Lauren Hovis Publications - Weekly Top Seller

In this edition of Lauren Hovis Publications on Set List, the week's best seller is Birthday Girl Notebook.

I imagine you are wondering one thought - Why would a notebook with birthday sheet cake cover image be a feature on Set List?

My justification - The song "Happy Birthday" to her or to him.

A unique twist on a blog all about music.

King of Pop

Michael Jackson

Of Michael Jackson's many songs, one will always stand out  - "Thriller."  Yet, his signatures began with "Billie Jean" in 1983.  So let's explore that hit.

"Billie Jean"

Second single from Jackson's 6th album, Thriller (Released in 1982)

Released in January 1983

Genres considered - Post-Disco, R&B, Funk, Dance-Pop

No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

No. 1 on Billboard Hot Black Singles

No. 1 in the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Switzerland, and Belgium - to name a few

No. 58 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (2004)

No. 44 on Rolling Stone's list in 2021

Included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll 

"Billie Jean" helped Thriller become the best-selling album of all time 

"Billie Jean" became Jackson's best selling solo single

A best-selling single of all time

2 Grammy Awards

American Music Award

Certified Gold in New Zealand and the UK*

Certified Platinum in France and Germany

Certified 2x Platinum in Canada and Italy

Certified 3x Platinum in Denmark and Spain

Certified 4x Platinum in the UK**

Certified 9x Platinum in Australia

Certified Diamond + 2x Platinum in Mexico

Certified Diamond in the U.S.

*Initial sales - 500,000

**Later sales - 2,400,000

(Wikipedia)

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean (Official Audio)

Michael Jackson

King of Pop

Gershwin Brothers

Ira Gershwin

December 6, 1896 - August 17, 1983

"Rhapsody in Blue" is iconic and solidified in the history of 20th Century music.  United Airlines is the most well-known sponsor for the song.  George Gershwin is a profound asset to music inspiring those that follow him then and now.

And then there is Ira Gershwin - George's older brother and equally known for his collaborations with his brother.

Ira was a lyricist and George was a composer.  Ira wrote over 12 Broadway shows.  Noteworthy songs include "I Got Rhythm," "Embraceable You," "The Man I Love," and "Someone to Watch Over Me."

Ira was nominated for 3 Academy Awards for Best Original Song.

Ira was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Of Thee I Sing (1932).  

The George and Ira Gershwin Lifetime Musical Achievement Award established in 1988 at UCLA...The UCLA fight song is in honor of the Gershwin brothers - "Strike Up the Band in UCLA."

Notable Songs

Wikipedia

Ella Fitzgerald - Sam And Delilah

Ella Fitzgerald

Ira & George Gershwin Songbook

Duran Duran Performs 'All You Need Is Now'

Harry Connick Jr. - It Had to Be You

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

...Whether crisp or humid, frigid or thawed...

...Find yourself lost in comedy and romance...

...Much the way you would to favorite music...

Glenn Frey - The Heat Is On (From "Beverly Hills Cop" Soundtrack)

September 15, 2024

Chicago, Illinois

89 Degrees

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Heat even for Indian Summer

Birthday Girl

Birthday Girl Notebook

by Lauren Hovis

Sold on Amazon

Lauren Hovis Publications - September Top Sellers

In this edition of Play It Friday, I am continuing my promotion of Lauren Hovis Publications.

In this month of September alone, my top sellers include -

Set List Journal

(Most in demand)

Lauren Alain Style Book

Birthday Boy Notebook

Lucille Ball - The Queen of Comedy - Cultural Retrospective

Lucille Desiree Ball

August 6, 1911 - April 26, 1989

American actress, comedian, producer, & studio executive

One of the most influential women in the 20th Century for work in these areas (Time, 2020)

Primetime Emmy Awards - 

13 Nominations, 5 Wins

Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award

2 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Women in Film Crystal Award

Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame

Kennedy Center Honor

Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

She was born in 1911 and passed away in 1989.  Lucille Ball's story is detailed in between. 

Read more on Wikipedia

The musical opening credits make sense to Set List as a music blog.

Lucille Ball makes sense as the queen of comedy and cultural retrospective on Set List.

"Vitameatavegamin"

Classic performance

Iconic episode in the history of television

"Lucy Does the Tango"

Audience reaction set a record

Longest recorded laughter

Sitcom - 67 seconds

I love Lucy Intro

Taps

September 11, 2001

World Trade Center - 2,753 lives lost

Pentagon - 184 lives lost

Shanksville, Pennsylvania - 40 lives lost

------------------------------------------------------

Politics aside...Societal divisions aside

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America Strong

Remember When...

2004

Astronaut Tour

Simon, Nick, Andy, John, Roger

...Original lineup reminisce...

...through music & live performance...

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

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2003 - 2022

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

33 Daytime Emmy Awards

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Memory lane indeed

Duran Duran Performing Sunrise on Ellen Degeneres Show - 2004

Indian Summer

The unofficial start to Fall is Labor Day.

Indian Summer warmth lingers.

The want of crisp chill.

Sunday Favorite

In today's edition of Sunday Favorite, I am torn between "Black Water" and Duran Duran live on a cold Fall morning in New York City.  I suppose I could lean toward Duran Duran because I will always remember watching the performance on television.  On the other hand, my mom got me into The Doobie Brothers and "Black Water" is a mental loop in my mind.

I truly cannot decide so...

The decision is yours.  Leave a comment at the end of this post with your thoughts and what would be your favorite.

John Williams: "Olympic Fanfare and Theme"

In Honor

2024 Olympic Games - Paris, France

Global Sports Signature Anthem

Birthday Boy

Birthday Boy Notebook

by Lauren Hovis

Sold on Amazon

Jack Benny - The King of Comedy - Cultural Retrospective

born Benjamin Kubelsky

February 14, 1894 - December 26, 1974

Known for -

Violinist, Vaudeville - "modest success"

"...one of the leading entertainers of the 20th Century..."

Comedic career in radio, television, and film

Comedic timing leading to contagious reaction -

i.e.:  Long pause, Signature expression "Well!"

i.e.:  Perpetually 39 years old 

Influence on the sitcom genre

Jack Benny's career in radio and television maintained popularity from 1932 to his passing in 1974.

Point of intrigue - Jack was known for being a poor violinist in order to get a humorous response.  In reality, he was considered a child prodigy.

The Jack Benny Program

Radio - 1932 to 1955 ... Television - 1950 to 1965

Television Honor - Emmy Award for Best Comedy Show

Cast Members -

Mary Livingstone (Benny's real life wife)

Phil Harris/Band Leader

Dennis Day*

*In character, Dennis Day had a nearly young boy voice.  His deeper voice when singing was his actual vocal tone.  He was of Irish decent - hence the themes to many of his songs such as "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling."

Don Wilson/Announcer

Eddie Anderson - on the show, "Rochester Van Jones" or "Rochester" as Benny's valet...First black man to have a recurring role on a national radio program

"Yankee Doodle Dandy" & "Love in Bloom" were theme songs to The Jack Benny Program.

When fans tuned in to the radio, imagination to actor scripts and settings was vivid, creative, and genuinely funny.  Live audiences fed on delivery and interaction among the actors to test the actors staying in character while roaring with laughter.

I am two generations behind Jack Benny, his family, and his fellow cast members but I am considered an old soul in that I interact better with those older than me rather than my peers.  I tend to appreciate historic comedy and select contemporary comedy.

Historic comedy did not have to try to generate a response.  Quick phrases became timeless humor such as the iconic lines, "Your money or your life" and Benny's delivery, "I'm thinking it over!"  

When a guest on television talk shows, Jack would rest his head in his hand and this found the audience cracking up.

From humor on the radio to humor on screen, Jack Benny proved to be the king of comedy.

Honors -

Hollywood Walk of Fame...3 Stars (1960)*

*2 Stars for motion pictures & television on Hollywood Boulevard

*1 Star for radio on Vine Street

Television Hall of Fame (1988)

National Radio Hall of Fame (1989)

Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame

Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois

Awarded the Order of Lincoln (Illinois's highest honor, 1972)

Jack Benny Middle School in Waukegan, IL (hometown)

"Home of the 39rs"

British comedian, Benny Hill, changed his birth name to Benny in Jack's honor (Hill's birthname was Alfred Hawthorne Hill)

Parov Stelar, a staple to the Set List theme, is a musical genius to blend entirely separate genres into one that makes sense and fun to listen to.

Jack Benny dabbled in music, mainly as a violinist and selecting themes to his program.  On a historic level, being a feature on Set List makes sense.

What makes the most sense is one take away - he was a musical prodigy and comedic prodigy.

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Historic Pop Culture

through song

What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits

4th studio album

Released in February 1974

"Black Water" - sold over one million copies 

No. 1 single from the album

Tracks - Side One

1.  Song to See You Through

2.  Spirit

3.  Pursuit on 53rd St.

4.  Black Water

5.  Eyes of Silver

6.  Road Angel

--------------------------------------

Tracks - Side Two

7.  You Just Can't Stop It

8.  Tell Me What You Want (And I'll Give You What You Need)

9.  Down in the Track

10.  Another Park, Another Sunday

11.  Daughters of the Sea

12.  Flying Cloud 

Certified Gold in Australia

(Wikipedia)

The Doobie Brothers

Doobie Brothers

L - R

John Cowan, Patrick Simmons,

Tom Johnston, John McFee

American rock band formed in 1970 in San Jose, California

Founding members - 

Patrick Simmons (Guitar, Banjo, Recorder, Vocals)

Tom Johnston (Guitar, Keyboard, Harmonica, Vocals)

John McFee (Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Violin, Cello, Harmonica, Vocals)

Other members -

Michael McDonald (Keyboards, Synthesizers, Vocals)

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Guitar)

Tiran Porter (Bass)

John Hartman/Michael Hossack/Keith Knudsen (Drummers)

Touring members -

John Cowan (Bass, Vocals)

Marc Russo (Saxophone)

Ed Toth (Drums)

Marc Quinones (Percussion, Backing Vocals)

14 studio albums

6 albums reached the Top 10 on Billboard 200

6 live albums 

Several greatest hits compilations*

*Best of the Doobies (1976...Certified Diamond in the U.S.)

**The band's best selling album (10 million records)

Grammy Awards -

Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group*

(Minute by Minute, 1978)

"What a Fool Believes" single from the above album won 3 Grammys

Singles success

"Black Water" (No. 1 in 1974)

"What a Fool Believes" (No. 1 in 1979)

...amongst others...

"Listen to the Music"

"Jesus is Just Alright"

"Long Train Runnin'"

"China Grove"

"Takin' It to the Streets"

"The Doctor" 

...air play...

Rotation on classic rock radio stations

Honors -

Inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (2004)

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2020)

Over 40 million records sold worldwide

(Wikipedia)

Black Water

Remember when...

2004

Astronaut Tour

Simon, Nick, Andy, John, Roger

...Original lineup reminisce...

...through music & live performance...

Frost in the air ... Warm sunrise

Memory lane indeed

DURAN DURAN - Live at ABC Good Morning America NYC (2004)

Labor Day Announcement

Dear readers and passersby,

In recognition of the Labor Day holiday, I am taking a break from Set List.  I will return tomorrow, September 3rd.

Sunday Favorite

On this first Sunday in September, I am taking the opportunity to once again promote my publications.

On this seventh day in the week, I will highlight my seventh book - Happy New Year.

This year, 2024, is making a beeline to the end and somehow there hasn't been a way to stop and take in all that is offered in the summer season.  September reflects the holiday season just around the corner, whether a refreshing realization or not ready and make late summer slow down.

Happy New Year is my latest publication on Amazon, after Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays.  For peace of mind, this is just a series and not a push to go holiday shopping.

Enjoy the crisp Fall season.  Bundle up in the cold winter season.  

Look forward to all that the holiday season has to offer in any faith.

Waive goodbye to an interesting year.

Happy New Year

Lauren Hovis Publications

Happy New Year