I always thought the greatest Neil Young impression was National Lampoon’s spot on song parody “Old Maid (Southern California Brings Me Down)” by Tony Scheuren from the 1975 Lampoon album “Goodbye Pop,” until this one came along by Jimmy Fallon. It was originally performed on his TV show “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” and now […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Trials, Troubles, Tribulations” by Geoff & Maria Muldaur
She’s the same Maria Muldaur of “Midnight At The Oasis” fame but most people don’t know much about her before she sent her camel to bed. Muldaur’s maiden name was Maria D’Amato and she got her start performing as a member of the Even Dozen Jug Band alongside future Lovin’ Spoonful member John Sebastian, David […]
Song Of the Day by Eric Berman – “Tulsa Yesterday” by Chris Robinson Brotherhood
The ghosts of Grateful Dead and Yes are alive and well with the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. Chris Robinson was one of the founding members, guiding force, guitarist and vocalist…and brother of the other founding member Rich Robinson…in The Black Crowes. While the Crowes took The Faces and Rolling Stones as jumping off points, the CRB […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “This Is The Girl” by Patti Smith
You would be hard pressed to put into words the seismic influence Patti Smith’s first album, “Horses,” had on me when I first heard it in 1975 at the age of 14. It was like a door opened into uncharted territory and I eagerly walked through it. As it turns out, she had a hard […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Story Untold” by The Nutmegs
They took their name from Connecticut, “The Nutmeg State,” where they hailed from and cut their teeth on the very same street corners that also produced The Five Satins. Like so many of the Doo Wop groups of the 1950s, The Nutmegs had an ever-changing lineup centered on a lead vocalist, and in their case […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Been So Long” by The Pastels
Over the last few days, I rediscovered the first of the three Doo Wop box sets released by Rhino Records between 1993 and 2000. That’s over 300 Doo Wop recordings – most of them classics…some not – spanning 12 CDs. The first box is by far the best because it has all the classics that […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Close Your Eyes” by The Five Keys
They were originally formed as The Sentimental Four out of Hampton News, VA and they consisted of two sets of brothers: Rudy and Bernie West, and Raphael and Ripley Ingram. Their first recordings were for the Aladdin Record label although the line-up changed when Rudy West went into the Army. At this point they added […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani
Shouldn’t everyone have four Harajuku Girls with them everywhere they go? I think so…and so does Gwen Stefani. After all, it was Stefani who put Harajuku fashion on the map in America anyway via her L.A.M.B. line of clothing. While not designing fashion, Stefani also has children with rock stars, launches perfume lines, records solo […]
Song Of The Day – “Get A Job” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
This ain’t your daddy’s doo wop…nor is it your sister’s “American Recordings” by Johnny Cash. What we have here are four crusty guys digging up some crusty old tunes and playing them the only crusty way they know how to. Nothin’ fancy…one take and done. You can practically feel the camaraderie and familiarity these guys […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Memories Can’t Wait” by Talking Heads
Former art school students have a funny way of expressing themselves. Like naming an album “Fear Of Music” and including a song like this one that conjures deep seated feelings of dread and ill will. But it doesn’t end there…Byrne numbly mumbles throughout this record asking himself questions like “What is happening to my skin? Where is […]
