What are you listening to?

Canadian singer Myles Goodwin of the band "April Wine" died a few days ago. His cause of death is "unclear" according to authorities.
Nova Scotia musician Myles Goodwyn, who stepped down earlier this year as the singer of April Wine, died Sunday.

The 75-year-old's death was confirmed by his publicist, Eric Alper.

The cause of death is unclear.
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One of April Wine's biggest hits was a brilliant song called "Say Hello".


I won't go livin' in the past
But I believe that love can last
That you'd always remain
After all, we're still the same

Take me high, take me high
Say hello
Take me high, take me high
Say hello, say hello, say hello

Let's go out and paint the town
And we could turn the world around
If you say you agree
Yeah, well that's the way that it'll be

Take me high, take me high
Say hello
Take me high, take me high
Say hello, say hello, say hello

What will be they say will be
But I'm for you and you're for me
Evolution insane
And we go on and play the game

Take me high, take me high
Say hello
Take me high, take me high
Say hello, say hello, say hello

R.I.P. Myles
 
43 years ago this week, on Dec 8th, 1980, John Lennon was fatally shot outside the Dakota Apartments where he lived in New York City.

There have been many well-known musical tributes to his life and legacy - most notably from George Harrison with "All This Years Ago"in 1981, and Elton John's "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" in 1982.

One this anniversary of his death, I'd like to highlight a couple lesser known songs which are personal favourites of mine.

The first tribute comes from Bob Dylan, from his album "Tempest", recorded in 2012. It's a beautiful, slow moving ballad, that includes lines at the end from a poem by William Blake.


Lyrics...
Doctor, doctor tell me the time of day
Another bottle's empty, another penny spent
He turned around and he slowly walked away
They shot him in the back and down he went

Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

From the Liverpool docks to the red-light Hamburg streets
Down in the quarry with the Quarry men
Playing to the big crowds, playing to the cheap seats
Another day in the life on your way to your journey's end

Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

Sailin' through the trade winds bound for the south
Rags on your back just like any other slave
They tied your hands and they clamped your mouth
Wasn't no way out of that deep dark cave

Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

I heard the news today, oh boy
They hauled your ship up on the shore
Now the city gone dark, there is no more joy
They tore the heart right out and cut him to the core

Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

Put on your bags and get 'em packed
Leave right now, you won't be far from wrong
The sooner you go the quicker you'll be back
You've been cooped up on an island far too long

Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

Slow down you're moving way too fast
Come together right now over me
Your bones are weary, you're about to breathe your last
Lord, you know how hard that it can be

Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

Roll on, John, roll through the rain and snow
Take the right-hand road and go where the buffalo roam
They'll trap you in an ambush before you know
Too late now to sail back home

Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John

Tyger, tyger burning bright
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
In the forests of the night
Cover 'em over and let him sleep

Shine your light
Movin' on
You burned so bright
Roll on, John
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The second tribute comes from Paul Simon, off his "Hearts and Bones" album, recorded in 1983. The title begins with a reference to a 1950's rhythm and blues singer Johnny Ace, but includes a verse honouring John Lennon at the end.

Point of interest - the first time the song was performed live was during the Simon and Garfunkel reunion Concert in Central Park in 1981, where at around the 3 and a half minute mark, a distressed fan rushes onto the stage towards Paul Simon yelling "I gotta talk to you, I gotta talk to you." You can tell he was shaken by the unexpected intrusion, but goes on to finish the song like a true professional.


Lyrics...
I was reading a magazine
And thinking of a rock and roll song
The year was 1954
And I hadn't been playing that long
When a man came on the radio
And this is what he said
He said, "I hate to break it to his fans
But Johnny Ace is dead"

Well, I really wasn't
Such a Johnny Ace fan
But I felt bad all the same
So I sent away for his photograph
And I waited 'til it came
It came all the way from Texas
With a sad and simple face
And they signed it on the bottom
From the late great Johnny Ace

It was the year of the Beatles
It was the year of the Stones
It was 1964
I was living in London
With the girl from the summer before

It was the year of the Beatles
It was the year of the Stones
A year after J.F.K.
We were staying up all night
And giving the days away

And the music was flowing amazing
And blowing my way

On a cold December evening
I was walking through the Christmastide
When a stranger came up and asked me
If I'd heard John Lennon died
And the two of us went to this bar
And we stayed to close the place
And every song we played was
For the late great Johnny Ace
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Forty years ago this month, in December 1983, Van Halen released their massive hit single "Jump" (Jeezo...has it been forty years already?!).
Over four minutes of pure pop energy, the synth-heavy tune--released in December 1983--catapulted Van Halen to the top of the charts to earn the band's first and only No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 25, 1984, locking down on the top spot for five weeks.
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(Rhino Records article)

I get up
And nothing gets me down
You got it tough
I've seen the toughest all around

And I know
Baby, just how you feel
You've got to roll
With the punches to get to what's real

Oh can't you see me standing here
I've got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen
Oh can't you see what I mean?

Might as well jump. Jump!
Might as well jump
Go ahead, jump. Jump!
Go ahead and jump

Ah-oh, hey you! Who said that?
Baby, how you been?
You say you don't know
You won't know until you begin

So can't you see me standing here
I've got my back against the record machine
I ain't the worst that you've seen
Oh can't you see what I mean?

Might as well jump. Jump!
Go ahead and jump
Might as well jump. Jump!
Go ahead and jump
Jump!

Might as well jump. Jump!
Go ahead and jump
Get it and jump. Jump!
Go ahead and jump

Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!
 
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