died 2002); Harry Nilsson, 1941  (died 1994)
16 - Edward Levert (The O'Jays), 1942; Gino Vannelli, 1952
17 - Barry Manilow, 1943

In remembrance of those who left us:

12 Jun 2011 - Carl Gardner (Coasters)
13 Jun 2010 - Jimmy Dean

Did I forget anybody or make an error?  If so, please let me know in the Comments.

Thank you and have a nice week!

Week of 04 June 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of June 4 - 10:

04 - Michelle Phillips (Mamas & Papas), 1944; El DeBarge, 1961; Roger Ball (Average White Band), 1944; Jimmy McCulloch (Wings), 1952  (died 1979); Freddie Fender, 1937 (died 2006)
05 - Freddie Stone (Sly & the Family Stone), 1946
06 - Gary U.S. Bonds, 1939; Levi Stubbs (Four Tops), 1936 (died 2008)
07 - Tom Jones, 1940
08 - Bonnie Tyler, 1953; Boz Scaggs, 1944; Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night), 1942; Nancy Sinatra, 1940
09 - Jon Lord (Deep Purple), 1941; Jackie Wilson, 1934 (died 1984)
10 - Shirley Alston (The Shirelles), 1941

In remembrance of those who left us:

06 Jun 2006 - Billy Preston
10 Jun 2004 - Ray Charles

Did I forget anybody or make an error?  If so, please let me know in the Comments.

Thank you and have a nice week!

Paul McCartney Cites Mark Wirtz' "Teenage Opera" as Influence

No sooner does Oldies Connection post a blog about the new single by former EMI producer Mark Wirtz than Sir Paul McCartney cites the Wirtz classic "Teenage Opera" as a major influence on his songwriting!

In an interview conducted by Paul Draper from the band Mansun and posted on Drowned in Sound, Sir Paul discusses songwriting in general and his 1971 album RAM (which has just been re-released as a special edition 2-CD digipak) in particular. During the interview, when asked about influences, Sir Paul responds that "A Teenage Opera" by Keith West was the record that helped him to realize that songs could be "cut like a film," with key and tempo changes.

The entire "Teenage Opera" concept was the brainchild of Mark Wirtz, who literally dreamed up the story of Grocer Jack (the first character in what would turn out to be a TO trilogy) one night and subsequently mentioned it to Geoff Emerick, the engineer Wirtz shared with The Beatles. Keith West from the band Tomorrow co-wrote the song "Excerpt From a Teenage Opera (Grocer Jack)" with Wirtz and recorded it at Abbey Road Studios in early 1967. The rather charming track, which features a children's chorus brought in by Wirtz, was released in May of that year. It peaked at #2 and paved the way for the "Teenage Opera" project, which was slated to become an actual rock opera (predating The Who's "Tommy" by two years). The second single, "Sam," which told the story of a steam-train engineer and also featured what had quickly become a Wirtz trademark—a children's chorus—was recorded by West and released that October. Unfortunately, although "Sam" made the Top Forty, it didn't rank as highly as its predecessor. After Keith West left the project, Wirtz recorded the third song, "(He's Our Dear Old) Weatherman" under his own name. EMI ultimately brought the curtain down on the "Teenage Opera," and it wouldn't be until 1996 when an approximation of "what might have been," featuring various Mark Wirtz tracks, was released on CD.

Despite the shelving of the project, the "Teenage Opera" concept and productions by Mark Wirtz influenced McCartney and other musicians in their own work, and continue to be fondly remembered by fans 45 years later.



(Below) Mark Wirtz MP3s on Amazon.com
(includes A Teenage Opera plus new Mark Wirtz release, Lost Pets 2)
Click on the player to hear sound samples

Week of 28 May 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of May 28 - June 3:

May:
28 - John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival), 1945; Gladys Knight, 1944; Billy Vera, 1944
29 - LaToya Jackson,1956; Rebbie Jackson (The Jacksons), 1950; Gary Brooker (Procul Harum), 1945
31 - Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary), 1938; Johnny Paycheck, 1938 (died 2003); John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), 1948 (died 1980)

June:
01 - Ron Wood (Rolling Stones), 1947; Ronnie Dunn (Brooks & Dunn), 1953; Pat Boone, 1934
02 - Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones), 1941
03 - Deniece Williams, 1951; Dan Hill, 1954; Billy Powell (Lynyrd Skynyrd), 1952; Suzi Quatro (1950)

In remembrance of those who left us:

01 Jun 1991 - David Ruffin
02 Jun 2008 - Bo Diddley
03 Jun 2011 - Andrew Gold

Did I forget anybody or make an error?  If so, please let me know in the Comments.

Thank you and have a nice week!

Mark Wirtz On the Charts With New Single

Award-winning composer/producer Mark Wirtz has a hit in the making with his wonderful rendition of "I Need to Fall in Love." The romantic tune is the first single release from his most recent album, Lost Pets 2 (PoppyDisc Records), and was co-written by Wirtz with Bob Lind (of "Elusive Butterfly" fame) and Jim David (son of Brill Building songwriter Hal David). "I Need to Fall in Love" is being played on radio stations across the country and is currently in the Top Thirty according to the latest reports. For more on Mark Wirtz and Lost Pets 2, click here.

Below is the video for "I Need to Fall in Love." Give it a listen and see if you agree with Oldies Connection that this newest release by legendary EMI producer Mark Wirtz is a winner. (Not bad for a guy who, in addition to his many musical accomplishments, is also a stand-up comedian who regularly appears at comedy venues in the southeastern United States!)







Also available on iTunes
Mark Wirtz - Official site

UPDATE (31 May 2012): See Paul McCartney Cites Mark Wirtz' Teenage Opera As Influence

Week of 21 May 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of May 21 - 27:

21 - Leo Sayer, 1948; Bill Champlin (Chicago), 1947); Hilton Valentine (The Animals), 1943; Ronald Isley (Isley Brothers), 1941
22 - Bernie Taupin, 1950
24 - Rosanne Cash, 1955; Albert Bouchard (Blue Oyster Cult), 1947; Patti LaBelle, 1944; Bob Dylan, 1941
26 - Hank Williams, Jr., 1949; Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac), 1948; Garry Peterson (Guess Who), 1945; Levon Helm (The Band), 1940 (died 2012)

In remembrance of those who left us:

24 May 1991 - Gene Clark (The Byrds)
26 May 1968 - Little Willie John
26 May 1977 - William Powell (The O'Jays)

Did I forget anybody or make an error?  If so, please let me know in the Comments.

Thank you and have a nice week!

Week of 14 May 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of May 14 - 20:

14 - Jake Bruce (Cream), 1943; Bobby Darin, 1936 (died 1973)
15 - Dennis Fredericksen (Toto), 1951; Graham Goble (Little River Band), 1947; Brian Eno (Roxy Music), 1947; Trini Lopez, 1937; Eddy Arnold, 1918
16 - Janet Jackson, 1966; William Spooner (Grateful Dead), 1949;  Pervis Jackson (The Spinners), 1938
17 - George Johnson (Brothers Johnson), 1953; Bill Bruford (Yes), 1949
18 - George Strait, 1952; Bill Wallace (Guess Who), 1949; Rick Wakeman (Yes), 1949
19 - Grace Jones, 1948; Pete Townshend, 1945
20 - Cher, 1946; Joe Cocker, 1944

In remembrance of those who left us:

15 May 2003 - June Carter Cash
19 May 2006 - Freddie Garrity (Freddie and the Dreamers)

Did I forget anybody or make an error?  If so, please let me know in the Comments.

Thank you and have a nice week!

Week of 07 May 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of May 7 - 13:

07 - Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead), 1946
08 - Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire), 1951; Toni Tennille (Captain & Tennille), 1943
09 - Billy Joel, 1949
10 - Bono (aka Paul Hewson) (U2), 1960; Donovan, 1946; Dave Mason, 1946
11 - Eric Burdon (Animals), 1941
12 - Kix Brooks (Brooks & Dunn), 1955; Burt Bacharach, 1928; Eric Singer (KISS), 1958
13 - Stevie Wonder, 1950; Mary Wells, 1943 (died 1992); Ritchie Valens, 1941 (died 1959)

In remembrance of those who left us:

07 May 1998 - Eddie Rabbitt
08 May 2008 - Eddy Arnold

Did I forget anybody or make an error?  If so, please let me know in the Comments.

Thank you and have a nice week!