‘Something’ in Music 74

Something in music: origin

One evening at a hot, trendy L.A. night club 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 Old

“Something old” this time is the classic cut “Maggie May” by Brit singer Rod Stewart. The song was co-written by Stewart and Martin Quittenton. The song originally appeared on Stewart’s platter Every Picture Tells a Story which dropped back in 1971. It went to number one in the US, the UK, Australia, and Canada.

Something New

Our “something new” this edition is the new song “Hard Times” by American singer-songwriter and musician Peggy James. According to a recent email, this noteworthy track is a “contemporary anthem” that holds “a message of hope with lyrics that are more unifying and less partisan.” This song is a digital-only bonus track to her recently released, new album Paint Still Wet.

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” this edition is “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl).” This 1972 song was first recorded by the American pop rock band Looking Glass. It was written by band member Elliot Luriev for their self-titled premiere platter. This clever cover is by American singer-songwriter Juli Crockett. Crockett said this adaptation is “a little minimalist dirge of Brandy created for the series ‘Library Girl Presents: I'd Really Love To See You Tonight’.”

Something blue

Our “something blue” this time is the song "Blue Skies” by the American art rock band MX-80 Sound. The song is the lead-in for their 2015 album titled So Funny. Rich Stim ((vocals, guitar, and sax) wrote the lyrics although the band’s creative process is said to be “communal.” (Your rockin’ reviewer first wrote about them in 1981.)

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 sexy or funny bride photos too!

(Images courtesy of original owners)