As if it weren’t enough that Obama has finally come out supporting same-sex marriage…now Rufus Wainwright is back…and in full-on ’70s pop songsmith mode with his new Mark Ronson-produced album, “Out Of The Game.” This truly is a good day for America! For those who don’t know, Mark Ronson was the guiding force behind Amy […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “It’s Too Late” Demo by Carole King
The makings of a hit record were all there on the demo. Superb, succinct lyrics that tell a story of heartbreak and disappointment with economy and little melodrama. You can hear all of the instrumentation that ended up on the final “Tapestry” version of the song in the piano accompaniment. Who could argue with her […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Sabre Dance” by Woody Herman & His Second Herd
Everyone knows this catchy tune composed in 1942 by Aram Khachaturian for his ballet “Gayane.” Although, you’ve probably never heard this song within the context of the ballet, but, more appropriately, as background music to some zany competition on a 1960s game show. This recording is from 1948 performed by big band leader, clarinetist, saxophonist […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Little Latin Lupe Lu” by The Righteous Brothers
Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield were best known for their smooth blue-eyed soulful sounds as The Righteous Brothers performing heartfelt ballads. But they could rock out too as evidenced by this Bill Medley original that was not only a hit for them (#47/1963) but also The Kingsmen (#49/1964) and Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels (#17/1966). […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Awake” by Canyons Of Static
Not only do they make the most tasty contemporary mood music around, they also possess the coolest band name in all of rock! Canyons Of Static’s brew of instrumental “shoegaze” music built on layers of feedback is experimental, challenging and downright exciting to listen to. The band consists of husband and wife Ross and Aggie […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Got A Job” by The Miracles
Before there was The Miracles, before there was Berry Gordy and before there was Motown, a talented singer and aspiring songwriter named William Robinson formed a group called The Matadors. The Matadors consisted of Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, Warren Moore, and Claudette Rogers. They met a hungry promoter named Berry Gordy who had his first […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “The Whistling Gypsy Rover” by The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem
Patrick “Paddy”, Tommy, Bobby and Liam were the Clancy Brothers and together with Tommy Makem they recorded dozens of records and were responsible for not only introducing America to traditional Irish Folk music, but helping to popularize Folk music all over college campuses throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s. They were a major influence […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Plateau” by Meat Puppets
Psychedelic desert post-punk rock from one of the best bands on the influential SST record label. Brothers Curt Kirkwood (guitar/vocals), Cris Kirkwood (bass) and Derrick Bostrom hailed from Arizona and burst onto the scene in the early ’80s as a hardcore punk band. Indeed their first record was loaded with fast tempos, pounding drums and […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “America!” by Bill Callahan
He’s the artist sometimes known as “Smog” who has spent most of his career releasing some very quirky records. As Smog, Callahan has released 14 lo-fi albums since 1990 laced with very repetitive, simplistic and challenging music featuring strange instrumental combinations, lots of dissonance and sparse lyrics if any at all. He has also released […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Keep On Truckin’” by Eddie Kendricks from the 1973 album “Eddie Kendricks”
Originally a member of The Primes (to the Supremes’ Primettes), Kendricks possessed one of the most soulful voices in the group that would later be renamed The Temptations. His angelic falsetto voice climbed the charts numerous times on such classics as “Just My Imagination,” “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “Get Ready” and dozens […]
