About two years ago I checked out "Pacific Ocean Blue" by Dennis Wilson and brought it home from the library. I really never gave it a proper listen until now and boy have I been missing out on some very lovely, amazingly painful beauty.

The All Music website writes: "Dennis could sing like angel, but an earthbound one who lost his wings yet never lost his love of the spiritual and romantic in the world."

Highlights from this underrated masterpiece include: "Riversong," "It's Not Too Late," "Dreamer," "Friday Night" and "He's A Bum"...

Dennis Wilson (who looked much older than his actual age) lived a hard life and died way too young. Often he was overshadowed by his brother Brian (considered the genius behind the Beach Boys) but after hearing this 2 disc set I have to ask myself why Dennis hasn't gotten more of the attention he deserves...this is heady stuff!!


more on this later!!

As you probably already know by now the lovely and talented singer Lena Horne passed away yesterday at the age of 92. She had an amazing voice and did incredible justice to one of my favorite songs of all time, "In Love in Vain." (It appears on the Capitol Sings Jerome Kern collection "The Song is You.")

She gave the song all the passion and frustration and loneliness that moves its spirit and I've never, ever heard anyone else sing it better. You will be missed Ms. Horne!!

One of my favorite oldies of all time is "Elenore" by the Turtles. Released in September of 1968, the song (a satire on love songs, specifically their own hit "Happy Together") had some of the quirkiest rhymes in pop music history and was meant to be a joke. No matter what the group's original intentions were nothing could keep this from being a cute, infectious frothy cup of bliss that never fails to put a smile on my face...I love it!


About the song band member Howard Kaylan once said:

"Elenore was a parody of 'Happy Together.' It was never intended to be a straight-forward song. It was meant as an anti-love letter to White Whale, who were constantly on our backs to bring them another "Happy Together." So I gave them a very skewed version. Not only with the chords changed, but with all these bizarre words. It was my feeling that they would listen to how strange and stupid the song was and leave us alone. But they didn't get the joke. They thought it sounded good. Truthfully, though, the production on 'Elenore' WAS so damn good. Lyrically or not, the sound of the thing was so positive that it worked. It certainly surprised me."^[4]

Take a look at the lyrics:


You got a thing about you
I just can't live without you
I really want you, Elenore, near me
Your looks intoxicate me
Even though your folks hate me
There's no one like you, Elenore, really

[Chorus:]
Elenore, gee I think you're swell
And you really do me well
You're my pride and joy, et cetera
Elenore, can I take the time
To ask you to speak your mind
Tell me that you love me better

I really think you're groovy
Let's go out to a movie
What do you say, now, Elenore, can we?
They'll turn the lights way down low
Maybe we won't watch the show
I think I love you, Elenore, love me

[Chorus:]
Elenore, gee I think you're swell
And you really do me well
You're my pride and joy, et cetera
Elenore, can I take the time
To ask you to speak your mind
Tell me that you love me better

Elenore, gee I think you're swell ah-hah
Elenore, gee I think you're swell ah-hah
Hah

Clocking in at almost seven and a half minutes, "The Cedar Room" is very mellow and sad and so ethereal I can almost feel myself leaving my body and traveling somewhere far far away...songs like this are why I love music so much!

The other day I came across a copy of The Cure's album "Kiss me Kiss Me Kiss Me" and it wasn't "Just like Heaven" that jumped out at me but "Why Can't I Be You?"

There have been a few times in our lives (maybe?) when we've fallen in love and we're not sure whether we want to be with that person or we want to be that person. That's what "Why Can't I Be You?" makes me think of...about the times in my life I've liked someone so much I wasn't sure whether it was admiration or being in love...or maybe a little bit of both...

I wonder if that sounds as creepy as I worry it does. I hope not!