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"Bourée" by Jethro Tull.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: It is 1968 and Jethro Tull's frontman and virtuoso flautist Ian Anderson was living in a London flat. Right under his bedroom lived a music student who frequently played a baroque lute piece on classical guitar. Anderson had been looking for an instrumental tune to add to his concert repertoire. Master guitarist Martin Barre was auditioning for the group and, coincidentally, he could play the piece and had the sheet music. They recorded it in '69 as the B-side to "Fat Man" and it appeared on their "Stand Up" album. It became a staple of Tull's live lineup. Charted in most of Europe but, surprisingly, not in the UK. Covered by Led Zeppelin and by Yngwie Malmsteen. It became the sign-off music for the Armed Forces Network TV in Europe during the 70s. Song? Answer: "Bourée" by Jethro Tull. Originally composed for the lute in the early 1700s, J. S. Bach's "Bourrée in E minor for Lute"
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"I'll Get You" by The Beatles.

OK, girls and boys, more Fabdom: This 1963 Merseybeat classic was one of the very few songs that John and Paul wrote at John' Aunt Mimi's home, where he lived then. The house is located at 251 Menlove Ave., Liverpool and is known as "Mendips", now owned by Yoko Ono. Aunt Mimi disapproved of The Beatles and their music, being quite vocal about it. She is quoted as saying, "the guitar's all right for a hobby, John, but you'll never make a living at it" (!). Most of The Beatles' early songs were written by them at 20 Forthlin Road, Paul's childhood home. Recorded and released in '63 as the B-side to "She Loves You". The opening word of the composition reveals Lewis Carroll's influence on John and foretells one of his most famous solo songs. The chord change at the end of the word "pretend" is D to Am7, not a typical Beatles sequence, borrowed from Joan Baez's "All My Trials". It remains one of M
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"Tuxedo Junction".

OK, girls and boys, back to the 30s: Erskine Hawkins co-wrote the music for this 1939 "jive" classic with Bill Johnson and Julian Dash. Buddy Feyne added lyrics later on at Hawkins' request. First recorded that same year by Hawkins' orchestra, it peaked at #7. Glenn Miller's version topped the charts shortly thereafter. Dedicated to a jazz/blues club where Ensley Ave. meets 19th St. in West Birmingham, AL - a haven for "race music" in the heart of the "Chitlin' Circuit". It became Manhattan Transfer's theme song in '75. Tune? Answer: "Tuxedo Junction". The "Chitlin' Circuit" was a network "of nightclubs and theaters that featured African-American performers and catered especially to African-American audiences. When Jim Crow and segregation were even more prominent in the United States, the (Black) race, freed through emancipation, did not have equal access to public 'White Only' places. The Ch
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"I'll Be Back" by The Beatles.

OK, boys and girls, more Fabdom: This poignant 1964 Lennon composition was the last song on the "A Hard Day's Night" soundtrack in the U.K. but was released in the U.S. on "Beatles '65". John based the chord pattern on Del Shannon's '61 "Runaway". Played on only acoustic guitars, it contains two bridges but no chorus. Genial seamless transition between major and minor chords. Masterfully covered by Sir Cliff Richard and by Shawn Colvin. Song? Answer: "I'll Be Back" by The Beatles. In my humble opinion, some of The Beatles' best harmonies. Now, THAT'S when The Beatles were The Beatles! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJSTBNTac6k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeiGxFYjhiU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdz2kSkF6RE
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"Hey, Pachuco!" by Royal Crown Revue.

OK, girls and boys, more 80s: This Los Angeles-based ensemble formed in 1989 and is widely credited for starting the Swing Revival Movement. Inspired by Louis Prima, a masterful big-band blend of swing and jump blues with a rockabilly inflection. Their biggest hit was inspired by the L.A. Zoot Suit Riots and popularized when they appeared on "The Mask" and "Swingers" playing it. Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough did an unforgettable quickstep to the song, winning Season 5 of "Dancing With The Stars". Group? Song? Answer: "Hey, Pachuco!" by Royal Crown Revue. Some tremendous ensembles followed in their footsteps - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin' Daddies and The Brian Setzer Orchestra, just to name a few. The L.A. Zoot Suit Riots started in '43 at the height of WWII when sailors and Marines stationed in the L.A. area antagonized (or vice versa?) local zoot suit-clad Latino youths who called themselves "pachucos". https://
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"On the Road Again" by Canned Heat.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson penned this '68 release inspired by a Chicago bluesman Floyd Jones' '53 tune of the same name. In turn, based on Tommy Johnson's '28 "Big Road Blues". #16 US, #8 UK. Wilson added an Indian tambura drone for a psychedelic hypnotic effect. He re-tuned his harmonica 1/2 step up on the 6th hole for the song. Covered by Pete Townshend. Part of "The Bucket List" soundtrack ('07). Group? Song? Answer: "On the Road Again" by Canned Heat. Ultra-cool cats! The band took their name from a 1928 Tommy Johnson blues tune. Ardent students of the genre - Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, Bob "The Bear" Hite, Henry "The Sunflower" Vestine, Larry "The Mole" Taylor and Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRKNw477onU
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"Non Dimenticar".

OK, boys and girls, back to the 50s: Originally titled "T'ho Voluto Bene" (I Loved You So Much), this popular romantic Italian ballad was written for the 1951 melodrama film "Anna". The title loosely translates to "Do Not Forget". Music by P.G. Redi, Italian lyrics by Michele Galdieri and English lyrics by Shelley Dobbins. The movie stars Silvana Mangano as Anna but she dubs the actual singing by Mammola "Flo" Sandon. By far, the most popular version was Nat King Cole's, reaching #45 on Billboard in 1958. Memorable rendition by Dean Martin in '62. Song? Answer: "Non Dimenticar". Another favorite of my Dad's, I grew up listening to it on the ol' Bogen hi-fi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WNeok_yHQI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNFh990mGPE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgroEHHsW2A
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