Breaks, Lucky and Otherwise

Weird Weather

Having lived in the midwest virtually my entire life, I know
all too well how harsh February weather can get.




For that reason, I'm really wary about the stretch of warm, pleasant weather we've
been having here in the Bluffs lately. I can't help feeling that Mother Nature is preparing a nasty sucker punch of snow and ice.

On the other hand, it does present an opportunity: I turn 64 on Saturday, and there's
a reasonable chance that will also be the high temperature for the day here. If that should happen, you can expect a mention of the coincidence here...

"Has anyone ever told you you have some weird obsessions?"

It occasionally pops up in casual conversation, yes...

SMDH

My beloved Kansas City Royals announced yesterday that LHP Brian Flynn would be lost to the team for at least eight weeks (and most likely longer, since he's going to miss ALL of spring training).

What happened? He fell through 
the roof of his barn. I kid you not.

"Wow. That seems...highly improbable."

And yet it happened...as omens go, this one seems to point in an obvious direction...

Happy Birthday!

On February 15, 1820 Susan Brownell Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts.

Along with her lifelong friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Anthony became a powerful voice for social change, including women's suffrage as well as the abolition of slavery.
An eloquent writer and speaker, during her heyday she would give
up to 100 public speeches a year on behalf of the various causes in which she believed.


And, believing as she did in liberty and equality, of course Anthony was a Republican.

How Goes "The Resistance"?

From the insightful pen of Michael Ramirez, whose editorial cartoons you should read often, as I do.

Until Next Time...

One of the most interesting things about popular music to me is the role serendipity plays in the making of hit records. Somehow, despite all the careful planning and effort that goes into making music, it is often the spontaneous, unplanned moments that make the magic.

In early 1961 The Marcels, a Pittsburgh-based doo-wop group, were in New York recording what would be their debut album. As often happened during recording sessions in those days, the group decided to record a couple of popular standards to fill out the album. One member of the group was familiar with a song suggested by their producer Stu Phillips, and quickly taught it to the rest of the group.

Original 1961 45 rpm single

On February 15, 1961 the group recorded the popular Rodgers & Hart ballad "Blue Moon," putting their own doo-wop spin on it.
It was a hit, spending three weeks
at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart that April, the only chart-topper in the group's career.

The song sold over a million copies and was awarded a gold record by RIAA. It was included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll list,
and was the major factor affecting The Marcels being inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.

Today's send-off is the original 1961 monaural recording, from the group's YouTube channel. Enjoy...