Playlist for 3/15

Neko Case - Ultimate (Playlist)

Rose -  Rosie

Fontaines D.C. -Romance

Larkin Poe - Bloom 

FKA twigs - Eusexua

Colonel Jubilation - Moldy Goldies

Van Morrison -  Van The Man

Poll: February 1985 Songs

   The latest poll of songs I voted on was for February 1985, a big year for the CHR format.  Top 40 ruled the days during those times.  35 songs were voted on this time. 

You can hear this countdown at: 

popradiogold.com

"I Want To Know What Love Is", Foreigner : 1
"The Boys Of Summer", Don Henley : 2
"Careless Whisper", Wham! featuring George Michael : 3
"Easy Lover", Philip Bailey (with Phil Collins) : 4
"Lovergirl", Teena Marie : 5
"Misled", Kool & the Gang : 6
"Can't Fight This Feeling", REO Speedwagon : 7
"Solid", Ashford & Simpson : 8
"Run To You", Bryan Adams : 9
"Material Girl", Madonna : 10
"Missing You", Diana Ross : 11
"Jungle Love", The Time : 12
"Born In The U.S.A.", Bruce Springsteen : 13
"Foolish Heart", Steve Perry : 14
"Loverboy", Billy Ocean : 15
"Like A Virgin", Madonna : 16
"Method Of Modern Love", Daryl Hall & John Oates : 17
"The Old Man Down The Road", John Fogerty : 18
"Private Dancer", Tina Turner : 19
"Do What You Do", Jermaine Jackson : 20
"Mr. Telephone Man", New Edition : 21
"Love Light In Flight", Stevie Wonder : 22
"Neutron Dance", Pointer Sisters : 23
"You're The Inspiration", Chicago : 24
"I Would Die 4 U", Prince & the Revolution : 25
"The Heat Is On", Glenn Frey : 26
"Operator", Midnight Star : 27
"Sugar Walls", Sheena Easton : 28
"Too Late For Goodbyes", Julian Lennon : 29
"Sea Of Love", Honeydrippers (Robert Plant) : 30
"Jamie", Ray Parker, Jr. : 31
"All I Need", Jack Wagner : 32
"California Girls", David Lee Roth : 33
"Call To The Heart", Giuffria : 34
"Yo' Little Brother", Nolan Thomas : 35

Ranking: Songs from Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark (1974)

With 1974's Court and Spark Joni Mitchell landed her biggest selling album.  Peaking at #2, no doubt aided by her biggest single, the #7 "Help Me".  It was the success of that song that turned me on to the rest of the album.  But not until I was out of high school.  "Help Me" became known to me thanks to my frequent listening of American Top 40, while I lived in Germany (Army brats unite).  That song and its followup, the #22 charting "Free Man In Paris" latched onto my 10 year old brain during the Spring and Summer of 1974.  But it wasn't until the early 80's when I started buying more albums did I finally hear the whole thing.  And while some love Blue, I always land on Court and Spark as my favorite Joni record. While this was he jazziest album up until 1974, the success of the album was how enough Pop hooks made their way into the mix.  Joni would never reach the sales heights of this album, or have another Top 10 single again.  But in 1974 she was due for a Pop breakthrough, similar to what happened to Neil Young with Harvest. 

1.  Help Me

2.  Free Man In Paris

3.  Court and Spark

4.  Raised on Robbery

5.  Down to You

6.  Car On A Hill

7.  Just Like This Train

8.  Same Situation

9.  People's Parties

10.  Trouble Child

11.  Twisted

Playlist for 3/1

Franz Ferdinand - Human Fear 

Ringo Starr - Look Up

Innocence Mission - Midwenter Swimmers

Vijay Iyer - Compassion

Patricia Brennan - Breaking Stretch

Brenton Wood - 18 Best

Lucinda Williams = Sings the Beatles from Abbey Road

Yola- My Way 

SNL50: Anniversary Special 

90’s Boy Band Boom (Documentary)

RIP Gene Hackman

  I’ve always believed that Gene Hackman was the most underrated, greatest actor of his generation. A generation begun in the late 60’s with Hoffman, Nicholson, DeNiro, Pacino.  Hackman ever got mentioned in their company despite a body of work that is equal to many of his peers. The only lifetime achievement award he received was at the 2003 Golden Globes.  He left acting in 2004 and deserved so many more accolades.

  Part of this underrated career had to do with his acting. The word everyman gets used a lot about Hackman and it fits. It describes his style of acting no ,after the role. Hackman was worth watching in everything he did. Whether the film connected or not.  I first saw him as a teenager in the Poseidon Adventure. Next up was Young Frankenstein. Then in the first two Superman movies. Later as I grew older I caught the French Connection, Bonnie & Clyde, Night Moves and the Conversation just to name a few. He was everywhere in the late 80’s and 90’s. 

  I’m sorry he died without getting the rewards he deserved. He was a fabulous actor. Much like Paul Newman, another Everyman in many movies, I stop what I’m watching when his films are on. His was a gold standard career. 

SNL at 50

   I didn't watch Saturday Night Live until early 1976.  Mostly from hearing middle school kids talking about this new program that is on late night Saturday.  From then I was hooked.  At least during the classic era of the late 70's.  The buzz this show gave was deep during this period.  And we knew all the names: Dan, John, Chevy, Bill, Gilda, Garrett, Jane, Laraine.  The co-hosts, skits and the musical guests.  I should say that teenage me didn't know some of the guests at the time.  Now most are part of my musical life, but at the time a lot of these musical guests were eye an ear openers.

  The next buzz that SNL gave occurred when Eddie Murphy arrived.  The 70's cast members had all moved on and until Murphy arrived SNL was just another late night comedy show.  But he was must-see tv.  I should say that all of this happened before DVR's and just as VCR's were coming along.  So, you had to watch the show live or catch it later on reruns.  Once these things happened, I taped the show weekly.

  Now in its 50th year, the show is hit or miss.  But still a must watch.  Nothing beats the excitement of those early years though.  

Playlist for 2/15

Dearly Beloved: A Prince Songbook - Various

BB King - In France 1977

Charlie Parker - Bird In Kansas City

Cold Chisel - East 

John Farnham - Whispering Jack

Rosali - Bite Down

Ladies & Gentleman-SNL Music (Documentary)

2025 Grammy Awards 

SNL50: Homecoming Concert