While most people have never heard of Kelly Hogan, you can’t be interested in music and live in Chicago without having come into contact with Hogan’s smooth vocals and down to earth demeanor. Hogan is a stalwart of the Chicago roots music scene who has backed the likes of Neko Case, The Waco Brothers, Mavis […]
Song Of the Day by Eric Berman – “One Draw” by Rita Marley
This rock steady celebration of jah spliff really got mucho airplay at parties I attended back in the day. And why not, it’s got a beat that just can’t quit and lyrics we all could relate to! Rita Marley, of course, was the wife of Bob Marley and a member of the vocal group the […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Betrayal Takes Two” by Richard Hell & The Voidoids
Richard Hell was the original punk! He was a fashion inspiration to Malcolm McLaren who borrowed his spiked hair look, torn clothes and ample use of safety pins as the basis for his own fashion shop, Sex, in London that launched The Sex Pistols and the initial punk scene. But it wasn’t just the look […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Seven Come Eleven” by Charlie Christian w/ The Benny Goodman Sextet
The world of music is scattered with “what ifs,” such as “What if Waylon Jennings didn’t give his seat up to Buddy Holly on the ill-fated flight that took his life?,” or “What if John Lennon hadn’t been murdered…would there have been a Beatles reunion?” One of the more intriguing what-ifs in my book is […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Hands Off She’s Mine” by The English Beat
Records don’t get any more downright joyous, infectious and danceable than this classic ska track by The English Beat. Not to be confused with a now-unknown American band that also called themselves The Beat that had this Beat changing their name to The English Beat in America, The Beat were a 2-Tone ska collective that […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Wind Up Working In A Gas Station” by Frank Zappa
In 1976, the year that the album “Zoot Allures” was released, Frank Zappa was tied up in legal issues. His manager, Herb Cohen, began renting Zappa’s studio out while Zappa toured and allegedly pocketed the money for himself. This led to Cohen making off with tapes for a proposed Zappa three LP set called “Lather” […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Get Happy” by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
This gem comes from relatively early in Benny Goodman’s career. He had only begun leading a big band a year or two earlier and he was beginning to make a name for himself and feel his first brushes with success while performing at and broadcasting from the Palomar Ballroom in Hollywood on the “Let’s Dance” […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Funtime” by Iggy Pop
“FUN! We want some! We want some!” Words to live by from the Iggster with an assist from David Bowie. Bowie came along to offer a little career rehab for Iggy whilst meanwhile rehabbing his own addictions of the time. “The Idiot” was recorded at their getaway retreat… in Hansa, Germany, and was sandwiched in […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “The Nights Of Wine And Roses” by Japandroids
Looking back at the 2012 Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, it was full of outstanding new music mostly performed by artists I had never heard of. Clearly, that is what makes Pitchfork one of the coolest festivals on the planet. One of the standouts was Canada’s Japandroids, a Husker Du-ish duo consisting of Brian King […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Sweet Leaf” by Black Sabbath
I was a little more than intrigued about the prospect of seeing Black Sabbath at 2012 Lollapalooza. I was never a huge fan of the group, although I have become a fan of the group and their legacy over the years…even if it is with a hint of serious sarcasm thrown in. However, I’ve always loved […]
