Classic Rock Music Monday

Happy Memorial Day!

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.  

To begin the week, we have Friend & Lover with their 1968 hit, "Reach Out of the Darkness". Friend & Lover comprised the (then) husband and wife duo Jim and Cathy Post. The song reached number 10 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1968.

I was in 8th grade when the song came out. It is interesting that the title differs from the lyrics in which are "reach out in the darkness" instead of "reach out of the darkness."

The YouTube video has some comments from Cathy Post's (Conn) granddaughter Briana, one of which is:

The female in this song then “Cathy post” now “cat conn” passed away just about three years ago. She was my grandmother and the most beautiful woman inside and out that i had ever known. No Jim post is not my grandfather, they divorced and she married my grandfather and had my mother, my aunt, and then my uncle. I miss her every day. I love this video and that someone kept it in existence for me, her eldest granddaughter to see. I miss her. She and I were kindred souls.

I find it fascinating that Briana can see her grandmother in a music video while she was in her youth. 

From Wikipedia:

Cathy Conn was born May 30, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. She had a background in song and dance before meeting her future husband Jim Post at a Canadian provincial fair in 1964. Their marriage and the band eventually broke up. Cathy remarried twice, became Cat Conn, had three children and five grandchildren, and lived for a short time in the mountains of New Mexico. In 2015 or 2016, she moved back into Chicago to live out the rest of her days with two of her grandchildren and one of her first children. She died in Evanston, Illinois, on July 4, 2018, at 73.

Jim Post was born October 28, 1939, in Houston, Texas. He had previously performed with a folk group, The Rum Runners. He went on to record solo albums for labels such as Flying Fish Records and Fantasy Records. Post died in Dubuque, Iowa, after a long illness on September 14, 2022, at the age of 82.

As today is Memorial Day, it is appropriate to remember Cathy and Jim as both have passed on. R.I.P. 

Robert F, Kennedy Presidential Campaign Announcement

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to announce his candidacy for president of the United States on April 19, I thought it would be interesting to watch his father's announcement on March 16, 1968. 

Thanks to YouTube, videos of historical events such as this are readily available for history and political buffs. 

The following video has Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's announcement as well as a reaction by Sen. Eugene McCarthy during an interview. Interestingly, McCarthy supported Ronald Reagan for president in 1980 against Jimmy Carter. 

"American Experience: Chasing The Moon" Part Two

Last night, part two of "American Experience: Chasing The Moon" was shown on PBS.

It picked up where part one left off. It began with the Gemini program what trained astronauts in spacewalks, rendezvous & docking and other necessary things needed for the upcoming Apollo program.

Part two, in my view, was better than part one in that it showed more rocket footage (Gemini-Titan II and Apollo-Saturn V).

The tragedy of the flash fire in Apollo 1 in January 1967 was thoroughly covered (including the chilling last radio transmissions of the Apollo 1 crew during the fire) and its effects on fellow astronauts and their families as well as the whole NASA space program. To this day, I remember that night. It was a Friday night and my parents went to the bank and I stayed home and watched the news coverage until they came home to pick me up to go to dinner.

The silver lining of the Apollo 1 fire is that it exposed the sloppy workmanship of the space vehicles and by the time the Apollo program resumed with all the corrections and modifications, it was a far better spacecraft.

It is interesting that nobody knew what to expect when the first test launch (unmanned) of the Saturn V was made in 1967, especially the shock wave, and the fact that the Apollo 8 mission to the moon was only the second-ever launch of the Saturn V.

The country was in deep turmoil in 1968 and the Apollo 8 mission at least ended the year on a bright note.

Part three will be shown tonight.

Blake Shelton To Host Elvis Tribute Special

1968 was a pivotal year in many respects. Both good and bad. 

The bad was the war in Viet Nam, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. The good was the mission of Apollo 8 to the moon and the Singer (as in sewing machines) television special, "Elvis".

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of that television special, NBC is airing a tribute special hosted by Blake Shelton.

According to NewsOk:

Now that the calendar has turned over to 2019, mark it for this must-see TV event.
NBC will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley's 1968 “Comeback Special” with the “Elvis All-Star Tribute Special,” to air on Sunday, Feb. 17. 

Participating performers have not yet been announced, according to Variety, but we do know that Oklahoma native, country music star and NBC's "The Voice" coach Blake Shelton will host the tribute special.  

And we can expect to have a list of performers unveiled soon. 

For those who aren't familiar with country music or Shelton in particular, here's his current hit:




To read more, go here.

News From Graceland

Celebrate '68 Special Anniversary with Box Set The 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley's groundbreaking 1968 special will be commemorated with the release of a deluxe box set on November 30. "Elvis Presley – '68 Comeback Special (50th Anniversary Edition)" is the definitive chronicle of one of the greatest rock 'n' roll performances ever televised. For the first time ever, all previously-released audio and newly-restored video from the taping of the special will be available in one package – including unused performances and studio outtakes that spotlight the real Elvis. Fans who pre-order"’68 Comeback Special (50th Anniversary Edition)" from Shop Graceland will receive an exclusive gift with purchase: a ’68 Comeback Special 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Coin (while supplies last). Pre-Order Now Graceland Lights Up for Christmas on November 15 The king's castle will light up for the holiday season with the annual Lighting Ceremony on November 15! Country stars Scotty McCreery and Marty Stuart will flip the switch on Graceland's lights, followed by a special performance by McCreery. Immediately following the ceremony, we'll celebrate the world premiere of the new Hallmark Original Movie, "Christmas at Graceland." Director Eric Close and star Wes Brown will be on hand for the premiere. The movie will air exclusively on the Hallmark Channel on November 17. The Lighting is free and open to the public. The "Christmas at Graceland" premiere is a by-invitation, ticketed event, however complimentary tickets will be made available that night at the door, based on availability. Get the Details Holiday Concert Weekend Features Music, Archives Presentation, More Join us for an expanded Holiday Concert Weekend on December 14-15! The weekend features three concerts that celebrate Elvis, his favorite holiday tunes, his gospel music and his biggest rock 'n' roll hits. Guitarist James Burton of Elvis' TCB Band will perform at the weekend's rock 'n' roll concert. In addition to the concerts, guests can attend Christmas tips, tricks and crafts seminars, explore two newly expanded exhibits at Elvis Presley's Memphis and learn more about "Christmas at Graceland" with a special Graceland Archives presentation. Tickets and hotel packages are available now! Learn More

"Elvis" 1968 Comeback Special Box Set

In many respects, it hardly seems possible that the turbulent year of 1968 was fifty years ago. I remember much of it well. The year was marked by the Tet Offensive, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy and the violent Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

The year did manage to end on two high notes: the moon orbit of Apollo 8 in December and, also in the same month, the NBC Special, Elvis.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Elvis (now known as the "Comeback Special") a box set is set for release next month.

According to Rolling Stone:

For much of the Sixties, Elvis Presley’s most visible presence was on the big screen, in a seemingly endless series of films that ranged from fun (Viva Las Vegas) to forgettable (Easy Come, Easy Go). For that reason alone, the King’s December 3rd, 1968, “comeback” special for NBC was a welcome return to form. Yet, entirely on its own it remains simply one of Presley’s finest moments as an electrifying entertainer, and a landmark event that revolutionized the presentation of live music via television. 

On November 30th, a comprehensive, deluxe box set featuring a dizzying array of audio and video components will celebrate the special’s 50th anniversary. The five-CD and two-Blu-ray disc set will mark the first time ever that all previously-released audio and newly-restored video from the taping of the special will be available in one package. Spotlighting unused performances and studio outtakes of Presley in his element, the collection also features an entire disc of the legendary sessions for the NBC special, which Presley recorded with the studio musicians collectively known as the Wrecking Crew.

The box set comes with a price: $149.98 at Amazon.

To read more, go here.

Nixon 1968 Collection

Gifts         Apparel         Books         Kids © Richard Nixon Foundation Your Purchase Supports The Richard Nixon Foundation