On June 14, 2009, I loaded my music collection onto my new computer and started listening to songs in my random and seemingly aimless fashion. It took until December 2, 2009, to listen to every song at least once.
While I have a trouble-free, mostly random and constantly replenishing playlist that I use most of the time, I still listen to catchy songs whenever the spirit grabs me and I occasionally listen to albums or special playlists. That drives up the playcounts on some songs. In a moment, we'll take a look at the most often played songs for the past year. But first, let's do some numbers.
Songs loaded one year ago: 9574
Current song count: 10151
Most recently added song: The Look of Love by Beverley Staunton. It's a cover of the 1967 Dusty Springfield song, from Beverley's 2001 jazz album. You may not know the name Beverley Staunton, but if you watch Dancing with the Stars, you've heard her voice. She's incredibly versatile and sings about 3/4ths of the female-lead songs on that show. I looked for music from her but could only find the 2001 album. You can bet that if she had released more albums, I would buy them.
The top three songs as they were moved from the old machine:
3) Kay Hanley - Mean Streak (Do You Miss Me, Too?) -- 41 plays
2) Debbie Gibson - Only in My Dreams -- 46 plays
1) Jim Capaldi - That's Love -- 53 plays
As of June 14, 2010, Debbie Gibson's Only in My Dreams is one of six songs tied for 7th place, with eight plays.
Three songs are tied for 4th with nine plays. They are Save it for a Rainy Day by The Jayhawks, Cherry Bomb by The Runaways, and What Becomes of the Brokenhearted? by Joan Osborne. The playcount of Cherry Bomb jumped when The Runaways movie came out a few months ago. The Joan Osborne song will be featured in The Best Songs You've Never Heard, Volume 3.
And how consistent am I?
3) Jim Capaldi - That's Love -- 12 plays
2) Kay Hanley - Mean Streak (Do You Miss Me, Too?) -- 17 plays
1) Kay Hanley - Tell Him No -- 27 plays
(To see more about Jim Capaldi's song, see my recent post on the The Best Songs You've Never Heard, Volume 1. To see more about Kay Hanley and especially about Mean Streak (Do You Miss Me, Too?), see my post on Cherry Marmalade)
I bought Kay's latest album, Weaponize, on September 18, 2009, so Tell Him No's 27 plays happened in only nine months. Weaponize is a decent album but only Tell Him No grabbed me viscerally. It's a peppy, guitar-laden song that feels like it's moving at 90 MPH. I'm not sure what the song is really about but I enjoy the heck out of it.
Weaponize also featured Don't Drop a Bomb, a duet with a female rapper, which was not to my taste, so I edited out the rap. The result is actually pretty good and doesn't sound too choppy. My edit of Cobra Starship's Snakes on a Plane (Bring It) is pretty choppy, but the song is so good, I put it up with it. The rap in both Don't Drop a Bomb and Snakes on a Plane (Bring It) makes them unlistenable otherwise, so editing is a requirement. And truth be told, fun.
Where will I be at this time next year? Who knows, but I'm sure I'll bore you at that time with more details than you could ever want to know.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Soccer
I don't think soccer will ever catch on. First of all, the name. It's futbol across the world but soccer in the States. That's not helping.
I watched the US vs England match in the World Cup earlier today. OK, I recorded it and fast forwarded through much of it, but still. Nothing happened. Almost 100 minutes of playing and there were just two goals. Nothing happened.
Here's how futbol works. The ball gets booted around for a minute, then someone tries to kick it into the goal. The goalies are 95% effective at blocking shots. Bounce-bounce-bounce-shoot. Bounce-bounce-bounce-shoot. Bounce-bounce-bounce-shoot. For 100 minutes. Every once in a while, the ref would call a penalty but I couldn't ever see why. And the announcers, whose job it is to tell us what is going on, ignored the penalties and anything else of interest, but when someone would try to kick a goal, they'd get unreasonably excited. Remember that 95% block percentage I mentioned? Yeah, let's get excited about 25 attempted shots on goal for every one that goes in.
And what's with the varying clock? Futbol is supposed to be two halves of 45 minutes each, but at the end of each half, four extra minutes appeared on the clock. The announcers didn't say anything about it, so it must be a common occurrence. Stupid, but common.
And offsides? A penalty that has no reason to exist. The ball is in possession of one team on one side of the pitch and a penalty is called because a guy on the other team is a few inches too far away on the other side. What the hell is that about? Maybe they could have fewer penalties and more scoring.
I want to enjoy futbol really bad. I loved Bend it Like Beckham and She's the Man is a favorite guilty pleasure, but futbol is better in the movies than real life. Infinitely better. The sport is never going to catch on.
Speaking of England, I found out two things today I did not know. They have their own flag. I thought the Union Jack - you know, the Austin Powers flag - was the flag of Britain. Turns out, that's the flag of the United Kingdom. England has their own flag for when they want to shun Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It's a red cross centered on a field of white. Greedy bastards. Do they really need two flags?
I also learned that the national anthem of England is "My Country 'Tis of Thee." I always thought the sweet land of liberty and land of the pilgrims' pride that the song 'tissed about was the US of A, but I stand corrected.
I watched the US vs England match in the World Cup earlier today. OK, I recorded it and fast forwarded through much of it, but still. Nothing happened. Almost 100 minutes of playing and there were just two goals. Nothing happened.
Here's how futbol works. The ball gets booted around for a minute, then someone tries to kick it into the goal. The goalies are 95% effective at blocking shots. Bounce-bounce-bounce-shoot. Bounce-bounce-bounce-shoot. Bounce-bounce-bounce-shoot. For 100 minutes. Every once in a while, the ref would call a penalty but I couldn't ever see why. And the announcers, whose job it is to tell us what is going on, ignored the penalties and anything else of interest, but when someone would try to kick a goal, they'd get unreasonably excited. Remember that 95% block percentage I mentioned? Yeah, let's get excited about 25 attempted shots on goal for every one that goes in.
And what's with the varying clock? Futbol is supposed to be two halves of 45 minutes each, but at the end of each half, four extra minutes appeared on the clock. The announcers didn't say anything about it, so it must be a common occurrence. Stupid, but common.
And offsides? A penalty that has no reason to exist. The ball is in possession of one team on one side of the pitch and a penalty is called because a guy on the other team is a few inches too far away on the other side. What the hell is that about? Maybe they could have fewer penalties and more scoring.
I want to enjoy futbol really bad. I loved Bend it Like Beckham and She's the Man is a favorite guilty pleasure, but futbol is better in the movies than real life. Infinitely better. The sport is never going to catch on.
Speaking of England, I found out two things today I did not know. They have their own flag. I thought the Union Jack - you know, the Austin Powers flag - was the flag of Britain. Turns out, that's the flag of the United Kingdom. England has their own flag for when they want to shun Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It's a red cross centered on a field of white. Greedy bastards. Do they really need two flags?
I also learned that the national anthem of England is "My Country 'Tis of Thee." I always thought the sweet land of liberty and land of the pilgrims' pride that the song 'tissed about was the US of A, but I stand corrected.
Friday, June 4, 2010
The Best Songs You've Never Heard, Volume 1
A few years ago, I was visiting my sister and listening to some music. As you may have read before, I use a random playlist on my iPod, one that excludes songs that have played in the previous four months. Out popped 'Angola' by Ambrosia, a song I had discovered in the early 2000s when I was filling out my music collection. I was surprised that I could go four months without listening to such a wonderful song. I played a little of it for my sister and regaled her in tales of Ambrosia and its main voice, David Pack. From that conversation sprang an idea for a CD.
My sister's main musical tastes were rather narrow - she was all about Elton John in high school and college, then slid over to country as an adult. There are thousands of hours of great music that she has not been exposed to. I decided to put together 75 minutes of good tunes that she hadn't heard but that might appreciate. Thus was born The Best Songs You've Never Heard, Volume 1. The songs are in no particular order and not necessarily the best selection for each artist, but my target listener was a 50-year-old woman from rural Minnesota. It's just a good sample of the wonderfulness of music that is out there.
Update 11/9/11: When you're done here, be sure to click over to Volume 2 and Volume 3.
Ambrosia - Angola (1978)
Ambrosia started the 70s as an experimental rock band but finished a little more conventionally. You've certainly heard their hits 'Holding on to Yesterday' (1975), 'How Much I Feel' (1978), and 'You're the Only Woman' (1980). These songs were written and sung by David Pack, whom you'll hear more about in later entries.
'Angola' is a peppy song, set in the eponymous African country, which, in 1975, was populated mostly by subsistence farmers. The singer, perhaps an American ex-pat, reads the newspaper and finds it amusing to read about people upset about a recession when people in Angola seem happy with minimal creature comforts ("What you call poor, we call prosperity").
After the second verse, lead singer Joe Puerta's perfectly adequate vocals get a harmony accompaniment by Pack's creamy smooth, high register voice (How do you describe David Pack's voice? How do you describe a sunset?) which takes a perfectly good song and turns it into a phenomenally good song.
Kim Wilde - Four Letter Word (1988)
Kim Wilde was a fairly big deal on the other side of the pond in the 80s but only had two hits in the States: 'Kids in America' (1981) and 'You Keep Me Hanging On' (1987). Wilde's voice is kind of weak, even frail, which sounds odd to the American ear, but that trait worked perfectly with the style and content of this particular song, a plaintive up-tempo ballad, making the result somewhat transcendant. In case you're wondering, the four letter word she sings about is, of course, "love."
Steve Winwood - Valerie (1982)
This list was also influenced by a conversation I had with a co-worker, about the same time as my visit to my sister. She mentioned that she had taken a call from a client named Valerie and I off-handedly mentioned that I had two really good songs in my collection named 'Valerie.' I decided to kill two birds with one CD, and share The Best Songs You've Never Heard, Volume 1 with my co-worker, and include both 'Valeries' from my collection.
This version is from Steve Winwood's album Arc of a Diver, which produced the hit 'While You See a Chance.' Winwood gets a little funky here. His signature synth is all over this song and 'Valerie' showcases his high register voice nicely.
Quarterflash - Valerie (1981)
The other 'Valerie' on this list. Quarterflash is often called a one-hit wonder but they had three Top 40 hits and released four wonderful albums. Bandleaders Marv and Rindy Ross are still working today, releasing a CD together in 2008.
Quarterflash's 'Valerie' is no simple song. At first glance it sounds like a college-lesbian experience, but in the third verse, the singer says that Valerie hangs in the student gallery, ala a portrait? I've never put my finger on the true meaning; I just like the song.
Susan Tedeschi - Alone (2002)
Susan Tedeschi is kind of like a female David Pack, with a beautiful, distinctive voice. 'Alone' is a soulful, hopeful pop song - complete with horns - featuring incredibly smooth, powerful vocals. Her normal style is the Blues and she does them well, but with 'Alone,' she's playing above her normal level.
Debbie Gibson - Think with Your Heart (1995)
Debbie Gibson had her biggest success before she was old enough to vote. Maybe because of her bubblegum princess image, she received no attention from the music-loving public after 1991. Shame. I have all of her albums and while I may quibble over some of her song choices and even her musical direction, I will never say anything bad about her voice. 'Think with Your Heart' is maybe the best example of Debbie's great voice. A simple piano ballad with strings, this song rates among the best songs ever recorded.
The Derek Trucks Band - I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to be Free) (2006)
I slept late on March 25, 2006. 7:46AM on a Saturday is late for me. When I got up, I walked through the kitchen and turned on the radio. I listen exclusively to National Public Radio's morning programs, which usually consist of newsmakers being interviewed by deep voiced, serious journalists. Stereotype aside, what came out of my radio that morning was anything but a stolid interview. My speakers erupted with a screaming slide guitar solo that went on for a good minute, then more of a song, the likes of which I had never heard before.
'I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to be Free)' is pretty much a negro spiritual (is that still a term I'm allowed to use?), but was written in 1967. The DTB version adds a powerful blues style to the spirituality and rocks out.
Not all of The Derek Trucks Band's music is to my taste but 'I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to be Free)' certainly is. I now have five different versions by DTB in my collection, including the NPR version that ripped up my speakers on that fateful day in 2006.
Deadstar - Run Baby Run (1999)
Deadstar is an Australian band that had modest, if any, success in their homeland and almost zero in the States. This song came to my attention on the soundtrack of Drive Me Crazy in 1999. Deadstar's lead singer has a very sweet voice, and 'Run Baby Run' is a gentle, even soothing ballad.
Gjallarhorn - Goddess of Spring (2000)
I accidentally discovered Gjallarhorn one day in 2001 when KTCA ran a live performance of 'Goddess of Spring' between requests for money. Gjallarhorn is a band from Finland that sings in Swedish and plays in a traditional folk style. 'Goddess of Spring' is a an uptempo song that blends traditional with amplified instruments and I swear there is an Australian didgeridoo in the mix as well. A very pleasing song, even if I can't understand a word they're saying.
David Pack - Tell Her Goodbye (2005)
Chronologically, I've gotten out of order, because David Pack will appear later with an older song but if you're listening to the CD, the music flows well with this order.
David Pack is an amazing singer. I could just stop there, but... 'Tell Her Goodbye,' from his first complete album in twenty years, is a marvel. Accompanied only by an acoustic guitar and bass, Pack sings a song with roots in the blues but fits into what some people might call the Smooth Jazz category. Harmonies - fantastic harmonies - are provided by Dewey Bunnell, late of the band America.
Pack's 2005 album The Secret of Moving On is wonderful as a whole; I just wish he'd put albums out more than once every twenty years.
Jim Capaldi - That's Love (1983)
Jim Capaldi did some good group work in the 60s with Traffic and tried for a solo career in the 70s. He never really took off but put out some good material nonetheless. He almost hit it big in 1976 with an up-tempo, happy version of 'Love Hurts,' but had the misfortune of releasing it the same time that Nazareth released their downbeat, power-ballad version.
'That's Love' is your basic Top 40 pop song, with a clean arrangement and good hooks. Steve Winwood plays keyboards. It is, in my opinion, Capaldi's best solo song.
Rush - Spirit of the Radio (1978)
Once again, I remind you that this list was originally prepared for someone who hasn't listened to rock radio since the 70s and whose interest in rock began and ended with Elton John. This staple of AOR (Album Oriented Rock) radio is a staple for a reason. It's melodically creative, has great hooks, Geddy Lee's extremely powerful, extremely high voice, and lyrics that say something. The commercialization of radio has only gotten worse since Rush recorded this song over 30 years ago.
Rush is an acquired taste so even if you listen to this song a few times it may not grab you. But if you're looking for a kick ass rock song, 'Spirit of the Radio' should get you.
Oh, about the name. It is officially 'The Spirit of Radio,' but back in my musically formative years, I never heard anyone - DJ, friend, stranger - say the title in the right order. I don't think the title is ever mentioned in the lyrics, so for me, and maybe everyone from Southwestern Minnesota, it will always be 'Spirit of the Radio.'
Benjamin Orr - This Time Around (1986)
Ben Orr was one of two singers for The Cars. It's his voice on the hits 'Just What I Needed' and 'Let's Go.' He released his only solo album, The Lace, the year after the monster success of The Cars album Heartbeat City, which included Orr singing the number 1 hit 'Drive.'
Benjamin Orr's solo style was tamer than the new wave-influenced Cars, more conventional pop. You may have heard The Lace's top 10 hit 'Stay the Night.' My favorite from the album is 'This Time Around,' a gentle pop song sung from the perspective of a guy ready to get things right.
[Update 9/29/10: I just watched Fast Times at Ridgemont High again and was reminded that Benjamin Orr sang lead on The Cars song 'Moving in Stereo.' It's his voice you hear during the infamous Phoebe Cates bikini scene.]
Bob Welch - Lose Your... + Carolene (1977)
Bob Welch was the singer and guitar player for Fleetwood Mac before Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined, so he's not very well known. A lot of his songs tend to sound alike, which is to say the songs feature his voice and guitar and no real frills. This is actually a good thing.
The year that Fleetwood Mac had their unprecedented success with Rumours, Welch released a little album called French Kiss. It had two hits, 'Sentimental Lady' and 'Ebony Eyes.' The remainder of the album was solid, if not terribly innovative. I pick 'Carolene' as the best of the non-hits.
Welch had a small theme in French Kiss. The last song of side one was 'Lose My Heart.' The last song on side two was 'Lose Your Heart.' Wedged in between the other four songs on side two, there was a 42-second teaser called 'Lose Your...' leading into 'Carolene.' Technically, 'Carolene' is a stand-alone song but I can't listen to one without the other.
Charlotte Grace - Picture of You (1998)
Like Deadstar, Charlotte Grace is an Australian who had no success in the States, and whom I found on the Drive Me Crazy soundtrack. I had to buy my copy of this song from a guy in Australia. Worth it. 'Picture of You' is pretty much a perfect song.
David Pack - Anywhere You Go (1985)
This is Pack's third entry on this list, if you include his backing vocals and songwriting on 'Angola.' 'Anywhere You Go' is the title track on Pack's first solo LP. It didn't sell terribly well - I didn't even buy mine at first - I took home a demo copy from the radio station I worked at in 1985 and I haven't stopped listening yet. I've since upgraded to a CD purchased at retail.
'Anywhere You Go' is my favorite song from the album but just barely. It's safe to say this song is a ten while all the other songs are nines.
Pack made a Grammy-winning career out of producing other artists and by listening to the Anywhere You Go album, you'll hear why. The songwriting is top notch, the sound is smooth and the music is played by virtuosos at their peak.
Deborah Gibson - I Can't (1997)
Debbie Gibson couldn't buy a hit in the 1990s or 2000s, but she hit a creative zenith with 1997's Deborah. Ten years after the pop perfection of Out of the Blue, she released an album with soulful maturity. Her songwriting had improved and her production was lush. 'I Can't' was one of maybe three songs that deserved to be hits, but alas, they ended up being some of the best songs you've never heard.
Shannon Curfman - I Don't Make Promises (I Can't Break) (1999)
Shannon Curfman's first album, Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions, was released in September, 1999. She received immediate acclaim by blues fans, complimenting the richness of her voice - comparing her to Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow - and her lightning in a bottle guitar playing.
Shannon was born in 1985. The year the album came out was 1999! Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions was recorded when she was 13; released when she was 14. It sounds, however, from start to finish, like she was a journeyman blues player.
I saw Shannon play 'I Don't Make Promises (I Can't Break)' on a morning news show in 2000 and was blown away by the great music coming out if the teenybopper. I immediately bought the CD and still listen to songs from it as often as possible.
Toto - Rockmaker (1978)
Toto is one of the most amazing bands in music history. Saleswise, they peaked with 1982's Grammy winner for Album of the Year, Toto IV, and Song of the Year, 'Rosanna.' However, they put out consistently good music until they dissolved the band last year.
Toto's first album produced the classic rock hit 'Hold the Line,' which deservedly gets a lot of attention, but 'Rockmaker' was really the sign of Toto to come. Great songwriting, smooth vocals and the balance of Jeff Porcaro's drums, David Paich's keyboards and Steve Lukather's guitars. That formula produced dozens of great songs for Toto over the years.
[Update 9/28/10: I see the potential for confusion about the lead singers of Toto. They've had, by my count, 10 lead singers on their 14 albums, usually 3-4 singers per album. The lead singer of 'Rockmaker' is David Paich. He was also the singer on Toto's megahit 'Africa.' He is not the lead singer on the familiar hits 'Hold the Line,' 'Rosanna,' 'I'll Be Over You' or '99.'
The Best Songs You've Never Heard, Volumes 2 and 3 are ready to go, but neither of the recipients of Volume 1 has asked for them. I'll post the song lists for Volumes 2 and 3 sometime in the near future. If you want to hear The Best Songs You've Never Heard, Volume 1 and actually know me, I'll be happy to share a CD with you. Just ask.
My sister's main musical tastes were rather narrow - she was all about Elton John in high school and college, then slid over to country as an adult. There are thousands of hours of great music that she has not been exposed to. I decided to put together 75 minutes of good tunes that she hadn't heard but that might appreciate. Thus was born The Best Songs You've Never Heard, Volume 1. The songs are in no particular order and not necessarily the best selection for each artist, but my target listener was a 50-year-old woman from rural Minnesota. It's just a good sample of the wonderfulness of music that is out there.
Update 11/9/11: When you're done here, be sure to click over to Volume 2 and Volume 3.
Ambrosia - Angola (1978)
Ambrosia started the 70s as an experimental rock band but finished a little more conventionally. You've certainly heard their hits 'Holding on to Yesterday' (1975), 'How Much I Feel' (1978), and 'You're the Only Woman' (1980). These songs were written and sung by David Pack, whom you'll hear more about in later entries.
'Angola' is a peppy song, set in the eponymous African country, which, in 1975, was populated mostly by subsistence farmers. The singer, perhaps an American ex-pat, reads the newspaper and finds it amusing to read about people upset about a recession when people in Angola seem happy with minimal creature comforts ("What you call poor, we call prosperity").
After the second verse, lead singer Joe Puerta's perfectly adequate vocals get a harmony accompaniment by Pack's creamy smooth, high register voice (How do you describe David Pack's voice? How do you describe a sunset?) which takes a perfectly good song and turns it into a phenomenally good song.
Kim Wilde - Four Letter Word (1988)
Kim Wilde was a fairly big deal on the other side of the pond in the 80s but only had two hits in the States: 'Kids in America' (1981) and 'You Keep Me Hanging On' (1987). Wilde's voice is kind of weak, even frail, which sounds odd to the American ear, but that trait worked perfectly with the style and content of this particular song, a plaintive up-tempo ballad, making the result somewhat transcendant. In case you're wondering, the four letter word she sings about is, of course, "love."
Steve Winwood - Valerie (1982)
This list was also influenced by a conversation I had with a co-worker, about the same time as my visit to my sister. She mentioned that she had taken a call from a client named Valerie and I off-handedly mentioned that I had two really good songs in my collection named 'Valerie.' I decided to kill two birds with one CD, and share The Best Songs You've Never Heard, Volume 1 with my co-worker, and include both 'Valeries' from my collection.
This version is from Steve Winwood's album Arc of a Diver, which produced the hit 'While You See a Chance.' Winwood gets a little funky here. His signature synth is all over this song and 'Valerie' showcases his high register voice nicely.
Quarterflash - Valerie (1981)
The other 'Valerie' on this list. Quarterflash is often called a one-hit wonder but they had three Top 40 hits and released four wonderful albums. Bandleaders Marv and Rindy Ross are still working today, releasing a CD together in 2008.
Quarterflash's 'Valerie' is no simple song. At first glance it sounds like a college-lesbian experience, but in the third verse, the singer says that Valerie hangs in the student gallery, ala a portrait? I've never put my finger on the true meaning; I just like the song.
Susan Tedeschi - Alone (2002)
Susan Tedeschi is kind of like a female David Pack, with a beautiful, distinctive voice. 'Alone' is a soulful, hopeful pop song - complete with horns - featuring incredibly smooth, powerful vocals. Her normal style is the Blues and she does them well, but with 'Alone,' she's playing above her normal level.
Debbie Gibson - Think with Your Heart (1995)
Debbie Gibson had her biggest success before she was old enough to vote. Maybe because of her bubblegum princess image, she received no attention from the music-loving public after 1991. Shame. I have all of her albums and while I may quibble over some of her song choices and even her musical direction, I will never say anything bad about her voice. 'Think with Your Heart' is maybe the best example of Debbie's great voice. A simple piano ballad with strings, this song rates among the best songs ever recorded.
The Derek Trucks Band - I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to be Free) (2006)
I slept late on March 25, 2006. 7:46AM on a Saturday is late for me. When I got up, I walked through the kitchen and turned on the radio. I listen exclusively to National Public Radio's morning programs, which usually consist of newsmakers being interviewed by deep voiced, serious journalists. Stereotype aside, what came out of my radio that morning was anything but a stolid interview. My speakers erupted with a screaming slide guitar solo that went on for a good minute, then more of a song, the likes of which I had never heard before.
'I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to be Free)' is pretty much a negro spiritual (is that still a term I'm allowed to use?), but was written in 1967. The DTB version adds a powerful blues style to the spirituality and rocks out.
Not all of The Derek Trucks Band's music is to my taste but 'I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to be Free)' certainly is. I now have five different versions by DTB in my collection, including the NPR version that ripped up my speakers on that fateful day in 2006.
Deadstar - Run Baby Run (1999)
Deadstar is an Australian band that had modest, if any, success in their homeland and almost zero in the States. This song came to my attention on the soundtrack of Drive Me Crazy in 1999. Deadstar's lead singer has a very sweet voice, and 'Run Baby Run' is a gentle, even soothing ballad.
Gjallarhorn - Goddess of Spring (2000)
I accidentally discovered Gjallarhorn one day in 2001 when KTCA ran a live performance of 'Goddess of Spring' between requests for money. Gjallarhorn is a band from Finland that sings in Swedish and plays in a traditional folk style. 'Goddess of Spring' is a an uptempo song that blends traditional with amplified instruments and I swear there is an Australian didgeridoo in the mix as well. A very pleasing song, even if I can't understand a word they're saying.
David Pack - Tell Her Goodbye (2005)
Chronologically, I've gotten out of order, because David Pack will appear later with an older song but if you're listening to the CD, the music flows well with this order.
David Pack is an amazing singer. I could just stop there, but... 'Tell Her Goodbye,' from his first complete album in twenty years, is a marvel. Accompanied only by an acoustic guitar and bass, Pack sings a song with roots in the blues but fits into what some people might call the Smooth Jazz category. Harmonies - fantastic harmonies - are provided by Dewey Bunnell, late of the band America.
Pack's 2005 album The Secret of Moving On is wonderful as a whole; I just wish he'd put albums out more than once every twenty years.
Jim Capaldi - That's Love (1983)
Jim Capaldi did some good group work in the 60s with Traffic and tried for a solo career in the 70s. He never really took off but put out some good material nonetheless. He almost hit it big in 1976 with an up-tempo, happy version of 'Love Hurts,' but had the misfortune of releasing it the same time that Nazareth released their downbeat, power-ballad version.
'That's Love' is your basic Top 40 pop song, with a clean arrangement and good hooks. Steve Winwood plays keyboards. It is, in my opinion, Capaldi's best solo song.
Rush - Spirit of the Radio (1978)
Once again, I remind you that this list was originally prepared for someone who hasn't listened to rock radio since the 70s and whose interest in rock began and ended with Elton John. This staple of AOR (Album Oriented Rock) radio is a staple for a reason. It's melodically creative, has great hooks, Geddy Lee's extremely powerful, extremely high voice, and lyrics that say something. The commercialization of radio has only gotten worse since Rush recorded this song over 30 years ago.
Rush is an acquired taste so even if you listen to this song a few times it may not grab you. But if you're looking for a kick ass rock song, 'Spirit of the Radio' should get you.
Oh, about the name. It is officially 'The Spirit of Radio,' but back in my musically formative years, I never heard anyone - DJ, friend, stranger - say the title in the right order. I don't think the title is ever mentioned in the lyrics, so for me, and maybe everyone from Southwestern Minnesota, it will always be 'Spirit of the Radio.'
Benjamin Orr - This Time Around (1986)
Ben Orr was one of two singers for The Cars. It's his voice on the hits 'Just What I Needed' and 'Let's Go.' He released his only solo album, The Lace, the year after the monster success of The Cars album Heartbeat City, which included Orr singing the number 1 hit 'Drive.'
Benjamin Orr's solo style was tamer than the new wave-influenced Cars, more conventional pop. You may have heard The Lace's top 10 hit 'Stay the Night.' My favorite from the album is 'This Time Around,' a gentle pop song sung from the perspective of a guy ready to get things right.
[Update 9/29/10: I just watched Fast Times at Ridgemont High again and was reminded that Benjamin Orr sang lead on The Cars song 'Moving in Stereo.' It's his voice you hear during the infamous Phoebe Cates bikini scene.]
Bob Welch - Lose Your... + Carolene (1977)
Bob Welch was the singer and guitar player for Fleetwood Mac before Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined, so he's not very well known. A lot of his songs tend to sound alike, which is to say the songs feature his voice and guitar and no real frills. This is actually a good thing.
The year that Fleetwood Mac had their unprecedented success with Rumours, Welch released a little album called French Kiss. It had two hits, 'Sentimental Lady' and 'Ebony Eyes.' The remainder of the album was solid, if not terribly innovative. I pick 'Carolene' as the best of the non-hits.
Welch had a small theme in French Kiss. The last song of side one was 'Lose My Heart.' The last song on side two was 'Lose Your Heart.' Wedged in between the other four songs on side two, there was a 42-second teaser called 'Lose Your...' leading into 'Carolene.' Technically, 'Carolene' is a stand-alone song but I can't listen to one without the other.
Charlotte Grace - Picture of You (1998)
Like Deadstar, Charlotte Grace is an Australian who had no success in the States, and whom I found on the Drive Me Crazy soundtrack. I had to buy my copy of this song from a guy in Australia. Worth it. 'Picture of You' is pretty much a perfect song.
David Pack - Anywhere You Go (1985)
This is Pack's third entry on this list, if you include his backing vocals and songwriting on 'Angola.' 'Anywhere You Go' is the title track on Pack's first solo LP. It didn't sell terribly well - I didn't even buy mine at first - I took home a demo copy from the radio station I worked at in 1985 and I haven't stopped listening yet. I've since upgraded to a CD purchased at retail.
'Anywhere You Go' is my favorite song from the album but just barely. It's safe to say this song is a ten while all the other songs are nines.
Pack made a Grammy-winning career out of producing other artists and by listening to the Anywhere You Go album, you'll hear why. The songwriting is top notch, the sound is smooth and the music is played by virtuosos at their peak.
Deborah Gibson - I Can't (1997)
Debbie Gibson couldn't buy a hit in the 1990s or 2000s, but she hit a creative zenith with 1997's Deborah. Ten years after the pop perfection of Out of the Blue, she released an album with soulful maturity. Her songwriting had improved and her production was lush. 'I Can't' was one of maybe three songs that deserved to be hits, but alas, they ended up being some of the best songs you've never heard.
Shannon Curfman - I Don't Make Promises (I Can't Break) (1999)
Shannon Curfman's first album, Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions, was released in September, 1999. She received immediate acclaim by blues fans, complimenting the richness of her voice - comparing her to Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow - and her lightning in a bottle guitar playing.
Shannon was born in 1985. The year the album came out was 1999! Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions was recorded when she was 13; released when she was 14. It sounds, however, from start to finish, like she was a journeyman blues player.
I saw Shannon play 'I Don't Make Promises (I Can't Break)' on a morning news show in 2000 and was blown away by the great music coming out if the teenybopper. I immediately bought the CD and still listen to songs from it as often as possible.
Toto - Rockmaker (1978)
Toto is one of the most amazing bands in music history. Saleswise, they peaked with 1982's Grammy winner for Album of the Year, Toto IV, and Song of the Year, 'Rosanna.' However, they put out consistently good music until they dissolved the band last year.
Toto's first album produced the classic rock hit 'Hold the Line,' which deservedly gets a lot of attention, but 'Rockmaker' was really the sign of Toto to come. Great songwriting, smooth vocals and the balance of Jeff Porcaro's drums, David Paich's keyboards and Steve Lukather's guitars. That formula produced dozens of great songs for Toto over the years.
[Update 9/28/10: I see the potential for confusion about the lead singers of Toto. They've had, by my count, 10 lead singers on their 14 albums, usually 3-4 singers per album. The lead singer of 'Rockmaker' is David Paich. He was also the singer on Toto's megahit 'Africa.' He is not the lead singer on the familiar hits 'Hold the Line,' 'Rosanna,' 'I'll Be Over You' or '99.'
The Best Songs You've Never Heard, Volumes 2 and 3 are ready to go, but neither of the recipients of Volume 1 has asked for them. I'll post the song lists for Volumes 2 and 3 sometime in the near future. If you want to hear The Best Songs You've Never Heard, Volume 1 and actually know me, I'll be happy to share a CD with you. Just ask.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Delicious Cherry Marmalade
I have a lot of music but not so many CDs. I never had a lot of LPs either, maybe 150 albums before I started tossing them. I made a quick inventory of my CDs the other day - only about 125. I have them all in rows in a media bookcase in my bedroom.
Only one CD is on display, on a shelf, opened like a V, so we can see the front and back. Cherry Marmalade by Kay Hanley.
Kay Hanley came into my life on April 13, 2001, while watching the movie Josie and the Pussycats. The movie, a fun little trifle, was about three musician friends, hence a lot of music in the movie. Josie was played by Minnesota-native Rachael Leigh Cook. Josie's singing voice was by Kay Hanley. I had never heard of Kay Hanley until I saw her name in the credits and I'm pretty sure I had never heard so much as one note of her music until the opening scene of Josie and the Pussycats.
I went home and downloaded the soundtrack to the movie (since upgraded to a purchased CD) and listened over and over. I soon craved more songs by that voice. I found out that in the 1990s, Kay was the lead singer of Letters to Cleo, a band I had never heard of, but whose CDs were in the collection of my buddy Joel. Who knew?
A little while later, I also used Kazaa, a now defunct file-sharing site, to search for more songs by Kay Hanley. I only found one and don't remember the name the file had when I downloaded it - it didn't seem to match the song - so I renamed it after a prominent phrase in the chorus, "Do You Miss Me, Too?" This song was recorded live, either at a bar or a sound check, and was over-driven - distorted - and contained some talking from Kay to the sound-board operator at the beginning and for about 30 seconds at the end. It was annoying to hear the non-music parts of the file, so I removed the song from my collection.
Still, I couldn't get the song out of my head. It was catchy and hooked me. A few years later, I had become proficient with soundwave editing software, which allows me to remove pops & clicks from vinyl recordings and delete extra silence from the beginnings and endings of songs as needed. I pulled "Do You Miss Me, Too?" from the archives - I never fully delete any song I possess, just throw them into a separate folder - and edited a few seconds from the front and half a minute from the back. I resaved the song and put it back into rotation.
Over the next three or four years, "Do You Miss Me, Too?" became one of my most listened to songs. The distortion bothered me a bit but Kay's powerful voice, a good beat and great lyrics kept me listening. That would be a happy-enough ending for this story but it's not THE ending.
In 2006 or 2007, I put the rest of Kay Hanley's discography that I didn't already have on my Amazon.com wishlist. I check the wishlist every day to see if something I desire drops to a reasonable price and then I buy. It's saved me hundreds of dollars over the years. One Kay album in particular, Cherry Marmalade, was rather expensive, bouncing around the $10-20 range for over a year. Too rich for my blood, I did nothing until March 3, 2008, when a used copy became available for $3.99. I pulled the trigger. On March 15, I had the CD in my hand. The case was a little dinged up but the disc and insert were mint.
I began to rip the CD into digital files so I could import the songs into iTunes and my iPod. While I was waiting for the rip to finish, the thrill of the hunt overpowered me. I figured that "Do You Miss Me, Too?" was probably more than a demo or club recording - it had to be from an album. I decided then and there to find the original version and to buy the album that day, whatever the cost. But how?
This being the Internet age, I used Google. I entered "do you miss me too" into the search engine. A plethora of lyrics-providing sites returned the same thing: the name of the song was apparently "Mean Streak." Odd. If so, the title didn't seem to match the song. Well, that would hardly be unique in the history of recorded music, so I moved on to the next logical
thing, and searched Kay Hanley's discography for an album that contained a song called "Mean Streak." Found it quickly. The song was on Kay's 2002 album...
thing, and searched Kay Hanley's discography for an album that contained a song called "Mean Streak." Found it quickly. The song was on Kay's 2002 album...
Cherry Marmalade.
The same Cherry Marmalade I was holding in my left hand. Track 11. The same song that my software was ripping at that very moment. Fun coincidence.
When the album was loaded into iTunes, I cranked up what we will henceforth call Mean Streak (Do You Miss Me, Too?). It was different than the live/demo version, obviously. In addition to cleaner instrumentation, it was faster - maybe 10%, had a bit of synth in the background and a scorching guitar solo only hinted at in the garage version. I loved it. From that first listen in March, 2008, to when I built a new computer in June, 2009, it accumulated a play count of 41, far exceeding the rate at which I listened to any other song in my collection. It continues to accumulate playing time on the new computer - 17 plays since June 14, 2009.
Finding the studio version of Mean Streak (Do You Miss Me, Too?) would also be a happy ending for this story, but it's not THE ending.
When I moved into my house in 2008, I left my CD collection, meager as it is, unpacked in boxes in a closet. Earlier this year, I installed a new bookcase, mainly for my DVD collection, that had enough room for the CDs, so I removed all of them from their boxes and placed them on the new bookcase. When I picked up Cherry Marmalade, I noticed something for the first time. On the front of the case insert, right next to the picture of Kay, was a scribble from a Sharpie. K-something-y, H-a-something-y. Whoa.
I had a copy of a Kay Hanley CD signed by Kay Hanley! Very cool. It would be cooler if she had signed it in my presence FOR me, but close enough, man. I don't care that I acquired the CD through Amazon Marketplace, I just have a signed copy of a Kay Hanley CD. Period. Rather than hide the CD amidst the rest of my music, I gave it a place of honor on a separate shelf where anyone in the room can see it. It is the only CD in my collection so honored.
And THAT IS the happy ending of this long, but touching story.
If you're wondering what Kay Hanley is up to these days, well, even hard rockin', literate, indie musicians have to eat. For the last few years, she's been a back-up singer for Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana. No kidding. If you know where to look, you can spot her on stage in both Hannah Montana movies.
Oh, the title Mean Streak comes from a line in the song,
"It’s not beneath me to appreciate
the mean streak that’s inside me
when it’s so hard to miss you the way that I do."
The singer seems to be conflicted by having dumped a boyfriend (or having been dumped) and is engaging in a little passive aggressive behavior. Rock 'n Roll romance, kids.
"It’s not beneath me to appreciate
the mean streak that’s inside me
when it’s so hard to miss you the way that I do."
The singer seems to be conflicted by having dumped a boyfriend (or having been dumped) and is engaging in a little passive aggressive behavior. Rock 'n Roll romance, kids.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Some People Need to be Supervised
My homeowner's association is sponsoring some maintenance this week. On Tuesday, their contractor pressure washed the decks, stairs and landings. Mondo improvement, at least to the unstained, unpainted wood. Looks like it might even be cedar. The painted surfaces lost a bit of paint, which is pretty much to be expected after a pressure-washing.
Today, I watched two young men dressed in painters garb go from house-to-house scraping and painting. Since the pressure wash dislodged a lot of paint, that part makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that the washing brought into clear focus what each individual homeowner already knew: the painted parts of our decks and railings are rotting. And not just a little. Take a gander at my next-door neighbor's railing.
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That's what parts of mine looked like this morning. Now that some paint has been stripped and massive rot has been exposed, you'd think it would be time to repair and replace. You'd be wrong. Here's what it looks like now:
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They painted over the rot! Some people need to be supervised.
I don't know what's going on. I asked one of the guys what they were doing about the rot. He said a carpenter was going to come in and replace all the sections of railing that have rot. Fine, but why paint over it?
I'm just going to sit back and see what happens. Despite the observable inefficiency, I expect it will all work out but could be highly entertaining in the meantime.
Today, I watched two young men dressed in painters garb go from house-to-house scraping and painting. Since the pressure wash dislodged a lot of paint, that part makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that the washing brought into clear focus what each individual homeowner already knew: the painted parts of our decks and railings are rotting. And not just a little. Take a gander at my next-door neighbor's railing.
That's what parts of mine looked like this morning. Now that some paint has been stripped and massive rot has been exposed, you'd think it would be time to repair and replace. You'd be wrong. Here's what it looks like now:
They painted over the rot! Some people need to be supervised.
I don't know what's going on. I asked one of the guys what they were doing about the rot. He said a carpenter was going to come in and replace all the sections of railing that have rot. Fine, but why paint over it?
I'm just going to sit back and see what happens. Despite the observable inefficiency, I expect it will all work out but could be highly entertaining in the meantime.
Friday, May 7, 2010
The Doctor
In 1989, the Doobie Brothers released a song proclaiming that "Music is the doctor."
Today, right about now, I get to say, "My nephew is the doctor."
Today, right about now, I get to say, "My nephew is the doctor."
Friday, April 30, 2010
Are Trees Flowers?
I first started noticing flowering trees when I lived in Georgia, circa 1997. Every Spring, or every whatever time of year passes for Spring in Georgia's climate, all the dogwood trees would flower overnight. Might not have been dogwoods but let's call them that. For about a week, these medium-sized trees would be covered in white blossoms so thick you couldn't see any leaves, reminiscent of giant cotton balls.
I bought my house two years ago in Summer, so I thought nothing of the tree in my front yard. Last Spring, surprisingly, it erupted in beautiful pink blossoms. This year, I took pictures.
Here's a chronology of a bloom fortnight in my neighborhood.
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April 16. Red buds cover the tree, but it still looks pretty bare.
April 18. Starting to flower. I decided to take pictures around 8:00 AM, when the sun is behind the camera.
April 19. Very pretty.
April 20. Very few leaves visible. Neighbor's garbage can included in background at no extra charge.
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April 21. Filling out nicely.
April 22. Earth Day. I mean Goldwing Day.
April 23. About the same as yesterday, which is to say, very nice.
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April 26. It rained on April 24 & 35, so no pictures from those days. Petals are starting to drop.
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April 27. Leaves are becoming much more visible. My neighbor's garbage can and recycling bin makes another cameo appearance. Neighbor recycles mostly bottles, if you get my drift.
April 29. The fun is almost over.
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April 30. Still some pink there but the leaves really want to take over. Where did all the petals go?
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There they are. It looks like a hail storm but no, those are petals.
I bought my house two years ago in Summer, so I thought nothing of the tree in my front yard. Last Spring, surprisingly, it erupted in beautiful pink blossoms. This year, I took pictures.
Here's a chronology of a bloom fortnight in my neighborhood.
April 16. Red buds cover the tree, but it still looks pretty bare.
April 18. Starting to flower. I decided to take pictures around 8:00 AM, when the sun is behind the camera.
April 19. Very pretty.
April 20. Very few leaves visible. Neighbor's garbage can included in background at no extra charge.
April 21. Filling out nicely.
April 22. Earth Day. I mean Goldwing Day.
April 23. About the same as yesterday, which is to say, very nice.
April 26. It rained on April 24 & 35, so no pictures from those days. Petals are starting to drop.
April 27. Leaves are becoming much more visible. My neighbor's garbage can and recycling bin makes another cameo appearance. Neighbor recycles mostly bottles, if you get my drift.
April 29. The fun is almost over.
April 30. Still some pink there but the leaves really want to take over. Where did all the petals go?
There they are. It looks like a hail storm but no, those are petals.
So Close
Last Fall, I put both of my two-wheeled vehicles in storage for the off-season. I thought about hanging the motorcycle from the ceiling but later opted to park it on the floor and hang the bicycle. Less fun but more practical.
Not wanting the two vehicles to interfere with other, I measured carefully and drilled hooks into the ceiling for the bike. I parked the cycle and then hung the bike on the hooks.
While I measured carefully, I didn't take into consideration the motorcycle's cover. Let's see how close I got.
Ouch. While the bike's handlebars are still inches away from the motorcycle, with the cover in the mix, we're calling that zero clearance. Very tight. With my track record, I'm very happy to not be reporting major negative clearance.
Not wanting the two vehicles to interfere with other, I measured carefully and drilled hooks into the ceiling for the bike. I parked the cycle and then hung the bike on the hooks.
While I measured carefully, I didn't take into consideration the motorcycle's cover. Let's see how close I got.
Ouch. While the bike's handlebars are still inches away from the motorcycle, with the cover in the mix, we're calling that zero clearance. Very tight. With my track record, I'm very happy to not be reporting major negative clearance.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Happy Earth Day? No, Happy Goldwing Day
I brought home my Goldwing on his date in 2004. I remember quite clearly the first song to eminate from the radio - "Peaceful, Easy Feeling" by The Eagles. Whether you believe in omens or not, that was a good sign. On my way to work this morning, it hit 19,000 miles.
I've been avoiding driving my truck this week, for reasons that may be explained in a later post, and Monday-Tuesday were lovely days. Because they were lovely, and Wednesday morning was sunny, I didn't look at the thermometer before I left for work. Wow: 43°. That's a bit chilly when riding a machine that makes its own windchill. My lower limit for cycling to work has usually been 55°. A new and somewhat brisk low, and short-lived. My commute is less than two miles.
I looked at the thermometer before I left this morning: 39°. A second new low in as many days. Should be closer to 50° than 40° Friday morning. I hope it's warm for the weekend, so I can see about fixing my truck.
I've been avoiding driving my truck this week, for reasons that may be explained in a later post, and Monday-Tuesday were lovely days. Because they were lovely, and Wednesday morning was sunny, I didn't look at the thermometer before I left for work. Wow: 43°. That's a bit chilly when riding a machine that makes its own windchill. My lower limit for cycling to work has usually been 55°. A new and somewhat brisk low, and short-lived. My commute is less than two miles.
I looked at the thermometer before I left this morning: 39°. A second new low in as many days. Should be closer to 50° than 40° Friday morning. I hope it's warm for the weekend, so I can see about fixing my truck.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Scoundrels
Denny Hecker is a prominent Twin Cities car dealer. Or maybe I should use the past tense. He's currently awaiting trial for fraud and is in the middle of both bankruptcy and divorce. For all the salacious details, feel free to Google him.
I don't know if he's a con man or just an incompetent business person as he claims, but when he turned himself in for a few days in jail for contempt in the bankruptcy proceedings, he had $4000 in cash in his pocket. You know, if you're on your way to serve a contempt sentence for hiding assets, you might want to leave your wallet at home if it contains some of the assets you've been hiding. Ballsy and/or stupid.
For the last decade, the headquarters of Hecker's empire has been on my drive to work. Four or five years ago, I noticed that he opened a mortgage lending office. It makes sense, as car loans and home loans aren't all that different, and it was at the peak of the housing bubble.
I draw your attention to the signs on the building.
Let's see those signs in close-up.
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In 1775, Samuel Johnson said, "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." Naming your business "Freedom First Financial" and putting up red, white & blue signs, including one reminiscent of a waving flag, is definitely invoking patriotic imagery. Denny Hecker is demonstrably a scoundrel, so there has to be a lesson in there somewhere. I would even believe that "Freedom First Financial" wasn't the last choice of names; probably the first.
Minnesota Governor Timothy Pawlenty created a political action committee to raise money for his presidential bid. The name of Pawlenty's political action committee?
Freedom First PAC.
Gotta be a lesson in there, as well.
I don't know if he's a con man or just an incompetent business person as he claims, but when he turned himself in for a few days in jail for contempt in the bankruptcy proceedings, he had $4000 in cash in his pocket. You know, if you're on your way to serve a contempt sentence for hiding assets, you might want to leave your wallet at home if it contains some of the assets you've been hiding. Ballsy and/or stupid.
For the last decade, the headquarters of Hecker's empire has been on my drive to work. Four or five years ago, I noticed that he opened a mortgage lending office. It makes sense, as car loans and home loans aren't all that different, and it was at the peak of the housing bubble.
I draw your attention to the signs on the building.
Let's see those signs in close-up.
In 1775, Samuel Johnson said, "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." Naming your business "Freedom First Financial" and putting up red, white & blue signs, including one reminiscent of a waving flag, is definitely invoking patriotic imagery. Denny Hecker is demonstrably a scoundrel, so there has to be a lesson in there somewhere. I would even believe that "Freedom First Financial" wasn't the last choice of names; probably the first.
Minnesota Governor Timothy Pawlenty created a political action committee to raise money for his presidential bid. The name of Pawlenty's political action committee?
Freedom First PAC.
Gotta be a lesson in there, as well.
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