Chris & Max Pick …songs from 1996

When fellow blogger Max who pens the great PowerPop blog wrapped up his Max Picks song series earlier this month with selections for 1995, my first thought was, ‘I get it.’ After all, considering his taste, which is pretty similar to mine, finding great music for each year becomes more tricky the closer you get to the present time. But then I thought given how much decent new music I’ve been able to uncover each week over the past three years or so, why not continue where Max left it off.

Not only was Max generous enough to allow me to run with his idea, but he even agreed to participate in the continuation of the series by contributing one song pick for each year. Starting today, I’m hoping to publish the 29 installments every other week to get us all the way to 2024. This would mean the series would conclude sometime in the spring of next year. I realize that’s a long time to look ahead, so we’ll see how it goes and take it one post at a time. Here are song picks for 1996.

Jackson Browne/The Barricades of Heaven

I’m thrilled to pick up the series with Jackson Browne, one of my all-time favorite artists. The Barricades of Heaven, credited to Browne, Luis Conte, Mark Goldenberg, Mauricio Lewak, Kevin McCormick, Scott Thurston and Jeff Young, is a track from Browne’s 11th studio album Looking East, which came out in January 1996. Yep, that’s many writers but what a gem!

The Wallflowers/One Headlight

In May 1996, The Wallflowers released their sophomore album Bringing Down the Horse, which became their highest-selling to date. Undoubtedly, this performance was fueled by One Headlight. The album’s second single, which became the band’s biggest hit, was Max’s excellent pick. Like all other songs on the album, it was written by frontman Jakob Dylan.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers/Walls (Circus)

Next up is Tom Petty, another longtime favorite artist of mine. Wall (Circus), written by Petty, is the opener of Songs and Music from “She’s the One”. The ninth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers appeared in August 1996 and served as the soundtrack for the American romantic comedy picture She’s the One, which came out the same year. Man, I dearly miss Tom!

Sheryl Crow/If It Makes You Happy

The title perfectly captures my sentiment about this next song. If It Makes You Happy, co-written by Sheryl Crow and her longtime collaborator Jeff Trott, is among my all-time favorites by Crow. Evidently, many other listeners agreed. The song, which appeared on Crow’s self-titled sophomore album from September 1996, became one of her most popular singles.

Shawn Colvin/Sunny Came Home

Admittedly, Sunny Came Home is the only song by Shawn Colvin I can name, but at least it’s a real goodie! Co-written by her and producer John Leventhal, not only did it become Colvin’s biggest hit, but it also won her two 1997 Grammy awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The song was included on her fourth studio album A Few Small Repairs released in October 1996.

Johnny Cash/I’ve Been Everywhere

Wrapping up this first installment of the continuation of the song series is the Man in Black. I think I first heard I’ve Been Everywhere in a TV commercial. Written by Australian country singer Geoff Mack in 1959, the song was first popularized down under in early 1962 by rock & roll, pop and country artist Leslie William Morrison, professionally known as Lucky Starr. Later that same year, Hank Snow took it to no. 1 in the U.S. on the country charts. It has since been recorded by many other artists. Johnny Cash featured it on his November 1996 album American II: Unchained. I’m still puzzled how you can mention so many different places in rapid machine gun fire fashion without stumbling! 🙂

I’d like to leave you with a Spotify playlist of the above goodies – one down, 28 installments to go!

Sources: Wikipedia; Acclaimed Music; YouTube; Spotify

A Female Artist of Whom I Can’t Get Enough

This post first appeared recently as a contribution on A Sound Day, a great blog by Dave. It has been slightly edited and reformatted to fit the style of this blog. Thanks again, Dave!

I can’t believe Turntable Talk 24 is upon us and Dave keeps coming up with great topics. This time, he asked us to share our thoughts about a great female artist we dig. There are so many to pick from: Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Carole King, Stevie Nicks, Lucinda Williams and Sheryl Crow are some that come to my mind. And yet I knew immediately who I wanted to write about, and it was none of the aforementioned amazing ladies. If you looked at the featured image, you already likely know who I decided to pick: Bonnie Raitt.

Once again, it was my dear longtime German music buddy Gerd who first brought this incredible slide guitarist and performer on my radar screen. It must have been around March 1989 when Raitt’s 10^th studio album Nick of Time came out. Among others, it features her rendition of John Hiatt’s Thing Called Love, which you’ve probably heard, even if you don’t follow her.

Let me give you a bit of background on Raitt, who was born Bonnie Lynn Raitt on November 8, 1949 in Burbank, Calif. She grew up in a musical family. Her dad was John Raitt, an actor and acclaimed Broadway singer. Bonnie’s mom, Marjorie Haydock, was a pianist and John’s first wife. According to her online bio, Raitt was raised in LA “in a climate of respect for the arts, Quaker traditions, and a commitment to social activism,” all important influences that shaped her future life.

Raitt got into the guitar at the age of eight, after receiving a Stella as a Christmas present. According to an AP story in a local paper, she taught the instrument herself by listening to blues records – yet another example of a self-taught musician who turned out to be exceptional! In the late ’60s, Raitt moved to Cambridge, Mass. and started studying Social Relations and African Studies at Harvard/Radcliffe.

She also began her lifetime involvement as a political activist. “I couldn’t wait to get back to where there were folkies and the antiwar and civil rights movements,” she notes in her online bio. “There were so many great music and political scenes going on in the late ’60s in Cambridge.”

Three years after entering college, Raitt decided to drop out to pursue music full-time. She already had become a frequent performer on the local coffeehouse scene, exploring slide guitar blues and other styles. Soon thereafter, she opened shows for surviving blues legends, such as Fred McDowell, Sippie Wallace, Son House, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. Word spread about her great talent, which led to her first record contract with Warner Bros.

Since her 1971 eponymous debut, Raitt has released 17 additional studio albums, as well as three compilations and three live albums. Over her now 50-year-plus career, she has received 15 Grammy Awards. Raitt was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 and is also listed at no. 54 and no. 187 on Rolling Stone’s 2023 lists of 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, respectively.

Like many artists, Raitt’s life wasn’t all easy peasy. She struggled with alcohol and drug abuse but became sober in 1987. “I thought I had to live that partying lifestyle in order to be authentic, but in fact if you keep it up too long, all you’re going to be is sloppy or dead,” Raitt told Parade magazine in April 2012, adding, “I was one of the lucky ones.”

Now on to the real fun part – some music!

From Raitt’s above mentioned self-titled debut album, here’s Mighty Tight Woman, written and recorded by blues singer, pianist and songwriter Sippie Wallace in 1929.

One of my all-time favorites by Raitt is her rendition of Angel From Montgomery, a country tune penned and first recorded by John Prine. She included it on her fourth studio album Streetlights that came out in September 1974.

This next track takes us to the ‘80s and a groovy track titled Can’t Get Enough. Co-written by Raitt and keyboarder Walt Richmond, it appears on Raitt’s 1982 record Green Light. 

I simply cannot skip the aforementioned Nick of Time. As much as I love Thing Called Love, I’ve decided to highlight Love Letter. That song was written by another Bonnie, American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer Bonnie Hayes.

I just love this lady and could go on and on. I’d like to give a nod to Raitt’s catalog from the current century. In February 2016, she released her 17^th studio album Dig In Deep. I saw her for the first time during the tour that supported this album. Here’s the great Gypsy In Me, a song penned by Gordon Kennedy and Wayne Kirkpatrick.

Last but not least here’s the cool Stonesy Livin’ for the Ones, co-written by Raitt and George Marinelli, longtime guitarist from her backing band. This track is from Raitt’s most recent album Just Like That…, which appeared in April 2022. I would go as far as calling it her best to date.

Sources: Wikipedia; Bonnie Raitt website; Associated Press; Parade; YouTube

Catching Up: Short Takes On New Music I Missed

With so much new music coming out each week, it’s no surprise I can’t keep up. As such, I thought this would be a good time to take a look at some of what I missed during the first half of February.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse/Broken Circle (Over and Over)

Neil Young has unleashed the horse again and released Broken Circle (Over and Over) on February 15, the first single from F##in’ Up, his cheerfully titled upcoming new album with Crazy Horse that’s set to drop on April 20. The song was first released as Over and Over on Ragged Glory. F##in’ Up is a collection of re-recordings from the Horse’s September 1990 album. “In the spirit it’s offered, we made this for the Horse lovers,” Young explained on his website. He has also announced the Love Earth Tour with Crazy Horse, which will kick off in San Diego on April 24 and travel across North America – dang it, after listening to this song, I’m very tempted!

7th & Hope/Take My Love

7th & Hope is a transatlantic pop duo by Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Patricia Bahia, who I previously featured here, and UK-based singer-songwriter Betty Lawrence. Their new single Take My Love is a pretty song about offering unconditional love, which has a bit of an Ed Sheeran vibe. Additionally, the acoustic track features 7th & Hope collaborators Cameron Stymeist, who also produced the single, and Nitanee Paris. Released on February 14, Take My Love’s straightforward message couldn’t be more timely during a period when we’re surrounded by so much negativity and hate, especially on the Internet.

Revolution Saints/Against the Winds

When I first listened to Against the Winds, the title track of Revolution Saints’ new album released on February 9, I thought this sounds a bit like Journey – turns out I was on to something. This rock supergroup includes Journey drummer and vocalist Deen Castronovo, along with Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake guitarist), Jeff Pilson (bassist of glam metal band Dokken) and Italian keyboarder, singer, record producer and songwriter Alessandro Del Vecchio. Including their self-titled 2015 debut, Revolution Saints have released five albums to date. I find this neat melodic rock very accessible! If you’re into Journey, there’s no way you won’t dig this!

Sheryl Crow/Do It Again

Sheryl Crow has released another single from her forthcoming new album Evolution scheduled for March 29. Do It Again was penned by Crow and John Shanks who previously also co-wrote Steve McQueen and Real Gone. In a Facebook announcement Crow explained Do It Again came together pretty quickly during a visit by Shanks and is “about a journey in figuring out who you are.” Musically, it’s classic Sheryl Crow and reminds me a tiny bit of her 1994 breakthrough single All I Wanna Do. I love it! Crow has a busy year ahead on the road in both Europe and the U.S. She’s another artist I’ve haven’t seen and would love to do so!

Most of Neil Young’s music remains unavailable on Spotify, so the enclosed playlist doesn’t include his new song. Instead, I included an additional track from Revolution Saints’ new album.

Sources: Wikipedia; Neil Young website; 7th & Hope Facebook page; Sheryl Crow Facebook page; YouTube; Spotify

New Music Musings

Happy Saturday and welcome to my weekly new music review. All picks are from new albums that were released yesterday (February 2) except for the two final songs, which appeared as singles on February 1.

Britti/Lullaby

Kicking us off today is New Orleans-based singer-songwriter Britti (nee Brittany Guerin). Her Bandcamp profile lists Diana Ross, Beyoncé, Dolly Parton and Sade as influences. According to a press release, she grew up surrounded by classic soul and R&B, blues, zydeco and other music. Her uncle, jazz bassist Roland Guerin, took her to his gigs with Allen Toussaint, Dr. John and others. It all rubbed off. Lullaby, co-written by Britti, Dan Auerbach and Roger Cook, is from her debut album Hello, I’m Britti. Britti “grew up in the most musical environment in the world,” stated Auerbach who also produced the album. “It’s in her DNA.” He wasn’t kidding – Britti’s vocals drew me in right away!

Rick Rude/P2PU

Rick Rude are a New Hampshire-based rock band who have been around for 10 years. Their current line-up includes Ben Troy (guitar, vocals), Chris Kennedy (guitar, vocals), Jordan Holz (bass, vocals) and Ryan Harrison (drums). The group’s third and latest album is titled Laverne. On their Bandcamp page, they characterize it as “an effort in energy” that has “a thicker guitar punch than the quartet’s first three releases.” Here’s P2Pu, a song with an interesting guitar riff and sound that caught my attention.

Joe Wong/Waiting

Joe Wong is a Los Angeles-based composer, musician, producer and podcast host. Wong picked up several instruments during his childhood and already began touring and recording with punk and indie bands at age 14. Later, he worked as a drummer, first primarily with jazz, Latin and African artists, and later with rock acts. In 2020, Wong released his solo debut Nite Creatures, a psychedelic, orchestral album. He has also composed various film scores and is the host and co-producer of a podcast/radio show. Off his sophomore album Mere Survival, here’s the great Waiting. I’m not always into heavy orchestration but think in this case it works very well.

The Paranoid Style/Last Night in Chickentown

Washington, D.C.-based garage rock and punk pop band The Paranoid Style have been around since 2012. Led by husband-and-wife duo of Elizabeth Nelson and Timothy Bracy, their name is based on a 1964 essay by American historian Richard Hofstadter, titled The Paranoid Style in American Politics – and, yes, I doublechecked, this came out in 1964! The group released their debut EP The Power of Our Proven System in 2013. Last Night in Chickentown, written by Nelson, is a song off The Paranoid Style’s new album The Interrogator, which looks like their fourth full-length studio release – this rocks!

Studio D’Lux/Silence Is Louder

Studio D’Lux is a music recording project launched in 2021 by keyboarder and vocalist Doug Kistner. The New Jersey musician has performed with the likes of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, John Waite and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Currently, he plays with ’60s and ’70s classic rock and soul cover band Summer of Love, led by ex-Styx member Glen Burtnik, as well as The Lords of 52nd Street, a rock group primarily comprised of members of Billy Joel’s backing band from 1976-1981. Studio D’Lux’s new single Silence Is Louder, written and produced by Kistner, also features drummer Liberty Devitto (formerly of Joel’s backing band), guitarist Jon Herington (Steely Dan), Burtnik (vocals), vocalist Reagan Richards (Williams Honor), bassist Malcolm Gold (India.Arie, Sheryl Crow) and Tom Timko on woodwinds (Gloria Estefan, Tower of Power), according to a press release I received – quite an impressive line-up. Best of all, blending elements of classic and yacht rock, the song was instant love!

Billy Joel/Turn the Lights Back On

Wrapping up this week’s new music review is Billy Joel – funny coincidence, given the previous song. The piano man from Long Island, New York, who I trust needs no introduction, is out with Turn the Lights Back On, his first new single in 17 years. A statement on Joel’s website notes the song was co-written by Freddy Wexler, Arthur Bacon and Joel and produced by Wexler. The last song written by Joel, which was released as a single in December 2007, was Christmas in Fallujah performed by then-20-year-old Cass Dillon, another songwriter from Long Island. What’s most stunning to me about Turn the Lights Back On is that the song feels as if time had stood still, both musically and vocally. It’s classic Billy Joel and could have come out 30 or 40 years ago! Is this a one-off? That would be my assumption, but I guess we’ll find out!

Sources: Wikipedia; Britti Bandcamp page; Shore Fire Media press release; Rick Rude Bandcamp page; Joe Wong website; Mixtape Media press release; Billy Joel website; YouTube; Spotify

Sheryl Crow Releases Second Single From Upcoming Album

As a longtime listener of Sheryl Crow, who is fond of the singer-songwriter, I’m pretty excited to hear new music from her. Last Friday (January 12), Crow released the title track of her upcoming album Evolution as the second upfront single. It followed Alarm Clock, which I included in a recent new music review. I only found out about Evolution over the weekend when I happened to catch a related “reel” Crow had posted on Facebook.

“Basically, it addresses my fear of artificial intelligence where our artistry is concerned,” Crow said about the song in the above Facebook reel. She went on to recall a recent encounter with a young songwriter who played Crow a demo of a song she had written. The young artist paid “like $5” to get a “really well-known singer” and good friend of Crow’s to be the vocal on it through AI. Not only did the anecdote scare Crow, but it evidently also inspired this song.

In addition to expressing concern over AI, Crow also communicated a dose of defiance. “The one thing that artificial intelligence cannot do is feel,” she added. “And that’s what separates that from our humanity. So, I hope as we go forward, we defend our humanity, especially where the arts are concerned.” Well said!

To be clear, I’m not against all use of AI and its close cousin machine learning (ML), be it in music or elsewhere, as long as it’s done transparently and, more importantly, doesn’t lead to fake art. For example, leveraging AI or ML technology to isolate previously recorded tracks, so a song can be remixed to improve sound quality is perfectly legitimate, in my opinion. Where I think it crosses the line is when AI is used to write lyrics or create a fake vocal.

Crow’s new studio album, her 12th, is slated for March 29. It follows Threads, which appeared in August 2019 and looked like her final album. “Well, I have loved the tradition of making records,” Crow said at the time. “I grew up holding the actual physical record and poring over the album notes and just dreaming about doing what I’m doing now. And with technology, it’s a little bit like putting the toothpaste back into the tube. We can’t go back and expect — particularly young people — to listen to albums from top to bottom. It’s almost a dying art form in that people cherry-pick songs and put them on playlists. So, I don’t know that the listening audience really ever gets the sense of the full artistic statement.”

While I highly doubt the above music consumption preferences have changed, perhaps somewhat selfishly, I’m surely glad Crow decided to record another album anyway. At least, she started out at a time when a reasonably successful artist could make a living from royalties they received for their sold music – unlike the vast majority of young artists nowadays. With over 50 million Sheryl Crow albums sold worldwide, it’s also safe to assume her financial well-being doesn’t depend on how many music streams Evolution generates or how many physical units it will sell.

I’m leaving you with the lyrics of Crow’s thoughtful song.

Evolution

Turned on the radio and there it was
A song that sounded like something I wrote
The voice and melody were hauntingly
So familiar that I thought it was a joke

Is it beyond intelligence
As if the soul need not exist

Evolution ever-changing
Lost in space and time
Maybe there’s a grand solution
Somewhere we will find
Deep in the heart of human kind

I held my baby as the sun came up
And I watched him as he opened up his eyes
What will I tell him when he’s old enough
To want the answers to all the questions why?
Yes, we are brilliant, we are kind
But sometimes we miss the glaring signs

Evolution ever-changing
Lost in space and time
Maybe there’s a grand solution
Somewhere we will find
Deep in the heart of human kind

We can create, we can destroy
We can feel pain, we can feel joy
We can plant seeds and watch love grow
We can feel love ’cause it’s written in the human kind

Where are we headed in this paradise?
We are passengers and there’s no one at the wheel
No matter how well you can outdo me
There is one thing you will never do and it’s feel

Evolution ever-changing
Lost in space and time
Maybe there’s a grand solution
Somewhere we will find

Evolution ever-changing
Lost in space and time
Maybe there’s a grand solution
Somewhere we will find

Sources: Wikipedia; Sheryl Crow Facebook page; YouTube

New Music Musings

Welcome to my first weekly new music review of 2024. Perhaps not surprisingly, things on that front seem to be off to a slow start – too many hangovers from New Year’s? :-) Only my first two picks are from 2024 releases that already dropped, yesterday, January 5. The two remaining selections are from upcoming albums, as noted.

Pile/Scaling Walls

Kicking things off are Pile, an American indie rock band from Boston, Mass., who started off in 2007 as a solo act by guitarist and vocalist Rick Maguire. After two solo releases by Maguire under the Pile moniker, the first album as a band, Magic Isn’t Real, came out in 2010. In addition to Maguire, the group’s current lineup includes original drummer Kris Kuss and Alex Molini who joined as bassist in 2018. Off Pile’s latest EP Hot Air Balloon, here’s Scaling Walls. Credited to all three members, the song first appeared as the lead single in August 2023.

Sprints/Shadow of a Doubt

Sprints are a garage punk band from Dublin, Ireland. Led by singer, guitarist and lead-songwriter Karla Chubb, they have been around for three years. Shadow of a Doubt is a track from their first full-length album Letter to Self. From their Bandcamp page: SPRINTS’ debut album ‘Letter To Self’ embodies their substantial evolution over the past 3 years. Transforming pain into truth, passion into purpose and perseverance into strength, the Dublin four-piece have steadily grown in stature, releasing two acclaimed EPs and building a fearsome live reputation...Inspired by Savages, their sound matured into energetic and abrasive garage-punk, synthesising influences ranging from early Pixies, Bauhaus, Siouxsie Sioux, IDLES and LCD Soundsystem.

Green Day/Dilemma

I trust punk revivalists Green Day and their accessible brand of pop flavored grungy rock don’t need much of an introduction. Starting with their third album Dookie from February 1994, the group around lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong has enjoyed significant chart and commercial success in the U.S. and beyond. Their upcoming 14th studio album Saviors is scheduled for January 19. Here’s the third upfront single Dilemma, released on December 7. Credited to Armstrong and his bandmates co-founder Mike Dirnt (bass) and Tré Cool (drums), the song sounds like classic Green Day.

Sheryl Crow/Alarm Clock

I’m thrilled to close out this post with Sheryl Crow, who is among my longtime favorite music artists. When Crow released predecessor Threads in August 2019, which I reviewed here at the time, she said she wasn’t planning any additional full-length albums, explaining most folks, especially younger people, cherry-pick songs and create their own playlists instead of listening to entire albums. It’s great Crow evidently changed her mind. Off her upcoming album Evolution, set to drop on March 29, here’s Alarm Clock. Co-written by Crow, Emily Weisband and Mike Elizondo, the song first appeared as the lead single in early November. I think Crow’s vocals sound as great as ever, and that fuzzy, edgy guitar sound is right up my alley as well. Looking forward to listening to the entire album!

Sources: Wikipedia; Sprints Bandcamp page; YouTube; Spotify

The Sunday Six

Happy Sunday! I’d like to invite you to join me on my latest music time travel excursion. Since many folks like to call it the most wonderful time of the year, I decided to give today’s trip a Christmas theme. Other than that, everything will stay the same, i.e., six tracks from six different decades in different flavors!

In my original home country Germany, people who celebrate Christmas traditionally start the festivities today, December 24, in the early evening, followed by two days that are part of the Christmas holiday. Here in the U.S., the holiday is observed on December 25 – not everything is bigger in America after all! 🙂

Regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas, I hope to see you on board of the magical music time machine. As always, our itinerary is pretty eclectic. It’s gonna be fun, even if you don’t celebrate Christmas. All aboard, fasten your seatbelts and off we go!

Louis Armstrong/Christmas In New Orleans

Our trip starts in 1955 with an iconic jazz artist who I trust doesn’t need much of an introduction: Louis Armstrong. Over a 50-year-plus career between 1919 and 1971, Satchmo touched various genres from Dixieland to swing to pop. The man with the distinct gravelly voice also helped popularize scat singing, a vocal improvisational style using wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or no words at all, and was an inventive trumpet and cornet player. Christmas In New Orleans, which Armstrong released as a single in 1955, was written by Joe Van Winkle and Richard Sherman. Listening to Satchmo just makes me happy!

AC/DC/Mistress For Christmas

How about a hard rock Christmas song? I told you this was going to be an eclectic experience! Let’s head to Australia and September 1990, which saw the release of AC/DC’s 12th studio album The Razors Edge. Other than that it was co-written by the band’s Angus Young and Malcolm Young, I couldn’t find any specific information about Mistress For Christmas. Perhaps the song is deemed too naughty. If that’s the case, perhaps looking at it with a sense of humor would help! In the UK, Mistress For Christmas also became the B-side of the single Moneytalks. It’s classic AC/DC, and I love it!

James Brown/Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto

Time to pay a visit to the ’60s with a groovy and soulful Christmas song by James Brown. Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto was penned by Alfred Ellis, Charles Bobbit and Hank Ballard. It appeared on Brown’s second Christmas album A Soulful Christmas, released in November 1968. Christmas was special to Brown. In addition to recording various Christmas albums, he started the James Brown Toy Giveaway in the early ’90s where he dressed up as Santa and handed out presents to needy children during Christmas gatherings. The annual toy giveaways continue to be conducted to this day by the James Brown Family Foundation.

Cher/Run Rudolph Run

Our next stop takes us all the way back to the present. Undoubtedly, you’ve heard Run Rudolph Run, a staple during the Christmas holiday season. Initially recorded and released by Chuck Berry in 1958, and credited to him, Marvin Brodie and Johnny Marks, the classic Berry rock & roll-style song has been covered by numerous other artists over the decades, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foo Fighters, Sheryl Crow, Bryan Adams and Keith Richards. The latest is Cher who included it on her first-ever Christmas album, Christmas, released on October 20 this year. At 77, Cher surely still knows how to rock!

Run-DMC/Christmas in Hollis

Did anyone say there’s no such thing as a Christmas song that raps? In case that myth ever existed, American hip hop and rap group Run-DMC busted it in 1987 with Christmas in Hollis. Co-written by their three members Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels and Jason Mizell, and co-produced by them and Rick Rubin, the track first appeared on A Very Special Christmas, an October 1987 compilation to benefit the Special Olympics. In November of the same year, it also came out as a single. Unlike Walk This Way, Run-DMC’s hugely successful 1986 collaboration with Aerosmith, Christmas in Hollis missed the charts.

Greg Lake/I Believe in Father Christmas

And once again, we’re reaching our sixth and final destination. This will take us to November 1975 and I Believe in Father Christmas, a single by Greg Lake. The English bassist, guitarist, singer and songwriter, who passed away in December 2016 at the age of 69, first gained prominence as a co-founding member of progressive rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Composed by Lake with lyrics by English poet and songwriter Peter Sinfield, I Believe in Father Christmas also borrows some music from Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev’s 1934 Lieutenant Kijé Suite. While Lake called the song a protest of the commercialization of Christmas, Sinfield said the lyrics are about a loss of innocence and childhood belief. Check out this beautiful sound!

Last but not least, here’s a Spotify playlist of the above goodies. Hope there’s something for you here. To anyone celebrating it today, Merry Christmas!

Sources: Wikipedia; YouTube; Spotify

The Sunday Six

As we’re now well into the final month of the year, the weeks seem to fly by even faster than it usually feels. Sunday is here once again, and whether it’s the morning, afternoon, evening or night in your neck of the woods, I hope you’re up to join me for some music time travel. I got the itinerary ready, so let’s start up the magical music time machine and go now!

The Quintet/Perdido

Our journey today starts in December 1953 with jazz by what in pop or rock you’d call a super-group: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Charlie Parker (alto saxphone), who fellow blogger Music Enthusiast featured the other day; Bud Powell (piano); Charles Mingus (bass); and Max Roach (drums). While I visited all of these outstanding musicians during past Sunday Six excursions, this is the first time here we’ll get to hear all of them and the only occasion when they recorded together: a concert at Toronto’s storied Massey Hall on May 15, 1953, appropriately titled Jazz at Massey Hall. The show also marked the last recorded meeting of Parker and Gillespie. Except for Mingus’ mostly under-recorded basslines, which were subsequently overdubbed in a New York studio, everything we hear on the album is from the live performance. Here’s Perdido, a composition by Puerto Rican jazz trombonist Juan Tizol.

The Rembrandts/Just the Way It Is, Baby

How about some power pop? For this we shall set the controls of our music time machine to September 1990 and the eponymous debut album by The Rembrandts. I think it was my often-mentioned longtime German music buddy Gerd, who first brought the American duo of Phil Solem and Danny Wilde on my radar screen. At least in the U.S., they’re probably best known for co-writing and performing the main theme song of NBC sitcom Friends, I’ll Be There For You, which became a big hit in the mid-’90s. The Paul McCartney-esque Just the Way It Is, Baby was their first single, which also did pretty well.

Ian Hunter/Just Another Night

Time to kick up the dynamics a notch with a great rocker by Britain’s Ian Hunter who first came to prominence as a young dude with Mott the Hoople, serving as the English rock band’s lead vocalist from inception in 1969 until their break-up in 1974. Hunter subsequently launched a solo career that frequently saw him work together with David Bowie’s sideman and guitarist Mick Ronson. Not only did their collaboration include Hunter’s above album, You’re Never Alone With a Schizophrenic, but Ronson also co-wrote the neat opener Just Another Night. Hunter, now 84, is still active and came out with a nice new album in April 2023, which I covered here at the time.

Sheryl Crow/Weather Channel

Next, let’s hit the current century and travel to April 2002. That’s when Sheryl Crow, one of my favorite female American singer-songwriters, came out with her fourth studio album C’mon, C’mon. Even if you’re generally not familiar with Crow’s music, you’ve probably heard All I Wanna Do, off her 1994 debut album, which catapulted her to international stardom. Or her second-biggest hit after that song, Soak Up the Sun, which brings me back to C’mon, C’mon and my proposition from that album: the closer Weather Channel, a more obscure cut. Penned by Crow, the song features guest vocals by Emmylou Harris, another great artist in my book!

The Moody Blues/Go Now

On Tuesday, we lost another great music artist with Denny Laine who passed away at age 79 from a severe from of lung disease. Laine is best known as co-founder of The Moody Blues and Wings, Paul McCartney’s backing band from the early ’70s till the early ’80s. Since 1973, he also had a solo career and was still active as recently as earlier this year. Laine co-wrote Mull of Kintyre with Macca, a November 1977 non-album single that not only became Wings’ biggest hit in the UK but also one of the best-selling singles there of all time. While Laine did some writing for the Moodies, he didn’t pen my pick but sang lead on it: Go Now, a stunning rendition of a song first recorded by American R&B and soul singer Bessie Banks she released in January 1964. The Moody Blues included what became their first and only no. 1 in the UK on their July 1965 debut album The Magnificent Moodies. What a gem!

Chris Isaak/Wicked Game

We’re reaching our sixth stop, which means it’s time to wrap up today’s trip. This takes us to June 1989 and Heart Shaped World, the third studio album that became the breakthrough for American singer-songwriter and occasional actor Chris Isaak, fueled by Wicked Game. After the track got featured in the 1990 David Lynch film Wild At Heart, Isaak’s signature song also became his biggest hit. Kudos to another dear friend who reminded me about Wicked Game the other day: Mike Caputo, a professional songwriter, musician and leader of Good Stuff, a great tribute band to Steely Dan, who also play select songs by Sting, Stevie Wonder and Gino Vannelli (I previously covered him and the group here and here). I’ve always loved Wicked Game’s cool guitar sound.

Before wrapping up this post for good, here’s a Spotify playlist of the above songs. As always, I hope there’s something there that tickles your fancy and you’ll be back for more.

Sources: Wikipedia; YouTube; Spotify

New Music Musings

Another Saturday calls for a fresh look at newly released music. All picks are from studio releases that appeared yesterday (July 28).

Bethany Cosentino/Natural Disaster

Singer-songwriter and former child actress Bethany Cosentino first gained prominence as one-half of lo-fi pop rock duo Best Coast who went on hiatus after the 2020 release of their fourth studio album Always Tomorrow. Cosentino subsequently decided to go it alone and is now out with her debut solo album Natural Disaster. I can hear a bit of a Sheryl Crow vibe. Here’s the title track.

Bush Tetras/Bird On a Wire

Bush Tetras are a post-punk band from New York who have been around since 1979 with two longer breaks along the way. While they never achieved mainstream success, they were influential in the Manhattan music club scene in the early ’80s. They Live in My Head is the group’s third and latest full-length studio album, their first such release since 1996. Bird On a Wire is credited to all four current members of the group: Cynthia Sley (vocals), Pat Place (guitar), R. B. Korbet (bass)and Steve Shelley (drums).

Darlingside/All the Lights in the City

Darlingside are an indie folk band from Boston, Mass. Their current members Don Mitchell (guitar, banjo, vocals), Auyon Mukharji (mandolin, violin, vocals), Harris Paseltiner (guitar, cello, vocals) and David Senft (bass, kick drum vocals) met at Williams College in 2009. Off their fourth album, Everything is Alive, here’s All the Lights in the City, credited to the members of the group.

Diesel Boy/The Finnish Line

Punk rock band Diesel Boy got together in Santa Rosa, Calif. in 1993 and initially were active until 2002 when they unofficially split up. Now they return with Gets Old, their first new album in 22 years. One of the tracks on it is The Finnish Line, written by co-founder, vocalist and guitarist Dave Lake, aka. Diesel Dave. This rocks – love that wah-wah guitar action!

Elizabeth Moen/Nobody Wants a Lonely Heart

Elizabeth Moen is a Chicago-based self-taught guitarist and singer-songwriter who wrote her first songs while being a student at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Moen’s eponymous EP, self-released in 2016, was followed in 2017 by her first full-length album That’s All I Wanted. Her latest release, For Arthur, is a covers EP of songs by Arthur Russell, an Iowa musician, composer and producer whose work spanned a disparate range of styles. Here’s Nobody Wants a Lonely Heart.

Ghost Hounds/Last Train to Nowhere

Rounding out this weekly new music revue are Ghost Hounds who describe their music as rock ‘n’ blues. Since their 2019 debut Roses Are Black, the five-piece from Pittsburgh, Pa. have released three additional albums, including their latest, First Last Time. The great opener Last Train to Nowhere was co-written by their guitarist Thomas Tull and Kevin Bowe. Ghost Hounds also include Tré Nation (lead vocals), Johnny Baab (guitar), Bennett Miller (bass) and Blaise Lanzetta (drums).

Sources: Wikipedia; Bethany Cosentino website; Bush Tetras Bandcamp page; Darlingside website; Diesel Boy website; Elizabeth Mohen website; Ghost Hounds website; YouTube; Spotify

Best of What’s New

Evidently, yesterday (May 19) was a popular day for new music releases. I also found more than 10 songs I could have highlighted in this latest installment of my weekly new music revue, to which I’d like to welcome you. Let’s get to it!

Brandy Clark/Ain’t Enough Rocks (feat. Derek Trucks)

Kicking things off is country singer-songwriter Brandy Clark. To date, she has released three albums starting with her 2013 debut 12 Stories. Her songs have also been recorded by Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, Reba McEntire and Kacey Musgraves, among others. Off her latest self-titled album here’s Ain’t Enough Rocks, co-written by Clack, Jessie Jo Dillon and Jimmy Robbins – a great tune featuring cool slide guitar action by the amazing Derek Trucks!

Leftover Salmon/Fire and Brimstone (feat. Oliver Wood)

Leftover Salmon are a bluegrass and country-oriented jam band from Boulder, Colo. Since their formation in 1989, they have released eight studio albums, including their new one, Grass Roots. Here’s their cover of Fire and Brimstone, a tune penned by guitarist Link Wray who also first recorded it for his 1971 self-titled studio album. In 1958, Wray’s instrumental Rumble became one of the earliest songs in rock to utilize distortion and tremolo. Leftover Salmon’s rendition features Oliver Wood, of roots band The Wood Brothers. I can hear some Leon Russell in here!

GracieHorse/If You’re Gonna Walk That Straight Line Son, It’s Only Gonna Hurt

Other than she’s an indie artist who evidently has written for at least a decade and who just released a country-flavored debut album, it’s not clear to me who exactly GracieHorse is. From her Bandcamp page: Gracie Horse weaves stories into her songs. On L.A. Shit, her debut record with Wharf Cat, she takes us into the past half a decade of her life…It’s a record of immaculate country music…It’s also a vulnerable record, full of lyrics about the intensity of being alive, all told with a sense of humor and self-awareness. Here’s a cool-sounding tune with an impossibly long title: If You’re Gonna Walk That Straight Line Son, It’s Only Gonna Hurt.

Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives/Sitting Alone

American country and bluegrass singer Marty Stuart has been active since the late 1960s. Initially working as a touring musician with Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash, Stuart launched his recording career in 1978 with Marty (With A Little Help From My Friends). He has since released 18 additional albums, including his latest, Altitude, appearing as Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives. Let’s check out Sitting Alone, penned by Stuart, which has a bit of a Tom Petty vibe – love it!

PONY/Très Jolie

PONY are a grungy power pop group from Toronto, Canada, led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Sam Bielanski. According to their AllMusic bio, their melodic strain of guitar pop is rooted in early-’90s grunge and classic indie pop. After a series of singles and EPs, they released their full-length debut album TV Baby in April 2021. PONY are now out with their sophomore album Velveteen and here’s the catchy Très Jolie.

Graham Nash/Golden Idols

My last pick for this week is by an artist I trust needs no introduction. Graham Nash who in February turned 81 just released Now, his first new solo album in seven years. It’s also the most personal he has ever made, according to a couple of reviews I’ve seen, for example, this one in Ultimate Classic Rock. Boy, does he sound great, both vocally and musically! And he also has a lot to say, about life, love and politics. I think these won’t be my final words about what looks like a late-career gem. For now, here’s Golden Idols, showing Nash still has some activist fire in the belly!

Of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without a Spotify playlist of the above and a few additional tracks.

Sources: Wikipedia; GracieHorse Bandcamp page; AllMusic; Ultimate Classic Rock; YouTube; Spotify