Classic Hits Night with Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band

The Beatles are an endangered species. Only 2 members of the Fab Four survive today. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are the only two members of the band who actively perform their own hits as well as those they made as a member of The Beatles.

After being a Beatles fan for more than 50 years, I finally got to see one of them perform live. Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, consisting of a roster of highly talented musicians entertained an appreciative crowd at the Blaisdell Center Arena in Honolulu on November 8, 2016.

Ringo and his band ground through 25 classic rock and pop hits that spanned the decades of the 1960s to the 80s. Band members Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather (of Toto), Greg Rolie (of Santana & Journey), Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Warren Ham and Greg Bisonnette shared the spotlight with Ringo as they performed individual hits.

Cover songs like "Black Magic Woman," "Hold the Line", "Bang the Drum All Day" and "Kyrie" were one of many audience favorites that for the most part were just about dead on accurate to their original hit records.

Of course no one can deny Ringo, who belted several of his Beatles and solo hits including "Matchbox", "It Don't Come Easy," "What Goes On," and "Boys" to name a few. Audience members sang along with "Yellow Submarine" and appreciated Ringo's two #1 hits, "Photograph" and "You're Sixteen."

The rousing "Back of Boogaloo", "Don't Pass Me By" from The Beatles White Album and Buck Owens' country hit, "Act Naturally" were highly appreciated. Ringo took turns singing his vocal set stage front as well as behind the drum kit on several hits. He is the world's most famous drummer and he did well on the skins covering the hit songs by his touring bandmates.

Second drummer Greg Bisonnette filled in on sets where Ringo was stage front as well as delivering solid sets with guitarists Rundgren, Lukathar and Page. Rolie was extremely competent with the keyboards.

Overall it was a great night for classic rock with every song being an audience favorite.







More Concert Photos from Mel's Flickr Page

RINGO STARR & HIS ALL STAR BAND
November 8, 2016
Concert Set List - Neil S. Blaisdell Center, Honolulu, HI.

1. Matchbox
(Carl Perkins cover / The Beatles) - Ringo on vocals, drums

2. It Don't Come Easy
(Ringo Starr song) - Ringo's Top 10 hit from 1971.

3. What Goes On
(The Beatles cover) - From the Beatles album "Rubber Soul".

4. I Saw the Light
(Todd Rundgren cover) - 1972 Top 40 hit

5. Evil Ways
(Willie Bobo / Santana cover) - Greg Rollie

6. Rosanna
(Toto cover) - 1982 hit

7. Kyrie
(Mr. Mister cover)

8. Bang the Drum All Day
(Utopia cover) - Todd Rundgren

9. Boys
(The Shirelles / The Beatles cover) -Ringo

10. Don't Pass Me By
(The Beatles cover) - Ringo

11. Yellow Submarine
(The Beatles cover) - Ringo

12. Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen
(Santana cover; originally by Fleetwood Mac / Peter Green)

13. You're Sixteen
(Johnny Burnette cover) - Ringo #1 hit 1974

14. Back Off Boogaloo
(Ringo Starr song) - Ringo

15. You Are Mine
(Richard Page cover)

16. Africa
(Toto cover) - 1982 Top 10 hit

17. Oye como va
(Tito Puente / Santana hit cover) - Greg Rollie

18. I Wanna Be Your Man
(The Beatles cover)

19. Love Is the Answer
(Utopia cover / England Dan & John Ford Coley hit) - Todd Rundgren

20. Broken Wings
(Mr. Mister cover)

21. Hold the Line
(Toto cover) - 1978 hit

22. Photograph
(Ringo Starr song / #1 hit in 1973)

23. Act Naturally
(Buck Owens cover / Beatles B Side to "Yesterday")

24. With a Little Help From My Friends
(The Beatles cover)

25. Give Peace a Chance
(Plastic Ono Band cover)

Thanks to Daniel for the ticket.

Review in StarAdvertiser.com

Mel's Weekly Top 20 - July 21, 2016.

Mel's Weekly Top 20
Updated July 21, 2016.

Rank - Song Title - Artist - P.R.

1. Spirits - The Strumbellas - 1
2. Send My Love (To Your New Lover) - Adele - 4
3. Handclap - Fitz & the Tantrums - 2
4. Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes - 5
5. Me Too - Meghan Trainor - 6
6. All We Ever Knew - The Head And The Heart - 7
7. Can't Stop The Feeling - Justin Timberlake - 3
8. Must Be Summertime - Kate Voegele - 10
9. Brazil - Declan McKenna - 9
10. You Bring the Summer - The Monkees - 8
11. Gentleman - Will Jay - 11
12. Radar - AudioDamn! - 12
13. Work From Home - Fifth Harmony - 14
14. So Alive - Goo Goo Dolls - 16
15. Good Girls - Elle King - 17
16. Shell (Find a Better Way) - Gregory Darling - 19
17. Lemonade (featuring Mike Posner) - Adam Friedman - 20
18. Ophelia - The Lumineers - 13
19. Rise - Katy Perry - new
20. Anyone Who Knows Me - Eric Hutchinson - new

Mel's Weekly Top 20 Webpage
http://macpro.freeshell.org/music/WTop20.html

Mel's Internet Universe Music Blog
http://macprohawaii-music.blogspot.com/

Radio M.I.U. - Whatever Goes!
https://8tracks.com/macpro

Video Showcase: Noah and the Whale

One of those songs that I missed a few years ago. From 2013 this is Noah and the Whale with their single "Lifetime". Two years after this came out the band split up.

My favorite songs by Noah and the Whale:

1. Tonight's the Kind of Night
2. There Will Come a Time
3. Lifetime
4. Five Years Time
5. Life Goes On

Noah and the Whale's Video Channel

Mel's Weekly Top 20 - July 6 Update

Mel's Weekly Top 20
Updated of July 6, 2016.

Rank - Song Title - Artist - P.R.

1. Handclap - Fitz & the Tantrums - 1
2. Spirits - The Strumbellas - 2
3. Can't Stop The Feeling - Justin Timberlake - 3
4. Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes - 8
5. Send My Love (To Your New Lover) - Adele - 9
6. Brazil - Declan McKenna - 4
7. Ophelia - The Lumineers - 6
8. Unsteady - X Ambassadors - 5
9. All We Ever Knew - The Head And The Heart - 19
10. You Bring the Summer - The Monkees - 10
11. Me Too - Meghan Trainor - 18
12. Must Be Summertime - Kate Voegele - 17
13. Gentleman - Will Jay - 13
14. Born to the Stars - Marina V - 12
15. Radar - AudioDamn! - 14
16. Fire and the Flood - Vance Joy - 7
17. Work From Home - Fifth Harmony - 20
18. You & Me - The Hunna - 11
19. So Alive - Goo Goo Dolls - new
20. Good Girls - Elle King - new

Mel's Weekly Top 20 Webpage
macpro.freeshell.org/music/WTop20.html

Mel's Internet Universe Music Blog
macprohawaii-music.blogspot.com/

Radio M.I.U. - Whatever Goes!
8tracks.com/macpro

Video of the Week
The Monkees - You Bring the Summer

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

The Beatles’ Apple Corps. & Cirque du Soleil have released this new video of the famous George Harrison song “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.

The video is laid an acoustic arrangement of the Harrison song with most of the original instrumentation and vocals by the other Beatles left out. In 2006, producer George Martin added in a new string section to make this rock tune sound mostly like a light piece of classical music. The track was used as part of Cirque de Soleil's Beatles Las Vegas show and included with the Fab Four's "Love" album.

The end result is a beautiful ethereal piece that rivals Paul McCartney’s “Eleanor Rigby” and other light orchestral works.

The video itself features one of the dancers from Cirque du Soleil which celebrates their 10th year as a Beatles Las Vegas attraction.

The original version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" first appeared on The Beatles "White Album" in 1968. It has been recorded by many other artists since.

Mel's Weekly Top 20 Update

Mel's Weekly Top 20
Updated of June 30, 2016.

Rank - Song Title - Artist - P.R.

1. Handclap - Fitz & the Tantrums - 1
2. Spirits - The Strumbellas - 2
3. Can't Stop The Feeling - Justin Timberlake - 4
4. Brazil - Declan McKenna - 3
5. Unsteady - X Ambassadors - 6
6. Ophelia - The Lumineers - 5
7. Fire and the Flood - Vance Joy - 9
8. Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes - 19
9. Send My Love (To Your New Lover) - Adele - 18
10. You Bring the Summer - The Monkees - 12
11. You & Me - The Hunna - 11
12. Born to the Stars - Marina V - 10
13. Gentleman - Will Jay - 15
14. Radar - AudioDamn! - 16
15. Better Place - Rachel Platten - 7
16. Piece by Piece - Kelly Clarkson - 8
17. Must Be Summertime - Kate Voegele - 20
18. Me Too - Meghan Trainor - new
19. All We Ever Knew - The Head And The Heart - new
20. Work From Home - Fifth Harmony - new


Mel's Weekly Top 20 Webpage
macpro.freeshell.org/music/WTop20.html

Mel's Internet Universe Music Blog
macprohawaii-music.blogspot.com/

Radio M.I.U. on 8Tracks.com
8tracks.com/macpro/mixes/1

_________________________________

Mel's Weekly Top 20
Week of June 20, 2016.

This Week - Song Title - Artist - Last Week

1. Handclap - Fitz & the Tantrums - 1
2. Spirits - The Strumbellas - 3
3. Brazil - Declan McKenna - 4
4. Can't Stop The Feeling - Justin Timberlake - 5
5. Ophelia - The Lumineers - 4
6. Unsteady - X Ambassadors - 8
7. Better Place - Rachel Platten - 9
8. Piece by Piece - Kelly Clarkson - 6
9. Fire and the Flood - Vance Joy - 12
10. Born to the Stars - Marina V - 15
11. You & Me - The Hunna - 14
12. You Bring the Summer - The Monkees - 16
13. Rule the World - Walk Off The Earth - 10
14. New Romantics - Taylor Swift - 7
15. Gentleman - Will Jay - 19
16. Radar - AudioDamn! - 20
17. No - Meghan Trainor - 11
18. Send My Love (To Your New Lover) - Adele - new
19. Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes - new
20. Must Be Summertime - Kate Voegele - new

Mel's Weekly Top 20 Webpage
macpro.freeshell.org/music/WTop20.html

Mel's Internet Universe Music Blog
macprohawaii-music.blogspot.com/

Radio M.I.U. on 8Tracks.com
8tracks.com/macpro/mixes/1

Announcing Radio M.I.U. - Streaming Music Online

Radio M.I.U. Classic Rock Tracks from macpro on 8tracks Radio.

Announcing Radio M.I.U. (short for Radio Mel's Internet Universe) here on this blog. Radio M.I.U. contains various mixes of assorted music including Classic Rock, Disco, Oldies, and more. Check it out online at 8Tracks.com or listen to the embedded link above.

It's Radio M.I.U. Whatever Goes...

Mel's Weekly Top 20 - June 16, 2016 - 6-16-16

Mel's Weekly Top 20
Week of June 13, 2016.

This Week - Song Title - Artist - Last Week

1. Handclap - Fitz & the Tantrums - 1
2. Spirits - The Strumbellas - 3
3. Brazil - Declan McKenna - 4
4. Ophelia - The Lumineers - 2
5. Can't Stop The Feeling - Justin Timberlake - 7
6. Piece by Piece - Kelly Clarkson - 6
7. New Romantics - Taylor Swift - 8
8. Unsteady - X Ambassadors - 11
9. Better Place - Rachel Platten - 14
10. Rule the World - Walk Off The Earth - 5
11. No - Meghan Trainor - 10
12. Fire and the Flood - Vance Joy - 16
13. Electric Love - B√òRNS - 9
14. You & Me - The Hunna - 17
15. Born to the Stars - Marina V - 18
16. You Bring the Summer - The Monkees - 20
17. New Americana - Halsey - 12
18. Hello - Adele - 13
19. Gentlemen - Will Jay - new
20. Radar - AudioDamn! - new

Mel's Weekly Top 20 Webpage
http://macpro.freeshell.org/music/WTop20.html

Mel's Internet Universe Music Blog
http://macprohawaii-music.blogspot.com/

Radio M.I.U. on 8Tracks.com
http://8tracks.com/macpro/mixes/1

Mel's Weekly Top 20 - June 5, 2016.

Resuming chart after more than a year's absence.



Mel's Weekly Top 20
Week of June 5, 2016.

Rank - Song Title - Artist - P.R.

1. Handclap - Fitz & the Tantrums - 1
2. Ophelia - The Lumineers - 3
3. Spirits - The Strumbellas - 4
4. Brazil - Declan McKenna - 5
5. Rule the World - Walk Off The Earth - 2
6. Piece by Piece - Kelly Clarkson - 6
7. Can't Stop The Feeling - Justin Timberlake - 11
8. New Romantics - Taylor Swift - 9
9. Electric Love - BØRNS - 7
10. No - Meghan Trainor - 12
11. Unsteady - X Ambassadors - 13
12. New Americana - Halsey - 8
13. Hello - Adele - 10
14. Better Place - Rachel Platten - 16
15. Looking Up (Radio Edit) - Elton John - 15
16. Fire and the Flood - Vance Joy - 19
17. You & Me - The Hunna - 20
18. Born to the Stars - Marina V - new
19. Adventure of a Lifetime - Coldplay - 14
20. You Bring the Summer - The Monkees - new

Yep, the chart is back.

Crap From The Past Tribute to George Martin

One of my favorite downloadable and streaming podcasts on the internet is really a radio show. It's called CRAP FROM THE PAST and is hosted by Ron "Boogiemonster" Gerber on KFAI radio in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area of Minnesota. The weekly radio show features a smorgasbord of pop and rock music from the 1960s to 1990s with emphasis on obscure and rare tracks from the 1970s and 1980. It is a fun show to listen to.

Occasionally the show will focus of special subjects like "lost 45s", and recently deceased music personalities such as Casey Kasem and most recently producer George Martin.

For this posting I have included a link to the March 11 podcast of CRAP FROM THE PAST which is largely a tribute to George Martin who is often recognized as "the 5th Beatle" since he produced nearly all of the records of The Beatles.

The show is available as a download as well as a stream, as presented below:

PLAYLIST

KARN EVIL 9 - Emerson Lake And Palmer (1973)
IN MY LIFE [mono mix] - Beatles (1965)
HELP [US LP mono version] - Beatles (1965)
YESTERDAY [mono mix] - Beatles (1965)
MAN ON YOUR MIND [previously unreleased mix] - Little River Band (1982/2000)
TAKE IT EASY ON ME [previously unreleased mix] - Little River Band (1982/2000)
A DAY IN THE LIFE [mono mix] - Beatles (1967)
FERRY ACROSS THE MERSEY - Gerry And The Pacemakers (1965)
TAKE IT AWAY - Paul McCartney (1982)
TIN MAN - America (1974)
RAIN - Beatles (1966)
GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE [mono mix] - Beatles (1966)
I FEEL FINE - Beatles (1964)
SHE'S A WOMAN - Beatles (1964)
STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER - Beatles (1967)
PENNY LANE - Beatles (1967)
THE NIGHT OWLS [previously unreleased mix] - Little River Band (1982/2000)

BOSS Radio Is Streaming Online

While it is not exactly the old KHJ "Boss Radio" of old (no live DJs), this radio stream I first found on Apple's iTunes Internet Radio tab is kind of like no other oldies audio stream. Surely, they play much of the same old stuff as other streaming stations.

Boss Radio Online however streams blocks of music of one specific year per hour. So like if you stumble into a block, you may be locked in to say 1961 or 1970. It depends on the time of day you listen to a stream. 

Needless to say, I like Boss Radio Online even without any live DJs. You get the old style jingles such as "And the Hits Just Keep on Coming" along with the same style of bumper music you remember as a kid.

Since this is a streaming station (broadband internet required), unlike the old AM band of yore, there is no static. The music is all original with most tracks presented in full stereo sound. Nice.

Some of the early year webcasts also include music inserts from years prior to the targeted time span (1961 to 1973) presented on Boss Radio.

All you need to listen to Boss Radio Online is a browser pointed to the following URL on your computer or device:

http://backwhenradiowasboss.com/index.html

Boss Radio Online is also available on the iTunes internet radio tab as well as through free downloadable apps for your Android and iOS device. Access to the stream is FREE! A great bargain.

Here is a set list for Year 1961:

Boss Radio 1961-01

Let the Four Winds Blow - Fats Domino

Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles

Hello Mary Lou - Rick Nelson

Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes

Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & the Comets

Mountain's High - Dick & Deedee

Tower of Strength - Gene McDaniels

Take Good Care of My Baby - Bobby Vee

One Track Mind - Bobby Lewis

Bird Dog - The Everly Brothers

Corinna Corinna - Ray Peterson

Heartaches - The Marcels

Spanish Harlem - Ben E. King

Gee Whiz (Looks At His Eyes) - Carla Thomas

I've Told Every Little Star - Linda Scott

Broken Hearted Memories - Sarah Vaughan

Rubber Ball - Bobby Vee

Crying - Roy Orbison

Calendar Girl - Neil Sedaka

Big Man / Santa Catalina - The Four Preps

Travelin' Man - Rick Nelson

Mama Said - The Shirelles

Some Kind of Wonderful - The Drifters

Magnificent Seven - Al Cariola

I will be posting set lists on occasion.