Beech Tree News Network

It’s once again time for an “Oh you didn’t know” piece! We start with this little gem The Roots miniseries and the first Star Wars movie both were released in 1977.  Here’s a head-scratcher: Star War was originally titled Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope.  That’s right, George Lucas wanted to start his epic film franchise at IV.  Makes all the sense in the world, doesn’t it? It’s the first in the Star Wars film series and fourth chronological chapter of the Skywalker Saga.  Roots had a 2016 miniseries that was a remake of the 1977 miniseries of the same name.  It was based on Alex Haley’s 1976 novel Roots.  (AXS Year In Review) 

Here's another tidbit I picked up from AXS’ show A Year in Review: Darlene Love was once a background singer for the late Luther Vandross.  Another one from that show: Before forming Led Zeppelin with Robert Plant, Jon Bonham was in the Yardbirds.  Following the demise of the Yardbirds in 1968, Bonham joined Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and bass guitarist John Paul Jones to form Led Zeppelin.  Page played lead after Eric Clapton left the band.  Zeppelin was initially called The New Yardbirds. (www.wikipedia.com) 

Rapper Flo Rida has done the music for more than a few WWE PLE’s(Premium Live Events).  One was called “What A Night”.  I thought that sounded familiar.  Indeed, it did.  The song includes a heavy sample of Franki Vali and the Four Season’s “O What ANight (December 1963).   

A few more to wrap up: The Who and Alan Jackson separately covered Eddie Cochran’s classic “Summertime Blues”.  Alan Jackson had the greatest cover success, though.  He took it to #1 in 1994.  The Who’s version was never released.  Speaking of Alan, everyone probably thinks he was the first to record “Mercury Blues”.  His is a cover.  The original was done by Steve Miller, or so I thought.  I did a deeper dive and discovered the song has quite the lineage.  Country bluesman K.C. Douglas(1913-1975) first recorded his best-known “Mercury Blues in 1948 as “Mercury Boogie”, an homage to the American automobile.  The Steve Miller Band covered the song in 1976, releasing it two years later on his Revolution album.  Alan Jackson took his cover to #2 in 1993.  

Finally, The Dukes of Hazzard television series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners about a bootlegger family.  Created by Guy Waldron, who also created Dukes of Hazzard, the show and movie had many identical or similar character names and concepts.  The show was the basis for the 2005 Dukes of Hazzard film.  (www.wikipedia.com)  Thanks for reading! Below are links to my podcast, Blendertainment. 

https://open.spotify.com/show/61yTPt9wXdz37DZTbPUs16?si=w5jHghPVRmaTaP5ZEI-wzQ

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blendertainment/id1541097172