Happy 2011 Video Birthdays to Musical Legends Del Shannon, Jeff Lynne, and Noel Paul Stookey

by Robert Wilkinson

Beside Papa Nez, Red Rhodes, and Bo Diddley, today is the birthday of 3 other greats of all time! Del Shannon, Noel (Paul) Stookey, and Jeff Lynne are also December 30 birthday boys. Videos, of course!

This year I'll give you a few of the best of each, and in coming years expand on all of them (though I'm not sure how to structure FIVE individual birthday posts into a single day!) Anyway Del, Noel, and Jeff each created magic in their own way, and influenced millions of others through their talent, styles, and excellence.

First, the awesome voice of Del Shannon! Though he had many hits, most don't remember him except for one great big one, the monster "Runaway" From 1987 at the "Spring Break Special," a said-to-be rare live performance of "Runaway" (this one must buffer!) And from 1988, another live performance of "Runaway."

Now for some more of his great hits for your enjoyment! Some of these have to buffer for a minute, but it's worth it!

From "Where the Action Is" in 1964, Del lip synching "Handy Man." For a great live performance at Little Darlin's in Florida in 1988, here's Del doing a strong delivery of "Handy Man." (Just let it buffer!)

Live from "Top of the Pops" in 1965, the haunting "Keep Searchin'" From the same era, a good lip synched performance of "Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun)"

From 1965, Del performing "Do You Want To Dance?" Strong falsetto!

Live at the Holiday Star, Del performing "Hat's Off To Larry" and "Keep Searchin'"

Here's Del doing a song he wrote made famous by Peter and Gordon, the poignant "I Go To Pieces."

Here's Del in a great live performance covering the Roy Orbison hit, "Crying." From the same show, the compelling warning of "Little Town Flirt." Here's the original studio version of "Little Town Flirt."

Here's the studio version of Del doing the Searcher's hit, "Needles and Pins."

Another haunted tune with Del on the move! Here's Del lip synching to his hit "Stranger In Town"

From 1982, Del and Burton Cummings doing Del's hit "Keep Searchin'"

Most don't know Del was one of the premier yodelers in music! For your enjoyment, Del live in 1985 doing his famous "Coopersville Yodel."

Here's Del live doing "Swiss Maid." (needs to buffer!)

We'll close this birthday tribute with Del live in Fargo, ND, in 1990 at his last concert. A fitting send-off, his second hit, "Hats Off To Larry"

We now turn to Jeff Lynne, formerly of the Electric Light Orchestra, aka ELO, and the Traveling Wilburys. Songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, he's produced and/or played on more great records than can be listed here. So today, I'll give you a few that showcase Jeff's talents. He wrote ALL of these hits (except "Roll Over Beethoven"), no small feat!

(Let all of these buffer for a few.)

From the Mike Douglas show in 1974, ELO doing a 9 minute set of "Intro," "Poor Boy," and "Can't Get It Out of my Head."

Here's ELO live on the Midnight Special in 1974 doing "Can't Get It Out of My Head," and on the same show in 1975, here they are doing "Evil Woman." Also from the Midnight Special, here they are doing "Do Ya."

From the 1977 American Music Awards, here's ELO live doing "Livin' Thing."

From the 1986 Heartbeat Charity Concert, here's ELO live doing "Telephone Line."

Here's ELO doing Jeff's tune "Turn To Stone"

A great pair of live performances of "Sweet Talkin' Woman" and the stomping "Don't Bring Me Down"

Here's the music video to the great Jeff Lynne tune, "Calling America."

From London in 1977, we'll close this ELO segment with a clip of them doing a major league rocking version of the Chuck Berry classic, "Roll Over Beethoven."

In a historical note, Jeff helped Sir George Martin produce the two "final" original Beatles songs that appeared on "Anthology," both of which sailed high in the charts. For your enjoyment, "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love."

Here's Jeff with the other Wilburys in the official music video of "Handle With Care, " and here's the second hit from the first Traveling Wilburys album, "End Of The Line."

In a fitting end to this Jeff Lynne birthday tribute, the Wilburys were going to add Del Shannon to their lineup after Roy Orbison died. Unfortunately, Del died before they could record what would be another historic session, but we do have this gem by the Traveling Wilburys, their studio version of the Del Shannon monster hit, "Runaway."

So Happy Birthday Otis Clayton Wilbury! Sorry so many of the tribe have left the building, but at least you still have a couple you can still hang with!

Now that we've covered the rockers, we now turn our attention to the third of these amazing birthday talents, Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame. It's Folk City, people! He's a true raconteur and very funny guy with a heart as big as it gets!

Though Peter Yarrow wrote some of their best-known hits and Mary Travers brought a big voice, blond hair, and compelling gravitas to their trio, Paul also wrote or co-wrote a bunch of great tunes, including one of the most famous and well-loved wedding songs in history, written for Peter Yarrow's wedding and played at countless weddings since.

From "Tonight in Person" in 1966, PP & M doing two timeless Dylan classics, "Blowin' In The Wind." and "The Times They Are A Changin'" From the same show, "Early Morning Rain," and Peter's classic, "Puff the Magic Dragon."

From a performance in the 60s, PP & M doing "For Loving Me."

Here's Pete Seeger doing an intro to PP & M doing Pete's "If I Had A Hammer." Here's another great live performance of "If I Had A Hammer."

A live performance of Dylan's "When The Ship Comes In."

Doing Noel's composition, "Very Last Day."

Here they are in a live performance of "Go Tell It On The Mountain"

From the 60s, Noel co-wrote this one with the others, "There Is A Ship."

Here are PP & M doing Paul's tune, "Early in the Morning."

Doing their radio hit of pop music references co-written by Noel, "Rock and Roll Music."

Live in Melbourne Australia at the BP Supershow in 1968, "Leavin' On A Jet Plane."

A great performance of the Pete Seeger classic, "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?"

Here are PP & M doing the Woody Guthrie classic often proposed as a better national anthem than the one the US has now. For your enjoyment, "This Land Is Your Land."

Dylan provided them quite a few hits, this one included! "Don't Think Twice It's All Right."

Here's Noel doing a solo live performance of the incredibly beautiful "The Wedding Song (There Is Love) Here's another live performance by Noel in Australia at the Sydney Opera House in 1970 of "The Wedding Song."

And there you have it, folks! A birthday tribute for musical appetites ranging from folk to rock to electronic! Truly a big Happy to all three of these amazing talents, as well as the other birthday boys of December 30, Michael Nesmith, Red Rhodes, and Bo Diddley!!

© Copyright 2011 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Robert]

Hi all - You'll note this makes for NINE musical greats born in only 4 days. Late December talent indeed!

[Nancy]

Very beautiful talent all around. Thanks for sharing everything. :)

Nancy R.