Good background listening.

Back in 1963, Jan & Dean recorded a version of an old Rodgers & Hart song called "Manhattan". 58 years later, part of the chorus of their version was used as the theme for the show Only Murders in the Building (on Hulu in the US - not sure of its availability in other countries).

"Manhattan", has been recorded by dozens of vocalists over the years. Here's a nice clear version by Ella Fitzgerald, with some interesting old photos of the City.
 

Another version from the 60s, this time by The Supremes from 1967.

Michael  - Coincidental that last night you posted that version of Manhattan, by the Supremes!   Tuesday,  March 26 , Diana Ross turned 80 years old!  I saw an article in the paper about a big Motown birthday celebration for her.   I always liked The Supreme's, and  remember when they were at the peak of their popularity in the 60's. 

Music appreciation

Found this tonight. Great tune from Newfoundland, Canada.

Very nice music and words, and lovely photos.

I've heard that area is beautiful. I'd love to make it up there one of these days, but that probably won't happen (driving isn't even an option at all - Google says it's about a 33-hour journey from here to the southwestern edge of Newfoundland, counting the 8 and a half hour ferry ride from Nova Scotia and a round trip flight to St. John's would run me almost $700 before taxes and fees)

A great song from 1976 by a talented trio of sisters from The Netherlands. These gals are mainly remembered today for the song "Mississippi", which was a huge hit across Europe in late 1976, but this one (which is from earlier in 1976) was also a pretty big hit, reaching the top 10 in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and The Netherlands. Despite their biggest hit being a song about life in the US state of Mississippi (and the famous river of the same name), they are still all but unknown in the US.

I've been looking for a good version of  The Long and Winding Road,  by The Beatles,   for a long time.  Found it tonight, while looking for something else.   

From the 2016 film Sing, an excellent rendition of "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight" by former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson. If you like animated movies and haven't seen this one, I recommend it, though you probably won't recognize many of the songs featured in the movie or its sequel.

A fun version of the classic "Lullaby of Birdland", which really shows off the fun of RCA Victor's "Living Stereo" technology

Looking back today at 2016 and 2017, when "Just Plain Old Music", was first started here on S&F. (Thank you Rick!)     I'm going to play a few of the songs that we posted here in those early days.
Whispering Grass, by The Ink Spots.

I prefer this version of that song...

Michael,
I think that version was posted on this board back then too?  Probably by you!    I do like Don Estelle's voice. 

A wonderful trip back in time to the era of Seeburg's background music system. This record was from the "industrial" series (designed for factories and similar environments where the upbeat music would make workers move faster and therefore be more productive). This system was introduced in the late 50s and lasted until around 1986. Although the records were supposed to be sent back and destroyed, many have survived and have fallen into the hands of collectors, who are all too happy to share the nostalgia via YouTube.

Some great country blues rock from the 50s.

And a cover of that song by one of the guys who wrote it.

April Showers

A version of an old country song by Marty Robbins. This song dates back to 1929 and was apparently made popular by a group called The Vagabonds in 1933. This version was recorded in 1956 but wasn't released until 1983 on the posthumous album Just Me and My Guitar.

I need my cup ---

Speaking of lamp-lighting ---

During the winter storms, our basement flooded and I rescued lots of old 78 records from wet  cardboard cartons.   "The Old Lamplighter", was one of the many. A Hit Parade song, at sometime in  the 1940's?
The rain and the cold have returned today.     I haven't run out of rain songs yet, and will post another one as soon as I find it on YouTube.

"And I wonder, still I wonder
Who'll Stop the Rain?"

"And I wonder, still I wonder
Who'll Stop the Rain?"

"And I wonder, still I wonder
Who'll Stop the Rain"?