Better Things On The Way

Here’s wishing you the bluest sky and hoping something better comes tomorrow. Hoping all the verses rhyme and the very best of choruses to follow all the doubt and sadness; I know that better things are on the way... (The Kinks - Better Things)

I've recently read some exciting musical news:


Ray Davies has recently recorded some Kinks classics with various artists including Lucinda Williams, Alex Chilton (of Box Tops and Big Star fame), Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. Ray and Bruce recorded Better Things from The Kinks great, under-rated 1982 album Give the People What They Want. According to raydavies.info the albums will be finished in the next few months and will be released late this year or early next.

In other Springsteen news, I've read that the Darkness on the Edge of Town Box Set may be released sometime between "June and December" of this year. One of my favorite blogs, Blogness on the Dark Side of Town recently ran an interesting poll on the subject.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have just announced on their website the upcoming release of a new CD - Mojo. In addition they have announced a major North American Tour this summer. The tour will include a stop at one my favorite venues, Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH and The Drive-By Truckers will be the opening act for that particular show.

Who Were Those Guys?

The exodus is here; the happy ones are near; Let's get together before we get much older... (The Who - Baba O'Riley)

When I first heard that The Who had been selected to play the Superbowl halftime show I was a bit nervous. I thought that they might not be able to pull it off and stumble in front of over a hundred million television viewers. The halftime show has become a must play for the elite elder statesmen of rock; The Rolling Stones, U2, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and Paul McCartney. The Who certainly were an elite band, but with only one album's worth of material released since 1982 (almost 30 years) and with only 2 of the original 4 band members still living, I think it is fair to say they are passed their prime. However with all that said, I believe The Who pulled it off!

Although the song choices were predictable (I guessed their set list before I heard any news), I was pleasantly suprised at Roger Daltrey's still powerful vocals and Pete Townshend's stage presence. I thought both looked great for men in their mid-60's. Also, late great drummer Keith Moon could never be replaced, but Ringo Starr's son Zac Starkey is the perfect drummer for the band (much better than Kenny Jones who played drums immediately after Moon's death). Starkey adds the punch and energy. Additionally the stage was awesome.

Sunny on a Winters Day

Sunny, yesterday my life was filled with rain; Sunny, you smiled at me and really eased the pain; The dark days are gone, and the bright days are here my Sunny one shines so sincere... (Bobby Hebb - Sunny)

The great song Sunny was a hit for Bobby Hebb in 1966. According to Wikipedia the song was written after 2 major event in Hebb's life, Hebb's older brother was killed in a knife fight outside a nightclub in their hometown of Nashville and after John F. Kennedy's murder. The song is one of the most covered songs of all times.

Another cover of the song has just been released. After last years great self-titled solo album Rhett Miller, Sunny by Rhett Miller is now available at the Old 97's.