Song of the Day 11/4

Time for a little 80s cheese. In 1981, Australian singer born Richard Lewis Sprinhthorpe released his biggest hit. From his album Working Class Dog, which also gave us the Sammy Hagar penned “I’ve Done Everything for You”, General Hospital star Rick Springfield released “Jessie’s Girl”

The multi-platinum Working Class Dog won the Grammy Award for Best Album Package, while “Jessie’s Girl” won the Grammy for Best Male Rock Performance. “Jessie’s Girl” went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks. During the second of those weeks, MTV launched, the date was August 1, 1981. It was named number 20 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Songs of the 80s”

Springfield wrote the song while taking a stained glass class with his friend Gary and Gary’s girlfriend. Springfield wanted to call the song Gary’s girl, but changed it to Jessie when he saw someone with that name on the back of a softball jersey. Springfield never was introduced to Gary’s girl and says that he cannot remember her name, so the woman who inspired the song has no idea.

The music video pretty much follows the song with Springfield watching Jessie and his girlfriend from afar and wishing that she was his.

Many people think of Springfield as a one hit wonder, but that’s not the case. “I’ve Done Everything for You”, “Speak to the Sky”, “Don’t Talk to Strangers” and “Affair of the Heart” all charted with the latter two nominated for Grammys.

While some of you may remember him as Dr. Noah Drake, Springfield filmed General Hospital and toured with his band concurrently. The popularity of the show helped boost television ratings and the popularity of the show helped Springfield sell albums. It’s the circle of showbiz and Springfield was at the center for the early 80s.

Like him or not, there’s no denying the toe tapping power of the opening riff of “Jessie’s Girl”.

See ya on the “b” side.

Song of the Day 11/3

I’m a sucker for a cover song, that’s why I list the covers in my posts. I am always curious what other artists will do with a well-known tune. From Garth Brooks’ “You May Be Right”, to Volbeat’s “Only Want to Be With You”, to everything by Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies, covers are great. The best thing about a cover is that if you don’t like it, the original remains. Today’s song is a cover that has been recorded by many artists. I will make mention of some of the other versions, but focus on one.

“Always on My Mind” was originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972. Written by Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson, “Always on My Mind” has been released over 300 times. One of the most successful was Elvis’s 1972 version, recorded just weeks after he separated from Priscilla. Originally a B-side of “Separate Ways” (fitting) the song was later listed as a double sided hit.

In 1987, Pet Shop Boys, an English dance duo performed a synthesizer led version of the song for a television special on the tenth anniversary of Presley’s death. The song was so well received that the duo recorded the song, which became UK’s Christmas number one single that year.

In 1982 the song was recorded by Willie Nelson. Upon its release, the song hit number 1 on the Hot Country Singles chart and number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Nelson’s version won three Grammys, Song of the Year, Best Country Song and Best Male Country Vocal Performance. It also won several country music awards. Nelson performed the song with Johnny Cash in 1998 for the VH1 Storytellers: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson. Here’s the story you won’t find many other places: Songwriter Wayne Carson was in the studio as a session musician with Willie Nelson. Before Nelson came in, his agent spoke to the session musicians and told them “Do not try to suggest a song to Willie. We really want Willie to write most of his own songs, so just let him record what we’re here to record”. At the end of the session, Willie asked the musicians if they had anything. Reluctantly, Carson spoke up and said that he had a song that had been a hit for some other artists. The result was “Always on My Mind”. It ended up being the title track to Nelson’s 1982 album.

The song takes place either during a break-up or post break up. The singer is admitting his faults, but saying that despite the “little things [he] should have said and done” but never took the time; the subject of the song was always on his mind.

Today, let’s take the time to make sure the people, who are always on your mind, know that they are.

See ya on the “b” side

Song of the Day 11/2

Today’s song is a classic folk rock ballad released in 1968. Written by one of the “100 people who shaped the world” according to Time magazine. Paul Fredric Simon wrote “The Boxer” as the follow up to their his “Mrs. Robinson”. The song is listed at number 105 on Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest songs of all time. The song appears on Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge over Troubled Water album, which reached number one of the charts, selling over 25 million copies worldwide. The album won the Grammy for Album of the Year as well as Best Engineered Recording. The album’s title track picked up two additional Grammys.

Known for the fingerpicking by Simon and for the refrain “lie-la-lie”, which was originally intended to only be a placeholder, “The Boxer” took over 100 hours to record.

The song is a first person story about the singer’s struggles with loneliness and poverty. The final verse changes to third person about the boxer who perseveres through his hardships. In his anger he cries out “I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains”.

The song is one about standing strong in the face of adversity. Paul Simon has said that the lyrics were autobiographical and that he wrote it during a time when he was facing unfair criticism.

Bridge over Troubled Waters would be Simon and Garfunkel’s last album together as the duo split in 1970. They have reunited several times since the split, most famously for the concert in Central Park in 1981 which drew over a half-million people.

The next time you face unfair criticism (common for a comic and internet writer), think of “The Boxer”, and all of the blows he’s taken, yet “the fighter still remains” and stand strong.

See ya on the “b” side

Song of the Day 10/31

Okay, I didn’t hear this one on the way in, but this song always reminds me of Halloween. The song wouldn’t have been what it was without the video. This video is the most influential video ever, the only music video to be inducted into the National Film Registry, the most successful video of all time, selling over 9 million units. Of course, the video is Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

I was 7 when this came out and my sister was 15. She loved Jackson and would play the video constantly. Between my sister and MTV, this may be the piece of film I have seen more than any other and if you know how many times I’ve seen Clerks, that’s saying something.

There is too much to say about Thriller the album, its sales and awards. I will note that “Thriller” peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released. Upon Jackson’s death, “Thriller” re-charted and reached number 2. It stayed on the charts for three consecutive weeks.

The iconic video was directed by John Landis whose previous works had been Twilight Zone: The Movie and Trading Places. In 2009, Landis sued Jackson as did female star of the video, Ola Ray, claiming that they were owed years of royalties from the video. Jackson died less than two months later.

Rick Baker, the only person is SFX I admire nearly as much as Greg Nicotero, provided the effects on the video shoot. Baker is known for effects in such films as Star Wars IV: A New Hope, An American Werewolf in London, Men in Black and Hellboy.

I would say that “Thriller” along with Night of the Living Dead is responsible for my present day love of zombies. I am a bit of a zombie enthusiast, a quick look around my house or desk will show that. While most zombies I encounter in media today do not dance (unless they have electricity running through them, see Masters of Horror: Dance of the Dead) the zombies in the “Thriller” video performed what is possibly the most well-known choreographed sequence on film.

For me, as a child, the scariest parts of “Thriller” were the warecat that Michael turns into at the beginning and the slow zombie walk, when they are amassing for the dance, with Vincent Price’s voice over. I can still remember “Darkness falls across the land, the midnight hour is close at hand. Creatures crawl in search of blood, to terrorize your neighborhood.”

I know it’s a video and maybe not as informative as normal, but I want to keep this to a manageable length. Plus it’s Halloween, so it was either this, Alice Cooper or “The Monster Mash”.

Happy Halloween to all, I hope it’s as frightening as you want it to be.

See ya on the “b” side.

Song of the Day 10/28

On my way in this morning, I heard a song by a band that I believe is underrated. A British rock band formed in 1967 that initially began as an experimental blues band, they would, unfortunately, become known for one element of their music. Jethro Tull has sold over 60 million albums worldwide and has remained together for over forty years. Known for Ian Anderson’s vocals and flute, Jethro Tull, specifically Anderson, is credited as the man who introduces the flute into rock music and he is the only one (that I’m aware of) to use the flute as a main instrument. Don’t think that’s a big deal? Without Anderson many bands would be without the flute, such as Chicago, The Guess Who, King Crimson, The Moody Blues, Traffic, The Marshall Tucker Band (try to imagine “Can’t You See” without the flute part) and early Genesis.

The song I heard this morning was “Skating Away (On the Thin Ice of a New Day)”, but I thought that too obscure. I chose their best known work “Aqualung”, a disturbing little tune from the 1971 album of the same name. The whole album is an interesting listen with themes of religion and faith at the center of each song, but Anderson states that it is not a concept album, despite widely held belief that it is. Aqualung reached number 4 on the UK Album chart and number 7 on the Billboard Music Chart. “Aqualung” was never released as a single. The album was recorded and released in quadraphonic sound, or what is now referred to as 4.0. This means that the 4 channels are basically independent of one another. It is best listened to with the four speakers equidistant from the listener, positioned in the four corners of the listening space.

The song “Aqualung” was inspired by some photographs taken by Anderson’s wife of the homeless on the Thames Embankment. A particular individual caught their eye. A painting of the man became the album cover and the man became the basis for the song “Aqualung”.

The majority of Jethro Tull’s songs are story songs. “Aqualung” is no different. It tells the story of a dirty, homeless pedophile, not your usual rock music theme. Opening with homage to Beethoven and including a great guitar solo by Martin Barre, “Aqualung” clocks in at six and a half minutes. At the beginning of the song, the title character is watching young girls play, “with bad intent”. The next portion of the song speaks of the pain and loneliness experienced by this man. The song concludes with him “snatch[ing] [his] rattling last breaths with deep-sea-diver sounds”.

This one may not be well known to many of you, but Jethro Tull’s importance to rock music cannot be denied. Just remember Jethro Tull is not a person, it’s a band. This fact may save you from a potentially embarrassing situation someday. You’re welcome.

See ya on the “b” side.

Song of the Day 10/26

Yesterday I found out that my uncle is the new drummer for The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, who are apparently really big in areas of Europe right now. Those of you that know who The Ozark Mountain Daredevils are, I congratulate both of you. Anyway, that got me in a southern rock mood and what better way to celebrate that than by looking at a successful Texas trio that plays blues and boogie influenced southern rock. I am, of course, talking about the bearded ones, ZZ Top. I managed to find a ZZ Top song this morning on the radio, it was “Gimmie All Your Lovin’” from the 1983 album Eliminator. “Gimmie All Your Lovin’” reached number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was initially unsuccessful in the UK, but was re-released after the U.S. success and went to number 10 on the UK Singles chart.

ZZ Top formed in 1970 when Dusty Hill and Frank Beard moved to Houston and met Billy Gibbons. They released their first album in the same year, appropriately titled ZZ Top’s First Album. In 1977, the band decided to take a 90 day break from public appearances. This break extended to two years, during which time Gibbons and Hill grew their signature beards. (Strangely, the band member named Frank Beard does not have a beard).

Eliminator would spawn two top 40 singles, sell over 10 million copies and get ZZ Top on regular rotation on MTV with their videos for “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs”. The video for “Legs” won the MTV Video Music award for Best Group Video. The heavy rotation on MTV helped usher in elements considered classic ZZ Top today. The video showed the members playing at a gas station and featured the Eliminator car, a customized 1933 Ford coupe, the ZZ keychain, their “cheap sunglasses” and the three women that would feature in several ZZ Top videos.

In 1990, ZZ Top played “band at the party” in Back to the Future Part III. In 1991, the Texas House of Representatives declared ZZ Top “Official Heroes for the State of Texas”, and May 4th was declared “ZZ Top Day”. ZZ Top were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

There’s no way around the fact that most of ZZ Top’s songs are about sex in some way. Obviously, “Gimmie All Your Lovin’” is no different. There’s not much to say about the song itself. It does, however, give us a prime example of ZZ Top continuing use of synthesizers that they experimented with on their previous album.

Speaking from personal experience, ZZ Top put on an entertaining live show. It may seem gimmicky, but it just looks like three friends having fun and playing music. If you enjoy their music at all, I encourage you to check out a live show or to watch Live from Texas, their concert DVD.

ZZ Top, or “Zed Zed Top”, if you prefer, may not be the biggest album selling band, but they did break concert attendance records set by Elvis and Led Zeppelin and remain a large draw today.

The next time you’re in the mood for some blues influenced southern rock with boogie beats that’s heavily laced with sexual innuendo, there’s only one band you can trust, “That Little Ol’ Band from Texas” and they’ll be there with their beards, cars, spinning guitars and songs about things you can only imagine.

See ya on the “b” side.

Song of the Day 10/25

In honor of their album released yesterday, today’s song is the catchy, pop/rock single from British band Coldplay, “Viva la Vida”. It is, sort of, the title track from the 2008 album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, produced by super-producer Brian Eno. The album won the Grammy for Best Rock Album and was nominated for album of the year. The album has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

Coldplay formed in 1996 and their early releases are little known. It wasn’t until 2000 when Coldplay released Parachutes, containing the single “Yellow” that Coldplay became famous. Since that time, Coldplay have released six albums, collected six Brit Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, seven Grammys from twenty nominations and have sold over 50 million records. “Viva la Vida” is Coldplay’s highest charting single, reaching number one on both the UK Singles Chart and Billboard’s Hot 100. The song was only the sixth song in history to sell over 4 million paid downloads.

The song is about a king that is watching his kingdom slip away. He is lamenting his former glory and wondering where his once-great power has gone. The song is filled with biblical references, for example, “And I discovered that my castles stand/Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand”, is from Matthew 7 “…the foolish man who built his house on sand”, and from the story of Lot in Genesis. There are a lot of interpretations of the song’s meaning. Some believe it is about Jesus, others about Roman emperors. Some even believe it is about the French revolution. My take on the song is that no matter how much power we wield all of our choices count. One thing I have learned in my limited travels is that we are all two or three bad decisions away from the homeless we pass on the street. I will post the full lyrics at the end so that you can come up with your own interpretation.

Coldplay is very protective of how their music is used in the media. Mr. Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin, has said that the band wouldn’t be able to live with themselves if they sold the songs’ meanings for commercials. One exception is the use of “Viva la Vida” in an iTunes commercial. Coldplay viewed this more as a promotional partnership.

One thing I find fascinating about this band is their activism. Coldplay supports Amnesty International; Martin is a spokesperson for Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair. Coldplay are known for giving 10% of their profits to charity and ask that any gifts meant for the band be donated to charity. Coldplay supports Meat Free Monday, Paul McCartney’s initiative to help slow climate change. They have also auctioned a large quantity of memorabilia (including their first guitars…ouch) for Kids Company, a London organization. Coldplay has also performed at many charity events, including the Hope for Haiti Now event.

Love them or hate them, Coldplay is one of the biggest musical acts around and if nothing else, appreciate that they use their time and money for some good causes.

See ya on the “b” side.

J.C.

As promised, the lyrics to “Viva la Vida”
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can’t explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn’t believe what I’d become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Song of the Day 10/24

It’s Monday and it usually takes me a couple of hours to become acclimated to a Monday. Monday is the fresh beginning of a new week, full of possibilities. Monday is also the end of the weekend and for most, the start of the work week. Today’s song has a similar duality. From the always theatrical Chicago progressive rock band, Styx comes their 1977 release “Come Sail Away”.

From the band’s seventh album The Grand Illusion, “Come Sail Away” reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. The Grand Illusion was certified platinum the following year and went on to achieve triple platinum status. The album includes the singles “The Grand Illusion”, “Fooling Yourself” (if you want to know what that one’s about, ask me in person), and “Miss America”.

The Grand Illusion marked one of many changes in the band’s direction because of singer Dennis DeYoung’s movement toward musical theater and Tommy Shaw and James Young’s desire to play more guitar heavy rock. This tension resulted in DeYoung being fired from the band on multiple occasions.

Styx released a few concept albums, most notably Killroy Was Here, a rock opera released in 1983, set in a future where rock music is illegal. DeYoung plays the part of Killroy, an imprisoned rock star. Tommy Shaw plays Jonathan Change, a rocker fighting for Killroy’s freedom. For people who have never heard the album, this explains the line at the end of Styx’s hit “Mister Roboto” where DeYoung exclaims the secret he’s dying to tell, “I’m Killroy”.

“Come Sail Away” begins with a ballad feel about setting your own course and freeing yourself from the things that hold you back. At the end of this section, DeYoung talks about how, even though they live happily ever after, they missed something, “our pot of gold”. I believe this is reflection on the path that he’s chosen. Then the song gets a little strange. “A gathering of angels” appears above his head and fills him with hope, but he learns that they are not angels as they invite him aboard their starship… strange lyrics aside, the angels or aliens are a metaphor for chasing your dreams no matter how strange it might look to someone else. DeYoung has said that the song was a way to help him deal with depression.

I have to mention that there are a few covers of this song. Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies, a punk cover act, released a cover in 2004. Trey Parker as Eric Cartman released a cover in 1998 and there is a legend of a video of an incredibly inebriated Katie and J.C. Fralick singing a portion of the song into a camera while at a dueling piano bar in Walt Disney World (I’m sure it would surface if I ever ran for public office).

I have found that there is often not a lot of middle ground with regard to Styx. Most people either love them or hate them. I think they were a great band whose many directions helped broaden their audience and possibly held them back from superstardom in any one area. It was certainly responsible for their many break-ups.

I always find that I can escape into “Come Sail Away” to help a Monday pass. What’s your favorite escape song?

See ya on the “b” side

Song of the Day 10/21

Today’s song is a karaoke favorite and I shudder to think about how many times I’ve heard this song butchered by a group of drunk women who believed they sound REALLY good. Released in 1981 from the album Escape, Bay area staple Journey brings us “Don’t Stop Believin’”. The song reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK, despite the song not being re-released, it re-entered the Singles Chart in 2009 because of increased digital downloads making it the 9th longest running song on the UK singles chart, ever. The song is also the top selling catalog track in i-Tunes history with nearly 5 million digital units sold.

Allmusic – a service media guide, calls Journey “one of America’s most loved (and sometimes hated) commercial rock/pop bands” and says of “Don’t Stop Belevin’” that it features one of the best opening keyboard riffs in rock.

Journey originally formed as a back-up band for San Francisco artists. The original line up of Journey, then called the Golden Gate Rhythm Section, included former members of Santana, Fruminous Bandersnatch, and The Tubes. After poor album sales, the band decided on a new direction. They hired Robert Fleischman and the other members took singing lessons in an attempt to add harmonies to Fleischman’s vocals. With Fleischman, the group wrote “Wheel in the Sky” but it was not well received.

Journey is perhaps known for the instantly recognizable vocals of Steve Perry who joined the band in 1977. The addition of Perry moved the group firmly into the pop genre and gave the band their first hits with “Lights” and the recording of the previously mentioned “Wheel in the Sky”.

Journey tried to capitalize on their success by licensing their likeness to Bally/Midway for Journey the arcade game and recording beer commercials. Critics, well… criticized the band’s decisions, but it did not stop Journey from being one of the best-selling bands of the early 80s.

Recent uses of “Don’t Stop Belevin’” have kept the track relevant in popular culture. The song has been featured in Family Guy, Scrubs, the Rock Band video game, the 80s musical show Rock of Ages (which originally featured Chris Hardwick, my pseudo-boss and comedy hero, as Stacee Jaxx in the original LA cast), as well as the controversial use in The Sopranos finale. The song has been covered by The Chipmunks and the cast of Glee. The Glee version charted higher than the original, but it still trails the original by millions in overall sales.

The song is about two young people who want to get away from their current lives. Both are ready to give up, but the singer urges them not to stop believing. It is an anthem for those that feel that they are stuck in the mundane or “living just find emotion”. The song structure is a bit different. Most songs have a chorus that is repeated several times, but “Don’t Stop Belevin’” has its chorus as well as the first mention of the title at the end of the song. The chord structure has a pop-punk progression or I-V-vi-IV structure.

While Steve Perry has left the band, his successors, Steve Augeri and Arnel Pineda, hired from a YouTube video, have maintained that distinctive Journey sound.

Sing it loud, just make sure it’s in your car and not at the bar.

See ya on the “b” side

Song of the Day 10/20

Today’s song is among the best of Motown. Written and produced by the famed Holland-Dozier-Holland team and released in 1966, “Reach Out I’ll Be There” was one of The Four Tops biggest singles. The song went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Rolling Stone calls the song the 206th greatest song of all time.

The Four Tops formed in Detroit, Michigan as The Four Aims. Band members Levi Stubbs (cousin of Jackie Wilson), Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renalso “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton performed together from 1953 until 1997 with no line-up changes. The first change to the members of The Four Tops happened in 1997 when Lawrence Payton died. After a short stint as a three piece, Payton was replaced by Theo Peoples, a former member of The Temptations. Although The Four Tops are still performing under that name, Fakir is the only surviving original member.

Early in their tenure at Motown, The Four Tops recorded jazz standards. Between records, they sang back up for groups like The Supremes and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. The Four Tops first hit came from a complete instrumental track that Motown’s songwriting team wasn’t sure what to do with, so they created “Baby I Need Your Loving” from the track and The Four Tops recorded it in 1964.

One of the biggest things to distinguish The Four Tops from other similar bands was that their lead singer, Stubbs, was a baritone, unlike most tenor-range lead singers of the time. Holland-Dozier-Holland decided to write the music in the tenor range so that Stubbs’s voice would sound somewhat strained. They believed this would give the singing a sense of urgency and an almost gospel quality to it.

The song has been covered by many, including British singer Jackie Trent, Diana Ross, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Bolton, Michael McDonald, Boyz II Men, Meat Puppets, Richie Kotzen, Bill Cosby recorded a comedic take on the song, Michael Jackson alludes to the song in The Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” and Elton John’s “Healing Hands” was directly inspired by the song.

The song is a man telling a woman that anytime she needs something, no matter how bad things get, she can always reach out to him and he will be there. The structure is fairly complex for the time, shifting from major to minor to minor augmented chords during the hook, as opposed to the major, major, minor structure of most songs at the time. (You’re welcome, musically inclined readers).

The Four Tops had a string of hits during their time with Motown, but it is “Reach Out I’ll Be There” along with “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” that have become the songs with which they are most associated.

The next time you’re in a Motown mood, reach out…The Four Tops will be there.

See ya on the “b” side.