Author Archives: dcaligari

December 17, 1965 –The special, The Music Of Lennon and McCartney, was shown across the United Kingdom on this date. All the songs were lip-synced

December 17, 1977 – Elvis Costello and The Attractions made a rare United States television debut on Saturday Night Live when Sid Vicious and the Sex Pistols failed to show up for the gig. Producer Lorne Michaels refused to allow Costello to perform Radio, Radio because of the song’s criticism of the broadcasting industry, butContinue reading “Naughty, naughty Elvis”

December 17, 1971 –David Bowie releases his fourth album, Hunky Dory, which opens with the iconic Changes, on this date. The album was the first to feature all the members of the band that would become known the following year as Ziggy Stardust’s Spiders From Mars. Two singles were released from the album: Changes/ AndyContinue reading “We never do find out which movie she’s seen?”

Today is the beginning of Saturnalia. It is an ancient Roman festival that was held in honor of the god Saturn. It was an occasion for celebration, visits to friends, and the presentation of gifts, particularly wax candles (or mentholated ACME Bung Balm.) The Saturnalia was originally celebrated in Ancient Rome for only a day,Continue reading “More later – it figures in our Christmas story.”

Here’s a Christmas song I bet you haven’t heard It’s Underneath The Mambo Tree (Santa No. 5) by DJ Cummerbund.

December 16, 1972 –Soul singer Billy Paul’s single, Me and Mrs. Jones hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts on this date. A hint about this song’s subject matter is cleverly “hidden” in its intro: the saxophone is playing the first line from a 1953 Doris Day hit entitled Secret Love, which won the OscarContinue reading “Me and Mrs. Jones topped the charts”

December 16, 1977 –Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta, went into general release on this date. Oh John, what a long strange trip it’s been since that polyester shirt. When Tony’s dad hits him in the back of the head during dinner, his retort of “just watch the hair!” and complained about being hit onContinue reading “We all tried that double slice of pizza”

December 16, 1971 –Don McLean’s eight-minute-plus version of American Pie was released and became one of the longest songs to ever hit the pop charts. If you prefer the clip with Don singing in it, here you go. Youngster, can use the song as the Cliff Notes (Shmoop, if you prefer) for what happened duringContinue reading “We found out the true water level at the embankment today”

December 16, 1975 –The groundbreaking sitcom (for it’s time) One Day At A Time starring Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli premiered on this date. Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli are only five months apart in age. Bertinelli was the younger of the two, so Phillips was cast as the older sister.

Most Christmas songs are likely to feature one of two people: Jesus or Santa. And while people have been singing Christmas hymns and carols about Jesus since the Fourth century, songs about Santa Claus arrived a little later. It’s believed that the tune, Up On the Housetop, written in 1864 by Benjamin Hanby, a churchContinue reading “Santa became the point”