Remember Concerts?
As we all have had to adjust to #quarantinelife, perhaps one of the most severely impacted businesses has been live music…remember when we could join a gathering of thousands to hear great live music?
These “Songs For Sunday” begin with two great live performances, and each song begins with the letter “S” – so let’s listen to some classic music!
“Sowing the Seeds Of Love” by Tears For Fears
Tears For Fears were Roland Orzabal and Kurt Smith, and they had a great run of terrific songs in the 80’s and 90’s, and are still touring today – when circumstances allow!
Alex and I saw them in Los Angeles in the fall of 2017, when they performed their classic “S” song “Sowing The Seeds Of Love” to an adoring crowd:
They sounded great, and played a 90 minute set chock full of hits…they shared the bill with Daryl Hall and John Oates, which leads to my next live “Song With An S”:
“She’s Gone” By Daryl Hall and John Oates!
They were the best-selling duo of the 80’s, and have amassed an incredible string of hits like “Kiss On My List”, “Wait For Me” and “Rich Girl” among dozens of others.
Still performing today when circumstances allow, this duo puts on a great show as well – here’s evidence from that same night – a live version of my next “S” song – “She’s Gone!”
That classic song was from one of their second album, released in the early 70’s:
I took at look at all of the songs from that classic album, which you can see – and hear – by clicking on my story here:
Speaking of legendary duos:
Simon & Garfunkel – “The Only Living Boy In New York”
Paul Skewers “Tom”! Yes, Paul Simon skewered “Tom!” And who was “Tom”? Well, he was the guy who broke the duo up!
When Simon and Garfunkel began singing together in the early 60’s, they were known as Tom & Jerry – so this “song with an S” was written by Paul “S”imon specifically to Art Garfunkel – here are the opening lyrics for “The Only Living Boy In New York”:
“Tom, get your plane right on time
I know your part’ll go fine
Fly down to Mexico
Do-n-do-d-do-n-do and here I am,
The only living boy in New York”
Yep, Paul was chastising Art for not leaving the film set of the Mike Nichols film “Catch – 22” and coming home to work on their masterpiece “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”!
Here is a recent live performance of that diatribe by Paul – a gorgeous song that is filled with bitterness:
Next up, a band with the letter “S” who gave us these classic lyrics:
“Take a look at my girlfriend, she’s the only one I got…”
Supertramp – “Breakfast In America”
The sixth Supertramp album was recorded in Los Angeles, where the title track dreamed of a better girlfriend from across the sea…
“Take a look at my girlfriend
She’s the only one I got
Not much of a girlfriend
Never seem to get a lot
Take a jumbo across the water
Like to see America
See the girls in California
I’m hoping it’s going to come true
But there’s not a lot I can do…”
Supertramp had a slew of great songs, like “Give A Little Bit”, “It’s Raining Again” and “Bloody Well Right”, but this entire album is full of great hits like “Take The Long Way Home” and “The Logical Song” – and of course, the title track, composed and sung by Roger Hodgson:
I love this band and their 70’s vibe – see more about them here:
Another Artist from the 70’s is still going strong today, but nothing compared to how he looked then:
“Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” by Elton John
He was arguably the biggest star of that decade, with massive hits like “Candle In The Wind”, “Rocket Man” and “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” among many others – and this brilliant double album:
His music sounds just as fresh today, including this ode to letting off a little steam on the weekend:
“It’s getting late, have you seen my mates?
Ma, tell me when the boys get here
It’s seven o’clock and I want to rock
Want to get a belly full of beer
My old man’s drunker than a barrel full of monkeys
And my old lady, she don’t care
My sister looks cute in her braces and boots
A handful of grease in her hair
Don’t give us none of your aggravation
We had it with your discipline
Saturday night’s alright for fighting
Get a little action in
Get about as oiled as a diesel train
Going to set this dance alight
Saturday night’s the night I like
Saturday night’s alright, alright, alright!”
Even though it’s a raucous album track, Elton performs it here in 1976 with only a piano – and an enthused audience:
He was a great singer/songwrier who loved to dress up as well – and he was amazing in the film “Tommy” playing the “Pinball Wizard” – see that clip here:
So, hard to imagine anyone bigger than Elton…well, except for these guys:
“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles
One of the greatest “S” songs of all time! The Beatles released this double-sided single in February 1967 – click on the vimeo link to see the promotional video they filmed with it:
All Beatles fans know that “Penny Lane” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” were recorded and released as singles BEFORE “Sgt. Peppers”, but were held off the album and added to the “Magical Mystery Tour” soundtrack instead…imagine if they had been on the album!
Check out the story here:
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Of course, there are so many “Songs With An ‘S'” that could have been included, so what else did I miss?
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Categories: 70's Music, Art, Books / Media, Classic Rock, Memoirs, Music, New York, Obscure Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, The Beatles
johnrieber 
All great tracks, John and Elton certainly loves his boas as did I as a young girl….
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Just read a book about Elton’s life in the 70’s, and the boas were a big part of the story!
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Yes he certainly loved his boas ….The ultimate showman 🙂
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I’m going to do a review of the book next week – it was FASCINATING!
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I look forward to it as it is not one I have read…I am waiting for my copy of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark to arrive based on your recommendation 🙂
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I remember when you announced you were going to see Tears for Fears. I went to see U2. But I wanted to see Tears for Fears. Looks like a great time.
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They were SO great…it surprised me!
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I still listen to their music regularly.
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Great collection and memories. Concerts….yes, I remember them. And here I am in SW MO with tourists “flocking in” to sit at distances in our little live theaters. Love Hall & Oates and all the S’s you shared. There’s a group here, SIX (six brothers), with their own version of “Sound of Silence”. It’s stirring. On another note, I watched “Rocketman” on Prime. Wow is the only word I can say.
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Thanks for commenting! I miss concerts of all shapes and sizes, and know how much Musicians are suffering right now..thanks for supporting the cause!
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My pleasure!
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The music you have featured takes me back – and in a good way!
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Thankyou for reading and commenting – always great to hear from you!
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Great songs! I treasure my Sargent Pepper album. Wouldn’t you love to be a fly on the wall watching Elton John dress in all those feathers? Great post, John!
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Jennie, thanks for commenting! Sgt Pepper is such a brilliant album beginning to end, and I just finished a book about Elton in the 70’s…talked all about the boas!
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Always a pleasure, John. Yes, it’s a wonderful album. Looking forward to hearing about your Elton book and the boas. I often think about the power of music, like how brave Princess Diana was to publicly embrace Elton John’s music. Yes!!
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A great selection, John. ‘Seeds of Love’ by TFF is simply amazing. It is like an opera in miniature.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I feel really bad for musicians and their list revenue too
Good post John and I’ll be back to explore it more later – nice and rich
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Thanks for checking it out and leaving a comment!
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😊🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼
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I like all of these bands, John. I like Sounds of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel best of their work.
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Yes, that song is so great – and I can never listen to it again without remembering how it was used in the comedy “Old School!”
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What a great collection of S’s you’ve assembled here. Tears for Fears cancelled a few hours before I was due to see them at a beautiful outdoor venue, due to crazy weather. I’ll never forget my disappointment.
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Such a shame…they were incredibly good – energetic, spirited, and so many terrific songs! Thanks for commenting, hope you enjoyed the live clip!
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Nothing like live music and the excitement leading up to a show
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