Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 15
Chart Week: October 7, 1978 Song: “Whenever I Call You ‘Friend’” – Kenny Loggins (with Stevie Nicks) Chart Position: #10, 11th week on the chart. Peaked at #5 for two weeks in November. Controversy! A countdown from the 1970s?!?!?! SiriusXM rebroadcasts original ‘70s AT40 countdowns on its 70s on 7 channel. Unlike their updated version of 1980s countdowns on 80s…
Friday Vid
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” – Queen. I haven’t been able to cobble together a playlist this week, so only a video for this Friday. But it’s an epic one. Believe it or not – given it was only 1982 – but this was the final Queen performance in the US. And their only appearance on SNL. Despite losing his…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/2sw6W5PYcRfpKOPTgV2TNW?si=T7Hmzd7bSvWp5F3dKSUKLg “Full Disclosure” – Line & Circle. Fall has finally arrived. We were pushing 90 earlier this week – with the heat indices well above 90 – but suddenly this morning it was below 40 and people were scrambling to turn on their furnaces. The next week promises only one day above 60. Mother Nature is a bitch… Perfectly timed…
Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 14
Chart Week: September 27, 1986 Song: “Heartbeat” – Don Johnson Chart Position: #14, 6th week on the chart. Peaked at #5 for two weeks in October. The history of pop music is riddled with vanity projects by actors, comedians, athletes, and others in the public eye who decided to leverage their fame in other mediums in an attempt to get…
Friday Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/50k3Wo5Lf0TGYxAlX7wPDp?si=bEkNmpE-QzW-z0rVIqcElQ “Heaven” – Late Bloomer. I’ve been meaning to share this song since July. It’s a big, crunchy, aggressive song that would have fit right into alternative rock radio in 1996. “Apocalypse Now (& Later)” – Laura Jane Grace & the Devouring Mothers. LJG’s announcement that she was transgendered and would be transitioning tore her previous band, Against Me!, apart.…
Friday Vids
A couple of vids for this week. As promised, one is from the 1985 countdown that played on SiriusXM last week. “Do You Want Crying” – Katrina and the Waves One of the areas of music esoterica I pride myself in mastering is knowing minor hits by bands that are widely considered One-Hit Wonders. “Well, actually they had another song…
Reaching for the Stars, Vol. 13
Chart Week: September 7, 1985 Songs: “We Don’t Need Another Hero” – Tina Turner “Power of Love” – Huey Lewis & The News “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)” – John Pass Chart Positions: Numbers three through one. This edition is a little meta. It’s not about the songs I’ve selected, or even the original countdown. Rather, it’s a celebration…
Friday Playlist
Today is our 60 day warranty inspection, so I’ve got folks through the house. Thus, just a quick playlist for this week. https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/6CrSOX14yjsauRf5VOkMLt?si=cV_Tg7aZQBmgmuBwp1TZOQ “Missing U” – Robyn. It’s always good to have new Robyn jams. “Poison” – David Nance Group. Some good, old fashioned, dirty rock ’n’ roll from Omaha, NE. “Christmas Down Under” – Phosphorescent. Despite the title, this…
Music Reads for Rainy Weekend Days
A few very good music links to share. Apologies as a couple of these are slightly out-of-date with the change in seasons. Good reads regardless. First, investigative journalism at its finest. Taylor Swift and Bryan Adams’ Duet of “Summer of ’69” Reopens One of Music’s Great Historical Mysteries: Is This Song About the Sex Position? Next, isn’t it funny how…
Friday Playlist
Well, as I check this morning, it looks like Spotify and WordPress are cooperating, so I’ll give the old Friday Playlist thing a shot. Which is good because I have a ton of great music that I need to make sure you’re paying attention to. Apologies if this (likely) breaks again by the time you get around to listening. https://open.spotify.com/user/224aiwksicafjldlua6nnpo4y/playlist/30rbsbW2LTA3LUldT2ZrOv?si=BYE6yNofSDiJ1bSSKiRbeg…