InternetFM.com

Hand Curated Radio

You are here: Home / Archives for Music / Dream Pop

Dream Pop

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Head Over Heels” by Tears For Fears

by

45-adapter-logo2tears 4

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Head Over Heels” by Tears For Fears

There never was a “sophomore slump” for the duo of Roland Orzabel and Curt Smith, the ‘80s synth-pop duo better known to the world as Tears For Fears. While The Hurting, their debut album topped the charts in their native UK, it was their second album Songs From The Big Chair that did the trick around the rest of the world.

The album’s title was a reference to Sybil , a TV movie that told the story of a child with multiple personality disorder who sought solace in the big chair of her psychiatrist’s office. Chair was a multi-platinum success that spawned several hit singles including the two U.S. chart-toppers “Shout” and “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” plus “Mother’s Talk” and today’s Song Of The Day and the albums best and most melodic track.

The duo stayed together for one more album, the Beatle-esque The Seeds Of Love (featuring the huge hit “Sowing The Seeds Of Love”) before calling it quits, although Orzabel continued to release albums under the Tears For Fears moniker well into the 1990s.

The second version of Tears For Fears, featuring Alan Griffiths and Tim Palmer, released several albums that did well overseas, but tanked in the states. The duo reunited and released the much underrated Everybody Loves A Happy Ending album in 2005, and joined Spandau Ballet on the road for a tour in 2010. The production values of the mid-1980s (tinny electronic drum sounds, overpowering synth washes) have rendered some of their music somewhat dated, but the current Synth Pop revival led by groups like Divine Fits and STRFKR has happily led me to rediscover some of the music of the era, and enjoy it anew.

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – Selections from “Popshopping Volume 1” by Various Artists

by

45-adapter-logo2popshopping

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – Selections from “Popshopping Volume 1” by Various Artists

Popshopping is a compilation of German TV commercial production music from the 1960s and 1970s. Compilation producers Sir D’Oeuvre and Senor 45 collected these tracks from flexi discs and dusty TV production tape vaults.

Many may consider this music nothing more than a bunch of blaring, dated background noise, but to others (including me), this is highly stylized and inventive music created by some of Germany’s finest composers including Christian Bruhn, Max Meir-Maltez, Klaus Wuestoff, Gert Wilden and Johnny Teupen.

Today’s Song Of The Day includes Christian Bruhn’s music for Ford Capri, Ford Taurus and “Komm In Fahrt” for Hansa-Pils commercials (all 1973), Klaus Wuesthoff’s “Swing A Little, Kim A Little” (1967), Klaus Doldinger’s “Wild Freshness” (1970) and Max Meir-Maltez’s music for Moulinex (1972). All of the tracks collected here are exceedingly groovy, as is the companion compilation to this one, Popshopping Volume 2!

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Easy Come Easy Go” by Cass Elliot

by

45-adapter-logo2CassElliot

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Easy Come Easy Go” by Cass Elliot

Only in the 1960s could someone as robust as Cass Elliot become an equally big star. Sure, she had talent to burn and a set of unrivalled pipes, but in this day of the thinner than thin in showbiz, she just would not have stood a chance…and a shame it would have been indeed.

The former Ellen Cohen was born in Maryland and got her start as part of the folk trio, The Big Three along with James Hendricks, whom she was married to for a time in an effort for him to avoid the draft, and Tim Rose. When Rose left the group in 1964, future Lovin’ Spoonful member Zal Yanovsky and Denny Doherty joined their ranks and they became The Mugwumps.

Shortly thereafter, Yanovsky joined forces with John Sebastian while Doherty joined The New Journeymen who counted John Phillips and his wife Michelle amongst their ranks. After Cass joined the fold, the group would soon become The Mamas And The Papas. Of course you can listen to their track,“Creeque Alley” to have the blanks filled in for you.

It would only be a matter of time before Cass, the ultimate hippy chick would record on her own, and with the help of extensive television work, she began to have her own hits. Her records were pure pop affairs cut at Western Recorders in LA in the late 60s and early 70s featuring a who’s who of Wrecking Crew favorites including on this track Hal Blaine, Joe Osborne, Larry Knechtel, Steve Barri and Phil Kaye.

Today’s song of the day is better known for Bobby Sherman’s version than Cass’, but I think the 1971 production values and arrangements on this version make it much better. It is originally from her album Bubble Gum, Lemonade &…Something For Mama whose cover image was framed in chewed bubble gum. Elliot died in London in 1974 of a heart attack (and not from choking on a ham sandwich) in the same flat that Keith Moon would die, at the same age four years later.

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Waters Of March” by Art Garfunkel

by

artgarfunkel

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Waters Of March” by Art Garfunkel

Art Garfunkel certainly missed his calling during his post Simon & Garfunkel solo career. If ever an artist was better suited to cut a Bossa Nova album, it was Art Garfunkel who possesses a gentle, smooth voice and impressive octave range to match. Proof positive is his recording of the Antonio Carlos Jobim classic “Waters Of March” from his second solo record, 1975’s Breakaway.

“Waters Of March” was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim in both English and Portuguese (“Águas de Março”) and appeared on his 1973 album called Jobim. Although, the Bossa Nova craze was in the early 1960s, the song has since become a standard part of the repertoire, covered numerous times by the likes of Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’77, David Byrne and Marisa Monte, Al Jarreau, John Pizzarelli, Rosemary Clooney, and dozens more.

Breakaway was a high water mark for Garfunkel that generated three top 40 singles: “I Only Have Eyes For You” (US #18, UK #1), “Breakaway” (US #39) and the Simon And Garfunkel reunion duet, “My Little Town,” which peaked at #9. Further driving the popularity of the record was the Simon And Garfunkel reunion that took place on TV’s Saturday Night Live, which at the time was the hip epicenter of the media world.

The Richard Perry produced album was an all-star affair featuring a who’s who of backing talent including appearances by David Crosby, Graham Nash, Andrew Gold, Nicky Hopkins, Jim Keltner, Jim Gordon, Barry Beckett, Larry Knechtel, Russ Kunkel, Joe Osborne, Bill Payne, Klaus Voorman, Toni Tennille, Stephen Bishop and Leland Sklar.

Not only were the hits great, but there were quite a few non-singles that have become central to Garfunkel’s repertoire, including the Bruce Johnston penned “Disney Girls,” “99 Miles From L.A.” with lyrics by Hal David and a terrific cover of Stevie Wonder’s “I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever).”

Word is that Garfunkel’s voice isn’t what it used to be, so I guess a Bossa Nova album coming from him today would be too much to ask…however, with him at least on the road and back in front of audiences, I’ll bet he could still pull it off…

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Toledo” by Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach

by

45-adapter-logo2ElvisCostelloBurtBacharach1

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Toledo” by Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach

THE SUMMIT…that’s the term Fran Sinatra coined to sum up the grouping of Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin and himself many years ago. To me, THE SUMMIT equals two of my very favorite artists collaborating together for an album and a tour…and one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen!

Elvis Costello was always a fan of Burt Bacharach. He covered his song “I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself” right from the beginning of his career. The Bacharach-Costello collaboration began with the song “God Give Me Strength” which was written for the exceptional 1996 Allison Anders film Grace of My Heart” which was loosely based on the story of 1960s Brill Building pop songsmiths.

After the film, the two worked together by email and telephone and found they had a knack for writing great songs. They continued their long distance collaboration writing a batch of songs that became their sole album from 1998, Painted From Memory which today’s Song of the Day by Eric Berman was culled.

Here fans got the best of both worlds…Bacharach’s singular and angular way with a melody matched with Costello’s knack for the turn of a phrase. The ensuing 1998 tour was, for my money, a meeting of two of the greatest songwriters of all time…right up there with Lennon and McCartney!

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” by Bonnie Tyler

by

bonnietyler

If ever there was a song that I love and revile in equal measures at the same time, “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” is that song.

When it first blasted onto radio and MTV in 1983, I instantly recognized the song’s appeal and truly loved the melody. However, the very bombast of the track (courtesy of Jim Steinman) that set the song soaring up the charts, coupled with the husky voice of Bonnie Tyler also made me hate it, especially when it was pummeled repeatedly onto my psyche via constant airplay.

With the passage of time, and its absence from media saturation, I now truly appreciate and love this AM radio gem more than ever.

The song was written and produced by Jim Steinman, the man behind Meat Loaf’s epic Bat Out Of Hell album. In truth, “Eclipse” could have easily fit on a Meat Loaf album as all the Steinman hallmarks are present – the quiet initial statement of an alluring melody leading to a grand bombastic build up, interweaving vocals and larger-than-life Broadway production values. It should come as no surprise that Meat Loaf has said that the song was originally written for him to record.

Jim Steinman got his start working in musical theater writing for the minor musicals including Whistle Down The Wind and Tanz der Vampire. It was while working on a theatrical adaptation of Wagner’s opera Das Rheingold in 1974, that Steinman met Marvin Lee Aday who would go on to change his name to Meat Loaf a few years later. While touring with National Lampoon, Steinman and Aday began working on a set of songs with an eye toward making an album together.

The two shopped their magnum opus, Bat Out Of Hell to practically every record label and were met with nothing but utter rejection. When they got to Columbia Records, Clive Davis claimed that Steinman knew nothing about writing or rock music in general. The album was finally released by Cleveland International Records, which was distributed by Epic Records whose parent company coincidentally was Columbia Records. The album ultimately sold over 40 million copies worldwide.

After Meat Loaf developed problems with his voice and had a tough time recording a suitable follow-up to Bat Out Of Hell, Steinman worked on his musical score for Tanz der Vampire, which included the motifs for two more of his hits, Air Supply’s “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All” and “Total Eclipse Of The Heart.”

Raspy voiced, Bonnie Tyler was born in Wales and found worldwide success with her 1978 top five single “It’s A Heartache.” She released four albums for RCA between 1977 and 1981, but became disenchanted with her handlers’ efforts to market her as a pop-country artist. After seeing Meat Loaf perform “Bat Out Of Hell” on The Old Grey Whistle Test, she approached Jim Steinman to produce her next record.

Steinman presented Tyler with “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” and she readily agreed to record it.  The song was released as a single from Tyler’s Steinman-produced 1983 album Faster Than The Speed Of Light. The single topped the charts all over the world and sold over nine million copies. The song received two 1984 Grammy nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

“Total Eclipse” also dueled it out on the charts with Air Supply’s “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All,” and ultimately “Eclipse” topped the charts to Air Supply’s number two showing. Tyler continued to work with Steinman, releasing the 1985 album Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire which included the single “Holding Out For A Hero,” which was featured on the soundtrack to the movie Footloose.

You may wonder, what led to me choosing this song as today’s Song Of The Day. While trolling on Facebook, I came across a clip of comedienne and impressionist, Christina Bianco performing this song in the guise of numerous famous divas including Adele, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Gwen Stefani, Kristin Chenoweth, Julie Andrews, Liza Minnelli and Bernadette Peters. It’s a clip you don’t want to miss!

Bonnie Tyler Version:

Christina Bianco Version: http://now.msn.com/christina-bianco-sings-total-eclipse-of-the-heart-as-19-divas#tscptmf

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Hold On Longer” by John Legend

by

johnlegendloveThis spectacular piece of song craft and mood comes from John Legend’s latest album Love In The Future. I’ve literally played this song over and over since it came out several weeks ago, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the best Stevie Wonder song that Wonder never wrote. Yet, in two minutes and thirty-nine seconds of splendor, Legend manages to match the seemingly unmatchable level of artistry of classic Stevie Wonder.

The song lists amongst its writers John Stephens (aka John Legend) and Kanye West who also gets and executive producer credit for the album along with Legend and Dave Tozer. Like his other albums, his latest is a stone-classic in the making.

Song Of The Day – “Louisiana Woman Mississippi Man” by Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn

by

conwaylorettaThey were two of the biggest stars in all of country music during the 1970s, and together they made electrifying one-of-a-kind duets that spoke of the highs and lows of couples in and out of love. Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn sent countless duets to the top of the country charts including “After The Fire Is Gone,” “Lead Me On,” “As Soon As I Hang Up the Phone,” “Feelin’s,” “The Letter,” “I Can’t Love You Enough” and “Makin’ Believe.”

Today’s Song Of The Day is perhaps the duet they’re best known for and it topped the charts in 1973. The song was written by Becki Bluefield and Jim Owen, and it served as the title track from their 1973 chart-topping album of the same name.

Conway Twitty was born Harold Lloyd Jenkins, but took his stage name from two locations on a road map; Conway, AK and Twitty, TX. His earliest success was on the pop charts with his 1958 #1 single “It’s Only Make Believe,” which gave Elvis Presley a run for his money. He continued making pop records until 1965, when he found his calling in country music. He went on to score 55 number one singles on the Billboard Country Charts, a record that was broken by George Strait in 2006.

Some of his most indelible hits include “Hello Darlin’,” “I Love You More Today,” “How Much More Can She Stand,” “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” “She Needs Someone to Hold Her (When She Cries),” “You’ve Never Been This Far Before,” “I’m Not Through Loving You Yet,” “Linda on My Mind,” “Touch The Hand,” “I Don’t Know a Thing About Love (The Moon Song),” “I’d Just Love to Lay You Down,” “Tight Fittin’ Jeans” and “The Rose” to name but a few.

Loretta Lynn is the coal miner’s daughter from Butcher Hollow, Kentucky who has also scored countless country hits including the classics “Don’t Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind),” “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” “Fist City,” and her signature song “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

She released a string of singles dealing with women’s issues during the 1970s that met with resistance from country radio, including “The Pill” (birth control), “One’s On The Way” (women who repeatedly have children), “Rated X” (the double standards for men and women) and “Dear Uncle Sam” (women left behind by the Vietnam War). The songs established her as the poster child for the women’s movement, particularly within the conservative confines of country music.

Her autobiography was made into an Academy Award-winning film, Coal Miner’s Daughter, in 1980 starring Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones. Lynn’s most recent album is the Jack White produced Van Lear Rose from 2004. Conway Twitty died in 1993 while on tour from an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Song Of the Day – “Foolin’ Around” by Patsy Cline

by

patsycline1I wrote about this song no more than a month ago when Bakersfield, the Buck Owens tribute album by Vince Gill and Paul Franklin came out. However while barbecuing earlier this evening; I revisited the wonderful recordings of Patsy Cline. When her version of this Buck Owens classic came on, I knew I wanted to share Cline’s soulful version as well.

I can name only two, maybe three singers ever that could do Patsy Cline as well as Patsy Cline. I suppose this is a testament to how rare it is that a voice so pure and emotive comes along. Certainly k.d. lang instantly comes to mind, but to me, so do Linda Ronstadt and Karen Carpenter when it comes to the emotional depth and pure vocal tone it takes to even come close to Cline.

Buck Owens co-wrote today’s Song Of The Day with Harlan Howard and scored a #2 hit with it in 1961. Patsy Cline covered the Bakersfield classic while recuperating from her near-fatal car accident in 1961 and released it on her Patsy Cline Showcase album, and also on the four song Crazy ep in 1962.

For those interested, Cline’s studio band included Harold Bradley on 6-string electric bass, producer Owen Bradley on organ, Floyd Cramer on piano, Buddy Harman on drums, Walter Haynes on steel guitar, Randy Hughes on acoustic guitar, The Jordanaires on background vocals, Grady Martin on electric guitar, Bob Moore on acoustic bass and Hargus “Pig” Robbins on piano. This is the same aggregation of musicians who played on hundreds of country hits during the early 1960s.

Song Of The Day – “Apeman” by The Esso Steel Band

by

essosteelbandMy parents married in 1953 and chose Bermuda as the destination of their honeymoon. Like many folks of their era, they came back with souvenirs from their dream vacation. In my parents’ case, they returned with the pregnancy of my older sister, and a souvenir LP by The Esso Steel Band.

The Esso Steel Band began in 1942 as The Tripoli Steel Band which was named for the “Marine’s Hymn” (“On the shores of Tripoli”), and beginning in 1951 the group was led by Hugh Borde.

The steel pan as an instrument rose out of the poorest sections of Trinidad where discarded oil barrels were fashioned into musical instruments, affording the natives an artistic outlet. Once the sound caught on, it became central to the annual Carnival celebration where musicians competed for supremacy on the instruments.

In 1964, the Tripoli Steel Band won the first official Steel Band competition, and the following year, the Esso Oil Company (later Exxon) agreed to sponsor the group which took on the name of The Esso Tripoli Steel Band which was later shortened to The Esso Steel Band.

By 1967, the group was 27 strong and toured the world on Esso’s dime playing at Montreal’s Expo World’s Fair. After Esso dropped sponsorship of the group, they toured for several years as part of Liberace’s show and recorded a Grammy-winning album called Liberace Presents the Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band.

In 1971, Van Dyke Parks rediscovered them and took them into the studio to record an album for Warner Bros. Records including covers of then-current pop songs including Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecilia,” The Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back” and today’s Song Of The Day, The Kinks’ “Apeman.”

The group splintered in 1976 after Borde relocated his family to the United States, however a new version of the group was organized by Borde’s son Emile, recording the album Momentum in 1985. The group performed well into the 2000s.

Most recently, Parks had the group re-record the song “Aquarium” from the 1971 Warner album for his latest release Songs Cycled.