Friday, May 29, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
Friday, May 22, 2015
Reconnecting With Toto;Indianapolis 500
Tonight is featured the hit song "Africa" by Toto.The band originated in Van Nuys,California of the Greater Los Angeles area in the 1970s and had several top five hits,including our featured track.They are still touring and recording today,having released "Toto XIV" in March 2015.The new album received 4.5 out of 5 stars from stereoboard.com,the British ticket and music news website.Stereoboard described the LP as being masterful,with lyrics rooted in an angry post-9/11 world,where big issues are challenged and hope craved.
"Africa" reflects the band's interest in world music,as well as several other styles,including folk and jazz:
It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had*
The members of Toto started out as session musicians,backing the likes of Seals and Crofts and Sonny and Cher,among others.One of the original band members,Mike Porcaro,died of ALS on 15 March 2015.
The name "Toto" is derived from the Latin phrase "in toto," meaning "all-encompassing," reflecting the many recordings they worked on and styles they have played.*
Keyboardist Steve Porcaro co-wrote the hit song "Human Nature" with Michael Jackson.It was included on Jackson's "Thriller" LP.*
Toto is currently touring in Europe and will join with English band Yes for a North American tour beginning on 7 August.Upcoming dates for Europe:
25 May-Manchester-02 Apollo
26 May-London-Eventim Apollo
28 May-Paris-Zenith de
30 May-Amsterdam-Ziggo Dome
03 June-Copenhagen-Frederiksberg Falconer Salen
07 June-Oslo-Sentrum Scene
10 June-Bremerhaven Stadthaller
11 June-Berlin-Tempodrom*
On Sunday 24 May,the 99th annual Indianapolis 500 will be held.Starting in the first row will be 1.Scott Dixon (NZ) 2.Will Power (AUS) 3.Simon Pagenaud (FRA).Will Power is the reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion.Two women are participating this year,Simona de Silvestro (SWI) and Pippa Mann (UK).The race is expected to be highly competitive,with several previous Indy 500 winners being on the grid,including American Ryan Hunter-Reay,who won last year's race.
"Africa" reflects the band's interest in world music,as well as several other styles,including folk and jazz:
It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had*
The members of Toto started out as session musicians,backing the likes of Seals and Crofts and Sonny and Cher,among others.One of the original band members,Mike Porcaro,died of ALS on 15 March 2015.
The name "Toto" is derived from the Latin phrase "in toto," meaning "all-encompassing," reflecting the many recordings they worked on and styles they have played.*
Keyboardist Steve Porcaro co-wrote the hit song "Human Nature" with Michael Jackson.It was included on Jackson's "Thriller" LP.*
Toto is currently touring in Europe and will join with English band Yes for a North American tour beginning on 7 August.Upcoming dates for Europe:
25 May-Manchester-02 Apollo
26 May-London-Eventim Apollo
28 May-Paris-Zenith de
30 May-Amsterdam-Ziggo Dome
03 June-Copenhagen-Frederiksberg Falconer Salen
07 June-Oslo-Sentrum Scene
10 June-Bremerhaven Stadthaller
11 June-Berlin-Tempodrom*
On Sunday 24 May,the 99th annual Indianapolis 500 will be held.Starting in the first row will be 1.Scott Dixon (NZ) 2.Will Power (AUS) 3.Simon Pagenaud (FRA).Will Power is the reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion.Two women are participating this year,Simona de Silvestro (SWI) and Pippa Mann (UK).The race is expected to be highly competitive,with several previous Indy 500 winners being on the grid,including American Ryan Hunter-Reay,who won last year's race.
Labels:
California,
Europe,
Indycar Series,
Los Angeles,
Michael Jackson,
Toto,
Van Nuys,
Will Power,
world music,
Yes
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Friday, May 15, 2015
Friday, May 8, 2015
Staying In Touch with Crosby,Stills,Nash & Young
Crosby,Stills,Nash and Young were part of the wave of folk rock bands of the 1960s.Indeed,their members came out of earlier folk rock bands:David Crosby from The Byrds;Stephen Stills and Neil Young from Buffalo Springfield;and Graham Nash from The Hollies.Crosby and Stills are Americans;Nash is British;and Neil Young is from Ontario,Canada.Since 1969,they have performed together in various combinations,their strong personalities alternately clashing and blending.Neil Young has always had a vigorous solo career as well.*
They started out as the trio Crosby,Stills and Nash.Neil Young joined them at Woodstock and has been with them off and on since that epic music and arts festival.As of now,it is off after Young bitterly quarreled with Crosby,and the original trio has gone on tour without him.Young said that he loved them,nonetheless.The quartet last performed together in 2013 at the 27th Annual Bridge School Benefit.Their last studio album was "Looking Forward" (1999),which got good reviews.This was preceded by their first album "Deja Vu" (1970);the live LP "Four Way Street" (1971);and "American Dream" (1988).
In 2014,the band released a limited edition box set that was well-received,"CSNY 1974." It consists of 40 previously unreleased high quality live tracks from their iconic 1974 stadium tour.Besides well-known hits such as "Helpless" and "Teach Your Children," there are previously unreleased Neil Young songs "Traces," "Love Art Blues " and two others.These are all on six 180-gram 12" vinyl records in a laser-etched maple LP folio case.Also included are all the tracks on a Pure Audio Blu-Ray disc;digital download code for the tracks;a bonus DVD of the concerts;a coffee table size book of never before seen photos from the tour;and a 7x7 Nash Edition print of the front cover photo signed by Graham Nash and photographer Joel Bernstein.It is available from the CSNY website.*
As for the current tour,it has received high marks so far.Crosby,Stills and Nash performed strong new material in Milwaukee,Wisconsin as well as some old favourites;Crosby and Nash delivered on their classic harmonies;and Stills was spot on with his electric guitar,according to The Milwaukee Journal's Piet Levy.They played for two hours and ten minutes,accompanied by a five piece backing band.That's nothing new,as the late drummer Dallas Taylor and bassist Greg Reeves had played on "Deja Vu."
Tonight I am featuring "Country Girl" from their "Deja Vu" album and their apocalyptic song "Wooden Ships," a live recording from the Bill Graham memorial concert at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco in 1991.
They started out as the trio Crosby,Stills and Nash.Neil Young joined them at Woodstock and has been with them off and on since that epic music and arts festival.As of now,it is off after Young bitterly quarreled with Crosby,and the original trio has gone on tour without him.Young said that he loved them,nonetheless.The quartet last performed together in 2013 at the 27th Annual Bridge School Benefit.Their last studio album was "Looking Forward" (1999),which got good reviews.This was preceded by their first album "Deja Vu" (1970);the live LP "Four Way Street" (1971);and "American Dream" (1988).
In 2014,the band released a limited edition box set that was well-received,"CSNY 1974." It consists of 40 previously unreleased high quality live tracks from their iconic 1974 stadium tour.Besides well-known hits such as "Helpless" and "Teach Your Children," there are previously unreleased Neil Young songs "Traces," "Love Art Blues " and two others.These are all on six 180-gram 12" vinyl records in a laser-etched maple LP folio case.Also included are all the tracks on a Pure Audio Blu-Ray disc;digital download code for the tracks;a bonus DVD of the concerts;a coffee table size book of never before seen photos from the tour;and a 7x7 Nash Edition print of the front cover photo signed by Graham Nash and photographer Joel Bernstein.It is available from the CSNY website.*
As for the current tour,it has received high marks so far.Crosby,Stills and Nash performed strong new material in Milwaukee,Wisconsin as well as some old favourites;Crosby and Nash delivered on their classic harmonies;and Stills was spot on with his electric guitar,according to The Milwaukee Journal's Piet Levy.They played for two hours and ten minutes,accompanied by a five piece backing band.That's nothing new,as the late drummer Dallas Taylor and bassist Greg Reeves had played on "Deja Vu."
Tonight I am featuring "Country Girl" from their "Deja Vu" album and their apocalyptic song "Wooden Ships," a live recording from the Bill Graham memorial concert at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco in 1991.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Friday, May 1, 2015
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