#Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1995

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[sweetdreamsjeff]

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LL Cool J featuring Boyz II Men - Hey Lover 1995

"Hey Lover" is a song by American rapper and actor LL Cool J, released as the first single from his sixth studio album, Mr. Smith (1995). He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC. In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. LL Cool J has appeared in numerous films, including Halloween H20, Any Given Sunday, Deep Blue Sea, S.W.A.T., Mindhunters, and Edison. He played NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles. He was also the host of Lip Sync Battle.

"Hey Lover" features American vocal harmony group Boyz II Men. The song samples Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life" from his 1982 hit album Thriller; thus Rod Temperton, the writer of that song, was given credit as a writer of this song. "Hey Lover" would prove to be the most successful single from the album, making it to number three on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B Singles charts. It also reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, number six in Sweden, and number five in New Zealand. In 1997, the song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance, becoming LL Cool J's second Grammy in that category after 1992's "Mama Said Knock You Out".

"Hey Lover" received a total of 53% yes votes.

[surra-de-bunda]

Mariah Carey & Keisha Epps of Total with Wanya Morris of Boys II Men photographed by Kevin Mazur during Camp Mariah & Mariah Carey's Platinum Party for 'Daydream' (July 1996). 'Daydream' is the fifth studio album by  Mariah Carey, released on September 26, 1995, by Columbia Records. 'Daydream' received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising the album's production, its sonic quality, and Carey's musical progression. It became Carey's best reviewed album up to that point and garnered six nominations at the 38th Grammy Awards, including for Album of the Year. It was later included on the List of 200 Definitive Albums in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 'Daydream' became a global success, topping the charts in nine countries, and reaching the top five in almost every major music market. It was Carey's second album to be certified Diamond by the RIAA. As of 2019, 'Daydream' has sold over 20 million copies worldwide and is one of the best-selling albums of all time. Six singles were released from the album. Its lead single "Fantasy" became the first single by a female artist to debut at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and went on to top the chart for eight weeks, and became the second best-selling single of 1995 in the country. The second single "One Sweet Day" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for sixteen weeks and became the longest-running number-one single in Billboard's history, holding the record for 23 years. The album's next single "Always Be My Baby" reached number one as well. Jointly, the singles from Daydream spent a combined six months at the top of the Hot 100. To promote the album, Carey embarked on the short but successful, Daydream World Tour, visiting Japan and Europe.

[krispyweiss]

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio, April 21, 2024

As he led the E Street Band through “Twist and Shout,” Bruce Springsteen betrayed a roached voice much as John Lennon had when the Beatles cut their version 60 years earlier.

But, like Lennon’s, Springsteen’s voice benefitted from its battered state - conveying joy and conviction, not exhaustion.

The house lights were on and the heart-stoppin’, pants-droppin’, hard-rockin’, Earth-quakin’, booty-shakin’, love-makin’, Viagra-takin’, history-makin’ - legendary - E Street Band had already been on stage for three hours April 21 as it played its twice-postponed-in-2023 gig inside Columbus, Ohio’s, Nationwide Arena to close the U.S. leg of its 2024 spring tour. Springsteen, who at 74 retains the energy and voice - acrobatic with guttural growls and falsetto cries - of a much-younger man, was sweat-soaked, his tie tucked into his blue shirt, his vest now removed, returned alone to close the show with an acoustic version of “I’ll See You in My Dreams.”

Death is not the end, he sang, while proving the life-affirming nature of live music.

Though the band could’ve phoned it in, the expanded 18-piece - augmented with four-voice choir and five-piece horn section - instead brought a loud hailer, opening the 30-song, 185-minute set with a grimy version of “Youngstown,” the first of a handful of tour debuts that included “Streets of Fire” and “I’m Goin’ Down.” That some songs were slowed by a quarter-step seems to have been the only acknowledgement of age.

So, if these guys are actually taking Viagra, it isn’t because of on-stage impotence. The band is so hot that even relatively weak songs like “Bobby Jean” and “Dancing in the Dark” are splendid in the moment.

A few scattered empty seats did nothing to temper the raucous atmosphere inside the hockey arena. Fans hoisted signs - “I’m Mary, thanks for all the songs” was among the best - and Springsteen sung a line of “Thunder Road” to a woman who’d been dancing furiously in front of the stage all evening, causing her to light up like a strobe. Though there was no crowd surfing during “Hungry Heart” - dude is 74, remember - Springsteen did go into the audience during “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” as images of late E Streeters Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici shone on the house video screens.

Back on stage, the living celebrated being alive. Steven Van Zandt played a guitar emblazoned with the Ukraine flag during “No Surrender.” Fellow guitarist Nils Lofgren spun like the Tasmanian Devil as he unspooled his “Because the Night” solo. And Jake Clemons served as Springsteen’s saxophone-blowing foil and conjured Uncle Clarence’s spirit throughout the night, thus garnering some of the crowd’s loudest adulation.

One of those moments came during a religious-experience rendering of “Spirit in the Night,” when Clemons sat on the stage and Springsteen literally leaned on his bandmate. The music temporally settled before exploding like a supernova and the climax. This was the greatest E Street moment Sound Bites has witnessed since the Band reunited for the 1995 Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Last Man Standing,” with Springsteen on acoustic accompanied by trombone, was a nod to his earliest bandmates, all gone now. “Trapped” was a singalong on the choruses. “She’s the One” borrowed the Bo Diddley beat. “Wrecking Ball” transformed the arena into the charismatic church of E Street. “Rosalita (Come out Tonight)” found the group mugging and celebrating with the faithful on a small chunk of stage that jutted into the general-admission pit. And the vaunted “Detroit Medley” once again demonstrated that if you have rock ’n’ roll in your life, your life has the potential to be heaven at any given moment.

Grade card: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Nationwide Arena - 4/21/24 - A

See more photos on Sound Bites’ Facebook page.

4/22/24

[itsmarjudgeloveclassicrock59]

Duane Allman Skydog

was an American rock guitarist, session musician, and the founder and original leader of the Allman Brothers Band, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

[singonavine71]

Albert Leornes Greene (born April 13, 1946), known professionally as Al Green, is an American singer, songwriter, pastor and record producer best known for recording a series of soul hit singles in the early 1970s, including "Take Me to the River", "Tired of Being Alone", "I'm Still in Love with You", "Love and Happiness", and his signature song, "Let's Stay Together". After his girlfriend died by suicide, Green became an ordained pastor and turned to gospel music. He later returned to secular music.

Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. He was referred to on the museum's site as being "one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music". He has also been referred to as "The Last of the Great Soul Singers". Green is the winner of 11 Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also received the BMI Icon award and is a Kennedy Center Honors recipient. He was included in the Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, ranking at No. 65, as well as its list of the 100 Greatest Singers, at No. 14.

[kickmag]

R.I.P. Tito Jackson

Tito Jackson of The Jackson 5 died Sunday of a heart attack at age 70 in New Mexico. Jackson breaking his father's guitar string was the catalyst that started The Jackson 5. Joe Jackson discovered his son's musical talent after scolding him for secretly playing his instrument. Mr. Jackson purchased Tito his own guitar and convinced him and his other sons, Jackie and Jermaine, to form a musical group. One year later, in 1964, Marlon and Michael joined the band. The Jackson 5 released their first single, Big Boy," in 1968 on Steeltown Records, a local record label. Joe Jackson managed to get his sons a record deal with Motown in 1969, and from there they became teen sensations thanks to hits like "The Love You Save," "ABC," and "I Want You Back." The Jackson 5 traveled the world and performed for such luminaries as the Queen of England. They were the first boy band, and their success produced Jacksonmania, where fans mobbed them wherever they went. The merchandise built around them included posters, coloring books, stickers, and their own Saturday morning cartoon. Tito Jackson did not play guitar on those Motown records, but he started writing songs, and his instrument was heard on recordings after they signed to CBS in 1976. Fans were treated to his guitar playing when The Jackson 5 performed live. Jackson played with his family throughout their changes from The Jackson 5 to simply The Jacksons. They still toured at the time of his death and were seen on social media last week acknowledging a memorial built for Michael in Munich, Germany. 

As The Jacksons, they had hits in the '70s with "Enjoy Yourself," and "Show You The Way To Go" while they were on the Philadelphia International label. The family also had their own variety show at this time. By the late '70s and early '80s, the group released their big single, "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)," and had further hits with "Can You Feel It," "This Place Hotel," and "Lovely One." They continued to release music until their last studio album, 2300 Jackson Street, which came out in 1989. In 1997, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1995, Jackson's three sons, T.J., Taj, and Taryll, released their debut album, Brotherhood, as the group 3T.  They were signed to their uncle Michael's MJJ label and mentored by him. 3T was one of the biggest-selling groups in Europe, and their father Tito recorded a Jackson 5 tribute with them. 

In the early 2000s, Jackson embarked on a solo career and started playing in blues clubs with his band. B.B. King also handpicked Jackson to play in his band. Jackson had a hit record, "Get It Baby," with Big Daddy Kane in 2016 from his debut album, Tito Time.  He released his second solo album, Under Your Spell, in 2021. Jackson had recently moved to Claremore, Oklahoma, and had plans for an entertainment center in the Tulsa Arts District, a festival, and a documentary. 

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🏳️‍🌈Pride Month Day 5: Freddie Mercury🏳️‍🌈

The next artist is Freddie Mercury, who is best known as the lead vocalist and pianist in the rock band Queen. While Mercury never explicitly said what his sexuality was, many speculated that he was bisexual due to his relationships with both men and women. Journalists also speculated on his sexuality based on his theatric and flamboyant stage presence, both as a part of Queen and during his solo career. Part of this flamboyant style was seen in the music video for the band's song "I Want To Break Free," in which Mercury and the other members of the band crossdressed as housewives. Mercury is also considered one of the best vocalists of all time, like during Queen's iconic Live Aid performance in 1985.

Unfortunately, Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987. He continued to record with Queen during this time, but he passed away in 1991 due to complications from the disease. In 1992, a tribute concert was held to honor him and benefited AIDS awareness. The album "Made In Heaven" featured Mercury posthumously in 1995. Mercury was inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Queen in 2001, and his life was turned into a biopic in 2018.

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Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999, was a singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He first gained success and notary with The Impressions during the Civil Rights movement of the late 1950s and 1960s and later as a solo artist. While with the Impressions, he wrote “People Get Ready,” the politically charged song ranked 24 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, receiving numerous other awards. After he left The Impressions in 1970 to start a solo career, Mayfield released several albums, including the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Superfly in 1972. The soundtrack was known for its socially conscious themes, mainly dealing with problems in the inner city surrounding minorities. His music was something that spoke to African Americans at that time.

In 1990, Mayfield was paralyzed from the neck down after lighting equipment fell on him during a live performance. Despite this, he continued his career as a musician. In 1994, he won a Grammy Legend Award and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. He was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Impressions and as a solo artist. He released his final album, New World Order, in 1996. Sadly, he died from complications of type 2 diabetes in 1999 at the age of 57. Mayfield set a precedent for socially conscious music. I can only imagine what kind of music he would write today. Mayfield was also a skilled musician and is respected by his fans and peers for his work.

[kulturegroupie]

Led Zeppelin with Jason Bonham, Zoe Bonham, Joe Perry and Steven Tyler at the 10th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, September 2, 1995.

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Duane Allman (November 17, 1946 – October 29, 1971) was an American rock and blues guitarist and the founder and original leader of the Allman Brothers Band, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. He formed the Allman Brothers Band with his brother Gregg in Jacksonville, Florida in 1969.

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Happy Birthday to Martha Reeves.

Born July 18, 1941, She is the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas, which scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Come and Get These Memories", "Nowhere to Run", "Heat Wave", "Jimmy Mack", and their signature "Dancing in the Street".

From 2005 until 2009, Reeves served as an elected councilwoman in her hometown of Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Reeves at number 151 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

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AC/DC - Intro - "Rock n roll Train" - Restelo - Portugal - 1996

AC/DC - 1996

 Ballbreaker World Tour 1996

AC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm (rhythm guitar) and Angus Young (lead guitar). Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock, and heavy metal, but the band calls it simply "rock and roll".

AC/DC underwent several line-up changes before releasing their debut album, High Voltage (1975). Membership subsequently stabilised around the Young brothers with Bon Scott (lead vocals), Mark Evans (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums). Evans was fired from the band in 1977 and replaced by Cliff Williams, who has since appeared on every album since Powerage (1978). Seven months after the release of the band's breakthrough album Highway to Hell (1979), Scott died of alcohol poisoning and the other members considered disbanding. However, at the request of Scott's parents, they continued together and recruited English singer Brian Johnson as their new frontman. Their first album with Johnson, Back in Black (1980), was dedicated to Scott's memory. It was a widespread success, launching the band to new heights and becoming the second-best-selling album of all time.

The band's eighth studio album, For Those About to Rock (1981), was their first album to reach number one in the United States. Prior to the release of their next album, Flick of the Switch (1983), Rudd left the band and was replaced by Simon Wright, who was himself replaced by Chris Slade six years later. The band experienced a commercial resurgence in the early 1990s with the release of their 12th studio album The Razors Edge (1990); it was their only album to feature Slade, who was replaced by the returning Rudd in 1994. Rudd has since recorded five more albums with the band, starting with Ballbreaker (1995). Their 15th studio album Black Ice was the second-highest-selling album of 2008 and their biggest chart hit since For Those About to Rock, eventually reaching No. 1 worldwide.

The band's line-up remained the same for 20 years until 2014, when Malcolm Young retired due to early-onset dementia (from which he died three years later) and Rudd became involved in legal troubles. Malcolm was replaced by his nephew Stevie Young, who debuted on the album Rock or Bust (2014). On the accompanying tour, previous drummer Chris Slade filled in for Rudd. In 2016, Johnson was advised to stop touring due to worsening hearing loss, and Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose stepped in as the band's frontman for the remainder of that year's dates. Long-time bassist and backing vocalist Williams retired at the end of the Rock or Bust tour in 2016, and the group entered a four-year hiatus. A reunion of the Rock or Bust line-up was announced in September 2020, and the band's 17th studio album Power Up was released two months later.

AC/DC have sold more than 200 million records worldwide, including 75 million albums in the United States, making them the ninth-highest-selling artist in the United States and the 16th-best-selling artist worldwide. Back in Black has sold an estimated 50 million units worldwide, making it the second-best-selling album of all time and the highest-selling album by a band. The album has sold 25 million units in the US, where it is the fourth best-selling album of all time. AC/DC were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. They ranked fourth on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" and were named the seventh "Greatest Heavy Metal Band of All Time" by MTV. In 2004, they ranked No. 72 on the Rolling Stone list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". American record producer Rick Rubin, who wrote an essay on the band for Rolling Stone, called them the "greatest rock and roll band of all time". In 2010, VH1 ranked them No. 23 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".

AC/DC - 1996

Angus Young

Phil Rudd -1996

[krispyweiss]

Seventy-five Candles on E Street as Bruce Springsteen Hits Milestone Birthday

E Street is lit up as Bruce Springsteen turns 75 today.

Born Sept. 23, 1949, in the New Jersey that figures in so many of his albums and songs, Springsteen has showed his mortality the last couple of years with stomach and voice problems that led to canceled shows. But he came back and - as he did in his 50s and 60s - put on rock ‘n’ roll concerts that belie a man of his age despite the E Street Band having the phrase Viagra-takin’ added to its late-show honorific in recent years.

What’s there to say about the man known to the world as the Boss? Yes, he’s made some weak studio recordings, but he is nothing but strong on stage - one of the greatest performers rock music has yet produced.

Always a fan - though one who cooled after Born in the USA arrived - Sound Bites first saw the Boss and the Band at the 1995 Concert for the Hall of Fame in Cleveland where they opened with “Shake, Rattle and Roll;” played with Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Dylan and Chuck Berry; and offered the most-moving rendition of “Darkness on the Edge of Town” the blog has ever heard.

Since then, Springsteen gigs - ESB or otherwise - have been won’t-miss affairs. And though the 2024 show in Ohio had a last-time feel to it, Springsteen also seemed ageless at 74 and Sound Bites hopes to see him a few more times before time does what it does.

9/23/24

[history105rockandrollblog]

Lecture 19: Bruce Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello perform the powerful song “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” written by Springsteen in 1995 and released on his eleventh studio album of the same name. The song is based on the main character in the novel The Grapes of Wrath (1939) by John Steinbeck. Tom Joad was a character who journeyed from Oklahoma to California with his family after they’re driven off their land in the Dust Bowl. Rather than finding the American Dream waiting for them in California, the family encountered poverty, labor strikes, and violence. Joad himself was radicalized and converted into an outlaw activist by the end of the book. This song hauntingly evokes the character’s odyssey and radical politics. Springsteen and Morello performed this song on October 29, 2009, at the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.