wjd8260 blog on Absolute Radio

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - JARS OF CLAY

wjd8260 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:41:53 +0000

Well, VIPs...it's Monday morning - again. That means it's time to fire up your engines and hit the week head-on and hope that it's over before you know it.

On to today's Obscure Song of the Day....

Jars of Clay were the breakout band of the so-called alternative CCM movement of the '90s, scoring an enormous mainstream hit with their debut single, "Flood." The group's lyrics may have been exclusively Christian, but their mostly acoustic music fit perfectly into the folky jangle pop wing of alternative rock radio, at the time a rarity on the contemporary Christian music scene. Not only did their success set the stage for breakthroughs by Christian bands like dc Talk and Sixpence None the Richer, but it's also difficult to imagine the later popularity of heavier, Christian-themed hard rockers like Creed and P.O.D. without Jars of Clay having established the viability of fusing spiritual themes with mainstream alternative rock sounds. As popular tastes shifted, Jars of Clay found it increasingly difficult to maintain their secular audience, but still commanded a sizable following among Christian youth and remained one of the highest-profile groups in any gospel-music subgenre.

Jars of Clay were formed at Illinois' Greenville College in 1993. They chose a name for the band from a verse in the second book of Corinthians, which emphasized the frailty of the physical vessels in which God had placed the human spirit. Encouraged by the response to their small repertoire of originals, the band entered a talent competition run by the Gospel Music Association in 1994. Chosen as finalists on the strength of their demo tape, the band traveled to Nashville to perform for industry executives, and wound up winning the contest. They returned to Greenville and began selling a self-released demo CD called "Frail", and record companies were soon calling the group's dorm hoping to sign them. With such intense interest, the band decided to leave school and relocate to Nashville permanently.

After considering several offers, Jars of Clay signed with the smaller Essential label, which nonetheless had ample distribution power through its parent company Brentwood's arrangement with the secular label Silvertone. One of those songs was "Flood," which became a runaway hit on Christian radio when the album was released in the spring of 1995. When "Flood" began to catch on with secular stations (particularly in the US Northwest), Silvertone threw its full promotional muscle behind the album, and by early 1996, the song was a major crossover hit on mainstream rock radio, modern rock radio, and the pop charts (its peak of #37 on the latter makes it one of many '90s-era hits whose release formats affected its chart eligibility, thus obscuring how massively popular it really was). "Flood" helped push sales of "Jars of Clay" past the double-platinum mark, a stunning showing for a Christian group.

Some secular listeners and radio programmers hadn't realized that Jars of Clay were a Christian band, and there was something of a backlash when that fact became more widely publicized. What was more, they were criticized in some Christian quarters for touring with secular alternative rock bands during 1996.

The band has continued to record through 2008 but has never again reached the type of mainstream success they had with early releases.

Here, from their 1995 debut self-titled album, is Jars of Clay with their hit "Flood"....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=grJR-7FkoWc

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - AL STEWART

wjd8260 — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:45:10 +0000

A very good morning and happy Sunday to one and all. Tis a day to relax. With the holidays quickly approaching, there just aren't enough days to simply lay back, put your feet up, and sip away at a soothing, steaming cuppa before venturing out into the throngs of shoppers.

And with it being Sunday, today's Obscure Song of the Day is one guaranteed to put your mind at peace, if even only for a short while.

Today's Obscure Song of the Day, "Year of the Cat" by Al Stewart, is simply one of the greatest songs I have ever heard.

From its outset, the song's easy-flowing, piano led rhythms draw you in, almost hypnotically. The solos - piano, guitar, sax - all masterfully done. Add to that Stewart's hushed, calming vocal and you can't help but be captivated. Then, to top it all off, there are the lavish lyrics that arouse so many indelible images.

"Year of the Cat" is a classic among classics that will endure for many, many years. It always has been and always will be one of my most cherished and favourite songs. They truly don't write them like this anymore.

Without further tarry, here is the great Al Stewart with his 1976 hit "Year of the Cat"....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7l1QxFRLrG8

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - LEE MICHAELS

wjd8260 — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:29:22 +0000

Greetings and happy Saturday everyone!! The weekend is upon us so eat, drink, and make merry!!

On to today's Obscure Song of the Day....

Lee Michaels began his career with The Sentinals, a San Luis-based surf group which included Merrell Fankhauser and drummer Johny Barbata (later of The Turtles, Jefferson Airplane, and Jefferson Starship). Michaels joined Barbata in the Strangers, a group led by Joel Scott Hill, before moving to San Francisco.

In 1967, he signed a contract with A&M Records, releasing his debut, "Carnival Of Life", later that year.

Michaels' choice of the Hammond organ as his primary instrument was unusual for the time, as was his bare-bones stage and studio accompaniment, which was usually just a single drummer, most often a musician known as "Frosty" (Bartholomew Eugene Smith-Frost) or with Joel Larson of The Grass Roots.This unorthodox approach attracted a following in San Francisco, and some critical notice, but Michaels did not achieve real commercial success until the release of his fifth album called "Fifth", which produced a surprise US Top 10 hit (#6 in the fall of 1971), "Do You Know What I Mean," and a Top 40 follow-up, a cover version of the Motown standard, "Can I Get A Witness".

Lee Michaels recorded two more albums for A&M before signing a contract with Columbia Records in 1973. His Columbia recordings failed to generate much interest, and Michaels went into semi-retirement from the music business by the end of the decade.

He currently owns a chain of restaurants, named Killer Shrimp, around Southern California. Apparently, after a trip to New Orleans, Michaels invented a dish that his friends liked enough to urge him to open a restaurant.

To the music world, Lee Michaels will always be remembered best for his #6 hit in 1971, "Do You Know What I Mean"....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fymw5ie9Zd4

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - MURRAY HEAD

wjd8260 — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:52:48 +0000

Hello and happy Friday to one and all. Another week has come to a close and now we can all turn our attention to the more important matters at hand - getting ready for Christmas!!

Christmas will be a special time on the Obscure Song of the Day pages, but more on that later.

Today's Obscure Song of the Day artist, Murray Head, is an English actor and singer, most recognized for his hit song, "One Night In Bangkok".

Best known for his 1984 smash "One Night in Bangkok", actor/singer Murray Head was born March 6, 1946 in England to Seafield Head (a documentary filmmaker) and Helen Shingler (an actress). He appeared in his father's documentaries at the age of 7, and began his performing career at age 12 with appearances in a series of radio plays. He began writing songs a year later, and at 16 ran away from home to seek out a recording career in London, cutting his earliest singles under the supervision of famed producer Norrie Paramour..

Head made his film debut in “The Family Way” (1966); the picture also featured his third single "Some Day Soon", produced by Tim Rice. Still, Murray's career failed to take off and he was eventually dropped from his recording contract, spending a few years selling insurance, before Rice and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber contacted him to sing the role of Judas on the soundtrack to their musical "Jesus Christ Superstar". Concurrently, he also appeared in the film “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1971). The success of both projects launched Head to mainstream attention, and in 1972 he recorded his debut solo album "Nigel Lived".

Three years later he resurfaced with "Say It Ain't So", scoring an enduring cult hit with the single "Say It Ain't So, Joe". Apart from a starring role in 1977's “Madame Claude” (1977), he spent the remainder of the decade out of the spotlight, finally returning in 1980 with "Between Us"; two more albums, "Voices" and "How Many Ways", followed a year later.

He reappeared in the pop spotlight in 1984, as the American on the concept album for the musical "Chess". The song "One Night In Bangkok" from "Chess", featured Head on lead vocal, and became the last significant Broadway/West End number to be a hit on American and German up until "No Matter What" by Boyzone in 1996. "One Night in Bangkok" was a major pop hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

After "One Night in Bangkok", Head had little recording success in the UK. But, fluent in French, he has released a number of albums in that language and is more popular in France and Canada. Noticeably, the song "Une femme un homme", a duet with Marie Carmen released in 1993 became a radio hit in French-speaking Canada.

In 1999 he co-wrote the screenplay to “Enfants du siecle, Les” (1999). He returned to the stage in 2003 in the musical "Cindy" (based on "Cinderella") in Paris and performs his own music at venues in France and England.

Here then is Murray Head with his 1984 hit, "One Night In Bangkok"....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TgmoEHnUpjk

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - ANDREW GOLD

wjd8260 — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:48:48 +0000

A pleasant Thursday and a very Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Today in America it's a day to give thanks for all the wonderful things we have. I can think of no better way to use this space than to tell all of you how very thankful I am for all of my Absolute Radio friends!!

Which brings us to today's Obscure Song of the Day....

Andrew Gold is an American singer, musician and songwriter, best known in his homeland for his 1977 Top 10 single "Lonely Boy" and the 1978 single "Thank You for Being a Friend." His best known solo single in the UK is "Never Let Her Slip Away", which reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart in 1978. It also reached number 5 again, 14 years later, in a cover version by UK dance act Undercover.

A prolific session musician, Gold joined the family business. His mother is singer Marni Nixon (who provided the singing voice for numerous well-known actresses, notably Natalie Wood and Audrey Hepburn), his father was the late Academy Award-winning composer Ernest Gold. He has two younger sisters: Martha, born in 1953 and Melani, born in 1962.

Gold began writing songs at the age of 13, and by the early 1970s was working as a musician, songwriter and producer for many well-known stars, including Linda Ronstadt, Art Garfunkel, and James Taylor. He played a major role as multi-instrumentalist and arranger for Ronstadt's breakthrough album, 1974's Heart Like a Wheel. Among other accomplishments, he played the guitar solo and the majority of other instruments on the album's first track, "You're No Good," Ronstadt's only #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100.In 1975 Gold began recording as a solo artist, releasing four studio

albums. His single "Lonely Boy" has appeared in several movie soundtracks, including “Boogie Nights” (1997). Although "Lonely Boy" was the bigger radio hit, "Thank You for being a Friend" gained new popularity as the theme song for the popular 1985–1992 NBC situation comedy “The Golden Girls” (although that version was not performed by Gold but by Cindy Fee). In the UK Gold is better known for the song "Never Let Her Slip Away", which is still played on oldies radio stations. For a brief period, "Thank You For Being A Friend" was linked to the hoax Yorkshire Ripper tapes, as a 22 second snippet of the song was played at the end of one of the cassettes sent to Yorkshire Police.

Later, Gold played on and co-produced “Ten Out of 10” by 10cc, which led to his founding the 1980s pop group Wax with Graham Gouldman, and the 1990s band Bryndle. He played keyboards on "Johnny Can't Read" for Don Henley's solo debut album “I Can't Stand Still“. He has also produced and written songs for numerous movie and television soundtracks. He also sang "The Final Frontier", the theme song for the 1990s Paul Reiser/Helen Hunt sitcom “Mad About You“.

Here then for you, my friends, is Andrew Gold performing his 1978 hit "Thank You For Being A Friend".

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN3E9Yyd1HA

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - INFORMATION SOCIETY

wjd8260 — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:57:53 +0000

Happy Wednesday everyone. We're half done with the week and well on our way to the weekend. Hang in there, relief is on its way!!

Today's Obscure Song of the Day artist, Information Society, has always sounded like Duran Duran or INXS to me. In fact, many times I've mistaken one of Information Society's songs for one of the other bands.

Information Society (also known as InSoc) is a US band originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, primarily consisting of Kurt Larson (aka Kurt Valaquen/Kurt Harland), Paul Robb, and James Cassidy; the latter two reconvened the band in 2006, initially with Christopher Anton as lead vocalist, then with Harland rejoining them as lead vocalist in 2007.

The band, formed in 1982, performed avant-garde electronic music with flourishes of hip-hop, dub, and electro. The name was chosen partly after Ingsoc, the newspeak term for British socialism in the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. In 1983 they independently released two albums, “The InSoc” EP and “Creatures Of Influence”. Two years later it released "Running", the group's first single, which became a hit popular in New York City Latin dance clubs and put them on the map.

In addition to "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)", the group’s self-titled major release debut “Information Society “ (1988) also produced another Top 10 Billboard hit in "Walking Away", as well as a third single, the ballad "Repetition". The final single from the album was a cover of ABBA's "Lay All Your Love on Me".

The second release, "Hack" (1990), wasn't as successful, but had 2 top 40 hits with "Think" and "How Long".

The group’s third release, "Peace & Love, Inc." (1992), proved to be more powerful and critically acclaimed, although its label failed to do much to promote it. The first single, "Peace & Love Inc.", reached #1 on the Billboard Dance Chart.

Five years later a fourth album, "Don't Be Afraid" (1997), was released.

In 2006, it was announced that Robb and Cassidy had decided to reconvene Information Society, initially without Harland's full participation in the recording process of "Oscillator and Synthesizer". Harland's absence in the studio line-up was cited as being due to family and work obligations. Harland ultimately contributed lead vocals to one track, "Seeds of Pain."

The new lineup included Christopher Anton as lead vocalist and co-writer for several tracks from "Oscillator and Synthesizer" including the title track of the latter. They were also joined by Sonja Meyers who played additional keyboards and provided a return to female background vocals.

There's a lot of cool computer-related stuff the band has been involved in over the years too. Unfortunately, when I tried to put the information here the blog went crazy and put a bunch of garbage up. So, if you're interested in reading about it, you'll have to find it on your own. Sorry.

Anyway...here they are with their 1988 Top Ten hit, "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)"...Information Society....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8cid9OzjJDQ

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - QUEEN

wjd8260 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:08:36 +0000

Hello and happy Tuesday!! Hope everyone is doing well and that all my American friends are getting things ready for Thanksgiving on Thursday. It's my favourite meal of the year...I can't wait!!

What can I tell you that you don't already know about today's Obscure Song of the Day artist, Queen?

About a year ago I saw a biography on television on Freddie's life. Very interesting. It told about his being a great graphic artist and that he always considered himself a far better artist than musician. I've looked up his artwork and it's truly amazing, to put it lightly. The man was just so talented in every aspect of everything he did. (If you want to look up his artwork, search under his real name - Farrokh Bulsara).

Anyway, I'm posting two Queen songs today that are among very favourites. And, naturally, me being me, you know they're not songs you would normally find on a Queen's Greatest Hits album. :-)

First up is the great acoustic song "'39". I've always thought this was such a tremendous song because it sounds so un-Queen-ish.

Then we have my very favourite Queen song, "I'm In Liove With My Car". Pure, hard-driving rock from beginning to end. (I'll probably listen to it a half dozen times while I write this. *lol*)

So, here they are....both from Queen's "A Night At The Opera" album...."'39" and "I'm In Love With My Car"....

"'39"

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pAnpGXPYAIQ

"I'm In Love With My Car"

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-9JuAx_CB6o

rest in peace, Freddie...gone but NEVER forgotten!!

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - SIMPLY RED

wjd8260 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:45:39 +0000

Good morning and happy Monday everyone!! I hope you all have an easy week ahead as we head into the holidays.

On to today's Obscure Song of the Day....

Simply Red's roots originate from the 1976 Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. Manchester art student Mick Hucknall was one of the many young music fans present, along with original members of Joy Division, The Smiths and Buzzcocks, who were inspired to form a band after witnessing that gig. The first incarnation of the band was a punk group called The Frantic Elevators. This band existed for seven years, with limited releases on local labels, but split in 1984 with only limited local attention and critical acclaim for their final single, "Holding Back the Years".

After the demise of The Frantic Elevators, Hucknall linked up with manager Elliot Rashman. By early 1985 Hucknall and Rashman had assembled a band of local session musicians and began to attract record company attention. Around this time the group adopted the name Simply Red (after Hucknall's nickname, which denoted hair colour, football allegiance to Manchester United and left-wing political affiliation). They signed to Elektra in 1985, with the somewhat changeable line-up of Hucknall, Tony Bowers (bass), Fritz McIntyre (keyboards), Tim Kellett (brass), Sylvan Richardson (guitar) and Chris Joyce (drums).

Their first single, released in 1985, was "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)", a cover of a soul standard originally recorded by The Valentine Brothers. This single had big international success, reaching the UK and Irish Top 20, later the American, French and Dutch Top 30, and the Italian Top 5, beginning a successful career in Italy, sometimes more successful than in the UK. Their debut album, "Picture Book", was also released in 1985.

In 1986 the band re-recorded a song that the Frantic Elevators had recorded earlier, "Holding Back the Years", in a more accessible pop style, which was this time a major hit, peaking at #1 in Ireland, #2 in Great Britain, #3 in the Netherlands, #20 in Italy and later #1 in the United States, establishing Simply Red as a household name. The song remains one of the band's most recognized works.The album began to sell more copies, and became an international hit album.

Their second album, 1987's "Men and Women" saw the band adopting bowler hats and colourful suits instead of their earlier ragamuffin look, and the introspection and social commentary of their debut replaced by a blue-eyed soul sound with funk influences.

With their third album "A New Flame" in 1989, Simply Red adopted a yet more mainstream populist sound aimed for commercial rather than critical success, typified by their cover of Harold Melvin's pop classic "If You Don't Know Me By Now", which became their second US #1 hit and one of the biggest singles of the year internationally; and their greatest success until now. Hucknall was by this time an international superstar, being photographed with models and Hollywood celebrities. This seemed to harm the band's coherence as a unit, with Hucknall declaring in 1991 that Simply Red was "essentially a solo project".

The band's popular career peaked later that year with the release of "Stars", which became the best-selling album for two years running in Europe and the UK (though notably had far less success in the US than their previous albums). "Stars" mixed Hucknall's anti-Thatcherite political lyrics with an easy-listening lounge-jazz sound, apparently to avoid alienation of their existing fanbase.

The band hand subsequent hits with "Fairground" (1995), "Blue" (1998), "You Make Me Feel Brand New" (2003), "Oh! What A Girl!" (2006), "So Not Over You" and "The World And You Tonight" (2007).

Mick Hucknall announced that the band were due to split in 2010, after a farewell tour, starting in early 2009, ending in 2010.

Today's selection is my favourite Simply Red song. From their 1991 album, here's the title track, "Stars"....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lTjtrDLYiB8

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - HALL & OATES

wjd8260 — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:38:37 +0000

Good Sunday to you all, my friends. Here's to hoping all of you are enjoying your weekends and your morning cuppa!!

This morning's Obscure Song of the Day, "Sara Smile" by Hall and Oates, is one of those songs that has always been one of my absolute favourites. From it's very soothing bluesy rythyms to Darryl Hall's captivating vocals, it's a calming and very enjoyable listen from beginning to end.

Their first album for RCA, "Daryl Hall & John Oates" (often referred to by fans as "The Silver Album" because of the silver lamé backing on the original album cover), was their first legitimate success. It contained the ballad "Sara Smile", a song Hall wrote for his girlfriend, and featured an album cover in which the two are overly made-up to the point where they (especially the then long-haired Hall) looked like women. Hall would later say in an interview for VH1's Behind the Music that he looked like "the girl I always wanted to go out with" on the album cover.

"Sara Smile" became their first top-ten hit, reaching number four on the chart in June 1976.

Sit back, relax and enjoy Hall and Oates as they perform their 1976 hit, "Sara Smile"....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NRgr9h2iO40

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - STARBUCK

wjd8260 — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:21:43 +0000

We're finally here, my friends!! Play safely and enjoy your weekend!!

On to the Obscure Song of the Day.....

You know, there just haven't been enough songs recorded that feature marimba solos!! *lol*

Today's Obscure Song of the Day artist, Starbuck was a rock band formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1974 by keyboardist/vocalist/record producer Bruce Blackman and marimba player Bo Wagner.

The band's debut single, "Moonlight Feels Right", reached the #3 position on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in 1976. Although the band never re-created the success of their debut, several of their songs did chart in the Billboard Top 100 and their 1977 release "Everybody Be Dancin'" reached #38.From 1976 to 1980, the band toured with popular groups of the era including ELO, KC & the Sunshine Band, Hall & Oates and Boston.

Personally, I have always loved this song because of the marimba solo. Outstanding musicianship.

Here they are with their 1974 hit, "Moonlight Feels Right"....Starbuck....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9cGxsb8b6Eo

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - FULL BLOWN ROSE

wjd8260 — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:20:26 +0000

Happy Friday friends!! We're almost there; just one more day. Hang in there, relief is on its way!!

On to today's Obscure Song of the Day.....

When Fox Television debuted the programme "Tru Calling" in 2003, the show's theme song was "Bring Me to Life" by, the then unknown, Evanescence. After the first season, for reasons I was unable to find sort of explanation for, the theme song was changed to "Somebody Help Me" by the equally unknown Full Blown Rose. Perhaps it had something to do with Evanescence's going on to become extremely successful.

The same, however, cannot be said for Full Blown Rose. Their song had the same rock/goth sound that Evanescence's did, but they only ever recorded a total of 12 songs before disbanding.

I liked the band and thought that, as I did in the case of Evanescence, they had a lot of potential. Then again, I thought "Tru Calling" was a great television show that would go on for many seasons. Sadly, I was wrong in that instance too.

Anyway, here they are performing the one song they will always be remembered for....from the "Tru Calling" soundtrack....it's Full Blown Rose with "Somebody Help Me"....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MxybTOkxDsw

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - FRIDA

wjd8260 — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:13:49 +0000

Hello and a happy Thursday to all my fellow VIPs. I hope all is going well for each and every one of you.

Today's Obscure Song of the Day artist, Frida Lyngstad, is best known as the brunnette vocalist of the supergroup ABBA. From what I read while doing research for this blog, Frida has had a very interesting life. There's much too much to it to go into here, however.

Specifically regarding today's song, "I Know There's Something Going On"....

In 1982, during ABBA's last year as a working band, Lyngstad released her first solo album in English, the Phil Collins-produced "Something's Going On", that topped the charts in Sweden and reached the Top 20 in the UK and Germany, and Top 50 in the US. It sold around 1 million copies worldwide and spawned a successful single, "I Know There's Something Going On", which topped the charts in Belgium, Costa Rica and France (spending five weeks at the top).

The song also reached the Top 5 in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway and Australia amongst others. In the United States, the single reached No.13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No.9 on Radio & Records airplay chart, with the music video for the song being heavily promoted on MTV.

The album itself received mixed critics, with Billboard being the most positive in writing: "ABBA's auburn-haired songstress makes a bold solo project a stunning success", while Mark Coleman described "Something's Going On" in the third edition of Rolling Stone Album Guide as a "sharp, rock-oriented, delightfully eclectic album". William Cooper had a similar opinion in Allmusic: "Frida escapes the creative limitations of being a member of one of the world's most popular groups on this solid and often riveting album." Dispite reviews like this the album did not manage to produce a second hit. Frida however was voted Best Female Artist Of The Year by the readers of the gossip tabloid Aftonbladet, receiving the Swedish Music Award Prize Rockbjörnen.

Phil Collins' drumming on this track is unmistakeable (as it is on Tears For Fears' "Woman In Chains"). The song wouldn't be near as good without it.

Anyway....without further adieu...here's Frida with her only hit..."I Know There's Something Going On"....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V9UtUwwvHE0

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - AEROSMITH

wjd8260 — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 02:24:45 +0000

Hello and happy Wednesday, folks!! It's been a fairly quick week thus far. Here's to hoping it continues that way and we're all kicking back on Saturday lickety split!!

On to today's Obscure Song of the Day....

I guess to Aerosmith afficionados today's Obscure Song, "Chip Away the Stone", isn't really all that obscure. But to people with just a passing fancy for the band, it's probably not one that comes immediately to mind when you think of Aerosmith.

And to the younger Aerosmith fans out there, yes, there was a band before "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing". Granted, they were a rockier, funkier bunch back then. But both incarnations of the band, with their different styles, has been a blast to follow.

Anyway, "Chip Away the Stone" has always been my very favourite Aerosmith song. It's a great funky ol' rock n' roll song that I'm sure you'll like.

I'm also posting a link to a live version of "Big Ten Inch Record" that I just found while I was writing this blog. Talk about a kick-ass version of a funky song!! This is the way rock 'n roll was meant to be played!!

I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I do!!

"Chip Away the Stone"

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8X9UZhr5Lwc

"Big Ten Inch Record"

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MR-S3Y6n-zs

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - SCOTT McKENZIE

wjd8260 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:20:29 +0000

Greetings, friends!! I hope you're all doing well and that your weeks have all gotten off on the right foot...or the left one, whichever one you favour. ;-)

On to today's Obscure Song of the Day...

Scott McKenzie (born Philip Blondheim, January 1939, in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American singer, best known for his 1967 hit single and generational anthem, "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)".

McKenzie, as young Blondheim, grew up in North Carolina and Virginia, where he became friends with the son of one of his mother's friends, John Phillips. In the mid 1950s, he sang briefly with Tim Rose in a high school group called The Singing Strings, and later with Phillips, Mike Boran and Bill Cleary formed a doo wop band, The Abstracts. In New York, The Abstracts became The Smoothies and recorded two singles with Decca Records, produced by Milt Gabler. In 1961 Phillips and McKenzie met Dick Weissman and formed The Journeymen, which recorded three albums for Capitol Records. After disbanding The Journeymen in 1964, they discussed forming a group called The Mamas & the Papas. McKenzie wanted to perform on his own, so Phillips formed the group with Denny Doherty, Cass Elliot and Michelle Phillips, his second wife. The group soon moved to California. Two years later, McKenzie followed from New York and signed with Lou Adler's Ode Records. Phillips wrote and produced "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)" for McKenzie, which was released in 1967. John Phillips played guitar on the recording and Michelle Phillips played bells. The bass line of the song was supplied by session musician Joe Osborn. It became a Top 10 hit in the United States and a number one in many other countries.

"San Francisco" became a hippie anthem in the United States and was popular around the world. It was played during the Summer of Love in San Francisco. McKenzie followed it with "Like An Old Time Movie", also written and produced by Phillips, which was a minor hit. His first album, "The Voice of Scott McKenzie" was followed with an album called "Stained Glass Morning". He stopped recording in the early 1970s and lived in Joshua Tree, California and Virginia Beach.

In 1986, he started singing with a new version of The Mamas and the Papas. In 1988 McKenzie co-wrote the Beach Boys hit "Kokomo" with Phillips, Mike Love and Terry Melcher.

By 1998 he had retired from the road version of The Mamas and Papas, and currently resides in Los Angeles.

Allow yourself to drift back to the 60s, VIPs.....okay, those of us who remember the 60s, drift back to them....and enjoy Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)". Peace, love, and understanding to all....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DspcTcVslsI

OBSCURE SONG OF THE DAY - SNIFF 'N' THE TEARS

wjd8260 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:34:55 +0000

Good morning and happy Monday, VIPs. It's time to get this week started and get on the fast-track to the weekend once again!!

Best remembered for their 1978 hit "Driver's Seat," London-based New Wave combo Sniff 'n' the Tears emerged from the remnants of the little-known Ashes of Moon, which disbanded in 1974 after failing to stir up much label interest. The individual members of the band scattered during the mid-1970s, with frontman Paul Roberts turning his attention to painting; however, following the ascendance of the New Wave, drummer Luigi Salvoni convinced Roberts to reform the group with guitarists Mick Dyche and Laurence Netto, bassist Nick South and keyboardist Keith Miller, and in 1978 the newly-christened Sniff 'n' the Tears began shopping its demo. Chiswick signed the band and issued its debut album "Fickle Heart" that summer, with the single "Driver's Seat" becoming a major hit in the U.S. "The Game's Up" appeared in 1980, but failed to make much of a commercial impact; when 1981's "Love Action" and the following year's "Ride Blue Divide" met a similar fate, Sniff 'n' the Tears disbanded.

Here, from their 1978 album, "Fickle Heart", is Sniff 'n' the Tears with their only hit, "Driver's Seat"....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JFwcmU6Ql0A