One Love – Let’s get together and feel alright. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #BobMarley #BobMarleyandtheWailers

Undeniably, the eternal quality contained in music is the ability to merge sound and sight and literally freeze time. Today’s song takes us back to a time and place where one legendary artist did just that. The significance of the moment remains 46 years later. The message shines through in one line.

Let’s get together and feel alright”

‘One Love’ is truly a multi-layered song by ‘Bob Marley and Wailers. It was recorded by Bob Marley and his group the Wailers way back in 1965. The significance of this piece is in its blending of the classic Curtis Mayfield song ‘People Get Ready’.

 It’s not too often that an original is so obviously propelled by the cover version embedded within the track, but the Wailers managed this effectively in this piece, and the message carries on six decades later.

Continuing with the evolution, in 1970, The Wailing Wailers created a medley called ‘All in One’ which gathered a handful of the reggae group’s early island ska hits. In 1973, ‘All in One’ led off side two of the album ‘African Herbsman’ which was released on Island Records.

This period signified the culmination of a three-year transition that saw Bob Marley and the Wailers evolve from the leaders of the Jamaican reggae movement to getting notice in the important North American and European markets. Time spent in England from 1970 to 1973 was marked by a strong bond with Johnny Nash (see ‘I Can See Clearly Now’) and the introduction to Chris Blackwell of the aforementioned Island Records. Enjoy this footage of Bob Marley & The Wailers performing on ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’ in 1973. This features Bunny Wailer on backing vocals and percussion and the great Peter Tosh on lead guitar. I still count the opportunity of seeing Peter Tosh live at the 1983 Police Picnic as one of my all time greatest concert thrills.

Famously, in the United States, Bob Marley’s 1973 tour saw him play on a double bill with an up- and-coming performer from New Jersey…Bruce Springsteen.

Imagine!

Getting back to today’s feature song, through the years ‘One Love’ became a constant in the Bob Marley catalogue. What became the most famous recording was released in 1977 when Bob Marley and the Wailers released the classic album ‘Exodus’. Notably, this release included the modified ‘One Love’/’People Get Ready’ monicker. The title gave partial credit to Curtis Mayfield in order to avoid any lawsuit issues. The 1965 original never included a credit to Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions because Jamaican copyright laws did not enforce such acknowledgements. As Bob Marley and the Wailers’ popularity grew, adhering to these legalities became essential. Although ‘One Love’ remains one of Bob Marley’s biggest hits, it was not released as a single until 1984 when Island Records released the posthumous greatest hits collection known as ‘Legend’.

Curiously the message within the song belied everything that was going on in Bob Marley’s world at the time, but he remained steadfast in his message.

First, here are the lyrics to what has become best known as ‘One Love’.

One love! One heart!
Let’s get together and feel alright
Hear the children crying (One love!)
Hear the children crying (One heart!)
Saying, “Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel alright.”
Saying, “Let’s get together and feel alright.” Wo wo-wo wo-wo!

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One love!)
There is one question I’d really love to ask (One heart!)
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs?

One love! What about the one heart? One heart!
What about the—Let’s get together and feel alright
As it was in the beginning (One love!)
So shall it be in the end (One heart!)
Alright!
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel alright
Let’s get together and feel alright
One more thing!

Let’s get together to fight this holy Armageddon (One love!)
So when the man comes there will be no, no doom (one song!)
Have pity on those whose chances grows thinner
There is no hiding place from the Father of Creation
Singing!

One love! What about the one heart? One heart!
What about the—Let’s all get together and feel alright
I’m pleading to mankind! (One love!)
Oh, Lord! (One heart) Wo-ooh
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel alright
Let’s get together and feel alright
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel alright
Let’s get together and feel alright

This song continues to move people in countless ways but during the conception of ‘One Love/People Get Ready’ and ‘Exodus’ things in Jamaica were turbulent and Bob Marley found himself as a central figure in the chaos.

In early December of 1976, Bob and Rita Marley were at their home in Kingston, Jamaica when they became the objects of a politically motivated assassination attempt. Although Bob Marley was careful to appear politically neutral, he was perceived to be a supporter of Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley and his democratic socialist People’s National Party. In order to calm a divided nation, Bob Marley pledged to perform at a concert for unity which was being promoted as the ‘Smile Concert’. This outraged a faction of Jamaicans who did not accept this act as a symbol of national cohesion. On December 3, seven armed men stormed the property. Marley’s wife Rita who was in her car, was shot in the head, having just returned home from an outing. Inside the house Bob Marley was shot in the chest and arm. Two others who happened to be in the home at the time were also shot. Manager, Don Taylor was shot in the legs and upper body, and band employee Louis Griffiths received leg wounds. All four shooting victims miraculously survived.

Ironically, the Marley’s lived on Hope Road in Kingston Jamaica.

Incredibly, just two days after this act of violence, Marley performed at the ‘Smile Jamaica’ concert. Here is footage from that concert.

Note the defiance in the opening of the show.

Until the philosophy which hold one race
Superior and another inferior
Is finally
And permanently
Discredited
And abandoned
Everywhere is war
Me say war

That until there are no longer
First-class and second-class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man’s skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes
Me say war

That until the basic human rights
Are equally guaranteed to all
Without regard to race
Dis a war

That until that day
The dream of lasting peace
World citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued
But never attained
Now everywhere is war
War

And until the ignoble and unhappy regime
That hold our brothers in Angola
In Mozambique
South Africa
Sub-human bondage
Have been toppled
Utterly destroyed
Well, everywhere is war
Me say war

War in the east
War in the west
War up north
War down south

War, war
Rumors of war
And until that day
The African continent
Will not know peace
We Africans will fight, we find it necessary
And we know we shall win
As we are confident
In the victory
Of good over evil

Good over evil, yeah!
Good over evil
Good over evil, yeah!
Good over evil
Good over evil, yeah!”

This IS the Bob Marley legend.

Immediately following the show, he and some of his band mates fled to England.

During their time in exile, Bob Marley and the Wailers worked together to create ‘Exodus’ between January and early April of 1977. Many consider this to be Bob Marley and the Wailers’ opus. The album is characterized by a music that has a pleasing groove with its eclectic combination of instrumentation. The sound is nicely balanced with a series of thematic pieces that speak to the need for positive change on a global level related to religion, sexuality and politics. Through the music Bob Marley and the Wailers offered a message of hope. ‘Exodus’ is a musical masterpiece.

Almost a year after the release of ‘Exodus’ Bob Marley was approached by an unlikely source. This speaks to the origin of the ‘One Love Peace Concert’.

As noted, Jamaica was mired in a political civil war in the early ‘70s. Prime Minister Michael Manley was a proponent of a socialist agenda whose primary goal was to redistribute wealth and nationalize the country’s export industries. Much to the consternation of certain political interests, this agenda was thought to have deterred foreign investment, which resulted in a financial downturn. Enter the contrary point of view represented by Edward Seaga who became the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party in 1974. In order to protect themselves, both politicians hired local gangsters to create an intimidating flank, while promoting their political movement. This only stirred emotions and widen the chasm. As the tensions rose, many were jailed and in an example of true irony, two kingpins in the gangster protection plan found themselves in a Jamaican jail cell together. Claudius ‘Claudie’ Massop represented Seaga and Aston ‘Bucky’ Marshall was part of Team Manley. It was while residing in this cell that the pair recognized that their efforts to escalate the violence and divide the people was not sustainable, so they conceived an idea for a concert that would see music unite the country. It would be a national celebration. As they developed the plan, they recognized that the only way this event would create the intended response with the necessary magnitude, would be if they talked Bob Marley into returning home from his period of exile. Upon his release from priso, Claudie Massop headed to England to talk Bob Marley into coming home. As we all know, Bob Marley agreed to headline the show that would feature 16 of Jamaica’s best reggae acts.

The ‘One Love Peace Concert’ which occurred on this day in 1978 attracted over 32,000 attendees. It was held at the National Stadium in Kingston. Because of the deteriorating state of the country, the media promoted the event as a ‘Third World Woodstock’ and as the beneficiaries were identified it became clear that the effort was required in order to affix a band-aid to a nation in despair. Proceeds went to provide “much needed sanitary facilities and housing for the ‘sufferahs’ in West Kingston.”

Here is an excerpt from the show.

One of the most significant moments occurred while Bob Marley and the Wailers performed ‘Jamming’. Here is Bob Marley’s monologue.

Just let me tell you something (yeah), to make everything come true, we gotta be together. (Yeah, yeah, yeah) and through the spirit of the Most High, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, we’re inviting a few leading people of the slaves to shake hands…To show the people that you love them right, to show the people that you gonna unite, show the people that you’re over bright, show the people that everything is all right. Watch, watch, watch, what you’re doing, because I wanna send a message right out there. I mean, I’m not so good at talking but I hope you understand what I’m trying to say. Well, I’m trying to say, could we have, could we have, up here onstage here the presence of Mr. Michael Manley and Mr. Edward Seaga. I just want to shake hands and show the people that we’re gonna make it right, we’re gonna unite, we’re gonna make it right, we’ve got to unite. The moon is right over my head, and I give my love instead. The moon was right above my head, and I give my love instead.”

Here is another rousing rendition of ‘Jamming’. Just listen to the guitar work by Junior Marvin and the backing vocals from Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt.

Everything is captured in these lyrics.

Ain’t no rules, ain’t no vow, we can do it anyhow:
I’n’I will see you through,
‘Cos everyday we pay the price with a little sacrifice,
Jammin’ till the jam is through.

We’re jammin’
To think that jammin’ was a thing of the past;
We’re jammin’,
And I hope this jam is gonna last.

No bullet can stop us now, we neither beg nor we won’t bow;
Neither can be bought nor sold.
We all defend the right; Jah – Jah children must unite:
Your life is worth much more than gold.”

This was the message of the day, and momentarily at least, the people bought in, but as always, greater forces were at work.

One good thing about music
When it hits you (You feel no pain)
Whoa, whoa I say one good thing about music
When it hits you (You feel no pain)
Hit me with music, hit me with music, now”

Before we move on to the tributes and cover versions of ‘One Love/People Get Ready’ this Fan Made Tribute to Bob Marley was created to honour Bob Marley on the launch of a new limited-edition Ben & Jerry’s ice cream called ‘Satisfy My Bowl’. Proceeds from the sale of the ice cream went on to support the ‘I Love Foundation’ and Partners for Youth Empowerment who joined forces to create a new youth empowerment camp for underserved children in Jamaica.

Back in 2004, Mark Johnson, a Grammy Award winning producer and engineer was walking through a New York subway when he encountered two monks playing music. Not only was he captured by their obvious talent, but he was captivated by how a few hundred other people were also moved by their performance. People literally stopped their day to witness their unique interpretation of several well-known songs.

I was in a subway in New York on my way to work, and I heard these two monks playing music. They were painted head to toe, all white, wearing robes. One was playing a nylon guitar, and the other was singing in a language I didn’t understand. There were about 200 people who stopped to watch, didn’t even get on the train. Some had tears in their eyes. And it occurred to me that here is a group of people that would normally run by each other, but instead they’re coming together. And it’s the music that brought them together.”

This moment inspired Johnson to create a documentary called ‘Playing for Change: A Cinematic Discovery of Street Musicians.’

One year later, three thousand miles away in Santa Monica, California, Mark Johnson recorded and filmed a street musician named Roger Ridley singing ‘Stand by Me’. In this moment he came up with the idea of taking this recording to several of his industry friends and add musicians from all over the world to it. The goal was to “connect, inspire and change the world through music.”

In late 2008, the first ‘Playing for Change’ video was released. It was ‘Stand by Me’ and it went viral.

Since that time ‘Playing for Change’ has featured countless other classic songs and during that time they have far surpassed the one billon page view mark.

The second song in this chain of inspiring music was ‘One Love/People Get Ready’.

Here is Keb’ Mo’ and Manu Chao offering Bob Marley’s words and wisdom. Any time spent with Keb’ Mo is quality time.

 In 2012, Richard Cheese released his acclaimed ‘Back in Black Tie’ album. Always fun and truly unique. The Las Vegas lounge act translates in a completely different way.

One of the many favourites Ted Tocks Covers has discovered over the years is a phenomenal collective from Toronto, Ontario called Choir! Choir! Choir! Here, in 2013, they perform with La-Nai Gabriel and share the unifying message that Bob Marley offered nearly 50 years earlier.

Let’s get together and feel alright.”

That invitation will never get old.

Here is Bob and Rita’s son Ziggy Marley, performing before a massive crowd in Odra, Poland at the Pol’And’ Rock Festival. The message is truly universal. Even as evil surrounds the people of this nation, they take to this venue and gather to embrace the spirit of Ziggy Marley’s father and the seed he planted in 1965. From one musical seed…

The final cover version is from Grace Amarilis. This video from 2022 was made possible by the Marley Family in conjunction with Ben & Jerry’s and Tongal. Bob Marley fans were invited to create their own videos and submit. One part love and two parts harmony. Grace was a 2022 contest winner. I just love the groove, and the pure adulation that shines through in her delivery, and in the video footage.

Before we move through this day, please take a moment to enjoy this essential extended version of ‘One Love’. Many people contend that they could listen to Bob Marley and the Wailers forever, and this release allows you to spend just a little more time with this classic song.

In the song ‘One Love’ the message becomes clear; that Bob Marley had no room for hypocrisy in politics or religion. He made it his mission to expose those who pretended to adhere to religious, doctrine while exploiting the masses for their own gain.

This is where Bob Marley added the lines from Curtis Mayfield’s ‘People Get Ready’.

Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs?”

This is the intersection where Bob Marley’s message and Ted Tocks Covers mission connect.

Music is my religion.

No Woman, No Cry – A reggae classic and a handful of covers from an array of great artists. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #BobMarley #BluesTraveller #ZiggyMarley #TheFugees #StevenMarley #TheDevonAllmanBand #JimmyBuffett #JimmyCliff #JohnMayer

Here is a song that goes back 45 years. It was originally recorded for Bob Marley’s studio album called Natty Dread in 1974. In what music aficionados would consider to be a travesty the track was recorded with a drum machine. The most famous version of the song was released as a live single from a 1975 recording from the Lyceum Theatre in London. It was recorded 44 years ago this week. While ‘No Woman, No Cry’ is known as a Bob Marley song, Marley himself gave credit for the piece to his friend from the Trenchtown ghetto of Kingston, Jamaica, Vincent Ford. Although Marley wrote the beautiful lyrics in full it is widely thought that Ford offered the melody and the expression that inspired the title.

This is where the ‘No Woman, No Cry’ becomes more than a beautiful song. It has become a voice for women and further a voice for a universal respect toward women. The original lyric has a very Jamaican root in its composition. ‘No Woman, No Cry’ is actually a modified title. The second ‘no’ is actually ‘nuh’ to be uttered in a mumbled way. In Jamaican patois this translates to ‘don’t. So technically the song is ‘No Woman, Don’t Cry’. In this case Bob Marley and Vincent Ford were comforting a woman; letting her know that everything will be alright when he’s gone.

At this point in his life the message may have been more a matter of consoling a woman (his wife Rita?) that although he would be embarking on a major world tour, all would be fine in his absence. Around the time of recording Rita was pregnant with what would count as the couple’s eighth child. Ironically, the daughter, named Stephanie, that was born that August was actually the product of an affair that Rita Marley had with a man named Ital. Bob Marley always considered Stephanie his daughter and treated her accordingly. Between 1964 and 1978 Bob and Rita had four children together. Two more were adopted from previous relationships, and an additional five were the products of relationships with other women. ‘No Woman, No Cry’…indeed. What a legacy!

For cover versions of ‘No Woman, No Cry’ I could pick from countless recordings. One is not enough because there are several amazing versions. Have I ever mentioned how much I love YouTube? As I write this I think my neighbours think I am holding a one song reggae festival, or they are concerned that something is wrong with Heather.

The first cover has to be this version that features Bob’s son ‘Ziggy’, actually born David in 1968. He is playing with Blues Traveller. This is fantastic. Listen to John Popper play the harmonica.

Keeping it in the family there was a version of the song released by the Fugees in 1996 as the fourth single from their second studio album. Later they would create a remix of the song featuring Stephen Marley. This recording appeared on The Fugees third release called Bootleg Versions.

Here is Gregg Allman’s son Devon with The Devon Allman Band doing their tribute to Bob Marley.

For a little taste of ‘No Woman, No Cry’ all the way from Margaritaville here is Jimmy Buffet. This is for The Parrotheads. It is a very candid moment as Jimmy Buffet pays tribute to Bob Marley. Love the steel drums.

Back to reggae we go with the great Jimmy Cliff.

Here is the ever present and extremely diverse John Mayer. This guy could play anything by anyone. An extraordinary talent. This is an instrumental version. Beautiful guitar work.

Have a great day.

“Everything’s gonna be alright.”

Bob Marley

Redemption Song – Today’s inspiring song and a handful of equally uplifting covers. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #BobMarley #ZiggyMarley #TheChieftains #JacksonBrowne #StevieWonder #JoeStrummer #JohnnyCash #ChrisCornell

It’s hard to believe that it has been 38 years since Bob Marley died as a result of malignant melanoma. He was diagnosed in 1977 and the cancer spread throughout his body. He succumbed to the horrid disease on this day in 1981. In 1990, his native Jamaica declared February 6^th a national holiday, in order to commemorate his birth.

To salute the life of Bob Marley today’s feature will be ‘Redemption Song’. ‘Redemption Song’ is widely considered to be one of Marley’s greatest works. The beauty of its composition stems from the fact that it was written in 1979 after his diagnosis. According to his wife Rita he was in a lot of pain and he was struggling to deal with his own mortality. In retrospect, this message comes through in his writing and his heartfelt acoustic delivery. Here are the lyrics:

Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly

Won’t you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
‘Cause all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
‘Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look? Ooh!
Some say it’s just a part of it
We’ve got to fulfill the book

Won’t you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
‘Cause all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Redemption songs

[Guitar break]

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our mind
Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy
‘Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say it’s just a part of it
We’ve got to fulfill the book

Won’t you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
‘Cause all I ever had
Redemption songs
All I ever had
Redemption songs
These songs of freedom
Songs of freedom

In deference to Bob Marley, what can I possibly say? This song is just dripping with a humility that speaks to what he was going through at the time. What a piece of writing and what a legacy. To many Bob Marley followers, ‘ Redemption Song’ was a departure from his regular style. It was truly an acoustic spiritual piece. The lyrics borrow from a speech given by Jamaican born political leader, Marcus Garvey Jr. entitled ‘The Work that Has Been Done’. Here is the passage from the speech that was delivered in Sydney, Nova Scotia in 1937.

“We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is your only ruler, sovereign. The man who is not able to develop and use his mind is bound to be the slave of the other man who uses his mind …”

‘Redemption Song’ is held in high regard by many. Rolling Stone Magazine has the song at #66 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2010, the New Statesman listed it as one of their Top 20 Political Songs. To understand the magnitude of its meaning here is a quote from Bono of U2, who considers ‘Redemption Song’ his moral compass.

“I carried Bob Marley’s Redemption Song to every meeting I had with a politician, prime minister, or president. It was for me a prophetic utterance or as Bob would say ‘the small ax that could fell the big tree.’ The song reminded me that freedom always comes with a cost, but for those who would prepare to pay it, maybe ‘emancipation from mental slavery’ would be our reward.”

Perhaps the greatest legacy of this beautiful song is the list of acts that have covered it. It is an impressive array, and I struggle to determine where to stop when it comes to sharing cover versions. For the sake of this post I will keep it to a handful of tributes that reflect the original message. Fittingly, I will begin with a version by Bob Marley’s son Ziggy, who recorded a version of ‘Redemption Song’ with The Chieftains in 2002.

This is so good. What a combination of talent and sounds.

In 1995, Jackson Browne did what he does best. He managed to share Bob Marley’s message during the opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His rendition was released on the Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame album. As always, Browne’s acoustic delivery imparts the meaning of the song while attendees celebrate both the social and musical contributions of many great artists throughout the years.

In 1996 Stevie Wonder released a version of ‘Redemption Song’ on a compilation called Stevie Wonder – Song Review: Greatest Hits.

It is fascinating to hear the many different arrangements. One of the finest was done by Joe Strummer with The Mescaleros shortly before Strummer’s sudden death in 2002.  Strummer also recorded a version of “Redemption Song’ with Johnny Cash as part of Cash’s posthumous release; Unearthed. The pair received a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for this performance. Rick Rubin produced both tracks and played piano on The Mescaleros version. Here is the Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros version.

Followed by Joe Strummer and Johnny Cash.

In terms of symbolism, here is another special moment. In 2006 Chris Cornell played a version of ‘Redemption Song’ on his live album. In 2015 he sang the song live with his 11 year old daughter, Toni. It presents a bond between a father and a daughter and in many ways, it reflects a passing of the torch between generations. The fact that Cornell died two years ago this month, makes it even more special.

I am crying now. Have a great day. Enjoy every moment.

“None but ourselves can free our minds”

I am reminded of a quote I heard recently:

“If you say you CAN you are right. If you say you CAN’T you are right.”

Drive – Today’s classic song and a couple of great cover versions. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #TheCars #ZiggyMarley #JulioIglesias

Happy Birthday to my brother in law Mike. I think he turns 80 today. 😉

Seriously, he is only 53 but seeing as he is the elder statesman in our extended family I exaggerate his age for comedic effect. Besides that, he is a Montreal Canadiens fan, so I need to get my digs in at every turn. He has enjoyed too much glory in his lifetime of hockey fandom, whereas I have only endured heartache and pain as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan. A little more on Mike later.

Coincidentally, Mike shares a birthday with Ric Ocasek (born Richard Theodore Otcasek) of The Cars who turns either 75 or 76 today depending on the source. Similar to Mike, they didn’t keep very good records back then, so details are hazy. It seems things vastly improved around the middle of 1966, and all birth records from that time forward are very reliable…but I digress. Can you believe Ric Ocasek is in his mid-seventies? For people of my generation The Cars were an integral part of our formative years and through high school. Today’s post could have been about any one of several great releases by this band, that was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year. The song I chose to feature today in honour of O’Casek and to a lesser extent, Mike is ‘Drive’.

There is something about ‘Drive’ that screams ‘80s, but it is good ‘80s. It combines sentiment with the classic ‘80s sound. The lyrics were written by Ric Ocasek and delivered by bass player Ben Orr. The distinctive keyboard sound was courtesy of Greg Hawkes. Greatness surrounded this band. ‘Drive’ was released in 1984 on the album Heartbeat City. The producer was none other than Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange who struck gold with virtually everything he did for parts of three decades. The Cars manager was Elliot Roberts who was an integral part of the solo success of Joni Mitchell and Neil Young in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s when he served as their manager. Over 400 days of posting Ted Tocks and the number of times the same names keep popping up is truly fascinating.

When I hear ‘Drive’ I think of two things; high school and Live Aid. In 1984 I was in Grade 12 and this song was a standard at dances and grad parties. I have alluded to this before but grad parties in Acton were a license for mayhem. While people may have been slow dancing to this song in an area venue, any amount of hijinks could have been taking place in and around the party. For some reason a certain element within these parties seemed to combine alcohol consumption with senseless vandalism. The end result was our graduating class and all classes for about 20 subsequent years being banned from every community centre, hall and moderately appropriate venue from hosting a party within a 100 km radius. These were good times, but also a little bit trying for the people who truly had the best of intentions.

As noted the second thing I think of when I hear ‘Drive’ is The Cars strong set at the iconic Live Aid festival in 1985 in Philadelphia. There are several performances that stood out that day. It all emanates from Queen of course. U2 has always stood out for me. Led Zeppelin playing with Phil Collins was extraordinary. Stevie Ray Vaughan and George Thorogood were incredible and so were The Cars. Their set was just strong. Nothing overwhelming but they just got the point across that they were in the upper echelon of performers in that generation. Seeing them perform ‘Drive’ on that day has always lingered in my mind. When I heard that Ben Orr died back in 2000 I immediately reflected back on his performance at Live Aid just fifteen years previous. He was only 53 years old. Cancer of the pancreas. Way too young but he left his mark. Read the memories along with this Youtube post and you will see that my reflections are not unique, and check out the crowd. The way the world came together that day will never be forgotten. We need to get back to that place.

Another reason why I Iove ‘Drive’ is there is a certain vulnerability to the lyrics which have always spoken to me. The sense of empathy in Ric Ocasek’s lyrics come through in the performance.

This brings me back to Mike. Not that Mike is vulnerable. Not at all. It is more in the sense that Mike is strong. Maybe resilient is a better word. Yep! I will go with resilient. Mike has been forced to redefine himself on several occasions and he always comes shining through. He is remarkably accomplished in his career as a chartered financial analyst. A very demanding, mentally and emotionally draining vocation. This has presented a roller coaster for Mike, but he has always prevailed. About eight years ago Mike suffered a stroke. This rocked our family. For someone to go through this at such a young age was mind-boggling. Not only did Mike survive but he came through the recovery with virtually no visible effects. I cannot even fathom the strength of character this would involve but he did it and that speaks volumes. As if that is not enough, Mike is the father of Eric who lives courageously with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Mike, my sister in law Darlene, and nephew Devin all serve as rocks of support for Eric who is a model of inspiration for many. This is where the resilience shines through. Each one of them have refused to let the inevitable challenges that they are presented with to define them. Quite the contrary. They have each taken the challenge and risen well above. As noted Mike has been successful in a demanding career. He still finds time to coach Devin in hockey whenever possible. Darlene juggles a million things and always comes through smiling. Devin will be headed to University of Guelph in the fall and like many kids his age manages to work part time and play as much hockey as possible. Eric will be heading to Carleton University in Ottawa in September where he will be studying Biology. Mike, Darlene, Eric and Devin are all shining examples of determination and the triumph of the human spirit. Their support system is strong. Their group of friends has always struck me as amazing. This was never more evident than during the fifteen years our family organized Eric’s Amazing Race Car Rally and Silent Auction for Jesse’s Journey and Duchenne muscular dystrophy research. The way our family and friends came together for Eric and his family was a true testament to how loved and respected each of them are. We could never accurately measure the number of people who attended but we are pretty sure that at its peak the event drew over 400 people and during a 15 year span our family raised over $240,000 for Jesse’s Journey and Duchenne muscular dystrophy research. We we are confident that one day we will celebrate a cure. So, on this day we celebrate Mike’s birthday but we also celebrate the love of family and friends and the fact that me, Heather, Sebastian, Jeremy and Nathaniel are blessed with one of the best, in our humble opinion.

Happy Birthday Mike! All the best oldtimer. You are the model of grace, dignity and above all resilience.

I have chosen two covers today that once again reflect the range of influence The Cars had on music. The first is by Ziggy Marley; the son of the great Bob Marley. Marley recorded ‘Drive’ in 2004 for 50 First Dates which starred Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.

The second cover is by none other than Julio Iglesias who recorded ‘Drive’ in 2006 on his album Romantic Classics. This is so well done from a surprising source. Once again it speaks to the versatility of artists and the range of influence of The Cars.

Have a great day and remember if things aren’t going well for you, and you need to get somewhere there will always be somebody nearby to ‘drive’ you to where you need to go. This is true both literally and figuratively. We just need to be there for each other. Peace!