Video of the Week: RIP Donnie Iris, Pittsburgh Legend

Two things distinguished Pittsburgh legend Donnie Iris, who passed away today at 83 after battling bladder cancer.

The first was great rock pop songs, often co-written with keyboardist Mark Avsec, and distinguished by the interplay of contrapuntal vocal parts that evoked Eric Carmen’s hormone-fueled hits with the Raspberries.

And the second was the greatest scream in rock and roll.

Both hallmarks are on full display in this 1981 performance of “That’s the Way Love Ought to Be”.

Thanks to songs like “Love is Like a Rock”. “My Girl”, and of course “Ah! Leah!”, Iris, whose hit making career dated back to 1970’s “The Rapper” with the Jaggerz, was a Pittsburgh treasure.

Video of the Week: Tom Lehrer in Oslo–Full Concert from 1967

SETLIST:

Introduction

National Brotherhood Week

When You’re Old And Grey

The MLF Lullaby

Poisoning Pigeons In The Park

So long, Mom!

Pollution

The Masochism Tango

Send The Marines

Who’s Next

Wernher Von Braun

The Vatican Rag

We Will All Go Together When We Go

Video of the Week: Tom Lehrer–His Life and Legend

Songs You May Have Missed #863

Yes: “Soon” (1974)

“Soon”, an excerpt from the 22-minute “The Gates of Delirium” epic from 1974’s Relayer LP (truly Yes epitomized “long-player”) was one of the most gorgeous moments the English progsters created, despite the fact that as a single it failed to chart. This song didn’t seem to be formed from the same elements as those which occupied the Hot 100 that year, or really any other.

Like one of their Roger Dean-designed album covers, their best music evoked other worlds entirely.

Video of the Week: Carpenters Greatest Hits Medley, Live 1976

If you’ll indulge me, a few notes and opinions:

First, I know of no performer who could recreate their material live with more perfect pitch than Karen Carpenter. She is literally note perfect throughout, even when Richard’s arrangements contain slippery key changes.

As for brother Richard himself: the bandleader, producer and musician extraordinaire smoothly transitions between three different keyboards during this medley. You probably won’t even notice him doing so.

And guitarist Tony Peluso’s fuzz guitar coda on “Goodbye to Love”, which closes out the medley, might be the equal of Joe Walsh and Don Felder’s postlude on “Hotel California”. It’s a work of rare melodic composition unto itself and doesn’t get enough glory simply because it was performed on an “easy listening” act’s record.

Video of the Week: Christian Music Gets Roasted

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