Alby's Latest Posts
Song of the Day 9/12: Midlake, “Roscoe”
Guest post by Nathan Arizona Is Roscoe a productive name, as the Texas band Midlake would have it? And what the heck is an occupanther? Was “Roscoe” one of the 100 best songs of the 2000s, as Rolling Stone says? One of the best of 2006, as Pitchfork calls it? Or does it sound like […]
Song of the Day 9/11: Rage Against the Machine, “Killing in the Name”
This will be debated by future historians, but for my money the United States’ embrace of fascism can be traced to Sept. 11, 2001. Fascistic movements thrive on defense of blood and soil, and in that regard the attack by Middle Eastern extremists operated like the Reichstag Fire. Consider: In the immediate aftermath, polls recorded […]
Song of the Day 9/10: The Three Degrees, “Givin’ Up, Givin’ In”
King Charles might be new to the throne, but he’s been living under Fleet Street’s microscope for a long time, and seldom given much respect. At best he’s treated as an eccentric, the kind of guy who embraced crackpot causes like sustainable farming, global warming and classical architecture back when doing so made one a […]
Song of the Day 9/9: Chumbawamba, “Her Majesty”
The death of Queen Elizabeth II is guaranteed to reignite debates about the future of the British monarchy. Not right away, of course. Lots of people who hate the institution loved, or at least respected, a sovereign who earned her popularity by taking her ceremonial job seriously, so critics will hold their fire for 10 […]
Song of the Day 9/8: The B-52’s, “Deadbeat Club”
Some bands go on forever, the Rolling Stones being rock’s premier example. Others keep a name alive even after all the original members have departed. But most call it quits at some point. If they’re popular enough, they stage a farewell tour as a last hurrah. That’s what the B-52s are doing. The ultimate ’80s […]
Song of the Day 9/7: Maxwell, “Radiation Funk”
The invasion of Ukraine has mostly faded from the news, but one aspect threatens to put it back at the top of the broadcasts. Russia, demonstrating the ineptitude that has distinguished its war effort thus far, again shelled the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the largest in Europe, putting if off the power grid and bringing it […]
“This Is Sussex County”
The other day Jason linked to a Cape Gazette story about mudslinging — literally — in a Sussex County Council race, as a Councilman John Reiley was accused of unethical behavior for accepting many truckloads of dirt from a developer. His accuser was fellow Councilman Mark Schaeffer, erstwhile mayor of Smyrna, where he generated controversy […]
Song of the Day 9/6: Blood, Sweat & Tears, “God Bless the Child”
Billie Holiday co-wrote this with Arthur Herzog Jr. — each claimed the other’s contribution was minimal — and recorded it three different times. Hundreds of others have covered it, usually as a slow-burning ballad of self-reliance. It took Blood Sweat & Tears, on their first LP with barrel-chested belter David Clayton-Thomas on lead vocals, to […]
Song of the Day 9/5: Billy Bragg, “There Is Power in a Union”
Mainstream media loves to cite the low percentage of unionized US workers but rarely details the lengths companies go to in their union-busting. That’s improved somewhat in recent months as Amazon and Starbucks have waged vicious campaigns against unionization efforts — and seen workers succeed in both certification votes and court rulings despite it all. […]
Song of the Day 9/3: Squeeze, “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)”
As in most songwriting partnerships with a strict division of labor, Squeeze songs always begin with Chris Difford’s lyrics. “I always write to Chris’s lyrics,” Glenn Tilbrook told Songfacts. “And what’s more, I made a habit pretty early on of never reading lyrics he gave to me until I sat down with the guitar or […]
Song of the Day 9/2: Gene Pitney, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence”
Guest post by Nathan Arizona If somebody had told me Gene Pitney was not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I’d have believed it but I wouldn’t have been happy about it. Maybe I’d start one of those fierce little fan groups that lobby for an overlooked favorite to finally get his due. […]
Song of the Day 9/1: The Monkees, “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone”
Mickey Dolenz is the last surviving Monkee, and he’s not Monkeeing around. He has sued the FBI to gain access to its file on the Monkees. Yes, J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI, demonstrating the perfect combination of paranoia and cluelessness that led to the Great Folk Music Scare, kept a file on the Pre-Fab Four as […]
Song of the Day 8/31: Clifford Curry, “She Shot a Hole in My Soul”
Let’s squeeze in a last bit of Carolina beach music before the summer’s over. This 1967 tune was the closest regional star Clifford Curry, once known as the King of Beach Music, ever got to a national hit — it reached No. 45 in the R&B chart. It was covered by John Fred & His […]
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