Time to dust this thing off for another batch of old stuff.
"Happy" by Pharrell Williams (2013)
One of the most un-ironically catchy songs I can think of and it was EVERYWHERE a decade ago (yikes).
"Foot Stomping, Pt. 1" by The Flares (1961)
The one hit by this surprisingly long-lived doo-wop group.
"5 O'Clock in the Morning" by The Donnas (2002)
At my current age, this song is truly aspirational.
"Just My Baby" by Rickie Lee Jones (1989)
A nice tune from an album produced by Walter Becker while Steely Dan was on its extended hiatus.
"Gold" by Prince (1995)
It's great to re-hear such a good Prince song now and then to remind me just how much great music he cranked out over his too-short career. The B side for this single was called, "Rock 'N Roll Is Alive (And it Lives in Minneapolis!)". If you say so...
"Give Me More Time" by Whitesnake (1984)
A good "take me back" 1980s rocker.
"Say Goodbye" by Cheap Trick (1997)
A somewhat modern Beatles-esque song but it's just fine.
"A Taste of Honey" by The Beatles (1963)
And of course an actual Beatles song appears. This is a close, if well done, cover of what was a very popular tune from a Broadway play in the early 1960s. The song seems to have long outlived the show.
"Just a Little Lovin'" by Ray Charles (1962)
Speaking of covers, this is from Ray's fantastic album of Country AND Western songs.
"Can We Still Be Friends" by Todd Rundgren (1978)
The song by the band, War, with a similar name is a lot more fun.
Just-a by accident, this OTHER cover of "Honey" popped up. And yes, it's the Jackie Gleason from "The Honeymooners" (he should have called the LP, "A Taste of The Honeymooners") and apparently he made a lot of easy listening albums in the 1950s-60s.
The guy didn't read or write music so obviously others did most of the work but I'm sure they match Gleason's tastes. Others must have agreed since Capitol released 58 (!) albums between 1952 and 1972.
This cut is obviously performed by studio pros with serious chops but it's very "White Bread Basie" in its arrangement.
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson (1979)
Now *this* is Peak Disco!
"Rox in the Box" by The Decemberists (2011)
An American alt-rock band has its UK Folk phase. I heard someone say recently that mono, as a format (as opposed to stereo) is dead but this is damned close to these ears. Dang hipsters and they're olde tyme monophonics!
"Talk to Me Baby" by Barry Mann (1964)
A choice lyric: "Girls get mad at such little things. How can a guy ever think of them all?"
"Little Sister" by Elvis Presley (1961)
I just love the sound of this track; it's just FAT. And that guy from the Jordanaires singing along with Elvis puts it over the top.
"Heathaze" by Genesis (1980)
A deep track from one of the band's earlier forays into pop that actually holds up pretty well. A song that seems to be about apathy and has some very good bass work by Mr. Rutherford.
"True" by Spandau Ballet (1983)
One of those songs they put into TV shows or movies set in the 1980s to create easy atmosphere.
"Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell (1984)
A pretty funny song from a guy who's dad was Berry Gordy. Oh yeah, and some rando named Michael Jackson is here for some reason.
"Longview" by Green Day (1994)
A great 90s punk bass line.
"Willing and Able" by Prince and the New Power Generation (1991)
A great classic R&B inspired tune with the usual Prince polish.
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