Playlist for 9/25

Sleater-Kinney - Center Won't Hold
Amy LaVere - Painting Blue
Raphael Saadiq - Jimmy Lee
Johnny Mathis - I Love my Lady
Tuxedo - III
Come On Let's Go! Power Pop Gems from 70's & 80's - Various (Ace)
Horn Rock & Funky Guitar Grooves 68-74 - Various (Ace)

Playlist for 9/20

David Berman: In Memoriam (NPR Spotify Playlist)
David Bowie:Finding Fame (Documentary)
Hold Steady - Thrashing Thru the Passion
Highwomen - s/t
Tanya Tucker - While I’m Livin’
Caroline Spence - Mint Condition
Jens Lekman & Annika Norlin - Correspondence
Delbert McClinton - Tall, Dark & Handsome

RIP Ric Ocasek

The Cars were the most Classic Rock of the New Wave bands.  Their debut album is still perfect.  And they knocked out hooky singles and album tracks until the mid-80's.  Ric Ocasek wrote the band’s greatest hits, and sang on many of them. Away from the Cars, his solo records deserve a reappraisal. And he also had a side job during his Cars run, and without them Producing 3 Weezer albums, and many other new and established acts Suicide’s “Dream Baby Dream”). 

But Ocasek’s hooky genius starts and ends with the Cars. Start with their debut album. A perfect template of how New Eave would collide with Classic Rock. After that Heartbeat City is my 2nd fave. But you can’t go wrong with anything between the debut and that album. 
And their Greatest Hits album is a must. 

Here’s a few of my favorite Ocasek songs with and without the Cars that are worth checking out, beyond the big hits.

Emotion In Motion
True to You
Something To Grab For
Jimmy Jimmy
Rockaway
Dangerous Type
Candy-O
It’s All Can Do
Gimme Some Slack
I’m Not The One
Why Can’t I Have You
Touch and Go
Blue Tip

Playlist for 9/14

Now 71 - Various (U.S. Edition)
1977: Year Punk Broke - Various  (Box Set)
Bon Iver - i,i
Peter Perrett - Humanworld
Island Radicals - Various  (Mojo Magazine 9/19 Issue)
Tammy Wynette - Woman to Woman
Midland - Let It Roll

RIP Eddie Money

When I think of acts like Eddie Money, I think of similar ones like Rick Springfield, Richard Marx, Pat Benatar, KC & The Sunshine Band.  These artists had just enough hits that they could tour off of for the rest of their life.  But none of those names I mentioned are headlining tours anymore like a Rod Stewart or even Bryan Adams (outside of the U.S. for Adams).

But that's okay.  They've made a good living touring.  And those old hits keep getting radio spins.

In Eddie Money's case he had a handful of hits that still get played on AOR, Retro 70's/80's and Adult Contemporary channels.  He even hung in there long enough to get a reality show (Real Money, which started in 2018).  And in 2016 a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! 

On a more personal note, Money died of Esophageal cancer at age 70,  which is the same cancer that took my Dad's like at age 74.  It's a cancer that doesn't get talked about much, but should be.  Only 20% survive 5 years after being diagnosed with it. 

On a brighter note, Eddie Money does leave behind some good to great songs.  His peak years were from 78-91.

Two Tickets To Paradise 

Baby Hold On
Can't Keep A Good Man Down

Take Me Home Tonight

Shakin'

Think I'm In Love

Walk On Water

I Wanna Go Back

Peace In Our Time
Gimme Some Water
Maybe I’m A Fool

Music Years of My Life: September 11, 2001

First posted in September 2016

We all seek comfort in music when tragedy strikes.  One of the things I remember most about that day was going to Borders to buy the new Bob Dylan album, "Love and Theft" in the late afternoon.  9/11 was a Tuesday, which back then was New Release day, so I did what was normal for me and go to Borders (or Circuit City) and check out the latest CD's.  It was odd that inside this big store people were going about their daily business of browsing books, magazines, CD's, etc., while over the store's speaker system was a newscast of 9/11 events.

The comfort of entertainment in times like that can't be denied.  For some it's as much needed as family, faith.  On September 21 the first benefit concert was broadcast, America: A Tribute to Heroes.  An unplugged/acoustic show, which featured many notable performances.  On October 20, a bigger even was staged, Concert For New York City, which had many powerful moments.

There were also patriotic songs post 9/11, mostly from the Country field:  Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning" and Aaron Tippin's "Where The Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly" were the most played in the latter part of 2001.

Many people have noted Clear Channel's now infamous banned or not banned  songs, which came out a week after 9/11.  In the end, it's memo didn't say stations couldn't play, say "In The Air Tonight" or "Free Fallin'", but suggested use their own judgment.  Banned or not?

Music has always played a part in my life.  In times of stress and personal pain, music can soothe you.  We always go back to the songs we love.

Playlist for 9/9

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood - Soundtrack
Caetano Veloso - s/t (1967)
Johnny Adams - Heart & Soul
CCR - Live at Woodstock
Tyler Childers - Country Squire
Tyler Childers - Bottles and Bibles
Tyler Childers - Live on Red Barn Radio 1 & II
Mike and the Moonpies - Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold

Playlist for 9/5

Hitsville: Making of Motown (Documentary)
Shangri-La (Rick Rubin Documentary)
I Am Patrick Swayze (Documentary)
Kate Tempest - Book of Traps and Lessons
Purple Mountains - s/t
Beyonce & Various - Lion King: The Gift
Maurice White - Manifestation
Chance the Rapper -  Big Day
Banks - III