5 "Weekend" songs

Well, we made to the weekend. However you're gonna spend it, Enjoy....

Here are 5 "Weekend" songs.

Original vs Cover: "Jealous Guy"- John Lennon or Roxy Music?

"Jealous Guy" originated as a Lennon demo in 1968; a song inspired by the Beatles trip to India:

                                                

                              " Child of Nature"

Never one to waste a good melody, John re-wrote it as "Jealous Guy" for the "Imagine" album.

Original vs. Cover: "When You Were Mine"- Prince or Mitch Ryder?

"When You Were Mine" is a cool, sparse little powerpop-esque song from Prince's "Dirty Mind" album.

 In 1983 two different artist, Mitch Ryder and Cyndi Lauper, covered it.

Original vs Cover: "Just my Imagination" Temptations or Stones?

Starting a new little feature. "Original" vs. "Cover". 
which is better?

This is one to get! Paul McCartney's "Ram" to be reissued

Very happy to see Paul McCartney's "Ram" getting the deluxe reissue treatment. 

I think it is my favorite solo album of his (well it is credited to Paul & Linda McCartney).

the info from Paul's site:
http://www.paulmccartney.com press release

Artist Spotlight: The Posies

Out of the Seattle area, but never really a part of the Grunge movement, the Posies were more influenced by the combination of  70's power pop and early 80's alt rock.  

I've always felt they've played down their pop writing skills. Almost like they would try to skew away from being too pop. They probably could have been bigger if they would have played to their strengths as pop writers but maybe they didn't want to be the Gin Blossoms (who I think are great). 

 
They went on to do a nice job filling in as members of the reunited Big Star.

5 great power pop songs (vol. 1)

It has been said that Pete Townshend coined the phrase "Power Pop" to describe the Who's sound in the early days. 

If you listen to tracks like "I Can't Explain" and "So Sad About Us" I think that is accurate. You could certainly include some Beatles stuff in the genre as well.

In the 70's The Raspberries , Big Star, and Cheap Trick optimized the sound.

10 more cool Beatles covers. (vol. 3)

I love it when I hear a song from an old band that I have never heard and like it. 

Today on Sirius I heard Journey covering the Beatles 

"It's All Too Much". 

It inspired me to post more great Beatle covers...

"Producer Spotlight" George Martin

Ok, even casual music fans probably know that George Martin was the producer for arguably  the greatest group of all-time, The Beatles.

"In the Heartland Tonight": The Michael Stanley Band: Unsung heroes of rock n Roll

"And this nine to five is just killing time 

And hour by hour trying not to lose my mind

 I know from time to time girl I lose my way 

So I just had to call you From the heartland tonight" 
-from "Rock Me Easy"-the Michael Stanley Band 1986


These lyrics kind of sum up what the Michael Stanley Band were about. Working hard, living in the "heartland", and trying to find some love as a refuge from the daily grind. 
The music wasn't really about changing "the" world, it was more about changing "your" world.

"We were cool on craze…” The night we “Wang Chunged” -May 1984

Anytime I get together with my old friend "Whitey", we tend talk about old times and have some laughs. It’s only natural. Dave (his first name) and I had been out of touch for 9 years before we reconnected just over a year ago. It happens..A lot has changed for him . He’s a husband, a Dad and a business owner. So we don't have as much in common anymore, but I’m really glad for the way things have turned out for him.

We recently went to the Van Halen concert together so it’s natural that we would reflect on other shows we went to together. 

Song Spotlight- "Between a Laugh and A Tear" John Mellencamp w/ Rickie Lee Jones

I always thought this was a good album track that kinda got buried on the "Scarecrow" album
  

 It's somewhat of a duet with folkie/jazzy singer Rickie Lee Jones. 

I always thought the lyrics were really good .
The lyric that comes to mind a lot for me is

"I know there's a balance, I see it when I swing past..."

10 "Friendly" songs

Friends. no not the sitcom... 

The most important people in your life besides your family. Sometimes you are closer to them then some of your family members. Ya need friends in this world. 

Some friendships are based on basic things: a common workplace, a love of sports or music,etc. Some go deeper...

 





Sometimes it's not a word you like.  Someone you are interested in romantically may tell you they just want to be "friends". Or someone may breakup with you and say they "still want to be friends"

Friendships often need to be maintained to last. Social networking has become a great way to keep in touch with friends. 

Regardless, here are 10 "Friend" songs....

Producer/engineer spotlight-Rhett Davies

Today I want to spotlight Producer/Engineer Rhett Davies. Probably best known for his work with Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry. Most of his productions feature a lush, esoteric sound to them. He does great recordings. The records have a sophisticated feel to them. Featured below are some examples of his work.

Van Halen - Wells Fargo Center 3-5-12 Phila, Pa.

Well, as they sing in their new song “China Town”, “It’s all happening downtown” and in Philly last night it was. The Van Halen show was the place to be.  I was lucky enough to secure 8th row floor seats during the presale. 
It was a chance for us 40-somethings (and 50-somethings) to let loose and remember our youth. The sound of Van Halen is eternal summer, blasting music from a Camaro at a parking lot party....
 

                               

10 Steely Dan covers

Most Steely Dan songs aren't easy to play.

 Here are some interesting covers. 

I couldn't find Better Than Ezra's version of "Dirty Work" or Pat Travers version of "Black Friday", two other good ones. 

The Farrelly Brothers must be Steely Dan Fans as they had a number of artists cover Steely Dan songs for their movie "Me Myself and Irene"

Certainly not one of their jazzier songs. I've only discovered this one in the past year. One of their best

Ben Folds Five "Barrytown"

 

  Tommy Shaw from Styx and Jack Blades from Night Ranger put out a great cd of covers in 2007

                                                  Here's "Dirty Work"

                                   




Brian Setzer might seem unlikely to cover Steely Dan, but this one works

                                                        "Bodhisttva"

       
                 





 Local Baltimore band ,Hectic Red, do a great job covering SD.

                                                           "Pretzel Logic"

Another one from "Me Myself and Irene" soundtrack

                                                Wilco "Any Major Dude will tell You"

I must admit ,I don't know this one, but Joe Jackson covering Steely Dan makes sense to me

                                               "King of the World"

Here's a weird one. Apparently this band covered the entire "Aja" album! Quite a different take on it...

                                                 The Darcys "Peg"

                                     


     Here's one you have to stream, 
Butch Walker & Marvelous 3 "Reelin in the Years"
                           Marvelous 3 -Reelin in the Years


         If you are in the Baltimore/DC/Annapolis area, this tribute band plays around

                                            Technicolor Motor home "My Old School"

                 
     http://www.technicolormotorhome.com/Home.html


                            another one from Technicolor Motor Home


                                           "Don't take me Alive"

        

The guys will be playing live in Annapolis on May 25th:

                   Rams Head Live Tickets

                         

Happy 50th to Jon - a little respect for Bon Jovi

I know I'm a day late, Jon Bon Jovi turned 50 yesterday! man, we are getting old. So here's a bit of a backhanded tribute. lol

                      

 Now I am no expert on Bon Jovi and cannot claim to big a big fan. There are some of his albums I could not name you one song but I was surprised how many of their songs I do like. Thinking about it, while I would never call them "innovative" or "original", I would rather see Bon Jovi in concert than, say, Pearl Jam or Green day. 

"Have a Nice Day" is the album I liked best by them. 

My friend Greg once won a contest and took a couple of us to see them in concert and meet them before the show. I kinda of wish I had saved my signed ticket to sell on Ebay!


I know "Bon Jovi" is a household name, but pre-1986 they were no more famous than their contemporaries like Dokken, Ratt, Honeymoon Suite.


Long before the days where you could record an album on your laptop, John Bongiovi had an advantage. His cousin Tony ran the noted NYC studio "The Power Station" (yup that's where that group got their name...). He got John a job there being a gofer, sweeping up etc. John was able to record demos a night. "Runaway" features great session men like Roy Bittan, Tim Pierce and Frankie La Rocka. It got local airplay and John Bongiovi became "Jon Bon Jovi" and got a deal....


                                                   "Runaway"

                   The music was pleasant 80's AOR (album oriented rock)  in the same vein as the April Wine's, Billy Squier's, Foreigner's of the world.

I know Jon now tries to act like his influences are all Bruce and Southside Johnny types, but this is revisionism. He was all hair spray an spandex for a looong time.

                 

         I barely remember their 2nd album coming out . I was working at a record store at the time and remember thinking the single "In and Out of Love" was lame crap that dirtbags that reeked of cigarettes made out to. 
I'd be surprised if our store even sold 10 copies but Billboard says it went Gold!

  Long before Poison was cranking out power ballads Bon Jovi was doing it...

                                                       "Silent Night"

             
   Here's one were the band tries to "act" They must cringe. But musically, it wasn't bad 80's AOR

                                                              "Only Lonely"

             
 So what changed in 1986 to shoot them to stardom? 
Well Jon Bon Jovi really liked the album "The Big Prize" by Canadian AOR band Honeymoon Suite. The album didn't do much here (if you like 80's AOR, it is very good, probably better that "Slippery"). 
It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, who had worked with Loverboy,  Prism, and Blue Oyster Cult as well. So Bon Jovi enlisted Fairbairn and engineer Bob Rock (who went on to big success with Motley Crue, Metallica, and the Cult) The record company also brought in an outside writer, a "song doctor" if you will, Desmond Child. Child helped them craft "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin on a Prayer" into the big hits... and the rest is history. 
This album probably saved their career.  

Again, Jon is a revisionist. Their image was as  often stupid and immature as bands like Motley Crue.

Original cover for the album:

                                                      
 
The album is a fun representation of 80's hair metal/rock. 
You put on "You give love a bad name" in a bar a everyone from the sheet-metal worker, to the housewife, to the yuppie are signing along.


      maybe Jon really was kinda the Hair Metal Springsteen. This one had the good "everyman" feel to it..

                                                "Without Love"

  
                 
                                                    a spandex "Glory Days"? kinda

                                                       "Wild in the Streets"

  

 I wasn't a fan of songs that came next like "Bad Medicine" , but I thought Jon turned a corner when he went solo for "Young Guns Soundtrack". He asked Danny Kortchmar to produce. Danny worked with James Taylor Jackson Browne and Don Henley. 
He was no hard rock producer. Jon also brought in  Jeff Beck, Aldo Nova, and long before he was on "American Idol" calling everyone "dawg", Randy Jackson, to play on the album

                                                                 "Miracle"

                 


                                                 "Bang a Drum"
 

 

The band reconvened in 1993.

 Jon got the "haircut heard 'round the world"

Still a bit corny and overwrought, they were still a success

  "In These Arms"

   

        A funny thing happened, they got better the longer they lasted! I think the chorus to "It's my Life" is great. Might be their best song.

                                           "It's my Life"

     
  they even channeled  Bowie, Mott, T-Rex for
                      
                             "Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen"

        


 I think "Have a Nice Day "  is their best album. I give them credit for changing their sound to adapt to the times.  You can definitely hear the influence touring with a newer band like SR-71 had on them.
They teamed up with John Shanks who was and is one of the hottest producers in music. Smart move. Shanks is great at getting good tones.

                                        

 They branched out further into "new country" territory with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland.

                                        "Who Says You Can't go home"
 

   

     
                                         

                            "Last Man Standing"

                     
        this one really has that punky power pop sound. I think it's a good one

                                                            "Last Cigarette"

                                           
             
      more good power pop. I think this is my favorite by them

                                                          "Novocaine"

                  

 more in that vein


                                           "Story of My Life"

                        

I haven't heard too much of their stuff since then. The went more in the "new country" direction with "Lost Highway" A lot of it all sounds the same? Not bad, but nothing that brings me back...but they aren't offensive. 

The only cringe moments when they try to come off as hip or sincere." Bon Jovi" is a business man, an image , a brand.
 That is not a criticism. They are supposed to be "light" fun rock n roll. 
Missteps are when they and cover songs like "Rockin in the Free World", "I Don't like Mondays", Little Steven's "I am Patriot", and the ubiquitous "Hallelujah" (although Leonard Cohen said he really likes their version!) 
Sincerity doesn't fit ya guys. Leave it to Bruce, Jackson Browne, Neil Young and the like.


I was surprised that Bon Jovi is not in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame yet. I think their is something to be said for longevity, reinventing yourself and selling a hell of a lot of records! 
I do think bands that came before them like Bad Company, Foreigner, Journey, Styx, etc. should get a shot at getting in first...

I recently heard the Director of the Rock Roll Hall of Fame say the number one factor weighed when electing someone to the RRHOF is "influence". Bon Jovi is more of a "product of their influences" rather than being an influence. Time will tell....


Til then don't be ashamed to turn it up sing along with Bon Jovi ......

10 great musical guest appearances by Fleetwood Mac members.

There was a time when Fleetwood Mac was the biggest band in the world;. 1977-78.
 They were in demand. They took some time to help out various friends with their albums and it usually resulted in a hit.

   












 



 One of Lindsey Buckingham's favorite groups growing up was the folk group the Kingston Trio.
Lindsey became friends with the late John Stewart from the band and helped produce and arrange his comeback album "Bombs Away Dreams Babies".
 Stewart had a Top Ten hit with "Gold". Stevie and Lindsey helped out greatly on it.
 Stevie's harmonies really helped sell the song
                                                                          "Gold" 

                                   :
   

Stevie and Lindsey also helped make "Midnight Wind" a minor hit for John.
Stevie really sings her butt off! FMac would go more in this musical direction on their next album "Tusk" Reminds me of the song "Sisters of the Moon" from "Tusk"

                                                             "Midnight Wind"

                                        
             


 I've never a been a big Kenny Loggins fan. Just never really "Rock" enough for me... Even though the lyric is dumb, Stevie adds a sweet charm and sensuality to this one .
 Like all the best women, Stevie always had  that subtle sensuality rather than blatant "sexpot" vibe to her.

                                                     "Whenever I Call You Friend"

                                                

     

  Walter Egan is another that benefited from his friendship with the Fleetwood Mac crew
His "Magnet and Steel" that featured Stevie and Lindsey was a big hit!

                                            "Magnet and Steel"

 




  Bob Welch was in Fleetwood Mac before Stevie and Lindsey. This song is a remake of a song he did with Fleetwood Mac. The remake became a Top 40 hit and features Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood . Lindsey and Christine also produced the song. Too bad the video is terrible!
                                                    

                                                         "Sentimental Lady"

                            
              




 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers helped Stevie Nicks to solo stardom by giving her and recording "Stop Draggin My Heart Around" with her. This one went on Tom's "Hard Promises" album that same year.

                                                           "Insider"

             



Though they did not appear on the album version, Stevie and Mick Fleetwood turned up at the California Jam 2 in 1978  to help Bob Welch out. Plus Stevie looks really cute here. lol

                                                         "Ebony Eyes" 

                  




 Here's a good one from Todd Sharp. Who is Todd Sharp? Funny you should ask.
His 1986 MCA album was called "Who Am I?". He started off playing in Hall & Oates band at a young age. He went on to play on Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie's solo albums (he co-wrote a lot of Christine's album)
 I always thought he would have been the perfect choice to be one of Lindsey's replacements in 1987 when he left the band.
 Todd is a good writer,singer and guitarist. He was already friends with the band , but for some reason FM went with Rick Vito instead; a good guitarist but not much of a writer or singer.
Todd went on to play in Rod Stewart's band for a while and then moved on to playing with Delbert McClinton. He is definitely one of my "unsung heroes" of rock n roll. Plus his name is Todd! ha

Here is a duet with Christine McVie from his album

                                                     "We Were Lonely"

Billy Burnette was another friend of Fleetwood Mac who played on Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie's solo albums. He was asked to join Fleetwood Mac in 1987 when Lindsey Buckingham left. He stayed with them until 1995.Billy went on to play with John Fogerty.

 Here Christine McVie returns the favor on his 1985 solo album, singing " "We Ain't Over" with him.
                                            
                                              "We Ain't Over"

                          


 Here Lindsey helps John Stewart out live in 1981. Even wearing a shirt like the Kingston Trio used to wear! John tells a good story of how he became aware of Lindsey and introduces him by saying "I love him like a brother.."

                                           "The Spinnin of the World"