(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 284

Something Old

Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “Stone Cold” written and recorded by the Brit-American rock group named Rainbow. The song is off the act’s album Straight Between the Eyes which hit the record racks in 1982. The single peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the new song “Life #9.” It was recorded by American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Cindy Alexander. The Los Angeles, California-based performer co-wrote the song with Paul Trudeau. The single features Alexander on vocals, David Levita on guitars, Zac Rae on keys, Thomas Lang on drums, producer Paul Bushnell on bass, and Bernie Barlow on back-up vocals. The song will be included on her upcoming new album tentatively titled Messy.

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” this time is the song “Give Me One Reason” which was written by American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman who included the song on her 1995 album, New Beginning. This jazzy cover was recorded by American jazz singer and songwriter Halie Loren. She included her adaptation on her 2010 release titled After Dark.

Something Blue

Last but not least, our “something blue” this time is the song "Better Off With the Blues” recorded by the Los Angeles, California-based blues band Toni Dodd & Southbound Blues. The song was co-written by Eric Davis, Phil Gates, and Dodd. The song appears on their 2012 album Too Much Car for the Road. The band roster includes Eddie Ray Smith on bass, Ernie G. Platero on guitar, Joe Kolacheck on electric guitar and Dodd on lead vocals.

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)