Well, it was necessary for February to have an EXTRA day for me to get this in. A song about February from a 60's group called the Rose Garden- where everything is sunny and groovy, lol! Then the best song EVER about Winter, it is non-negotiable- written by Joni Mitchell but taken to even greater heights by the interpretation of Tom Rush. And from the old vinyl LP. After that, I will head in a different direction with songs about the Snowman, including one by the mad Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. Got a Winter one from the group Renaissance. Finally, a set I played for my own enjoyment. Just for giggles. See if you can figure out where I am going with it. Why would I play a short reading by a famous poet, a song about poets and an instrumental? What does that have to do with our Theme? The answer is out there! Oh man, you are going to hate me, lol! We have reached the halfway point of the Winter Carnival Of Song, so much more to come.

Sorry for the delay, but a number of snafus caused it- just imagine this appeared a week and a half ago. For years now, I have wanted to do at least a couple of shows on my favorite season, Winter. But things always intrude. You have the Christmas and New Year Holidays, and after I recover from them I am usually onto the Tribute/Memorials to all those who passed away the preceding year and have some link to Rock & Roll. With this year's non-Winter here in New York, I cannot wait any longer. And what the hell, those Tribute people will still be dead, lol! So get your gloves, boots and scarves out, because I will attempt to prove that, although there are far less of them, Winter songs are as literate, poetic, touching and good as Summer songs. Please join me for this, the first of 4 parts, of our Winter Carnival Of Music!

I am going to start off this last half of our Valentine's Day celebration of the Heart with a song for the lovely Michelle, who sent me those terrific quotes on the subject of Love. Not a mushy song, but one I know she likes...I have ways! Got a couple of beauties after that- great Heart songs. Then the very interesting matter of an Elvis Presley movie soundtrack from 1961. On it was a song that a guy named Joe Dowell was smart enough to grab and record for himself. The result, a worldwide # 1 smash hit for him! We will play it, and I have to wonder when you heard it last. Probably been a while. And for some of you, like NEVER! I'll play a couple more favorites of mine, followed by a rather obscure Heart song from our boys, the Rolling Stones, from an early album of theirs. We will close things out with one last quote, this time from Helen Keller. And a song about the one absolute requirement you must possess to have enjoyed this music and these quotes. Again, I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you enjoy our little contribution.

This show was broadcast Tuesday, and I was so into it I forgot it was Lincoln's Birthday. Happy Birthday, Abe! You had the toughest job of all our Presidents. Now, on to the romantic side of this old heart of mine. "Heart" will again, as two years ago, appear in the titles of all the songs played in this and the next episode. Now that will include heartbeat, heartache and heartbreak. And we will talk about that. Not that I am saying that any of the titles WILL include those words- you'll have to listen to find out. I think part of the fun is guessing what Heart songs I am going to pick out to play. I will tell you this however, you will hear the Jefferson Airplane's Marty Balin with a beautiful song from a solo album he did. And I will play contrasting versions of an old song by the Searchers (from which Bob Dylan stole half the tune for Don't Think Twice), and a very recent one by Robert Gordon from his latest album. Scattered throughout all the much more music will be some wonderful, touching quotes about Love. They were sent to me by the sweetest and loveliest girl- my Valentine sweetheart Michelle. I invite you to join me for the words and music that say "I Love You"!

Did you know Billy Preston did a duet with Isaac Hayes? I'll play it. Nice and bluesy- to get you In The Mood. Then back to the Concert For George and another of those magnificent performances. I like the way Eric Clapton starts the song, then hands off to Billy. Gotta thank my good old friend, Mike Hennessy, for those concert CD's. After that it's another duet, this one a big hit that reached # 4 I had forgotten about- yes, it happens to me too. One beautiful song! I'll have some interesting Preston trivia- like he was, with Janis Ian, the first musical guest on Saturday Night Live back on its debut. Next, Billy doing a Beatle song from the horrid Sgt. Pepper movie- in which he played Sgt. Pepper (hate to bring back the memory of that flick, lol!). Followed by a # 1 song everyone should recall and sing along with- it's all mathematics. After receiving a kidney transplant, Billy's health continued to deteriorate, and I was shocked to discover he was in a coma from November 2005 until his death in June 2006! Finally, we will end with yet another thing you may not have known. Billy Preston co-wrote a song that was a huge hit for Joe Cocker. Maybe for the first time, you'll hear his own version.

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