Music

Category: Music

And You Thought Paul Was Old

Ringo peace signToday Ringo Starr is 68. Yes, 68. Those of you mature enough to know his real name will be feeling extremely ancient and those who have never heard of him will be asking, “Whose grandpappy is that?”

In a dastardly bit of birthday irony, it was reported yesterday that his birthplace is certain to be demolished after English Heritage decided not to list it on its register. But Pete Best’s home will be preserved only because it was the location of the original Cavern Club, and…, oh, just read the article.

Do what Richard requests today: “…everyone, everywhere, wherever they are, at noon on July 7 make the peace sign and say ‘Peace & Love.'” And listen to some tunes.

When I’m 66

MccartneyOnce again it’s Sir Paul McCartney’s birthday. He’s been in this music business for over 50 years, and he’s still touring. His latest stop was in Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine where he gave a concert sponsored by Victor Pinchuk, Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist. Pinchuk said, “One could not imagine this 30 years ago. Nobody could even dare to hope for this 20 years ago. One could only dream about it 10 years ago. 5 years ago we could only envy our neighbors for whom this became a reality. And finally the day has come. For the first time we have the opportunity to hear the songs that changed the world and created a new culture.” We couldn’t agree more.

Sure, we have the Beatles recordings and even one McCartney solo disc. But the library’s McCartney collection includes Lennon-McCartney tunes interpreted by vocalists Kiri Te Kanawa, Cathy Berberian and Cristina Zavalloni, double bassists, and a brass quintet. Very versatile.

New-ish CDs!

After a long, dry spell, here’s the latest batch of new-to-us CDs. We have dipped into our treasure trove of gifts and extracted a pile of what we like to call the good ol’ M1505’s. For you browsers, M1505 is excerpts from operas. To get the whole deal, go to M1500. This batch even has a few selections from musicals.

Back the Tanker Up To the Burger King® – No One Will Notice

greaseToday’s quiz: How many ways can you think of to legally transport edible grease? You can get take-out from KFC®. You can fail to wipe your hands before leaving a rib place. You can load yourself up with popcorn at a movie. But illegally transporting inedible grease takes some doing.

NPR reported this morning that a man in California was apprehended after being caught siphoning used cooking grease from in back of a Burger King®. He was charged with illegal transport of inedible grease, in violation of California Food and Agricultural Code, Section 19310-19317.

Sing from, listen to, or view Grease in the Mudd.

Marian the Librarian

marianWho is more multi-faceted than singer/actress Shirley Jones? She went from Academy Award-winner, playing a prostitute in Elmer Gantry, to the most wholesome of TV mothers on The Partridge Family. In between she portrayed Rodgers and Hammerstein heroines, solidified every stereotype of librarians in The Music Man and married both the suave Jack Cassidy and the goofy Marty Ingles. Had she stayed in Western Pennsylvania where she was born 74 years ago today, she might have ended up working in the family business, the Jones Brewery.

We’ve got her on video in Carousel, The Music Man and Oklahoma!

Marian the Piano-arian

pianistToday jazz pianist/composer/leader Marian McPartland turns 90. When she started out in the United States in the ’40’s, an English woman jazz piano player wasn’t standard fare. But she soon formed her own trio and played long engagements at clubs in New York. In 1978 she began taping the NPR series, “Piano Jazz,” which she still hosts today.

The Mudd has her autobiography, All in good time, and you can see her in the video Piano legends.

At Graduation We Play “Also Sprach Zarathustra”

You’re lucky. Your space solutions most likely involve a few wicker baskets and a double-rod hanging system. But when NASA gets involved it’s a whole-nother kettle of fish.

The International Space University symposium, Space Solutions to Earth’s Global Challenges, begins today in Strasbourg, France. Here we’re talking SPACE space, as in outer. Some topics are a little out-there (“Why We Need an Elevator to Space!”) and some are downright bone-chilling (“The Intersection of Air Law and Space Law.”) And who knew there was an International Space University?

Listen to some Strauss while you ponder your future on the final frontier.