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An obscure forgotten jem from the 80s

I remember how you like classic rock. This one is one of my all time favorites

It's the end of the year and I'm calling around to Medicare, Social Security, insurance companies, banks, mortgage company to do updates. Social Security is open all night and for some odd reason the recorded message says there is a long wait time as they are receiving an extremely a high call volume.
WTF... it's 2am.
So 55 minutes of waiting on hold and one song playing in a loop was enough to memorize. Too bad I wasn't near a guitar or piano as I could have figured out the tune.

In 1955, American musician Richard Berry wrote a song called Louie Louie about a Jamaican sailor returning home to see his lover. It was the B-side of the 45 record and didn't get much play until the Kingsmen released it in 1957, making it a rock and roll hit!

If you were a musician during that time, Louie Louie may have been the most requested song on your list. Sometimes, it was sometimes pronounced Louie Lou-eye and always there was a misinterpretation to the lyrics as the vocals weren't clear and nearly everyone said the lyrics were suggestive in nature... enough to have the song banned in a few parts of America. I remember rumors that the FBI were investigating the Kingsmen trying to decipher the supposed s*xual nature of the lyrics. True? I cannot say.

*** published LYRICS ***
{intro}
Louie Louie, oh no, you take me where ya gotta go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby
Louie Louie, oh baby, take me where ya gotta go

A fine little girl, she waits for me
Me catch the ship across the sea
Me sailed that ship all alone
Me never think I'll make it home

Louie Louie, oh no no no, we gotta go
Oh no
Said Louie Louie, oh baby, me gotta go

Three nights and days I sailed the sea
Me think of girl constantly
On that ship, I dream she there
I smell the rose in her hair

Louie Louie, oh no, me gotta go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby
Louie Louie, oh baby, said we gotta go
Okay, let's give it to 'em right now

{guitar solo}

Me see
Me see Jamaica, the moon above
It won't be long me see me love
Me take her in my arms and then
I tell her I'll never leave again

Louie Louie, oh no, we gotta go
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby
Louie Louie, oh baby, said we gotta go
I said we gotta go now
Let's hustle on out of here
Let's go


Sure, I played it and recall the Miami version...
My little girl is waiting for me, she gets her thrills on top of me...

13 years ago, drummer Mike Portnoy at the top of his career, decided to leave the group Dream Theater. After dozens of exhaustive auditions, the band selected Mike Mangini to replace him who played on an impressive one-third of their studio albums.
A year ago some negotiations took place and Portnoy decided to return to the band he helped form.

That's a bitter shock to Mangini and he took the change diplomatically stating:

“I understand Dream Theater’s decision to get Mike Portnoy back at this time. As was said from day one, my place was not to fill all the roles that Mike held in the band. I was to play the drums in order to help the band carry on," Mangini humbly states, "My main role of keeping our live show working tightly on a nightly basis was an intense and rewarding experience."

Deeply appreciative of his time in the band, he continues, "Thankfully, I got to experience playing music with these iconic musicians, as well as some fun times laced with humor. I also really enjoyed spending lots of time with the crew. And then there’s the Grammy win, which was amazingly satisfying."

Bidding farewell, he concludes, "To the fans: thank you so much for being amazing to me. I cherish the pictures I have of you all losing your minds and having fun. Finally, I really love the band, crew and management and wish them and the entire organization all the best.”

Mike Mangini performed well, going far more than he would have without his 13 years with Dream Theater. His new worth is reported $10 million and that in itself is an amazing accomplishment for a musician.
Having heard and seen videos of both drummers, I have to admit Portnoy has the edge on him for technique and assertive style. I'm sure Mangini will soon continue his musical success with another supergroup. He deserves it.

I blogged about the Canadian band RUSH having lost their drummer to cancer, had no plans to reunite. I thought Portnoy would fit that role, but it's too late. Mangini would be next in line for the gig!

Canadian rock band RUSH called it quits after their drummer Neil Peart passed away in 2020. They have been to a few tribute shows and appearances but decided not to continue as a band. If Paul McCartney's suggestion has any weight, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee may have some motivation to reunite.
Could this be another Rush in the making?

McCartney has offered to be their manager.

My thought would be "What living drummer would be up for the part to replace Neil?"

First choice... Mike. Unfortunately, after 13 years away, he rejoined Dream Theater.

I started my weekend YouTube marathon on Friday. Some videos were about guitar repairs and the others were mostly music videos (like the worst cover bands) when I caught an interview with Matthew Fink aka Dr. Fink who is a multi-talented songwriter, record producer and made his fame playing keyboard synthesizers for Prince and the Revolution band joining them in 1978. He's the guy wearing surgical scrubs and a stethoscope.

It's funny, Friday, I was telling my cousin (who also a keyboardist) that around 1968-69 I was in a 3 piece band playing keyboards and the guitarist's father was in hospital isolation. He had lung cancer and not expected to live long. We were allowed to see him but had to wear hospital gowns. When leaving the hospital linen area, we stole some scrubs, masks and hats.
We often performed at parties for college med student fraternities and made a big hit coming to the stage dressed in surgical scrubs... about 9 years before Dr. Fink!

The lyric "Life is just a party and parties weren't meant to last" was sung by Dez Dickerson who was the lead guitarist for Prince's band on the song 1999.

I used to think that William Shatner's cover of Rocket Man by Elton John had to be one of the worst song covers to date. Times have changed and I found one that beats it by 1.6 kilometers or roughly one mile.

The original is: She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby.

Hyperchicken did a cover...



I get the feeling some high-school kids conjured this up to show off their newly learned video editing techniques.