by Robert Wilkinson
Our dance features four amazing Capricorn legends who all have birthdays on January 19! These 4 span vastly different musical styles, so there’s something for almost everyone! Along with our classic 4, we also send up a big happy and merry to one amazing electric Soul. Because there's such a smorgasbord of great music, we're starting early, so let’s dance!.
We begin with a true legend, Phil Everly (January 19, 1939 – January 3, 2014). He was of course one half of the Everly Brothers, who set the vocal harmonization standard for 10,000 musicians who followed in their footsteps. They were the prototypical tight high harmony vocal duo who took infinitely catchy country and rock tunes, put their style on it, and produced some truly awesome and beautiful music.
The Everly Brothers influenced the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, the Bee Gees, and every other group that ever sang a melody line with “diatonic thirds” for the harmony lines. These “twin melodies” make for stunning vocal intertwining, and back when I was performing, we used them extensively in how we vocalized our songs. In fact, we covered “Bird Dog” and “When Will I Be Loved” trying to hit identical harmonies as the Everlys did.
The world was truly blessed by their angelic harmonies. From the late 50s and early 60s, one of the best vocal duos in history, the Everly Brothers!
We’ll begin with a very strong live performance of one of their most dynamic rockers followed by one of their biggest hits, a song written by both Everly Brothers, performed live on American Bandstand in 1964! “Gone Gone Gone” and “Cathy’s Clown”)
Another great two-fer! The Everlys live cranking out “Bird Dog” and “Till I Kissed Her”
This looks to be the very first time they were on live television! Very young (Phil was 18!), more than a little nervous, this era was when rock and roll, rhythm and blues, rockabilly, and country all blended and created a new global era in music. From 1957, this was really live! Here are Don and Phil performing their first hit, a tune which went to #2, “Bye Bye Love”
Here’s an early clip of the Everly Brothers performing the first record by them I ever owned, “Take A Message to Mary”
From what looks to be the same gig, I found this! It’s early, and the outfits are the same! “Bird Dog”
From The Ed Sullivan Show in Aug 1957, the Everly Brothers live giving us “Bye Bye Love”
Here’s a clip of the Everlys in a Oct 1957 live performance on Ed Sullivan of one of their early hits. The horn arrangement seems way over-produced, but television could be like that back then. “Wake Up Little Susie”
Fast forward to 2004! Here they crank out a great version of “Wake Up Little Susie”
Live on tv in 1958, the Everlys in top form cranking out the Roy Orbison tune "Claudette"
From 1960 on the Saturday Night Beech Nut Show, very live and taking it to new heights, the Everly Brothers performing the original “When Will I Be Loved”
From the Hammersmith Odeon in 1981, here’s a GREAT live performance of Phil and Cliff Richard giving us “When Will I Be Loved”
Here's a television clip from 1960 featuring the Everly Brothers live doing the Buddy Holly smash, "That'll Be The Day"
From 1961, live on UK television backed by the original Crickets, here are the Everly Brothers doing their twin hits, “All I Have to Do is Dream” and “Cathy’s Clown,” the latter song written by both Don and Phil. (It’s been said this was the tour of the UK by the Everly Brothers that changed the way John Lennon and Paul McCartney harmonized.)
From a live performance on the Tennessee Ernie Ford show in April 1961, the Everlys in peak form cranking out 10 minutes of "Lucille" and "Walk Right Back" after which Ernie joins them for "Rattlesnake Blues" and "Bird Dog."
I found it again! Here’s their October 1961 appearance on Ed Sullivan performing “Lucille,” “Don’t Blame Me,” and a very laid back swing version of “Bye Bye Love.”
This looks to be the same performance, but with an extended guitar intro. “Don’t Blame Me.”
From 1962 on The Ed Sullivan Show while they were still in the Marines, here are Don and Phil in full Marine dress uniforms in a live performance of "Crying In The Rain" and “Jezebel”
From the same era, an audio-only studio version of “Ebony Eyes”
Here's an audio-only studio version of their hit from their first album, "I Wonder If I Care As Much" Here's a great 9 minute clip of Alternate Takes 1 and 2, along with the song as it was finally released. "I wonder If I Care As Much."
Another hit! Here's the studio recording of "So Sad (to watch good love go bad)."
From 1958, the studio single of "Problems."
From Shindig, backed by the Blossoms and the Shindogs (who were basically the Wrecking Crew!), an interesting departure from their usual style doing the title song from the Jane Mansfield movie originally made huge by Little Richard, "The Girl Can’t Help It."
Here's a great live performance from the Paul Anka Show that was shot in 1966 and totally disappeared until now. They begin with "Bye Bye Love, then there's a lame performance by Frankie Avalon, and then the Everlys come back and crank out "Wake Up Little Susie," "Devoted To You," "Cathy's Clown," and more.
Here's a rare appearance with their dad Ike Everly on The Johnny Cash Show in 1970 performing "Where Could I Go But the Lord." Then on the Christmas Special of that show, held at the Ryman in Nashville, here's Johnny, his brother Tommy, Ike, Phil, and Don giving us a rousing acoustic performance taking turns doing these tunes! "Do What You Do Do Well," "Rise and Shine," "Muskrat," "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine," and "I Never Picked Cotton."
They came back for one of Ed Sullivan’s last broadcasts in 1971. They were still as good as ever! Last year the clip had “Bye Bye Love,” “Mama Tried,” and “All I Have to Do is Dream” but it’s disappeared. So I went looking, and while “Bye Bye Love” is gone, I did find these two gems!
“Mama Tried” and “All I Have to Do is Dream.”
The entire video of their 1 hour 15 1983 live in London reunion concert disappeared, but I found this collection of 37 clips which I believe have most or all of the set! The Everly Brothers Reunion Concert
From that show, a great performance of “Bird Dog.” They also did this beautiful country arrangement complete with steel guitar of "I wonder If I Care As Much." We’ll close this section with a great medley! The harmonies are exquisite. "Devoted To You," “Ebony Eyes,” and “Love Hurts.”
I’ll keep this link for those who want the audio without commercials. The Everly Brothers Reunion Concert
Live in Oz in 1989, we have them giving us “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have to do is Dream,” “Till I Kissed You,” “Cathy’s Clown,” and “Let It Be Me.”
Last year I had their entire Sydney show in Oz from 1971, but it’s gone. However, I found this 25 minute clip, which shows the Everlys as you’ve never seen them! (Toward the end the video isn’t perfectly synched with the audio, but the harmonies are fab, and the banter is not what you’d expect!)
Here’s the audio of the entire 44 minute show! The Everly Brothers in Australia 1971 – Hippies With Money
I found it again! This is a great 43 minute documentary about how the Everly Brothers came to be amazing harmonists and rock and roll legends called The Life and Times of the Everly Brothers
We’ll close with four performances by the Everly Brothers of the rocking 1964 hit “Gone Gone Gone.” Here they lip synch it on Dick Clark’s show in 1964! “Gone Gone Gone” and “Cathy’s Clown.” Here’s the original studio version of “Gone Gone Gone”
For the best live versions of this great tune (even if the video quality is poor on the first), complete with a lot of dancers shakin’ it to the max, here are the Everly Brothers on Shindig in late 1964 cranking out one of their best performances of “Gone Gone Gone” (Yes, as I said, they were backed by the Wrecking Crew with backing vocals by the Blossoms, fronted by Darlene Love.) And this is from February 1965 on Hullabaloo, “Gone Gone Gone”
The encore is a great 48 minute b/w video of their 1968 show at the Chequers Nightclub in Sydney. This is a really great show, so check it out! The Everly Brothers Live in Sydney - 1968
So though Phil’s great life and career are now done and gone, gone, gone, his awesome voice will last forever! Thanks for the memories. As I noted a while ago, I believe the angels got a new choir director!!
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On to Robert Palmer, an icon of “blue eyed Soul.” Robert Palmer (19 January 1949 – 26 September 2003) had an amazingly distinctive voice and mixed musical styles, combining soul, rock, pop, blues and jazz. He died way too young from a heart attack brought on by smoking. If any of you wonder where Robin Thicke gets his style and moves, check out Robert Palmer, especially the music video of “Simply Irresistible” or “Addicted to Love.”
Here are a few of his biggest!
From the Midnight Special in 1978, Robert live and very smoooooth! “Every Kind of People”
Three great performances of his breakthrough hit, all from 1979!
A very young Robert in a groove on the Midnight Special cranking up his first smash hit! "Bad Case of Lovin’ You (Doctor Doctor)"
Last year I had his Beat Club performance which seriously cranks, but it’s disappeared. So instead, from Countdown Australia, another dance scene on a soundstage. “Bad Case of Lovin’ You (Doctor, Doctor)”
Robert looking sharp getting us in a dance groove! “Bad Case of Lovin’ You (Doctor, Doctor)”
From 1979 in Passaic NJ, a very young Robert live offering up a great set! ”Sailing Shoes,” “Hey Julia,” “Sneaking Sally Through the Alley”
Here’s an early live performance on television of the very mellow “Riptide”
His 1985 performance on the Midnight Special of “Addicted to Love” is still gone, but I found this Solid Gold performance from 1986 or 1987 of “Addicted to Love”
The original music video got a lot of people talking! Here’s the extremely grinding version of “Addicted to Love”
From 1986, an 8 part radio broadcast of his gig at San Diego State University! The set list is great!! Robert Palmer live at SDSU – interview and show
From 1986 in Tokyo, a live performance of “Riptide” and from the same gig, the very funky “You Are in my System”
From 1987 on the AMA, Robert live offering up the danceable funk tune "I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On”
From Letterman in 1988, a very live, very electrifying performance of “Simply Irresistible”
From his time fronting Power Station, here’s a 1988 concert with Robert and Power Station performing “Some Like It Hot”
From 1991, live on the Arsenio Hall Television Show, 11+ minutes of Robert doing a great performance of Marvin Gaye’s biggest hit, “Mercy Mercy Me” (followed by “I Want You”)
From Danish TV in 1995, Robert Palmer in a live performance of “Addicted To Love” and “Respect Yourself”
From April 1997, here’s Robert and the Max Weinberg 7 on the Hard Rock Love special performing “Addicted to Love”
From his VH1 performance with the Max Weinberg 7, here’s Robert live belting out his smash hit “Simply Irresistible”
Here’s the original music video! Quite mythical, quite atypical, simply irresistible! "Simply Irresistible”
Thanks to friend of the Starship Steve Taylor, we have a 40 minute interview with Robert in 1988! Off the Record with Robert Palmer
You’re still one of the classiest blue eyed Soul brothers ever to strut the stage!
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Dewey Bunnell (January 19, 1952) was one of the three singer-songwriters who came together as America, major soft rock hitmakers in the 70s. Dewey wrote some of their biggest! Today for his birthday, here are some of the better-known tunes composed by our birthday talent, all done live with the original band!
Though not written by Dewey, this was the biggest hit they had, and no America set would be complete without it. For your enjoyment, a live video of America performing “Sister Golden Hair.”
Thanks for the memories, Dewey! I caught the original America's last tour in 1976 when I was the Field General at the 1st Sunday Break in Austin Texas, complete with palm trees on stage and chocolate milk backstage, one of the weirder requests I’ve ever heard of a band wanting in a contract!
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Taking a short break before our last set, we now give a huge RIP birthday shout out to the Grateful Dead’s Dancing Bear himself, the man who turned on millions, Mister Augustus Owsley Stanley III (January 19, 1935 – March 12, 2011). Rather than reinvent the wheel, I’ll just link to the tribute I did when he died celebrating the life and work of this singular force of nature. It’s worth a few minutes of your time to acquaint yourself with this man, since he really did change the world very much for the better for countless people on every inhabited continent. For your consideration, The Aquarius Papers Tribute to the Dancing Bear, Owsley Stanley.
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We’ll close our show with one of the greatest blues singers of all time, the divine Miz Janis Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970). A blues belter in the tradition of Big Mama Thornton, she was a hard-living, hard drinking Texas woman who found her way to California and made history. She was one of the Big Three who died all at age 27 around the same time in history: Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison were the other two.
I was entranced by her voice from the beginning, and saw her in Austin in early 1970. By then her voice was shot, and it was easy to see she was beginning a death spiral. Oh well. Flaming stars burn out quickly. For your enjoyment, the powerful and unique voice of Janis Joplin!!
First, live from the legendary Monterey Pop Festival kicking off the 1967 Summer of Love, Janis and Big Brother doing the rave up from their first album “Combination of the Two”
Here’s a live 1968 performance in Germany with Big Brother and the Holding Company doing her first monster hit "Piece of My Heart”
Going back to the legendary Monterey Pop Festival, we have THE incredible live performance that electrified the audience and the world when the movie came out! Here’s one of the more awesome performances ever done of one of her signature tunes, the powerful “Ball and Chain”
From the Summer of 1969, here’s 10+ minutes of Janis Joplin at Woodstock cranking out “Try” and “Ball and Chain,” and from that iconic festival, “Work Me Lord”
The full one hour audio set at Woodstock has disappeared, but I found these!
Thanks to Alexei, from 1969, with the Grateful Dead! "Turn on Your Love Light"
In all likelihood this live performance is from 1970. “Maybe”
Here she’s cranking out a passionate 1970 performance in Toronto of “Cry Baby”
Going back to the beginning! A classic tape recorded live at the legendary Threadgill’s in Austin, 1962! “C.C. Rider,” “San Francisco Bay Blues ,” “Wining Boy Blues ,” “Careless Love ,” and “I’ll Drown In My Own Tears.”
From 1970, a live audio-only a cappella version of "Mercedes Benz” Here’s a rougher cut of "Mercedes Benz”
For our finale, Janis performing live on The Dick Cavett Show in 1969! First, “To Love Somebody” followed by “Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)”
Here’s the Janis Joplin interview on The Dick Cavett Show!
For the encore, from Germany in 1969 at her peak, 33 minutes of pure gold! Janis Joplin Live in Germany 1969
Happy Birthday to the one who is living, and happy RIP birthday to the deceased. Thanks for the memories, tunes, and turn ons!
© Copyright 2025 Robert Wilkinson
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