On December 11, 1961, Elvis Presley started a 20 week run at No.1 on the US album chart with “Blue Hawaii,” his 7th number one album.  I though I’d let this serve as the theme for this week’s playlist, “Bluer Than Blue,” songs featuring the word blue, but not blues. Having returned from a Hawaiian vacation a few months ago, it is wild to see the island relatively undeveloped back in 1961.

Even more wild is the trailer for the movie:

I actually included Willie Nelson’s version of the song on the playlist.  When I was younger I didn’t really appreciate Willie’s appeal and talent.  But I’ve come around…. Elvis does get a nod or two with “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Blue Moon Of Kentucky,” as well as the videos in the post.

When LeAnn Rimes recorded “Blue” she was only 13 years old!  I remember being blown away.  A country classic right up there with Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” (featured in my “Lets Go CRAZY” playlist).

Linda Ronstadt appears SEVEN times on the list with including her first band, the Stone Ponys, solo, then as part of a trio with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris.  She commented early in her career “they haven’t invented a word for that loneliness that everybody goes through on the road,” thus her blue mood.  Early in her career she performed with the Doors, Neil Young, and Jackson Browne.  In the early ‘70s her back up band included Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner, who went on to form the Eagles. Not a shabby back up band!

Ronstadt often referred to as “The First Lady of Rock” and “Queen of Rock” became the first female “arena class” rock star.  She was the top selling female artist of the ‘70s and one of the top grossing concert artists of the decade.  She appeared six times on the cover of Rolling Stone as well as on the covers of Newsweek and Time.

Elton John, who figures significantly in my piano and keyboard greats playlists “Piano Man” and “Put Me On” appears SIX times.  Later in Elton’s careen he became involved in several musical soundtracks, including “The Lion King,” “Aida,” “The Road To El Dorado,” and “Gnomeo and Juliet.”   Featured here is “Someday Out Of The Blue” from “El Dorado.”

So I hope these songs don’t make you too blue.  If they do, try ending with ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky” which is bound to cheer you up:

Sun is shinin’ in the sky

There ain’t a cloud in sight

It stopped rainin’ everybody’s in the play

And don’t you know

It’s a beautiful new day, hey hey

And now for the playlist:

I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew.  Rediscover the passion of music in your life.

Live in the moment.

Enjoy the moment.

Love the moment.

Listen to the MUSIC!