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1968 No. 1 Hit Song, Performed by Otis Redding, Among Top Songs of the 20th Century
The 20th century was filled with great music in all different genres, from rock and blues to soul and pop. But there were some songs that had a stronger impact than others, both on the music industry and the world itself.
At the end of the 20th century, the American performing rights organization, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), composed a list of what it declared to be the “Top 100 Songs of the Century.” The list was based on “the most played songs on American radio and television,” as the organization defined it.
In the sixth spot on the list is a song that came out in 1968 from soul legend Otis Redding. The song, called “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” is a true classic, but it also has extra significance due to the fact that Redding recorded it three days before his untimely death in a plane crash in 1967. He co-wrote the song with Steve Cropper as well.
The song was released the year after his death, and it became the first posthumous No. 1 hit in America. “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” also peaked at No. 3 in the U.K., South Africa, and New Zealand. It took the fourth spot on the yearly Billboard top songs chart.
Redding’s hit track earned him two posthumous Grammys as well, for Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
Related: 1967 No. 1 Hit Song, Performed by the Turtles, Among “Greatest Songs of the 1960s”
The legacy of “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” only grew over the years after its release. By 1999, it was the sixth most-played song of the past century. The five songs reportedly played more than Redding’s hit were “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Stand By Me,” “Yesterday,” “Never My Love,” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” in the top spot.
Along with “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” Redding also had many other hits during his lifetime. This includes “Try a Little Tenderness,” “Respect,” and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now),” among others.
Related: 1997 Folk-Rock Song, Written by Bob Dylan, Among ‘Greatest Rock Song Lyrics of All Time’
Secret Service Revokes White House Passes for Major News Outlets After Trump Ban
President Donald Trump has officially denied three major news outlets access to the White House.
On Friday, Sept. 18, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that, “effective immediately,” he plans to ban CNN, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), and Politico. All three media organizations have said journalists were denied entry to the White House as of Saturday, Sept. 19.
The 80-year-old president claimed that the outlets are no longer welcome “as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS! Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America,” he wrote in his post. “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
An MS NOW reporter and cameraperson, as well as CNN journalists, attempted to enter the White House on Saturday, Sept. 19, but were not allowed in, the outlets reported. A spokesperson for Politico shared an internal memo with People from Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Greenberger.
“A few minutes ago, our colleague Cheyenne Haslett attempted to enter the White House to do her job as a POLITICO reporter,” the memo stated. “Secret Service denied her entry to the complex and confiscated the pass that allows her access to the White House.”
All three outlets released statements vowing not to back down and to continue fighting for journalists’ rights to report on the Trump administration.
“CNN’s mission to report on the U.S. government will continue regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings, or any other attempts to impede our journalism,” CNN wrote in a statement on X. “We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do our reporting without hindrance or interference from the government and this ban is an illegal assault on this fundamental right.”
“We will not be deflected from our duty to hold the government and other public bodies to account, and we will continue to report on the actions and processes of this administration without fear or favor,” the statement continued. “CNN stands fully behind our White House team.”
While MS NOW took to Instagram captioning the post, “MS NOW has now been denied access to the White House, one day after Trump said he was banning MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House.”
Adding, “The White House belongs to the American people, and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars. MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.”
The 5-Word Phrase You Should Never Say to a Gaslighter, Psychologist Warns
Whether you’ve had to look up the word’s definition for yourself or you’ve had to explain what it meant to a parent or friend, we have almost all likely come in contact with the term “gaslighting.” While it might seem like the buzzword of the moment, it is a real thing and goes deeper than just lying.
“Gaslighting is a manipulative tactic used to minimize, demean or disregard a person’s thoughts and feelings,” Dr. Michele Leno, PhD, LP, a licensed psychologist as well as the founder and owner of DML Psychological Services, PLLC, told Parade in a previous article.
If someone is a gaslighter, they’re trying to make you question your reality and what you know to be true in order to benefit their own narrative. They want to invalidate your feelings and your lived experiences, so they engineer lies even if you were there and heard things differently with your own two ears.
This form of manipulation can be difficult to wrap your head around, let alone handle on your own. Sometimes you have to just ignore the person, but how do you deal with a gaslighter if you can’t just avoid them or their tactics? Well, we have a psychologist-approved, five-word phrase that you should never say to a gaslighter, and some examples of what to say instead.
Related: 9 Tactics High-Level Gaslighters Use That Most People Miss
The 5-Word Phrase To Avoid Saying to a Gaslighter, According to a PsychologistThere are some things you should never say to a gaslighter so as not to give them fuel, enable them or put yourself in an even harder position in terms of dealing with them. In a previous article detailing genius phrases to shut down gaslighting, Dr. Leno shared that one phrase you should never say to a gaslighter is “You’re right, it’s my fault.” And yes, that means not even saying it to be sarcastic.
“A gaslighter will take it seriously and use it against you for years to come,” she explained at the time. “Never take responsibility for a gaslighter’s behavior just to keep the peace.”
It can unfortunately be easy to fall into this trap of taking the blame for whatever they’re trying to fault you for. They can be very coercive and very good at manipulating people, especially if they’re a high-level gaslighter. And the whole point of gaslighting is to make you question your very truth and reality.
“Gaslighting leads to people feeling such a sense of uncertainty that they begin to question their reality, their memories, their experiences and their emotions,” Dr. Michele Goldman, PhD, a psychologist and Hope for Depression media advisor, told Parade in that same article. “This does not occur overnight. True gaslighting is a subtle form of manipulation that occurs over a period of time—weeks, months and even years—and results in a person no longer having a strong sense of self.”
But again, it’s imperative that you don’t admit fault, even if you’re just doing it to placate them, because it will have the opposite effect in the long run.
Related: You Won’t Hear Emotionally Intelligent People Use This 1 Phrase With Friends, Psychologist Says
What To Say to a Gaslighter InsteadSo what do you say instead? You, of course, don’t want to escalate the conflict with them, but you also don’t want to use a peacekeeping phrase. Well, Dr. Goldman had the perfect response to use instead of “You’re right, it’s my fault”:
“I will accept responsibility for my role in this. I would appreciate it if you would take responsibility for your own role in this.”
If you are partially at fault for the conflict—or if you said some mean or petty things while arguing—instead of fully taking responsibility, you’re acknowledging your part in the situation while also asking them to share the blame for what they did as well. But all without pointing fingers.
Related: You Won’t Hear High-Level Thinkers Using This 1 Phrase, Psychologists Say
Another phrase that Dr. Leno likes to suggest to shut down gaslighters is “I know that’s not true.” This is especially good to use in situations where you have done nothing wrong and are feeling backed into a corner to say it’s your fault.
Up Next:
Related: Use This Phrase When You Need a ‘Healthy Way To Agree To Disagree,’ Psychologist Says
Sources:- Dr. Michele Leno, PhD, LP, is a licensed psychologist as well as the founder and owner of DML Psychological Services, PLLC.
- Dr. Michele Goldman, PhD, is a psychologist and Hope for Depression media advisor.
Clarks' Walking Sneakers Are 'Cloud-Like,' 'Supportive,' and Now 30% Off
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With the beautiful weather outside, it only makes sense that you’re taking more walks. If you’re hitting the pavement a lot as we close out summer and head into fall, then you’ll want to invest in dependable footwear. Some of our favorite comfortable styles stem from Macy’s sales section, because they’re long-lasting and budget-friendly. We’re currently eyeing the Clarks Cloudsteppers Solevana Style LaceUp Sneakers, which are 30% off now.
The sneakers originally cost $95, but have been reduced to $67 when the code BEST is applied. You can shop for the footwear in six colors, ranging from minimalist to slightly more bold: light blue, navy, off-white, pale green, beige, and light pink,. The classic colors are perfect for those who want an everyday shoe that matches with nearly every outfit, while hues like pink are fun for a bolder pop of color.
Clarks Cloudsteppers Solevana Style LaceUp Sneakers, $67 (was $95) at Macy’sCourtesy of Macy's
Shop at Macy'sThe sizes range from 5 to 12, including half sizes, with medium and wide widths available. Some size and color combinations have already sold out though, so interested customers shouldn’t wait too long before snagging their preferred pair.
Shoppers said that the sneakers are true to size, but sometimes Clarks shoes do run large, so we recommend utilizing the available size chart for best results. The style features a 1.625-inch flat heel, classic lace-up closure and a round toe. The upper is made of nubuck (which is leather), while the outsole is synthetic.
Due to the material, it’s advised to spot clean the sneakers to ensure they keep their quality. The best part about this design is that the insole consists of soft foam layers underneath the foot that provide instantaneous comfort, whether you’re walking for long periods or just heading to the store. The leather is perforated so that the shoe is breathable and your feet won’t overheat — which is especially helpful during the summer.
Shoppers described the sneakers as “very supportive,” “comfortable,” “super soft,” and “cloud-like.” Some customers who need extra arch support may want to invest in orthotics that can be placed in the shoe, because they’re fairly flexible. Reviewers wear them with both light and heavy socks, so you can easily wear them all year-long.
Related: Macy’s Festive New Christmas Comforter Sets Will Instantly Level Up Your Holiday Decor
Make your strides as comfy as possible with shoes that you can count on. These lightweight Clarks sneakers are so affordable and available in so many colors that you can even shop for a few pairs. Add them to your shoe collection while they’re 30% off at Macy’s!
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If You Want To Lower Your LDL Cholesterol, This Lesser-Known Diet Is Proven To Work
Receiving a high cholesterol diagnosis from your doctor can feel overwhelming, frustrating and deeply discouraging—especially if you already feel like you are eating a balanced diet.
For millions of adults, opening those lab results and seeing high numbers creates immediate panic about heart health, heart attacks and long-term vitality. Navigating the endless sea of conflicting nutrition advice often adds to that stress. Should you eliminate entire food groups? Cut out carbs completely? Go strict vegan? Or force yourself onto an intense regimen that leaves you feeling hungry and dissatisfied every single day?
Related: The 5-Minute Afternoon Habit Cardiologists Swear by To Undo the Damage of Sitting All Day
When bad cholesterol (LDL) creeps into dangerous territory, it silently builds up in your arteries, raising your risk for serious cardiovascular events. That lingering uncertainty can leave you feeling powerless over your own body. However, taking control of your health doesn’t require extreme starvation or completely abandoning the foods you love. Cardiologists emphasize that daily nutrition plays a massive role in shifting those numbers, and one targeted, under-the-radar eating plan stands out for its unique ability to deliver results quickly.
If you want to lower your LDL cholesterol without jumping onto the latest fleeting wellness trend, there’s a practical, evidence-based strategy that top medical experts say truly works. Here is how this lesser-known approach works and why heart doctors urge patients to try it.
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Why Layering Specific Foods Outperforms Standard Eating PlansWhen panic sets in after a high lab reading, many people turn to popular low-carb or keto meal frameworks. Unfortunately, these high-fat choices often backfire, causing LDL numbers to spike even further. Cardiologists emphasize that shifting toward a plant-focused model is far safer and more effective.
Dr. Frank Y. Han, MD, a cardiologist at OSF Healthcare, previously told Parade that “the most well-studied diets for cholesterol reduction are the vegetarian diet, portfolio diet and the Mediterranean diet—three ways of eating that prioritize eating plant-based foods.”
Related: ‘I’m an Oncologist—This Is the First Thing I Check on Every Food Label’
Among these choices, the portfolio diet holds a distinct advantage because it functions like a financial investment strategy. Instead of strictly focusing on what you must eliminate, this strategy encourages you to systematically layer four key cholesterol-lowering food groups—soluble fiber, plant sterols, soy protein and nuts—to unlock a compound reduction effect.
Emphasizing the power of this plant-centric approach, Dr. Jeremy Pollock, MD, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, previously told Parade that “vegan or plant-based diets have been shown to be most effective for lowering cholesterol by as much as 15 to 20%.”
However, he also cautioned against common dietary mistakes that can quietly sabotage your progress.
“Eating foods that are high in saturated and trans fats, sugar and refined carbs increases your LDL cholesterol, and not eating fruits and vegetables, which contain fiber that can help your body flush out cholesterol, can also be detrimental to your cholesterol level,” he warned.
How Fiber and Healthy Fats Lower Your NumbersThe secret behind this approach comes down to how these specific foods interact with your digestive system. Soluble fiber acts like a sponge in your digestive tract, binding to cholesterol particles and flushing them out before they ever reach your bloodstream.
Dr. Debbie Rinde-Hoffman, MD, a cardiologist with Tampa General Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute, previously told Parade that starting your day with a fiber-rich meal actively helps modify LDL cholesterol. Additionally, replacing saturated fats with healthy plant-based fats helps raise protective HDL cholesterol while driving down harmful LDL levels.
Related: Pharmacists Are Begging People To Stop Taking Ibuprofen This Way
Making these strategic dietary adjustments can yield noticeable lab improvements in as little as four to twelve weeks. Combined with regular daily movement and limiting processed foods, this structured approach offers a clear, manageable path toward taking charge of your cardiovascular future.
Adapted from Parade’s “Want To Lower Your Cholesterol? Cardiologists Say This Is the Best Diet To Follow” by Emily Laurence Sardinha and “The One Thing to Do Every Single Day If You Want to Lower LDL Cholesterol, According to Cardiologists” by Beth Ann Mayer
Up Next:
Sources- Dr. Frank Y. Han, MD, cardiologist at OSF Healthcare
- Dr. Jeremy Pollock, MD, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center
- Dr. Debbie Rinde-Hoffman, MD, a cardiologist with Tampa General Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute
1968 Country Song, Inspired by One Night in New Orleans Jail, Is Still a Generational Hit 58 Years Later
Sometimes it takes a wrong turn to stumble onto the right song.
Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Mr. Bojangles” began in a New Orleans jail, where the young troubadour found himself after being arrested for public intoxication one night in the mid-1960s. There, Walker met an older street performer who called himself “Mr. Bojangles”– not after the famed dancer Bill Robinson directly, but as the sort of generic name itinerant entertainers sometimes adopted. The man told stories, including one about the death of his beloved dog, then lightened the suddenly somber mood by getting up and dancing for the other men in the cell.
“He jumped up, and started clapping a rhythm, and he began to dance,” wrote Walker in his 1999 memoir Gypsy Songman. “I spent much of that long holiday weekend talking to the old man, hearing about the tough blows life had dealt him, telling him my own dreams.”
Walker never forgot him.
“On a night when the rest of the country was listening to The Beatles, I was writing a 6/8 waltz about an old man and hope. It was a love song,” Walker wrote. “In a lot of ways, Mr. Bojangles is a composite. He’s a little bit of several people I met for only moments of a passing life. He’s all those I met once and will never see again and will never forget.”
The result was one of country-folk music’s most vivid character studies: a portrait of a drifter whose battered life, grief and irrepressible instinct to perform are revealed in just a few verses. Walker recorded the single version at Phillips Recording in Memphis on June 7, 1968, and Atco released it later that month.
It hardly looked like an obvious commercial proposition. Walker himself later remembered being told the song was too long and that its subject matter–an aging drunk and his dead dog–hardly fit radio convention. His own recording peaked at only No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100.
But “Mr. Bojangles” quickly proved bigger than any one recording. In fact, a string of top-tier artists eagerly covered it not long after its release.
Harry Nilsson and Neil Diamond both recorded it in 1969, John Denver followed in 1970, and Bob Dylan cut his own version that year during the sessions surrounding New Morning. Nina Simone brought her unmistakable interpretation to the song in 1971. Its reach was already extensive — folk, pop, country and soul singers all seemed able to find something of themselves inside Walker’s deceptively simple story.
Then the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band changed everything.
“Driving home one night, I heard the tail end of this song on the radio,” The Dirt Band’s guitarist/vocalist Jeff Hannah later told Grammy. “There was no back-announcing on FM, so we had no idea who or what it was. I pulled the car over to listen, and my eyes just welled up. The song really moved me.”
The next day at rehearsal in Long Beach, CA, Hannah told the band about this beautiful tune that he had heard and that he thought the band ought to record. The rest was history.
Their 1970 recording transformed “Mr. Bojangles” into a major pop hit, eventually climbing to No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. Decades later, that version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2010–a recognition reserved for recordings of lasting historical or qualitative significance. For millions of listeners who grew up with 1970s radio, it was the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s version that made “Mr. Bojangles” feel as familiar as an old friend.
Sammy Davis Jr. took the song somewhere else again. He made “Mr. Bojangles” a signature part of his stage act, performing it for years and helping blur the line between the song’s fictionalized drifter and generations of real-life entertainers who understood the compulsion to keep performing no matter what life had handed them.
“This song,” said Davis Jr. to a 1985 audience in Germany, “I could not do a show without including this song. I certainly wouldn’t do a show here without including it. It’s very special to me.”
Walker’s song ultimately attracted recordings by well over 100 artists, among them Harry Belafonte, Dolly Parton, Bobbie Gentry, Chet Atkins and King Curtis. And that range may be the best evidence of what made “Mr. Bojangles” endure. The song is specific enough to feel completely real — the jail cell, the dog, the worn-out dancer — but open enough for singers from wildly different traditions to inhabit it. Underneath the memorable waltz is something elemental: grief briefly transformed into joy.
Even Walker seemed surprised by the life the song took on. What began as a story about one man encountered during one strange night ultimately gave its writer financial freedom and became the song most closely associated with him. When Walker died in 2020 at 78, “Mr. Bojangles” remained central to nearly every account of his extraordinary career.
Fifty-eight years later, people are still singing about that dancer in the New Orleans jail.
And somewhere inside every version, Mr. Bojangles gets up and dances again.
John Ritter’s Widow Amy Yasbeck Opens Up About What Went Wrong the Night He Died At Age 54
In 2003, beloved Three’s Company star John Ritter died suddenly at just 54 years old after suffering an acute aortic dissection. More than two decades later, his widow, actress Amy Yasbeck, is opening up about the medical misdiagnosis she says contributed to his death.
“John was sadly misdiagnosed on the night he passed away,” Yasbeck told Fox News Digital in a new interview.
Ritter became ill on Sept. 11, 2003, while working on the ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules. According to Yasbeck, doctors initially believed the actor was suffering a heart attack after he arrived at the hospital with chest pain.
“And they didn’t do any imaging, but he looked like the guy — right age, right weight, everything — to have a heart attack, and he had chest pain,” she recalled. “So they just started loading him up with blood thinners and stuff.”
But Ritter was actually suffering an aortic dissection, a tear in the inner layer of the aorta.
“And this is sad because it was the opposite,” Yasbeck continued. “It wasn’t a block in his heart, it was a tear in his aorta, so everything they did that night led to what eventually happened.”
Following Ritter’s death, Yasbeck filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging his aortic dissection had been misdiagnosed. In 2008, a jury found in favor of the two physicians who remained defendants in the case.
Ritter’s death ultimately led Yasbeck to establish the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health, which works to increase awareness of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections and improve their detection and treatment.
Yasbeck told Fox News Digital that Ritter’s experience has even become a kind of shorthand among some medical professionals.
She recalled recently accompanying a friend experiencing chest pain to a hospital, where staff told her they were ordering a CT scan to check for “the John Ritter thing.” The medical staff apparently had no idea they were speaking to Ritter’s widow.
“I freaking love that,” Yasbeck said of hearing the phrase. “Call it whatever you want.”
The interview comes during Aortic Dissection Awareness Week, which runs Sept. 13-19, and days after the foundation held its annual Evening from the Heart LA gala on Sept. 12.
The event featured a reunion of Yasbeck’s Wings co-stars Tony Shalhoub, Steven Weber and Tim Daly, along with appearances by members of Ritter’s family and stars including Joyce DeWitt, Kaley Cuoco and Maureen McCormick. The evening raised money for aortic dissection research, public education and medical provider training.
Ritter’s son Tyler Ritter also joined Yasbeck for the Fox News Digital interview and revealed that he now undergoes annual scans because of his family history.
“Our mission is that he is the last in our family to suffer a dissection,” Tyler said.
For Yasbeck, increasing awareness has become one of the most important parts of her late husband’s legacy.
“There was kind of a pre-John Ritter awareness of aortic dissection and a post,” she said. “Sadly, John died in the last hours of pre-John Ritter awareness.”
Related: How John Ritter and Suzanne Somers Quietly Reconciled Before His Sudden Death
1979 Stevie Nicks Song, Written in a Single Night, Took 34 Years to Explain
For years, Stevie Nicks left the meaning of “Beautiful Child” largely unexplained. The haunting Fleetwood Mac song appeared on Tusk in 1979, but it wasn’t until decades later that Nicks revealed the track was inspired by her brief relationship with Derek Taylor.
Among the five songs Nicks wrote for the album, “Beautiful Child” leans into a softer, more vulnerable side of her songwriting. The piano and vocals make it sound like a lullaby, but the lyrics are about wanting someone despite the age gap and knowing the relationship won’t last.
Nicks eventually explained the story behind the song during a 2013 Q&A. “‘Beautiful Child’ was about a relationship I had with the Royal road manager of the Beatles, whose name was Derek Taylor,” she said. “It didn’t last very long, because he was married, but it affected me very much, because he told me so many stories about the Beatles.”
Taylor was married to Joan Doughty when he and Nicks became involved, and their relationship was brief. What really drew Nicks in was Taylor’s connection to the Beatles. She was fascinated by the stories he had from his time around the legendary band.
He began covering the group as a journalist in 1963 and later worked on a newspaper column “written” by George Harrison with Harrison’s approval. Brian Epstein eventually put Taylor in charge of the band’s press releases, giving him a front-row view of the Beatles and the people around them.
Nicks referred to him as the Beatles’ “royal road manager,” explaining just how much she learned from him.
“Everybody has your road manager,” Nicks said. “We had JC, crazy JC (John Courage), Led Zeppelin had Peter Grant. The road managers are the ones who know everything. And so I learned so much about [Taylor] about the whole world of the Beatles that it was stunning.”
Taylor left more than stories behind, he also ended up giving the song its title. In the 2015 Tusk liner notes, Nicks remembered him reciting poetry to her “in his beautiful English voice” and calling her a beautiful child, a phrase that annoyed her at the time.
However, that phrase stuck with her. Nicks wrote “Beautiful Child” in a single night. She started around midnight on a Sunday and had finished it by dawn.
She later said that her Fleetwood Mac bandmates and the album’s producers didn’t ask what it was about because they understood that it was such a personal song.
Nicks didn’t keep “Beautiful Child” just for herself, though. During the 1979 International Year of the Child, she donated the song and all of its royalties to a United Nations fundraising campaign.
Related: 1964 Folk Song, Written by Bob Dylan, Launched a 19-Year-Old Singer’s Solo Career
’60s Guitar Legend Jimi Hendrix Died 56 Years Ago at Age 27—And a Poem Found Soon After Reflects His Final Thoughts
It’s been 56 years since legendary rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix died at the age of 27. Found dead at the Samarkand Hotel in London, Hendrix’s death was recorded as barbiturate intoxication and inhalation of vomit.
Originally mistaken for a suicide note by his friend and member of The Animals, Eric Burdon, Hendrix’s last words were a poem that seemed to be intended as a song.
“The story of Jesus/So easy to explain,” the poem said. “After they crucified him/A woman, she claimed his name / […] The story of life is quicker than the wink of an eye/The story of love is hello and goodbye, until we meet again.”
At the time, Burdon said that the poem said “the things Hendrix has always been saying, but to which nobody ever listened.”
Burdon said that Hendrix had been in a “bad state” for a year.
“He came out of his shell on Tuesday and came over to the club and asked if he could play with us the next night, the 16th, which he did,” Burdon said. “At first he played like an amateur, real bad, using stage tricks to cover up. Then he came on with a solo which was up to scratch, and the audience dug it. He went off stage and came back, playing the background to ‘Tobacco Road.’”
Hendrix had spent the evening before his death, September 17, visiting the hotel flat of Monika Dannemann, a German painter. She found him in a coma the next morning and called an ambulance, Rolling Stone wrote. The ambulance took Hendrix to St. Mary Abbot’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 12:45 p.m.
But even with a short career, Hendrix became one of the most popular figures in rock music history, PBS wrote. He “pioneered the explosive possibilities of the electric guitar,” embracing blues, ballads and everything in between. 56 years later, his influence still echoes today.
Aldi's $15 Rustic Kitchen Essential Resembles a Williams-Sonoma Find 10x the Price
Looking for ways to elevate your kitchen ahead of the hosting opportunities that come with fall and winter? Look no further than your local Aldi to meet all your essential needs. Alongside a constant rotation of grocery and household staples, you can always rely on the weekly lineup of limited-time Aldi Finds to bring you something new you never knew you needed.
Case in point: the beautiful Crofton Acacia Bread Board, a versatile $15 find that resembles a Williams Sonoma piece over 10 times the price. Designed to help slice and display seasonal loaves of bread, it also pulls double duty as a hot pad in the kitchen. Here for a limited time and already selling fast, it’s an easy way to upgrade your hosting game while bringing rustic charm to any mealtime display.
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Crofton Acacia Bread Board, $14.99 at AldiIn stores now and sold alongside a matching Cloche Board with Cheese Dome, Crofton’s Acacia Bread Board offers a simple yet smart design that serves as a cutting board, serving board and crumb catcher all in one. At $14.99, it hardly breaks the bank while its stunning acacia wood finish offers a warm, rustic appeal that truly goes well with almost any decor.
Measuring 10 inches wide and 15.2 inches long, the board features two pieces that interlock, with a slatted design that corrals crumbs while also serving as guides for slicing. Whether you’re displaying it on the breakfast table alongside some jam, fresh fruit and scrambled eggs or using it to serve a warm loaf at your next dinner gathering, it’s a reliable choice that does a bit more than your average cutting board.
More importantly, snagging this one at Aldi means you save roughly $135. Compared to its Williams Sonoma counterpart, you get many of the same design features without blowing your budget on something new.
Crofton Cloche Board, Cheese Dome, $14.99 at AldiLooking for something with a slightly different purpose? Aldi’s matching Crofton Cloche Board with Cheese Dome is the perfect companion to snatch up while it’s still in stock. Featuring the same $14.99 price tag and acacia wood finish, it has an oval shape with etched groovings and a glass cheese dome that offers plenty of space to showcase your favorite cheeses, crackers and charcuterie while keeping everything covered and ready to serve.
If you’re lucky enough to snag both while they are still around, just remember to hand-wash each board and dry it thoroughly immediately afterward. Acacia wood has a knack for looking beautiful over the years, but excess moisture can lead to warping and cracking. Otherwise, put them both to use this fall as you entertain guests, host cocktail hours or simply enjoy your homemade baked creations with the family.
Looking for more kitchen inspiration? Take a gander at Costco’s $40 4-Piece Cast-Iron Set and consider upgrading the way you approach family dinner while you’re at it.
The Reason Why Henry Winkler’s Name Was Left off This Film’s Poster
Imagine being the most popular character on a beloved sitcom. You’re so popular that you’ve become a pop culture phenomenon whose reach still inspires decades later (*I’m looking at you, Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” video). Now imagine starring in a film, only to be told your name can’t be on the poster.
That’s exactly what happened to Henry Winkler when he appeared in Wes Craven’s genre-defining 1996 horror film Scream.
Appearing on the podcast In Depth With Graham Besinger and covered by Entertainment Weekly, the Happy Days icon was cast as Principal Arthur Himbry – a supporting role he landed through a casual lunch with Craven, who asked if Winkler wanted to be in his new movie. What followed was a messy death scene involving blood-filled hoses, a request from Craven to make it “a little more excruciating,” and a shower break before reshooting the whole thing to scream even louder. By all accounts, Winkler delivered.
Then came the blow. The studio called and delivered news that left him both bewildered and insulted. “We can’t put your name on the film. We cannot put you anywhere near the poster,” they told him. The reason? “You were the Fonz and you will knock the balance of horror off if we let them know you’re in it.”
To add insult to injury, Winkler went home upset – only to receive a follow-up call from the same studio asking if he’d be willing to do press for the film.
The irony wasn’t lost on him. His appearance onscreen had drawn actual applause from test audiences. The very presence they were afraid to advertise was the one that made people cheer.
Thirty years later, Winkler has turned the whole experience into something of a life philosophy. “You just show up,” he told interviewer Graham Besinger. “You have no idea what’s going to happen, but that’s out of your control.”
And perhaps that’s the real twist in Winkler’s Scream story: Sometimes the thing executives think it needs to hide is exactly what audiences want to see.
1977 Bond Girl, Who Lost a Major TV Role to Another Actress 47 Years Ago, Is Now 80 and Unbothered
In September 1979, Shelley Hack debuted as Tiffany Welles, replacing Kate Jackson on Charlie’s Angels. But behind the scenes, producers were initially considering another glamorous brunette for the coveted role: a Bond girl who had recently made a major splash on the big screen: Barbara Bach.
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Making her English-language film debut with the 1977 James Bond classic The Spy Who Loved Me, Barbara Bach starred as KGB agent Major Anya Amasova. The breakout role catapulted the Queens, New York native to international fame and global sex symbol status. So in 1979, when casting was happening for Jackson’s replacement, Bach was widely expected to become the next star of Charlie’s Angels.
Unfortunately, she lost out at the finish line to another brunette beauty.
Barbara Bach Was the Favorite to Become the Next AngelWhen Jackson, one of the original Angels who starred alongside Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith, left the ABC hit series after the third season, producers launched a massive search for a new Angel to play the sharp, intelligent group leader. Among the more than 150 top models and actresses who auditioned, Bach became the favorite.
With her casting considered a slam dunk, several magazines and newspapers prematurely reported that Bach had officially won the role. Even Dave Doyle, who played “Bosley” on the show, remarked that he and the cast fully expected Bach to get the job.
“I remember thinking Barbara Bach had the role,” Doyle said, per Bach’s biography. “She was attractive, and she could do the job.”
Why Producers Ultimately Passed on the Bond GirlUltimately, producers passed.
According to Bach, they thought she and Smith looked too alike and that having two actresses with similar features would hurt the trio’s distinct visual dynamic. Then, there was another problem, at least in the producers’ minds: Bach didn’t seem “American enough.”
Ed Lakso, a writer and producer on the series, said, “The problem was that she looked very much like Jaclyn Smith, Kelly Garrett on Charlie’s Angels.”
Despite being a native New Yorker, Bach’s sophisticated demeanor and her famous stint as a Russian spy left executives convinced she was European. In an interview with Johnny Carson, Bach confirmed as much, saying producers asked her manager if she could play an American.
She Met Her Future Husband, Ringo Starr, on the Set of ‘Caveman’Losing the role was a professional disappointment for Bach, but it cleared her schedule to take on other projects, including the 1981 film Caveman. That’s where she met her future husband, Ringo Starr. On the set of the slapstick comedy, the chemistry between the onscreen romantic interests was instant.
“The truth is, we weren’t together until the very end of Caveman,” Bach said. “While we were working, we got along fine—we spent time together—but we each had other people, our respective friends. Then, suddenly, two weeks before the end of shooting, we fell in love.”
She added, “We shifted from friendly affection to being in love, but it was just before we left Mexico. We had an off-camera love affair, and somehow it just spilled over beautifully into real life. It wasn’t quite love at first sight, but it began to grow, wishing for days of meeting each other.”
While they were dating, the couple survived a near-fatal car crash in England when Starr’s car flipped over twice. The traumatic experience seemed to strengthen their bond, and they married less than a year later, on April 27, 1981.
View this post on Instagram Bach and Starr Have Been Married for More Than 45 YearsIn August, Bach celebrated her 80th birthday. Now retired from acting and modeling, she and Starr, whom she famously called “quiet, sensitive, and intelligent,” have remained together for more than four decades. Between them, they have five children from their previous marriages.
Whatever disappointment she felt in 1979 is now a footnote in a much bigger life story.
As for Hack, her run as Tiffany Welles lasted just one season. Charlie’s Angels did see its Nielsen ranking decline during the 1979–80 season, falling to No. 20 after ranking No. 12 the previous season. But the series continued for another season, with Tanya Roberts replacing Hack, before ABC canceled the show in 1981 after five seasons.
Related: Remember When Todd Rundgren Tried to Turn a ’70s Teen Idol Into a Rock Star 46 Years Ago?
The Go-Go's Fell Apart After Three Albums; the Breakup Launched Belinda Carlisle's Solo Career
Belinda Carlisle didn’t set out to leave The Go-Go’s and become a solo star. But when the band fell apart after three albums, a song written for its replacement lineup landed in Carlisle’s hands instead. She made it her first solo single, and “Mad About You” went all the way to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Go-Go’s had made an enormous impact in a short amount of time. Their 1981 debut, Beauty and the Beat, topped the Billboard 200 and helped establish the group as one of the most successful female rock bands of the era.
The band followed it with Vacation in 1982 and Talk Show in 1984. Neither album matched the success of the debut, but both produced hit singles, and The Go-Go’s remained a major pop presence into the mid-1980s.
Behind the scenes, however, the group was coming apart. Jane Wiedlin left The Go-Go’s after Talk Show, reportedly unhappy with her position in the band. The group brought in Paula Jean Brown as her replacement and played several shows with the new lineup.
There were even plans to keep the band going. The Go-Go’s began developing material for a possible fourth album, but they ultimately couldn’t put things back together and decided to disband.
That left the new songs they had been working on without a band to record them. The timing worked out especially well for Carlisle. She already had a solo deal waiting for her at IRS Records, the same label that had signed The Go-Go’s.
Among the songs Carlisle heard was “Mad About You,” written by Brown with James Whelan and Mitchell Evans. Brown had envisioned it for her new band, but the breakup of The Go-Go’s opened the door for Carlisle to take it in another direction.
Carlisle picked it as her first solo single, giving the song a second life outside the Go-Go’s. And she wasn’t recording it alone. Former Go-Go’s members Charlotte Caffey and Wiedlin added backing vocals, with Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor on lead guitar.
Released in 1986, “Mad About You” gave Carlisle a strong start outside The Go-Go’s. The song reached No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on Canada’s RPM 100 Singles chart.
It also became the lead single from Carlisle’s debut solo album, Belinda. The song pointed toward a more polished pop and adult contemporary sound than the rock-influenced music she had made with The Go-Go’s.
That distinction became important to Carlisle’s solo career. While she had already established herself as the voice of The Go-Go’s, “Mad About You” helped introduce listeners to a different side of her as a solo artist.
Years later, “Mad About You” found its way back to the Go-Go’s. It was included in Head Over Heels, the 2018 Broadway musical built around the band’s music and two of Carlisle’s solo songs.
Related: 1971 Rock Song, Rejected by Steppenwolf, Was Rescued by a Hit-Making Band
36 Years Ago Today Joe Pesci Improvised a 'Goodfellas' Scene Out of His Own Life; He Won the Only Oscar Martin Scorsese's Film Took Home That Night
Goodfellas opened on September 19, 1990.
Martin Scorsese had built it from Nicholas Pileggi‘s 1985 book Wiseguy, about a real New York mobster, and the film went to the Academy Awards that spring with six nominations. It came home with one.
Where the ‘Funny How’ Scene Came FromJoe Pesci did not find the “funny how” exchange on the page. He carried it in from a night years earlier, when he was waiting tables and a connected customer turned on him over what Pesci had meant as a compliment. Pesci had resisted the film at first. Once he was persuaded, he gave Scorsese the story. “He acted out this scene that had happened to him,” the director recalled.
Scorsese had Pesci and Ray Liotta throw lines back and forth four or five times before anything was locked. He ran two cameras in wide medium shots so the diners stayed visible, and the sequence took about ninety minutes on a day the schedule had not set aside for it. The bottle that shatters was not planned.
Six Nominations and One StatueGoodfellas was up for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing for Thelma Schoonmaker, Best Adapted Screenplay for Scorsese with Pileggi, plus supporting nominations for Lorraine Bracco and Pesci.
Dances with Wolves took seven awards on March 25, 1991, including Best Picture and Best Director for Kevin Costner. It also took Film Editing and Adapted Screenplay, which meant four of the five races Goodfellas lost went to the same movie. Whoopi Goldberg took the fifth, beating Bracco for Ghost.
Pesci was the exception. The Academy preserved the speech in full: “It was my privilege. Thank you.” When he came back out later in the broadcast to introduce a segment, he told the room he still could not talk.
What That Night MissedThe American Film Institute ranked it 94th among the 100 greatest American films, then moved it up to 92nd a decade later. Time Out‘s ranking, updated this month, places it 11th. Its soundtrack has had a life of its own. So has the argument over where it belongs among the best movies of the 1990s.
Liotta, who played Henry Hill, died in 2022 at 67. Robert De Niro turned 83 in August. Pesci still holds the only Oscar the picture ever won, for a performance he had not wanted to give.
'60s Fashion Icon Called 'The Face of 1966' Who Won Two Golden Globes Turns 77
British model and fashion icon Twiggy is turning 77 years old today.
Born Lesley Hornby on September 19, 1949, the star rose to fame as a teenage model. She was famous for his extremely thin figure, large eyes with long eyelashes, and short haircut. Known just by her first name, Twiggy became one of the first-ever supermodels.
She was called “The Face of 1966” by the Daily Express and earned the title of British Woman of the Year. She reached international fame by the late 1960s after modeling in France, Japan, and the US.
The model reflected on her incredible career in a 2025 interview with Harper’s Bazaar.
“I was so young when it happened to me,” she reflected. “I hadn’t even thought about a career. I was still at school. My vague ambition was to become a fashion designer, as I loved making my own clothes. But then the world had other ideas…”
‘Twiggymania’ took over, and she quickly became one of the most in-demand models of the time. She appeared on the cover of magazines like Vogue and The Tatler. The model defined a decade. Her look heavily influenced the beauty standards of the 1960s.
“I have women from my generation who were a similar build to me who still come up and say that I changed their view of themselves,” she said. “But then I have women who weren’t my build at all who tell me I ruined their lives!”
Twiggy shared that her looking back on her rise to fame feels “almost like watching somebody else,”
“I’d never even been abroad before, and then I was going to Paris, New York, Tokyo,” she shared. “It was weird, but it was exciting. I was wearing these gorgeous clothes. I was getting paid! When we went to LA, Sonny and Cher threw a party for me. Can you imagine?”
By the 1970s, she expanded her career as a singer and an actress. She earned two Golden Globe Awards and a Tony Award nomination for her performances.
Decades later, Twiggy is still a major influence on culture and fashion. On her 77th birthday, the model, actress, and singer is responsible for quite a successful legacy.
Walmart’s $17 Reversible Outdoor Rug Is a 'Fabulous' Patio Upgrade for Fall Parties
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If you’ve been spending more time outdoors this summer, gardening or getting your yard in pristine shape, you might have noticed an area that could use some extra attention — your patio. Even if you already have seating set up or lights hung, a pretty rug can tie the whole space together, creating a more inviting ambiance. If you’re planning any fall parties or just want to soak in the final weeks of warm weather in total bliss, Walmart has Vunate Reversible Waterproof Outdoor Rug on sale for just $17 that can take your patio from drab to fab.
The best deal is on the 5-by-8-foot size in black and white with a crosshatch chevron pattern, but it comes in seven other colors available in multiple sizes at various price points. There are also three round rugs and select versions available with built-in LED lights, many of which are on sale.
Vunate Reversible Waterproof Outdoor Rug, From $17 at Walmart Shop at WalmartThe chic look of this rug is just the start of its appeal. Made from woven recycled plastic straws, the material is incredibly low-maintenance but holds up well. It’s waterproof and can be easily cleaned just by spraying it down with a water hose. Plus, a UV-protectant coating ensures the colors won’t fade, and the heat-treated edges resist fraying.
Beyond your backyard, its lightweight and foldable design means it’s easy to pack up and take with you, making it a perfect mat for beach days, picnics, or to add to your camping setup. For added convenience, the rug comes with a carrying bag and stakes to keep it securely in place wherever you use it.
Shoppers described this outdoor rug as “beautiful” and “fabulous,” noting that the reversible design “pulls everything together” in outdoor spaces. “The material is lightweight but durable, and the woven plastic design makes it easy to clean,” one reviewer said. Many shoppers agreed that it felt “nice and soft” to walk on.
Attesting to the rug’s “amazing” quality, one shopper raved, “I have four boys, and they are tough on things, but this held up through many camping trips, storms, even snow!”
Related: Walmart’s 63-Inch Lockable Outdoor Cabinet Is the Secret to Taming Backyard Clutter
Whether you want to transform your patio or need a versatile outdoor mat that’s as functional as it is cute, the Vunate Reversible Waterproof Outdoor Rug is an excellent pick. Snag it now for as little as $17 at Walmart.
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Old Navy's $40 NFL Shirt Features an Oversized Fit Made for Tailgating Season
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Whether you’re a diehard sports fan or simply love the energy surrounding a live game, there’s a lot to get excited about as football season gets underway. And while we transition to cooler weather and start dusting off our favorite team colors, Old Navy is stepping in to provide yet another way to get into the spirit of the game.
Introducing the NFL Oversized Graphic T-Shirt, a collection of officially licensed NFL tees featuring a vintage-inspired locker room style and retailing for just $39.99. Perfect for any football fan in your life and available with 10 different teams to choose from, it’s a solid addition to any gameday collection and an easy way to show off your team spirit.
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Kansas City Chiefs Oversized Graphic T-Shirt, $39.99 at Old Navy Shop It!Sports fan or not, it’s a lot of fun to show pride for the city and state you live in. Whether you know everything about the game or simply love the colors of your local team, it never hurts to have a team shirt in your wardrobe that you can reach for on any occasion. With Old Navy’s NFL Oversized Graphic T-Shirt, you can showcase a bit of your hometown pride while adding a modern T-shirt silhouette to your gameday rotation.
Featuring a rib-knit crew neck, short sleeves with a drop shoulder and a boxy fit that hits just below the waist, this T-shirt is a solid choice for all-day comfort. Its soft jersey fabric is made of 100 percent cotton, while its full-front graphic offers a clean depiction of each team’s name, logo and establishment date. And with sizes XS through 4XL available both in-store and online, you can easily find the perfect fit to match your preferred style.
Related: Uniqlo’s Stylish $40 Work Pants Are a ’10/10′ Everyday Essential
Buffalo Bills Oversized Graphic T-Shirt, $39.99 at Old NavyWhile not every team in the league is represented in the lineup, there are 10 fan-favorite choices that cover a fairly wide range of NFL fans. Whether it’s the Kansas City Chiefs you’re rooting for or the Buffalo Bills, each one offers classic team colors, bold fonts and a variety of base colors to choose from. While supplies last, you can also expect to find Jets, 49ers, Cowboys, Seahawks, Packers, Giants, Eagles, Bears, Lions and Steelers shirts, too.
At the moment, you can find each style still in stock online, but don’t wait too long to grab yours or risk your size selling out as more shoppers discover them. And remember, because the shirt has an oversized fit, your normal size may fit almost a full size larger than a standard T-shirt. Size down for a fit closer to traditional, and avoid washing with warm water or machine-drying on high to help prevent unwanted shrinkage.
Need more fall-inspired picks? Check out Uniqlo’s Windproof Stand Blouson and Jersey Easy Work Pants and pair them with your new NFL graphic T-shirt.
Related: Old Navy’s $35 Men’s Fall Button-Down Has a Throwback Oxford Fit
Ticket Refunds Begin for Ed Sheeran Following Backlash for 'Bad Behaviour': Just Days After Finneas, Lukas Graham, Beoga and Aaron Rowe Withdraw
Ticket refunds for Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour are already starting to roll in, even though the tour hasn’t been canceled. Fans looking to get out of Saturday’s Philadelphia show have reported receiving full refunds through Ticketmaster, despite no official refund policy being announced for that date. It’s a different story so far for Sheeran’s Sept. 25 and 26 shows at Gillette Stadium, where the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office says it has received at least 25 consumer complaints over refund requests, up sharply from just nine a day earlier. Sheeran’s own tour policy states that ticket sales are final and that lineup changes don’t guarantee a refund, so how those complaints get resolved remains an open question.
The refund requests are tied to a lineup collapse that’s left Sheeran without a single opener. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Beoga and Aaron Rowe have all withdrawn from the tour’s remaining U.S. dates, each citing solidarity with Macklemore, who was dropped from the tour earlier this month after calling for a “Free Palestine” and performing his song “Hind’s Hall” onstage at MetLife Stadium.
Sheeran has said the decision to remove Macklemore wasn’t his, attributing it to the tour’s promoters and venues, and confirming he’d spoken with Patriots owner and Gillette Stadium co-owner Robert Kraft, who he said was one of the main voices pushing for Macklemore’s removal.
The reaction from Sheeran’s other openers came fast. Rowe was first to go; Finneas followed within the hour: “Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.” Lukas Graham posted their own statement calling it a hard decision but adding, “Money doesn’t give you the right to own the conversation.” Beoga, who’d been playing a mid-set segment alongside Sheeran throughout the tour, said they were leaving “following the silencing of Macklemore.”
Online, plenty of fans have redirected their frustration toward Kraft rather than Sheeran or the departing openers, with many in comment threads and on social media calling his conduct “bad behavior” and questioning why he’d wade into the situation at all.
A Country Song Waited 21 Years Before Barry White Turned It Into a Hit; The Result Reached No. 2 on Billboard, Blocked Only by Elton John
It’s hard to imagine Barry White singing “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” any other way. But before White turned it into one of his biggest hits, the song was a country tune with a very different sound.
Peter Sterling Radcliffe wrote the song decades before White ever heard it, originally calling it “You’re My First, You’re My Last, My In-Between.” His country version sat untouched for 21 years.
By the time Radcliffe brought the song to White, the two already had a personal connection. When White was going through a rough financial period, Radcliffe reportedly bought Christmas presents for his children. So when Radcliffe later told White he had a song he wanted him to hear, White was willing to give it a chance.
What he heard was nothing like the classic that would eventually come from it. Radcliffe’s original was a country song that even featured the sound of horses’ hooves.
Still, White heard something worth working with. He reworked the melody and much of the lyrics while keeping elements of Radcliffe’s original composition.
“I said, ‘Sterling, that song is a smash,’” White recalled. He then asked Radcliffe to give him a few weeks to reshape it. “I said, ‘Sterling, I want you to stay out of my face for the next two or three weeks,’” he contiuned. “When you come back, you’re going to be part of a smash.”
White transformed the song in the studio, rewriting several of the lyrics in the process.
“I heard what was inside that song. … I went into the studio and made up my own melody all the way through,” he said. “Half of the words in it I changed right in front of the microphone.”
White’s version appeared on his 1974 album Can’t Get Enough and became a major hit. “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The only song standing between it and No. 1 was Elton John’s “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
However, the record did spend a week at No. 1 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. It also reached No. 1 in the U.K., where it spent two weeks atop the chart.
The song was White’s fourth top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Gold by the RIAA in December 1974.
Related: 1971 Rock Song, Rejected by Steppenwolf, Was Rescued by a Hit-Making Band
Fans Are Calling Crate and Barrel's Paper-Mache Pumpkin Collection 'So Awesome'
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Autumn has a way of making everyone a little sentimental. The light goes amber, the sweaters come out of hibernation, and suddenly the question of what to put on the dining table feels oddly significant. This year, many people seem to have landed on the same answer.
Crate & Barrel’s fall collection has been circulating online with the kind of momentum usually reserved for a limited-edition sneaker. Woven textures, harvest-toned tabletop pieces and quietly elevated seasonal styling all make an appearance. But it’s one particular corner of the lineup that keeps pulling focus—the pumpkins.
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Not the orange kind. The Paper Mache White Pumpkins, set of seven, for $69.95 arrive in a matte, creamy finish the brand calls ghost-white, the color of fresh linen or a fogged-over window. Each is shaped to recall the knobby, ribbed, wonderfully uneven silhouettes of heirloom varieties, so the group reads less like a set of props and more like a curated harvest.
Paper Mache White Pumpkins, Set of 7, $69.95 at Crate & Barrel Shop It!The making of them is part of the appeal. Artisans shape and paint each pumpkin by hand, working primarily with recycled newspaper (roughly 90 percent, with kraft paper making up the balance). It’s a small, satisfying irony—the day’s news, reborn as a centerpiece.
Shoppers have noticed and are smitten. “Super simple yet look high end and elevated our space. Love!” said one reviewer, neatly summarizing the whole proposition. It’s decor that asks very little and gives back plenty, with no carving, no cleanup and no slow collapse into a soft, sad heap by mid-November.
Related: This $20 Marshalls Rug Proves You Don’t Need to Splurge for a High-End Look
Styling them is as forgiving as it sounds. Arrange the seven in a loose line down the center of a dining table. Tumble them into a wide wooden bowl for an effortless centerpiece. Or scatter them through the house—on a mantel, a windowsill, a stack of coffee table books— and let them appear where you least expect them. They’re intended to carry a space from Halloween straight through Thanksgiving, a stretch of calendar that usually demands two entirely different decorating schemes.
Seasonal trends tend to arrive loudly and leave quickly. This one is doing the opposite. It’s understated, tactile and a little bit wry, a reminder that the most memorable fall decor isn’t always the most obvious. Sometimes it’s just a handful of pale, imperfect pumpkins, arranged with intention.
