Keener 13

By Bob Berry

I had about an hour drive on I-75 last night, and after selecting a CD for the ride (and playing it at a far too loud volume), came to this conclusion:

It had been too doggone long, since I had played or heard, Marvin Gaye’s “doggone” song, and the other early 60’s classics. Hits like “Stubborn Kind of Fellow”, “Pride and Joy”, “Hitchhike”, “Ain’t That Peculiar”, “You’re A Wonderful One”, Marvin’s first hit duet, “It Takes Two”, with the great Kim Weston, and, yes, the Smokey Robinson written and produced “I’ll Be Doggone”.

Remarkable songs, sometimes over-looked in the rightful appreciation of  “What’s Going On” and on through to  “Sexual Healing”. But take another listen to the early Marvin Gaye “songbook”. From his use of his three-octave range, through the evolution of The Funk Brothers, to working with Motown’s writer/producers Mickey Stevenson, Holland-Dozier-Holland and Smokey; the results that came out of the”Snakepit”, were fabulous!

Conclusion?  ANY Marvin is great Marvin. And maybe better, live. Check out Marvin’s medley on 1964’s “The T.A.M.I. Show”, with Darlene Love and The Blossoms and the “Wrecking Crew” house band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpnf82hD5Ic

Were you DC or Marvel? Archie or Dick Tracy? Or were you really considered off the deep end as a fan of Mad Magazine?

Comic bo0ks were as much a part of growing up as were the DJs we loved. Saving up enough to head to our favorite comic store for the latest issue may have paralleled picking up the then current WKNR Music Guide.

With news that Archie Comics cartoonist, Tom Moore passed away, another wave of nostalgia came over us. We’re told that the Keener Generation lived in what is now being called “The Silver Age” of American comics. For some of us, tastes evolved away from super heroes and in the direction of crime, romance and horror. By the 70s, underground comics were in full bloom, with artists like R. Crumb creating concert posters and even the logo for the famed Detroit music magazine, Creem. Crumb is still remembered for his Fritz the Cat series, which appeared in several magazines between 1965 and 1972.

And who can forget the Sunday funnies? With to significant newspapers in Detroit, how many times did you find yourself buying both on Sunday, just for the funny papers?

by Bob Berry

You probably have read about the passing of songwriter Wayne Carson, who died Monday at the age of 72. Mr. Carson’s songs, included two that proved the old adage “never sell your copyright”.  One of them, co-written with Mark James and Johnny Christopher, was   “Always On My Mind”; a hit for Elvis and for Willie Nelson, and the CMA Song of the Year in both 1982 and 1983.

The other title, “The Letter”, had a Keener connection you may have forgotten. Originally a million-selling #1 smash for The Boxtops in 1967 and a the Top Ten song in 1971 by Joe Cocker;  Keener fans will recall a local group, Ann Arbor’s, The Arbors, who received lots of airplay with their version of “The Letter”, a flip side of another cover, Blood, Sweat and Tears’ “I Can’t Quit Her”.

Here’s a triple play of three distinct versions of one of the great songs in rock and roll, beginning with the amazing harmonies of brothers Fred and Ed Ferran and Scott and Tom Herrick. The Arbors are back on Keener!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8OU8YHyXck

By Bob Berry

Aretha Franklin has proved once again why she is The Queen of Soul.

Check out this short video from Saturday (7/18) night, when ‘Re brought the crowd to it’s feet-and the house down at the Syracuse Jazz Festival. Included in the 90 minute set, was every one of her six breakout Keener classics from 1967, “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)”, “Do Right Woman Do Right Man”, “Respect”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “Chain Of Fools”, and in this video “Baby I Love You”.

Long Live The Queen!

By Bob Berry

Sunday. A favorite day of the week. Usually lazy and slow with an extra cup of coffee. Sometimes with a ridiculous breakfast. Unless, of course, there’s a golf game involved, in which case I’m out the door.

And sadly, over par.

Under any circumstances, there’s one constant: Great tunes. Sometimes, it’s jazz, blues or symphony pops. Or, how about three Keener favorites, beginning with The Rascals’ slow dance/make romance classic!

Here’s a remarkable live performance from Spanky and Our Gang. Her voice goes away, but they finish strong!

And last, but not least, The Monkees, with Mickey on lead vocal of a classic Carole King/Gerry Goffin tune.

by Bob Berry

Or his face, but you do know his music!

Keener congratulations to songwriter Mark James, who will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall on Fame on October 11th. James wrote Elvis Presley’s last Number One song “Suspicious Minds”,  plus Keener classics for BJ Thomas (“Eyes Of A New York Woman”, “Hooked On A Feeling”)  and  “Always on My Mind”, best interpreted by Willie Nelson.

Here are three remarkable performances, of Mark James’ most memorable songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pipuxjMpiaI

Ironically, Mark James’ greatest hits were recorded not in Nashville, but in Memphis, at Chips Moman’s legendary American Sound Studios, the home of more than 100 Top 40 hits from 1967 to 1972.

Joining Mark James in the NSHOF induction will be singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash, Even Stevens (Eddie Rabbbit, Conway Twitty) and Craig Wiseman (Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney).

We vividly remember our first reel to reel tape recorder. It was a Craig 212, complete with external microphone and the wonderful smell of 3M Mylar recording tape for just $34.99.

After listening to the ever more scratchy playback of our LPs and 45s, the quality of a reel to reel, even with all that hiss, was something special. Graduating quickly to a Sony TC-280, we could accommodate 7 inch reels and enjoy a full hour of music, at 3 3/4 inches per second, or if we were feeling particularly indulgent, 30 minutes of ultra high quality audio at  7 1/2 ips.

Dr. Zhivago was the first professionally produced reel to reel tape in our library. We still remember listening to the overture with my David Clark headphones. It felt like we were transported to the studio, in the midst of the MGM Orchestra.

And who could forget how some manufacturers incorporated their technology inside furniture quality cabinetry? Once such item was the Arvin 8648 Solid State Stereo Tape Recorder. It came complete with a demonstration tape, narrated by the famous radio announcer, André Baruch and featured lush tastes of the music of Bobby Byrne and Enoch Light.

By today’s digital standards, reel to reel tape and it’s bargain basement cassette and 8 track versions sound pre-historic. But we’ll never forget the first moments we were transported from vinyl to mylar and got to hear what the studio engineers heard in the days when multi-track recording was still pretty darn cool.

By Bob Berry

We’ve had a sort of informal countdown to the Woodward Dream Cruise going on here at Keener13.com highlighting some cool new cars coming from the Motor City’s Big Three.

There were the Chevy Twins, the Camaro convertible and 2016 Cruze. The Dodge Boys rockin’ the Hemi, with the new “Predator” spot for the 2015 Challenger and Hellcat.

And now, it’s the “Blue Oval’s” turn, as Ford previewed The Apollo Edition 2015 Mustang, in support of the 2015 Oshkosh Airshow . 627 horsepower, 540 pound-feet of torque, Ford Performance supercharger and shifter, sport-tuned suspension, six-piston Brembo brakes and  21-inch performance wheels. This is definitely NOT the 1967 Mustang of the Totem Pole parking lot, listening to Scotty Regan on Keener!

By the way, this is the 8th year Ford has supported the airshow’s youth aviation programs , with a unique, one-of-a-kind vehicle, guaranteed to make you drool. And perhaps own. Click here to open your wallet and bid!

By Bob Berry

Linda Ronstadt is 69 years old today. And I must share a secret.

The two founders of Keener13.com, Steve and Scott, along with yours truly, have been huge fans since we first heard Linda and The Stone Poneys on Keener in the fall of ’67, with their version of Mike Nesmith’s “Different Drum”

We also know that makes us part of  huge fan base, that grew with her successes through the decades, and who wish Linda well as she cofronts the challenges of Parkinson’s Disease. And that’s the crux of this post. Our favorite singer cannot sing, because of those challenges.

And so, others sing, or sang, for her. If you did not see Linda’s long-overdue 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction, check out the presentation video, complete with Glenn Frey’s passionate induction speech.

And then, turn your speakers up a bit, and watch Carrie Underwood, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks (and Glenn singing backup just like the pre-Eagles days) give one of the great performances, honoring one of the great performers.

Happy Birthday, Linda. We Love You

By Bob Berry

The great songwriter Ernie Maresca, who wrote many of Dion DiMucci’s hits, including the #1 smash”Runaround Sue”, has passed. Mr. Maresca, who also had a solo hit in 1962 with “Shout, Shout (Knock Yourself Out)” was 78 and had resided in South Florida.

Ernie and Dion’s music largely pre-dated the Keener years, but their legacy, which also included “The Wanderer”, “Lovers Who Wander” And “Donna The Prima Donna”; is unmistakably part of the soundtrack of the “Keener Generation”.

Which is another way of saying that those beautifully produced street-corner harmonies, the soul-stew of their hometown, The Bronx in New York City, was flat-out GREAT rock and roll music.

R.I.P., Ernie. Thanks to you, and to Dion, for the music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WeuX7eZs3k

By Bob Berry

We’re down to 37 days to the start of the 2015 Woodward Dream Cruise, and the gear heads are gearing up. A week or so ago, it was Chevy’s turn, with the intro of the 2016 Camaro Convertible.

This week, it’s the Dodge Boys (and Girls!) turn.

Check out the extended version of a new ad for the Hemi-powered, 707 horsepower, window-rattlin’, tire-smokin’, ground-poundin’ Dodge Hellcat and Challenger. With a Viper thrown in for good measure!

Meet you on the corner of 10 Mile and Woodward. I’ll drive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCxehjcYwlc

And by the way.. If you’re feeling nostalgic for a Keener Dodge Boys memory from the 60s, you’ll love this classic TV commercial for the 1967 Coronet.

A classic WKNR Music Guide from June of 1967. Keener participated in 7up’s national Wet and Wild sweepstakes (how bout the “mink shrugs” prizes?) Sgt. Pepper was white hot that summer, spending 15 weeks at the top of the Billboard LP charts. The Monkees were at the height of their popularity, so much so that an LP that Davy Jones had cut as a solo artists in 1965 had an American release two years later and found it’s way into the survey. And take a look at the top 13 for that week. Lots of enduring faves but a few tunes we don’t hear too often, “Together” by the Intruders, “You Gave Me Something” by the Fantastic Four and this Detroit produced gem from J.J. Barnes.