Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Color My World" (Chicago)

"Today's Broadcast Brought To You In Living Color"


Howdy!  Hi There!  Welcome!  Good Day To You My Friend!  So Happy To Have You Here!  Greetings And Felicitous Salutations!   In other words, it's Tuesday!  Time for another edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes, the place where classic tunes and canonical text meet in a symbiosis of harmony, love, and accountability.  Each week, Tuesday's Musical Notes attempts to paint with a palette of incredible diversity and provide a simple difference to the week as we attempt to color your world...

"Color My World" by Chicago, a movement from "Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon" from 1970's Chicago (Chicago II)

 

For you purists out there, here is the full length track, a whopping 13 minutes long!!!  You might even recognize a couple of the other "movements"

Chicago - "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" (Live, 1977) from the 1970 album Chicago (Chicago II)  (1977)

Finally, for you modernists out there.  Just goes to show you good music and great musicians never go out of style.

Chicago - "Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon" (Live - 2014) from the 1970 album Chicago (Chicago II)(2014)

 

Based on the strength of a hand full of singles that receive much radio play,many popular artists have seen debut albums become very successful. The release of their second album, however, tells the tale of how long the act may be around in the music scene.  Typically, a second album is not as well received as the debut.  This is called "the sophomore slump". Music history is littered with the "one hit wonders" whose sophomore effort paled in comparison to their "original" work and they quickly faded into the mass of music history.  This is not the case for the band... Chicago.  

Chicago released in 1970 after the success of 1969's Chicago Transit Authority.  Chicago II, as it is better known, soared up the album charts to #4.  This was incredible, considering it was a double album and it featured 2 songs that were over 10 minutes long. (Both multi disc format and long songs was typical for early Chicago as their first 3 albums were doubles and the 4th release was the 4 disc live project Chicago at Carnegie Hall, each of which includes at least 1 song that is in excess of 10 minutes long.) The classically trained musicians of Chicago utilized the "movement" or "suite" styles of the great composers as they wrote songs.  The "suites" told a lengthy story through music with a variety of styles, all of which were consolidated into one song. 

"Color My World" continues to be one of Chicago's most requested songs, however, it was never a feature single.  It was very unusual radio to play songs that weren't the "A" side singles.  "Color My World" was the exception as it received huge requests at radio and went as high as #7 on the charts while being a "B-side" for 2 singles, 1970's "Make Me Smile", and the 1971 reissue of "Beginnings", respectively.   It is a movement found in the middle of the "Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon" written by trombone player James Pankow.  It features the most famous major seventh chord in music history and has been known to be the soundtrack for many a slow dance.  It was not a part of Chicago's set list for 4 years after the lead vocalist for the song, Terry Kath, was killed.  Coming back to the concert stage in 1982, "Color My World" has been sung from 1982 - 1991 by Kath's replacement Bill Champlin, 1991- 2009 by founding member and lead keyboardist Robert Lamm, and since 2009 by trumpeter Lee Loughnanne.  

We admit we have a bias when it comes to the band Chicago...

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long"
Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Saturday In The Park"
Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Vote For Me"
Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Alive Again"

 

You might even say we allow this band to "color" what we do around here...We all have things in our lives that influence us.  As we go through life, rarely do we see things in black and white. We interact with people from a variety of lifestyles, ethnicities, and backgrounds.  We are also impacted by stimuli that causes adjustments in our lives.  These interactions, the "color" in our lives,  provides a variety that creates changes in how we do things.  It transforms us, if you will. 

Whether we like to admit it or not, we are being transformed into something.  We determine what exactly we transform into.  Many times we are more than meets the eye, but I am not talking about Autobots or Decpticons. I am, however, talking about how we change as we head toward eternity.  I think you would agree that you are not exactly the same person you were a year ago.  In some ways you are not the same as you were a week ago.  Ultimately, there are only 2 ways that you are being "colored".  The way of the "world" or the way of the Lord.  

We've discussed this on several occasions, yet it seems so vitally important in the age in which we live.  Every day we either become more like the world around us, or more like the Jesus who made us.  Much of the "color" that engages us is out of our control.  How we react to it, how we allow it to change us, is totally our decision.  

As time goes on, I realize how important Romans 12:1-2 The Message/NIV parallel is and just what it means to me.  It should be my verse of the day, everyday.  This passage encourages us to give up the selfish desires that we have for the day, and surrender to God's desires.   We allow Holy Spirit to "color" our world when interacting with folks.  We allow the hope of eternity with God to "color" our decisions.  We allow the promise of Jesus' love to directly impact the lives of others through us.  Not only is our world "colored", but we get the opportunity to "color" the world of others.  I have had many friends influence me...if you are one of them, whether you know it or not, I thank you...You truly do "color my world, with hope..."

"Christ In Me" by Jeremy Camp from the 2015 album I Will Follow

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Freewill" (Rush)

Hey there!  It's Tuesday!! Even better, it's time for Tuesday's Musical Notes.  This is the place to find information about music, musicians, and ministry.  It is also the place where sometimes you can see how these three m's intersect, interact, and entertain. ( I know, I know, it doesn't start with an "i", but it sounds the same...)  Welcome, welcome, welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes where you're ability to choose to read is totally up to you.  Yup, when it comes to Tuesday's Musical Notes...you have total...

"Freewill" by Rush From the 1980 album Permanent Waves

Progressive Rock, or Prog Rock, was in its infancy in 1968 when 3 Canadian musicians came together to create one of Rock-N-Roll's most talented bands.  Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and John Rutsey would form Rush in Toronto, Canada.  You read that correctly, Neal Peart would not join the band until Rutsey left in 1974, two weeks before the band's first tour of the United States.  While Rutsey would perform all of the drum tracks for the 1974 album, Rush, he would not be able to tour because of his battle with diabetes and was let go by Lee and Lifeson.

 

It would be the first time in a real recording and touring band for Rutsey's replacement.  Neil Peart struggled to gain success as a drummer in Canada and found himself in England where things never became much better.  Upon his return to Canada, he sold tractor parts for his father until he was encouraged to audition for the Toronto based Rush.  The rest is musical history. 

The band has scored 24 Gold, 14 Platinum, and 3 Multi-Platinum records, placing them third behind The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones, for most consecutive Gold or Platinum studio records by a band.  They have been nominated for 7 Grammys, won several Juno Awards (Canada's version of the Grammys), were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994 and in 2013 Lee, Lifeson, and Peart were inducted into the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame.  

As a band, they decided to abandon touring after completion of their 2015 commitments, yet most musicologists suggest that even though their last studio album was 2012's Clockwork Angels, Rush will continue to record and put out music.  48 years is probably enough time spend honing your craft, which they certainly have. Each band member is considered the absolute best on their individual instruments.  Yup, take some time fellas, you deserve the rest.  It is however, your choice, and if you choose not to decide,,,well, if you happen to be a fan of Rush...you know the rest.

Today's song is unique in many ways.  It represents a departure for Rush in that it is time friendly for radio.  Much of their previous work was long songs that wouldn't work within the time framework which radio require. 

The time signature is also very unique for "Freewill".  The time signature alternates between 6/4, 7/4, 6/4, 7/4, 6/4, 8/4 and repeats during the first verse.  It is also quite philosphical lyrically as many of Rush's songs are.  However, "Freewill" goes to the heart of the human condition.  Do we have choices in life or are we at the hands of a force that is directing everything to its will?  Their answer?  You choose.  "I will choose a path that's clear, I will choose freewill"

There are many thoughts and philosophies regarding how mankind came into his decision making capacity.  If you read Edith Hamilton's Mythology (a favorite in High School AP English classes) you see that man makes decisions based on the influences and sometimes on the demands of the gods. (Greek or Roman) You could go so far as to say that man has no decision making capacity in these world views as "fate" or "the fates" has complete control over the destiny of man.  At times going to the extreme by sacrificing human beings in an attempt to influence the particular deity who happened to be in charge at the time.  During the same time the mythology philosophy was dominating the world, a man walked on the earth saying that He was the Son of The God.  His teaching shattered the polytheistic world view that dominated the culture of the day and began shedding light on the darkness that was Zeus and Achilles.  

His name is Jesus.  His teaching did not involve any sacrifice other than His own.  His teaching was clear that mankind had a choice.  That choice was to believe He was who He said He was...or don't.  He never forced His way into anyone's life, and never changed anyone who did not first request to be changed.  He physically and spiritually healed the folks He came into contact.  

The foundation for this "freedom of choice" or "freewill" ideology is an Old Testament principle given to Israel from God, the Father:  Deuteronomy 30:11-20 The Message paraphrase of The Bible/New International Version of The Bible parallel  

In the New Testament Gospel of Luke, there is a conversation regarding the followers of John the Baptist and Jesus.  Luke describes the group that Jesus was addressing.  In His discourse, Jesus speaks about every class of people that are in the crowd making their choice. However, when He comes to the religious leaders (Pharisees and "experts in the law" v.30), Jesus proclaims that they have already made their choice.  They had already chosen to reject God's purpose for themselves.  THEY CHOSE...  (The Gospel Of Jesus according to Luke 7 NIV/The Message parallel).

 

So you see friend, we choose.  We choose every day.  Good/Evil...light/darkness...God/the world...Jesus/the enemy...

We are faced with these kinds of choices every day.  Just look at the news of the day.  It seems that evil is taking an advantage and gaining ground, BUT...the story doesn't end with the news of the day.  The story ends with each person having made a choice of their own volition.  

The members of the band Rush, at least at the writing of the lyric for "Freewill", had not made a choice for Jesus.  Perhaps you haven't either.  If you'd like to know more about what I'm talking about, you can start by reading the true story of Jesus found in the Bible.  His story is called The Gospel and it is recorded by four different men, who tell the same story from four perspectives of men who had made the same choice.  The object of their choosing is one similar to a choice made by an Old Testament leader of the nation of Israel, Joshua.  Joshua 24:15 NIV/The Message parallel

So there you have it.  The options are before you.  You get to decide because Creator God did not want robots of flesh.  He wants loving servants who choose Him.  And you get the option, because you have freewill...

"I Choose Jesus" title track from the 2012 album by Moriah Peters

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "The Heat Is On" (Glenn Frey)

Welcome to Tuesday!!!  As you can see and probably feel, we are in for a hot one today.  A western high has parked itself right over our location and brought with it the desert heat.  Combine that with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and it makes for a miserable day outside.  Make sure you check on the elderly and shut ins who may not have any air conditioning.  Also, make sure your pets have plenty of water.  Pace yourself if you have to be outdoors and hydrate often.  We don't see any rain in the forecast for quite sometime, so you may want to get those sprinklers ready.  We aren't on water restrictions yet folks, but let's face it...The Heat Is On!!!

"The Heat Is On" by Glenn Frey from the Soundtrack of the Motion Picture Beverly Hills Cop

The opening song for the movie Beverly Hills Cop was the highest charting solo single by any of the musicians who made up the band The Eagles.  It peaked at #2 in the US charts and propelled the soundtrack from the movie to #1 in 1984.  It was popular enough to be given a 12" release (a LP "single" that was very trendy in the 80's), which had 3 different versions included of the song.  Glenn Frey recorded the main vocals in one day.   The next day he recorded the guitar tracks and background vocals for the song.   The rest as they say is recording history.  It is an iconic opening to a movie and assisted Beverly Hills Cop to be one of the highest grossing films of 1984.  

 

It doesn't take long to understand that there is instability in the world today.  It seems that the "heat" is literally turned up in every avenue of our lives.  Civility is completely lost in the political realm.  Anger, resentment, and hatred abound in our discourse about culture (We all belong to the human race, therefore racism is not the correct word to be using regarding our differences.  Our problem is cultural.  Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Black And White").  Instead of "We Are The World", we seem more inclined to "Kill'em All". 

 

It is a sad statement that death and destruction are permeating our headlines.  We have, however, been told that our times will be like this.  Readers of The Bible see today's headlines in many of Its books and chapters.  These warnings can really be given the Reader's Digest Condensed version by just commenting that, "The Heat Is On".

But there is hope.  Also included in The Bible is the plan for the redemption of the earth and its inhabitants.  It is a simple plan.  Be drawn by Holy Spirit to turn to God through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.  Believe what the Bible says about repenting or turning away from your sin, the wrong things in your life, and accept the redemption that is coming for those who believe.  Then following that up with good works that you are intended to do after your salvation.  Ephesians 2:1-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of The Bible parallel

Before this restoration can begin, there are perilous times that must come to pass.  The Apostle Peter had some insight into this and wrote his second letter to explain what will occur.

2 Peter 3 New International Version of The Bible/ The Message/ New American Standard Bible parallel

Look around friend.  The Heat Is On.  The time is coming.  The Day Of The Lord will soon come to pass.  Those who have been forgiven of EVERY wrongdoing (1 John 1:9 NIV/The Message parallel) will be spared the misery of those last days.  

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 King James Version of The Bible/ The Message parallel  His promises are true. Believers will literally be "caught up in the action", because Jesus is "lookin' out for you" 

The number 3 is important in the Bible.  We believe in The Trinity, God three-in-one, in the presence of Father, Son, and Spirit.  Jesus remained in the tomb for three days.  There are many other examples.  There are 3 periods of evil that I think are significant as well.  There have been 2 other times in the world's 4000-5000 year history, (yes you read that correctly What is the age of the earth? Articles and Videos from Answers In Genesis), where evil was raging at the level in which we see now.  The first was the time of Noah.  Genesis 6:5-8 KJV/The Message parallel  Noah and his family were saved from a world wide flood by being inside a wooden boat called an ark.   While not detailed in the Bible,  history books are filled with the excessive evil time that was pervasive during time that Jesus was a physical man on the earth.  Jesus came to provide the ultimate and final means of being saved from destruction through a wooden torture device called a cross. Look around the landscape of our world.  It is easy to see that evil is running rampant in every corner of the globe.  My personal conviction is that we are seeing a time of evil that equals the days of Noah and the time of Jesus.  It is a time of such evil that the final destruction of what we know as earth will soon be at hand.  I have no idea when that will be.  The Apostles were looking for that redemption soon after Jesus was taken back to heaven.  Why should we not be gazing to the eastern sky...tell me can you feel it, tell me can you feel it, tell me can you feel it...

 

"Redemption Draweth Nigh" by Bill and Gloria Gaither and friends, The Gaither Homecoming Series

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy

Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (George M. Cohan/James Cagney)

Today's edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes is a first of the month flashback, reprint of an email Notes from July 5th, 2011.  Has it really been that long?  Wow!  We hope you enjoy!!!


Happy Day after Independence Day and welcome to Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! I hope your celebrations were filled with fireworks and food, but that you also took a moment to remember the troops who are abroad and those who have given "the final full measure of devotion" so that we may celebrate our freedom 240 years after the signing of our Declaration of Independence.  I hope you also took some time to thank God for our country as well as the ultimate freedom we have because of His sacrifice and Jesus' love.       Welcome!!!


     It is the iconic figure.  James Cagney as George M. Cohan dancing and singing around the stage about being "born on the 4th of July!!"  Since we planted that earworm and you're singing it now, we may as well watch:

"Yankee Doodle Dandy" by George M. Cohan from the 1942 movie starring James Cagney

What many people don't realize is that this song, from one of Cohan's first musicals, "Little Johnny Jones", is about horse racing.......in England!!!  You really do need to watch the entire movie, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" to get the whole context of the song and it's author's patriotism.  George M. Cohan was a musical prodigy and the writer of some our most beloved patriotic songs and many of Broadway's biggest early musical hits. 


One of Cohan's biggest patriotic numbers was "Over There".  It was written in 1917 and became very popular with soldiers in both the World Wars.   Here's a link:  

Remembering WW1 an army recruitment film with soundtrack provided by George M. Cohan's "Over There"


Could you imagine our soldiers singing "Over There" in regards to the current conflicts we are in around the world?  I can't.  Please don't misunderstand, what I mean by suggesting this is that patriotism has transitioned since the time of the  World Wars.  Up until the Korean War and Viet Nam conflict, the lines were pretty clear about who were our country's allies and who were the enemy.  During the wars of the late 50's, 60's, and 70's those lines became less structured.  Today we fight an enemy that is an ideology and the conversation we have about that enemy is more convoluted.  Patriotism is seemingly harder to come by in this environment.


Patriotism is a good thing.  We should be very proud that we live in a Republic that allows for the freedoms that we enjoy.  We should not, however, ever allow our love of country to overcome our worship of our God, that is idolatry.    The United States seems to be following an example of another group of people that God allowed a freedom for a season.  We should learn from their example. 


     Psalm 119:45  "I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts."  


What a wise saying.  As we seek out God and walk in His way, we find ourselves more and more free.  I think this is a passage that many of our Founding Fathers embraced as they understood the enormity of what they were achieving.  You may notice that according to this passage, freedom doesn't necessarily come until God's precepts are sought out.  Until we search for God's wisdom we can't find true freedom.  


The Israelites learned this lesson continuously.   In Judges, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles we see how both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms were stuck in a pattern of sin and redemption.  In some ways, they allowed their nationalism to become an Idol that God would not allow.  Imagine with all of the miracles that their forefathers had seen and all the blessings they had as a nation, they still sinned and followed after idols.  


It isn't difficult to see this pattern with the United States as well.  Could you envision what would happen if we compared each law that was suggested, to the measuring stick of the Bible?  If we sought God's precepts before we made decisions at the Federal, State, County, and City levels.  How would our nation be transformed?  


If this sounds like something you would like to see, let me challenge you to an experiment.  Take the decisions that you make in your household and measure them up with the Bible.  Before we can expect our Republic to be more Godly, we ourselves must be more Godly.  Before we can ask our legislators to enact laws that are God honoring, we must be God honoring ourselves.  We must, as Christ followers, allow Jesus through Holy Spirit's power to renew and transform us more into His likeness.  As we become more like Jesus, perhaps we even have the courage to run for public office and manage that office in a God honoring manner?  


Our Republic has seen so many miraculous things occur and yet, like ancient Israel, has fallen into worshiping idols.  Idols of power, money, influence and notoriety plague our nation and its leaders.  While many times we as a nation have paid the tribute to "our Creator",  the time has come once again for "My people, who are called by my Name, to humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  This must happen at an individual level before it can EVER happen at a national one.  

We live in the best country in the world.  There is no denying that statement.  We also are at a crossroads as Christians.  We have the ability to impact the future of the incredible governmental experiment that 56 leaders in colonial America set into motion.  If, as Christians, we commit to renewing our lives, telling others The Gospel, and living righteously, God has promised to take care of the rest.  So, as we celebrate this season of freedom and independence, we once again join our voices with the incredible song written and made famous by Lee Greenwood (voiced by the acapella group Home Free) and beg...

"God Bless The USA" performed by Home Free
     

'TIl Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,

Randy