Aerosmith Debut

Released on January 5, 1973

Genres considered - Hard Rock, Blues Rock

Influenced by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, and Fleetwood Mac

Point of intrigue - Guns N' Roses was influenced by Aerosmith

Point of interest - Outside of Steven Tyler, most of the band members had never been in a studio.

Aerosmith was released at the same time as Bruce Springsteen's debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. ... Springsteen's album was given greater promotional effort ... Aerosmith's album was not reviewed in Rolling Stone (a disappointment to the band)

Aerosmith was unfavorably compared to the Rolling Stones by critics

Lukewarm reception from radio stations initially

"Dream On" became a classic rock radio staple

"Dream On" - No. 59 in the U.S. ... No. 1 single of the year in the band's hometown of Boston

"Dream On"..."the blueprint for all power ballads" - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic

No. 21 on Billboard 200 (1976)

Personnel -

Steven Tyler - Lead vocals, Piano, Harmonica

Joe Perry - Guitars, Backing vocals, Second guitar solo "One Way Street"

Brad Whitford - Guitars, First guitar solo "One Way Street"

Tom Hamilton - Bass

Joey Kramer - Drums

Tracks -

1.  Make It

2.  Somebody

3.  Dream On

4.  One Way Street

5.  Mama Kin

6.  Write Me a Letter

7.  Movin' Out

8.  Walkin' the Dog

Certifications -

Platinum in Canada

2x Platinum in the U.S.

(Wikipedia)

Joe Perry (Aerosmith) - Crazy - Solo

Solo - Robert Palmer

The transition from one iconic British band to another iconic British band was seamless for two members who made both feel right to fans.  Andy Taylor and John Taylor left Duran Duran when tensions ran deep.  Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor remained to form Arcadia and their only album, So Red the Rose.  Andy and John moved forward with former Chic drummer, Tony Thompson, and the one and only Robert Palmer to form the Power Station.  You can take their success from here.

Simon Le Bon defined the role of lead singer for Duran Duran.  His lyrics shaped Duran Duran songs and albums.  His performance on stage reflected what fans wanted to see - the Fab Five doing their thing.

Robert Palmer defined his vocal style for the Power Station.  On his own, though, Robert Palmer defined going solo and his hits are all I know as a fan.

So what do you say, Robert?

January 19, 1949 - September 26, 2003

"Addicted to Love" song & "Addicted to Love" video 

"...epitomize the glamour and excesses of the 1980s..." - Wikipedia

Influenced by blues, soul, and jazz

Genres considered - Rock, Pop, Hard rock, Blues rock

2 ASCAP Pop Music Awards ("Addicted to Love," "Simply Irresistible")

2 Grammy Awards ("Addicted to Love," "Simply Irresistible")

MTV Video Music Award ("Addicted to Love")

2 Brit Award nominations

Solo Career -

Debut - Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley (1974)

Unsuccessful in the UK

2nd Album - Pressure Drop (1975)

3rd Album - Some People Can Do What They Like (1976)

4th Album - Double Fun (1978)

"Every Kinda People" - No. 16 on Billboard Hot 100

5th Album - Secrets (1979)

"Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" - No. 14 on Billboard Hot 100 ... No. 54 on UK Albums Chart ... No. 19 on Billboard 200

6th Album - Clues (1980)

- No. 59 on Billboard Top Pop Albums ... No. 31 in the UK ... No. 1 in Sweden ... No. 3 in France ... No. 15 in the Netherlands ... No. 42 in Italy

- "...one of Robert Palmer's strongest and most consistent albums..." (Donald Guarisco, AllMusic)

- Certified Gold in Canada & Germany

As his success grew, Robert Palmer took to production, working with Jamaican artist Desmond Dekker's 1981 album Compass Point & John Martyn's 1984 album Sapphire.

7th Album - Pride (1983)

In July 1983, Robert Palmer performed at Duran Duran's charity concert at Aston Villa football ground.  Friendships grew and, as it would be, led to the Power Station.

The Power Station released only one album of the same name.  The album reached the Top 20 in the UK and the Top 10 in the U.S.  Two hit singles came from the album - "Some Like It Hot" (No. 6 in the U.S.) & "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" (No. 9 in the U.S.).

The Power Station performed together once on an episode of Saturday Night Live.  The band toured and planned to perform at Live Aid but Palmer backed out at the last moment to focus back on solo work.

Critics' response to Robert Palmer's decision - "unprofessional"

Back to his solo career -

8th Album - Riptide (1985)

- No. 5 on UK Albums Chart ... No. 8 on Billboard 200 

- Notable Singles: "Addicted to Love," "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On," "Hyperactive," "Discipline of Love," & "Riptide"

- Certified Gold in the UK ... Certified 2x Platinum in the U.S. ... Certified 3x Platinum in Canada

9th Album - Heavy Nova (1988)

- No. 13 in the U.S. ... No. 17 in the UK ... No. 15 in the Netherlands

- Hit single - "Simply Irresistible" (No. 1 on Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks)

- Certified Gold in the UK ... Platinum in Canada and the U.S. ... 2x Platinum in Australia

- Second most successful album worldwide with the first being Riptide

10th Album - Don't Explain (1990)

- No. 9 in the UK ... No. 88 on Billboard 200

- Certified Gold in Australia

11th Album - Ridin' High (1992)

12th Album - Honey (1994)

13th Album - Rhythm & Blues (1999)

14th Album - Drive (2003)

Robert Palmer produced a greatest hits album in 1995, reaching No. 4 in the UK.

Robert was a heavy smoker as of his teen years.  He passed away from a heart attack in a Paris hotel room on September 26, 2003.

Robert Palmer was 54 years old at the time of his death.  His music came to an end on a high note - His final album was described by critics as his most heartfelt.

(Wikipedia)

Fame - Luke Wilson

As I work on my 19th notebook, I am recalling the variety of books published.  Set List Journal was my first work.  Since then, I have created birthday themes, holiday themes, fashion themes, and many more.  I have also created works in honor of well-known figures.

Today I am highlighting a publication all about Luke Cunningham Wilson, an A-List Hollywood actor in an A-List family especially including Luke's older brother, Owen.

In one word - Fame

Two names - David Bowie & Luke Wilson

Luke Wilson Fan Book

On Our Own

 

Released as the lead single in May 1989

No. 1 on Billboard Hot Black Singles Chart

No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100

No. 1 in New Zealand

Top 5 in Canada, Ireland, and the UK

Personnel -

Bobby Brown - Lead vocals

L.A. Reid - Drums, Percussion

Babyface - Keyboards, Backing vocals

Kayo - Synthesize bass

Daryl Simmons, Melvin Edmonds, Kevon Edmonds, Keith Mitchell - Backing vocals

Certified Silver in the UK

Certified Platinum in the U.S.

(Wikipedia)

(Note - The Ghostbusters II soundtrack is certified Gold in Canada and the U.S.)

Take 2 - Ghostbusters II

The story began in 1984 when three men took to the paranormal as ghostbusters.  The cast took to the film and its wealth of special effects in proud stride to create an iconic supernatural comedy and ultimate franchise.

Bill Murray as Peter Venkman.  Dan Aykroyd as Ray Stantz.  Harold Ramis as Egon Spengler.  Ernie Hudson later introduced as Winston Zeddemore.

Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz.

Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett.

Rick Moranis as Louis Tully.

Refer to Wikipedia for the full background.

Baby Oscar came along in 1989 with the sequel - Ghostbusters II.  The experience the characters gained when facing paranormal war in the first film prepared them when a baby was in danger.  The cast naturally came together once more.  The musical score emphasized the peak of the storyline.  

The song became a hit - "On Our Own" by Bobby Brown.

...And that is where I will leave off.  Refer to Wikipedia for the full background.

And All That Jazz - 1920s

The 1920s in pop culture was defined as the jazz age with New Orleans musicians moving to the Chicago scene and soon to New York.  Prohibition helped fuel the new energy.  Some, though, felt the jazz genre that sparked such a craze as the Charleston and flapper style went against cultural values and morals.

Popular orchestral band leaders and musicians include Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and Cole Porter...to name a few.

Popular 1920s jazz songs include -

"Sweet Georgia Brown"

"Dinah"

"Honeysuckle Rose"

"Ain't Misbehavin'"

"The Man I Love"

...to name a few.

E. Estelle Zander was born on January 5, 1929.  She was born into a modest and hardworking family with both devoted parents and older brother caring for his little sister.  He had trouble pronouncing "Estelle" and kept saying "Dell".  It stuck and from that moment on, her family and friends referred to her as Dell.  Their parents were proud to be Swedish-American citizens in a time where the United States melting pot fought the same causes - the Great Depression and World War II.

To me, she is Grandma, my soulmate and best friend.  She was the spiritual love of my life.  I was her kid.  She was my "talk to Grandma" when I was having a rough day or mental episode.  Grandma's married name was Flosi and her late husband, my Grandpa, is my friend even though he passed long before I was born.  His spirit met me as his first grandchild.  His spirit visited me twice in a soothing way, not spooky.

Today is Grandma's day on a topic fitting well with Set List and hope in history's generation lived then, honored now, and to not be repeated in the future.

"What Is This Thing Called Love?" - Cole Porter, 1929