Week of 30 July 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of July 30 - August 5:

July:
30 - David Sanborn, 1945; Paul Anka, 1941
31 - Hugh McDowell (ELO), 1953 (died 1976)

August:
01 - Tim Bachman (Bachman-Turner Overdrive), 1951; Geoff Britton (Wings), 1943; Jerry Garcia, 1942 (died 1995); Boz Burrell (Bad Company), 1946 (died 2006); Rick Coonce (The Grass Roots), 1946 (died 2011)
02 - Garth Hudson (The Band), 1937; Doris Coley (The Shirelles), 1941 (died 2000); Jim Capaldi (Traffic), 1944 (died 2005); Andrew Gold, 1951 (died 2011)
03 - Beverly Lee (The Shirelles), 1941; Johnny Graham (Earth, Wind & Fire), 1951; Syreeta Wright, 1946 (died 2004)
04 - Timi Yuro (died 2004)
05 - Greg Leskiw (Guess Who), 1947; Rick Derringer, 1947; Samantha Sang, 1953

In remembrance of those who left us:

31 Jul 2010 - Mitch Miller
03 Aug 2010 - Bobby Hebb
04 Aug 2007 - Lee Hazlewood

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 23 July 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of July 23 - 29:

23 - Blair Thornton (BTO), 1950; David Essex, 1947
25 - Verdine White (Earth, Wind & Fire), 1951
26 - Roger Taylor (Queen), 1949; Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones), 1943; Darlene Love, 1941; Dobie Gray, 1940 (died 2011)
27 - Bobbie Gentry, 1944; Maureen McGovern, 1949
28 - Steve Morse (Deep Purple), 1954; Simon Kirke (Bad Company), 1949; Jonathan Edwards, 1946; George Cummings (Dr. Hook), 1938; Rick Wright (Pink Floyd), 1945 (died 2008)
29 - Patty Scialfa (E Street Band), 1953; Neal Doughty (REO Speedwagon), 1946

In remembrance of those who left us:

24 Jul 2011 - Dan Peek (America)
25 Jul 1995 - Charlie Rich
26 Jul 1992 - Mary Wells
29 Jul 1974 - Mama Cass Elliot
29 Jul 2011 - Gene McDaniels

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 16 July 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of July 16 - 22:

16 - Stewart Copeland (The Police), 1951
17 - Terry "Geezer" Butler (Black Sabbath), 1949; Nicolette Larson, 1952 (died 1997); Phoebe Snow, 1950 (died 2011)
18 - Ricky Skaggs, 1954; Martha Reeves, 1941; Dion DiMucci, 1939
19 - Brian May (Queen), 1947; Bernie Leadon (The Eagles), 1947
20 - Carlos Santana (Santana), 1947; Kim Carnes, 1946; John Lodge (Moody Blues), 1943
21 - Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf Islam), 1948
22 - Don Henley (The Eagles), 1947; Richard Davies (Supertramp), 1944; Bobby Sherman, 1943

In remembrance of those who left us:

16 Jul 1981 - Harry Chapin
17 Jul 2009 - Gordon Waller (Peter and Gordon)

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 09 July 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of July 9 - 15:

09 - Debbie Sledge (Sister Sledge), 1954
10 - Arlo Guthrie, 1947
11 - Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi), 1959; Bonnie Pointer (Pointer Sisters), 1950
12 - Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac), 1943; Eric Carr (KISS), 1950 (died 1991)
13 - Louise Mandrell, 1954; Stephen Bladd (The J. Geils Band), 1942; Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), 1942
15 - Linda Ronstadt, 1946

In remembrance of those who left us:

11 Jul 2011 - Rob Grill
12 Jul 1979 - Minnie Riperton

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 02 July 2012 - Arrivals and Departures

Birthdays for the week of July 2 - 8:
02 - Johnny Colla (Huey Lewis & The News), 1952
03 - David Lynch (The Platters), 1929 (died 1981); Laura Branigan, 1957 (died 2004)
04 - John Waite, 1955; Ralph Johnson (Earth, Wind & Fire), 1951; Bill Withers, 1938
05 - Huey Lewis (Huey Lewis & The News), 1950
06 - Rik Elswit (Dr. Hook), 1945; Bill Haley, 1925 (died 1981)
07 - Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey), 1940; David Hodo (Village People), 1947

In remembrance of those who left us:

03 Jul 1969 - Brian Jones
03 Jul 1971 - Jim Morrison
03 Jul 2007 - Boots Randolph
04 Jul 2003 - Barry White
04 Jul 2007 - Bill Pinkney
06 Jul 1979 - Van McCoy
06 Jul 2004 - Syreeta Wright

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 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