Songs You May Have Missed #697

18 Jun 2021 Leave a comment

by Ed Cyphers in Songs You May Have Missed Tags:

The Ditty Bops: “Sister Kate” (2004)

From their Mitchell Froom-Produced debut, “Sister Kate” showcases the eccentric sound of Amanda Barrett and Abby DeWald–a little bit vaudeville, a little bit folk, a little bit ragtime and maybe a touch of the McGarrigle Sisters.

Why artists like The Ditty Bops, They Might Be Giants and Max Raabe weren’t labeled “alternative” rather than million sellers like REM and Red Hot Chili Peppers never made sense to me.

See also: Songs You May Have Missed #279 | Every Moment Has A Song (edcyphers.com)

Songs You May Have Missed #696

18 Jun 2021 Leave a comment

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

Art Garfunkel: “Bright Eyes” (1979)

This one’s only likely to be a song you may have missed if you reside stateside.

The pop adaptation of songwriter Mike Batt’s “Bright Eyes”–rearranged from the version that appeared in the animated film Watership Down–spent six weeks at #1 in England and was that country’s biggest-selling single of 1979.

And in the US? The gorgeous Art Garfunkel-sung ballad missed the charts completely.

Both the movie and the original Richard Adams book are highly recommended.

Songs You May Have Missed #695

04 Jun 2021 Leave a comment

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

Trio Mandili: “Enguro” (2017)

When three sweet-voiced, videogenic friends from the country of Georgia uploaded a music video of their performance of a Georgian folk song and it garnered over five million views, Trio Mandili was born.

Tatuli Mgeladze, Tako Tsiklauri, and Mariam Kurasbediani–who bear such likeness to one another you’d swear they were sisters–upload new videos regularly.

Most feature the rustic countryside of their homeland as well as the girls’ three-part polyphony, accompanied by a traditional Georgian stringed instrument called a panduri.

It’s beautiful stuff–both for the eyes and ears.

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2025/05/24/video-of-the-week-trio-mandili-galoba-the-prayer/

See also: Video of the Week: Trio Mandili–Kakhuri | Every Moment Has A Song (edcyphers.com)

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2024/06/30/video-of-the-week-trio-mandili-kikile/

See also: https://edcyphers.com/2025/05/18/video-of-the-week-trio-mandili-chemi-iknebi-you-will-be-mine/

Songs You May Have Missed #694

17 May 2021 Leave a comment

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

Struts: “Mary Go Round” (2014)

The aptly-named Struts came out of the gate in 2014 with the cocksure swagger of a band who seemed to know world domination was just around the next Slade-evoking hook.

Two consistently enjoyable albums later the band has proven that while not everybody wants the Struts, their anthemic, glammy throwback rock has a place in the charts and hearts of 21st century rock fans.

“Mary Go Round”, from their debut, makes effective use of key modulation to raise the emotional ante in this affecting breakup tune.

See also: Songs You May Have Missed #591 | Every Moment Has A Song (edcyphers.com)

Songs You May Have Missed #693

21 Apr 2021 Leave a comment

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

B.J. Thomas: “Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Love” (1983)

By 1983, having bounced around from label to label and ventured into contemporary Christian music for a bit, B.J Thomas was six years removed from his last top 40 pop hit.

British New Wave dominated the pop charts and shoved many a 70’s pop star to the fringes, to oldies act status, or to the country charts. For Billy Joe Thomas, the country scene made a comfy fit. “Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Love”, his final pop chart entry at #93, was a number one country hit.

Had it been the immediate follow-up to pop #1 hit (and longest-titled song ever to top the pop charts) “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” in 1975 it may have found a wider pop audience.

Even if you were familiar with classics like “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head”, “Hooked On a Feeling”, “I Just Can’t Help Believing” and “Rock and Roll Lullaby” this is a song you may have missed.

Songs You May Have Missed #692

20 Apr 2021 Leave a comment

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

Atria: “Jazz Cigarette” (2021)

Total coincidence that we post Atria’s smoothed-out slice of electronic R&B “Jazz Cigarette” on 4/20.

Let the essence of that brass solo waft across the room as you breathe in a mellow message of social responsibility.

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