Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 108
Chart Week: December 13, 1980 Song: “(Just Like) Starting Over” – John Lennon Chart Position: #4, 7th week on the chart. Peaked at #1 for five weeks across December and January. This entry is less about a specific song than an extraordinary moment in American Top 40 history. And an opportunity for me to revisit a lost piece of writing…
Friday Playlist
Doing things a little different the next couple weeks. Today I’m going to share some new, indie rock, Christmas-y tracks I’ve discovered this year. Next week will be a double playlist of both the songs that just missed my Favorite Songs of the Year list, and a review of the #1 songs of each year I’ve made those lists. Plus,…
Friday Playlist
I’m behind my normal schedule, but my annual December shift in music has begun. More holiday music and reviewing my favorite songs of the year than listening to new tunes. Which means this is a last-minute collection, rushed a bit as I have to get a kid to an early appointment before school. “Ceiling Fan” – Swapmeet While not taking…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 107
Chart Week: December 6, 1976 Song: “More Than A Feeling” – Boston Chart Position: #9, 12th week on the chart. Peaked at #5 the week of December 25. A perfect song. I could end this post there and it would be enough. Why waste your and my time cranking out a thousand or so words breaking down the how and…
Friday Vid
No playlist this week, as the days have passed too quickly and I’ve been too busy to cobble together a few songs. Doesn’t mean I will skip sharing a video from the Billboard Hot 100 chart of December 1, 1984. “(Pride) In The Name Of Love” – U2 Last week was Madonna, which launched us towards 1985 and her ascension…
Friday Playlist
“Drive” – R.E.M. This playlist took a long time to come together, so I had to call in a couple ringers to bookend the new music. To open, this week’s The Alternative Number Ones over at Stereogum (subscription required). A little shocked Tom only gave it a 9. “People Watching” – Sam Fender Everyone’s favorite Americana-loving Brit is back! For…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 106
Chart Week: November 9, 1985 Song: “You Belong To The City” – Glenn Frey Chart Position: #4, 9th week on the chart. Peaked at #2 for two weeks. The fall of 1985 was one of those proverbial Big Times in my life. I was a freshman in high school, which brought all kinds of new excitement and perils each day.…
Friday Playlist
“Vanish” – Blueburst with Marty Willson-Piper The story behind this song is one of the cooler ones I’ve come across this year. Craig Douglas Miller was in a band in the Nineties that got some major label attention during the great Alternative Rock Revolution but was never signed nor had any real success. Miller eventually retreated from the music world…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 105
Chart Week: November 4, 1978 Song: “Alive Again” – Chicago Chart Position: #21, 3rd week on the chart. Peaked at #14 for two weeks in December. In the Seventies and Eighties the band Chicago was like air: they were always around. In over 21 years of hitting the pop chart, they had 34 Top 40 singles, 20 Top 10s, and…
Friday Playlist
My routines have been a little out of whack this week, so an abbreviated playlist for today. “Cult of Personality” – Living Colour Sigh… “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” – Michael Jackson RIP to Quincy Jones, the greatest, most influential producer of all time. There are about a million songs of his that could fill this spot. Also props…