(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 363

Something Old

Our “something old” this edition is the classic cut “Message in a Bottle” by the Brit band the Police. Written by bassist and lead singer Sting, it was the premiere single off the group’s second platter titled Reggatta de Blanc which hit the record racks back in 1979.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the new track titled “Robotixxx 2.0.(Remix)” It was created by the digital creator known as Depressypanda. Based in Plainfield, Connecticut, Depressypanda’s resume includes 70+ music videos. On social media the indie artist briefly commented on the cut saying: “I remixed an older track I [previously] created.”

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” for this edition is the 1970 song “Slow Blues in C'' written by Ten Years After’s Alvin Lee. This dedicated cover is by blues rock act the Kurt Allen Band. Here they perform it live from Uncle Bo’s located in Topeka, Kansas. It features Kurt on guitar and vocals, Gregory Schaberg on drums, and Bill Morlan on bass.

If you’d like to see the band play live in person, you just might be in luck. The group is now on tour. Here are a few of the band’s upcoming tour dates:

January 19 (Fri) The B Bar Omaha NB
January 20 (Sat) Kane Family Farm Tonganoxie KS
Jan 26/27 (Fri, Sat) Miceks Shangrila Columbus NE

Something Blue

Last but not least, our “something blue” this edition is the instrumental track “Rambla Vella Blues” by Spanish writer and piano instructor Olga Xirinacs and musician Xavier Pié. It appears on the pair’s jazz album titled Grills de Mandarina which features a blend of poetry and music. The disc was released in 2010.

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 Will Purcell Photography and/or original owners)