Intro to "Music List A Month"

 In 2021, I did "An Album/Song A Week" posts.  For 2022, I've decided to do a "Music List A Month".  Some of these will be updated lists that I did years ago. Many of any new readers may have missed these and I like the results so much that I want to share them again.  

 So, here's hoping you'll join me for another year of posts, lists and whatever else comes to mind.  I've been blogging since March 1998 and heading into my 24th year, it is still something I enjoy doing and sharing.

Playlist for 12/27

Courtney Barnett - Things Take Time, Take Time

Jagged (Alanis Morissette 2021 Documentary)

Malfunction: The Dressing Down of Janet Jackson (Documentary)

Tom Petty: Making of Wildflowers (2021 Documentary) 

One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga (TV Special)

T. Graham Brown - Next Right Thing

Gene Watson - Sings

Alligator Records: 50 Years of - Various

Sting - Bridge

Parquet Courts - Sympathy for Life

Willie Nelson - Family

Lilly Hiatt - Lately

An Album/Song A Week: Elvis Presley - Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas

 My final post in my Album/Song A week series had to be about Elvis Presley.  Growing up in the Lane household, Christmas was not the same unless we played Elvis' 2 Christmas albums. His first from 1957 and Wonderful World of Christmas,  released in 1971.  We kept this tradition going even after I moved out in my early 20's.  Folks, we are an Elvis family.  

  I should also point out that there were other albums that were a mainstay on my Dad's turntable during the Holidays.   Most were by Pop or Country singers from the 70's' As I got older and bought my own records I would bring over R&B albums to play.  Plus compilations like the first Very Special Christmas and Phil Spector's A Christmas Gift for You, along with some R&B compilations. But none of these topped the Elvis albums. 

 Talking about this Christmas album gives me a chance to refute another thing about Elvis that I read often.  That he didn't come up with any good studio albums in the 70's.  One of the problems with those albums is they were often patched together from various sessions. But there's enough good ones for new Elvis fans to check out.  I'd start with 1970's Elvis Country, 1972's He Touched Me, 1974's Promised Land & Good Times, 1975's Today, and half of 1977's Moody Blue. Also, the 70's concert albums that were released while he was alive are all worth checking out.  So, add this Christmas album to that mix as well. For the most part Elvis is in an inspired mood and knocks out some great Christmas songs especially the back-to-back "If I Get Home On Christmas Day" and "I'll Be Home On Christmas Day". But the standout track is the nearly 6 minute epic take on "Merry Christmas Baby", which features some of Elvis' bluesiest, dirtiest singing of the decade, and some down home gritty guitar playing courtesy of James Burton.

 Decades later I still play Wonderful World of Christmas during the Holidays. It's more than just a good Elvis album,  it takes me back to a more innocent time in my life.  Christmas with the Lane's.  Those were indeed wonderful days. 

Tom's Top Songs/Reissues of 2021

1. Olivia Rodrigo - Good 4 U

2. Silk Sonic - Leave The Door Open

3. Dua Lipa - Levitating

4. Olivia Rodrigo - Brutal

5. Doja Cat - Kiss Me More

6. Jazmine Sullivan - Pick Up Your Feelings

7. John Mayer - Last Train Home

8. Amythyst Kiah - Black Myself

9. James McMurtry - What's The Matter

10. Adele - Easy On Me

11. Olivia Rodrigo - Drivers License 

12. Lainey Wilson - Things A Man Oughta Know

13. Kacey Musgraves- Justified

14. Walker Hayes - Fancy Like

15. Brandi Carlile - Faster Horses

16. Aaron Lee Tasjan - Up All Night

17. Carly Pearce/Ashley McBryde - Never Wanted To Be That Girl

18. Parquet Courts - Walking At A Downtown Pace

19. Carly Pearce - What He Didn't Do

20. H.E.R. - Damage

21. Ed Sheeran - Bad Habits

22. BTS - Butter

23. Lil Nas X/Jack Harlow - Industry Baby/Lil Nas X - That's What I Want

24. Cleo Sol - Sunshine

25. Jimmie Allen & Brad Paisley - Freedom Was A Highway

26. Justin Bieber - Peaches

27. Jonas Brothers - Who's In Your Head

28. Yola - Diamond Studded Shoes 

29. Kenny Chesney - Knowing You

30. Chris Stapleton - You Should Probably Leave

31. Allison Russell - Nightflyer

32. Halsey - I Am Not A Woman, I'm A God

33. Arlo Parks - Hope

34. Valerie June - Call Me A Fool

35. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Can't Let Go

36. Ryan Hurd & Maren Morris - Chasing After You

37. Elvie Shane - My Boy

38. Morgan Wade - Wilder Days

39. Laura Mvula - Church Girl

40. Leela James - Complicated

41. Elle King & Miranda Lambert - Drunk

42. Miko Marks - We Are Here

43. Lil Nas X - That’s What I Want

44. Jon Batiste -We Are

45. Hayes Carll - You Get It All

46. Natalie Hemby - Pins and Needles

47. Old Dominion - I Was On A Boat That Day

48. Chris Young & Kane Brown - Famous Friends

49. Maneskin - Beggin’

50. Coldplay/BTS - My Universe

51. War On Drugs - Living Proof

52. Taylor Swift - All Too Well

Reissues

1. Elvis Presley - Back In Nashville

2. Bruce Springsteen - Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concert

3. Choctaw Ridge: New Fables of the American South 68-73- Various (Ace)

4. Directions in Music 69-73 - Various (Ace)

5. Rockets of Love! Power Pop Gems From the 70's, 80's, 90's - Various (Ace)

6. Beach Boys - Feel Flows-Sunflower and Surf's Up Sessions 69-71

7. Beatles - Let It Be (Super Deluxe)

8. Emmylou Harris - Ramble In Music City: Lost Concert

9. Psychedelic Soul: Produced by Norman Whitfield - Various (Ace)

10. People Get Ready: Curtis Mayfield Songbook - Various (Ace)

11. Randy Travis - Storms of Life (reissue)

12. Gregory Porter - Still Rising

13. Can - Live In Stuttgart 1975

14. Alligator Records: 50 Years of - Various

15. Billy Joe Shaver & Kinky Friedman - Live Down Under

16. Jon Savage's 72-76 - Various (Ace)

17. Weeknd - Highlights

18. Band - Stage Fright (reissue)

18. Johnny Cash - Live at the Carousel Ballroom April 24, 1968

19. NOW Outlaw Country - Various

Tom's Top Albums of 2021

1. Olivia Rodrigo - Sour

2. Allison Russell - Outside Child 

3. Adele - 30

4. Yola - Stand for Myself

5. Mickey Guyton - Remember Her Name            

6. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raise the Roof

7. Arlo Parks - Collapsed in Sunbeams

8. Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall - Marfa Tapes

9. Kacey Musgraves - Star-Crossed

10. James McMurtry - Horses & the Hounds

11. Brandi Carlile - In These Silent Days

12. Miko Marks - Our Country & Race Records (EP)

13. Adia Victoria - Southern Gothic

14. Valerie June - Moon and Stars

15. Dawn Richard - Second Line

16. Sturgill Simpson - Ballad of Dood & Juanita

17. Jon Batiste - We Are

18. Aaron Lee Tasjan - Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan!

19. Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever

20. Charley Crockett - Music City USA

21. Rodney Crowell - Triage

22. Kalie Shorr - I Got Here By Accident

23. Steve Earle - JT

24. Hayes Carll - You Get It All 

25. Sons of Kemet- Black to the Future

26. Silk Sonic - An Evening With

27. Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales

28. Natalie Hemby - Pins & Needles

29. Carly Pearce - 29

30. Peter Stampfel - 20th Century In 100 Songs

31. Tom Jones - Surrounded by Time

32. Todd Snider - First Agnostic Church of Hope and Wonder

33. Jason Isbell - Georgia Blue

34. Teenage Fanclub -Endless Arcade

35. Hold Steady - Open Door Policy

36. Tune-Yards - Sketchy

37. Rhiannon Giddens/Francesco Turrisi - They're Calling Me Home

38. Halsey - If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power

39. Lil Nas X - Montero

40. Sierra Ferrell - Long Time Coming

41. Maggie Rose - Have A Seat

42. Amythyst Kiah - Wary + Strange

43. Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg

44. Margo Cilker - Pohorylle

45. Curtis Harding - If Words Were Flowers

46. Morgan Wade - Reckless

47. Liz Phair - Soberish

48. Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club

49. Mavericks - En Espanol

50. Lilly Hiatt - Lately

51. Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert

52. Lainey Wilson - Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'

53. Morgan Wade - Reckless

54. Pistol Annies - Hell Of A Holiday

55. Japanese Breakfast - Jubilee

56. Amanda Shires - For Christmas

57. Emily Scott Robinson - American Siren

58. American Aquarium -Slappers, Bangers and Certified Twangers: Volume 1 & 2

59. Christone Kingfish Ingram - 662

60. Kathleen Edwards - Total Freedom

61. Nathaniel Rateliff - Future

62. Lindsey Buckingham - s/t

63. Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Love For Sale

64. Los Lobos - Native Sons

65. Lori McKenna - Christmas Is Right Here

66. Cody Jinks - Mercy

67. Connie Smith - Cry Of The Heart

68. Courtney Barnett - Things Take Time, Take Time

69. Mike and the Moonpies - One To Grow On

70. Cleo Sol - Mother

71. Asleep at the Wheel - Half A Hundred Years

72. Caetano Veloso - Meu Coco

73. War on Drugs - I Don't Live Here Anymore

74. Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine Vol. 2 - Various

75. St. Vincent - Daddy's Home

76. Leon Bridges -Gold-Diggers Sound

77. Joan Armatrading - Consequences

78. Susannah Hoffs - Bright Lights

79. Wanda Jackson - Encore

80. Eric Church - Heart & Soul

81. Felice Brothers - Dreams to Dust

82. RaeLynn - Baytown

83. Flatlanders - Treasure of Love

84. Mandy Barnett - Nashville Songbook

85. Elvis Shane - Backslider

86. Garbage -No Gods No Masters

87. Ashley Monroe - Rosegold

88. Parquet Courts - Sympathy for Life

89. My Morning Jacket - s/t

90. Joy Crookes - Skin

91. Joshua Ray Walker - See You Next Time

92. John Hiatt & Jerry Douglas - Leftover Feelings

93. Torres - Thirstier

94. Gary Allan - Ruthless

Greatest Christmas Songs (2021 Edition)

Below is a list of some of my favorite Christmas songs. There may be multiple versions of the same song, by different artists.  

1. Bing Crosby - White Christmas
2. Nat "King" Cole - The Christmas Song
3. Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas
4. Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas
5. Judy Garland - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
6. Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock
7. Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad
8. Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
9. Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby
10. Donny Hathaway - This Christmas
11. Harry Simeone Chorale - Little Drummer Boy
12. Jimmy Durante - Frosty The Snowman
13. Vince Guaraldi Trio- Linus and Lucy
14. Burl Ives - Holly Jolly Christmas
15. Gene Autry - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
16. Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
17. Drifters - White Christmas
18. Charles Brown - Please Come Home For Christmas
19. Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
20.Ronettes - Sleigh Ride
21. Dean Martin - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
22. Bing Crosby - Silent Night
23. Elvis Presley - Silver Bells
24. Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
25. Carpenters - Merry Christmas Darling
26. Aretha Franklin - Winter Wonderland
27. Andy Williams - Happy Holidays
28. David Bowie/Bing Crosby - Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
29. Gene Autry - Here Comes Santa Claus
30. Run DMC - Christmas In Hollis
31. Roy Orbison- Pretty Paper
32. Elvis Presley - Santa Claus Is Back In Town
33. Vaughn Monroe - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
34. Darlene Love - Marshmallow World
35. Johnny Mathis - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
36. Wham - Last Christmas
37. Chuck Berry - Run Run Rudolph
38. Whitney Houston - Do You Hear What I Hear?
39. Jimmy Boyd - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.  
40. James Brown - Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto
41. Gene Autry - Here Comes Santa Claus
42. Leroy Anderson- Sleigh Ride
43. Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
44. Elvis Presley - Merry Christmas Baby
45. Luther Vandross - O Come All Ye Faithful
46. Nat "King" Cole - O Tannenbaum
47. Joni Mitchell - River
47. Perry Como - Home For The Holidays
48. Bing Crosby - I'll Be Home For Christmas
49. Elvis Presley - If I Get Home On Christmas Day
50. Stevie Wonder - Someday At Christmas  
51.  John Denver & Muppets - 12 Days of Christmas
52. Thurl Ravenscroft - You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch                                                     
53. John Lennon - Happy Xmas
54. Elton John - Step Into Christmas
55. Barry Gordon - Nuttin' For Christmas
56. Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas
57. Crystals - Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
58. Merle Haggard - If We Make It Through December
59. Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
60. Nat "King" Cole - O Little Town of Bethlehem
61. Spike Jones - All I Want For Christmas
62. Clarence Carter - Back Door Santa
63. Jackie Wilson - O Holy Night
64. Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
65. Dolly Parton - Hard Candy Christmas
66. Vanessa Williams - What Child Is This?
67. Jackie Wilson- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
68. Frank Sinatra - The First Noel
69. Barbra Streisand - Ave Maria
70. Nat "King" Cole - Hark The Herald Angels Sing
71. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here
72. Angela Lansbury and Cast - We Need A Little Christmas
73. Ray Parker Jr. - Christmas Time Is Here
74. Elvis Presley - Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)
75. Nat "King Cole" - I Saw Three Ships
76. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Deck The Halls
77. Dan Fogelberg - Same Old Lang Syne
78. Madonna - Santa Baby
79. Harry Belafonte - Mary's Boy Child
80. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
81.  Buck Owens - Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy
82. Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
83. Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
84. Aretha Franklin - Joy To The World
85. Windham Hill Artists - Carol of the Bells
86. Eagles - Please Come Home For Christmas
87. George Strait - Away in A Manger
88. Alabama - Christmas In Dixie
89. Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Jordan - Baby It's Cold Outside
90. Pretenders - 2000 Miles
91. Louis Armstrong - 'Zat You Santa Claus?
92. Johnny Mathis - My Favorite Things
93. Chipmunks - Chipmunk Song
94. Robert Earl Keen - Merry Christmas From The Family
95. Kelly Clarkson - Underneath the Tree
96. Bobby Lloyd and the Skeletons - Do You Hear What I Hear/You Really Got Me
97. Johnny Mathis - Caroling Caroling/Happy Holidays
98. Mills Brothers - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
99. Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody
100. Randy Travis - Old Time Christmas
101. Oak Ridge Boys - Thank God For Kids
102. Prince - Another Lonely Christmas
103. Kenny Loggins - Celebrate Me Home
104. Elmo & Patsy - Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
105. Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans - Bells of St. Mary
106. Mabel Scott - Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
107. Hall & Oates - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
108. Fred Waring - 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
109. Miles Davis - Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)
110. Michael Buble - Grown Up Christmas List
111.  Billy Squier - Christmas Is The Time To Say "I Love You"
112. Temptations - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
113. Jimmy Buffett - Christmas Island
114. Detroit Junior - Christmas Day
115. Weird Al Yankovic - Christmas At Ground Zero
116. Dolly Parton - Hard Candy Christmas
118. Bryan Adams - Christmas Time
119.  Alexander O'Neal - My Gift To You
120. Bing Crosby & Andrew Sisters - Mele Kalikimaka
121. Frank Sinatra - Mistletoe and Holly
122. Roches - Here We Come A Carolling
123. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton - Christmas Without You
124. Emmylou Harris - Christmas Time's A-Coming
125.  Darlene Love - All Alone At Christmas
126.  Gayla Peevey - I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas
127.  John Mellencamp - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
128.  Luciano Pavarotti - Adeste Fideles
129.  Gene Autry - Up On The Housetop                
130.  Tom Petty - Christmas All Over Again
131. Trans Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Canon
132. Nsync - Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
133. Stevie Wonder - What Christmas Means To Me 
134. Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me
135. Counting Crows - A Long December
136. Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rappin'
137. Kenny Rogers - Kids
138. Sounds of Blackness - Soul Holidays
139. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
140. Pentatonix - That's Christmas To Me
141. Kinks - Father Christmas
142. Peggy Lee - Christmas Spell
143. Andrea Bocelli - Angels We Have Heard On High
144. Faith Hill - Where Are You Christmas 
145. James Taylor - Go Tell It On The Mountain
146. John Prine - Christmas In Prison

147. Alan Jackson - Let It Be Christmas

148. Kay Starr - Man With The Bag

149. Dick Shawn - Snow Miser Song

150. Tracey Thorn - Joy

151. El DeBarge - Christmas Without You

152. Raveonettes - The Christmas Song

153. Mavis Staples - Christmas Vacation

154. Marvin Gaye - Purple Snowflakes

155. Irish Rovers - Good King Wenceslas

156. George Strait - Christmas Cookies

157. Roger Miller - Old Toy Trains

158. Bob Seger - Sock It To Me Santa

159. George Jones & Tammy Wynette - Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus

160. Ventures - Sleigh Ride

161.  Zach Schmidt - I'm Drunk Again This Christmas

162. NRBQ - Christmas Wish

163. Shirley Booth & Mickey Rooney - Year Without Santa

Claus

164. Everly Brothers -  Christmas Eve Can Kill You

165. Nick Lowe - Christmas At The Airport

166. Youngsters - Christmas In Jail

167. Taylor Swift - Christmas Tree Farm 

168. Moonglows - Hey Santa Claus

169. Jim Croce - It Doesn't Have To Be That Way

170. David Lasley - This Christmas, This Year

171.  Huey "Piano" Smith - Silent Night

172. Leona Lewis - One More Sleep

173. Sia - Snowman

174. Earth, Wind & Fire - Happy Seasons

175. Pet Shop Boys - It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas

176. Jerry Butler - Little Red Shoes

177. Clarence Reid - Winter Man

An Album/Song A Week: "If We Make It Through December" - Merle Haggard

 This 1973 Merle Haggard-penned song is much more than a Christmas tune as its main theme is a familiar one for Hag: economic hardships and its implications on the working man.  I first heard this song when it was appeared as the title track from a 1974 album. My Dad had this album and lots of other early 70's Hag albums.  But it originally came from Hag's first Christmas album in 1973. 

  "If We Make It Through December" deserves to be a much larger Christmas standard than it is.  My check on Spotify turns up plenty of Country covers, but very little in other genres.  It's a simple song, with a simple message that still resonates in 2021.  In 1973 it sure hit home with more than Country listeners (where it went to #1), but also Pop ones, where it became Haggard's only Pop Top 40 hit, peaking at #28. 

I often pick it in those polls that ask about Christmas songs that should be better known.  Give it a spin or put it on your Christmas playlist. 

2021 Uproxx Music Critics Poll

 Once again I voted in this poll along with 200 other critics.

Here's a link to my 2021 ballot:

Tom Lane's 2021 Uproxx Critics Ballot

Playlist for 12/16 (Christmas Albums)

John Fahey - Guitar Soli Christmas Album/Christmas with Vol. 2

Country Christmas Vol. 2: 16 Biggest Hits (Various)

Pistol Annies - Hell of A Holiday

Amanda Shires - For Christmas 

Norah Jones - I Dream of Christmas

Steve Perry - The Season

Ronnie Milsap - Christmas With

Rob Thomas - Something About Christmas Time

Duke Pearson - Merry Ole Soul

Lori McKenna - Christmas Is Right Here

Kelly Clarkson - When Christmas Comes Around

An Album/Song A Week: "When Will I See You Again" - Three Degrees

 If there was one thing missing from the phenomenal crossover success of Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International Records in the 70's it was the women on the label not achieving the same success as the men.  This isn't from a lack of trying.  PIR had plenty of women on their label.  But except for one exception, none of the others were able to crash the Pop chart. 

 The one exception were the Three Degrees.  1972's #1, "Me and Mrs. Jones" is often cited as the greatest Philly Soul record.  But closely behind is 1974's #2, "When Will I See You Again".  Prior to signing with PIR, the biggest success the Three Degrees had was with a #29 Pop cover of the Chantels' classic "Maybe" in 1970. 

 "When Will I See You Again" collects all the great things about a Gamble & Huff song.  It's a smooth, lush three minutes that is a perfect radio single.  This wasn't the first time the Three Degrees appeared on a big PIR single.  Earlier in 1974, they were the featured vocalists on MFSB's "TSOP (Soul Train Theme)", which went to #1 months before the release of "When Will I See You Again".

  But 1974 would be the last successful year for the Three Degrees.  Although they were often labeled as Gamble & Huff's version of the Supremes, they never came close to reaching those heights.  By 1978 they were off PIR.  And the ladies of PIR would have many R&B hits, crossing over eluded them.  But there's plenty of good records by the Three Degrees and others like Patti LaBelle, Jean Carne, Sharon Paige, Jones Girls, Dee Dee Sharp, Phyllis Hyman.  Here's a Spotify playlist that PIR made  of the Women of P.I.R.  

RIP Michael Nesmith

 In 1986, some 20 years after its first episode, MTV began airing the Monkees TV show, which ran for two seasons.(66-68). And the surprise was that the shows were a hit all over the again. Out came a newly compiled Greatest Hits album, and yet another surprise, a Top 20 hit single. Their first since 1968. But one name was nowhere to be found: Michael Nesmith.  For those who like to break these things down to personality, Nesmith was the "serious" one.  The most prolific of the Monkees.  He could, sing, write and play.  But he famously had to fight the "suits" to give the Monkees some credibility with the Rock world who only saw them as TV characters, not the band they wanted to be.

  By the early 70's Nesmith had carved his own place in the music world as one of the originators of the burgeoning Country-Rock sound.  Nesmith's sound leaned more toward the "Cosmic Country" sound of Gram Parsons than the Eagles or even Poco.  He soldiered on with this sound for most of the 70's, but got diminishing returns.  Only once, in 1970 did he have a hit single with "Joanne" reaching #21. All those 70's albums are ripe for rediscovery. He had more success with other acts covering his songs.  "Different Drum" covered by Linda Ronstadt is a classic. Eventually Nesmith got into the video music business.  One of the first music videos I ever saw was his 1979 "Cruisin'", which should have been a hit single. And that's where he kept going for most of the 80's onward.  But the Monkees always kept calling him back.  He started appearing at reunion concerts.  Their last non-Christmas studio album, Good Times in 2016, was a wonderful collection, which featured all four Monkees. 

  The Monkees played a big part in my very young life.  The TV show was one of the first I can remember watching.  My sister loved them.  You didn't have to be there in the 60's to understand their importance to Rock music history. When I put together a list of my 50 favorite songs of all time, "Daydream Believer" was on there. But the critics of the day only gave them scant respect.  You won't see a Monkees song in Dave Marsh's singles book.  The last Rolling Stone Album Guide can't even give one of their Greatest Hits albums four stars. But the hell with them.  Just go back and play their albums.  Then check out Nesmith's solo output.  It was a glorious time. 

Playlist for 12/9

Anthony Joseph - The Rich Are Only Defeated

Nathaniel Rateliff - Future

Curtis Harding - If Words Were Flowers

Kool & The Gang - Spirit of the Boogie

Gloria Gaynor - Never Can Say Goodbye

Johnny Cash - Live at the Carousel Ballroom

Emily Scott Robinson - American Siren

Ed Sheeran - (=)

Abba - Voyage

Elvie Shane - Backslider

Duran Duran - Future Past

Brian Wilson - At My Piano

Bruce Springsteen - Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concert

Beatles: Get Back (2021 Documentary)

Susannah Hoffs - Bright Lights

Playlist for 12/2

Silk Sonic - An Evening With

Rod Stewart - Once In A Blue Room

Rod Stewart - Tears of Hercules

Kurt Elling - SuperBlue

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme: Live In Seattle

Merle Travis - Songs of the Coal Mines

Ricky Nelson - Rudy the Fifth

Nathan Bell - Red, White and American Blues

Record Company - Play Loud

Beatles - Let It Be (Super Deluxe)

Lainey Wilson - Sayin' What I'm Thinkin'

Cody Jinks - Mercy

Sparks Brothers (2021 Documentary)

Chaka Khan/Stephanie Mills (Verzuz)

An Album/Song A Week: "Higher and Higher" - Jackie Wilson

 Up until 1963 Jackie Wilson had been a consistent crossover presence.  But from 1963-67 he had only 2 Top 15 hits and didn't do much better on the R&B charts.  Most of this came down to song quality.  Wilson's records just weren't as strong during his dry spell.  So "Higher and Higher" was not only a surprise hit in the Summer of '67, but a comeback for Wilson as well.  Everything I love about Jackie Wilson is here in 3 minute form.  The song takes off from the start with Motown's bass king James Jamerson kicking off the notes and from there Wilson gives a masterful vocal lesson.

  The song ended up peaking at #6 Pop (#1 R&B), and for a short time Wilson was indeed hot again.  It didn't last.  He would only chart 2 more Top 40's, and would only do slightly better on the R&B charts.  He suffered a stroke in 1975 and passed away at the young age of 49 in 1984.  His death sparked some interest in his life.  The Commodores 1985 hit, "Nightshift", paid tribute to both him and Marvin Gaye.  

  I would say to understand Jackie Wilson's true genius, check out his live performances which are all over YouTube.  Besides his remarkable voice, you will see an entertainer who truly was "Mr. Excitement".