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tedtockscovers.bsky.social

tedtockscovers.bsky.social

@tedtockscovers.bsky.social

260 followers 450 following 400 posts

I am a Canadian guy who loves music. I am fascinated by the songwriting process. I write about it at Ted Tocks Covers. Check it out on the link below. https://wordpress.com/view/tedtockscovers.wordpress.com

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 17h

Ted Tocks Covers

Only the Lonely

Originally posted on April 23, 2019

This Roy Orbison classic was #1 on this day in 1960.

“Only the lonely
Know the way I feel tonight
Only the lonely
Know this feeling ain't right”

#royorbison #chrisisaak #theflyingpickets

Only the Lonely – That’s the chance you gotta take. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #RoyOrbison #ChrisIsaak #TheFlyingPickets

Over the past 16 months I have written a handful of posts about Roy Orbison. Today’s post is in honour of what would have been Orbison’s 83rd birthday. Back on this day in 1988 Roy Orbison was in t…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 1d

Ted Tocks Covers - Year 8 - Day 85

Crawling Back to You

Celebrating Tom Petty…and The Heartbreakers!

“I’m so tired of being tired
Sure as night will follow day
Most things I worry about
Never happen anyway”

#TomPetty #tompettyandtheheartbreakers #kathleenedwards #BenmontTench #mikecampbell

Crawling Back to You – Most Things I Worry About Never Happen Anyway. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #TomPetty #TomPettyandtheHeartbreakers

For about as long as I have been listening to music, I have immersed myself in the stories behind the songs. Music moves me at an almost indescribable level. I try to explain. Sometimes I come clos…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 2d

Ted Tocks Covers

Gimme Some Lovin’

Originally posted on October 19, 2021

Five years ago today, the music world lost #SpencerDavis.

“Well, my temperature's rising, and my feet on the floor
Crazy people knocking 'cause they're wanting some more

#TheSpencerDavisGroup

Gimme Some Lovin’ – It went down a storm. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #TheSpencerDavisGroup #SpencerDavis #SteveWinwood #Traffic #Chic #TomPettyandtheHeartbreakers #OliviaNewtonJohn #TheBluesBrothers...

Here’s an idea. If you want to write a quality rock and roll song, just put the word ‘Gimme’ in the title. Off the top of my head, you’ve got ‘Gimme Shelter’ by the Rolling Stones, ‘Gimme Some Trut…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 3d

Ted Tocks Covers - Year 8 - Day 84

One

On this day 25 years ago, #JohnnyCash released his cover version of this provocative #U2 song.

“Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head?”

One – We Hurt Each Other Then We Do It Again #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #U2 #JohnnyCash

From a philosophical perspective ‘One’ by U2 is about as deep as you want it to be. With the call to ‘carry each other’ it has become a source of inspiration. Symbolically, we are one. Truthfully, …

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 4d

Ted Tocks Covers - Year 8 - Day 83

Still Crazy After All These Years

#PaulSimon released this solo album 50 years ago today.

“Now I sit by my window and I watch the cars
I fear I’ll do some damage one fine day
But I would not be convicted by a jury of my peers
Still crazy after all these years”

Still Crazy After All These Years – I Seem to Lean On Old Familiar Ways. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #PaulSimon

As time marches on many of us take solace in looking back on our lives and recalling the good times. In an effort to tell ourselves we are still relatively young and eternally vibrant we hold on to…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 5d

Ted Tocks Covers

Day Tripper

Originally posted on December 8, 2022

On this day 60 years ago, #TheBeatles recorded ‘Day Tripper’.

“Got a good reason
For taking the easy way out
Got a good reason
For taking the easy way out now”

Day Tripper – A special blend of soul, wit and a dash of LSD. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #TheBeatles #JohnLennon #PaulMcCartney #BobbyParker #MaeWest #OtisRedding #CurtisKnight #JimiHendrix #BookerT...

Raise your hand if you have ever been under the gun by your boss to meet an important deadline, and you are expected to produce nothing but your best work. Today’s feature is an example of a song J…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 6d

Ted Tocks Covers

Red Red Wine

Originally posted on September 3, 2021

On this day in 1988, UB40 hit #1 with this cover of a Neil Diamond song.

#neildiamond #jimmyjamesandthevagabonds #tonytribe #UB40 #BrianTravers

Red Red Wine – A successful attempt to popularize reggae turns into a #1 hit for #NeilDiamond #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #JimmyJamesandtheVagabonds #TonyTribe #UB40 #BrianTravers

Sit back and pour yourself a glass of red wine. ‘Red Red Wine’ has a really interesting history that will take us back to 1967 and a connection to the renowned songwriting and production couple Ell…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 7d

Ted Tocks Covers

Mack the Knife

Originally posted Oct. 14/19

‘Mack the Knife’ was #1 on this day in 1959. The most read Ted Tocks feature of all time.

“There are some who are in darkness
And the others are in light
And you see the ones in brightness
Those in darkness drop from sight”

Mack the Knife – A fascinating exploration into the history of this iconic song. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #BobbyDarin #LotteLenya #LouisArmstrong #TheDoors

Today’s feature song is familiar to many. The best part is it has been covered by artists numbering into the hundreds and it has a history that sees it entering its tenth decade of popularity. The …

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 8d

Ted Tocks Covers

Deportee

Updated from July 14, 2018

“Who are all these friends, all scattered like dry leaves?
The radio says, “They are just deportees”

#woodyguthrie #JoanBaez #PeteSeeger #bobdylan #brucespringsteen #TheHighwaymen #DollyParton #arloguthrie #MartinHoffman

Deportee – Celebrating the birthday of one of the most important songwriters ever. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #WoodyGuthrie #JoanBaez #PeteSeeger #BobDylan #BruceSpringsteen #TheHighwaymen #DollyPar...

One of the most revered folk singers of all time was born on this day in 1912. Woody Guthrie’s library of songs is vast and his influence is still felt to this day. Today’s song is &#82…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 9d

Ted Tocks Covers

Leaving On a Jet Plane

Originally posted on October 12, 2019

“So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go”

#johndenver #peterpaulandmary #mefirstandthegimmegimmes #chantalkreviazuk

Leaving on a Jet Plane – The song that allowed a career to take off. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #JohnDenver #PeterPaulandMary #MeFirstandtheGimmeGimmes #ChantalKreviazuk

It is appropriate that today’s feature song took a bit of a flight before arriving at its ultimate destination; figuratively #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Here is a very brief story of ‘Leaving on a…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 10d

Ted Tocks Covers - Year 8 - Day 82

Shout

A mini tribute to The Isley Brothers.

“I still remember”

#TheIsleyBrothers #JackieWilson #raycharles #JohnnyOKeefe #otisdayandtheknights #joeydeeandthestarliters #TheBeatles and many more.

Shout – Don’t Forget to Say You Will. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #TheIsleyBrothers

Imagine the scene. Back in 1959, the trend for concert promoters was to gather as many acts together as possible and deliver a cavalcade of great music to appreciative audiences in key markets thro…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 11d

Ted Tocks Covers - Year 8 - Day 81

Dear Abby

Remembering #JohnPrine!

“Dear Abby, Dear Abby…
My feet are too long
My hair’s falling out and my rights are all wrong
My friends they all tell me that I’ve no friends at all
Won’t you write me a letter, Won’t you give me a call”

Dear Abby – Finding An Old Friend in a Sea of Chaos. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #JohnPrine #KindofLikeSpitting #PattiSchaffner

Way too often I wake up in the middle of the night, my head racing with worry and concern. During the day I have a pit in my stomach and my mind is full of dread. I used to follow the motto “be pre…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 11d

Ted Tocks Covers

How Deep is Your Love/Jive Talkin’

Updated from March 9, 2018

“’Cause we're living in a world of fools
Breaking us down when they all should let us be
We belong to you and me"

#beegees #derekandthedominos #fleetwoodmac #YvonneElliman #TheWho #otisredding #eltonjohn #takethat

How Deep is Your Love – Living in a world of fools #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #BeeGees #TakeThat

I was sitting at my desk in my home office. A meeting was coming to an end when a text message came in from my friend, Alexa ‘On Fire’. Alexa is my area coordinator for Spaces which is …

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 12d

Ted Tocks Covers

#9 Dream

Originally posted on October 9, 2022

John Lennon was born on this day 85 years ago.

“The spirit dance was unfolding”

#johnlennon #harrynilsson #worldparty #REM #Aha #andreacorr #BillFrisell

#9 Dream – Music touching my soul. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #JohnLennon #HarryNilsson #WorldParty #REM #A-Ha #AndreaCorr #BillFrisell

Last night we were sitting around talking about our dreams and whether we remember the details enough to share. On occasion I do, and tell myself that I should write the content down, but unfortuna…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 13d

Ted Tocks Covers - Year 8 - Day 80

Desire

On this day in 1988, #U2 had their first #1 hit in the U.K.

“She’s the dollars
She’s my protection
Yeah, she’s the promise
In the year of election
Sister I can’t let you go
Like a preacher stealin’ hearts at a travellin’ show
For love or money..."

Desire – Over the Counter, with a Shotgun, Pretty Soon, Everybody’s Got One. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #U2

You can feel it all around. Everywhere you turn. Yes, the fever is getting higher. Desire by U2 is about greed and corruption right in the middle of the intersection where politics and religion now…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 14d

Ted Tocks Covers

You Oughta Know

Originally posted on October 7, 2019

On this day 30 years ago #AlanisMorissette was at #1 with ‘Jagged Little Pill’.

“’Cause I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me"

You Oughta Know – A career changing song for #AlanisMorissette. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #GlenBallard #ThousandMonaLisas #TheKillingMoon #SabrinaSalerma #RichardCheese

“Hell hath no fury, like a woman scorned.” William Congreve – The Mourning Bride When William Congreve wrote the play ‘The Mourning Bride’ in 1697 he wrote a passage that through the years be…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 15d

Ted Tocks Covers

I Can See Clearly Now

Originally posted on August 19, 2018

Remembering #JohnnyNash!

“I can see clearly now, the rain has gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shining day”

#hothouseflowers

I Can See Clearly Now – Another song that inspires. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #JohnnyNash #HothouseFlowers

In past posts I have mentioned some old tapes that Heather and I used to buy in the summer of 1988. I am pretty sure they were called ‘Solid Gold’ and they consisted of Gold songs from …

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 16d

Ted Tocks Covers

Gallows Pole

Originally posted on October 5, 2018

On this day 55 years ago #LedZeppelin released their ‘III’ album.

“What did you bring me, my dear friends
To keep me from the gallows pole?

#fredgerlach #JohnJacobNiles #nicjones #bobdylan #leadbelly #judycollins

Gallows Pole – A song that dates back to the 17th century. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #LedZeppelin #FredGerlach #JohnJacobNiles #NicJones #BobDylan #LeadBelly #JudyCollins

Today’s feature is a song with a fascinating history. I was vaguely aware of the tradition behind ‘Gallows Pole’ but I had no idea of the depth of its roots nor the fact that it dates as far back a…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 17d

Ted Tocks Covers

Ball and Chain

Originally posted on July 25 2022

Remembering Janis Joplin 55 years later.

“That girl feels like I do.”

#BigMamaThornton #JanisJoplin #EttaJames #CrystalShawanda

Ball and Chain – Lookin’ out the window at the rain. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #BigMamaThornton #JanisJoplin #EttaJames #CrystalShawanda

If the primary purpose of art is to inspire, what more can great music do than move people to listen and then be inspired? Fortunately, the finest blues artists of the 20th century inspired many ar…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 18d

Ted Tocks Covers - Year 8 - Day 79

Slip Kid

On this day 50 years ago The Who released ‘The Who By Numbers’.

“Keep away, old man
You won’t fool me
You and your history
Won’t rule me”

#TheWho #petetownshend #anvil #frankyperez #TheForestRangers

Slip Kid – There’s No Easy Way to Be Free. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #TheWho #PeteTownshend

When Pete Townshend counts in ‘Slip Kid’ it comes through like a call to arms for the next generation. The debate among fans of The Who is exactly who was he directing? One thing we knew for sure i…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 19d

Ted Tocks Covers

Saving Grace

Originally posted on October 2, 2023

Remembering #TomPetty!

Ted Tocks Covers was right about (just about) everything.

“I’m moving on alone
Over ground that no one owns
Past statues that atone for my sins”

#tompettyandtheheartbreakers

Saving Grace – It’s hard to say who I am these days, but I run on anyway. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #TomPetty

I’m lost. Up is down, and down is up. Everywhere I turn. I am beginning to lose faith. South of the border, I continue to be perplexed at the 24/7 domination of the news cycle by a one term, twice …

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 20d

Ted Tocks Covers

The Top Three Posts for September and a few bonus songs.
Enjoy some quality music from #therockyhorrorpictureshow #PeteSeeger and #warrenzevon plus a whole lot more.

Have a grateful day!

#musicislife

Ted Tocks Covers – Top Three Posts for September and a Whole Lot More. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers

Here we are in October. This is the final turn for 2025. Here in Canada, the leaves have turned and they are beginning to fall. The days are a little shorter but when the sun is shining and t…

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 20d

Ted Tocks Covers

Maggie’s Farm

Originally posted on October 1, 2019

60 years ago today #BobDylan changed the trajectory of popular music when he went electric with #TheBand.

“I got a head full of ideas that are drivin' me insane”

#SolomonBurke #RichieHavens #rageagainstthemachine #U2

Maggie’s Farm – #BobDylan goes electric with #TheBand. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #SolomonBurke #RichieHavens #RageAgainsttheMachine #U2

It has happened… I have written today’s post only to discover that I featured this very song just over a year ago in a totally different context. Rather than completely scrap it I am going to link …

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 21d

Ted Tocks Covers

Stolen Land

Originally posted on September 29, 2022

On this day of #TruthandReconciliation

"What step are you gonna take to try and set things right in this stolen land?”

#BruceCockburn #WilliamPrince #ElisapieIsaac #LailaBiali

Stolen Land – What step are you gonna take to try and set things right? #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #BruceCockburn #WilliamPrince #ElisapieIsaac #LailaBiali

When it comes to politically astute protest songs that bring issues to the forefront, few Canadian artists rival Bruce Cockburn. Speaking to this point, Cockburn’s song ‘Stolen Land’ from his 1987 …

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tedtockscovers.bsky.social @tedtockscovers.bsky.social · 22d

Ted Tocks Covers

I Am Woman

Originally posted on Oct. 8/20

For Helen and Ruth.

“I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin’ arms across the land
But I’m still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand”

#HelenReddy #ruthbaderginsburg

I Am Woman – We need to walk together. #MusicisLife #TedTocksCovers #HelenReddy #RuthBaderGinsburg #RayConniffSingers #MarthaWainwright

I am woman watch me growSee me standing toe to toeAs I spread my lovin’ arms across the landBut I’m still an embryoWith a long long way to goUntil I make my brother understand”Helen Red…

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