Friday Music

Composed by Chip Taylor and originally recorded by Evie Sands this song first charted in 1968 with a version recorded by Merrilee Rush.

It was originally pitched to Connie Francis who declined the offer considering the tune was too risqué for her image.   

It has been covered by countless artists since then  including PP Arnold (backing vocals on the on the first recording), Billie Davis (UK), Liliane Saint-Pierre (Belgium), Bettye Swann (soul), Connie Eaton, Olivia Newton-John and (famously) Juice Newton. 

The Rush recording peaked at the No. 7 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the No. 1 spot in Canada, Australia and New Zealand and No. 4 in the Netherlands.  

Camp St. Michael had a public address system almost identical to the one featured in the television series M*A*S*H*.  Like most everything else from bunks, to tents, and cutlery it was probably military surplus.  Anyway, the summer of 1968 it was featured multiple times a day on the PA system.  It was here that it was permanently seared-into my brain.

Angel of the Morning.....

Friday Music

The Brothers Gibb - Barry, Robin and Maurice - coalesced in popularity during the late 1950s and enjoyed decades of successful musical recording marked notably by the early years and the regrettable disco years.  

Covered by the Bee Gees - Blowin' in the Wind - was composed by Bob Dylan in 1962 and released as a single and on his album The Freewheelin' in 1963. 

Popularly considered a song of protest it figured significantly in my upbringing as we sang it - accompanied by the Salvatorian Brothers on guitar - at daily Mass at Camp St. Michael every summer.   And it was all good.

This tune is ranked number 14 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".   

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind....

Walk Down Memory Lane

 click image to enlarge

I was fishing through files and boxes of stuff over the weekend and stumbled-across this old photo from my childhood.

The year was 1966 and the place was Camp St. Michael.  A summer sojourn for two solid weeks of where I learned to swim, ride a horse, shoot a bow and a rifle, paddle a canoe, receive a healthy dose of Roman Catholicism and more.

That would be yours truly - back row second camper from the left.

Good times!