Before Caesar’s demise on March 15th, that date was known as the first full moon of the year. Full moon- when people are filled with magic and heightened emotions- the FEVER!

Batting number 2 for The Melodic Moon album is “Fever”, one of the smokiest of songs. The original Little Willie John version has been overshadowed by the Brenda Lee version- for good reason- she knocked it out of the park- but there is always room for one more way to get on base.. 

Next up in April will be “The Nearness of You”- a balm for you during tax time….

As of today, this song is available on all streaming services; Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, SoundCloud, YouTube, etc, etc. “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” is already there.)

Fred Sokolow- GuitarTony Jones- DrumsGabe Davis- BassJoe Turano- B3

Tony Phillips- Mix

Maura Monagan- PhotoKylie Monagan- Graphics

"Fever"

The Gershwins I Got Rhythm is such a classic that when you ask another musician to play "Rhythm" changes, they know exactly what you mean. It's a great tune but also has a verse that is very rarely sung. Fred Sokolow, who plays guitar on the track, loves these old songs too and we hunted until we found the verse. Musician fun. The second tune is Fat's Waller's Christopher Columbus, a novelty song of the day, stands up despite the fact that he may have lost his holiday (rightly so).

I Got Rhythm/Christopher Columbus

I've sung this song for years but never knew the verse until Fred (Sokolow) found it in his extensive music library. What fun. These songs we've been recording are such masterpieces. What a pleasure. This one is written by Hoagy Carmichael and Ned Washington. Listen for the trombone on the solo! Guitar by Fred Sokolow, Bass by Gabe Davis, Drums by Tony Jones, B3 by Joe Turano, Trombone by Roch Bordenave.

The Nearness of You

By the mid 30’s Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart (who wrote the song) had had enough success on Broadway that they moved to Hollywood to try their hand at the movies. 
“Blue Moon” was originally written for a Jean Harlow movie but didn’t start as “Blue Moon”- it was first called “Prayer (Oh Lord Make Me a Movie Star)”- but was cut from the movie. Larry Hart rewrote the lyrics a second time changing the title to “Manhattan Melodrama” for an MGM movie of the same name but the producers didn’t like it and asked him to rewrite the song a THIRD time for another scene in the movie. That version was called “The Bad in Every Man.” It was recorded but nothing came of it. 
Not long after Hart ran into the MGM movie executive he had worked with who insisted that he rewrite the lyrics again! Exasperated, Hart said, “Oh, I suppose you want me to write something corny like Blue Moon!” Ah, yes….. that will work….

Fed Sokolow- guitar     Tony Jones- drums   Gabe Davis- bass        
 Joe Turano- B3
Michael Monagan- solo
Tony Phillips- mix
Maura Monagan- photo       Kylie Monagan- graphics

You can find “Blue Moon” as well as (“I Got Rhythm/Christopher Columbus,” “The Nearness of You”, “Fever” and “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons”) in all the usual places: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, etc. “Hey Siri! Play Blue Moon by Michael Monagan!” “Hey Alexa!”

"Blue Moon"

“South of the Border”
Years ago at a Garden Weasels rehearsal I remember hearing our keyboard player sing "South of the Border" and immediately liking it and wanting to learn it. I’ve been singing it ever since. It’s the story of a foolish American tourist toying with the heart of a Mexican señorita and then realizing the error of his ways returning to Mexico only to find that she has become a nun. You fool! 
We’re lucky to have Gaili join us on accordion adding her salsa to the meal. As well as the Porch Pandemic Players singing on the tag.
“South of the Border” was written for a 1939 movie of the same name and sung by who else, Gene Autry!

Fred Sokolow- guitar     Tony Jones- drums   Gabe Davis- bass         Joe Turano- B3  
Gaili Schoen- accordion
Background vocals- Kenji Haroutunian, Cindy Ryan, John Fitzgerald and Brittany Abbott
Tony Phillips- mix
Maura Monagan- photo Kylie Monagan- graphics

You can find “South of the Border” (as well as “Blue Moon”, “I Got Rhythm/Christopher Columbus,” “The Nearness of You”, “Fever” and “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons”) in all the usual places: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon Music, etc. “Hey Siri! Play Blue Moon by Michael Monagan!” “Hey Alexa!”

"South of the Border"

Years ago I was part of “Can’t Sit Down” a casual band that played at corporate parties, private parties, weddings, etc. Sterling Smith, Michael J, Phil Kenzie, Mimi Rousseau, and I really had fun playing together and we covered a wide variety of musical styles.  Usually, during the dinner set, we had the chance to do some standards. I don’t know if it’s because Sterling had a Buick Skylark (red convertible) or what, but Mimi sang an absolutely beautiful version of “Skylark” and I was hooked.
Written by Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer (what a pair!) the aching longing of Mercer’s lyrics supposedly reflects his unrequited love for Judy Garland. Powerful stuff. 
Guitar- Fred Sokolow     Bass- Gabe Davis     Drums- Tony Jones     Hammond and Sax- Joe Turano
Mixed by Tony Phillips
Photo- Maura Monagan     Graphics- Kylie Monagan

"Skylark"

This was the last song that George and Ira Gershwin wrote together. And actually George died before Ira finished the lyrics. It may have started as just another song but clearly ended as a loving tribute to his brother. George died of a brain tumor in 1937 at the age of 39. Ira lived to be 86. 
With the classic line- “In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble, they’re only made of clay” the song has gone on to become an enduring standard. I learned it after traveling with a friend in Europe who kept asking me if I knew the Gibraltar song. I’d say no and then she would ask again the next time I picked up a guitar. It being pre-YouTube- I had to wait till i got home to hunt down the music and learn it. 
Hope you enjoy the vibe and the vibes…..
Although the song was published in the late 30s it didn’t become popular till Gene Kelly sang it to Leslie Caron in An American in Paris in 1951. Ha! 1951 the year I was born- 71 years ago today.

Guitar- Fred Sokolow     Bass- Gabe Davis     Drums- Tony Jones     
Vibes- John Fitzgerald
Mixed by Tony Phillips
Photo- Maura Monagan     Graphics- Kylie Monagan

"Our Love is Here to Stay"

When the pandemic got going, over 2 years ago, I started playing music on my front porch, mostly for my own sanity, but the neighbors liked it and some started joining in! 
We were dubbed the Porch Pandemic Players.

I wrote “Move!” last year and the PPP picked right up on it. Eventually we recorded and videoed a live performance and then started adding and adding, dance routines, (Carrie Mebane created a new dance- The Move!), skiing, biking, hiking, climbing, disc golf, etc, etc. A communal effort. And now we have the finished product! Move!” written by Michael Monagan ©2021 Sossity Music

Video directed by Carrie Mebane, shot by Sophie Doumitt and Carrie Mebane and edited by Sophie Doumitt. 

PPP- Porch Pandemic Players: 
Bass and harmonies- Kenji Haroutunian     Percussion- John Fitzgerald and Tracy Caine     Accordion- Gaili Schoen     Harmonies- Cindy Ryan and Brittany Abbott     Guitar and lead vocal- Michael Monagan     Godmother- Nancy Haroutunian

Choreography:  Carrie Mebane    Richard Brian Ayala

Dancers & special appearances by:  
 Carrie Mebane     Richard Brian Ayala     Grace Teng     Jessica Le     Yuree Han     Diane Bulgatz     Josh Reed - Skiing, Bike Riding     Jillian Gotlib- Tai Chi        Julian and Lola Vidales- Sidewalk Chalk

"Move!"

Some songs just feel good to sing. They resonate in your chest a certain way that is pleasing and comforting. “I’m Confessin’” is one of those for me. Yum. 
Written in 1929 with music by Chris Smith and lyrics by Sterling Grant, it was first recorded by Fats Waller as “Lookin for Another Sweetie”. The next year it was recorded by Louis Armstrong as “I’m Confessin’” with new lyrics and while the music was exactly the same the music was credited to different composers. Hmmm. Oh, and Chris Smith was Black and the new “composers” were White. Hmmm…

I don’t know what really happened in 1929, whether the “new” songwriters just claimed the song as their own or whether Chris Smith was bought out, but the music is clearly the same and Chris Smith wrote it! I’d like to give credit where credit is due. Hope you enjoy it.

Guitar- Fred Sokolow     Bass- Gabe Davis     Drums- Tony Jones     Hammond - Joe Turano       Mixed by Tony Phillips
Photo- Maura Monagan     Graphics- Kylie Monagan

"I'm Confessin'"

Can you imagine writing a song and having it be recorded over and over for 90 years?! Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler have done just that. They wrote this song in 1932 with Cab Calloway having the first hit with it, then Bing Crosby, then Louis Armstrong, then Sinatra, etc., etc.…. Yikes! 
Achieving this feat would be amazing enough but Arlen did it over and over with Stormy Weather, Let’s Fall in Love, That Old Black Magic, Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive, and many, many others, including Over the Rainbow! (which, incidentally, was voted the #1 song of the 20th Century by the RIAA and the NEA). 
As the final song in my Melodic Moon project I wanted to take a minute to thank all the musicians who contributed to this project (see below) particularly Fred Sokolow whose skill, devotion, and understanding of this music provided the foundation for the whole thing. Thanks Fred!
And I want to thank YOU, the listeners, who have taken the time to not only play the music but send words of support and encouragement. It’s been wonderful!

Fred Sokolow- guitar and leadership
Tony Jones- drums
Gabe Davis- bass
Joe Turano- keys and sax
Gaili Schoen- accordion
John Fitzgerald- vibes
Roch Bordenave- trombone
Spero Anthony- whistle
Background vocals- Kenji Haroutunian, Cindy Ryan, John Fitzgerald, and Brittany Abbott
Me- vocals and the occasional guitar- electric/acoustic and harmonica 
Photo- Maura Monagan     Graphics- Kylie Monagan
Special thanks to Tony Phillips for his masterful mixing skills.

"I've Got the World on a String"

a great song from the 60's about comforting someone who's having a tough time. things will get better. some tunes are like a lifeline.

O-o-h Child

One night I was walking Sparki and the Everly Brothers song “When Will I Be Loved” popped into my head. I thought about how it’s an uptempo song but the lyrics are really quite depressing. The opposite of the old Irving Berlin song “Blue Skies” in which the lyrics are very positive but the music is sad. All this was enough to get the juices flowing and out came this simple little song which I like to think is about a sad situation with a positive outlook of the future. 

Credits:
Ish Ferguson- drums
Demont Crawford- bass 
Marty Rifkin- pedal steel
Michael Monagan- guitars and vocals

Tony Phillips- mix
Hank Fischer- photo
©2019 Sossity Music

Someday (Love Will Find Me)

My latest project The Melodic Moon is an album of standards- from the great American songbook. I plan on releasing one a month for 10 months. 
During the pandemic time I released a few singles, as you can see here.
My third album- Michael Monagan and The Sound was released in 2019- Restless
My second album (first with The Sound) was released in 2017- Soul Survivor.
My first solo album was released in 2014- Echo
Before that I released 4 albums with The Kids of Widney High.
monagan.com
Contact: michael@monagan.com

Michael Monagan

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