Category: Music

The King Still Rules

This news item is courtesy of D. F. Rogers:

Memphis, Tenn. (Denro News) — Elvis Presley celebrated his 73rd birthday today in a quiet gathering held at his Graceland Mansion in Memphis. His daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, and her children, presented him with a golden, diamond encrusted guitar-shaped belt buckle.

Elvis, still known as “The King Of Rock and Roll”, has kept a low profile for the past few years due to ongoing health concerns. A near death experience in August 1977 caused a drastic lifestyle change for the beloved American Icon. After a months-long recovery from a heart attack, complicated by a serious prescription drug addiction, Presley fired his longtime manager, Tom Parker, and greatly reduced his public appearances.

He recorded mainly gospel tunes for the next ten years and his fans consider these to be some of his most passionate performances. His epic three hour concert in July 2004, marking fifty years in the recording industry, was his last major public appearance.

Elvis took his grandchildren for a ride around the Graceland grounds today and waved to the several hundred fans gathered outside the gates. Elvis is reportedly working an album of duets with a variety of contemporary performers, tentatively scheduled to be released this summer.

Elvis Presley, “Star Wars Summer”, 1977

Elvis '77

Being PETicular

Petula ClarkMy sister Jean has reminded me that it’s been a while since I’ve posted something about dear Petula Clark. Indeed! First, I would like to send you over to View Images to see a fabulous collection of over sixty Pet photos, some very early, and some very recent.

What a long and varied career Pet has had. She is so deserving of the title of Dame in the UK, but we’re still 100 shy of the 1000 mark for signatures on the PETition. I guess I’m not really entitled to say “we’re” because I can’t vote, not being a citizen or resident of the UK. There are only a couple more months to vote, folks! So please do it now. While you’re doing that you can listen to an audio interview with Pet, conducted for the U.S. Army in December, 1966, by disk jockey Harry Harrison, while he was with WMCA in New York. In ’68 Harrison jumped over to WABC to replace the departing Herb Oscar Anderson.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/JAN/PetArmy.mp3]

As a child, Petula sang for the British troops on BBC radio during World War II. She was famous for singing “Mighty Lak A Rose.” Later, as a young woman she sang it again. I’m not sure exactly when this recording was made.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/JAN/MightyLakARose.mp3]

And finally, I’ve a confession to make. I never wanted any of the Beatles to hold my hand. That’s why I’m glad Pet recorded her own version of “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2008/JAN/PetHoldHand.mp3]

GOOD BAD AND LOUD

Dennis Rogers has pointed out that Rolling Stone magazine has an article called The Death of High Fidelity, about one of the negative effects that the influence of MP3 audio has had on the audio quality of recorded music. I featured something about this last summer at this link.

Not to get too nerdy-techie, but there are two forms of compression involved here. There’s the compression of the audio signal, that makes everything have the same loudness, and there’s the digital compression that is used by MP3 and other audio formats to reduce file size. They are two very different things.

Matt Mayfield, who I’m assuming is the guitarist in the recently-disbanded band Moses Mayfield, has a video that I’ve grabbed from YouTube, with an excellent explanation of what audio compression and loudness are all about.

[flv:/Video/2008/JAN/LoudnessWar.flv 400 300]

PETition Reminder!

Hey, all of you British natives, nationals, and residents! Richard Harries has written to remind me, to remind you, to please sign the PETition to have Petula Clark promoted from MBE to full-fledged Dame! I will be very petulant if there aren’t at least 1000 signatories on the form before the March 12 deadline. I may have a Brit name, but I’m a Yank, so I can’t sign, but as Rich points out, “US citizens (and other non Brits ) can sign if they have a UK address. Sheila Ferguson of the Three Degrees signed on that basis!” So there you have it.

Go to THIS LINK NOW and add your name to those who have already signed. In thanks for your participation in this worthy cause, here is a very special and personal song by Pet.

[flv:/Video/NOV07/PetLive.flv 400 300]

Jo Stafford, Right Tonight For Temptation

Let’s hear some more Jo Stafford, in recognition of her 90th birthday, a couple of days ago. Here are two songs by Jo that were on the radio at the same time, in 1947, the year this picture was taken with Tommy Dorsey and somebody who I assume you recognize.

Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford - 1947

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/NOV07/ImSoRightTonight.mp3,http://www.dograt.com/Audio/NOV07/Temptation.mp3]

Let the first one play through, then for contrast the second song will come in to give you an idea of her versatility.