Between celebrating today's Thanksgiving holiday with loved ones I take a break to give thanks to all the great music in my life; for if it were not for that music my life to date would be a whole lot emptier. Come think of it my home would be a hell of a lot emptier too since it is packed (literally) with a life filled with record, tape, and CD collecting. But regardless of the square footage my physical music collection may take up I am so grateful to have had all this music in my life that has helped get through the bad times, and enhanced the good times. And so for this Thanksgiving blog I want to play a few loosely themed give thanks to music songs/videos - all on the classic soul/funk tip - below and all available at Amoeba. See you tomorrow, Saturday, or Sunday at one of the three Amoeba stores - Hollywood, Berkeley, San Francisco - for this special Thanksgiving Record Store Day / Black Friday Weekend @ Amoeba 11/23 - 11/25. Thank-you!

Born on this day: June 18, 1942 - Pop music icon Sir Paul McCartney (born James Paul McCartney in Liverpool, UK). Happy 70th Birthday to one of the greatest musicians of all time and one of my biggest musical heroes. We ♥ you, Sir Paul!



On this day in music history: June 18, 1966 - "Hold On, I'm A Comin'" by Sam & Dave hits #1 on the Billboard R&B singles chart for one week, also peaking at #21 on the same date. Written and produced by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, it features Booker T. & The MG's providing instrumental support. At first, the duo are not fond of the song, feeling that the title and lyrics are too "corny and hillbilly." In fact, on the finished record, Sam Moore can be heard laughing out loud when Dave Prater sings the lyric "I'm on my way, your lover, if you get cold yeah, I will be your cover." Released as a single in March of 1966, the song will quickly rise up the charts, becoming their first R&B chart topper and first top 40 pop hit.


On this day in music history: June 18, 1967 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience will make their now legendary American performance debut at The Monterey International Pop Music Festival. The band will be booked to perform on the recommendation of Paul McCartney, having seen Hendrix and the Experience perform at the Saville Theatre in London two and a half weeks earlier (opening their set with The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"). The bands' set at Monterey will climax with Hendrix setting fire to his Fender Stratocaster and smashing it on the stage. The performance will launch Hendrix into rock superstardom in the US and worldwide.