Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 93
Chart Week: November 5, 1983 Song: “Automatic Man” – Michael Sembello Chart Position: #34, 7th week on the chart. This was the song’s peak. A quick RFTS to fill the place of the Friday Playlist as we are taking an adult fall break for the next few days. The 100th entry in this series is getting very close. I’ve been…
Friday Playlist
An extra-stuffed playlist this week, heavy on tracks from albums I have previously shared songs from. Also, a heads up that there may be no playlist next week. I will be traveling for a couple days and may leave the playlist machine at home. Then again, maybe I’ll whip something together before we depart. It will be a surprise for…
Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 92
Chart Week: October 30, 1982 Song: “I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)” – Donald Fagen Chart Position: #36, 4th week on the chart, debut week in the Top 40. Peaked at #26 for three weeks in November and December. Pop music tends to be pretty limited thematically. Amongst the bazillion or so songs about love, lust, and heartbreak, occasionally one will…
Friday Playlist
I didn’t blast much new-ish music this week, so today’s playlist will skew in a slightly different direction than normal. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5PmuVKcNg8Kf2UXZJbzhEu?si=a4325e6cebe44e16 “Collect” – Torres It’s been a couple years since we had new Torres music. That album landed not one but two tracks on my Favorite Songs of the Year list, so the pressure is high for 2024. This is…
Friday Playlist
Man, the weeks are really adding up. One more playlist before we slip into the final two months of the calendar year. It always seems like it will take forever to get here in January and February, then it is suddenly late October and both holiday music and my Favorite Songs of the Year playlist are right around the corner.…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Jza04TxJ3VZGBsO4z4eoe?si=68e26a4d61c8480e “Stuck” – Soft Science There’s been an influx of modern shoegaze in my playlists lately, and I am not complaining about it. “Your Day” – Pastel A buddy of mine who is super into all things Manchester described this as sounding like Liam Gallagher and Johnny Marr made a record together. I’m down with that. “Up and Comer” –…
Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 91
Chart Week: September 29, 1984 Song: “On the Dark Side” – John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band Chart Position: #24, 19th week on the chart (charted twice, see below). Peaked at #7 for two weeks in October/November. The history of pop music is filled with opportunists. If an artist or musical style makes a big splash, you can be…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7nt3r8Pr3aGblX46oUxDI7?si=8f3b4a486ce5457a “Spring” – Briston Maroney “Autumn” – The Gaslight Anthem That’s right, we’re getting crazy with the seasons this week! Here two new songs representing the opposing equinoxes. Oddly enough, I find both songs to sound very fall-like, if in different ways. “Waiting for a Cloud” – Golden Apples And then we get this song, which was released about three…
Thursday Playlist
I’m off to the airport around 5:45 AM Friday for my weekend trip to Austin and I’ve got a busy day ahead of me as I prep, so I’ll post this 20-something hours early to avoid either forgetting to send it or messing up the scheduling options in WordPress. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4T4B24oj1WOC7YERV7LESM?si=cb5f671b135248de “Alley Light” – Squirrel Flower Ella Williams’ songs are often…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7gecH6WQXHOX9iL3Rqxcht?si=93cd5f1f7c8e4e29 “September” – Earth, Wind & Fire OK, we’re a day off. But I can’t miss my annual chance to throw this into a playlist. “Deep End (Paul’s in Pieces) – The National The National dropped a surprise album Monday, serving as a companion to First Two Pages of Frankenstein, released earlier this year. There are two really good songs…