Denny Laine - Go Now! (live TV 1977)

RIP Denny Laine.

Denny Laine 1944-2023

Denny Laine with Paul McCartney and Wings

Sadly Denny Laine former Moody Blues and Paul McCartney & Wings fame passed away. Growing up in the 1970s you could hardly turn a radio on without a Wings song playing. Before joining up with the former Beatle he had been a founding member of the Moody Blues and sang their first big hit "Go Now". He eventually joined Wings with Paul McCartney and enjoyed tremendous success throughout most of the 70s before disbanding in 1981. Afterward, he released his solo albums and worked on various projects with other musicians. His last solo album, The Blue Musician, was released in 2008, on December 5, 2023, Denny lost his battle with Interstitial Lung Disease(ILD). Thank you for the music, RIP Denny. 

Now and Then - The Beatles

 

If you pay attention to the music world you've probably heard that The Beatles have released a new single called Now and Then. Didn't they break up long ago you might ask. Yes in 1970. Where did this song come from then? It was originally a demo John Lennon did around 1977 during his self-imposed leave of absence from the music world after his youngest son Sean was born. He didn't fully give up music though. His love of making music could only be kept quiet for a short time. In Ken Womack's book "Lennon 1980" it mentions that during this quiet period of 1975-80, John would spend time alone writing music on a piano or guitar in a separate apartment at the Dakota building where he and his family lived in New York City. It was in this period that "Now and Then" was born.

Now And Then - The Beatles (12" vinyl single)

I had preordered mine through The Beatles' official website (U.S.) and first ordered the 12-inch black vinyl with a 2023 remix of "Love Me Do" as the B-side. It took about 6 long days for it to arrive. In the meantime, social media is buzzing with the release. Even if the cover is analyzed, many hate it cause it just seems unworthy of such a highly anticipated song. Even when I first saw it online I thought it might be just a placeholder cover that would be updated upon release. 

Some have even claimed it's not even a real Beatles song. It's such silliness.

The lyrics and music denote a nostalgia that seems to fit the Beatles story so far. John and George are no longer with us but in this song, we get them both back for a moment. We get the late 70s John harmonizing with his much older bandmates over 40 years later. Paul and Ringo's voices worn over the years provide a now-and-then counterpoint to John's young voice which fits perfectly with the theme. I can't think of a better way to punctuate the Beatle's last song. 

Now And Then - The Beatles (CD Single)

The Beatles - Now And Then (Official Music Video)

Quadrophenia - The Who

Album Highlight #17: Aerosmith by Aerosmith

 Aerosmith - Aerosmith 

Record Label: Columbia KC 32005

Released: January 5, 1973 (Compact Disc Reissue 1993)

Aerosmith:

Steve Tyler - Lead Vocal

Joe Perry - Lead Guitar

Brad Whitford - Rhythm Guitar

Tom Hamilton - Bass

Joey Kramer - Drum

Track Listing:

1. Make It
2. Somebody
3. Dream On
4. One Way Street
5. Mama Kin
6. Write Me
7. Movin' Out
8. Walkin' the Dog

Produced By Adrian Barber

Recorded at Intermedia Studios in Boston, Massachusett October 1972

This was Aerosmith's debut album. By many accounts, their sound, production, and support from their label could have been more robust. It seemed they were a bit nervous at first. Steve Tyler complained he sounded like Kermit the Frog. Joe Perry said he never got the sound he wanted in the studio but didn't know how to do much in the studio being a novice. It was recorded fairly quick with minimal production beyond what the band played. Even the album cover looks like it was just scraped together without much effort or care. It was speculated that the label was throwing much more effort into another rookie artist from New Jersey called Bruce Springsteen whose debut album came out the same day. Bruce had some nerve.

Despite all the negatives I still think this is a good album. I don't hear the "Kermit" voice Tyler speaks of but I do agree their sound does sound thinner than later albums. The song 'Dream On" would enjoy success as an early example power ballad. "Mama Kin" would become a favorite and "One Way Street" is a hidden gem. 

Aerosmith Official Website

OK Go - Skyscrapers - Official Video