Today's Tune: "I'm Your Captain (Closer To Home)" By Grand Funk Railroad

Happy Birthday to Ian McShane and to Mark Farner! We celebrate the birthdays of both the actor McShane and musician Farner with this 'Today's Tune'.

Ian McShane was born on September 29, 1942 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. McShane's films include 'Ordeal By Innocence' (1985) and 'Too Scared To Scream' (1985). He's also appeared in the television shows Space: 1999 (1975) and Trust (2003). He portrayed an East Anglia antiques dealer in the comedy / mystery-drama television show Lovejoy. The song choice this time however, has to do with McShane voicing Captain Hook in the animated movie 'Shrek The Third' (2007), and then a captain again (live action) in 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' (2011), as the infamous pirate known as Blackbeard.

American guitarist, singer and songwriter Mark Farner was born in Flint, Michigan on September 29, 1948. He's mostly known for his years rocking with Grand Funk Railroad. One of their most popular songs is "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)" (1970), which Farner wrote, and the band released as a single and as part of the album, 'Closer To Home' (1970)

Grand Funk Railroad - "I'm Your Captain (Closer To Home)" (1970)



GFR - "I'm Your Captain (Closer To Home)" 1971 Shea Stadium

Today's Tune: "The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent" By UFO

Happy Birthday Ian McShane. McShane was born on September 29, 1942 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England to his mother Irene (Maiden name - Cowley) and father Harry McShane. Harry McShane was a Scottish born professional footballer (soccer player) with Manchester United and Hamilton Academical. Ian grew up in Urmston, Manchester, England.

Actor Ian McShane has conquered films, stage and television. He is most well known to American public television viewers for the comedy/mystery television series Lovejoy, which takes place in rural East Anglia. He played the lead character by the same name, who was an antiques dealer who solved mysteries, whilst also being a bit of a lad. It's one of my favorite shows, and was based on the novels by John Grant (under the pen name Jonathan Gash). McShane's other works include films 'Ordeal By Innocence', 'Too Scared To Scream' and 'Shrek The Third'. Space: 1999, Trust and Deadwood are among his other TV appearances.

McShane's first film was the British romantic drama film 'The Wild And The Willing'. This 1962 movie started Ian well on his way to being a heartthrob and a fine actor. A very young Jeremy Brett ('War And Peace', Rebecca, Sherlock Holmes) and John Hurt ('A Man For All Seasons', The Sweeney, 'Alien')were introduced as well. Life at University, romance, lust, racism, the class system and youthful exploits feature in this film. Currently, you can watch it in it's entirety on YouTube. With a similar title, the song "The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent" by UFO is our 'Today's Tune'.

UFO - "The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent"