Songs I Didn't Skip (Part 28)

This list begins a new Spotify playlist.  

"Don't Leave Me Now" by Supertramp (1982)

There's a quote from the 2000 film, "High Fidelity" (I don't know if it's in the original novel) that I sometimes think of when a song by this band comes around:  "Just because she moved in with some Supertramp fan doesn't make me five grand richer." The funny thing is, I can relate with both Rob, the snobby record store owner AND Ian, the alleged Supertramp fan. Yes, our musical tasted can get complicated.  This was the last song on the last album this band did with their original lineup (I suspect they got back together many years later to play some reunion casino gigs but I am not counting that) and it kind of sounds it. 

"My God Is the Sun" by Queens of the Stone Age (2013)

I don't remember really listening to this song which comes from a band that always sounds larger than life (I'm sure partly thanks to Mr. Grohl). Really good. 

"Sky Is Falling" by Ambrosia (1997)

So, you may be asking what this band, better known for its late-1970s soft rock hits, sounded like two decades or so removed from its heyday? A tune that reminds me of the more slickly produced "Christian Rock" stuff I've heard (don't ask) without the Jesus lyrics. The song is pretty meh, with a message that seems to say that stuff is bad but what 'cha gonna do? Oh, and SIX MINUTES LONG? Moving on.

"It Hasn't Happened Yet" by William Shatner (2004)

This track, along with the rest of the album, has the right amount of silly but the production and those involved still take the endeavor seriously. It somehow works for me. This song could be an alternate universe Shatner story where he never made it out of doing Shakespeare in Canada.

"Living in America" by James Brown (1985)

Brown may have been past his prime but this is still pretty fun. I mainly associate the song with my time in the McDonald's All American Marching Band back in 1986-87. A good chunk of the music we played in those parades was then-current pop hits, custom arranged by the staff who ran the band from Florida A&M (hardcore marching band folks). This was one of them.

"Clean" by Depeche Mode (1990)

The ostinato that runs through this song reminds me a lot of the opening of Pink Floyd's "Meddle" album. 

"Human Rocket" by Devo (2010)

Devo performing a nostalgic tribute to...itself. 

"The Rubberband Man" by The Spinners (1976)

I've loved this goofy song ever since I heard it on the radio back in the 70s. The lyrics are pretty damned funny too. How many songs have lyrics like, "How much of this stuff do he think we can stand?"

"Better Days" by Bruce Springsteen (1992)

Pretty good for 1990s Bruce.

"Every Night" by Paul McCartney (1970)

Sir Paul's first solo album holds up well today and it gets better for me each time I hear songs from it besides, "Maybe I'm Amazed" (always a classic, original version please).  And the showoff plays everything on the album.

"Listen" by Chicago (1969)

This song has a really good bass line played by Peter Cetera and wow, a lot of cowbell!

"Accidents Will Happen" by Elvis Costello and the Attractions (1979)

A classic EC song that's apparently autobiographical. 

"Pac-Man Fever" by Buckner and Garcia (1981)

Now THIS is a novelty song!

"In God's Country" by U2 (1987)

I love the guitar sound on this track that, in my opinion, is an underrated song. Take that with a grain of salt; U2 has never really clicked with me. 

"Magnet and Steel" by Walter Egan (1978)

It's another one-hitter helped out by members of Fleetwood Mac. A catchy song and it has the toy piano sound on it that somehow works.

"Love Sick" by Bob Dylan (1997)

One of his better late period tracks that should outlive the Victoria's Secret ad it was associated with 20 or so years ago. 

"American Idiot" by Green Day (2004)

A song that holds up pretty well, even without its early-Iraq War political context. 

"Hey Joe" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)

I didn't realize this was a cover. The Byrds also covered this blues song with lots of cowbell. Jimi really missed out on the whole cowbell thing.

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" by James Taylor (1975)

I play this tune on gigs regularly but it's been a while since I'd heard the OG JT.

"The Carpet Crawlers" by Genesis (1974)

One of the singles (this album had singles?!) from the group's last LP with Peter Gabriel, "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway". It's an album that has some really strong moments but is somehow less than the sum of its parts. I didn't realize that the band (with Gabriel) recorded a new version of this song in 1999.