John Lennon’s legacy shines on

For many baby boomers, Dec. 8, 1980, was their Kennedy moment, remembering where they were when they heard the news of John Lennon’s murder.

I’m sure I drove my co-workers nuts yesterday because I played both Beatles and Lennon all day on the newsroom CD player. I almost never pull rank on my co-workers except when it comes to controlling the music.

It made me think that had Lennon not been a member of The Beatles his solo catalogue would have been far more appreciated.

Everyone realized the single “Imagine” was a classic from the moment it was released. But there were so many more.

Lennon’s list of non-Beatles singles is as strong as any of the great make singers from the 1970s — remarkable considering in that 10-year period he took a five-year hiatus to enjoy fatherhood.

“Jealous Guy,” “Instant Karma,” “Give Peace a Chance,” “Happy Xmas War Is Over,” Whatever Gets You Thru the Night,” (recorded with Elton John) “Nobody Told Me,” “Watching the Wheels,” “Woman,” “Just Like Starting Over,” and his cover of “Stand By Me” are all great songs, not to mention he co-wrote “Fame” with David Bowie.

We have some great features coming up between Christmas and New Year’s and in the first few weeks of January.

Look for our annual top 10 local news stories, our ballot for readers to select the local Newsmaker of the Year, and a report card on not only Penticton City Council but all of the other councils and school boards within our readership area.

Speaking of councils, the Penticton Indian Band has a unique way of voting for its chief and band council. First there’s an election for chief and about two months later the band council is elected. As we just witnessed, former chief Jonathan Kruger was defeated in his bid for re-election but was selected as one of the band councillors.

The way it is with municipal councils, someone is gambling by running for mayor. If they lose, they (presumably) won’t be on council. Such was the case in both Summerland and Penticton. Orv Robson, David Gregory and Roch Fortin were defeated in their bid for mayor but likely could have been elected to council (if they were interested.) Same in Penticton. The city no longer has the wisdom of John Vassilaki as he ran for mayor and lost. Had he chose to run for council, he likely would have been elected.

A belated happy 40th birthday to Central Okanagan Similkameen Nicola Member of Parliament Dan Albas who celebrated the milestone on Dec. 1.

Thanks to Amigo Diego Alcaraz for dropping by The Herald’s office to sing “Feliz Navidad,” the holiday classic by Jose Feliciano. His regular goodwill tour also includes City Hall, Tug’s Taphouse and the Pearce Schneiderat law office.

Other great holiday pop songs: “Mary’s Boy Child” (Boney M’s version), “The Chipmunk Song”, “Gabriel’s Message” (Sting, found on the flipside to the 1985 single “Russians”), “Run Run Rudolph” (Bryan Adams version), “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” (Bruce Springsteen version), “Wonderful Christmastime” (Paul McCartney) anything by Sinatra (Frank — not Nancy) and, of course, “Merry Xmas War Is Over” (John Lennon).

I’m outta here. I am now off for a week on a pre-Christmas holiday. I will be back in the office Sunday, Dec. 18.

If there are any urgent editorial matters, please contact Joe Fries.

With an upper body injury to the star defenceman of the Vees, both James Millers are out of the line-up.

James Miller is managing editor of The Herald. To contact the writer: editor@pentictonherald.ca