Songs You May Have Missed #218

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

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/

Songs You May Have Missed #216

house band

The House Band: “Tom Hark” (1994)

Formed in Edinburgh in 1984, The House Band had a nice little run that lasted until 2001 and saw them tour Britain, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the United States playing a diverse selection of British folk, Cajun, Celtic, and even jazz and reggae music.

“Tom Hark” is extracted from a longer medley (“Tom Hark/African Marketplace”) which, microcosmically, clashed styles together–in this case Irish and Mideastern sounds. I’ve extracted the Irish-sounding bit. It’s a song that stood out for me when I saw them live back in the 1990’s, and sent me to the merch table to buy their Another Setting album.

Songs You May Have Missed #215

radio

Pat Donohue: “Sushi-Yucki” (2004)

Minnesota’s Pat Donohue isn’t just one of the finest finger-picking guitarists on the planet. His sense of humor and songwriting are just as impressive. As this song demonstrates, Donohue is a master of internal rhyme.

For many years Pat’s been the house guitarist for public radio’s A Prairie Home Companion. He blends folk, blues and jazz into an acoustic mix that fits perfectly on public radio, but he does it so well he really deserves a much wider audience.

“Sushi-Yucki” is hilarious even if you don’t get how clever a parody it is of Kyu Sakamoto’s 1963 #1 hit “Sukiyaki”.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/02/02/songs-you-may-have-missed-317/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/08/21/songs-you-may-have-missed-466/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2026/01/11/recommended-albums-105/

Songs You May Have Missed #214

jones

Rickie Lee Jones: “Ghetto of My Mind” (1989)

 

Ten years on from her 1979 debut, the hype had subsided after “Chuck E.’s in Love” had no follow-up hit. But Rickie Lee Jones quietly put out one of the best albums of her career, Flying Cowboys, produced by Steely Dan’s Walter Becker.

I think the percussion is particularly tasty in this one. Also listen at 5:20 for Jones’ playful: “Oh no, look what you did…hey mister could we have our ball back?”

Songs You May Have Missed #213

borrowers

The Borrowers: “Jaswant’s Rain” (1996)

A cutout bin band that seemed to have the talent to make it but didn’t. You’ll hear in this song the sound of a bunch of 90’s bands that did though.

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