(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 296

Something Old

Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “Crosstown Traffic” originally recorded by the American act the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The song was written by frontman, guitarist, and songwriter Jimi Hendrix. It first appeared on the group’s third platter, Electric Ladyland, which dropped back in 1968.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the new song “Pelican” by the American singer-songwriter Karyn Oliver. According to a recent e-communique, this is the Greensboro, North Carolina-based Americana artist’s “third and final single” from her upcoming new release Cherchez La Femme which drops in October. The single was released via various streaming platforms on July 8th, her late sister's birthday.

Oliver said that this is a song about “grief and [a] celebration of life…I wrote for my late sister. Some cultures believe that birds carry the souls of the departed. This song is just a tiny slice of all the things my sister was, and a celebration of her. It’s a party. She liked a good party.”

Oliver leads the way on acoustic guitar and vocals. She is accompanied by Ann Klein on acoustic guitar, Carolann Solebello on bass, Cheryl Prashker on drums and percussion, and producer Katherine Etzel on backing vocals and percussion. The track also includes Julie Drombosky on trombone, Minerva Johnson on trumpet, and Alison Scola on clarinet.

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” this edition is the 1977 ballad “How Deep is Your Love” written by the group the Bee Gees. This cover version is by the Los Angeles, California-based American indie pop duo known as The Bird and The Bee. The performing pair consists of American singer, songwriter, and musician Inara George, a.k.a. "the bird”, and multi-instrumentalist and producer Greg Kustin, a.k.a. “the bee.” The track originally appeared on their album Please Clap Your Hands which dropped in 2010.

Something Blue

Finally, our “something blue” this edition is the up-tempo 12-bar blues bit titled “Shake Your Moneymaker” written and first recorded by American singer-songwriter and blues guitarist Elmore James. It was recorded and originally released back in 1961. Today the song is considered to be one of his most well-known pieces.

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)