Songs You May Have Missed #222

10 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

honeycut

Honeycut: “Shadows” (2006)

I offer this into evidence in the case of Bart Davenport vs every musical style imaginable. Bart was last heard perfectly channelling Crosby, Stills & Nash in the previous post. Here (as mentioned there) he fronts a trio that also includes drum programmer Tony Sevener and keyboardist/arranger RV Salters and trades the breezy 70’s folk rock sound for something akin to the retrosoul of Gnarls Barkley.

Exhibit B is this (low quality–sorry) video wherein Bart gets in touch with his inner Mick Jagger. This guy is about as multifaceted as anyone I can think of.

Songs You May Have Missed #221

09 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

bart

Bart Davenport: “Bar-Code Trees” (2003)

Bart Davenport was a little ahead of indie pop’s retroist curve, blending easy-going early 70’s pop sounds since 2002. “Bar-Code Trees” might make you think of CSN–a compliment indeed.

But this is just his “CSN song”. Listening to a Davenport album is a true “spot the influence” exercise as he evokes in turns Al Stewart, Van Morrison, America, Boz Scaggs, Delfonics-style Philly soul and more. He even, as vocalist of retrofunk three-piece Honeycut, nailed the Gnarls Barkley sound–although since both bands released their debuts in 2006 it’s hard to say if one influenced the other. Or vice versa.

Songs You May Have Missed #220

09 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

crush

Velvet Crush: “#10” (1994)

Velvet Crush’s second album, Teenage Symphonies to God, was named for Brian Wilson’s description of his aborted-then-resurrected Smile album. It’s an apt title, as the band shows a keen Beach Boys influence. Big Star is another name that comes to mind for comparison.

This ballad is the album’s most mellow and melodic moment.

See also: Songs You May Have Missed #673 | Every Moment Has A Song (edcyphers.com)

Songs You May Have Missed #219

09 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

sky

Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners: “Where Have They Gone” (1974)

And that reminds me of another Pittsburgh hit, this one released in 1974 and hitting its national chart peak of #100 in March of 1975. In the ‘Burgh however it was in heavy rotation that year.

Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners of course were best-known for the Doo Wop classic “Since I Don’t Have You” from back in 1959. It’s been said that Beaumont had the greatest voice of any singer in the early era of Rock ‘n Roll.

He wasn’t going for the high notes on “Where Have They Gone”, but its wistful lyric is beautifully rendered, and it’s one of my absolute favorite songs of the 70’s.

Video by Ed Cyphers

Songs You May Have Missed #218

09 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: , , ,

samantha

Cellarful of Noise: “Samantha” (1988)

Here’s a nearly forgotten song that was quite a big local hit in Pittsburgh, though it only charted nationally at #69. It was written and sung by Mark Avsec, who was a member not only of Donnie Iris’ Cruisers but also of Wild Cherry (“Play That Funky Music”).

cellarIf this one sounds like a Donnie Iris song, there’s good reason: Avsec co-wrote all of Iris’ biggest hits, including “My Girl”, “Love Is Like a Rock” and “Ah! Leah!”. His other band, Cellarful of Noise, released two albums.

“Samantha” is in my opinion the second-best pop song about an abortion, number one being ELO’s “Livin’ Thing”. (I’d rank Ben Folds’ “Brick” third, ’cause I have to–it’s the only other one I know.)

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2020/03/14/songs-you-may-have-missed-656/

Songs You May Have Missed #217

09 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: ,

muse

Muse: “Undisclosed Desires” (2009)

Weird band, Muse. Sometimes they sound like they grew up listening to ELO. Sometimes they sound exactly like U2. They definitely seem to merge a bunch of influences and don’t seem to try to hide them.

Prog websites and publications claim them for prog, but I don’t hear that at all. Some consider them one of the great bands of this era. I’m not sure I hear that either. But each of their last few releases has had at least a couple of tracks that caught my attention–like this one.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2020/01/11/songs-you-may-have-missed-645/

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