Michael Murphy's Blog, page 10
January 7, 2013
Why the Beatles Didn’t Play Woodstock
Woodstock organizers desperately wanted the Beatles to headline Woodstock. They reached out to John Lennon. So why didn’t it happen? After all, the Rolling Stones headlined the Alamont Speedway Free Festival in December of 1969 in front of 300,000 people.
There are various legendary explanations as to why the Beatles didn’t play Woodstock. One account is Lennon insisted the festival include a slot for Yoko Ono’s Plastic Ono Band. Organizers turned that down.
Another explanation was Lennon’s visa problems. At the time his entry to the US had been blocked by the Nixon Administration due to an arrest in London for marijuana possession at his home the previous October.
The more likely explanation is twofold. The Beatles hadn’t played a concert in over three years and the group was in chaos. Beatles manager Brian Epstein died of a drug overdose in 1967, artistic and personal differences began to fragment the group. Yoko Ono’s influence over Lennon led to the inevitable. A month after Woodstock, the group broke apart though the split was not acknowledged until November of 1969. The long and winding road had come to an end.
The Beatles in 1969
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January 3, 2013
The Beatles
Ever wonder why the Beatles, the greatest rock band of its’ era didn’t play Woodstock? Find out in my next blog coming this weekend.
It’s been a great week with lots of buzz about my novel, Goodbye Emily. There are eleven reader reviews already on Amazon and more on Barnes & Noble.
Here are brief excerpts from the most recent reviews:
Author Jen Estes: “Goodbye Emily is amusing, heartwarming and inviting. Through Sparky’s healing journey, we discover that while we can’t escape heartbreak, we can’t let that keep us from pursuing love. I laughed, I cried…I thoroughly enjoyed Goodbye
Emily.”
Book reviewer, blogger and radio talk show host, Fran Lewis: An ending that will bring tears to your eyes and a smile on your face as Sparky, Buck, Cloe, Lady, Josh and even more make their way one more time to relive those special three days. What happens and if they really succeed? What will the final note be in Josh’s life? A farewell so fitting you won’t believe the ending.
Hope you’ve enjoyed my Woodstock blogs. I will be talking Woodstock trivia and writing on Bonnie Kaye’s Blog Talk Radio program Sunday at 7 PM Eastern Time. Hope you can stop by http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bonnie-kaye/2013/01/07/books-of-excellence
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January 1, 2013
Seven reasons you may want to read Goodbye Emily
Happy New Year everyone. Goodbye Emily‘s official release date is finally here! You can order from the following online locations, or purchase at a book store near you:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Books a Million Powell Books Indie Bound
A release date is always an exciting event for an author who probably spent more than a year writing a novel, but today I’m reminded of those I want to thank for helping make Goodbye Emily the novel it has become. Talented writers, Toby Heathcotte, Beth Blake and Cherie Lee helped me polish the manuscript. I can’t thank them enough. Woodstock icons Country Joe McDonald and Wavy Gravy early on provided endorsements of Goodbye Emily that I’ll always cherish. My wife Jennie and family were always supportive and my agent Dawn Dowdle sold it to a terrific publisher, Koehler Books. Thanks John for the great cover.
And finally, thanks to those who’ve read the novel and provided reviews that captured images and impressions I was hoping to convey. Some of them are listed below. More are on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Seven reasons you may want to read Goodbye Emily
Author Alisha Paige calls Goodbye Emily “a road trip full of adventure, love, laughter, fun, superstar appearances and heart-felt healing.”
Author Jen Estes said, “I laughed, I cried…I thoroughly enjoyed Goodbye Emily.”
Midwest Book Reviews: Goodbye Emily is a fine and much recommended addition to any literary fiction collection.”
Rock historian Barry Drake: “Against all odds, the characters succeed and Michael Murphy does too, as he lovingly captures the spirit of our generation on it’s bumpy journey through middle age.”
Author Lynne Morgan Spreen said, “I chuckled along, and in places I cried, and I finished the book with sad/happy tears running down my face – happy to have enjoyed the memories and sad for the days gone by.”
Author Sandra Nachlinger: “I knew I’d enjoy this book (especially since I’m a Baby Boomer), but I had no idea it would be such a touching and entertaining story. This isn’t merely a flashback to the 1960s; it is a tale of love, healing, and the power of friendship between three men.”
Actor Francis Dumaurier: “Those of us who were actually there will be happily brought “back to the garden” while the book is a perfect road map for those who wish they did. Unlike other attempts which were written from the outside looking in, the contemporary story of GOODBYE EMILY was written from the inside out … and that’s probably why I could not put it down.”
For more reasons you might want to read the novel, visit the Goodbye Emily website.
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December 28, 2012
Jimi Hendrix Closes Woodstock
Of the almost 500,000 at the peak of Woodstock, only about 180,000 people saw perhaps the festival’s most memorable performance including Jimi Hendrix’s famous version of the Star Spangled Banner.
The two hour set was the longest of his meteoric and all too short career that ended with his untimely death a little more than a year later .
Born Johnny Allen Hendrix, in 1942, his musical career began with his discharge from the army in 1962. By the end of 1965, he’d played with several marquee acts, such as Ike and Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, the Isley Brothers, and Little Richard.
Throughout the latter half of 1965, and into the first part of 1966, Hendrix played small venues throughout Greenwich Village, where he caught up with Animals’ bassist Chas Chandler. Chandler was impressed with Hendrix’s performance and sign him to an agreement that would have him move to London to form a new band.
Chandler’s first task was to change Hendrix’s name to “Jimi.” Featuring drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding, the newly formed Jimi Hendrix Experience quickly became the talk of London in the fall of 1966.
In 1967, Paul McCartney recommended Jimi to organizers of the Monterey Pop Festival. Jimi returned to the United States and ignited the crowd with his incendiary performance of “Wild Thing.” Literally overnight, The Jimi Hendrix Experience became one of most popular and highest grossing touring acts in the world.
Although the group disbanded early in 1969, Hendrix was considered a key draw for Woodstock organizers. His new group had been together less than two weeks when the festival opened.
As the scheduled time slot of Sunday night at midnight drew closer, Hendrix indicated he would rather wait and close the show. A substantial rainstorm delayed the schedule of performers, so Hendrix’s insistance on being the closing headliner pushed back the time when they finally hit the stage–8:30 am Monday morning.
Hendrix’s innovative style is remarkable because he was unable to read or write music. He combined fuzz, feedback and controlled distortion and created a new, unique and unmistakable musical form.
The music of Jimi Hendrix embraced the influences of blues, ballads, rock, R&B, and jazz a collection of styles that continue to make Hendrix one of the most popular figures in the history of rock music.
His Woodstock performance was so electric, Jimi appears as a character in a pivotal flashback scene of Goodbye Emily
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December 21, 2012
Mayan Apocalypse
Now that we’ve made it through the Mayan Apocalypse I wanted to pause in blogging about Woodstock and the great performers and performances, and my novel, Goodbye Emily.
I can’t forget about the tragedies around the country and around the world. In the sixties and seventies we joined in ending discrimination with the civil rights movement, but discrimination still exists against gays and against women, particularly in the workplace. I’ve retained enough sixties idealism to believe we can achieve peace and non-violence will replace anger and hatred in the middle east and here at home. In addition to my hopes and dreams for a better world, I wish each of you happiness and joy this season and in the coming year.
2012 has been a wonderful year personally, with the impending release of a novel that I wrote from the heart about the current state of Woodstock Nation. Special thanks to Country Joe McDonald and Wavy Gravy who expressed their appreciation for Goodbye Emily. Thanks as well to those who’ve provided some great reviews, rock historian, Barry Drake (if you want more classic rock info, catch one of his great lectures), actor Francis Dumaurier, talented authors, Alisha Paige, Lynne Morgan Spreen, Sandra Nachlinger and for those readers who took the time to write reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and elsewhere.
Now that we’ve survived the Mayan Apocalypse, after the first of the year, I’ll resume my Woodstock posts. I’ll also let you know when Goodbye Emily will officially be released and other important news such as author Pat Bertram’s interview with one of the novel’s characters, Buck Jamison. Until then, I welcome any of you who’ve read Goodbye Emily to provide me a review or blurb that I’ll post in this blog.
Peace to all of you.
Michael Murphy
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December 18, 2012
Win a Goodbye Emily ebook?
Win a free ebook of Goodbye Emily? Just post the following Goodbye Emily Amazon link on twitter or Fracebook to be entered into a drawing. Then leave me a comment. Winners will be announced at the end of the week.
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December 15, 2012
Country Joe and the Fish
Country Joe McDonald helped rescue Woodstock on day one when he was talked on stage to follow Richie Havens as scheduled performers were unable to get through due to the monumental traffic jam. With a borrowed guitar, he gave one of the festival’s more memorable performances.
Country Joe and the Fish returned for their scheduled performance on day 3. They were a replacement for the band Jethro Tull who turned down an invitation to play Woodstock.
Completing a six song set, Joe repeated the famous Fish cheer before closing with ”Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag,” which I consider the greatest anti-war song ever.
Fortunately for us, Joe still performs and remains socially active. Check out his website and see what he’s up to.
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December 14, 2012
Goodbye Emily
Would you like to get a copy of Goodbye Emily for free? Details coming soon.
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December 13, 2012
RIP Ravi Shankar
“Beauty seemed somehow insufficient a description for the sounds that came from Ravi Shankar’s sitar in a concert hall. It was as if nature itself were being replicated on the stage, whether it was gentle summer rain or late-autumn wind having its way with the landscape.” Jazz and film critic Gene Seymour.
Shankar died Tuesday at the age of 92. In addition to the sitar and bringing Indian music to the west, he is perhaps best known for his association with the Beatles. Though he disapproved of their increasing drug use, he worked with and remained friends with George Harrison until Harrison’s death.
Ravi Shankar at Woodstock
The sitar player’s performance at Woodstock followed his appearance at the Monterey festival and solidified his influence on western popular music. Two years later he spearheaded the first rock benefit concert, the 1971 Concert For Bangladesh.
Shankar is also known as Norah Jones’s father. He won three Grammy awards and was nominated for an Oscar for his musical score for the movie “Gandhi.” He performed dozens of concerts yearly through the 1990s. Shankar performed his final concert, with daughter Anoushka, on 4 November 2012 at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach.
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December 5, 2012
Joe Cocker at Woodstock. Who was this guy?
At Woodstock, few American knew of Joe Cocker, even festival organizers who booked him sight unseen. When the festival was over, his performance had become truly memorable.
Cocker was born in England, May 20, 1944. Growing up his main musical influences were Ray Charles and Scottish born skiffle musician Lonnie Donegan, perhaps the most influential British artist before the birth of the Beatles. In 1960, along with three friends, Cocker formed his first group, the Cavaliers which spit up a year later. In 1964 he signed his first recording contract and released his first single, a recording of the Beatles, “I’ll Cry Instead,” which proved to be a big flop.
Cocker’s breakthrough occurred with an arrangement of another Beatles Song “With a Little Help from My Friends,” which years later was used as the theme song for the series “The Wonder Years” from 1988 top 1993. Yeah, it was about the sixties and we watched it. The single reached the top ten in Britain and eventually reached number one in 1968.
Cocker and his band began a US tour in 1969. His manger convinced festival organizer Arnie Kornfeld to book Cocker. The group had to be flown into the festival by helicopter due to the large crowds. They performed several songs, including “Delta Lady”, “Something’s Comin’ On”, “Let’s Go GEt Stoned”, and “With a Little Help from My Friends”.
Cocker followed up his Woodstock success with a hectic tour of the US with a new band dubbed Mad Dogs and Englishmen. Although continued with his distinctive on stage physicality his music evolved into more of a bluesy rock. On the tour he recorded a successful live album that produced hits “Cry Me a River,” “Feelin’ Alright,” and “The Letter.”
In 1982, Cocker recorded the duet “Up Where We Belong,” with Jennifer Warnes for the soundtrack for the film An Officer and a Gentleman. The song reached number 1 on the charts, won a Grammy and an academy award for Best original song. Cocker continued recording and performing during the past decade, but many regard his Woodstock performance as, as good as it gets.
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