This One's For Camelot - Let It Be

This One's For Camelot

Today, November 22, 2013 marks 50 years since the assassination of JFK.  I know i wasn't alive when he was president but i still consider him one of my favorites.... well right after my man Abe of course!

All over the news today.... stories and videos, friends and family talk and remember the horrific day when our country mourned for a president.  A president with potential to change the world.  Today, tragedy like that doesn't hit as hard.  With all the shootings and killings, it seems nothing shocks us anymore.  We've almost become used to it!  The sixties were a time filled with rebellion and war but when our president was shot, the US had never experienced a pain like that.

I heard this Beatles song today on my way to work.... creepily fitting i think for today's mood.  The song and lyrics are beautiful.  A song filled with such meaning. 

Our youngest, most handsome president ;), too young to die and yet i can't believe today marks 50 years since it happened. 

Remember today and ask yourself what YOU can do for your country!

~Penny Lane

Hey Sandy Girl!!

 Hey Sandy Girl!

I can honestly say that I can't believe a year has passed since a hurricane rocked our world....literally.
Today, October 29, 2013 marks the 1 year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy hitting the Jersey Shore and our home. 

Since i woke up this morning, all i can seem to think of is how i felt just a mere year ago today.... thinking it would be just like any other storm that's hit us before, not expecting what was really about to happen.  We spent days not really believing or understanding what was probably the worst experience of our lives, just trying to get by. Thinking back to the weeks spent wondering around in a sort of shell shock daze seems like it was just yesterday, oh how far we've come. 

I thought today's song was quite appropriate, since now it will forever remind me of the storm that pretty much changed my life.  Wonder if Bruce ever thought this song would come to mean what it does today to so many people.

                              "Oh Sandy the aurora is risin' behind us
                                The pier lights our carnival life forever
                                Love me tonight for I may never see you again
                                Hey Sandy girl"

Stay Strong
~Penny Lane

On The Cover Of The Rolling Stone

On The Cover Of The Rolling Stone

I was just browsing through my latest copy of Rolling Stone Magazine when i came across a Cameron Crowe article.  Yes, the one and only Cameron Crowe, my writing idol!! The famous journalist who got his start with Rolling Stone Magazine, back in the height of real Rock n' Roll.  Crowe has moved on to bigger/better things, like writing screen plays for some pretty awesome movies...(including my favorite - Almost Famous) but occasionally he comes back to right an article or two.

The article is called "Elton John: My Life in 20 Songs."  I screamed!  Could this be??!! I had recently tried to run through what the soundtrack of my life would be in previous blog posts.  It's exactly the kind of article i could only dream about writing with any legend of Rock.  Elton John goes through and elaborates on his top 20 songs that really meant something to him while emerging as an artist through the span of his career.

To browse through each song and here little snip its of his thoughts while writing them or performing them....just to get a feel on his personal library of musical landmarks.  It was fantastic.  A different take for music journalism.  The song that caught my eye, number 5.  The title track off the album "Madman Across The Water".  Such a beautiful song and one that i listen to and can say, "Yup, that's sooo Elton John."  He goes on to talk about how he considered this album the "end of an era" and how even though the album was not commercial, he felt a special connection to the title track.   

One day, maybe one day I'll write for Rolling Stone!  Maybe not like Dr. Hook says about getting on the cover of the Rolling Stone.... but a little piece in it would be nice right?!?

Keep Your Dreams!
~Penny Lane

One Hell Of A Happy Place Over Here!!!

It's My Happy Time Again!

Attention, Attention!!  It's that time again...my happy time that is.  I know I've mentioned it before, time and time again, but when one of your favorite bands comes out with a new album... It's like Christmas!!!! (Well it's definitely my kinda Christmas!)

Some of the excitement you could say is now somewhat lost.  No more trips to the record store,  no more waiting to get that shiny new album in the palm of your hands.  We all just rush onto itunes to download it as quickly as possible.  I miss the days of getting to rip off that impossible plastic covering, check out the album booklet.... covered front to back with private band photos and all of the lyrics to your new favorite songs.

Yes I'm now subject to the rest of the worlds trend of getting everything yesterday.  I bought the new album on my iTunes the second it came out, put it right on my iPod and have not stopped listening to it since!

Magpie and The Dandelion, the 8th installment from the one and only.... Avett Brothers!  This album is packed full with all those romanticized lyrics I've grown to love from them over the years.  Starting off with "Open Ended Life," full of their classic Bluegrass Rockin' sound is simply amazing.  The song featured above, "Morning Song" is slow and true to that vintage sound of theirs.  The weepy "Apart From Me".... ugh, adorable lyrics - in love with it!  Another realization to the fact that anyone who can play a guitar and sing a song like that to me... yup, I'd probably marry you right on the spot!! Add an Avett Brothers beard and Bam!  This girls dream come true over here!  Banjo playing is also encouraged! HeHe

So many good jams - i still can't choose a favorite.  More investigating needs to be conducted!  So please run to the nearest record store or iTunes store and make yourself happy today!

~Penny Lane

What Does A Rainy Day Call For??

What Does A Rainy Day Call For??

A rainy day in my book calls for The Beatles!!! All day long, on my Pandora, as loud as my office can stand, yup!  I love The Beatles and choosing a song to post for today was quite the challenge,  then I totally remembered my favorite tune on the white album and knew that Rocky Raccoon was it!!!

I mean really... what is better than having The Beatles playing in the background all day while you're slaving away at work?!?! Well yes just like the rest of you I'd rather be in my bed watching movies all day but ya gotta make the best outta the day right? HahaHa.

Such a weird and wonderful song!  I think the awesome rhyming of the lyrics are so damn catchy!
I hope you enjoy this rainy day Beatles jam..... and remember Friday is only a day away!!

~Penny Lane

I Miss You John Lennon!!! Stand By Me - John Lennon

  

I Miss You John Lennon....

 Oh Friday.... sometimes you drag on while I'm here slaving away at work, but then a certain songs appears on my radio and a smile crosses my face!  Then my Friday dosn't seem too bad!

John Lennon's version of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" is one of my favorites.  The song is pretty great to begin with but John Lennon just has that something that makes it even better!  Maybe it's his signature voice, maybe it's cause he's a beetle, or maybe even because of those trademark shades..... Whatever it is we got to see a true legend in our time, taken away too soon.  Well maybe my parents time, not so much my own... UGH!  More evidence that points to my theory of being born in the wrong decade!!

The lyrics are simple and pleasing, the melody fun and upbeat, the twist that Lennon adds along to it makes me smile.  It's good to have a few songs tucked into your back pocket, the ones ya know are gonna make you smile the minute they come on, no matter where ya are or what you're doing. 
This is one of mine :)

Happy Friday
~Penny Lane

All About The Lyrics - Lorde - Royals

Lyrics, Lyrics, Lyrics

Oh Boy!  Here's another jam i can't seem to get off my repeat.  Every song has a way of "gettin' to ya", hence why every one of us has our favorite songs or certain song addictions.  If a song didn't get to ya somehow then it's just not the song for you.  Either way.... Every song has that special something that speaks to a person and gets in their head, that special something for me was the lyrics... so damn catchy!  I had to learn them all right away, so good and so fun to sing along to!!

The song is called "Royals" and it's sung by Ella Yelich-O'Connor (or Lorde...as what she goes by).  The thing that fascinates me the most.... she's only 16!!! A New Zealand Singer-Songwriter, Lorde has managed to put out an album and have a #1 chart topping hit all at the ripe age of 16.  Damn Girl!

A song about being famous... or wanting to be famous.  It shows what social media and Hollywood say being famous or being royals is all about! She's not a royal and not famous yet her and her friends are just fine being who they are!

If you're like me - you already have this song on repeat and you know exactly what I'm talking about!
SO DAMN CATCHY!

HAPPY MONDAY
~Penny Lane

My Favorite Hippie!! Joni Mitchell

My Favorite Hippie

I decided to throw the good old shuffle on my iPod this morning while driving to work.  Good thing i did cause once this voice came across my speakers i knew it was my favorite hippie!!!

I've loved Joni Mitchell for as long as i can remember, you could say i grew up on her....  My parents being little hippies themselves definitely helped develop my musical library.  I'm eternally grateful for this!!! As my dad always says.... "I've got the best I Pod around!!!"

There are many Joni songs that i enjoy and this might not be my favorite but the lyrics in this song are amazing!  I love singing it at the top of my lungs!!! 

                                   "Took all the trees, put em' in a tree museum and they
                                     charged all the people a dollar and a half just to see em'
                                   don't it always seems to go, ya don't know what you got till it's gone
                                     they paved paradise and put up a parking lot!"

those lyrics right there might be my favorite! So true with how the worlds become!!

So enjoy your hump day, try and hit those Joni high notes while singing along!

p.s. i love her little hippie outfit in this video - she's adorable!

~Penny Lane

13 Again!!!! JT - Take Back The Night

13 Year Old Girl All Over Again!

Whelp that's it... We've officially lost it, gone crazy! (my best friend Kate and I that is).  Well if you havn't heard or you've been under a rock the last couple of days...Nsync reunited at the VMA's on Sunday! The Amazing 2 minutes that it was, it got us thinking.... how could we re-live our youth, our teenie popper days?!?!  Ya know go back to our crazy obsessed Nsync days??!!! Well since the boys aren't making any reunion tours..... seeing Justin live will just have to do! Oh Shucks! lol

So why not make extravagant purchases and go see Mr. Timberlake live.... IN THE 5TH FUCKING ROW!!! Woot Woot!  Anyone who wanted to know what credit card debt is all about... here ya go!  Yes we will probably cry or hyperventilate the entire time, maybe even get arrested for rushing the stage but being 10 feet away from the "President of Pop" is a life long dream and worth it!  We can die happy now Murph!!!!

So after about 15 plus years of being obsessed together with "our boys", we will be getting as close as we've ever been.  15 plus years of our amazing mothers putting up with our boy band hysteria and spending probably almost as much money on countless Nsync concerts.  We've finally made the last possible boy band extravagant purchase!!! Well my dear friend Kate... Here you go! Today's post is for you, me and the beginning of our countdown till November!!!!

Feels good to be 13 again.... :)

~Penny Lane

One of My Favorites.....Galway Girl!

One Of My Favorites.....

Yes, yes... I know i'm an Irish girl but after hearing this song I want to live and come from Galway!!!
 Goes down definitely as one of my favorite Irish songs.  So sweet (sigh)! Haha.  Just like in P.S. I Love You, a girls dream is to have this sung to her!!! Boys in bands, what can i say.... HaHa.  So many people cover this song but i love Steve Earle's version.  I know he's a Texas man and is known for his country music but this mix of a little country and a little Irish makes for a quite fun and romantic song!

So as i get pumped for my now 11 day countdown till i visit my very own Irish heritage, i have this playing all day... along with other greats!   Let the list making ensue!!!! A once in a lifetime trip for the fam and I!!!

~Penny Lane

Album Anticipation - Kings of Leon

Album Anticipation!

Ever get that feeling of anticipation???? Yes, anticipation can be for lots of exciting things in life... Haha but I'm talking about album anticipation!  It's such a tease when a band will put out a single to get you pumped for their new album and then make you wait! Wait for what feels like years for the rest of their album to emerge! 

Well I've been listening to the new Kings of Leon's song "Supersoaker" for what seems like forever.  It's all i have to go on so sometimes it just stays on repeat.... well i need more, and ITunes little snip-it of "Wait For Me" isn't enough either! (love that song too!!!) Well kids...it's sad to say but the new album Mechanical Bull won't be here until September 24th!!! Ughh! 

I can't wait to here what this little family band is gonna offer next!  Yes i did really enjoy their early stuff when it consisted more of the southern rock and blues sound but i still love them.  Just goes to show that even though a band can alter their sound a bit through the years, they still keep their trusted fans wanting more.... and ooooooo baby i want more! Haha

Enjoy!!!
~Penny Lane

My Kinda Blues... Stevie Ray Vaughn

My Kinda Blues....

I've always been into the Blues but I've gotta say that this man right here was the one that opened my ears wide to what the Blues were all about. 

When i was younger and still engulfed in my "Pop" music phase of N sync and the Spice Girls..HaHa i remember listening to my older cousins music while over my aunt's house, he played us some Stevie Ray Vaughn and WOW, mind completely blown!  What kind of music was this filling my head?! Lol.  After that i started listening to a lot of him along with others....Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, BB King, Etta James, John Lee Hooker....(well i could just keep going on there haha)  i just couldn't get enough.

I've always said there is definitely two types of Blues music.... the sad and actual feeling blue type Blues and then there's the upbeat/rock 'n roll type Blues.  To me Stevie Ray is definitely the upbeat kinda Blues, you wanna sing along loud and tap your feet! Depending on your mood you can get the best of both.

Today's pick might be one of my favorite Vaughn songs... so so good! It was a tough pick i must say but "Pride and Joy" off his first album Texas Flood is a classic.  His guitar playing is out of this world and i gotta give props to the dude on piano... damn!

Hope you enjoy today's pick as much as i do!!! Wish he was still around today!

~Penny Lane

The Good Old Days of Montell Jordan!

The Good Old Days of Montell Jordan

 

Anyone around my age that does not know Montell Jordan... well i just feel bad for you! You seriously don't know what you're missing!!  Montell was already on point well before anyone else!

So this morning while on my run, a certain good time oldie came on!  P.S. Please listen to Pony Radio on Pandora... it's simply amazing! HaHa.  So yes, i got to exercise to this little jam as well as some other greats.  Nothing but the classics on Pony Radio.

This is Montell Jordan's "Get It On Tonite" which came out in 1999!!! Yup good old 7th grade, Wow now i really feel old!  So it may not be Throwback Thursday just yet.... but i couldn't help myself!!! I hope you enjoy this little classic R&B hit that I've provided on hump day (kinda appropriate huh?!?! lol).

~Penny Lane

One More Time...Please?! The Black Keys - Run Right Back

    

  

  

One More Time... Please! 

   

 

Can I please see The Black Keys live in concert again?!!??!!  On this dreary, hungover Monday i find myself listen to this album on repeat!  Love Love Love this one!!  This little video of them performing "Run Right Back" at Lollapalooza in Brazil is pretty amazing.  Wish i could've seen that one....

I know, yes i have done a lot of posts with The Black Keys already but i can't help it today, they're my medicine lol.  Such a great live band... I now just sit here at work looking up ways i can see them again! Productive day right??? HaHa

Happy Monday
~Penny Lane

A Rainy Day Deserves The Blues, Don't Ya Think?!

                         

A Rainy Day Deserves Some Blues, Don't Ya Think?!

                       


Personally, after what I've heard and seen from this man, I would go to say that he's the closest thing my generation has to a new age Eric Clapton.

I first heard of Gary Clark Jr. when I went to see the Crossroads Guitar Festival in NYC with my father this spring.  Both Eric Clapton and Mr. Blues himself...BB King have said that he's going to become the next best thing in great guitar players.  From an early start in Austin anyone could see he was someday going to be the next "big thing".  Once Clark met up with promoter Clifford Antone his life was changed!  Antone has launched many acts including Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughn.  From then on Clark was hooked up with some of guitars greatest and so on from there!

At the age of 29 he can already sound and play like one of the many classic blues greats that have been around for ages....from Eric Clapton to Buddy Guy.  His smooth vocals combined with a sort of fuzzy guitar sound are what make him stand out. 

I heard him play this song and I was hooked!  The song is called "Ain't Messin' Around" off his album Blak and Blu.  I just purchased the entire album and I'm in love!!!  I can't wait to see him become our next guitar legend in the years to come!! Do yourself a favor, check him out!!!

~Penny Lane

One of the Best Music Videos!!!!!

                  

One of the Best Music Videos!!!

                  


I love a good music video.... Don't ask me why but there's always been something about seeing a catchy video associated with a song that I love!  Maybe it was my addicted days of Pop Up Video.... lol

Mumford & Sons.... ahh what can I NOT say about this band! A band that can fill and rock out in tons of large venues, yet they don't even have a full time drummer!!!  The band has said in interviews that they have to work extra hard to put on one hell of a show.... going on to say that if they don't walk off the stage absolutely exhausted and breathless then it just wasn't a good show.  I would say they could be considered one of the hardest working indie rock bands out there touring right now.  I have yet to see them live but OOOO Boy am I trying!!!

I was mindlessly par oozing Facebook yesterday and kept seeing all my friends reposting the same music video.... finally I had to check out what all this commotion was about... well I literally laughed out loud in my office, not what I was expecting to see at all! Haha

For those of you who haven't seen it yet, well I'm not going to ruin the surprise... just watch and enjoy!  Thank you Mumford & Sons... Thank you!  The song is called "Hopeless Wanderer" and its off the groups Sophomore album Babel, and awesome follow up to an already great first!

~Penny Lane

The Buddy Holly Factor!!!

The Buddy Holly Factor

                        

My father is a hardcore Hall & Oates fan.... through the years I've grown to love them, even finding myself at a "Home For The Holidays" concert...(right dad?!?!) HaHa. 

Being the avid music fan that my father is, he came across Palladia TV and his life has been forever changed!  Well needless to say there is a show on Palladia called "Live From Daryl's House".  My dad found it and could not contain his excitement!!!

The DVR is now packed full with Live From Daryl's episodes!  For any of you who have no idea what I'm talking about let me break it down..... Live From Daryl's House is a TV show created by Daryl Hall from Hall & Oates.  He has put together a music show which features a different artist or musician every week to come to his house in Woodstock, NY and play with him and his band.  It's actually a pretty sweet show!  My father has now gotten me addicted to watching every week along with him (a little family bonding time!).  We came across an episode featuring a young artist from San Francisco named Nick Waterhouse.

First of all, this kids musical repertoire is ridiculous!  Throughout the episode he lists all the musicians and artists that have inspired him and influenced his sound.  His whole album, "Times All Gone", has a great mix of rhythm, blues, jazz and soul.  It's nice to see someone so young incorporating classic sounds to their new wave music.  My father and I couldn't get over how much he looks and dresses just like Buddy Holly!!!!

The song I featured today is probably my favorite off the album.  The song is called "If You Want Trouble"  and this is the version from Daryl's House!!! Hope you enjoy - check this album out! It's awesome!!!! 

Happy Monday! ~Penny Lane





Here We Go Again!!! Muddy Waters - Katie

 

 

Here We Go Again.....

 

 

 

                     https://myspace.com/muddymississippiwaters/music/song/katie-84230

 

 

Well hello again cyber world!  I took a small break from writing but have come to realize more and more lately that I miss it so!!

 

My question today..... What is in a name? Or your own name rather....  Don't tell me that you've never "Googled" yourself or typed your name into your ITunes search to see what awesome things can be related to your name!  I know I have! And so have you!

 

I've always been a tad bit annoyed at my parents for not stopping to think....  "Hey, we have a daughter, yaayy! We should name her after a sick Rock 'n Roll song!"  Growing up with the name Katie, well you could go and say that in the late 80's it was quite possibly the most popular name out there.  Yes, very Irish indeed and I have the freckles to prove it.  I also went to a Catholic school... so Catharine was very, very popular!! In my class alone there was about 6 or so of us Catharine's or Kate's.

 

I stop and think of all the awesome songs that are named after some pretty sweet chicks.... "Angie" The Rolling Stones, "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" The Beetles, "Sarah Smile" Hall and Oates, "Come On Eileen" Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Layla" Eric Clapton, "Maggie Mae" Rod Stewart... I could go on for days!!!!

 

Well I did some research a while ago and it turns out I have my own pretty bad ass song!!!!  I came across Muddy Waters at a young age.  I have some pretty awesome parents and lets just say they raised me right! (Especially in the music department.)  As I became more and more interested I came across a song titled "Katie" off the Unk In Funk album. Such a great album!!!

 

I of course became addicted with "My Song"!!!!  A perfect combination of funk and blues! I couldn't find a YouTube video to accompany today's post but click the link on the top and give it a listen!!!

 

 

Enjoy and have a great weekend!!!

~Penny Lane