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Post by razorbacker on Mar 19, 2024 17:16:58 GMT
Trick Pony was a country band formed in Nashville in 1999 by Heidi Newfield (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica), Keith Burns (lead guitar, vocals), and Ira Dean (bass guitar, vocals).
After Heidi departed in 2006, & the band split in 2008, they continued on separate paths. Heidi released her solo debut album, What Am I Waiting For, in 2008. Keith founded the duo Burns & Poe with Michelle Poe. Ira began writing songs for other artists, including Montgomery Gentry's 2009 single "One in Every Crowd".
During their career they released 3 studio albums & 8 singles four Top 20 hits: "Pour Me", "On a Night like This", "Just What I Do", and "On a Mission".
This song comes from their self - titled debut album released in 2001. The album hit #12 on the Country Charts & #91 on the Top 200. It included all 3 of their biggest hit singles. Pour Me got to #12 on the Country Chart & 71 on the Hot 100, the song linked to here landed at #4 & #47 & they ended the era with Just What I Do which hit #13 on Country but did not crossover.
On A Night Like This by Trick Pony
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 20, 2024 11:14:56 GMT
Pearls Before Swine was a psychedelic folk band formed by Tom Rapp in 1965 in Eau Gallie, Florida. Tom died of cancer in 2018, he was 70.
The rest of the band consisted of high school friends Wayne Harley (banjo, mandolin), Lane Lederer (bass, guitar) and Roger Crissinger (piano, organ).
The group took its name from a Bible passage: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine ...." (Mat. 7:6, KJV), meaning: do not give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate them.
The group was signed to the ESP label & apparently didn’t take the bible verse to heart: Tom said that "We never got any money from ESP. Never, not even like a hundred dollars or something. My real sense is that he (Bernard Stollman) was abducted by aliens, and when he was probed it erased his memory of where all the money was".
The group released 6 albums between 1967 and 1971, before Rapp launched a solo career. This was the 1st song on side 1 of their 1st album. The album was called One Nation Underground & it came out in 1967. I don’t see any evidence that the album charted, or that there were any singles released.
Evidently this is the first that Tom ever wrote. It was based on his experience in a car crash where he walked away unscathed.
Another Time by Pearls Before Swine
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 20, 2024 17:02:01 GMT
Todd Rundgren will be 76 in June. He is still active in the music industry.
He is one of the first artists to be successful both as an artist and as a producer. He was influential in the use of overdubbing, and experimental music. Of his early incorporation of digital technology, he said "I wasn't the first to start recording digitally, because it was so expensive. But once the technology came down to where I could afford it, then I went digital."
He has been a producer for such groups as Grand Funk, the New York Dolls, the Tubes, Hello People, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
In late 1971, he was recruited to finish Badfinger's third album Straight Up, a project George Harrison had abandoned to organize the Concert for Bangladesh. The album was a hit and its two singles were similarly successful, although Todd was not credited for the first ("Day After Day") and thus did not receive production royalties for that single. He said that the song "didn't sound much like what [Harrison had] done" and speculated that the credit to Harrison "may or may not have been something purposeful, just some by-product of a general Beatle hubris". The Straight Up sessions lasted two weeks in September, after which he returned to Los Angeles to work on his third solo album, originally planned as a single LP.
And that album is where we pick up this song. The album was called Something/Anything? & it came out in 1972. It was his 3rd solo album but the 1st to be released under his own name, following two records credited to the quasi-group project Runt. The album peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold. It was also his 1st double album. The album included the singles I Saw The Light which hit #12, I Just Couldn’t Tell You which stumbled in at #93, Hello It’s Me came in at #5, & Wolfman Jack which seem to have not charted at all.
There are a lot of guest performers on the album, but on this particular song, Todd plays all the instruments & provides all the vocals.
One More Day by Todd Rundgren
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 21, 2024 11:14:54 GMT
During their career U2 has released 15 studio albums, 1 live album, 3 compilation albums, 84 singles, and 9 extended plays (EPs), their most recent album was released just last year.
But everyone has to start somewhere & the band released their debut album called Boy in 1980. It landed at #63 on the Top 200 & has been certified Platinum here in the states.
The album included 2 singles. A Day Without Me seems to have missed the charts everywhere. That was followed up with I Will Follow which hit #20 on the Hot 100 but that didn’t happen until it was re - released in 1983.
The album got very positive reviews & led to their 1st US tour & that was when this happened: On the American leg of the tour, Bono's briefcase containing in-progress lyrics and musical ideas (which were intended for the group's second album, October) was lost backstage during a March 1981 performance at a nightclub in Portland, Oregon. Who has that briefcase & those lyrics?
Another Time Another Place by U2
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 21, 2024 17:16:29 GMT
The Chemical Brothers are an English electronic duo formed by Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands in Manchester in 1989, they are still together.
They originally called themselves The Dust Brothers but they had to change their name due to the existence of another band already going by that name.
They have won six Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Instrumental Performance, Best Dance Recording, and Best Dance/Electronic Album.
During their career they have released 10 studio albums, 1 Live album, 37 singles & 1 Soundtrack album. Their soundtrack was for a 2011 movie called Hanna starring starring Saoirse Ronan as the title character, Eric Bana, & Cate Blanchett. The soundtrack won the award from the LA Film Critics for Best Music.
They have had six No. 1 albums and 13 top-20 singles in the UK, including two chart-toppers.
This song comes from their 1995 debut album called Exit Planet Dust. The album didn’t chart here in the states but it has sold just shy on a million units. The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
One Too Many Mornings by The Chemical Brothers
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 22, 2024 11:18:48 GMT
Ronnie Milsap is a country vocalist and pianist from Robbinsville, North Carolina. He turned 81 last January.
He has won six Grammy Awards, he won the award for Best Male Country Performance in 1975, 77, 82, 86 & 87. Then he won Best Country Collaboration in 1988 with Kenny Rogers.
He was inducted into the Grand Ol Opry in 1976 & the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2014.
During his career he has released 30 albums and 79 singles. Since his start in 1971, he has had 36 #1 hits on the Country chart and sold over 35 million albums. In addition, two of his #1 country hits also topped the US adult contemporary chart. As of 2000, he has had 7 gold albums, 1 platinum album, and 1 double-platinum album.
This song comes from his 1982 album called Inside. It was his 14th studio album. The album hit #4 on the Country Albums Chart & #66 on the Top 200. The song linked to here was the 1st single released & it hit #1 on the Hot Country Songs Charts #1 on the Adult Contemporary Charts & #14 on the Hot 100. They followed up with He Got You which also got to #1 on the Country Chart & then ended the era with another #1 Country hit called Inside. Those were his 8th, 9th, & 10th #1 hits in a row. He missed hitting #1 on the Country just 5 times in the entire decade of the 80’s.
Any Day Now by Ronnie Milsap
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 22, 2024 17:48:54 GMT
Brook Benton, was a singer and songwriter from Lugoff, South Carolina. He died of pneumonia in Queens at the age of 56 on April 9, 1988. His real name was Benjamin Franklin Peay.
As a songwriter he wrote for artists such as Nat King Cole, Clyde McPhatter (with whom he co-wrote the hit "A Lover's Question") and Roy Hamilton.
This song comes from Brook Benton Today. The album was released in 1970. The song got to #4 on the Hot 100, #1 on the R&B Chart & #2 over on Adult Contemporary. It was his big comeback single. He had not a top 40 hit since 1964, but it didn’t carry over to a rebirth of his career. He will not chart any higher than 45 in the future & he will have many songs that don't chart at all.
Tony Joe White wrote the song & 1st recorded it in 1967. Brook recorded this version in November 1969 with arranger/producer Arif Mardin at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida. Session personnel on the record included Billy Carter on organ, Dave Crawford on piano, Cornell Dupree and Jimmy O'Rourke on guitar, Harold Cowart on bass, Tubby Ziegler on drums, and Toots Thielemans on harmonica.
Rainy Night In Georgia by Brook Benton
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 23, 2024 11:20:23 GMT
Maria Muldaur is a folk and blues singer from Greenwich Village. She turned 81 last September & is still active in the music scene. Her real name is Maria Grazia Rosa Domenica D'Amato.
She began her career in the early 1960s as Maria D'Amato, performing with John Sebastian, David Grisman, and Stefan Grossman as a member of the Even Dozen Jug Band. She then joined Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band as a featured vocalist and occasional fiddle player. During this time, she was part of the Greenwich Village scene that included Bob Dylan, and some of her recollections of the period, appear in Martin Scorsese's 2005 Dylan documentary film No Direction Home.
Her 2005 release Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul was nominated for both a Blues Music Award and a Grammy Award in the Traditional Blues category, but she lost out to B.B. King & Friends.
This song was the opening song from her self titled debut album from 1973. The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 & is certified gold.
The album included her debut single Midnight At The Oasis which landed at #6 on the Hot 100 & was nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards. The song lost Record Of The Year to Olivia Newton John's I Honestly Love You (that award goes to the producer) & lost Song Of The Year to Barbra Streisand's The Way We Were (that award goes to the song writers).
There are a lot of guest artists appearing on this album, but on this song Ry Cooder plays acoustic guitar, David Lindley plays the Hawaiian Slide guitar, Jim Dickson is on piano, Tommy McClure on bass, & Jim Keltner on drums.
The song itself was written by Jimmie Rodgers & goes back to his recording in 1929. Jimmie died in 1933.
Any Old Time by Maria Muldaur
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 23, 2024 17:06:58 GMT
DeBarge was a recording group composed of several members of the DeBarge family.
They were active between 1979 and 1989. The group originally consisted of El, Mark, Randy, and Bunny. James joined the group a year later for their second album. Bobby joined in 1987, following the departures of Bunny and El.
In 1984, In A Special Way was nominated for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal in the 26th Annual GRAMMY Awards, but they lost to Ain’t Nobody by Rufus & Chaka Khan.
During their career they released 6 studio albums. This was the title song to their 4th & most successful album. It was released February 23,1985. The album got to #19 on the top 200 & #3 on the R&B Chart & has been certified Gold.
This song was the 1st single released from the album. The song was written by Diane Warren for the soundtrack of the film The Last Dragon. It hit #3 on the Hot 100 & #1 on both the Hot Black Singles & The Adult Contemporary Charts. It was the biggest hit for the group.
Rhythm Of The Night by DeBarge
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Post by Kao on Mar 23, 2024 17:43:53 GMT
Hozier released a new EP last night that was outtakes that didn't make his "Unreal" album. While I like the whole EP, I'm obsessed with this song:
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 24, 2024 11:19:22 GMT
Speak & Spell was the debut album by Depeche Mode. It was released on 5 October 1981.
The band has been nominated for multiple Grammys, & many more Billboard Music Awards but have not broken through. Despite their lack of major awards they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2020.
At the time of this album the band consisted of Vince Clarke, Andy Fletcher, Dave Gahan & Martin Gore. All of them played synthesizers, sang, & added production.
The release hit #10 in the UK, but barely entered the top 200 here in the states by coming in at #192. The album included the singles Dreaming Of Me, #57 in the UK & although not commercially released in the US it hit #47 on the Dance Charts, New Life #11 & again relegated to the Dance Charts at #29, & Just Can’t Get Enough #8 & #26 on the Dance Charts.
Vince Clarke wrote all the music on the album but this was the only album from the band on which he played. He departed & has been the main composer and musician of the band Erasure since its inception in 1985. He was previously the main songwriter for several groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and the Assembly.
They really didn’t break through in a big way here in the states until they released their 7th studio album. It was called Violator, it came out in 1990, it went to #7 & has been certified 3 X Platinum.
Any Second Now by Depeche Mode
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 24, 2024 17:31:45 GMT
Herman Brood was a Dutch musician, painter, actor and poet from Zwolle, Netherlands. On 11 July 2001, depressed by the failure of his drug rehabilitation program and facing serious medical problems because of his prolonged drug use, he committed suicide by jumping from the roof of the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel at the age of 54.
He started the band Herman Brood & His Wild Romance in 1976. His drug habit became public in 1977 when the Wild Romance played a gig in a high school in Almelo, the Christelijk Lyceum; during the break Brood was caught on the toilet taking heroin or speed (there are different reports on the type of drug, but it is a well-known story amongst former students), the rest of the concert was cancelled.
After his career in music, he turned to painting and became a well-known character in Amsterdam art circles. His art is best described as pop-art, often very colorful and graffiti-inspired screen prints, and he achieved some commercial success and notoriety by, for instance, creating murals in various public spaces in and around Amsterdam.
This song comes from Shpritsz (the name derives from a colloquial German word for "syringe"), it is the 2nd studio album from him, it was released in 1979. The song was the 2nd single released, but the only one to chart here in the states. It climbed to #35.
The band included Herman Brood – piano, keyboards, vocals, Dany Lademacher – guitar, Freddy Cavalli – bass, Cees "Ani" Meerman – drums, & Bertus Borgers – saxophone. Herman & Dany co – wrote the song.
Saturday Night by Herman Brood & His Wild Romance
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 25, 2024 11:25:15 GMT
Janet Jackson will be 58 in May. She was 27 when she released her self – titled 5th album in 1993.
She had just been involved in a bidding war for her next contract. After meeting with Virgin owner Richard Branson, she signed with the label. The contract was worth an estimated $40 million, making her the world's then-highest paid musical act. It seems to have paid off for her & the label.
The album became her 3rd consecutive album to top the Billboard 200 and her 1st to debut at #1. It sold 350,000 copies in its first week. It has been certified at 6 X Platinum & has sold an estimated 14 million copies worldwide.
The song linked to here was the 5th single from the album. It hit #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on R&B. It remained #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for ten weeks and became her biggest hit on the chart. It has been certified Platinum.
The other singles released were That’s The Way Love goes #1 on multiple charts & 2 X Platinum, If #4 & Platinum, Again #1 & Platinum, Because Of Love #10, And On And On was the B side to Any Time Any Place & charted at #2 on it’s own, Throb did not chart, You Want This #8 & they ended the era with Whoops & Now What’ll I Do which were released as a Double A side single, but neither one charted.
That’s The Way Love Goes also won the Grammy that year for Best R&B Song.
Any Time Any Place by Janet Jackson
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 25, 2024 17:12:31 GMT
Future Islands is a synth-pop band based in Baltimore. The band was formed in January 2006 & are still active.
Group members are Gerrit Welmers (keyboards and programming), William Cashion (bass, acoustic and electric guitars), Samuel T. Herring (lyrics and vocals), and Michael Lowry (percussion).
According to William Cashion : “ The name is meant to be vague. ... We were either gonna be called Already Islands or Future Shoes. Because, seriously, you don't know what future shoes look like, but you know you'd want a pair! (you know?). So after deciding Already Shoes was a bad name, we combined them to Future Islands. That's the boring truth, sorry!”
During their career they have released 7 studio albums with the most recent one coming just this past January. This song comes from Singles, it was their 4th studio album & was released on March 24, 2014. It was their highest charting album so far as it hit #40 on the Top 200 #10 on the Alternative Rock Chart & #11 on the Top Rock Albums Chart.
This song was the 1st single released & it got to #27 on both the Adult Alternative Songs & Alternative Airplay charts. It was also named the best track of 2014 by publications such as NME, Pitchfork, and Spin.
Seasons by Future Islands
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 26, 2024 11:23:57 GMT
Lionel Hampton was a jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader from Louisville, Kentucky. He died in 2002 at the age of 94.
In November 1936, the Benny Goodman Orchestra came to Los Angeles to play the Palomar Ballroom. When John Hammond took Benny to see Lionel perform, Goodman invited him to join his trio, which soon became the Benny Goodman Quartet with pianist Teddy Wilson and drummer Gene Krupa completing the lineup. The Trio and Quartet were among the first racially integrated jazz groups to perform before audiences. All during his time in that group he was also recording his own material. In 1940 Lionel left the group to form his own big band.
In 1992, he was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and he was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1996. In 2021 he was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
He recorded this song back in 1938 & it appears on a compilation album called The Complete Lionel Hampton 1937-38. It was a double LP released by RCA in 1993. The song was written by Jimmy Van Huesen & Jimmy Dorsey. Lionel plays the vibraphone & sings.
Any Time At All by Lionel Hampton
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 26, 2024 17:29:44 GMT
During their original tenure, the Lovin Spoonful released 5 studio albums, 2 soundtrack albums, 4 compilation albums, and 14 singles.
Between October 1965 and January 1967, their first-seven singles reached the Top Ten on the Hot 100 chart, and the Billboard's 1966 end-of-year issue ranked the group as the year's third-best-performing singles artist, after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
In May 1967, John Sebastian convened a meeting with Joe Butler and Steve Boone to discuss the band's future. Sebastian expressed frustration with Zal Yanovsky's increasingly erratic public behavior and his derogatory treatment of his bandmates. Sebastian concluded that either Yanovsky should be fired, or else he was prepared to leave the band. Butler, who had never gotten along with Yanovsky and was increasingly the target of Yanovsky's insults, agreed with Sebastian. In a subsequent group meeting at Sebastian's apartment, the band informed Yanovsky that he had been fired, but he agreed to continue performing the rest of their scheduled dates.
The band was on the downside of their career in 1967, when only two of their singles entered the top twenty. Following further chart disappointments, the group disbanded in 1968 when John Sebastian finally departed. He later summed up the band's career as "two glorious years and a tedious one"
This song was released as a non album track single in 1967. It charted at #18 in April. It was the highest they would chart for the remainder of their time together. Six O’Clock by The Lovin Spoonful
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 27, 2024 11:24:29 GMT
Derek and the Dominos was a short-lived English–American blues rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by singer-guitarist Eric Clapton, keyboardist-singer Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon. All four members had previously played together in Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, during and after Clapton's time with Blind Faith. Dave Mason supplied additional lead guitar on early studio sessions and played at their first live gig.
Another participant at their first session as a band was George Harrison, the recording for whose album All Things Must Pass marked the formation of Derek and the Dominos.
This song comes from the only album they ever released as a group. It was called Layla & Other Love Songs & other than the folks mentioned above, there is a guy on lead and slide guitar named Duane Allman.
"Layla" was inspired by Clapton's infatuation with his friend George Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd. The single hit the top ten in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The album seems to have missed out on the charts here in the states, but it was eventually certified Gold.
Eric & Bobby Whitlock wrote the song. Eric & Duane play the double guitar parts with Duane playing the solo.
Anyday by Derek & The Dominos
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 27, 2024 17:22:33 GMT
Sonny Rollins is a former jazz tenor saxophonist from New York City. He is still with us & turned 93 last September.
He started as a pianist, changed to alto saxophone, and finally switched to tenor in 1946. Sonny is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians.
He was elected to the Down Beat Jazz Hall Of Fame in 1973. Folks seem to appreciate his contributions. He has Honorary Doctorates Of Music from; Bard College, Wesleyan University, Long Island University, Duke University, New England Conservatory Of Music, Berklee College Of Music, Colby College, the Julliard School & the University Of Hartford.
He has a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award & was a Kennedy Center Honoree on his 81st Birthday in 2011.
This song was included on his 1st Live album called A Night at the "Village Vanguard". It was recorded in New York City on November 3, 1957 and released on Blue Note Records the following year.
The musicians playing are Tenor Saxophone: Sonny Rollins, Bass: Wilbur Ware & Drums: Elvin Jones.
The song was co – written by Oscar Hammerstein II & Sigmund Romberg. It was written for the 1928 operetta The New Moon.
Softly As In A Morning Sunrise by Sonny Rollins
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 28, 2024 11:26:58 GMT
Journey is a rock band formed in San Francisco in 1973 by former members of Santana, the Steve Miller Band, and Frumious Bandersnatch. The band is still active, currently on tour, but with a different lineup. Lead guitar player Neil Schon is the only remaining original member.
During their career the band has released 15 studio albums, 5 live albums, 11 compilation albums, and 52 singles since 1975.
To their credit they have 25 gold and platinum albums. Their Greatest Hits album has been certified 18 X Platinum & been awarded with a Diamond status. They have had 19 top-40 hits in the US (the second-most without a Billboard Hot 100 number-one behind Electric Light Orchestra with 20). They have had 6 top 10 hits on the pop chart & 2 number one hits on other Billboard charts, but that #1 on the Hot 100 has evaded them.
This song comes from Infinity. It was their 4th studio album & was released in January 1978. It was the band's first album with vocalist Steve Perry and the last to feature drummer Aynsley Dunbar.
All of their previous albums had charted, but this was the 1st one to hit big. It landed at #21 & has been certified as 3 X Platinum. The album included Wheel In The Sky which hit #57 & was their 1st trip inside the Hot 100. The song linked to here was the 2nd single but stalled out at #83 & they ended the era with Lights which also stumbled in at #68 but has gone on to become one of the bigger anthems, & has been certified as 2 X Platinum.
At the time of this album the lineup consisted of Steve Perry – lead vocals, Neal Schon – guitars, backing vocals, Gregg Rolie – keyboards, backing vocals, Ross Valory – bass guitar, backing vocals, & Aynsley Dunbar – drums.
Anytime by Journey
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 28, 2024 17:38:33 GMT
We began the day with a band from San Francisco so let’s end with another.
Moby Grape was founded in 1966, they are also still active & Peter Lewis, Jerry Miller & Bob Mosley are still with the band. Drummer Don Stevenson still plays occasionally but became a big time real estate person, he is the only original member to not have released a solo album.
Skip Spence seems to have gone off the deep end. During the recording session of their second album, in 1968, he attempted to break down a bandmate's hotel room door with a fire axe, while under the influence of LSD. His deterioration in New York and the "fire axe incident” led to him being admitted to Bellevue Hospital in New York in June of 68. During his six months stay, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He eventually died of lung cancer on April 16, 1999; two days before his 53rd birthday. He left behind a wife & 3 kids so he must have recovered some of his facilities.
This song comes from their self - titled debut album, released in 1967. The album landed at #24, the single Omaha came in at #88, the song linked to here was the “B” side to Omaha.
On future versions, the cover of the album was changed to air brush out Don Stevenson "flipping the bird" on the washboard.
Someday by Moby Grape
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 29, 2024 11:18:33 GMT
Talk Talk was an English band formed in 1981, led by Mark Hollis (vocals, guitar, piano), Lee Harris (drums), and Paul Webb (bass). Mark Hollis died on 25 February 2019, aged 64.
The band’s influence on musicians has exceeded their popularity among the general public. The artists who have praised the band or cited them as an influence include Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament, Kate Bush, Tears for Fears, Matthew Good, Radiohead, Doves, Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree, Steve Hogarth of Marillion, Richard Barbieri of Japan and Porcupine Tree, Death Cab for Cutie, and Richard Wright of Pink Floyd.
The band released just 5 studio albums. This song comes from their 3rd album, it was called The Colour Of Spring & was released in 1986. They achieved widespread critical success in Europe and the UK with the album, it hit the top 10 in multiple countries. The album landed at #58 in the states & was their last one to chart here.
The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
April 5th by Talk Talk
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 30, 2024 11:19:06 GMT
John Phillips was a folk rock musician from Paris Island South Carolina. After years of alcohol & drug abuse & a liver transplant he passed away on March 18, 2001 of heart failure at the age of 65.
He was the leader & main song writer for the Mamas & the Papas and is frequently referred to as Papa John Phillips.
The Mamas and the Papas were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame on January 12, 1998, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000.
This was the 1st track on side 1 of his debut solo album. It was called The Wolf King Of LA & was released in 1970. The album landed at #181. John and the other members of the Mamas & the Papas were threatened with a lawsuit just as the album was released, discouraging the label from promoting the album.
Since John was the backing singer in the Mamas and the Papas, with the other three serving as lead singers, the album mix tends to de-emphasize his lead vocals. Denny Doherty stated that, had the Mamas & the Papas performed this album, it would have been one of their finest, because of the strength of Johns' songs.
The only single "Mississippi", reached #32 on the Hot 100, #13 on the Adult Contemporary, & # 58 on the Country chart. The song linked to here was the “B” side to that single.
Members of The Wrecking Crew including James Burton, Joe Osborn, Larry Knechtel, & Hal Blaine provided the instruments.
April Anne by John Phillips
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Post by Kao on Mar 30, 2024 14:44:52 GMT
I'm listening to Beyonce's new Country album, and while I had my doubts at first (country really isn't a genre I listen to) I have to admit it's kinda fabulous? Definitely give it a listen because it's just as good as Renaissance but I have to admit I laughed at the song she wrote about a horse, lol.
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 30, 2024 17:34:27 GMT
Strangers in the Night is a song written by Bert Kaempfert with English lyrics by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder. Kaempfert originally used it under the title "Beddy Bye" as part of the instrumental score for the movie A Man Could Get Killed. This was a 1966 movie starring James Garner, Melina Mercouri, Sandra Dee, Anthony Franciosa, and Robert Coote.
It introduced the melody of the song "Strangers in the Night", which was initially to be sung by Melina Mercouri, but she insisted that her voice would not fit the melody and it should be given to a man. Eventually, the version by Frank became a global number one hit and is now considered a standard of easy listening music.
Frank’s recording of the song reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Easy Listening chart, and it was also simultaneously a No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. The success of the song led to the release of the album Strangers in the Night which included the title song. It became Sinatra's most commercially successful album.
The recording won him the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist or Instrumentalist for Ernie Freeman at the Grammy Awards of 1967.
The song also won the 1967 Golden Globe Award for "Best Original Song in a Motion Picture".
Strangers In The Night by Frank Sinatra
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 31, 2024 11:14:21 GMT
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were one of the best-selling music acts of the 1960s, their most famous recordings include three US number ones and the two Record of the Year Grammy winners.
They began their recording career under the name of Tom & Jerry. Art named himself Tom Graph, a reference to his interest in mathematics, and Paul was Jerry Landis, after the surname of a girl he had dated. Their first single, "Hey, Schoolgirl", was released in 1957.
Between 1969 & 1971 they won 10 Grammy Awards out of 12 nominations. Their songs Bridge Over Troubled Water, Mrs. Robinson, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme, & The Sound Of Silence have all been installed into The Grammy Hall Of Fame. That’s not too bad considering they released just 5 albums together.
This song comes from Sounds of Silence. It was their 2nd studio album & was released on January 17, 1966. The album got to #21 & has been certified as 3 X Platinum. It included the singles The Sound Of Silence which was not only their 1st top 40 hit but also their 1st #1, Homeward Bound #5 & I Am A Rock #3.
The song linked to here was written in 1964 while Paul was in England. Its lyrics use the changing of the seasons as a metaphor for a girl's changing moods. The inspiration for the song was a girl that he met and the nursery rhyme she used to recite, "Cuckoo". It originally appeared on his solo album The Paul Simon Songbook.
April Come She Will by Simon & Garfunkel
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Post by razorbacker on Mar 31, 2024 17:26:22 GMT
Belinda Carlisle is a singer and songwriter from Los Angeles. She will turn 66 in August.
She gained her original fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, the most successful all-female rock band of all time. After the break-up of the Go-Go's in 1985, she went on to have a successful solo career with radio hits such as "Mad About You", "I Get Weak", "Circle in the Sand", "Leave a Light On", and "Heaven Is a Place on Earth".
She has been nominated for multiple awards but has never won any. One organization even nominated her for Worst Female Solo Singer, but she didn’t win that one either.
During her career she has released 8 studio albums, 11 compilations and 6 video albums. Runaway Horses was her 3rd solo album & was released on October 3, 1989. The album peaked at number 37. It was the lowest she had charted so far, but none of her subsequent releases charted in the US at all.
There were 6 different singles released from the album, but just 2 of them charted here in the states. The Same Thing, La Luna, Runaway Horses & Vision Of You all failed to land. The debut single Leave A Light On hit #11 & the song linked to here was the 4th single & charted at #30, it was also the final top 40 hit for her.
Summer Rain by Belinda Carlisle
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Post by razorbacker on Apr 1, 2024 11:05:54 GMT
Pete Townshend is the co-founder, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s, he will turn 79 next month.
Ronnie Lane was the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Small Faces (1965–69) and Faces (1969–73). He died from pneumonia during the final stages of multiple sclerosis. On 4 June 1997, he was just 51.
The two of them got together in 1977 to release an album called Rough Mix. The album peaked at #45 here in the states & #44 in the UK.
During the recording of the album, Ronnie’s multiple sclerosis was diagnosed but still not revealed generally. No one knew what he was going through, but he soldiered on.
Ronnie wrote this song. On the album the two of them contribute vocals, guitars, mandolins, bass guitars, banjos, ukuleles. On this particular song, Dave Markee plays the double bass & Eric Clapton plays the dobro.
April Fool by Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane
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Post by razorbacker on Apr 1, 2024 17:19:18 GMT
John Coltrane was a jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer from Hamlet, North Carolina. He died of liver cancer at the age of 40 on July 17, 1967.
He was inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame In 1965. In 1982 he was awarded a posthumous Grammy for Best Jazz Solo Performance on the album Bye Bye Blackbird, and in 1997 he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He was awarded a special Pulitzer Prize in 2007 citing his "masterful improvisation, supreme musicianship and iconic centrality to the history of jazz." He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
During his short life & career, he was still able to record 45 studio albums, 11 Live albums & release 19 singles & that doesn’t count all the times he recorded with other musicians.
This song comes from an album called Cattin' with Coltrane and Quinichette released in October 1959. The musicians on the song are John Coltrane – tenor saxophone, Paul Quinichette – tenor saxophone, Julian Euell – double bass, Ed Thigpen – drums, & Mal Waldron – piano.
The song itself was written by Jule Styne, Bennie Krueger, and Ned Miller. It goes back to 1926 & over the years it has become a jazz standard & recorded multiple times. The 1st recordings in 1927 were made by Jean Goldkette and His Orchestra; Cliff Edwards (the voice of Jiminy Crickett) ; and Gene Austin.
Sunday by John Coltrane
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Post by razorbacker on Apr 2, 2024 11:29:28 GMT
Cab Calloway was inducted into the Big Band Jazz Hall Of Fame in 1987, the International Jazz Hall Of Fame in 1995 & the National Rhythm & Blues Hall Of Fame in 2020. He was given an Honorary Doctorate Of Fine Arts from the University Of Rochester & the National Medal Of Arts both in in 1993. His performance of Minnie The Moocher was installed into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1999 & added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2019.
He had his 1st charting single in 1930 & his final one in 1967. He starred in multiple Broadway musicals beginning with Porgy & Bess in 1953 & ending in 1986 with Uptown It’s Hot. His 1st movie role was in The Big Broadcast of 1932 & his final was in The Blues Brothers in 1980.
This song appears on an album called Broadway Surprise Party that was released in 1968, but the song was originally released on a 78 rpm so I have to believe it was recorded well before 1968. I just don’t seem to be able to track down exactly when.
The song has been recorded by many others including Artie Shaw, Billie Holliday, & Hoagy Carmichael & it goes back to at least 1938.
April In My Heart by Cab Calloway
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Post by razorbacker on Apr 2, 2024 17:22:33 GMT
Spiritualized is an English rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire, by Jason Pierce (often known as J. Spaceman). The band is still active but they have seen several line up-changes.
Their sound has been labelled as space rock, neo-psychedelia, experimental rock and garage rock. Their first album was also described by NME as being distantly connected to shoegaze (a subgenre of indie and alternative rock characterized by its ethereal mixture of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects, feedback, and overwhelming volume) who knew?.
So far, the band has released 9 studio albums, & 2 Live albums. They didn’t chart any albums in the states until their 4th release & none of their singles have ever broken through here.
This song comes from their debut album called Lazer Guided Melodies. It was released in 1992. The line up of the band at that time was the original membership consisting of Jason Pierce (vocals, guitars), Mark Refoy (guitars), Will Carruthers (bass), Jonny Mattock (drums) and Kate Radley (keyboards).
The album got pretty decent reviews & it was included in Pitchfork's 2010 list of "ten unusual CD-era gimmicks".The album was listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2018, Pitchfork ranked the album at number 11 on its list of "The 30 Best Dream Pop Albums".
Take Your Time by Spiritualized
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