Art is the music we make from the bewildered cry of being alive. ~Maria Popova
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.
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/
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.”
05 Apr 2012 1 Comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: don mclean, sittin' on top of the world
Don McLean: “Sittin’ On Top of the World” (1973)
Yeah, it’s the “American Pie” guy, doing the old folk-blues chestnut. McLean released a now-impossible-to-find covers album in 1973 called Playin’ Favorites, on which he showed the roots of his music in folk and early rock n roll.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/04/26/songs-you-may-have-missed-399/
See also: Songs You May Have Missed #702 | Every Moment Has A Song (edcyphers.com)
05 Apr 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: may the road rise, roger mcguinn
Roger McGuinn: “May the Road Rise” (1996)
McGuinn puts a melody to the old Irish blessing.
27 Mar 2012 2 Comments
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: guy forsyth, long long time
Guy Forsyth: “Long Long Time” (2005)
A cathartic four-minute rant about the loss of our innocence–and our nation’s.
Every Moment Has A Song 