(Note: this series was originally published elsewhere.)
Something in music: origin
One evening at a hot, trendy L.A. nightclub on a rare solo outing, yours truly found himself standing alone at the bar preparing to review the upcoming act. Before he had taken more than a few notes, however, he was bookended by a pair of vivacious vixens who insisted on engaging your rockin’ writer in cozy conversation. Strangely, the subject of “marriage” arose.
One of the young ladies noted that when a gal is about to get hitched, she needs “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” Your provocative penman was immediately inspired. After all, those very same terms could be applied to music too: “Something old” or classic, “something new” or recently released, “something borrowed”, a cover, and “something blue”, a blues song or a song with “blue” in the title. The rest is history.
‘Something’ in Music 286
Something Old
Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “Couldn’t Stand The Weather” written by American guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. He recorded it with his blues rock band Double Trouble. It was the title track off the album of the same name which hit the record racks in 1984.
Something New
Our “something new” this time is the new song “Real Gone” which was written and recorded by the Texas-based blues-rock singer and guitarist Ally Venable. It’s the title track off her new disc Real Gone. If you like this cut and would like to hear Venable perform live; you’re in luck. She is currently on tour. Here are some remaining tour dates:
June 11 (Sun) - Charleston SC@Charleston Pour House
June 13 (Tue) - Nashville TN@3rd & Lindsley
June 14 (Wed) - Henderson KY@WC Handy Blues & Barbeque Festival
June 15 (Thur) - Columbus OH@Natalie's Grandview Music Hall & Kitchen
June 16 (Fri) - South Park PA@South Park Amphitheatre
June 17 (Sat) - Fort Wayne IN@Barbeque Ribfest
June 20 (Tue) - Evanston IL@Evanston SPACE
June 21 (Wed) - St. Louis MO@Old Rock House
June 22 (Thur) - Cincinnati OH@Ludlow's
June 23 (Fri) - Grand Rapids MI@Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
June 24 (Sat) - Rochester Hills MI@ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
June 25 (Sun) - Huber Heights OH@Rose Music Center At The Heights
June 28 (Wed) - Annapolis MD@Rams Head On Stage
June 29-July 2 - Scranton PA@The Peach Music Festival
Something Borrowed
Our “something borrowed” this edition is the classic song “In My Life” recorded by the Brit band the Beatles and primarily written by John Lennon. It originally appeared on their 1965 platter Rubber Soul. This acoustic version is from the YouTube series Toilet Tunes hosted by Minneapolis based singer-songwriter and guitarist Sarah Morris.
This episode, from August 5th, 2022, features Morris, on guitar and vocals in a duet with her special guest performer Andy Ulseth, also on guitar and vocals. She spoke of the episode on social media saying:
“Andy joined the songwriter group I write with about a year or so ago and quickly became a favorite! Someone whose songs make me go: ‘Gah! Why are you so good!?!’ on the regular.”
She added: “Andy…released [the] album, How We’ve Changed and my oh my it is gorgeous. When I learned he was also planning on recording a live album…I thought - Ah! This is my chance to see if he will sing with me in my bathroom!”
Morris concluded: “And you know what? He would! He did! He brought in this perfect song by some band from the UK and what a treat it was for me, and now, hopefully for you! I hope you enjoy!”
Something Blue
Finally, our “something blue” this edition is the blues bit “Preaching The Blues” written by American Delta blues singer and guitarist Son House. The song was originally recorded in 1930. It was more recently included on his platter titled Father of Folk Blues which hit the record racks in 1965.
Did we mention your favorite “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”? If not, let us know. Don’t forget to send us your bride photos too!
(Images courtesy of Rock n Roll Bride)