Dino, 3 Dog Night salute Soo

Sault Ste. Marie, besides being one of North America's oldest cities, has been the inspiration for a pair of memorable, if unimaginatively named, songs.

Crooner Dean Martin sang a tune called "Sault Ste. Marie" during a 1950s era radio program, while rock group Three Dog Night recorded a different song with the same name as a centerpiece to its "35th Anniversary Hits Collection."

If you were a pop music fan between 1969 and 1976, you know Three Dog Night. The trio of lead singers-- Danny Hutton, Cory Wells, and Chuck Negron-- formed a band in late-60s Los Angeles. They earned 21 Top Forty smashes, including the number ones "Mama Told Me (Not To Come)," "Joy To The World," and "Black & White."

Named for the coldest night in the Australian outback, the group disbanded in 1976, reformed in the mid 1980s and reunited again in the new century, this time without Negron.

Three Dog Night, which continues to tour, borrowed a trick from the Moody Blues and re-recorded their hits with an orchestral backing. The reunion album, released Oct. 19, 2004, contains 15 tracks recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Larry Baird. Four bonus live tracks are also included.

Besides a generous portion of hits, the album contains "Overground" and "Sault Ste. Marie," the only new songs the group has recorded in decades.

The latter song, making a reference to the town known commonly as the "Soo," was actually written by Kevin Bowe, a talented musician and composer hailing from Minnesota. Throughout its career, Three Dog Night specialized in recording great songs rather than concentrating on writing their own material. The popular band made hits of songs written by Harry Nilsson, Laura Nyro, Randy Newman, Russ Ballard, Hoyt Axton, Elton John and Leo Sayer.

Now, add Bowe to that list. Leader of the Okemah Prophets, Bowe wrote "Sault Ste. Marie," with an assist from Bill Deasy, for the group's debut "Restoration" compact disc. Probably better known as a composer than musician, he has penned material for such famous musicians such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, Etta James, Robben Ford, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Delbert McClinton, John Mayall and Richie Sambora.

"Sault Ste. Marie" is reminiscent of roots rockers such as John Mellencamp, Neil Young or John Fogerty, and features Jimmy Z on harmonica.

Bowe told me he came to write the song "totally from imagination and daydreaming. It's just the best name for a city anyone ever came up with."

He explained he became friends with Three Dog Night vocalist Danny Hutton as the group was searching for songs for the new album. "We became pals and they cut two of my songs, 'Sault Ste. Marie,' and 'The Heart of Everything,'" Bowe recalled.

Bowe's favorite memory concerning "Sault Ste. Marie" happened when he was doing a big festival in Duluth, right on Lake Superior. "The water was right behind the stage and as we kicked into the song, there was this loud noise, one of those foghorn things from a huge ship going by. We turned around, looked at it and the name on the side was 'Sault Ste. Marie,'" Bowe recounted.

The Soo's other musical cheerleader, Dean Martin, grew up in the small town of Steubenville, Ohio. Born Dino Crocetti on June 7, 1917, he enjoyed a lengthy career as a singer and actor until his death on Christmas Day, 1995, at age 78. He was a member of the Rat Pack and starred in his own television series and numerous movies including 16 with comedian Jerry Lewis.

Martin, who's best remembered for "Memories Are Made of This," "Everybody Loves Somebody," and "Return To Me," recorded for Capitol and Reprise.

His recording of "Sault Ste. Marie" probably originated from the Martin & Lewis radio program which was broadcast live on the NBC network, beginning in 1948. The chorus of the tune includes the line: "So, my love, wait for me; and I'll come back to you in Sault Ste. Marie." The song appears on a compact disc entitled "Some Enchanted Evening," the contents of which has been released on various small labels in recent years. Martin's distinctive baritone makes the ballad a pleasant addition to his extensive discography.

Although "Dino" undoubtedly held small towns in warm regard, there's no evidence Steubenville's most famous son ever traveled to Sault Ste. Marie. Songwriter Bowe has never been there, either. "However, if someone there wants to book a gig, I'm on my way," he enthused.

On the other hand, I've been to the Soo on numerous occasions. Next time I visit, whether in person or through a song, I'll pay a little more heed.

2006's top CD's for grown-ups

While kids are saturating your neighborhood with pop idol Justin Timberlake or some questionable rap CD, you should know a number of old friends have returned with some real music for you to enjoy.

You may recall Bob Dylan's critical comments a few months ago, when he was less than complimentary about the music of the last two decades, even his own. Then, in August he released "Modern Times," lauded by fans and critics alike, in an effort to reverse the trend.

Dylan's work heralded a year in which many older stars, like Bob Seger, Neil Young and David Gilmour, even The Beatles and The Who, proved they could make worthwhile music even if commercial radio and promotional campaigns ignored their work in favor of a younger demographic.

Some of the artists didn't exactly rush to put out their new material. Dylan took five years to issue his current disc, Seger waited ten, and The Who let 24 years slip by without a fresh studio album.

The Who, with one of the most enviable back catalogs in rock, spent nearly four years recording "Endless Wire," finally unleashed in October. While only songwriter/ guitarist Pete Townshend and vocalist Roger Daltrey remain from the original quartet, the group's trademark sound is fully intact. The disc even includes a mini-opera and a DVD of the band performing live at the Vienne Amphitheatre in Lyon, France on July 17, during a tour of Europe.

Michigan's rock 'n' roll treasure Bob Seger, also toured in connection with "Face the Promise," which fans had waited for a decade to hear. Manager "Punch" Andrews did a masterful job promoting the new disc, assigning it a give-away price initially. The album shows the 61-year-old Seger at the top of his game and is as strong as any long-player in his career. Rockin' tracks like "Wreck This Heart," will have you spinning this disc often. Fans scooped up the new product, making it an instant success.

Another new release calling for repeated listening is "Love" an official mash-up album by a group which disbanded 36 years ago, The Beatles. An incredibly inventive album, "Love" has been years in the making and evolved from an idea by George Harrison, who passed away in 2001. Assembled by Beatles producer George Martin and his son Giles, the album contains 26 tracks which include sounds embedded from 130 different songs.

Authorized by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, the disc causes you to listen to familiar songs in new ways. With the exception of an orchestral track, newly recorded for Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," every sound on the disc comes from original Beatles tapes. Since even McCartney couldn't recognize some of the individual multi-tracks included in this disc, it might take you years to hear, much less identify, them all.

A couple of other Britishers also returned with new projects this year. Pink Floyd's David Gilmour released "On an Island" in March while Eric Clapton issued "Road to Escondido" in November as a collaboration with the influential songwriter and performer J. J. Cale.

Gilmour's pleasant and airy album does not stray far from the Floyd template, or may simply illustrate how important his guitar and vocals were to Pink Floyd's legendary sound on such albums as "Dark Side of the Moon," "The Wall" and "Momentary Lapse of Reason."

Clapton, who has delved into the blues in recent years, made two of Cale's songs, "After Midnight" and "Cocaine" into giant hits in the 1970s, and kept his friend from Oklahoma City in royalty checks for years. Just like Clapton's partnership with B. B. King, his work with Cale pairs two guitar gods with exciting results.

Neil Young, meanwhile, has always used his musical talent to challenge listeners with genre-bending instrumentation and thought-provoking lyrics. The Canadian-born musician, now residing in the United States, wrote and recorded "Living With War" in just three weeks. With his unmistakable vocals, and purposely rough production, Young makes his anti-war stance very clear.

Also putting out notable albums this year were Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison. In addition, Kinks founder Ray Davies graced us with the first solo album of his long career.

So, next time you hear some tuneless racket foisted on you by giant corporations trying to dilute your musical taste, remember those old friends who have returned with ear candy just for grown-ups.

Huey Lewis, oldies rocked arena

Since opening in 1974, Lakeview Arena in Marquette has hosted many notable rock concerts including a pair of shows in the mid-80s which were especially memorable for my wife Sue and me.

Huey Lewis and the News played there in 1984 at the pinnacle of their career, while the following year saw an appearance by the highly successful Happy Together Tour, featuring a quartet of veteran acts.

Lewis, based in San Francisco, earned some recognition in 1982 with "Do You Believe in Love," while the mega-hit "Sports" album was released the next year, containing a remarkable four Top Ten smashes. In all, Lewis racked up 22 hit singles and received considerable time on MTV with video versions of those hits.

In fact, the man who starred in several of those videos, a comedian named Dr. Gonzo, served as warm-up act for the Marquette concert.

Accompanying himself on electric guitar, Dr. Gonzo, who's real name is John Means, delivered parodies of then-current songs along with his comic observations before a house itchy to hear the main act.

Dr. Gonzo, got his laughs and got off-stage as Lewis and the News launched into their their hit-filled performance before an arena packed with Yoopers eager for live versions of the radio friendly anthems they'd been hearing for months.

The band, with Lewis on vocals and harmonica, consisted of bass player Mario Cipollina, saxophonist Johnny Colla, drummer Bill Gibson, lead guitarist Chris Hayes and Sean Hopper on keyboards.

As you might expect they played crowd-pleasing versions of "Heart and Soul," "I Want a New Drug," "The Heart of Rock & Roll," "If This Is It," and "Walking on a Thin Line." If memory serves, they did not perform "The Power of Love," from the movie "Back to the Future," which would later give the group their first No. 1.

By 1985, we were back at Lakeview for the feel-good Happy Together Tour. This well-organized concert included the Turtles, featuring Flo & Eddie; the Buckinghams; Gary Lewis & the Playboys; and the Grass Roots with Rob Grill.

Like the Huey Lewis concert, we went to the show, a virtual trip down memory lane, with friends Dan and Nancy Young of Escanaba.

Not surprisingly, the Turtles' performance included a bit of satire from founding members Mark Volman (Flo) and Howard Kaylan (Eddie), specifically a hilarious take on "Flashdance."

Of course the crowd heard solid performances of "Eleanor," "You Showed Me" and "Happy Together," written, not by the Turtles, but by Gary Bonner and Alan Gordon, members of a Boston area group, the Magicians.

The Chicago-based Buckinghams, with original members Nick Fortuna and Carl Giammarese, knocked out "Kind of a Drag," their monster No. 1 from 1967; plus "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," "Don't You Care," and "Susan," my wife's namesake song.

Gary Lewis (no relation to Huey) sang his string of hits, including "This Diamond Ring." But, he seemingly mimicked himself with insipid versions of his rather sappy songbook. And, he wasn't as funny as his dad, Jerry, either.

Original vocalist Rob Grill breathed life into the Grass Roots catalog when he performed more than credible versions of "Let's Live for Today," "Midnight Confessions," "Sooner or Later," and "I'd Wait a Million Years."

All told, the audience enjoyed a hit-filled evening that was replicated around the country over the course of eight-months, turning into one of the top-grossing tours of 1985.

The Huey Lewis tour, meanwhile, also won accolades, especially those shows for which Texas guitar-slinger and blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughan opened.

In Marquette, however, you'll remember funnyman Dr. Gonzo was the "warm-up" act for Lewis. Today, the retired comedian, not to be confused with the character created by journalist Hunter S. Thompson, owns two restaurants in Mason City, Ill., his hometown. He also works as a college professor.

If you visit, tell him Huey sent you and ask him to 'warm-up' your coffee. He'll surely appreciate the humor.

Night Ranger's secret U.P. CD

If you want to collect all of Night Ranger's compact discs, you'll have to search for a hard-to-find Japanese recording which actually originated right here in the Upper Peninsula.

Night Ranger, of course, is the prolific San Francisco rock group, most famous for "Sister Christian," which dominated the mid-eighties music scene with a catalog of power ballads and pop-metal hits.

In the middle of that chart domination, as the band was moving from opener to headliner, they played a concert at Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

Ten songs from that August 1984, show were captured on tape, including "When you Close Your Eyes" and "Don't Tell Me You Love Me," but how those performances ended up on an imported compact disc remains a mystery.

The Marquette recordings were paired with some live tracks from a Jan. 10, 1983 Cincinnati show in a double disc package called "Find Me A Thrill." Subtitled "The Lost Live Album," the set also contains two studio outtakes, "Wild & Innocent Youth" and "Girls All Like It."

Appearing on the Boardwalk Records label, the discs are not available commercially in the United States, giving suspicion to their legality. That's because copyright laws in other countries are often less strict than those in the U. S., and grey market CDs can surface.

While Boardwalk did release Night Ranger's debut album, "Dawn Patrol," in 1982, company founder Neil Bogart died that same year. The firm slipped into a downward spiral just as these live recordings were being made, prompting Night Ranger to move to the MCA/Camel label.

On tour, Night Ranger opened for ZZ Top and Ozzy Osbourne. The band, comprised of bassist Jack Blades, drummer Kelly Keagy, keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald, and guitar player Jeff Watson, even stole another guitarist, Brad Gillis, from Ozzy's band.

Night Ranger's success grew with "Midnight Madness," their second album. While Night Ranger records were filled with risque innuendo and hard rocking guitars, the band also had a conservative side. Keagy wrote and sang "Sister Christian," for his own sibling, urging girls across America to be cautious. The group also promoted patriotic themes with "(You Can Still) Rock in America," an anthem similar to tracks by the likes of Sammy Hagar and Ted Nugent, two acts not afraid to espouse moderate principles.

Both "Sister Christian" and "Rock In America" were played at the Marquette show 22 years ago. Those and the rest of the U. P. recordings on "Find Me A Thrill" are offered in soundboard quality indicating they were obtained after being processed through the band's mixing console.

Listening to the disc reveals a more obvious clue about the origin of the recordings when an announcer credits the concert to an FM radio broadcast of the "King Biscuit Flour Hour," a program spotlighting live rock music. The album is not listed on Night Ranger's discography on the group's official website, giving further evidence about its legal status.

If you're looking for legitimate concert recordings, Night Ranger does have two officially released live discs readily available, "Live in Japan" from 1990 and "Rock in Japan '97." Both have budget pricetags, and carry similar track listings. The band has also cut a deal with Sony/BMG to release a third live album from shows performed in Japan during 2003.

While I didn't go to Night Ranger's 1984 Marquette show, I can listen to that CD now whenever I want.

The group's Escanaba appearance during the "Big Life Tour" three year later, meanwhile, is seared into my memory, although I didn't go to that performance, either.

You see, as Night Ranger was playing at top volume during an evening show at the Upper Peninsula State Fair on Friday, Aug. 21, 1987, some unsavory types attempted to use the noisy cover and deserted streets to break into my store. The culprits used their pick-up truck to ram the double doors at the rear of the building, which were fortified on the inside by a hefty steel bar.

Fortunately, an upstairs tenant heard some commotion, called public safety and confronted the would-be burglars who drove away before authorities arrived.

Perhaps going to concerts is overrated. After all, I know what went on during two Night Ranger concerts in the U. P., and I stayed home both times.