Stephin Merritt is one of today’s greatest songwriters. Whether solo or with groups like Magnetic Fields, The Gothic Archies, The 6ths or Future Bible Heroes, Merritt has given us hundreds of great songs over the years with a Broadway sensibility, deadpan delivery and a droll sense of humor. He’s even released a soundtrack to the […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “It’s Been A Long Long Time” by Bing Crosby – Memorial Day Special
As our boys came home from World War II, they were welcomed back with this number one hit from 1945 that perfectly captured the sentiments of those who remained home while their loved ones were away. It’s a perfect record in every way. You’d be hard pressed to find a better vocalist than Crosby to […]
Song Of The Day – “Chicken Fat” by Robert Preston
It’s “Poultry in motion!” (Sadly, I didn’t write this line but it was too great to pass up.) How many of you remember this gem from the early 1960s? Even though I was only one year old when this record was released to public schools across the nation, I distinctly remember exercising to this song […]
Song Of The Day – “Collide-A-Scope” by Todd Rundgren
I love Todd Rundgren. I’ve been a fan since the early 1970s, and at this point I don’t see that ever changing. Like Neil Young, Todd is one of the most mercurial of artists who still makes interesting records in all sorts of genres mainly to please himself. That’s made for lots of experimentation along the […]
Song Of The Day – “Piggies” by Theo Bikel
Broadway and film star, folk singer, songwriter, civil rights activist, and back in 1969 Theodore Bikel attempted to add pop star to his list of credentials with the release of one bright and shining album for Reprise Records. As a Broadway star, Theodore Bikel originated the role of Captain Von Trapp in The Sound Of […]
Song Of The Day – “Heaven On Their Minds” from “Jesus Christ Superstar”
With Passover and Easter this week, today’s Song Of The Day reaches for the Bible. I’m not a big fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber…you can keep Cats, Phantom and Evita…or the Bible for that matter, but in the words of this musical: “Hey J.C., You’re alright by me.” Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Tim Rice […]
Song Of The Day – “A Lot Of Livin’ To Do” by Sammy Davis, Jr.
It’s the wham of Sam, from the musical Bye Bye Birdie. Without Sammy Davis Jr., there wouldn’t have been a James Brown or Prince. He was clearly the most talented of the Rat Pack by a mile…could sing circles around Frank and Dino…and had the moves and comedic talents to make him the total entertainment […]
Song Of The Day – “Picture This” by Blondie
There was nothing new about punk and new wave. It came about as a reaction to the bloated excesses of progressive rock groups like Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Genesis and Yes and their seemingly obligatory side-long multi-part suites of music. (Not that there was anything wrong with that…) Groups like Ramones and Blondie brought back […]
Song Of The Day – “It’s Been A Long Long Time” by Bing Crosby
As our boys came home from World War II, they were welcomed back with this number one hit from 1945 that perfectly captured the sentiments of those who remained home while their loved ones were away. It’s a perfect record in every way. You’d be hard pressed to find a better vocalist than Crosby to […]
Song Of The Day – “Willkommen” by Joel Grey from the film “Cabaret”
A funny thing happened to the Broadway Musical Cabaret during its adaptation to the big screen. It lost ten out of its original fifteen songs. Many of the original Broadway songs were in the play to express the emotions of the characters and move the plot line forward, something that the medium of film was […]
