(Note: this series was created elsewhere.)
Something in music: the origin
One night at a 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 scribbled down 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’s about to get hitched, she needs “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” Your provocative penman was immediately inspired. After all, those same terms could be applied to music: “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. And the rest is history…
‘Something’ in Music 366
Something Old
Our “something old” this edition is the classic cut “All Day and All of the Night” first recorded by the Brit band the Kinks and written in 1964 by co-founder Ray Davies. It was released as a single in 1965 and peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Something New
Our “something new” this time is the new digital-only single "Girlstown" written by Buddy Mondlock and Chelse Ewing. It is a song that speaks to a lack of parental responsibility and emotionally recalls Ewing's individual experience as a teenager in a juvenile detention center. It features singer-songwriter and guitarist Buddy Mondlock on acoustic guitar and vocals, and producer Brad Jones on upright double bass, Hammond B-3 organ, piano and sampled cello.
Mondlock spoke of the new release in a recent email saying: “This song is right from Chelsea’s own experience and it’s about her journey too. I sure appreciate her sharing it with me and I’m honored to be a part of bringing it into the light. It seems especially relevant right now with the recent release of the NPR podcast, ‘The Kids of Rutherford County’ about a judge who sent children as young as seven years old to jail. Seems like the way our criminal justice system deals with young people is long overdue for a compassionate overhaul. I love this song and I’m proud to sing it.”
Arrested at the age of 13, Ewing added: “The song, ‘Girlstown,’ for me is the beginning of a reckoning. I have been separated…by the labels that come with being arrested as a youth. Labels like: delinquent, felon and girlstown-girl.”
When the two of them began the writing process, Ewing said she “was just learning to really share what it means to experience the criminal justice system.” She recalled being transported to “Girlstown” where she would remain until she earned a high school diploma. She concludes: “The song ‘Girlstown’ was my beginning of taking back the narrative. I am honored Buddy recorded it. I think it’s just beautiful.”
Something Borrowed
Our “something borrowed” for this edition is the song "I Put A Spell On You" written by Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins in 1956. This thematic 2020 cover version is by American singer June Clivas, Lil Sue and Tony from Lil Sue & The Cowtippers and Slicko and Albert of Howlin' Moon. If you’re interested in seeing what June Clivas can do live and you’re in the Tarzana area, you’re in luck!
Clivas & The Ditty Boys will be performing at the Open Road Americana show at the Maui Sugar Mill on January 24th, 2024 at 9:30 p.m. Los Angeles’ own singer-songwriter and musician Emily Zuzik who will open the show at 8:30 p.m. and the Macat Persico Band will close the concert at 10:30 p.m. Doors open at 8:00 p.m.
Something Blue
Last but not least, our “something blue” this edition is the original blues rock song “How Long” written and recorded live by the Kurt Allen Band at “Camping with the Blues” at the Florida Sand Music Ranch in 2023. The song appears on the 2023 disc titled Live From The Red Shed. 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 and are in Nebraska, you just might be in luck. The group is now on tour. They will be performing on Friday and Saturday, January 26th and 27th, at Miceks Shangrila in Columbus, Nebraska. See the Kurt Allen website for details.
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 Pinterest, Bayline Studios, and/or original owners)