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April 10, 1970 –Elton John released his self-titled second studio album which included the breakthrough single Your Song, on this date. Grammy nominated for Album of the Year and certified 2x Platinum, it was Elton’s debut LP in the U.S. and established the singer–songwriter’s career.

April 9, 1974 – It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!, the 12th prime-time animated Peanuts TV special debuted on CBS on this date. When the Peanuts characters arrive at the mall at Easter time, the mall is decorated for the December holiday season with banners that proclaim: Only 246 shopping days until Christmas.

April 9, 2009 – We got to meet Leslie Knope and her co-workers when Parks and Recreations premiered on NBC-TV on this date. The original pilot received mixed responses from focus group screenings, leading to parts being rewritten and new scenes shot in order to make Leslie and Mark more likable. Originally, Mark was interestedContinue reading “Parks and Recreations debuted”

April 9, 1977 –ABBA had their only no. #1 US hit on the Billboard Charts – Dancing Queen, on this date. ABBA recorded this about a year before it was released. It was written and recorded around the same time as Fernando, which was chosen as the single. They knew Dancing Queen would also beContinue reading “Dancing Queen topped the charts”

Today is National Gin and Tonic Day Once again I will remind you gentle readers that I am not a spokesperson for Bombay Sapphire (yet), I find it is a waste to use it, given it’s delicate botanicals in a G and T; but hey, what do I know. International Gin and Tonic Day, forContinue reading “Again, not celebrated every day in my house”

Happy Easter everybody! We’ve spoken about Ishtar before: there is an ancient story about Tammuz (also known as Attis, Osiris, Dionysus, Adonis, Orpheus or Jesus – you’ll get the idea) who was born of a virgin, died, was reborn. He was the lover of Ishtar The festival associated with Tammuz began as a day ofContinue reading “Surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia!”

April 8, 1977 –CBS Records released the the debut studio eponymous named album by The Clash, on this date. The group was signed by a CBS-affiliated record company for 100,000 British pounds, an unprecedented sum for a group who had little noteworthy performance history. Many of the punk establishment criticized the group for selling out,Continue reading “The Clash went on sale”

April 8, 2000 –In a Saturday Night Live skit where Blue Öyster Cult is recording (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, Christopher Walken demands more cowbell from Will Ferrell, who complies. A catch phrase is born

April 8, 1968 – The TV special Petula airs on NBC on this date. Most people would not remember this special except at one point in the show, host Petula Clark grabs hold of Harry Belafonte’s arm while they are singing a duet. As bizarre as this may seem, the show marked the first timeContinue reading “Petula Clark TV special”

Today is Holy Saturday; it’s also known as the Great Sabbath, Black Saturday, or Easter Eve. (You kids today are soft; we used to have to fast the entire day today.) Today is the last day of Lent – you have one more day of having to give up something (or one could have doneContinue reading “The Great Virgil”