(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 319

Something Old

Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “Love Walks In” written and first recorded by the Sammy Hagar-era American hard rock band Van Halen. This power ballad was the third single off the group’s disc titled 5150 which hit the record racks back in 1986.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the fourth single “Wake Me Up Slowly” by the Los Angeles-based Cambodian and American rock band Dengue Fever. The group roster includes songstress Chhom Nimol, guitarist Zac Holtzman, keyboardist Ethan Holtzman, horn player David Ralicke, percussionist Paul Smith, and bassist Senon Gaius Williams. This is another new single off their new sixth studio album titled Ting Mong.

In an e-mail, Williams spoke of the upcoming release. He stated: “We gave ourselves parameters recording Ting Mong, but we smashed the rules we created for ourselves on past albums. The songs' sole purpose was to let our lead singer Chhom Nimol’s voice soar.”

He concluded: “It was our mood or perhaps the mood of the world that gave us focus on the sublime and the melancholy. We purposely left the frenetic energy and noise to yesterday.” (Keep following this column for a possible review of the new work dropping soon!)

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” for this edition is the song “I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know” written by Al Kooper and first recorded by the group Blood, Sweat & Tears for their premiere platter Child Is Father to the Man which hit the record racks in 1968. This dedicated cover version is by American blues, soul, and rhythm and blues singer and songwriter Whitney Shay. It also includes Laura Chavez on guitar, Jody Bagley on bass, and Tony Econom on drums.

If you’d like to see Shay perform live and are in California, Shay and her band will be performing live at the Monserate Winery in Fallbrook, California on October 20, 2023. The event will also include an appearance by jazz singer and musician Gunhild Carling, from Sweden. Shay will be opening the night with her 5-piece band at 5:00 p.m. Ticket prices run from $30.00 to $75.00. For tickets and additional information check this website.

Something Blue

Last but not least, our “something blue” this time is the single “Social Distancing Blues” by the Action Skulls–Bill Mumy, Vicki Peterson, and John Cowsill. It was written by Mumy and first appeared on the band’s 2020 album A Different World. On social media, the group originally described the disc as “a special collection of songs written by Bill Mumy for these unique days.” It was meant to bring people “bluegrass flavored slices of life in lockdown.” (Ah, the memories…)

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 and/or original owners)