Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......just because WE took a holiday break doesn't mean Oldies newsmakers didn't!
- A Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has both hips replaced (no word on what they did with the old ones)
- A Motown legend encourages everyone to go "electric".......a different kind of "going electric" than Bob Dylan in the 60's
- A nice holiday-themed behind the scenes story from one of music's most legendary concerts (and concert films)
- Sometimes it's hard to tell whether it's a rock band or an episode of Family Feud. Rolling Stone looks back on music's greatest internal squabbles
Where In The World Is........(Eumir) Deodato?
Eumir Deodato, whose greatest fame was achieved when he went simply by his last name, is one of the many artists featured here who have only had one major chart hit but have continued to have a long and storied career in music in various capacities. His taste of American success came with his funk take on a classical masterpiece best known for its use in a movie widely considered to be a cinematic masterpiece.
Deodato was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He became a self-taught musician, picking up the accordion at the age of 12. He moved onto other instruments, and by 17 he participated in his first recording session. His first taste of professional work as musician came as a pianist. He soon moved to New York, and temporary stardom would soon follow.
Deodato was an early master in the fusion of multiple musical styles, and his first American album reflected his diversity. 1973's "Prelude" featured elements of big band, jazz, funk, Latin, and classical music. The first single had become a classical standard, and Deodato brought the funk as well. His rendition of Richard Strauss's "Also sprach Zarathustra", best known as the theme from the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, was an unlikely but instant hit in the U.S., hitting #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the Top 10 in both Canada and the UK. Five years later, it would be used again in another critically acclaimed movie, 1979's Being There starring Peter Sellers and Shirley MacLaine. In between those stints, however, Deodato's career momentum would come to a screeching halt.
Follow up albums and singles were duds in record stores and with radio stations, but fortunately, Eumir Deodato's career was far from over. He continued to record for Warner Brothers Records through the 80's and did score 2 Top 20 hits on the Billboard Dance charts in 1985. His greatest success post "Also sprach Zarathustra" has come as an arranger and producer. The list of artists he has worked with has included Kevin Rowland (formerly of fellow one hit wonder Dexy's Midnight Runners), hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco, Kool and the Gang, and Ol' Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. He has also written the score for numerous films. His last solo release was the 2007 live album "Eumir Deodato Trio – ao vivo no Rio (Eumir Deodato Trio, Live in Rio)".
For one brief shining moment in 1973, the world was Eumir Deodato's oyster. Let's flash back to that moment now........
Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day
For their third "appearance" on the Ed Sullivan Show on June 5, 1966, The Beatles made what are considered to be two of the first music videos ever created. What 2 songs did they "perform" via videotape?
Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!
Wednesday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day
Which Elvis classic did songwriters Leiber and Stoller claim was the worst song they ever wrote?
Answer: "Love Me" -- they said it sounded like what musical comedy duo Homer and Jethro would sound like if they had recorded legitimate music
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