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. 

Songs I Didn't Skip (Part 27)

 Sheesh, glad I didn't go with Roman numerals for this!

"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" by Fats Domino (1961) 

Hank Williams wrote this one, which was new to me.

"Have a Heart" by Bonnie Raitt (1989)

Speaking of good covers, this one holds up fairly well though the keyboards place it firmly in the late-1980s. It would be cool to hear a version of this with a little less 80s production.

"I'm Looking for Someone to Love" by Buddy Holly and The Crickets (1957)

A very well-recorded track for 1957. I found it...funny(?) that this song came up while I was driving to play a gig at The Surf Ballroom. 

"For the Turnstiles" by Neil Young (1974)

Some good, old-fashioned bleak/scaled down Neil. 

"Stay On" by BoDeans (1993)

This is the kind of thing that dominated what they called "adult contemporary" radio in the 1990s. Nice tune.

"La Petite Fille de la Mer" by Vangelis (1972)

A dense, keyboards and guitar instrumental that doesn't really sound like his more famous, later material.

"Time Passages" by Al Stewart (1978)

This isn't a bad song but the production is SO cheesy.

"(I Don't Want to Love You But) You Got Me Anyway by The Sutherland Brothers (1973)

What's with the parentheses in this song title??? And, another band from Scotland.

"I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" by Elton John (1988)

A so-so EJ song that sounds like it was whipped up fairly quickly. A long time ago, my great grandmother used to have one of those Hammond electric organs that were somehow "popular" in the 1970s. When we would go visit her in Iowa, we kids would play around on this thing and likely annoyed our parents greatly. One of things it had were some crude "rhythm" auto track things (proto loops?). The constant electronic beat on this song, which sounds like an electronic wood block or something, reminded me of the beats that thing would play when you were messing around "playing" it. 

"We've Been Had" by The Walkmen (2002)

More early aughts alternative radio fodder. This song was apparently used in a car commercial. I like that. 

"Vita Voom" by Ozric Tentacles (1993)

The Ozric Tentacles Groove rolls on!

"See Saw" by Aretha Franklin (1968)

Even by Aretha standards, this one is fantastic. I also love the bass line on this track.

"Pineapple Head" by Crowded House (1993)

This is up there with the band's best singles and has a definite "Norwegian Wood" feel to it. 

"I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" by The Beatles (1964)

A great, early George Harrison song that holds up, even at a tidy 2 minutes long.

"Treat Her Like a Lady" by Cornelius Brothers (1971)

Another one of those songs which basically advises you to not be a jerk or someone like one of the Corneliuses will step in. 

"Lies" by Thompson Twins (1982)

OK, I think I have made it through most of the TT hit singles on this list. Phew. 

"Allentown" by Billy Joel (1982)

Joel's records are often overproduced but that can't get in the way of this song, which is still great. I chuckled a bit at the cover for the single:  

                                        Billy will be riding the rails soon!

"The Scientist" by Coldplay (2002)

Wait, what is this about again?

"Lucifer" by The Alan Parsons Project (1979)

I love how a song like this, a pseudo prog rock instrumental, can be a hit. Only in the 70s.

"Runnin' with the Devil" by Van Halen (1978)

This was a hit around the same time and TWO SATAN SONGS IN A ROW!!!

"Touch and Go" by The Cars (1980)

This is a fun song and one their best.

"Forever Man" by Eric Clapton (1985)

Likely the best song from this dated 80s album that really has a lot of timbale going on!

"Feels So Good" by Chuck Magione (1977) Now that is some smoooooth jazz. The cover for this album looks like Dr. Teeth hugging a flugelhorn. 

"Steady, As She Goes" by The Raconteurs (2006)

Huh, I guess there's a good reason this sounds like a Jack White record.

"Oye Como Va" by Santana (1971)

All I can see when I hear this song now is The Dude cruising around after stopping at In and Out Burger. It's the perfect song for that.

"Take On Me" by A-ha (1985)

A 1980s classic that really must have owed some of its success to its music video.

"Don't Worry About the Government" by Talking Heads (1977)

One of my favorite TH songs that might just be the anthem for those who toil in the "Deep State"

    "Some civil servants are just like my loved ones. They work so hard and they try to be strong."

"It Hurts to Be in Love" by Gene Pitney (1964)

'Ol Gene should have hired Buddy Holly's recording team. 

"So Far Away" by Dire Straits (1985)

The opener for the 80s blockbuster album, "Brothers In Arms" that sounds a bit more like the material they were doing late 70s. It's interesting that this is followed on the album by what DOES sound of its time, "Money For Nothing".