I grew up on a plantation near Clarksdale, Mississippi.
My main influence was Robert Johnson, and I learned to play harmonica and guitar in his style
I moved to Chicago in 1943 to become a full time professional
musician.
I wrote and recorded some signature blues songs for Aristocrat
Records in the 1940s. This label eventually became known as Chess Records.
In 1948, I recorded three hit singles; ‘I Can’t Be Satisfied’, ‘I Feel Like Going Home’ and ‘Rollin’ Stone’
I recorded with session musicians throughout the 1950s, and collaborated with several acclaimed musicians to create a solid library of original songs during this time.
The musicians included Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, and a bass
player/songwriter named Willie Dixon.
With these guys and another notable player; Howlin’ Wolf I became a central figure in…
Today’s feature is a song that has always intrigued me. I knew there was a story behind it but I had never delved into it. So, today as a I write I will learn, and as I learn I will share the story. Some of you may already know. If that is the case, forgive me for being late to the party.
‘Seasons in the Sun’ was a worldwide hit for Terry Jacks in
1974. Jacks was a Canadian singer who struck Gold on this sentimental piece. It
is one of fewer than forty songs that have sold more than 10 million copies
worldwide. This version is obviously the most well known of the releases, but
it is far from the beginning. This is where we take a trip back to 1961 and a
song written by Jaques Brel called ‘Le Moribond (The Dying Man)’. Brel was a Belgian singer…
Fifty-five years ago ‘Louie Louie’ by The Kingsmen was at #1 on the U.S. Cash Box music chart. Naturally, when I was planning my posts for this year I thought this timeless ditty would make a fun little feature. Then I began to research the song and realized there is enough material out there to literally write a book. Books have been written. So have documentaries and even feature albums focused only on renditions of this song. It is one of the most covered songs ever; if not the most covered song. There is actually a ‘Louie Louie’ day. Festivals commemorating the song have taken place. The list of adulation goes on and on. I can unequivocally state that everyone reading this post knows the song. Admittedly, this is not always the case.
In
order to cover Louie Louie effectively I am going to do a series of point form
While tripping through the events of yesteryear in order to come up with a list of songs to share in this feature I rarely seem to be more than three degrees of separation from The Beatles as a band or a member of the Beatles. Today is no exception. ‘Come and Get It’ was written by Paul McCartney for the 1969 film ‘The Magic Christian’ which ‘starred’ Ringo (see what I did there?), and the great Peter Sellers. It is difficult to tell what is the original and what is the cover but I will tell the story and reverse the order. Paul McCartney in his prolific way recorded ‘Come and Get It’ upon arriving at the Abbey Road studio ahead of his band mates, in the summer of 1969. He played all the instruments and laid down a double vocal track. It took him less than an hour. It…
It has been almost twenty years since ‘Superman (It’s Not Easy)’ was released. I have a clear recollection of how prominent it became after the September 11 attacks. The sentimental attachment of this piece of music will always resonate with me because of the way it was effectively utilized to pay tribute to honour the bravery of police, firefighters, victims and survivors during this horrible chapter of human history.
‘Superman (It’s Not Easy)’ was released by Five for Fighting in April of 2001, as the second single from his album ‘America Town’. The act ‘Five for Fighting’ is a stage name for a singer/songwriter and pianist named (Vladimir) John Ondrasik III. Without getting into too much detail, Ondrasik’s musical roots began in what is known as the ‘glam metal’ scene. He was friends with Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake) and Scott St. Clair Sheets, who had connections to Pat Benatar. The result was a collaboration known as John Scott (circa 1988 – 1991) which yielded a management deal and a pop metal sound reminiscent of Bon Jovi. This all happened at around the time grunge was emerging. Consequently, their hopes for any mainstream success fizzled.
Ondrasik was not defeated though. He decided to focus on his piano work and songwriting. He became a regular in the L.A. club scene. This is where he was discovered and signed by music publisher Carla Berkowitz. This is significant because not only did this lead to a recording contract with EMI Records; the relationship between Berkowitz and Ondrasik blossomed into a marriage. One more significant note that emerged from this chapter is, at the suggestion of EMI executives Ondrasik adopted the stage name ‘Five for Fighting’ because they thought his name was hard to pronounce. Ondrasik is a big hockey fan and the name is an homage to his favourite team; the Los Angeles Kings. It is a reference to the five minute penalty time served for a fighting major. Great stuff.
Now, we fast forward to 2001. As noted, ‘Superman (It’s Not Easy)’ was released as the second single in April of that year. It peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It was also a major hit in Australia and New Zealand, rising to #2 in both countries, as well as top 20 recognition in Ireland, Italy and Norway. The commercial success of ‘Superman (It’s Not Easy)’ continued, as it was recognized with a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 2002. ‘Superman (It’s Not Easy)’ lost to ‘Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of’ by U2.
All of this is meant to provide a backdrop for a song that came flooding back to me in recent days as I have watched events unfold during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lyrics still speak to me as I reflect on the contributions made by so many front-line workers who have so unselfishly put their personal health and safety aside in an effort to help people who have been stricken with this dangerous virus. The theme of the song effectively compares the day to day efforts of seemingly ordinary people with the iconic hero, Superman. He concludes that even though Superman was blessed with immense powers, it was a difficult existence living up to the inherent responsibility. When you watch the video come to a conclusion, the theme is all summarized as Ondrasik settles down in bed at the end of a long day with his wife and newborn baby. Read the lyrics.
I can’t stand to fly I’m not that naive I’m just out to find The better part of me
I’m more than a bird, I’m more than a plane I’m more than some pretty face beside a train And it’s not easy to be me
I wish that I could cry Fall upon my knees Find a way to lie About a home I’ll never see
It may sound absurd, but don’t be naive Even heroes have the right to bleed I may be disturbed, but won’t you concede Even heroes have the right to dream And it’s not easy to be me
Up, up and away, away from me Well, it’s all right, you can all sleep sound tonight I’m not crazy or anything
I can’t stand to fly I’m not that naive Men weren’t meant to ride With clouds between their knees
I’m only a man in a silly red sheet Digging for kryptonite on this one way street Only a man in a funny red sheet Looking for special things inside of me Inside of me Inside me Inside me Inside of me
I’m only a man In a funny red sheet I’m only a man Looking for a dream
I’m only a man In a funny red sheet And it’s not easy
It’s not easy to be me
John Ondrasik – Five for Fighting
As you read through the words of this beautiful song, imagine it from the perspective of a doctor or nurse or any hospital support staff who are fighting so valiantly against the ravages of the Coronavirus. Imagine what they are going through on a daily basis. Imagine their personal struggle as they work. How draining it must be, enduring lengthy shifts of 12 hours or more while facing decisions that will impact so many lives. They are doing their best to help individuals who are fighting for their lives, often alone, because their loved ones are unable to visit, for fear that the highly contagious virus may be passed on. These individuals want to do more to help but they can’t. They are literally helpless and so are the victims. Each of these people are empaths. Their career is defined by their desire to help, and in this period of time their ability to love and support, and make a difference is drastically limited.
When their soul crushing shift is over, they have to go home. They have their own families. They need to buy groceries or make dinner. They need to help kids do their homework. They need to check on their own mother or father who may be living alone. They too may be vulnerable. All they can think about is everyone else.
And then tomorrow…they will do it again.
As I suggest; read through the lyrics, because now you will hear ‘Superman (It’s Not Easy)’ again, for the first time.
These people are heroes. In these challenging times many have risen to the forefront as we get through this crisis together. Many have been deemed essential. I have the privilege of talking to some of these ‘essential workers’ and every day presents numerous challenges. Restaurant owners and employees who are literally redefining their business in order to stay open. They are doing it extraordinarily well. Store owners who have had to modify their service to ‘curbside’ sales only, and endure the impatience of grossly entitled patrons who seem to thrive on making snide remarks about the service. Yet, somehow, they manage to continue with a smile and take solace in the handful who actually thank them for their dedication. Many of these people are hanging on by a thread but they are definitely holding on. These people all represent the living embodiment of ‘Superman’. Figuratively, they are all superheroes, doing everything they can to be all they can be and more, for not only themselves, but everybody around them. They are all digging deep, looking for that special thing inside of them that will serve to get us through…
…Aren’t we all in some way?
Our resilience will win the day, but we need to be there for each other.
…and then…
We can all sleep sound tonight.”
John Ondrasik
I know it’s not easy…
There have been some interesting cover versions of ‘Superman (It’s Not Easy)’ through the years. I found this rendition by Catman Cohen in 2005. Obviously, it combines a Leonard Cohen style to the Five for Fighting performance. It comes across as very reflective, so it works. It does kind of explode in the end though.
This is a ton of fun that serves to balance the seriousness of the song with an element of humour. Check out Conan O’Brien doing his cover of ‘Superman (It’s Not Easy)’ while dressed up as Superman. He is joined by a special guest who when unmasked, reveals himself to be the one and only Jim Carrey. It gets a little wacky, but it serves its comedic purpose.
In 2011, Boyce Avenue covered it with this version that remains very true to the original. This is beautiful.
It may sound absurd, but don’t be naive Even heroes have the right to bleed”
Today, we are going a long way back. To be exact, we will go back 301 years to the release of one of the most influential books ever written.
It was on this day in 1719 that Daniel Dafoe published the literary classic, ‘Robinson Crusoe’. The significance of this publication has been the subject of many literary reviews so that is beyond the purpose of today’s Ted Tocks post. The cultural impact needs to be noted though. First, for the fact that it is known to be among the first English novels ever published, and secondly, the narrative style of Daniel Dafoe’s writing remains a literary device that is emulated today. This is known as realistic fiction. The genre which began three centuries ago, with this novel is so captivating, people at the time thought Daniel Dafoe was writing his own personal chronicle of being shipwrecked and stranded on a deserted island. The book was so popular that by the end of 1719, ‘Robinson Crusoe’ had gone through four editions. It continues to be one of the most widely published books in literary history and based on its themes and general premise, it has influenced many variations in film, theatre and television; not to mention other books.
So, how does this tie into today’s feature song? Well, allow me to explain. When I research these posts, I do my best to write about a song or artist when it has significance surrounding a specific day. To put it mildly, for April 25th I had to really do some deep exploration. I couldn’t find a whole lot in the way of music related items that interested me in the last fifty to seventy years. This time period is most often my window of opportunity. Once I exhausted these possibilities, my research team had to broaden their search, which took them on a much wider exploration. To be exact, I scrolled through interesting capsules that reflected three centuries of significant events in world history. This was an interesting search which made me consider numerous possibilities. In the end it came back to ‘Robinson Crusoe’ and Daniel Dafoe, because all I could think of when I saw that title was the line from ‘The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle’:
So, by way of this thought process I give you the story behind this well-known television theme song.
‘The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle’ is considered by many to be the most popular TV theme song ever. It was written by Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle. The lyrics clearly set the scene for the story that would unfold on this popular ‘60s sitcom that lasted for three seasons and 98 episodes. Preceding this popular series was a pilot episode. Interestingly, the pilot had a much different cast than the show that would follow. Joining Gilligan, the Skipper and Mr. and Mrs. Howell were two secretaries and a high school teacher. The theme song was presented as an uneven calypso piece written by the legendary John Williams and performed by Sherwood Schwartz. Here it is:
As you watch, you will see the other characters who are vaguely described in the lyrics. When the series continued without these three, it is obvious why the song, thankfully, was changed. As you listen, you will notice that the length of the trip was initially ‘a six hour tour’ rather than what was eventually reduced to three hours. As we all know, John Williams went on to a magnificent career as a composer/conductor for some of the greatest movies ever made, including Star Wars, Superman, E.T and Indiana Jones, but not before he hung around to orchestrate the music played during the show for 1964 and part of 1965. He was replaced by Gerald Fried.
The clip I shared at the beginning of this post illustrates how the opening and closing theme songs evolved over the four seasons. The original version simply referred to the Professor and Mary Ann as “and the rest”. The line referring to “the Professor and Mary Ann” was added at the beginning of season two, for two reasons. The first consideration was based on the fact the show was a hit during year one. More importantly, it was actually Bob Denver, who played Gilligan, that personally asked that the Professor (Russell Johnson) and Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) be added to the presentation. When the ‘Gilligan’s Island’ executives balked on the rewrite Bob Denver asked to have his name taken from the song and credits as an act of solidarity. Denver had painted them into a corner, so they had to relent. “The Professor and Mary Ann” were added to the theme song for season two.
You will also notice that ‘The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle’ sounds a little bit different in season two. For season one, the theme song was recorded by a folk group called The Wellingtons. The follow up version had more of a sea faring flow to it which makes it my favourite. It actually went uncredited, but it was performed by a group called The Eligibles.
Today’s post is a bit of a departure for me. It is not very often that I feature a theme song for a TV show. When I identified it as a possibility, I thought I would be stymied at the point of attempting to find a cover version. I was pleasantly surprised. Variations of the song and themes have been used by several artists, mostly in the form of parodies.
Here is Little Roger and the Goosebumps merging ‘Stairway to Heaven’ with ‘The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle’, complete with the Jimmy Page guitar solo tribute leading into the harrowing “weather started getting rough” portion. This is fun stuff.
Naturally, the King of song parodies, Weird Al Yankovic recorded an ode to ‘Gilligan’s Island’ with a blend of Tone Loc. This portrays a rapper who is introduced to ‘Gilligan’s Island’ by his girlfriend. It is mostly a parody of Loc’s ‘Wild Thing’ but the references to ‘Gilligan’s Island’ are priceless.
Then, there is this version by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. The Hawaiian legend recorded this version on his album ‘E Ala E’ in 1995, shortly before his untimely death in 1997. A beautiful soul.
Not to be outdone, the ‘80s sitcom ‘Alf’ created a two part episode called ‘Somewhere Over the Rerun’ and ‘The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island’. This portrayal began with a dream sequence featuring Alf on ‘Gilligan’s Island’ with guest stars Bob Denver, Alan Hale (the Skipper), Dawn Wells and Russell Johnson. This little clip features Alf in awe of the antics of Gilligan and Skipper.
All of this comes around to some great memories of two of my favourite TV shows. I loved Alf during its short run but speaking to today’s theme, for me, ‘Gilligan’s Island’ was must watch after school programming for several years. I would come home and make a couple of peanut butter and jam sandwiches and camp out in front of the TV. I always managed to get home before my sisters, so the TV was mine. They would join me, and for this choice at least, they were on board with the decision. ‘Gilligan’s Island’ will always reside as a classic. Even though episode after episode, worked on a similar theme related to the castaways plotting to create a way to get off the island. This usually saw them employing the Professor’s ingenuity, as he crafted some combination of useful objects at his disposal into a means to escape. Ultimately, Gilligan would manage to mess it up somehow, and the Skipper would pummel him with his captain’s hat. This all left the other castaways shaking their heads in disbelief. In a classic example of the evolution of influence, the comedy schtick between Gilligan and the Skipper was a literal tip of the hat to Laurel and Hardy.
Some great memories from classic television. I am convinced there is not a person in my age range that would not think of this theme song and show without smiling.
57 years ago ‘Runaway’ was basically a worldwide #1 and it was a hit of massive proportions. ‘Runaway’ began its life as ‘Little Runaway’. It was written by keyboard player Max Crook and his band partner Charles Westover. They were part of Charlie Johnson and the Big Little Show Band. You probably haven’t heard of Charles Westover or the band I mentioned because soon after winning a battle of the bands in Battle Creek, Michigan, Westover changed his name to ‘Del Shannon’. Max Crook, who originated a unique electric clavioline based keyboard called a Musitron became known as Maximillian. The prize for winning the contest was a recording contract in New York. The sessions didn’t go well but upon Del’s return his manager encouraged him and Crook to re-record ‘Little Runaway’ with more emphasis on the unique keyboard sound. It was upon this second recording that they opted to reduce…
What happens when a meteorological occurrance coincides with an unscheduled day off for a disgruntled employee. You get today’s feature song ‘Here Comes the Sun.’ It was on this day in 1969 that George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr recorded this classic Beatles song for Abbey Road. John Lennon was not at the session because he was recovering from a car accident. ‘Here Comes the Sun’ emerged from a songwriting session in April of 1969. The year had gotten off to a rocky start for Harrison; who had temporarily quit the band over creative differences and was arrested for marijuana possession. He even had his tonsils removed. It didn’t help that the majority of his days were consumed with legal meetings and signing accounting reports. Here is his summary of the time as written in his autobiography, ‘I, Me, Mine.’
When I think back to the summer of 1984, I am greeted with
fond memories. I was 17 years old so everything felt wide open. There was so
much going on and I was in a position to immerse myself completely. A few
things stand out above all the rest. I must have seen 20 concerts that summer.
Living close to Toronto, we were at the epicenter of the scene. Every big act
came through the city and with the money I made working two part time jobs I
allocated a lot of cash to these events, and to loading up on records. I also
remember the Summer Olympics being held in Los Angeles. This event was somewhat
tainted by the fact that the Soviet Union did not attend, and several other
Eastern block countries followed suit. As a result of this boycott, Canada fared extremely well, and it was…
I am going back to 1977 for a little ‘Homegrown’ by Canadian music icon Neil Young. This message is made all the more important today as we are all (hopefully) practicing #SocialDistancing. This means 420 celebrations that had become very popular through the years, all over North America, have been canceled. Some of the more creative among you will manage some virtual gatherings, I am sure.
Neil Young released ‘Homegrown’ as a track on his ‘American Stars and Bars’ album. It was originally slated for a project known as ‘Chrome Dreams’ but that album never came to fruition. Instead, Young put out ‘Chrome Dreams II’ in 2007 in order to pay homage to the original ‘seed’ of an idea.
The essence of the ‘Homegrown’ message is pretty clear. Neil Young was giving a tip of his hat to ‘farmers’ who chose to cultivate their own ‘crops’ in the face of archaic marijuana laws. As always, Neil was a harsh critic of government hypocrisy. Marijuana legislation has come a long way since 1977, but they still have a long way to go.
This leads to the escapism that music provides, and it opens the door for me to share four more great versions of ‘Homegrown’ because the message evolved in a very positive way.
Along with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp, Neil Young was a key figure in founding the event known as Farm Aid in 1985. Dave Matthews joined the Board of Directors in 2001.
Here is Neil Young’s message to farmers at the second annual Farm Aid on July 4, 1986.
In that video you saw Neil with the International Harvesters featuring the larger than life Rufus Thibodeaux on fiddle. Backing vocals were provided by the beautiful Nicolette Larson. Tons of fun
Twenty six years later, Neil and another one of the founders of Farm Aid, Willie Nelson, were spreading the message. A couple of music legends.
It’s funny to listen to him promote the support of local farming in the United States, (states or counties), yet as he tried to apply for citizenship late last year he was temporarily blocked by immigration, because of his ‘subversive tendencies’ which included open marijuana endorsement. The hypocrisy, blatant stupidity and plain ignorance of U.S. politicians knows no limits.
“Homegrown! It’s alright with me.”
The double entendre works. Take whichever message you want or apply both, depending on the circumstances that present.
We’ve been losing farms for too many years straight. It’s time for us to start going the other way. It’s really important for our planet because farmers are the protectors of the soil. They are the ones that are going to bring the regenerative practices back across this country and make it so obvious we have to do this.”
Neil Young
That message was driven home once again during the preamble to this fun version of ‘Homegrown’ from 1999, featuring just Neil, and his banjo.
Here is one more version with Neil Young and the Promise of the Real from 2019 Farm Aid. This features Willie Nelson’s sons, Lukas and Micah.
Listen to each version of the song and sing along. Like Neil says…it’s easy.
Homegrown’s all right with me. Homegrown is the way it should be. Homegrown is a good thing. Plant that bell and let it ring.
The sun comes up in the morning, Shines that light around. One day, without no warning, Things start jumping up from the ground.
Well, homegrown’s all right with me. Homegrown is the way it should be. Homegrown is a good thing. Plant that bell and let it ring.
Neil Young
As mentioned, today’s Ted Tocks is a triple shot. Here is my post from 4/20/2018.
Ted Tocks Covers 
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