Butch Walker & the Black Widows: “Synthesizers” (2011)
Butch Walker lamenting being a little out of step with the times…and deciding it’s really okay.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/05/02/songs-you-may-have-missed-405/
Songs You May Have Missed #73
09 Apr 2012 1 Comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: black widows, butch walker, butch walker & the black widows, synthesizers
Songs You May Have Missed #72
09 Apr 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: cousin norman, marmalade
Marmalade: “Cousin Norman” (1971)
England’s Marmalade were a one-hit wonder in the US (with the sublime “Reflections of My Life” in 1970) but significant hitmakers on their own side of the pond, hitting the top 40 there eleven times, including British top ten single “Cousin Norman” which has a wee bit of Van’s Tupelo Honey running through its veins.
Songs You May Have Missed #71
09 Apr 2012 1 Comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: sloan, the rest of my life
Sloan: “The Rest of My Life” (2004)
Power Pop from one of Canada’s finest.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/07/23/songs-you-may-have-missed-450/
Karl Hendricks Buys Paul’s CDs
06 Apr 2012 3 Comments
Very nice piece from Thursday’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about Karl Hendricks taking over Paul’s CDs in Bloomfield and renaming it Sound Cat Records. I’ve been a customer of the store for about twenty years myself and can’t say enough good things about Karl (or Paul, Jason and John). We need to keep stores like this one alive–in Pittsburgh or whatever city you happen to live.
Here’s a map to help you find the friendliest, coolest record and CD store in the ‘Burgh. If you’ve never been there, please check them out!
To James McCartney: Let it Be (Please)
06 Apr 2012 Leave a comment
Beatles – the Next Generation a genuine possibility, says McCartney
James McCartney reveals he has discussed possibility of forming a band with other sons of Fab Four
A Beatles reunion might be impossible, but music fans may yet get to see Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starkey on stage together, because the Beatles’ sons have mooted the idea of starting a band.
At first, it seemed like a joke. “What would you say to forming the Beatles – the Next Generation,” BBC News’ Ian Youngs asked James McCartney. But the young McCartney gave a surprisingly genuine response, revealing he had already discussed the concept “a little bit” with some of his fellow Fab Four heirs.
“I’d be up for it,” the 34-year-old said. “Sean [Lennon] seemed to be into it, Dhani [Harrison] seemed to be into it … I don’t think it’s something that Zak [Starkey] wants to do. Maybe Jason [Starkey, another drummer] would want to do it … I don’t know, you’d have to wait and see.”
Asked again if the collaboration could really happen, McCartney replied: “Yeah, hopefully … I’d be happy to do it.”
Since 2010, McCartney has released two EPs, co-produced by his father and recorded in part at Abbey Road studios. Sir Paul is “very encouraging”, James said, admitting his surname has been “a help” to his music career. “It can be difficult standing on your own two feet,” James said, “but more than anything it’s a help.”
Although many of the Beatles’ progeny are musical, their commercial fortunes have been uneven. Only Julian Lennon has scored a hit, and that was almost two decades ago. Dhani Harrison currently performs with the band thenewno2, Sean Lennon with the Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, and Zak Starkey plays drums with the Who.
(Article reprinted from The Guardian)
Songs You May Have Missed #70
05 Apr 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: I'd be so happy, three dog night
Three Dog Night: “I’d Be So Happy” (1974)
From 1969-74 Three Dog Night had a string of 18 consecutive Top 20 hits. According to singer Cory Wells, the beautiful ballad “I’d Be So Happy” was supposed to be the next single release, but a decision was made to go with “Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)” instead, which broke the remarkable streak by placing at only #33, and the band only hit the Top 40 once more before disbanding (later to reform essentially as a greatest-hits touring entity).
All but three of the band’s 1969-’75 single releases hit the Top 20, and the band enjoys the distinction of having the highest average chart peak performance among pop acts with 20 or more hits, ahead of even the Madonnas and Mariahs of the world, with an average pop placing of #12.
Chuck Negron, the lead vocalist on “I’d Be So Happy”, relates: “(Producer) Jimmy Ienner knew what I was going through, that my wife had left me and took my baby. He said, ‘Why don’t you just sing this for your daughter, and you’ll be able to show her this some day.’ It’s my daughter’s favorite song. Thank you, Jimmy.”
Every Moment Has A Song 