Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 90
Chart Week: September 19, 1981 Song: “General Hospi-tale” – The Afternoon Delights Chart Position: #35, 9th week on the chart. Peaked at #33 for two weeks. I’ve been reading through the RFTS archives and was surprised that I’ve never written properly about a novelty song, stuff like “Pac-Man Fever” or “The Curly Shuffle,” for example. I probably should have held…
Friday Playlist
The music vault is overstuffed again, so we’re back to extra large playlists. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6stDOCDl7ZVxuvrLc6WFhF?si=c6e6fd396d714aff “Little Fires” – The Gaslight Anthem Now we’re talking! This is the return to the classic TGA sound we’ve been waiting for. “Coming Home” – Echo Ladies “Resolution/Revolution” – The Linda Lindas “Nightmare Nights” – Church Girls Three straight songs featuring female vocalists who kick ass.…
Friday Playlist: Pearl Jam Favs
It’s a big weekend for me: Sunday evening I’m seeing Pearl Jam for the first time since 2000. I’m pretty excited about it. I re-added the SiriusXM Pearl Jam channel as a favorite a couple weeks ago and have been listening to it a lot in preparation. I’ve also been spinning their songs on Spotify in between all the other…
Friday Vid
A special playlist to come later today. “Love is Alive” – Gary Wright Mr. Wright died this week. Contrary to popular belief, he was not a one-hit-wonder: he had three songs that cracked the top 20. By every measure except for one, this was his biggest hit. Like “Dream Weaver,” it peaked at #2 on the Hot 100. It remained…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2CI0ohj0U1J8ihzE4m3o6z?si=66ab17904b4648b7 “Labor Day” – The Dead Milkmen How old do you have to be to get this song? Happy holiday! “Truck” – illuminati hotties This song is about mortality and whether or not heaven exists. Which is great. To me it hits as a late summer song for days when lounging in the pool has become routine but you’re not…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4xlUTikI4RjEoJWONdXfTI?si=84ecccd1bfa64faa “Make It Work” – Swiss Banks Holy Smiths tribute! Or is it an Interpol tribute? The vocals are straight out of the Morrissey school. But musically, this song is way closer to Interpol than The Smiths. Interesting combination. I think it works. “Different Now” – Courtney Barnett covering Chastity Belt It’s been awhile since I’ve enjoyed one of Barnett’s…
Reaching for the Stars, Vol 89
Chart Week: August 29, 1981 Song: “For Your Eyes Only” – Sheena Easton Chart Position: #29, 6th week on the chart. Peaked at #4 for for weeks in October and November. I’ve heard a glut of 1981 countdowns recently. To be honest, it’s a little much. The quirkiness of that era grates rather quickly upon repeated exposure. However, I did…
Friday Playlist
I must begin this week’s playlist with an apology. Last week I teased that I would be doing something new and exciting this week. Unfortunately that will not happen. I was going to get back into the world of podcasting, inserting actual vocal segments between songs. I’m not sure anyone needed or wanted to hear my voice, but I was…
Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 88
I talk a lot about how the summer of 1984 was the greatest moment in pop music history, normally backing that up with examples of some of the songs that were on the chart that summer. As I was listening to a 1984 countdown a couple weeks ago, it struck me again how freaking solid those 40 songs were. There…
Friday Playlist
A heads up for my loyal listeners that I’ve been working on a format change for these playlists. I’m hoping to unveil the newest, latest version next week. If it works as I hope, I think you’re going to enjoy it. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5O2XhoWVu5bsl33LZny7Pb?si=1d8eb8b1f79f4c5a “Motorcade” – Peggy Sue I love it when the algorithm spits out terrific songs I haven’t heard in…