10/9/40-12/8/80

December 8^th

If I had to sum it up, I’d say John Lennon’s death is a big part of my life. But I wasn’t even born yet.  

 It’s honestly hard for me to think about. I hate violence and guns and all that crap. 

I can’t think of anything else to say, and I don’t really want to. today is not about me or my opinions.  

So This is an image of John Lennon signing a copy of his album for Mark David Chapman

This is Mark David Chapman

John Lennon once said:

“I don't intend to be a performing flea any more. I was the dreamweaver, but although I'll be around I don't intend to be running at 20,000 miles an hour trying to prove myself. I don't want to die at 40."

This is why Mark David Chapman’s picture is a mugshot

This is how it was felt.

Here’s a few things you may have not seen.

This is from the Rolling Stones Rock n Roll Circus.  Which was an epic event all on its own.  The fact that John was there rocking and singing Beatles tunes is just, I mean, the man wasn’t big on doing concerts. 

So there’s some cool stuff out there that John did with Chuck Berry on the Mike Douglas show in 1972

Here’s that moment recreated with Julian Lennon

Julian paid tribute to his father many times.  Here he is again

John had another son too, you know.   He played his dad’s songs too

It’s amazing how both the boys sound a bit like their father but are able to do it in their own way.

John’s emotion just fucking bowls you over in this one.

Hey check this out.  Click Here

I leave you here….

Sorry that’s all I’ve got.  Maybe you can add to it. What did I miss?

Wait…

Here’s a jab at Paul.

 Now I’m done.  

Merry Xmas

My Favorite Holiday Songs 

Ok, so I have limited time to edit and write due to the holiday season, my health and the amount of snow outside.

Therefore todays  blog will be short and sweet highlighting a few of my favorite holiday songs.   There are more and there are probably ones that you think are better but these are some of my favorites.

 I am taking a few days off after this but make sure you follow me on facebook, I will update that for the next few days. Find me here---  https://www.facebook.com/musicnotesfromthepast

The Ronettes- Sleigh Ride

This is one of those songs that could be done by anybody and I would love the shit out of it, but when you pipe up the tempo a little bit and give it that Motown feel   Fagettaboutit!!

Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmastime

Paul writes good songs that make me happy and that is about it.  What more can I say.

Eric Cartman- O holy Night

 This  is hilarious because the words are messed up, but the beauty is that the background singers and the musicians are incredible so it is a mix of good and bad or great comedy and great music if you prefer.

Red Peters – Holy Shit it’s Christmas

Ok , now that I am on a roll, How about another one that makes me fall on the floor with laughter?  

This one is funny because it has singing hamsters instead of chipmunks, but the hamsters are mischevious and change the words around.  Hilarity ensues.

The Lil’ Stinkers – I farted on Santa’s lap

Do I even have to describe why this is hilarious   Look at that god damned title!

Lyndsey Buckingham – Holiday Road

Yeah it is the song from National Lampoon’s, but it is a fun song, and it reminds me of Christmas, plus it is a good driving song that makes me feel good. So EFF you if you don’t like it.

My Chemical Romance – All I want for Christmas is You

Yes Mariah did it a long time ago, and Michael Buble does it the best, but this one is a fun charming rocker that makes me feel great inside and out.  You can finally say merry Christmas in the mosh pit. Isn’t that what you always wanted?

Vince Guaraldi Trio – Linus and Lucy

Sure it makes you think of Snoopy but it also reminds me of shitty dancing with little to no movement, and it reminds me of that pitiful tree Charlie Brown had.  This is just one of those songs that if I hear it I will drop my belongings and dance to it.  I love this jam.

Dean Martin- Baby Its Cold Outside

This is a good song when anyone sings it, but when you add The beautiful crooning voice of the great Dino Crocetti. You are knocking it out of the park. You don’t even need any famous lady singers just some shmoozy ho’s.

Blink -182- I won’t be Home For Christmas

Just listen to the words.  It is beautiful and fun all at once.

Manheim Steamroller – Deck The Halls

This is just some good shit, that takes me way back. Riding in my dad’s old crappy station wagon, to Buffalo Grove Illinois,  freezing to death because if the heat was on the engine wouldn’t work.    But we were a family and this was our soundtrack.  Synthesizers never sounded so good.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Canon

I dislike the group. But this song I can deal with, it is fun and fantastic enough to listen to.  I like the children singing. So it’s a song worth listening to.

Weezer – Christmas Song

This was one of the rarities during the Green Album era.  This song actually came out before the green Album.   So it has a raw feel to it.  It also sounds like it could be from Pinkerton, which is what I was longing for in 2000. So it is a good yet sad song.   It is a beautiful song.

So basically that is all I have for today.  Have a Merry Christmas and A good boxing day. 

 I will be back on Friday with a new blog and possibly a new format. 

So have fun and remember it’s the holidays So be good to each other.

Realistically, try to just talk, sing, and laugh together.  Live live melodically and in harmony. Happy Xmas

December 8th 1980

 It didn't have to happen 

When it comes to icons and role models in my life, most of them have been musicians. Some have been a voice for me, and others have been a voice to me. But John Lennon was both. He said the things that I wished I could say, and he said things to me that I wished I could hear.

John Lennon was the first musician that I ever looked up to. John Lennon was the first man that I aspired to be like. John Lennon was and still is more popular than Jesus Christ.

I am not going to give you a history or a biography lesson about John Lennon.  Because frankly, If you don’t know anything about John Lennon, well then there is something wrong with you.

I mean really, He was in the most influential and scrutinized band in the history of the world.

But there are are so many things about John Lennon that are incredible, aside from being a Beatle. I figure that I can just give you a few tidbits, something that maybe you didn’t know. So its all info, that I consider common knowledge, but I am sure it isn’t . But these are just things that I pick up from various spots. I promise you though this is cool shit.

First things first, let’s get one thing straight right away, Yoko Ono, is not the reason that The Beatles broke up. The Beatles broke up because Brian Epstein died.

 Maybe it is just my opinion but if you read through everything that happened, when The Beatles lost their manager, there was no control anymore. 

Keep in mind these are 27 year old guys with the full weight of the world on their shoulders that  we are talking about.

Another interesting fact is that John Lennon is the only one of The Beatles that never became a full time vegetarian.   It seems like a weird thing to bring up, but that is pretty crazy.  Late in his life Lennon adopted a macrobiotic diet, but he was not very strict about it.

 Don’t think that this means that he wasn’t a peaceful man, he actually felt bad about it, but considered that meat  tasted too good to say no.

John Lennon hated his own voice, I know it sounds crazy but it is true. I know many people know this, but if you didn’t know this go have a listen to any of his solo stuff. He always has an effect over his voice.

This was the only way that he liked it. Just listen to Imagine, there is a delay on the vocals.  He asked his engineers to do whatever they could to fuck up his voice.

John Lennon was the best man at Peter Boyle’s wedding.  Maybe that isn’t even worth knowing but it is cool. I mean this is Peter Boyle that we are talking about. The older crowd will remember Peter Boyle as the Monster in Young Frankenstein. The Kids will know him as Frank Barone from Everybody loves Raymond. I mean  come on, that doesn’t seem likely but its true, they were friends, their wives were friends, it’s just weird to think about.

John Lennon is missing. That’s not to say he has been misplaced, that’s not to say we need to search for him.  But he was cremated 2 days after his death and his ashes were given to Yoko Ono, and that is all that is known.  Some legends say that she spread his ashes over the ocean.(Lennon loved the Ocean), other rumors say his ashes were spread in Central Park. Ono has never revealed where his remains were, and I like it that way.

 Fucking leave him alone.

It makes sense. 

He just needs his peace.

So another thing that is strange, is as far as I know of, John Lennon only played 3 Beatles songs live I don’t mean like 3 songs, I mean 3 whole times. He played Come Together on his own.  And then as a result of losing a bet he played I saw her standing there and Lucy in the Sky, at an Elton John concert. That’s it 3 times.  (Half of Paul’s  set list  these days was written by John)

Paul and John came together for a recording session in 1974. It was during John Lennon’s “Lost Weekend” era. He was in Los Angeles, hanging out with Harry Nilsson and getting thrown out of clubs.  When all of a sudden one night A crazy group of dudes got together and played some music.

Let’s be totally honest, everyone in the room was high as fuck on one thing or another, but nonetheless McCartney and Lennon were back at it. 

Now it is a complete bootleg and nothing is really useable from it, it is really just a jam session. Oh and Stevie Wonder is there playing the Keyboards, Paul McCartney played drums,( They actually were Ringo’s drums, Ringo was Nilsson’s drummer, but wasn’t invited to the jam.)  

This is one cool event that I wish would have turned into something more. 

I guess at this point, the Anthology is as close as we are ever going to come again.

I guess I just hope through all of this, you understand that 33 years ago, something happened that didn’t need to happen. Something happened that seems to always happen to people that support love and equality. I just hope we treat each other a little better for a while.  Use this weekend as your chance to give back in a way that you know you should.