Arts and Entertainment
Song of the Day 11/19: Argent, “Liar”
The theme song of the GOP’s defense of Trump. Most people know the Three Dog Night cover of the song, but this was the original version, written by Argent guitarist and lead singer Russ Ballard and released in 1970 on the band’s debut album. Released as a single, it sank without a trace. Three Dog […]
Song of the Day 11/18: Steely Dan, “Pretzel Logic”
This choice was inspired by the GOP’s use of twisted logic to defend Trump, but as I listened again I noticed that Trump has been, in his inimitable way, touring the Southland in a traveling minstrel show. He’s dying to be a star and make them laugh — if you’ve ever seen a few minutes […]
Song of the Day 11/17: Jethro Tull, “Hymn 43”
Jethro Tull might hold the unwelcome distinction of being the best band not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (a contested title, to be sure). I thought they’d be a no-brainer on the strength of 1971’s “Aqualung” alone, though perhaps voters aren’t all that fond of prog rock that rages against religious hypocrisy, […]
Song of the Day 11/16: The Black Crowes, “She Talks to Angels”
It’s almost 30 years since the Black Crowes burst onto the scene with their “Shake Your Money Maker” LP. This ballad was the fourth single released from an album that eventually topped 5 million in sales, but it’s the one I hear the most on classic rock radio. Chris Robinson said it’s about a goth […]
Song of the Day 11/15: Fang Fang, “I’ve Got a Good Feeling”
With apologies to El Somnambulo for the new music, but I heard this song on WXPN the other day and now it’s stuck in my head. Fang Fang is a Philly band consisting of two married couples plus a bass player, and with this tune they’ve found a near-perfect mix of power pop hooks and […]
Song of the Day 11/14: XTC, “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead”
Despite the video’s clear references to John F. Kennedy’s assassination, “Peter Pumpkinhead” actually was inspired not by politics but by a jack o’lantern that songwriter Andy Partridge carved one Halloween. “It was probably the best jack-o-lantern I’d ever made,” he said. “I just could not bear to throw it away. So I just stuck it […]
Song of the Day 11/13: John Lennon, “Gimme Some Truth”
John Lennon saw through Republican politics before Watergate ever happened. This track from his “Imagine” album, released in 1971, finds him spitting fire about a lying government (mostly, at the time, about the war in Vietnam). I think it should be the theme song of the Trump impeachment hearings, used on every TV fadeout and […]
Song of the Day 11/12: Emerson, Lake & Palmer, “Lucky Man”
Before ELP released this track in 1970, the Moog synthesizer was a wall-sized curiosity used mainly for sound effects. Keith Emerson changed all that in about 32 bars, starting during the final chorus with a low, portentous note that suddenly soars two octaves into Emerson’s iconic solo. The song only appeared on the super-group’s first […]
Song of the Day 11/11: Eric Burdon and the Animals, “Sky Pilot”
In a way, this 1968 anti-war song was evidence that public opinion had turned against American involvement in Vietnam. Eric Burdon and the Animals didn’t exactly have a peace-loving hippie image, so it wasn’t a good sign for warmongers that even a bunch of British yobs who weren’t in any danger of being drafted were […]
Song of the Day 11/10: The Doobie Brothers, “Jesus Is Just Alright”
Kanye West is raising hackles these days not just for supporting Donald Trump but Jesus as well, revealing a glaring hole in his understanding of both, but it’s not as if the Nazarene has never invaded the pop charts before. Back in the early ’70s a nation shaken by the violent end of the ’60s […]
Song of the Day 11/9: John Prine, “That’s How Every Empire Falls”
I probably feature John Prine more often that some people would like, but this is the rare Prine tune that he didn’t write himself, though he did sign its composer, R.B. Morris, a poet and playwright who moved to Nashville to pursue music, to his Oh Boy record label. The song was written during the […]
Song of the Day 11/8: Slade, “Cum On Feel the Noize”
The glam rock years were strange ones, kids. Bands, particularly in England, put on makeup, glitter and androgynous outfits in emulation of David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust. Most of them took it seriously, but not Slade. The quartet from Wolverhampton played loud, stomping rock that dominated the British charts (six No. 1 records, 17 top 5 […]
Song of the Day 11/7: Mick Jagger, “Memo From Turner”
A lot of people think this is the Rolling Stones, but it’s actually Jagger backed by a band of studio musicians for his star turn in the film “Performance.” That’s Ry Cooder playing the slide guitar that dominates the track, along with Gene Parsons of the Byrds on drums and Randy Newman(!) on piano. Jagger […]
Recent Comments