This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Friday, March 11, 2016

Music and Words Award (#MWA)





music-and-words-award-jpg
        I've been given the Music and Words Award by Michele from Angels Bark which is one of  the great blogs that participate in the bimonthly Battle of the Bands event.   The Music & Words Award was created by blogger, Miss Andi, to acknowledge and link people who love music so much that they blog about it. She gives out 5 awards each Friday. The purpose is to feature great music blogs from all over the world and artists from all genres.

Once the award is accepted, there are five steps:

1.  Link back to the person who nominated you
2.  Answer the questions with words AND music
3.   Pass the award on to 5 bloggers who inspire you with their posts about music
4.  Tag your post with #MWA, for Music & Words Award so that we can all find you down the line
5.  Quote these 5 steps and the award icon in your post. You can display the icon on your sidebar as well.


Q1: What does music mean to you?

        Aside from the aural and mental pleasure derived from listening to the sounds of music, for me music is about connections.    Music connects me to the artists who perform it, the composers who create it, and all of the other listeners who listen and enjoy just as I do.  Like a time machine, music can transport me to places in my own memories as well into the lives of others and history itself.  I can go around the world listening to music or I go into my own mind.  Music can connect me to emotional states, modes of thought, or physical action.   The listeners and the players of the music are connected by the music as David Crosby and his musical friends state in this song:




Q2: What is your first music-related memory?

        My earliest memories of music are most related to my parents performing their juggling act.  My father was always looking for the best songs to use in performances.  He would buy the musical scores for songs he wanted to use since in the 1950's there was usually a live band backing them and he wanted them to play what he wanted to hear behind the juggling act.   He would also buy the records with the songs so he could practice to the music that he expected the live band to play.  In case he didn't have the band, he'd have a recording with the songs to play during the show.  Those juggling songs are ingrained in my memory.

          Here is the song my father opened his act with:





Q3: What was the first album you’ve purchased yourself?

         In early adolescence I was interested in monsters and beach music.   The two genres coalesced in a series of albums recorded under the auspices of Frankie Stein and his Ghouls.  They were cheap albums, therefore with my limited funds affordable for me.  A few of these were probably my first album purchases if memory serves me correctly.  I bought them for the covers and the musical concept since I had no idea what they actually sounded like.  Filled with horror sound effects and acceptable musicianship, they got plenty of play on my turntable.  Eventually I realized that a lot of the songs appeared more than once on the album series, but with different song titles.  Oh well, it didn't matter all that much to me.

          Here is one example of the cover art and one song example--listen if you dare:

     





Q4: What was the latest music you purchased? (No online streaming or free downloads, I’m talking about cash here!)
       


Product Details        I haven't bought much music in the past many years--not because I didn't want to, but due to budgetary constrictions.   Besides that I don't listen to as much music as I used to.  However I couldn't resist a purchase last summer when my youngest daughter took me to a New Jersey record store that had a large selection of used vinyl.  She had gotten into vintage vinyl which I thought was pretty cool.  So I started perusing the bins as she did the same and I came upon a pristine copy of Good Rats...Live At Last, an album that I had once owned on a cassette that had long ago been eaten by a player in one of my past vans.  I consider this to be among the finest live albums ever so I had to buy this vinyl copy.   I'd actually been looking for it on CD for quite some time--not an easy thing to find.     Now I have the album.   And someday maybe I'll hook up my old turntable so I can listen to it.  But at least I do have the album.

       To my knowledge there are no direct cuts from this album available on YouTube, but here is a studio recording of the song that Good Rats uses to showcase the band members:





Q5: Which song did you listen to last? (No cheating, come out with the dirty pleasures!)

        Lately most of the songs I listen to are due to Battle of the Bands posts on my blog or the blogs of other participants.  Prior to composing this current post or outside of any of my own BOTB posts, I think the most recent song I listened to was Jackie Gleason and his Orchestra playing "Melancholy Serenade" which was the theme song from Jackie Gleason's television variety show.  I was listening to this after voting on the most recent BOTB post by John Holton.

         Here is "Melancholy Serenade":





          Those are my answers and now for the part that might get me in trouble.   At the moment I can't think of five bloggers to pass this on to who haven't received it already.  Of course, if you haven't received this yet then feel free to use it and if you want you can credit my blog.  Sorry if I sound lazy, but that's why I usually don't do these award things anymore.  This was about music though and how can I resist music?

          Have you done this music exercise yet on your own blog?   How often do you listen to music for the specific purpose of listening to music?    Do you still buy music?











36 comments:

  1. Since it was my minor in college, you can say I'm a bit into music. I purchase anywhere from two to five albums a month. And always on the prowl for new music.
    Frankie Stein and his Ghouls - what a name!

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    1. Alex, what a name, what a band. Who really is the band?

      Lee

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  2. Hi, Lee!

    Congratulations on receiving the award. If anyone deserves it, it is you. I remember listening to "Lady of Spain" many times in my youth. As you explained, the tune was commonly used in juggling acts and other physical dexterity routines that I used to see at the circus and on The Ed Sullivan Show. Like you I was monster crazy in the 50s and 60s. I vaguely recall Frankie Stein and his Ghouls. "Goon River" is similar to "Moon River' in name only and is actually a pretty nifty surf-rock instrumental. Here's more about Frankie Stein and his Ghouls:

    http://scarstuff.blogspot.com/2006/02/frankie-stein-and-his-ghouls-complete.html

    The horror rock records that I bought were the ones recorded by TV ghost host John Zacherle. Zach, the Weird Al of the early 60s, released an album of ghoulish covers of hits made by Cameo-Parkway artists. Like you I purchased quite a few albums based on the compelling artwork alone.

    Thanks for posting "Melancholy Serenade" and images of "The Great One"... Jackie Gleason. They don't make stars like him anymore.

    I agree with you, Lee, that these awards have a downside. It is awkward to single out five people to receive the award and neglect the rest of your friends. I have an acceptance post coming one week from today and I know you will understand that I chose to share it with five bloggers who don't get as much recognition as they deserve.

    Once again congratulations, Lee, and have a great weekend!

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    1. Shady, I guess a lot of young guys back in our day were into the monster scene. I used to build the Aurora monster models and get the Famous Monsters magazines as well. One of the great things about the vinyl LP's was the covers.

      Lee

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  3. Loved your answer to the first question and what a great song choice for accompaniment!

    I remember Lady of Spain being used a lot for different acts. Perfect juggling music.

    Frankie Stein and his Ghouls had a surf music sound. Not bad. ☺ The Good Rats CD is available from Amazon.

    I learned from you that Jackie Gleason was a musician. Your posts are educational as well as fun!

    It is difficult when we're all in the same blogging circles to find new people to nominate, but it's the thought that counts and I added you to my list, as well. Not everyone is necessarily into music either, so it's definitely a challenge.

    Congratulations on your award. Nicely done!

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    1. Debbie, I had seen the Good Rats CD available on Amazon as well as a few of their other CD's but never got around to ordering them, but like I say I rarely purchase CD's anymore. I think we all share a lot of education on our blogs and it's pretty cool.

      Lee

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  4. Music really shows a person's soul doesn't it? That is why it is so eclectic and why one piece can resonate with one while fall flat for another. Loved your answers here and love that Jackie Gleason piece. I still listen to music and have a CD and turntable hooked up. I mainly listen to my CD's but I recently listened to a record of Ennio Morricone's spighetti western hits. Just last weekend I listened to Harry Manx (signed autographed cd from him), Basic blues music #1, I love Paris CD with a variety of singers and Fleetwood mac's Rumours.

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    1. Birgit, your musical tastes sound as eclectic as mine.

      Lee

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  5. Yay, you! You're a natural choice for this kind of award :-)

    I enjoyed every song you posted today! Lady of Spain - thanks to you, I envisioned knife juggling :-) Goon River - brought a kaleidoscope of movie clips to mind, the Good Rats made me think of alley cats in moonlight, and for Melancholy Serenade I could just see Snoopy crying on Linus's piano! Well done:-)

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    1. Diedre, you derived some interesting mental images from the music.

      Lee

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  6. I don't listen as much as I used to. For a long time music was my life. Now I seem to only listen in the car. But I do buy CDs, mostly 'greatest hits', so that I can make mix tapes for my walkman and car.

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    1. JoJo, I'm mostly the same way--I mostly listen to music when I'm driving and that's usually when I'm on long road trips. I should listen more to music like I used to.

      Lee

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  7. Thanks so much for accepting the nomination Lee! I'm glad you played along. I enjoyed reading your answers. LOVED your answer to the first question, what music means to you, and that was a great song choice to go with it.
    Hey, I really like those Good Rats! That's some fine music there! Thanks for introducing us to them.
    Frankie Stein and His Ghouls? Fun!

    Thanks for playing along with Music and Words Award...
    Hope you had fun putting it together.

    Michele at Angels Bark

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    1. Michele, thank you for the nomination. I had fun with it. I think the Good Rats are a great group--I and others have referred to them as "the best rock group that no one's ever heard of".

      Lee

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  8. The last CD I listened to was a Josh Groban CD. I enjoy writing the most when I listen to him.

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    1. Susan, Josh Groban does some very relaxing music. I have a couple of his CD's.

      Lee

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  9. Well deserved Arlee. You are always introducing me to new names and sounds - like today. Knew some of course, like David Crosby.

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    1. Roland, had some obscurities in this post.

      Lee

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  10. I always listen to music when I'm in the car, but only occasionally take the time to sit and relax while listening to one of my CDs. Yes I still buy them. My most recent purchases were 2 Adele albums and one from Pentatonix, but my collection ranges from classical to country to Gregorian chants. I need to take a CD break every day for the purpose of relaxation as well as music appreciation.

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    1. Patricia, I have a very wide range of music in my collection. Sometimes I look at my CD's and think about putting one on to listen to but then manage to find something else to do. Kind of sad that I've stopped listening like that but there are so many other things to watch or listen to.

      Lee

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  11. Replies
    1. Sarah, yes, fun. You can do it if you'd like.

      Lee

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  12. I just posted one of these, too. As you say, the whole award thing is really boring to me now, but this one was about *music.* Interesting that you were interested in monster music as a kid. I think those covers would've given me nightmares as a kid!

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    1. Robin, I won't say the awards bore me as they do provide content, but sometimes it takes time to think of people to give them to who haven't received them already.

      Lee

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  13. Music has been a love of my life since I could figure out tunes on the piano at two years of age. My first Album I ever bought was an Everly Brothers one. Where would the world be without music. Wonderful post Lee.
    Yvonne.

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    1. Yvonne, it's hard for me to imagine my life without music. How dull it would be. And quiet.

      Lee

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  14. Glad you did the questions coz I've enjoyed it loads. I agree, it's not always easy to find music bloggers which is pretty much the reason I wanted to connect those we know about 😊 thanks for sharing your great music choices!

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    1. Miss Andi, I enjoyed compiling mine and reading the lists of others. This was an enjoyable post to do.

      Lee

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  15. I imagine you have a lot of musical memories from the days your family performed. What a great experience that has to have been.

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    1. C.Lee, a lot of music from the entertainment years on into the years when I was on the road on my own--probably even more so then. It was all a great experience.

      Lee

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  16. Yes, I have done this one, as well as the other music challenge that Debbie of our BOTB has been hosting.
    Great selection of songs. I like the one from your juggling father memory. It does sound like the music I would hear during a juggling performance.

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    1. Jeffrey, actually though the Louis Prima version was good I liked the versions the night club bands used to play for our act. We used to have a taped recording of one of those bands and it was fantastic.

      Lee

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  17. I didn't know Gleason was a singer! Love the song your dad opened to. I could actually picture a show occurring to that music, so it's perfect. I've been buying a lot of single song mp3s lately, after years of not purchasing music (just listening to the radio.) But they're all old favorites.

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    1. Shannon, I don't know that he sang but he did have an orchestra. Most of my most recent music purchases (though not very recent) have been older favorites of mine.

      Lee

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  18. LEE, I really dig Louis Prima, Keely, and Sam Butera And The Witnesses, but I don't know that particular album.

    I have another Prima album recorded live at Lake Tahoe ('THE WILDEST SHOW AT TAHOE') but I'm gonna have to look into the one you featured here.

    You can't have too much King Louie!

    ~ D-FensDogG
    'Loyal American Underground'

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    1. STMcC, I've liked Prima and his cohorts since I was a kid. I don't know anything about the album here, but it was the version of "Lady of Spain" that I found on YouTube that was closest to the sound of the bands that used to back my parent's act in the 50's.

      Good stuff for sure.

      Lee

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Go ahead and say something. Don't be afraid to speak your mind.
I normally try to respond to all comments in the comment section so please remember to check the "Email follow-up comments" box if you want to participate in the comment conversation.

For Battle of the Bands voting the "Anonymous" commenting option has been made available though this version is the least preferred. If voting using "anonymous" please include in your comment your name (first only is okay) and city you are voting from and the reason you chose the artist you did.

If you know me and want to comment but don't want to do it here, then you can send me an email @ jacksonlee51 at aol dot com.

Lee