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Flashback Friday! Dough Boy and Stones

Hungry for a biscuit? Remember the ones that mom used to make? That savory, luscious smell of fresh baked rolls wafting out from the oven as you waited in hungry anticipation, your mouth watering as you wait. Well folks, 50 years ago today a gastronomical tradition began in many a household. March 18th, 1961 saw the introduction of the Poppin’ Fresh Pillsbury Doughboy, that iconic symbol of biscuitry everywhere. Poke that stomach, hear that giggle, open your mouth and in goes….sorry, I couldn’t find a word to rhyme with biscuit!

Now, while the Dough Boy kept us all in good humor as we ate, the Rolling Stones had something else in mind on March 18th, 1965 as they were fined 5 pounds for public urination. Maybe that’s why Jagger bounces all over the stage when he performs, hmmmmmmmm. Either way, on that day Jagger, Bill Wyman and Brian Jones tried to use the toilet at a gas station in West Ham, England but were turned away. When you gotta go, you gotta go. And went they did. Busted! But really, what’s 5 pounds to relieve your bladder?

So, on this day in history, we got biscuits and we got…well, relief. What do you have? Tell us about it in our forums here!

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Melodic Monday: White Stripes, Grey and Idols

Here is your ‘readers digest’ version of some breaking music news this past week. Hopefully this will help get you all caught up!

Original ‘Love the Way You Lie’

If you haven’t heard this version of the song by the original writer, it’s a must listen. It’s kinda like acoustic candy for your ears. Skylar Grey, (formerly Holly Brook) the original writer of the tune is currently making a big splash on the music scene, piping up on some big artist records, from Dr. Dre to Lupe Fiasco. Skylar states that she never really was a writer for others, but an artist in her own right. The song was originally written for her to perform, but once Rihanna and her team heard the track, they asked her for the hit. Skylar agreed to let it go, but thought it would be great if people could still hear her version of it. So, here you go, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below!

The White Stripes are No More, Sales Rise Substantially

The White Stripes are calling it quits, according to a statement made by Jack and Meg White on their site last Thursday, the band “has officially ended and will make no further records or perform live.” According to the statement, both Jack and Meg are “feeling fine and in good health,” and the decision comes instead from a desire to “preserve what is beautiful and special about the band.” There were no creative differences, no lack of wanting to continue, no health issues, no in-fighting. They added that they want to thank every one of their fans and admirers for the incredible support they have given throughout the 13 plus years of The White Stripes’ intense and incredible career. “The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful.”
In the time after the news broke, the sales of their music had a massive boost. The band’s live album and documentary ‘Under Great White Northern Lights‘ actually had a  2,644% increase, according to Amazon’s UK site. Their older albums also saw large increases in sales. Question is, will they change their minds in the future? I guess we will have to wait and see.

Mick Jagger to Hit the Grammy Stage for the First Time

Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones is finally giving in to the Grammy’s for the first time in his long, long career. Jagger will perform on the stage February 13th with soul singer Raphael Saadiq as part of a tribute to soul singer Solomon Burke who died last year. Burke opened several times in his late career for the band, and Jagger feels a strong connection to him.
“We’re thrilled, delighted, excited and very much looking forward to Mick doing his debut on the Grammy stage,” said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy. “It’s extraordinary to many of us that the fact is, this will be the first time; he has never performed on the Grammy stage.”
This is not really the first time Jagger has performed for the Grammy’s, but the previous performance was over satellite, when the band received the lifetime achievment award presented by Eric Clapton.
This won’t be Jagger’s first appearance on a Grammy telecast. In 1986, the Rolling Stones were given a lifetime achievement award by Eric Clapton, and they performed on the show by satellite. “I think they had been celebrating a little time before we went on camera,” Ken Ehrlich said. “It was quite a moment.”
Ehrlich has produced the show for 31 years and has always wanted Jagger and the Stones to perform, but it didn’t work out until this year.Jagger will join a performers list that includes Rihanna, Cee Lo Green, Gwyneth Paltrow, Eminem, Arcade Fire, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Usher, Lady Gaga, Lady Antebellum and Justin Bieber.

American Idol Releases ‘Greatest Hits’ Album

Scheduled to be released on March 15th, American Idol is releases their first ‘Greatest Hits’ album. Named “American Idol 10th Anniversary – The Hits”, the album will feature songs by Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Adam Lambert, Fantasia and David Cook.
This will mark the first album that American Idol releases including all of their seasons winners. They have previously released “Greatest Hits” albums, but they only encompassed the hits from their respective seasons. The new album will include all the winners from the past 10 seasons, with additional tracks from runner-ups Adam Lambert and Clay Aiken.
See the full track listing below:

1. Kelly Clarkson – “Since U Been Gone”
2. Ruben Studdard – “Superstar”
3. Clay Aiken – “Invisible”
4. Fantasia – “When I See U”
5. Carrie Underwood – “Before He Cheats”
6. Taylor Hicks – “Takin’ It To The Streets”
7. Daughtry – “Home”
8. Jordin Sparks (duet with Chris Brown) – “No Air”
9. David Cook – “Light On”
10. Kris Allen – “Live Like We’re Dying”
11. Adam Lambert – “Whataya Want From Me”
12. Lee DeWyze – “Sweet Serendipity”

Will you buy it? I’m not sure if I will… I haven’t liked every American Idol that has won the show, and the ones I did like I already purchased either as an album, or as a single (more often than not.)

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Don Kirshner, Music Mogul, Dies.

NPR – by Tom Cole – Don Kirshner saw rock n’ roll born out of R&B, and he was there as the music grew into a self-indulgent young adult. Kirshner was a music publisher and a television producer. He had a hand in launching Bobby Darin’s career and he put the Ramones on network TV. He was sometimes called, “The Man With The Golden Ear.”

Kirshner died yesterday of heart failure in Boca Raton, Florida, where he lived. He was 76 years old.

He was born in the Bronx and, the story goes, met Robert Cassotto at a candy shop in Washington Heights. They wrote some songs together, including Cassotto’s first single, “My First Love,” which he recorded under the name Bobby Darin.

In 1958, Kirshner co-founded Aldon Music with publisher Al Nevins. That same year, Darin’s “Splish Splash” hit the Top 10. Aldon landed some of the top songwriting teams of the day, including Carole King and Gerry Goffin; Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil; and Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. Their songs were recorded by the Drifters, the Shirelles, and Bobby Vee.

Kirshner launched a label, Dimension Records, that released such hits as Little Eva’s “The Loco-Motion” (written by Goffin and King) in 1962. Kirshner and Nevins sold Aldon to Screen Gems/Columbia the following year, and Kirshner eventually became the company’s president.

It was there that Kirshner began to combine music and television. The result was the Monkees. Whatever you may think, they were hugely successful — but disputes over royalties and rights led to Kirshner’s departure from Screen Gems under a legal cloud.

He shot back with another music/TV effort that replaced ungrateful musicians with animated comic book characters — the Archies. Don’t laugh. The “band” (which featured lead vocals by the Cuff Links’ Ron Dante and guitar and bass by such session veterans as Hugh McCracken and Chuck Rainey, respectively) scored a number 1 hit with, “Sugar, Sugar,” selling more than 6 million records.

In the early ’70s, Kirshner became the executive producer for ABC-TV’s “In Concert” late night series, which featured performances by the Allman Brothers Band, Alice Cooper, and Curtis Mayfield, among many others. Kirshner then launched his own syndicated concert show, Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, in September of 1973 with a performance by The Rolling Stones. Later guests included the Ramones, The Eagles, and Kansas, a band Kirshner is credited with helping to launch. The show ran through 1981 and became a staple for ’70s rock fans, despite Kirshner’s stiff stage presence.

Kirshner remained active in the music business right up until the end of his life, through music publishing and a new company called Rockrena which, according to a press release announcing Kirshner’s death is “an online global community where artists, bands, fans, rock stars, and industry professionals come together to find, judge, and enjoy the best undiscovered rock talent online, and at ROCK CITY CLUB shows worldwide.”