Alby's Latest Posts
Song of the Day 9/8: Bruce Springsteen, “Born in the U.S.A.”
Earlier this year Bruce Springsteen released seven previously unreleased albums from the vaults, but didn’t include the one fans have clamored for since the ’80s – the full-band version of “Nebraska,” the one he recorded with the E Street Band, then scrapped in favor of the acoustic demos he made at home on a four-track […]
Song of the Day 9/7: The Turtles, “Happy Together”
Mark Volman, who co-founded the ’60s pop band the Turtles with his friend Howard Kaylan, died in Nashville Friday at age 78. He had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia several years ago but was still performing with a lineup of the Turtles, with Ron Dante of “Sugar, Sugar” fame replacing Kaylan, whose health problems […]
Song of the Day 9/5: Lee Moses, “Bad Girl”
There are so many awful women in Trump’s inner circle it’s impossible to decide which one to dedicate this song to. We don’t know who Lee Moses was singing about, but then we don’t know much of anything about Lee Moses. Moses hailed from Atlanta, where he developed his bluesy, deep soul sound with a […]
Song of the Day 9/4: The Archies, “Sugar, Sugar”
Some great, classic songs by great, classic artists were released as singles in 1969. “Get Back” by the Beatles. “Honky Tonk Women” by the Stones. Sly’s “Everyday People,” Creedence’s “Proud Mary,” Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds.” None of them was Billboard’s No. 1 song for the year. That honor went to a tune written for children and […]
Song of the Day 9/3: Ndlovu Youth Choir, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Most people who’ve heard of the Ndlovu Youth Choir encountered them back in 2019, when they reached the final round of “America’s Got Talent,” despite hailing from Limpopo, South Africa. I found out about them yesterday when I saw a story about their latest release, the EP “From Limpopo to the World,” featuring Queen’s “Bohemian […]
Song of the Day 9/2: Bryan Ferry, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
Donald Trump has finally found a way to get people to stop talking about the Epstein Files: Let them think he’s dying. His bruised hands and cankles and lack of public appearances are fueling the speculation, but it was his out-of-character speculation about the state of his soul (“I wanna try and get to heaven […]
Song of the Day 9/1: Creedence Clearwater Revival, “The Working Man”
Happy Labor Day, I suppose, though I don’t see much to celebrate under a president who makes Reagan seem like a friend of the working man. This song from the 1968 debut album by Creedence Clearwater Revival was one of the first John Fogerty wrote after assuming leadership of the band from his older brother […]
Song of the Day 8/31: Big Star, “Don’t Lie to Me”
Hey, Matt Meyer! This one’s for you! One of the deep cuts from “#1 Record,” the 1972 debut album by Big Star that’s regarded as one of the founding documents of power pop. Songwriters Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, emulating Lennon/McCartney, are co-credited on all but one of the LP’s tracks because they each tinkered […]
Song of the Day 9/29: Milky Edwards and the Chamberlings, “Soul Love”
In 2012 somebody posted three songs to YouTube, purportedly by an obscure soul group from the early ’70s, Milky Edwards and the Chamberlings. All three were covers, soul arrangements of David Bowie songs from his Ziggy Stardust album. The videos showed needle drops onto a scratchy copy of an album called “Starman.” It took a […]
Song of the Day 8/28: Thelma Watson and Her All-Girl Orchestra, “You Gotta Be a Football Hero (To Get Along With the Beautiful Girls)”
Guest post by Nathan Arizona If you wonder how a lunkhead (I mean regular guy) like Travis Kelce landed the teen-girl whisperer who became the most powerful woman in the world, you need to hear a song that’s been explaining it for 82 years. The title says it all: “You Gotta Be a Football Hero […]
Song of the Day 8/27: Oasis, “Half the World Away”
There’s no pleasing some people. Hardcore Oasis fans, for example. Noel and Liam Gallagher finally agreed to work together again, reforming Oasis after 15 years of sniping at each other, but though their sold-out worldwide reunion tour has gotten positive reviews, their stans have a complaint: They’ve played the same 23-song setlist at every show. […]
Song of the Day 8/26: Tavares, “More Than a Woman”
Guest post by Nathan Arizona Now that “Saturday Night Fever” (maybe) and the Bee Gees (probably) have been rehabilitated by the cool kids, think back to the soundtrack. Did you notice, maybe just vaguely, that “More Than a Woman” shows up twice? Not one version that plays twice, but two groups doing the same song. […]
Babbling Like a Brook: When Will the Media Give Trump the Biden Treatment?
Looks like all those Republican accusations about Biden’s age and mental befuddlement were, as usual, confessions. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has been in a war of words with Donald Trump. After Trump threatened to deploy National Guard troops to Baltimore, calling it “crime-ridden,” Moore invited the president to “come walk the streets with us.” Trump […]
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