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Song of the Day #4,456: ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ – ELO

English prog-rock band Electric Light Orchestra (or ELO) is the next inductee from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2017 class. The band, fronted by Jeff Lynne, rotated several members through its lineup over the years, but the core members (and the ones inducted into the Hall) were Lynne, founder Roy Wood, drummer Bev Bevan and keyboardist Richard Tandy.

ELO blended traditional pop and rock instrumentation with classical strings and horns, taking their cue from The Beatles and helping to popularize one of the dominant sounds of the 70s.

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Song of the Day #4,455: ‘Diamonds & Rust’ – Joan Baez

After a month of musicals, I’m turning my attention to good old-fashioned rock-n-roll, taking a look at a recent class of inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Previously in this Rock Hall series, I’ve featured the classes of 2020, 2019, and 2018. Starting today, I’ll take a look at the six members inducted in 2017.

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Song of the Day #4,454: ‘Vincent’ – Don McLean

Don McLean’s 1971 album American Pie is best known for its epic title track, of course, but it spawned another hit single in ‘Vincent.’

This lovely song was inspired by the life and death of painter Vincent Van Gogh, who suffered from mental illness and committed suicide at just 37.

McLean had this to say about the inspiration for one of his most beloved songs:

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Song of the Day #4,453: ‘The Long Race’ – Bruce Hornsby &amp the Range

This is the third Bruce Hornsby song to show up on a Random Weekend in the past nine months. Prior to that, the only Hornsby song on the blog came more than nine years earlier, in September of 2010.

This song is new to me. It’s the fourth track on his debut album, a record I know through its singles: ‘The Way It Is,’ ‘On the Western Skyline,’ ‘Every Little Kiss,’ and ‘Mandolin Rain.’

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Song of the Day #4,452: ‘You’re the One That I Want’ – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

Concluding my personal ranking of the 25 movie musicals deemed essential by the American Film Institute…

#1. Grease – 1978
(#20 on the AFI list)

I don’t know if this will be a controversial choice as my #1 musical on the AFI list, but I have to say it wasn’t even close. Since I first saw Grease as a kid, this has been not just the best musical I’ve ever seen but one of my favorite movies, period.

This movie is such a blast from start to finish — from the melodramatic beachside embrace to the greatest end-of-school carnival ever. It’s impossible to start Grease and not finish it.

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