(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 334

Something Old

Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “Patience” written and recorded by the American rock group Guns N’ Roses. The song was released as a single back in 1989 and featured on their second studio platter G N’ R Lies. It was recorded in just one session.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the new official lyric video for the song “Heavens To Betsy” written and recorded by American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ted Wulfers. In a recent e-communique the Los Angeles, California-based entertainer spoke of the project. He said:

“Since I first wrote the song in 2007, it has been one of my most requested fan favorites. I recorded it for my Lucky No. 7 album and released it in 2012. It has been licensed for a few upcoming films and I always enjoy playing it live because the song is a different experience every time.”

Wulfers added: “The music video stars Noëlle Arora and yours truly and is mainly from footage I filmed on location in Germany at Hohenzollern Castle...I wrote the song in a New York hotel room on my Gibson J-45... I hope you enjoy the video and may it take you on just enough of a trip or adventure to take away your worries for a few minutes.”

It features Wulfers (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussion, and ukulele); Aron Topielski (bass); Dave Raven (drums); Aaron Weistrop (electric guitar); Carl Byron (piano, Hammond organ, and accordion); Chris Lawrence (pedal steel); Matthew Baumann (tambourine); and Claire Holley, Shawn Davis, Nick Randolph, Mark Lonsway, Dave Carducci, and Mark Cantwil (backing vocals).

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” for this edition is the 1975 song “Dream Weaver” originally written and recorded by the late American musician and composer Gary Wright. This live, stripped-down cover is by American singer, musician, and host of the YouTube series “Toilet Tunes.” Morris said: “'Toilet Tunes'…[is] where I Invite musicians to sing an under-rehearsed cover song of their choosing in my big green bathroom. Airing most Fridays at Noon...”

In this episode, her special musical guest is American singer and multi-instrumentalist Ben Cook-Feltz. Morris spoke of him, the cover, and the episode online. She said:

“He’s shown up at least once a year since 2016 all ‘I’ve got a keyboard, let’s play in your bathroom’. Each time I sing with Ben I feel a little like a kid that gets to have the best time in the sandbox that day, and I’m real thankful for that.” She also spoke about his album Trucks.

She commented: “It’s phenomenal, and I’m excited for you to get your ears on it. In this episode - Ben tells us a little bit about the album, shows off a cool hat, turns down one of my merch ideas, and tells us about some really good things to get our ears on...And! Oh! That’s WRIGHT! We sing a song!"

Morris concludes: "[It's] a song that will probably be stuck in your head, and neither Ben nor I, feel any bit bad about that.” If you would like to see Morris perform live, you’re in luck! She’s still touring the US as this goes to press! Check her website for details.

Something Blue

Finally, our “something blue” in this edition is the song “Turtle Blues (Live).” It was written and recorded by the Serbian blues singer, songwriter, and pianist known as Katarina Pejak. The song is featured on her 2019 album “Blues Caravan 2019.” Pejak was also one of the performers in the Blues Caravan 2019 tour, which consisted of more than 60 shows across Europe and also featured American blues rock guitarist, and singer-songwriter Ally Venable, and Finnish blues and blues rock singer-songwriter and musician Ina Forsman.

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)