LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-APRIL 11, 2020…IT WAS APRIL ELEVENTH 1981, AND EDDIE VAN HALEN HEADED DOWN THE AISLE TO MARRY HIS BRIDE VALERIE BERTINELLI, CO-STAR OF THE 1980’S TELEVISION HIT ‘ONE DAY AT A TIME’. THE TWO HAD MET EIGHT MONTHS EARLIER WHEN BERTINELLI’S BROTHER DRAGGED HER TO A VAN HALEN CONCERT IN SHREVEPORT LOUISIANA. THEIR MARRIAGE WOULD LAST 25 YEARS. HERE’S A GREAT ‘ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT’ EXPOSE ON THEIR MARRIAGE
LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-APRIL 11, 2020…YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND, I LOVE CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL, SO THIS ONE IS A SAD ONE FOR ME BECAUSE ON THIS DATE IN 1972 CCR RELEASED WHAT WOULD PROVE TO BE THEIR FINAL STUDIO ALBUM. THE ALBUM WAS ‘MARDI-GRAS’. THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST ALBUM CCR RELEASE AS A TRIO. TOM FOGERTY LEFT BEFORE THE ALBUM WAS RECORDED. IT WAS ALSO THE FIRST ALBUM THAT JOHN FOGERTY DID NOT DOMINATE. OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BAND ACCUSED HIM OF BEING A CONTROL FREAK, SO FOGERTY LET THEM DO MORE OF THE SONGWRITING AND HAVE A MORE PROMINENT ROLE ON THE RECORD. IT WAS ALSO THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THE BAND, AS THE ALBUM WAS A FLOP AND THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL SINGLE WAS FOGERTY’S SONG ‘SWEET HITCH-HIKER’( WHICH WAS RELEASED AS A SINGLE A YEAR BEFORE THE ALBUM). HERE’S CCR AND ‘SWEET HITCH-HIKER’
A mayor in Italy has taken a drone-based approach to encouraging Messina residents to stay indoors during the coronavirus crisis. In a video from Euronews, Mayor Cateno de Luca can be heard shouting profanities at Italians venturing outdoors through speakers attached to a drone. We wanted to know more about this Mayor and his tactics, so we go to our Italian correspondent for a live report from Messina.
LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-APRIL 10, 2020…FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER THE GROUP WAS FIRST ELIGIBLE FOR THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME, KISS WAS FINALLY ELECTED. WITH KISS NOTHING COMES EASY, AND THE INDUCTION WAS ONE OF THE MOST ACRIMONIOUS AND CONTROVERSIAL INDUCTION’S IN THE HALL’S HISTORY. JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE CEREMONY, KISS ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD NOT BE PERFORMING BECAUSE DISPUTES OVER THE LINE-UP PRODUCED ARGUMENTS AND ILL-WILL AMONG IT’S BAND MEMBERS. ACCORDING TO PAUL STANLEY :
“my sense was that we were going to be a dog-and-pony show. They wanted to have the original guys play in the band, and all of us in makeup, and, quite honestly, I think it would have done the band a disservice.That lineup has not been together for 14 years, and physically, perhaps, wouldn’t have looked that great, and musically, undoubtedly, probably, would have sounded a bit suspect, so, to have people watch it on television and identify that as KISS because there’s four guys in makeup would not send a great signal to the people who are not following the band in its current permutation, or what it is today. It seems like if the Rock Hall wanted a classic KISS reunion, they should have acted sooner. KISS became eligible for a Rock Hall induction in 1999, when the classic lineup of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss was back together for a handful of years.”
WHEN THE PAUL STANLEY, GENE SIMMONS, ACE FREHLEY, AND PETER CRISS WENT ONSTAGE TO ACCEPT THE HONOR, IT DIDN’T SEEM LIKE THERE WAS ANGER AMONG THE FOUR FOUNDING MEMBERS. IF ANYTHING THEIR ANGER WAS DIRECTED AT THE HALL AND THE BAND’S CRITICS WHO NEVER APPRECIATED THE BAND’S THEATRICS AND HAD DISMISSED THE GROUP AS SHLOCK. THE GROUP ACTED RESERVED AND CORDIAL. HERE’S THE INDUCTION CEREMONY
AND HERE’S PAUL STANLEY WITH HOW PISSED OFF HE WAS AT THE RRHOF JUST HOURS BEFORE THE INDUCTION
LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-APRIL 10, 2020…IT WAS 1970, AND ON THIS DATE PAUL MCCARTNEY ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING THE BEATLES HAD BROKEN UP. HE DID SO BY INSERTING A LETTER IN THE PROMO COPIES OF HIS ALBUM ‘MCCARTNEY’ FORMALLY ANNOUNCING HIS LEAVING OF THE BEATLES. WITH HIS DEBUT SOLO ALBUM RELEASE SET FOR APRIL 17TH 1970, HE CHOSE TO DO NO INTERVIEWS AS PROMOTION. INSTEAD, HE ASKED APPLE RECORDS TO SUPPLY A LIST OF QUESTIONS TO WHICH HE ANSWERED. THESE INCLUDED MCCARTNEY’S THOUGHTS ON THE BEATLES, AND THE END OF HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH JOHN LENNON. PRIOR TO THIS SELF INTERVIEW RUMORS WERE RAMPANT ON THE FUTURE OF THE BEATLES. ALTHOUGH NONE OF MCCARTNEY’S ANSWERS WERE DEFINITIVE, THE PRESS REPORTED “MCCARTNEY IS NO LONGER A BEATLE.” HERE WAS THE SELF INTERVIEW RELEASED TO THE PRESS:
Q: Why did you decide to make a solo album?
A: Because I got a Studer four-track recording machine at home – practiced on it (playing all instruments) – liked the results, and decided to make it into an album.
Q: Were you influenced by John’s adventures with the Plastic Ono Band, and Ringo’s solo LP?
A: Sort of, but not really.
Q: Are all songs by Paul McCartney alone?
A: Yes sir.
Q: Will they be so credited: McCartney?
A: It’s a bit daft for them to be Lennon/McCartney credited, so “McCartney” it is.
Q: Did you enjoy working as a solo?
A: Very much. I only had me to ask for a decision, and I agreed with me. Remember Linda’s on it too, so it’s really a double act.
Q: What is Linda’s contribution?
A: Strictly speaking she harmonizes, but of course it’s more than that because she’s a shoulder to lean on, a second opinion, and a photographer of renown. More than all this, she believes in me – constantly.
Q: Where was the album recorded?
A: At home, at EMI (no. 2 studio) and at Morgan Studios (Willesden!)
Q: What is your home equipment (in some detail)?
A: Studer four-track machine. I only had, however, one mike, and as Mr Pender, Mr Sweatenham and others only managed to take six months or so (slight delay) I worked without VU meters or a mixer, which meant that everything had to be listened to first (for distortion etc…) then recorded. So the answer – Studer, one mike, and nerve.
Q: Why did you choose to work in the studios you chose?
A: They were available. EMI is technically very good and Morgan is cozy.
Q: The album was not known about until it was nearly completed. Was this deliberate?
A: Yes, because normally an album is old before it even comes out. (aside) Witness GET BACK.
Q: Why?
A: I’ve always wanted to buy a Beatles album like people do and be as surprised as they must be. So this was the next best thing. Linda and I are the only two who will be sick of it by the release date. We love it really.
Q: Are you able to describe the texture or the feel of the album in a few words?
A: Home, family, love.
Q: How long did it take to complete?
A: From just before (I think) Xmas, until now. THE LOVELY LINDA was the first thing I recorded at home, and was originally to test the equipment. That was around Xmas.
Q: Assuming all the songs are new to the public, how new are they to you? Are they recent
A: One was from 1959 (HOT AS SUN). Two are from India – JUNK and TEDDY BOY, and the rest are pretty recent. VALENTINE DAY, MOMMA MISS AMERICA and OO YOU were ad-libbed on the spot.
Q: Which instruments have you played on the album?
A: Bass, drums, acoustic guitar, lead guitar, piano and organ-mellotron, toy xylophone, bow and arrow.
Q: Have you played all these instruments on earlier recordings?
A: Yes, drums being the one that I normally wouldn’t do.
Q: Why did you do all the instruments yourself?
A: I think I’m pretty good.
Q: Will Linda be heard on all future records?
A: Could be. We love singing together and have plenty of opportunity for practice.
Q: Will Paul and Linda become a John and Yoko?
A: No, they will become Paul and Linda.
Q: What has recording alone taught you?
A: That to make your own decisions about what you do is easy, and playing with yourself is very difficult, but satisfying.
Q: Who has done the artwork?
A: Linda has taken all the photos, and she and I designed the package.
Q: Is it true that neither Allen Klein nor ABKCO have been nor will be in any way involved with the production, manufacturing, distribution or promotion of this new album?
A: Not if I can help it.
Q: Did you miss the other Beatles and George Martin? Was there a moment when you thought, ‘I wish Ringo were here for this break?’
A: No.
Q: Assuming this is a very big hit album, will you do another?
A: Even if it isn’t, I will continue to do what I want, when I want to.
Q: Are you planning a new album or single with the Beatles?
A: No.
Q: Is this album a rest away from the Beatles or the start of a solo career?
A: Time will tell. Being a solo album means it’s “the start of a solo career…” and not being done with the Beatles means it’s just a rest. So it’s both.
Q: Is your break with the Beatles temporary or permanent, due to personal differences or musical ones?
A: Personal differences, business differences, musical differences, but most of all because I have a better time with my family. Temporary or permanent? I don’t really know.
Q: Do you foresee a time when Lennon-McCartney becomes an active songwriting partnership again?
A: No.
Q: What do you feel about John’s peace effort? The Plastic Ono Band? Giving back the MBE? Yoko’s influence? Yoko?
A: I love John, and respect what he does – it doesn’t really give me any pleasure.
Q: Were any of the songs on the album originally written with the Beatles in mind?
A: The older ones were. JUNK was intended for ABBEY ROAD, but something happened. TEDDY BOY was for GET BACK, but something happened.
Q: Were you pleased with ABBEY ROAD? Was it musically restricting?
A: It was a good album. (No. 1 for a long time.)
Q: What is your relationship with Klein?
A: It isn’t. I am not in contact with him, and he does not represent me in ANY way.
Q: What is your relationship with Apple?
A: It is the office of a company which I part own with the other three Beatles. I don’t go there because I don’t like offices or business, especially when I am on holiday.
Q: Have you any plans to set up an independent production company?
A: McCartney Productions.
Q: What sort of music has influenced you on this album?
A: Light and loose.
Q: Are you writing more prolifically now? Or less so?
A: About the same. I have a queue waiting to be recorded.
Q: What are your plans now? A holiday? A musical? A movie? Retirement?
A: My only plan is to grow up!
HERE’S THE FINAL BEATLES PERFORMANCE, FROM THE FAMOUS ROOFTOP SHOW
LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-APRIL 10, 2020…THIRTY ONE YEARS AGO THE CULT RELEASED THEIR 4TH STUDIO ALBUM ‘SONIC TEMPLE’. PRIOR TO THIS ALBUM’S RELEASE, THE BAND ACTUALLY RECORDED A DEMO OF THE RECORD IN 1988 WITH ERIC SINGER FROM KISS ON DRUMS. THEY THEN RECORDED A COMPLETE NEW DEMO WITH CHRIS TAYLOR ON DRUMS. THE SECOND DEMO IS THE ONE THE BAND WENT WITH. SONIC TEMPLE IS THE FIRST TIME THE BAND WORKED WITH PRODUCER BOB ROCK, AND PEAKED AT #10 ON THE BILLBOARD ALBUM CHARTS. SONIC TEMPLE SOLD OVER A MILLION COPIES AND IS THE CULT’S HIGHEST CHARTING ALBUM IN THE USA. THE RECORD WAS FUELED BY THIS SINGLE. HERE’S A LIVE VERSION OF ‘FIRE WOMAN’
Lamont & Tonelli talked to Mr. Skin for his weekly fun bags forecast! This morning Mr. Skin talked about his featured playlists, including how to gear up for Easter with nude Playboy Bunnies, Sexy Selfies: Hot Celebs practicing social distancing with sexy snaps and Nude Yoga: Hot Celebs keepin’ things tight during lockdown.
Stay inside people.
Update: The below video is a hoax.
Listen to Lamont and Tonelli’s new song about social distancing and encouraging everyone to stand six feet away from each other during the Shelter In Place because of Coronavirus pandemic.
LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-APRIL 9, 2020…IT WAS 1989 AND THE ROLLING STONES BASSIST ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOING TO GET MARRIED FOR THE 2ND TIME. THE THEN 47 YEAR OLD WYMAN INTRODUCED HIS 18 YEAR OLD FIANCE MANDY . HOWEVER, WHAT AMAZES ME IS HE STATED THEY HAD BEEN DATING FOR 6 YEARS !!!! THAT MEANS WHEN HE WAS 41 HE WAS DATING A 12 YEAR OLD !!! I GUESS HAVING 200 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE BANK WORKS BETTER THAN HAVING A PANEL VAN FULL OF CANDY. WTF! HOW WAS WYMAN NOT LOCKED UP? THE MARRIAGE LASTED 2 YEARS, OR A YEAR BEFORE SHE COULD LEGALLY DRINK.
HERE’S AN INTERVIEW THE HAPPILY MARRIED COUPLE DID ON TV THE DAY OF THEIR WEDDING