March 07, 2008
Friday random ten: Post-primocalyptic edition

How about a little random music to soothe you through the post-primary letdown? Well okay then...

1. "Eleanor Rigby" - Ray Charles. Sometimes you just don't know what directions a song can go until someone who draws his own maps covers them.

2. "I Can't Turn You Loose" - The Blues Brothers. I am pleased to note that even though the year 2006 has come and gone, it is not the case that the music once known as the blues can now only be found in the classical record section of your local public library. I was worried about that for awhile there, but not any more.

3. "Love Will Keep Us Together" - Captain and Tennille. Am I the only one who remembers their variety show from the 70s? Am I the only one who remembers the phenomenon of variety shows from the 70s?

4. "All Revved Up With No Place To Go" - Meat Loaf. For an album as famous as "Bat Out of Hell" is, it's amazing how little airplay any of its individual songs have gotten. I think I heard "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad" once on an AM station back in 1984. Since then, I can't recall any instances. What's up with that?

5. "Downtown" - The B-52s. Hey, they have a new album coming out! Don't ask me about the crazy NFL-referee motif in their outfits, but here's a question: Will any radio station that currently plays their best-known song "Love Shack" ever play anything from this new record? I'm guessing the answer will be No. Such is the music business these days.

6. "Blues Power" - Eric Clapton and BB King. Yeah, I'd call that blues power.

7. "You Can Call Me Al" - Paul Simon. Just watch the video. Am I the only one who remembers when Chevy Chase was funny?

8. "Solsbury Hill" - Peter Gabriel. One of two popular songs that get regular rock radio airplay I can think of that are written in 7/4 time. Can you name the other? I'll put it in the extended entry.

9. "Willin'" - Little Feat. Another underrated and terribly under-played band. We have them to thank for "Dixie Chicken", and for that we are grateful.

10. "Les Boys" - Dire Straits. Dedicated to Governor Perry.

Happy Friday!

The other well-known 7/4 song is Pink Floyd's "Money".

Posted by Charles Kuffner on March 07, 2008 to Music
Comments

"Love Will Keep Us Together" - Captain and Tennille. Am I the only one who remembers their variety show from the 70s? Am I the only one who remembers the phenomenon of variety shows from the 70s?

No, you are not, although I'll thank never to remind me of them again.

My 10yo daughter had a 70s birthday party, and I got the job of programming the music. I went more towards the Bay City Rollers and disco than Led Zeppelin; 10yos are about the perfect audience for bubble gum music. Interestingly, when I "auditioned" LWKUT" for her, she wasn't interested, so it didn't make the final cut. To her great credit, she LOVED Gladys Knight's "Midnight Train to Georgia," and has since developed an interest in Aretha Franklin. Go figure.

Posted by: CrispyShot on March 7, 2008 12:54 PM

I adored C&T, watched their show as a kid. The variety show that I loved best of all, though, was Donny & Marie. I have their cover of "Deep Purple" in moderate rotation on my iPod.

Posted by: hope on March 7, 2008 5:19 PM

Count me among those old enough to remember The Captain and Tennille variety show. Personally, I was watching Carol Burnett and Tony Orlando and Dawn, but I do remember the phenomenon of variety shows in the 70s. Look at it this way: How else would we have gotten to see Pink Lady and Jeff?

Come to think of it, many people think Chevy Chase hasn't been funny since the 1970's. :-)

Posted by: William Hughes on March 7, 2008 8:04 PM

I'm guessing that you are thinking of Money as your other 7/4.

Captain and Tenille are at the top of one of my playlists with "Shop Around".

Posted by: danil on March 9, 2008 12:39 AM
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