Remember When Joe Told Us the Fever Would Break?
I'm so old I remember the first time. It was in an interview on Nov. 4, 2012, with Chris Matthews, when Biden predicted an Obama victory would be the game-changer:…
Song of the Day 11/2: Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, “Sylvia’s Mother”
Shel Silverstein was a true triple threat. Though most remembered today for his children's books, he was also a Playboy cartoonist and a songwriter. Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show…
Song of the Day 11/1: Louis Armstrong, “When the Saints Go Marching In”
France has an odd relationship with religion. Those cathedrals and basilicas the tourists visit are owned not by the Catholic church but by the state, which nationalized all church property…
Song of the Day 10/31: Santana and Peter Green, “Black Magic Woman”
A song in honor of our modern celebration of the Celtic pagan harvest festival Samhain. Peter Green, the founder and original guitarist for Fleetwood Mac, wrote it about his girlfriend.…
Song of the Day 10/30: Rick Wakeman, “Morning Has Broken”
It's rare for a hymn to become a hit on the pop charts, but that's what happened with Cat Stevens' "Morning Has Broken," which owes much of its popularity to…
Song of the Day 10/29: Frank Sinatra, “High Hopes”
Guest post by Nathan Arizona “High Hopes” is best known around here as a tune associated with two great singers -- Frank Sinatra and Harry Kalas. OK, one great singer.…
Song of the Day 10/28: Cliff Nobles, “The Horse”
A lot of people ignore the lyrics in popular music, and there's good evidence they're onto something -- some songs do better with the vocals removed. That's what happened to…
Song of the Day 10/27: Jerry Lee Lewis, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”
Jerry Lee Lewis has become Schrödinger's Rock Star -- TMZ didn't know if he was alive or dead until somebody checked. The tabloid-on-a-computer site apologized yesterday for taking the word…
Song of the Day 10/26: The Beatles, “Yellow Submarine (Songwriting Work Tape / Part 1)”
The Beatles recorded output apparently will be mined for sales until the last Boomer is buried, if not beyond. Recent years have seen the serial remastering of the band's catalog,…
Song of the Day 10/25: Ernie K-Doe, “Mother In Law”
Talk about being cancelled -- when's the last time you heard a mother-in-law joke? The meddling mother-in-law is a trope as old as comedy, and back when more risqué topics…
Song of the Day 10/24: Calum Scott, “Dancing on My Own,” Tiësto remix
MAGAts can rage against social change, but they've already lost the culture wars when a bunch of guys are dancing around, spraying each other with champagne, while singing the gay…
Song of the Day 10/23: Herbie Hancock, “Watermelon Man”
Herbie Hancock's "Head Hunters" LP, released in 1973, might be the best jazz fusion album ever; certainly it's the funkiest. It was the best-selling jazz album ever, peaking at No.…
Song of the Day 10/21: Frank Zappa and the Mothers, “Call Any Vegetable”
Queen-killer Liz Truss was doomed from the moment the Daily Star livestreamed her photo next to a head of lettuce, with a caption asking which would last longer. The smart…