Sunday, September 13, 2020

Songs Of The Week, 2020: 9/5-9/11



Saturday In The Park- Chicago
I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried- Rodney Crowell
Here Comes The Future- World Party
Lucky That Way- Joe Walsh
I'm Coming Back For You- Elf
Joan Crawford- Blue Oyster Cult
Back To The Beginning- Bill Bruford

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Saturday In The Park- Chicago
Last Saturday was a glorious weather day, and glorious summer days will always take me back to WABC-AM radio and hearing the piano intro to this song, which seemed to never get played on a rainy day.

I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried- Rodney Crowell
I spent an evening scrolling through old rehearsal videos of my cover band The Hard Copies. Some of them aged really well, including our version of this great Rodney Crowell tune.

Here Comes The Future- World Party
The mystery of Karl Wallinger continues. It's been 20 years since this track was released, the last new music from World Party. He suffered an aneurysm, had to learn how to play guitar and piano all over again, seemed to recover nicely and hit the road for live dates. Then for the next ten years, threatened a new album. Then in October of 2018, he released a new version of "Ship Of Fools" and talked about a new vinyl campaign which would finally see the release of his entire catalogue, remastered, as well as a first time vinyl release for "Dumbing Up," the record from which this track comes. And...nothing. Hey Karl! If you are out there...how are you, pal?

Lucky That Way- Joe Walsh
If you missed out on "Analog Man," Joe Walsh's 2012 release and his first new music since 1992, give it a spin. I know some might be put off by Jeff Lynne's production. You either love it or hate it. I fall in the middle. I wish it was different occasionally, but I'm a fan and I think he and Walsh sound good together. Production on this particular track though is credited to Walsh and Tommy Lee James, yet it still sounds like Jeff Lynne. (Ringo is on drums, too.)

I'm Coming Back For You- Elf
The cover of the first Elf record belies the music inside. You might think you're getting some Uriah Heep, when in fact, you're getting music that owes more to the rock and roll and R&B of the Faces or the Stones, if just a bit heavier.

Joan Crawford- Blue Oyster Cult
Just felt like hearing this classic. Yes, it is classic.

Back To The Beginning- Bill Bruford
I mentioned AM radio on the opener and the first time I heard this track was on WNEW-FM radio. It's hard to believe, but radio was once AMAZING! The memory is vivid. Hanging in my room, listening to Vin Scelsa, and not one but two tracks off of Bruford's solo debut "Feels Good To Me" get played, both featuring Annette Peacock on vocals. The other, "Adios A La Pasada," is what triggers the memory, because Scelsa kept saying the title over and over until he was happy with his Spanish, finally giving up and saying, "GOODBYE TO THE PAST! There." I like this track better, thanks to Allan Holdsworth's guitar solo. And why was radio so amazing? Because after these tracks, Scelsa probably played Little Feat, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen and Richard Thompson.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love those Annette Peacock tracks, too. I was disappointed that Bruford never really followed up on that type of vocal, and Peacock's own records are pretty far removed, too.

JAYESSEMM said...

Very nice -- thanks Sal...

I understand very little about memory / neurology / ... but hearing that Chicago track I'm back in the seventies!

A Walk In The Woods said...

Great comments about Back To The Beginning by Bill Bruford.

jmills said...

Saturday in the Park brings me back my cab driving days in NYC in the early 70's. I loved it when that song came up on the radio.

kevin m said...

I feel like I ask you every year or so what's going on with Karl Wallinger and World Party. Now I know I can hold off until 2021.

dogbreath said...

Of late been playing Chicago's early live albums, Live in Japan and at Carnegie Hall (shouldn't there be more live triple albums?) and the opening track always gives me a warm glow. Cool SoTW with Walsh and World Party. All that plus a young Ronnie James Dio. Nicely zipped. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Triple live albums? I absolutely love WINGS OVER AMERICA!