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Nice to find this song on YouTube—Reina and Josh sung it at their recent NYC engagement, and I thought it was a wonderfully smart piece of songwriting by Reina. Of course, Josh provides his usual tasteful musicianship to the performance.
More at Reina del Cid
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Monday morning as the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy, Josh and Carson take their cue from The Eagles with a spot on cover.
More Josh Turner at Josh Turner Guitar
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Carson hits those low notes and Josh does his usual amazing guitar work. I’m not even a Johnny Cash fan, but I really enjoyed this.
More at Josh Turner Guitar
(Click to enlarge)
Lexington Avenue subway station
New York, New York
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Monday morning and I won’t blame you if you might be skeptical about two young white guys singing this Roberta Flack classic, penned by Eugene McDaniels.
It sounds like there’s just no way it can work. But Carson McKee and Josh Turner defy expectations once more. It’s really worth a listen. They’re head-slappingly good. Click on the video to play.
More at Josh Turner Guitar
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Dar Williams, singing one of the most poignant songs I know.
Thanks to YouTuber WNRN
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Kami Maltz, with accompaniment from Josh Turner, hits those exuberant Joni Mitchell high notes, in one of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs.
More at Josh Turner Guitar
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Monday morning, Nellie McKay and Friends heating things up on The Sunny Side Of The Street.
Nellie McKay – vocals; Dan Levinson – clarinet; Gordon Au – trumpet; Jim Fryer – trombone; Chris St. Hilaire – snare drum
Thanks to YouTuber Dennis Lichtman
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Angela Lansbury in one of her signature roles at the 1975 Tony Awards.
About two-thirds of the way through the clip, Lansbury gets surprised by a guest dancer. Don’t miss it. The look on her face is wonderful. (If you don’t recognize who it is, I’ll post his identity in the comments.)
Thanks to YouTuber kotlicek
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Monday morning, I’m following my Josh Turner jones. A terrific Frankie Valli medley in one take by Josh Turner and a pair of very talented friends.
Left to right: Ron Remke, Jim Hogan, and Josh Turner on guitar.
More at Josh Turner Guitar
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A beautiful song, sung and played beautifully.
Nellie McKay vocals, Michael Feinstein on piano.
Thanks to YouTuber Oliver Z
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Because what would a New Year be without Dick Clark?
Surprisingly to me, this great song was the only record of Johnny Rivers (he of “Secret Agent Man” and “Memphis” fame) to reach #1 in the United States.
Thanks to YouTuber YouCanDanceToit!
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The amazing Nellie McKay. People keep asking how come she hasn’t become a big celeb, so I’ll ask it, too: how come she isn’t far more famous?
Thanks to YouTuber Anders Larsson
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As we do each year around this time, we post about that Monday morning when Amber’s uncle got an unexpected visit…
Amber called her uncle, said “We’re up here for the holiday
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay”
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with red dye number three
He told his niece, “It’s Christmas eve, I know our life is not your style”
She said, “Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and it’s been awhile”
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses
The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, “Is it true that you’re a witch?”
His mom jumped up and said, “The pies are burning,” and she hit the kitchen
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, “It’s true, your cousin’s not a Christian”
“But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere”
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And where does magic come from, I think magic’s in the learning
Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning
When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, “Really, no, don’t bother”
Amber’s uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father
He thought about his brother, how they hadn’t spoken in a year
He thought he’d call him up and say, “It’s Christmas and your daughter’s here”
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve saying
“Can I be a Pagan?” Dad said, “We’ll discuss it when they leave”
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold
Listen carefully and you’ll hear Dar Williams’ s update of the last verse…
Thanks to YouTuber eTown
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I was in high school and my one can’t miss television show was The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. One day in October, they played this, and soon it was on the AM radio, seven minutes long, when the standard for that format was 2-3 minutes tops. It was pretty mindblowing for us. It still amazes.
More Beatles at The Beatles
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Another great Gordon Lightfoot song. Just when you think it’s headed to cliche, he comes up with an impossibly beautiful and mysterious line.
I really like what one YouTube commenter, Thomas Hofheinz, said about this song:
“This makes me remember something that never happened to me.”
Thanks to Youtuber tony blackhall
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Gordon Lightfoot at the peak of his long career.
For those Cervantes fans who can’t help but tilt at windmills.
You know who you are.
Thanks to YouTuber icepick141
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Dick Van Dyke and the eloquent Sharon Lerit from the Broadway stage production of Bye Bye Birdie dance up a storm.
Van Dyke learned years later that the producers had wanted to fire him out of town, but Gower Champion had fought hard to keep him. Van Dyke and the show made it to New York and hit it big.
Thanks to YouTuber lee a
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Most of the ballads were written by Paul, but this one, one of my favorites, is a John creation.
More at The Beatles
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Jean Simmons’ wonderful turn as the Salvation Army worker who just had her first drink in Frank Loesser’s Guys And Dolls. And, of course, Marlon Brando, in one of the oddest casting decisions for a movie musical, as the leading man, gambler Sky Masterson.
Thanks to YouTuber ZSy264
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Monday morning, grab your soup ladle and use it as a microphone and everyone’s Frank Sinatra.
Or not .
Thanks to YouTuber LaManzoniana
Monday morning while sourpuss Bob was telling his Babe that It Ain’t Me, the sunnier Sonny and Cher were singing reciprocally to their Babes that I Got You.
Here are Sonny and Cher long after they were professionally—or privately—a couple, singing their signature song. (I like the way Cher pretends she’s forgotten the words—after all she must have sung it literally thousands of times—as if she’s way beyond that now.)
Thanks to YouTuber Cher Fan Club
