The journey is far from over for the San Francisco group that gave us a ton of hits in the 70s and 80s. Journey would give us 26 chart hits over the two decades with "Don't Stop Believin" reaching the top 10 at #9 in 1981. On Sunday night, that song went into orbit when it was used as the closing theme on "The Sopranos"...
David Chase, creator of "The Sopranos" used the lyrics to sum up the very essence of his creation: "Some will win, some will lose. Some were born to sing the blues" and the real kicker: "It goes on and on and on and on". Just like the final episode. I kept looking at the clock, wondering when the bombshell ending was coming. I'm still wondering. Now we can look forward to the sequel movie(s) and despite denials by Chase, you know that "The Sopranos" will become the "Star Trek" of the 21st Century. On and on and on and on...
There were two good things to come out of a season finale that rivalled the excitement of the "Seinfeld" finale: the resurrection of Journey, a terrific group and the Jim Kerr aircheck used in the opening scene. I can't wait to get Jim's take the next time I run into him. He's gotta be happy about that. And what about Journey's reaction? Said the group's Jonathan Cain: "It was better than anything I would have hoped for". Cain wrote the song with fellow band members Steve Perry (who sang lead) and Neal Schon...
"Some will win, some will lose". We lost as viewers but Journey won big and that makes me happy...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1665] Britannia rules: England installs a municipal government in New York, formerly the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam...
- 1667] "Transfusion, transfusion. I'm just a solid mess of confusions": The 1st human blood transfusion is administered by Dr. Jean Baptiste who successfully transfuses the blood of a sheep to a 15-year old boy. They did have a problem getting the boy from baaa-ing for the longest time though...
- 1792] "Why I think I'll name it after me": George Vancouver discovers uncharted land in Western Canada and names it after himself. Vancouver, BC is discovered (a great discovery)...
- 1923] Criss Angel and David Blaine, step aside: Harry Houdini frees himself from a straight jacket while suspended upside down, 40 feet above ground in New York City...
- 1939] Premiered on this date: The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is officially opened. Most of the original members, chosen in 1936 (Ruth, Cobb, Wagner, Mathewson and Johnson) were in attendance. This July 29th, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. will join those greats...1965] Sonny and Cher make their 1st TV appearance on "American Bandstand"... 1981] "Raiders of The Lost Ark" starring Harrison Ford premieres. This is the scene of the duel between Indy and the sword-wielding Arab: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxJNz9tQyLE ...1992] "Batman Returns" premieres...
- 1942] Happy Birthday Anne: In Amsterdam, Anne Frank gets a diary for her 13th birthday...
- 1955] Jeepers Creepers: After a run of 3 years, "Mr. Peepers" starring Wally Cox airs for the last time...
- 1971] Wedding Bells: Tricia Nixon and Edward F. Cox say "I Do" in the White House Rose Garden. They are still married...
- 1978] Guilty as charged: David Berkowitz is sentenced to 25 years to life for each of the 6 "Son of Sam" murders he committed. He's still there...
- 2002] "Happy Trails": Bill Blass dies of throat cancer at 79...2003] Academy Award winning actor Gregory Peck dies in his sleep from cardiorespiratory arrest at 87...
Music Memories:
- 1965] Released on this date: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - Rolling Stones...
- 1965] #1 on this date: "Back in My Arms Again" - Supremes (5th consecutive #1 hit)...1977] "Dreams" - Fleetwood Mac (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVuhWA8EVMo )...1988] "Together Forever" - Rick Astley ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12XQKfUTSP4&mode=related&search= )...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
John Gorman comments on my mention that it's time for the return of "Amos 'N' Andy": "I'm with you on "Amos 'N' Andy. The writing rivals any comedy. The actors played the characters to a hilt - especially Tim Moore who really was 'The Kingfish'. I believe that there were plans to do an "Amos 'N' Andy" musical on Broadway but it didn't happen due to some copyright issues with CBS"...Here's Frank Kingston Smith's take: "Hard to believe that show only ran two years. The original radio guys, Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll were the originators of the show. I get a couple of Navy historical publications and one of them advertises the complete TV collection on DVD"...
Several years ago, the New York Post had an ad for 5 episodes of the show which I sent for. Shortly after receiving them I saw an article saying that CBS, which owned the copyright for the show, had sent a 'cease and desist' to the folks I just bought the shows from. They had sold 50,000 VHS tapes before CBS got wind of it and put the kibosh on them. I was fortunate to get my order before they did...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Cheap Trick's Bun E. Carlos (56), The Trogg's Reg Presley (63), Len Barry (65), Marv Albert (66), Jim Nabors (74), our 41st President George H.W. Bush (83) and David Rockefeller (82)...
Timeline Countdown: 5 days until Father's Day, 9 days until Summer and 22 days until July 4th...
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