(Note: this series was originally published elsewhere.)

Something in music: origin

One evening at a hot, trendy L.A. nightclub on a rare solo outing, yours truly found himself standing alone at the bar preparing to review the upcoming act. Before he had taken more than a few notes, however, he was bookended by a pair of vivacious vixens who insisted on engaging your rockin’ writer in cozy conversation. Strangely, the subject of “marriage” arose.

One of the young ladies noted that when a gal is about to get hitched, she needs “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” Your provocative penman was immediately inspired. After all, those very same terms could be applied to music too: “Something old” or classic, “something new” or recently released, “something borrowed”, a cover, and “something blue”, a blues song or a song with “blue” in the title. The rest is history.

‘Something’ in Music 362

Something Old

Our “something old” this edition is the classic cut “Let's Spend The Night Together” recorded by the Rolling Stones and written by band members Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It was originally released as a double A-sided single with “Ruby Tuesday” in 1967. It also appeared on the US version of their 1967 platter Between the Buttons.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is “Hideaway.” It’s the latest single from American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and former BoDeans member Sam Llanas. It features bassist Bob Griffin and drummer Guy Hoffman who worked with him on the 1986 BoDeans disc Love & Sex & Hopes & Dreams.

According to an email, Llanas credits “serendipity” and “fortuitous timing” for proving the impetus to finish the song with producer Sean Williamson the “guitarist and lap steel player in the Sam Llanas Band.” The Milwaukee-based Llanas discussed his newest single in a recent e-communique. He said:

“I had this song laying around for a while and wasn't sure what to do with it and then it became obvious. Guy [Hoffman] was visiting Milwaukee from Los Angeles to play a few shows celebrating Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, so I said to him as long as you're here we should record a song of mine and get Bob [Griffin] to join us.”

He concluded: “We hadn't recorded together in over 35 years so it seemed like a no-brainer to do it while we still could. I know this phrase gets used a lot, but there really was a lot of love in the room that day, and I think you can hear that in the track.”

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” for this edition is the 1975 song “Kashmir” recorded by Led Zeppelin and written by band members Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Bonham. This dedicated, clever cover version is by Canadian composer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actress Lili Haydn. It was featured on her 2014 album Lililand.

Something Blue

Last but not least, our “something blue” this edition is the track titled “Hula Blues” written and recorded by The Brothers Cazimero–musical performers Robert and Roland Cazimero. This cut is off their 1989 album titled Hawaiian Paradise. If you’d like to see what brother Robert Cazimero is up to as a solo act and are in the Los Angeles area, you’re in luck!

Kuma Hula, multiinstrumentalist and composer Cazimero will be performing live at the Aloha Everywhere Concert Series’ event, “An Enchanted Afternoon of Music & Hula'' on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at 3 p.m. at the Downey Theatre in Downey California. According to a recent e-mail, this “captivating afternoon of music and hula” will also include Cazimero’s “Hālau Nā Kamalei o Līlīlehua and special guest Kumu Hula Maelia Loebenstein Carter.” Tickets are between $55.00 and $65.00 per person plus a convenience fee of $4.75.

Group discounts are available. Parking is free. For tickets and additional information, visit the website.

Did we mention your favorite “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”? If not, let us know. Don’t forget to send us your bride photos too!

(Images courtesy of Rock n Roll Bride and/or original owners)