Arts and Entertainment
Song of the Day 5/25: Blues Image, “Ride Captain Ride”
This band was a true one-hit wonder. Originally from Florida, Blues Image moved to Los Angeles in 1969 and released one album before 1970’s “Open,” which included their only hit, written by guitarist/vocalist Mike Pinera and keyboard player Skip Konte. It reached No. 4 and was one of the songs of the summer that year. […]
Song of the Day 5/24: Edison Lighthouse, “Love Grows”
We’re all familiar with the concept of the one-hit wonder, bands or singers who disappear after one popular single. Sometimes even bands with two hits are mistakenly included in such lists; for example, Looking Glass had a second Top 40 single after “Brandy,” but nobody remembers it (“Jimmy Loves Mary Anne,” in case you’re wondering), […]
Song of the Day 5/23: Public Enemy, “Fear of a Black Planet”
RE Vanella and I had a little discussion on one of yesterday’s threads about the greatest rapper of all time. RE touted Biggie Smalls as the GOAT, which is a not-uncommon opinion. I lobbied for Public Enemy, the group that raised rap from what Chuck D called “infantilism” into a political force. But it’s not […]
Song of the Day 5/22: War, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”
War is one of those groups that shows up year after year on lists of “best bands snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.” This was the title track to their 1975 album, which also included a song you hear a lot more often these days, “Low Rider.” If it sounds incongruous for […]
Song of the Day 5/21: Alien Ant Farm, “Movies”
Is pop-punk still a thing? Twenty years ago bands like Green Day welded punk’s energy to pop’s accessibility for one of rock’s last hurrahs before the hip-hop deluge. “Movies,” released in 2001, was one of my favorite songs from that period. Alien Ant Farm scored a huge hit covering Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” prompting the […]
Song of the Day 5/20: Bruce Springsteen, “There Goes My Miracle”
Bruce Springsteen has a new solo album coming out June 14. He has said “Western Stars” is a rumination on Southern California music of the ”60s and ’70s and specifically names Burt Bacharach as an influence. This song was released as the album’s second single last week. Its soaring melody and strings are surprising enough, […]
Song of the Day 5/19: ELO, “Mr. Blue Sky”
This isn’t the original recording from “Out of the Blue.” This is the title track from Jeff Lynne’s 2012 album of re-recorded ELO classics, the release of which was accompanied by this trippy animated video produced by USC film students. So set the replay to full screen, enjoy your favorite consciousness-expander and get ready for […]
Song of the Day 5/18: Harold Dorman, “Mountain of Love”
Harold Dorman, a white guy from the Mississippi Delta, had only one hit record in his career, this classic from 1960. What I find interesting is his choice of metaphor. The Delta is so flat you can see car headlights coming at you for 10 minutes before you see the car. No wonder he’s dreaming […]
Song of the Day 5/17: Rolling Stones, “Paint It, Black”
I read yesterday that Donald Trump’s obsession with The Wall has manifested itself as micromanagement of its design. He wants scary spikes on top, and he wants it painted black so it will absorb heat and, gloves apparently being unknown in the Mexico of his mind, be too hot for swarthy invaders to climb. So […]
Song of the Day 5/16: Jackie DeShannon, “Bette Davis Eyes”
Everyone knows “Bette Davis Eyes” if they listened to the radio in 1981, when Kim Carnes’ breakthrough single spent nine weeks at No. 1 and was single of the year. Many people know the song was written by Jackie DeShannon. But not many have heard her version of her most famous tune, which she released […]
Song of the Day 5/15: Donovan, “Atlantis”
When we think of the ’60s we tend to think of the social movements for civil rights and against the war in Vietnam, which gives the impression that people back then were wrapped up in serious issues. We tend to forget that the hippie era gave rise to just as much bunkum and bullshit as […]
Song of the Day 5/14: The Greenberry Woods, “Trampoline”
The early to mid-’90s saw an incredible wave of power pop bands that fought a losing battle for attention while the recording industry went gaga for grunge instead. One of the casualties was the Greenberry Woods, a quartet from Baltimore whose catchy hooks and jangly guitars couldn’t cut the grungy gloom that ruled rock radio […]
Song of the Day 5/13: Bruce Springsteen, “Wild Billy’s Circus Story”
Old-timers might remember that when Bruce Springsteen was first signed to Columbia Records, he was promoted as the “new Dylan” — or, rather, the latest in a long line of new Dylans, because that comparison was hung around the neck of every troubadour with a guitar from Donovan on down. If you had seen this […]
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