This goes out to local musician The Savage. And not because it’s from AARP. Well, that’s part of it as he is no longer a spring chicken. Anyway, AARP has an article about music’s impact on brain health. In their report, “listening to and making music… can enhance a sense of well-being, reduce stress, facilitate interpersonal connections, modulate the cardiovascular system, improve balance and boost the immune system.” Seems like a good start.
AARP has an article about Baby Boomer playlists that may surprise you. Boomers are voracious consumers of new, cutting edge music. Not really. Apparently there IS a bit of Drake, Beyonce, Post Malone and Taylor Swift but for the most part we’re mired in the music on which we grew up… Beatles, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Michael Jackson, and The Boss. But, hey, thanks to those of you stepping out a bit and updating our image.
– Jet Cannon
John Mayall and Jerry Miller both passed away recently. Mayall, famous for his British blues and claiming band members such as Eric Clapton, had retired from performing a couple years ago. We just saw Jerry Miller perform in celebration of his 81st birthday. He was a founding member of Moby Grape, one of the great Bay Area bands of the 60’s. Rest In Peace.
– Jet Cannon
We’ve never minded being labelled Baby Boomers but C. Graham Campbell has a different opinion.
“I loathe being considered a member of the “Baby Boomer” generation. It is a stupid, vapid, obnoxious label. The epithet should have been laid to rest decades ago. In addition, it has become a term of derision for the millennials and their cohorts. What we actually are is the first rock n’ rollers, or FRRs.”
“Baby Boomers describes our parents, not us. We were the boomed, they were the boomers.
Read Graham’s entire article here in 3rd Act Magazine as he celebrates us First Rock n’ Rollers.
“Gen-whatevers are mostly fine people and can enjoy their music as they please. But ROCK IS OURS.”
– Jet Cannon
Photo: 3rd Act
Nearly 60 years after appearing on Ed Sullivan, Ringo finally made it on the cover of Rolling…. AARP Magazine. At 83 years young, he’s still rockin’. Being sober helps. His Buzz comes from exercise and music!!
– Jet Cannon
Photo: AARP
We’ve written about vinyl parties where you invite friends over, select a classic album to play beginning-to-end, and serve a cocktail that fits the mood. There’s even a book called Booze and Vinyl which makes suggestions for the album, accompanying beverage for both sides A and B, plus appetizer ideas to go with. For example, the Eagles Hotel California calls for a Beachcomber Cocktail for side A and a Mojito for side B. Now take that concept to a live show. The Black Jacket Symphony has spent the last 15 years performing 40-some classic albums, note-for-note. We just saw them perform Hotel California before adding Eagles hits following intermission. The cast included four excellent guitarists nailing guitar harmonies while the vocal harmonies were spot-on. Several songs included a violinist and a viola. They take their covers seriously. The venue was a perfect 700-seat acoustically-excellent setting complete with cocktail bars in the lobby. Next year Black Jacket will take on Dark Side of the Moon and we would expect it will be note-for-note stunning. Here’s their website. If you have the opportunity and enjoy live classic album rock as we used to consume it, check out their tour schedule.
– Jet Cannon
Our favorite skipper, Captain Tony, like many Jimmy Buffett fans, is continuing to mourn the passing of the legendary musician. So the Captain shared with us Jimmy’s recipe for a Margaritaville Signature Margarita.
1 oz. Margaritaville Tequila Gold
1/2 oz. Margaritaville Tequila Silver
1/2 oz. Triple sec
1/2 oz. Orange curacao
1/2 oz. Lime juice
2 lime wedges
1. Rim margarita glass with salt
2. Combine ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Squeeze lime on top, then drop wedges in
3. Cover, shake vigorously, and pour.
Put some Jimmy vinyl on the turntable, kick back, and enjoy!
– Jet Cannon
Photo: Allrecipes.com
Warren Buffett? No. Jimmy. Rest In Peace, you “lazy” beach bum. While music critics were often unenthusiastic, Jimmy Buffett sold over 20 million albums, wrote three #1 best sellers, acted in Hawaii 5-0, led 40 concert tours and built a merchandise/hotel/restaurant empire. Guest members of the Coral Reefer Band included Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Sheryl Crow, and Roy Orbison. His activities amazed an estimated net worth of $1 billion. His secret? Buffet told the Arizona Republic, “You’ve got to get away from the whatever you do to make a living or other parts of your life that stress you out. I try to make it at least 50/50 fun to work, and so far it’s worked out.” One of the kindest and most generous people, Jimmy Buffett, perhaps the ultimate Buzzed Boomer, brought people together and made millions of people happy. You earned 100% fun in Margaritaville.
– Jet Cannon
Photo: jimmybuffett.com
Neuroscience News reports that engaging with music or consuming coffee is linked to peak cognitive performance. AI-generated music, in particular, showed significant performance boosts, opening new avenues for exploration. That sounds scary to us so what about just listening to music about coffee while enjoying a cup??
The Coffee Song – Frank Sinatra
Cup of Coffee – Johnny Cash
Coffee Shop – Red Hot Chili Peppers
One Cup of Coffee – Bob Marley and the Wailers
One MORE Cup of Coffee – Bob Dylan
Java Jive – The Ink Spots
Cigarettes and Coffee – Otis Redding
We believe more research, coffee, and music is warranted. Meanwhile, click here to read the article.
– Jet Cannon
Just in case you haven’t listened to these albums, or any complete albums lately, AARP suggests we revisit these classics:
Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
Carole King – Tapestry
Led Zeppelin – IV (Ruins)
The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main St.
Stevie Wonder – Innervisions
Eagles – The Greatest Hits
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Exodus
Saturday Night Fever
Happy listening!
Finally, a useful study. Loudwire.com reports, “Your favorite music shouldn’t just sound good, it should also make you feel good. A new study by WithinHealth has revealed which rock and metal bands make people feel the most confident about themselves and their bodies. The five rock artists that make people have the most confident are Queen, Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Pink Floyd, according to the study, and the five metal artists that make people feel the best are Metallica, Tool, Nirvana, Five Finger Death Punch and Avenged Sevenfold.”
Read the article here for more on the study. Go forth and conquer!
– Jet Cannon
(CNN) — Around 1,500 items that once belonged to the late British rock star Freddie Mercury are going up for auction, including never-before-seen handwritten draft lyrics to “We Are the Champions,” one of the band Queen’s most famous songs.
The objects are being offered for sale by Mary Austin, a close friend of Mercury, who inherited his estate.
In addition to draft song lyrics. the items in the sale will include: pink, star-shaped glasses similar to the dark pair Mercury wore in the music video for his band’s 1977 hit “We Will Rock You”; his tiny Tiffany & Co. mustache comb; his guitar, believed to have been used to write and record “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”; the waistcoat Mercury wore in his final music video, “These Are the Days of Our Lives,” in 1991; and a Pablo Picasso linocut titled “Jacqueline au chapeau noir.”
Mercury’s famous crown — thought to be loosely modeled on the crown King Charles III will wear at his coronation on May 6 — and his accompanying cloak are expected to sell for up to £80,000 ($100,000). The singer wore both for his rendition of “God Save The Queen” during his last tour with Queen, in 1986.
The items will then be displayed at Sotheby’s in London between August 4 and September 5.
The collection will be offered in live auctions on September 6, 7, and 8, supplemented by online auctions starting on August 31.
Photo: Change.org
Per their Twitter, “60 years ago, a group of North London lads got a band together…today they’re one of the greatest bands in British history. The Kinks are launching a 60th Anniversary Celebration of their vital importance to popular music.”
Rolling Stone adds, “The Kinks — then the Davies brothers and the late bassist Pete Quaife — were founded in 1963, with drummer Mick Avory joining soon after. The following year, the band released their first-ever Number One single “You Really Got Me,” which was followed by “All Day and All of the Night” and another Number One, “Tired of Waiting for You,” quickly establishing the Kinks as one of the preeminent acts of the British Invasion.”
“The Journey – Part 1 — due out March 24 on 2LP and 2CD — spans from those first singles to similarly iconic tracks plucked from Kinks classics like The Village Green Preservation Society, Face to Face, Arthur and Lola Versus Powerman. The anthology also includes personal track-by-track notes about the songs penned by the Davies and Avory, who happens to be celebrating his 78th birthday today.”
“A second volume of The Journey, likely focusing on the back half of the Kinks’ immense catalog, is due out later this year. “A host of global events and activities” are also planned over the course of 2023 and 2024 to mark the Kinks’ 60th anniversary, with those plans to be announced at a later date.”
Photo: Variety
On February 7, 1964 the Beatles landed in the USA. Two days later, they performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Reporter: What will you do when Beatlemania subsides?
John Lennon: Count the money.
– Jet Cannon