Josh's Juke Box: 'Magic to Do' and 'Corner of the Sky''

'pippin' is a favorite broadway show of mine. here are two of the opening songs performed by ben vereen and....written by stephen schwartz it is a pleasant musical romp thru the middle ages.

Josh's Jukebox: ABBA

the song of the day is 'the songs of the day' abba remix

Kate the Hero

yesterday kate was a hero...saving richard branson's mom when that fire struck his island home. here's to you kate.

from the ap

" Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet helped rescue Richard Branson's elderly mother from a fire that destroyed his Caribbean home.

The Virgin Group boss said in his blog that he wanted to offer "many thanks to Kate Winslet for helping to carry my 90 year (old) mum out of the main house to safety." He joked that Winslet "was wondering when a director was going to shout 'CUT!'

In a separate statement Tuesday, Branson praised Winslet's two children, 10-year-old Mia and 7-year-old Joe, who were also staying in the house when it caught fire. He called them "two of the bravest kids I've ever come across."

and here's a moment from 'romance and cigarettes'

"Do You Love Me Like You Kiss Me"

Song of the Day: 'Don't Give Up'

a musical moment with petula clark

'don't give up' the extended version 

Josh's Juke Box: 'Sunset Boulevard'

hugh jackman is a grade A showman

Song of the Day: 'Don't Sleep in the Subway'

you probably figured out by now that i love pet.


extended version

the original version live

Song of the Day: 'Elusive Buttertfly''

'elusive butterfly' had a haunting quality about it when bob lind released it in  1966. it's been covered by any number of artists each one adding to it well. it's one of those standards that will remain popular for years to come. simply put it is a 'beautiful' song where melody and lyric are perfectly joined together.

petula clark added her own 'naturalness' to it with her cover. pet always had the ability to make her cover stand on it's own alongside the original if not rising above it. in this case her cover surpassed the original by miles.

the nicest surprise came a decade ago when jane olivor covered it. her voice and the arrangement recaptured the 'haunting' feeling it had seemingly lost over the years. thank you jane. she made the butterfly elusive again.

Song of the Day: 'Tell Him'

Song of the Day: 'Ode to Billy Joe'

Song of the Day: 'Heart of Glass'

blondie's 'heart of glass' is classic

Song of the Day: Josh Groban's 'Hidden Away' from ''Illuminations''

i just love josh's voice. i've often said if i believed in god he has given his voice to josh. 'illuminations', released this week, is quite beautiful to say the least.

Song of the Day: 'On the Path of Glory'

'on the path of glory' recorded by petula clark and harry belafonte caused quite a stir when the duo performed it on pet's tv special in 1968. while performing petula dared touch harry's arm. the network execs went nuts. a white woman touching a 'negro'? oh lord that was too much for the lily white cowards of the day. eventually brains won out and the anti-war song written by petula was performed and seen as intended. one would think we might have come far from this mentality but with two wars raging and the 'birthers' front and center i sadly believe we have not.

as originally performed live

as recorded by pet on her 'petula clark: these are my songs'" cd

Song of the Day: 'If You Could Read My Mind''

written and originally recorded by gordon lightfoot was a damn near oerfect song

but streisand put a twist on it and sang it from the woman's perspective. she did a damn good job. but the best was yet to come.

and the best came when viola wells created the monster dance version that is in constant replay in the collective ears of a generation

Song of the Day: 'Eternally'

'eternally' was written by charlie chaplin for the film 'limelight' and was recorded by petula clark at his request as she had already had a hit recording with his 'love this is my song' from his film 'a countess of hong kong'.

'Limelight' is a 1952 comedy-drama film written, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin, co-starring Claire Bloom, with an appearance by Buster Keaton.  it's film score was composed by Chaplin as well as this theme song.

The film was released with much scandal, as it was while touring to support the film that Chaplin was refused re-admittance to the United States, which was in its intolerant McCarthyist phase. The film was subsequently passed over by many theaters. In 1972, the film was given a wide U.S. release and honored at the Academy Awards.

today i dedicate the song to jill clayburgh. it is a fitting and personal tribute to her from me her biggest fan

Song of the Day: "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me'"

the late great dusty springfield had a number of hits early on then a great resurgence when she teamed up with the Pet Shop boys.

'you don't have to say you love me' along with 'wishin and a hopin' and 'son of a preacher man' were major hits in duty phase one. in the next few weeks i'll revisit many of this classic singer's hits. another legend who died well before her time.

Song of the Day: 'Walk Away Renee'

'walk away renee'

extended remix

david cassidy gave it a spin

Song of the Day: 'I Turn to You'

'i turn to you' 

techno version with anime video

techno

i love this extended piece

Song of the Day: 'Gloria'

'gloria' laura branigan's smash hit in 1982 was written and recorded by italian singer/composer umberto tozzi in 1979.

first up branigan's hit recording live

umberto tozzi's english version

italian version

Song of the Day: 'Vincent''

'vincent' also known as 'starry starry night' was written and recorded by don mclean. a beautiful ballad about the famous artist vincent van gogh. it truly is one of the beautiful songs.

two of my favorite vocalists made it all the more beautiful

josh graban

jane olivor

Song of the Day: 'San Francisco'

scott mckenzie's 'san francisco' became the anthem og a generation and the backgriund music of the sexual revolution of the late 60's and early 70's

and as luck would have it the anthem was recorded by the always wonderful pet clark