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Monday, November 14, 2022

Johnny Mathis at San Jose Civic , Oct, 2022



Johnny Mathis at @San Jose Civic 9 24
Highline Gina, let it  be me, ?2
Henry Mabcini tri ute
Who Momenyt v


Second half
Strangers in Paradise ,   secret love, a crowd fa orite

A certain smile

Brazil really showed Mathis  versatility

Betcha by golly wow broght him a little current, perhaps thebonlybsong he sung post 1963- 

But bigbsurprise of the night was Mathis ending show with A rocking Ray Charles big band number, let rhe goos times roll, - and he certainly ha d the band . Mathisbis one of a few pop artists t hat performs with full orchestras-or close to it, as well as his own rythmn section including his drummer of 40 years.
It was fun to see for I ce the usually placid Mathis really rock out, and the crowd at San Joae Civic loved it


The other of many highlitsbwas his performing with justa suits tip notch guitarist for about five so ngs near the end. The sound quality was impeccable and it showcased Mathis' still strong voice without the orher competi g instrums ts . 

I blistered ckosedly tobtheb lyrics to all the so gs ,for the first time. Once comes away with confirmation that Mathis is pure Romantic. His somgs are often about unrequited love and love gone wrong and yearning for perhaps the impossible , eg Stranger in Paradise.
M
But Romantic .using of the 50s and 60s always seemed idealized AND often with imaginary lovers and unrealistic certainly by today's standards. But it was fun to fantasize. Isn't escape really what it's all about. Few ever meet that dream girl or boywe heard about so often I the lyricsbof the old so gs, thi k Bobbybdarins 'Dream Lover,' or the broken roys'and others 'Dream Girl'. At least there was hope back then. Eve. If only I. A song. Today such  romantic ballads hardly exist .

Misty was a other great rowd pleaser coming near the end


Mathis seemed to perform all the. BIg hits during g y his  near 2 hour show- alo g with.ost secondary hits

MAthism is quite the throwback, not oN ly IN Romanticism but lack of effect. Most of the show was just Mathis singing while walking back and forth with an occasional ha d gesture. No gimmicks. Just the different styles of music  speaki.g for themselves es- and almost all pre-70s. No digital gimmicks or politics. Just good old fashioned melodi. Music performed   beautifully. When's the last time you could say t gat

In Mathis ' extensive , loving tribute to Mancini In which he sang a half dozen standards and lesser known Songs, 
He sang one about 
Treasure g, perhaps one of theose idealized lovers ' minute by minute.' 
There sbsokethimg to be Said about savoring everyday, if not minute- and  the few still active performers -all now in their 80-


Maybe he's tired born Hannes are, hos biggest hit, aabhebperdormed itbamongbopenimg nimbers


Mathis also gave us his interpretations of Beatles' “Yesterday, ',one of the high points accompanied only by guitar, ” “When I Fall in Love,' which he calls his calls his most personal song, “Let It Be Me,” and “Betcha by Golly, Wow!”

He had the audience swaying to the samba beat of “Mas Que Nada” and an unbelievable rendition of “Brazil” which ended the show until a most desired encore of “Let The Good Times Roll.”
The wonderful orchestra was led by Scott Lavender. Before intermission, the comedian and musician, Gary Muledeer entertained the audience with his humor and his impersonation of Johnny Cash. Muledeer ended his performance with “Mothers Don’t Let Your Sons Grow Up to be Cowboys.”
Spending the evening with the incomparable Johnny Mathis was truly “Wonderful, Wonderful.”

Approx set list

Setlist

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When I Fall in Love

(Victor Young and His Orchestra cover)

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Morning of My Life

(Bee Gees cover)

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It's Not for Me to Say

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Chances Are

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I'm on the Outside (Looking In)

(Little Anthony & the Imperials cover)

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Wild Is the Wind

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Oh Shenandoah

([traditional] cover)

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Let It Be Me

(Gilbert Bécaud cover)

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Let Go

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It Had Better Be Tonight (Meglio Stasera)

(Henry Mancini cover)

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Two for the Road

(Henry Mancini cover)

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Charade

(Henry Mancini cover)

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Days of Wine and Roses

(Henry Mancini cover)

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Moment to Moment

(Henry Mancini cover)

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Moon River

(Henry Mancini cover)

Play Video

Second set following intermission with comedian Gary Mueldeer. Johnny changed suits.

Pure Imagination

(Gene Wilder cover)

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Sands of Time

(George Forrest & Robert Wright cover)

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Baubles, Bangles and Beads

(George Forrest & Robert Wright cover)

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Stranger in Paradise

(George Forrest & Robert Wright cover)

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Secret Love

(Doris Day cover)

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A Certain Smile

(Sammy Fain & Paul Francis Webster cover)

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Wonderful! Wonderful!

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Betcha by Golly, Wow

(The Stylistics cover)

Play Video

Misty

(Erroll Garner cover)

Play Video

Yesterday

(The Beatles cover)

Play Video

You and Me Against the World

(Paul Williams cover)

Play Video

My Foolish Heart

(Victor Young cover)

Play Video

99 Miles From L.A.

(Albert Hammond cover)



The Twelfth of Never



Mas que nada

(Jorge Ben Jor cover)




Brazil

Let the Good Times Roll

(Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five cover)


(Outro)




Sunday, October 30, 2022

Questions Abound in Alleged Pelosi Beating

Too many questions in the Paul Pelosi beating...


Like:


1) Lack of security - How did the 'intruder' David Depape get in the gated, secured house? Or , was he really an intruder?


2) GOP Pelosi protestors in Sf? Surprising to hear of any GOP lurkers in SF.
Depape's ex partner said DePape was progressive if anything https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pelosi-attacker-david-depapes-ex-says-mentally-ill-once-came-home-thinking-jesus-report


3) How was Paul Pelosi REALY able to contact 911 and have police get to his house in time. Did anyone really SEE DePape beat Pelosi with a hammer?


For all we know, Pelosi could have been on a drunk and fallen down the stairs, without real witnesses. Some say it could have had to do with gay sex and a fight that ensued.


4) All this happening right before a big election. Very suspicious timing.


Not saying it didn't happen. Just a lot of questions that need to be answered just like when Pelosi was arrested for DUI that nearly killed someone -that was nearly covered up

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Darlene LOVE - ONE OF LAST OF SPECTOR FAMILY STILL GOING STRONG, AT 80

DARLENE LOVE was the only hit-making solo performer in the PHIL Spector family, here performing at Bankhead, Livermore, CA, June, 2022
Wait Til My Bobby Gets Home was one of her biggies



 


River Deep Mountain High was Loves tour de force but Spector put it out with Tina Turner at last minute, a dissappointed  Love explains. The music industry was changing and this would-be hit failed when it was finally released in late 60s, even for Tina Turner 


Sunday, September 11, 2022

Literal KILLING of Freedom of Speech Comes to the U.S., What Next?



As an old journalist I can handle much but not when they literally KILL our freedom of speech and the people who fight for it . It happened often in recent years in Third World countries like Afghanistan and Syria but never in the United States to our knowledge. Well, now it has>

Las Vegas reporter remembered as fearless force after elected official, angry at journalist's work, is arrested in his death > https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/las-vegas-reporter-remembered-fearless-force-elected-official-angry-jo-rcna46902

We mentioned elsewhere what Taliban-like actions might be next,  such as David Pearl-like beheadings. Before we could even get this out it already has happened  , though not to another journalist, but right here in the Bay Area. This is the mentality we're now dealing with>
YOUNG MOTHER BEHEADED
"She was putting (her children) in her car and raised her head -- and he cut her head off and her children saw everything," Adrienne Murray said.
https://twitter.com/BettyKPIX/status/1568737947054387200?t=kb2N60fuQa8jXVyDp-n4fw&s=09

Or @kpixtv cbsn.ws/3BsX7kj or

TRUMP CHANNELS REDD FOXX PERFECTLY IN NEW UPDATED SANFORD & SON, AKA TRUMP & SON


CLICK HERE Enjoy updated Sanford and Son you won't see on mainstream TV or even Twitter or FB>  https://rumble.com/v1joy4t-trump-channels-red-foxx-perfectly-in-updated-sanford-and-so.html



Saturday, September 3, 2022

'Old Age' and the First Billboard Top 100

 'He died of old age.' The last time someone officially died of 'old age ' was 1951

Remember when news reports would state  John Doe 'died of old age?'
The last time someone officially died of 'old age ' was 1951. Comic Redd Fox
Used to complain that 'health nuts' went crazy, rightfully so,  when they weren't given a real reason  how people died. So, in 1951 the powers that be decided that death notices must include specific medical reasons how people passed away, i.e.heart attack, cancer, etc. Of course, medical reports have sort of devolved back, but, not to be agist, we can now die of 'natural causes,' still without providing the REAL reason. But then, arent people entitled to privacy , not having to honor others' morbid curiosity?

Continued below


First Billboard Hot 100

The first number one song of the Billboard Hot 100 was "Poor Little Fool" by Ricky Nelson, on August 4, 1958.


On August 4, 1958, Billboard premiered one main all-genre singles chart: the Hot 100. The Hot 100 quickly became the industry standard and Billboard discontinued the Best Sellers In Stores chart on October 13, 1958. What we enjoyed back then was the mix of musical genres including pop, easy listening, instrumental, country and western, rhythm and blues and the new rock and roll


Here is the top 5 for Aug 4, 1958:


The Billboard 100 survey continues today but not sure how 'hot' it is,   based now  not so much on record sales or even CD sales since there are so few .
As Bill O'Reilly notes , the current Top 10 titles you probably never heard of, or don't want to.  'Let's go back to 1958,' he says. For the full top 100 Aug 4 , 1958: https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/



Old Age continued

Aging — in and of itself — is not a cause of death.(There is a phenomenon known as "geriatric failure to thrive," which scientists are studying, but it's extremely rare).

When most of us say someone died of old age, what we really mean is that someone died as a result of an illness (like pneumonia) or an event (like a heart attack) that a healthy, stronger person would likely have survived.

-Business Insider