CoronaVinyl Day 171 (E): Mixed Emotions by Exile

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "E," and I guess I have more albums by "E" artists other than the Eagles and Earth, Wind & Fire than I thought.  One of those is Exile's 1978 album Mixed Emotions.  It's pure late '70s yacht rock, and it's the kind of record you want to put on when you and your special lady are lying by the fire on your polar bear skin rug, sippin' on champagne, and feeding each other white chocolate-dipped strawberries (because milk or dark chocolate could stain the rug), both of you wearing nothing but corks, body wax, and Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter masks.

Mixed Emotions was the band's third studio album and the first that charted on the Billboard album chart, reaching #14 behind the strength of their hit single "Kiss You All Over," a disco yacht rock classic that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.  It came in at #163 on Billboard's all-time Hot 100, which was compiled in 2018 and contained the Top 600 most successful charting songs in the Hot 100's 60-year history.  It also went Top 10 in eleven other countries, including #1 in Australia and New Zealand.  The album also contained another minor hit for the band, "You Thrill Me," which cracked the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 by hitting exactly #40.

Oddly, after the follow-up album, lead singer Jimmy Stokley was kicked out of the band, and then band completely changed musical direction in the early '80s, going country.  They actually had a good bit of success as a country act, garnering four Top 10 albums on the Billboard Country albums chart, including one #1 (1984's Kentucky Hearts), as well as 13 Top 10 singles on the Billboard Country singles chart, including 10 #1s.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Never Gonna Stop"

With its funky bass line, jangly guitar, harmonies in the chorus, and theme of never gonna stop loving you, this is yacht rock all the way.  And at nearly six minutes, it gives you plenty of time to get your engines revved.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Kiss You All Over"
There's a reason this song was so successful.  It's a great pop song.  The beginning of the song and the guitar riff kind of remind me of Climax Blues Band's "Couldn't Get It Right" and Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing."  And the lyrics are the kind of thing that should make any woman moist, even those who don't like the word "moist."  Moist.  Moist.  Moist.

Retro Video of the Week: "Thank U" by Alanis Morissette

I forgot about Retro Video of the Week last week, so forgive me.  Given that tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I figured a thankful song would be appropriate.  Even though it didn't make my list of Top Ten "Thank You" Songs, Alanis Morissette's 1998 hit "Thank U" certainly fits the Retro Video of the Week parameters as well as the theme of thanks.

"Thank U" was the lead single from Morissette's 1998 album Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, the follow-up to the monster Jagged Little Pill.  The song was her fifth #1 song in her native Canada.  It also reached #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 (her fourth Top 20 song in the U.S.), as well as the Top 10 on twelve other pop singles charts around the world.

The video is memorable because it features a nude Morissette, whose long hair covering her tatas is presumably the only thing that prevented the video from being banned by MTV or other music video channels.

This year, I'm thankful that my friends and family believe in science, recognize the very real threat of COVID-19, and take the necessary precautions to avoid contracting or spreading the virus, like social distancing, quarantining, wearing masks, and not having huge Thanksgiving gatherings (or other indoor gatherings at all, for that matter).

CoronaVinyl Day 170 (D): Greatest Hits by Neil Diamond

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "D," and I give you the first Greatest Hits album put out by Neil Diamond.

I think it goes without saying that Neil Diamond is a national treasure and one of the greatest pop songwriters of all-time.  He's a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, a Kennedy Center Honors honoree, and the recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.  And if that wasn't enough, he was a member of NYU's NCAA champion fencing team in 1960.

Diamond was part of the uber-talented songwriting pool at the Brill Building in New York in the '60s, and he has written hit songs for himself and many others.  In 1968, he released his first of what is now dozens of greatest hits albums.  This features 12 songs released between 1966 and 1968 on Bang Records, and the songs were produced by fellow Brill Building songwriters, the legendary songwriting team of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, who themselves wrote a slew -- but not a slough or a slue -- of huge hits, including five #1s on the Billboard Hot 100.

The songs on the album are all hit singles (or their B-sides).  The album isn't on Spotify, and I couldn't find it on YouTube either, so here is the track listing with chart position on the Billboard Hot 100 and commentary.  Also, I'll embed YouTube videos of my favorite song from each side.

Side 1

1.  "Cherry, Cherry" (#6) - This was Diamond's first Top 10 hit.

2.  "Oh No No" (#16) - This is also known as "I Got The Feelin' (Oh No No)."

3.  "New Orleans" (#51) - This is a cover of a Gary U.S. Bonds song.

4.  "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" (#10) - Diamond's second Top 10 song got a rebirth when Urge Overkill's 1992 faithful cover was included on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack in 1994, and itself hit #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted in several other countries.

5.  "Do It" - This was the B-side to "Solitary Man"

6.  "You Got to Me" (#18)

Side 2

1.  "Solitary Man" (#55) - This was Diamond's first charting hit, reaching #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.

2.  "Kentucky Woman" (#22) - Heavy metal pioneers Deep Purple covered this one in 1968, and their version reached #38 on the Billboard Hot 100.

3.  "Thank the Lord for the Night Time" (#13)

4.  "Red Red Wine" (#62) - While this was only a minor hit for Diamond, in 1983, UB40's cover would go to #1 in the UK, and five years later, it was re-released in the U.S., where it would top the Billboard Hot 100. 

5.  "Hanky Panky" - This was the B-side to "New Orleans."  It was written by Barry & Greenwich and was a #1 song for Tommy James and The Shondells.  It starts with Diamond saying he doesn't want to sing the song, and "I don't care who wrote it."  Then people in the background yell "do it!," and he obliges.

6.  "The Boat I Row" - This was the B-side to "Oh No No," and it was covered by British singer Lulu, who took it to #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Canadian pop chart.

The songs on this album alone would represent a pretty solid career, but Diamond was just getting started.  He has continued to (successfully) make music for the 50+ years since then.  After this album was released, Diamond had:  (1) 18 Top 10 albums in the U.S. (including studio and live albums), including one #1 (2008's Home Before Dark); (2) including studio, live, and compilation albums, 24 platinum or multiplatinum albums in the U.S.; (3) 32 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including 11 Top 10s and three #1s.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "You Got to Me"

"You Got to Me" is kind of forgotten hit and gem in Diamond's vast catalog.  With a wailing harmonica throughout and an infectious melody, it's a great '60s pop rock song.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Thank the Lord for the Night Time"
This is a classic Diamond song in every sense, from the acoustic-electric guitar to the hand claps to the catchy choruses to the uptempo beat to the subtle piano to the soulful background vocals to Diamond's gravely voice.

CoronaVinyl Day 169 (C): These Are My Songs by Petula Clark

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "C," and until this morning, I don't think I realized I owned three Petula Clark albums.  Clark's storied career began as a child, when she was a BBC radio performer during World War II.  She then acted both on stage and screen from the mid '40s to the late '50s, although she started to switch her focus to music in the mid '50s.  In the '60s, she became an international pop star, recording hit songs in multiple languages.

Between 1954 and 1968, Clark had 19 Top 40 songs on the UK pop charts, including 11 Top 10 songs and two #1s.  In the U.S., between 1964 and 1968, she had 15 Top 40 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including six Top 10s and two #1s.  She also had 17 Top 10 hits in France, including four #1s.  In Italy, she had 7 Top 10 songs, including four #1s.  In Germany, she had four Top 10s and two #1s.

Released in 1967, These Are My Songs is a bit of a misnomer.  While it refers to the hit song "This Is My Song" -- which was written by Charlie Chaplin! -- most of the songs on the album are covers, including covers of The Young Rascals' "Groovin'" and Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)."  Her most recognizable song on the album -- for me, anyway -- is "Don't Sleep In the Subway," which was a Top 5 hit for her in the U.S.  Most of the songs are kind of dreamy '60s pop songs, often with strings and/or woodwinds behind her.

The album wasn't available on Spotify, but there is a YouTube playlist with the entire album that I embedded below.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Resist"

"Resist" is one of the few songs on the album written by Clark -- under the pseudonym Al Grant -- and it's a little more upbeat that some of the other songs on Side 1, which is why I chose it.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Don't Sleep In the Subway"
This is a nice little '60s pop song about some dude who apparently gets in big enough fights with his lady that he leaves and sleeps underground.

Tuesday Top Ten: "Thank You" Songs

In two days, we Americans get to celebrate Thanksgiving, and for those of us who are considerate of the health of our family and friends, it will be an unusual Thanksgiving, as we will not be traveling or having our normal large gatherings.  On the bright side, if you are being cautious this year and steering clear of your typical big family feast, perhaps you will be able to avoid heated conversations with your right-wing relatives who will undoubtedly be spewing unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about how the election was stolen from their supreme leader.

Regardless, even in this strange year, hopefully you find something to be thankful about.  So I've compiled my ten favorite songs with "thank you," "thanks," "thankful," or any variation with the root word "thank."  Even if you're not going to be surrounded by as many people as usual, you can still make a great playlist.

And finally, please don't be an asshole.  If you haven't been able to quarantine for the last ten days or you don't have a recent negative COVID test or you don't feel quite right, then just stay home on Thanksgiving.  I realize it sucks, but the recent spikes across the country are largely from private, indoor gatherings.  Don't put your health and the health of your friends and relatives at risk just because you wish COVID didn't exist.  That's not how it works.

Anywho, here are the songs in alphabetical order by artist:

1.  "Thank You Girl" by The Beatles

Released as the B-side to "From Me to You" in 1963 in the UK and to "Do You Want to Know a Secret" in 1964 in the U.S., "Thank You Girl" is an expectedly catchy ode to the band's female fans, and Ringo has a few delicious fills near the end of the song.

2.  "Thank You" by Boyz II Men

"Thank You" kind of gets lost in the pantheon of mega hits that were on Boyz II Men's II album, but it's my favorite song on the album.  It's a little funkier and soulful than the ballads like "On Bended Knee," "I'll Make Love to You," and "Water Runs Dry" from the same album.  And while it wasn't a Top 2 hit like all three of those, it did reach #21 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the group's ninth Top 40 song in the U.S.

3.  "Thanks for the Pepperoni" by George Harrison

This is one of the many great jams on George Harrison's colossal All Things Must Pass album from 1970, with a great title to boot, paying homage to my favorite pizza topping.  Joining George on this track were Dave Mason and nearly all of Derek and The Dominoes -- Eric Clapton, Jim Gordon, Carl Radle, and Bobby Whitlock.

4.  "Thank You Very Much" by Kaiser Chiefs

Leeds-based rockers Kaiser Chiefs are one of my favorite bands to come out of the aughts.  "Thank You Very Much" is off their second studio album, 2007's Yours Truly, Angry Mob.  It's a fast-paced punkish indie rock song.

5.  "Thank You" by Led Zeppelin

"Thank You" -- off of 1969's Led Zeppelin II -- was the first Zeppelin song for which the lyrics were written solely by Robert Plant, and he proved his songwriting mettle.  It's a touching tribute of gratitude to Plant's then-wife Maureen.  John Paul Jones's organs and John Bonham's subtly delicious fills have always stuck out to me.

6.  "Thank You" by Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

While Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats' "S.O.B." -- and it's iconic line "son of a bitch, gimme a drink" -- may be appropriate for Thanksgiving gatherings with family as well, that's not what this list is about, but their song "Thank You" (also on their eponymous 2015 debut album) is a nice, soulful song that fits nicely with the theme.

7.  "I Thank You" by Sam & Dave

Co-written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter (not to be confused with Dave Prater, who was the "Dave" in Sam & Dave) and backed by Booker T. & The MGs and the Mar-Keys, it's no wonder 1968's "I Thank You" was Sam & Dave's second Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 (reaching #9).  It's a classic Stax song, and it was also famously covered by ZZ Top on on their 1979 album Degüello (their cover reached #34 on the Billboard Hot 100).

8.  "The Thanksgiving Song" by Adam Sandler

We couldn't have a list of songs with "thanks" without including this Adam Sandler classic. And I'm going with the original Sandler performed on SNL's Weekend Update.

9.   "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" by Sly & The Family Stone

Sly & The Family Stone was one of the pioneers of funk.  They were not only a blend of genders and skin colors, but they made all sorts of fantastic music.  "Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" was one of their earliest forays into funk, and they nailed it.  The song hit #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard R&B charts, becoming one of the first successful funk songs.

10.  "Thanks A Lot" by Third Eye Blind

I spent a good many nights during the summers of 1997 and 1998 with Third Eye Blind's self-titled debut album in the CD changer.  While "Semi-Charmed Life," "Jumper," "Graduate," and "How's It Going to Be" rightfully get a lot of love, "Thanks A Lot" is a hidden gem on the album.

CoronaVinyl Day 168 (B): Let's Dance by David Bowie

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "B," and I'm going with David Bowie's 15th studio album, 1983's Let's Dance.

Ever the rock and roll chameleon, Bowie once again reinvented himself with Let's Dance.  Co-produced by Bowie and Chic's Nile Rodgers, the album combined pop melodies with funk rhythms and guitars from one of the best there ever was (Stevie Ray Vaughan).  The result was Bowie's best-selling album ever, introducing him to a whole new audience.

Let's Dance was a hit in the U.S., the UK, and elsewhere.  In the U.S., it hit #4 on the Billboard album chart, becoming his fourth Top 10 album in the U.S.  In the UK, it became his fourth #1 album on the UK album charts.  All in all, it was a Top 5 album in 13 countries, and it topped the charts in 7 of those.

The album also included some of Bowie's most memorable songs and biggest hits.  The title track hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (his second #1 in the U.S. after "Fame" in 1975) and on the UK pop charts -- making it his only song to top both charts -- as well as 13 other pop charts.  "China Girl" -- which was co-written with, and originally recorded by, Iggy Pop -- reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the UK pop chart, and was a Top 10 song on 12 other pop charts.  "Modern Love" hit #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 in the UK, and was a Top 10 song on 9 other pop charts.

Now I'm not gonna blow smoke up your ass and say that Let's Dance is anywhere near Bowie's best album or anywhere near my favorite Bowie album, but with Rodgers co-producing and co-arranging and with SRV's subtly delicious guitars, it's a pretty damn good '80s pop-funk-rock album.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Modern Love"

This is one of my favorite Bowie songs.  I love Vaughan's guitar intro/riff that grabs your attention.  Then the rest of the song is a sax-laden, catchy early '80s tune about the struggle between God and man –- or should I say between Bowie and Bowie?

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)"
Originally, this song was released in 1982 as the theme song to the erotic horror film Cat People.  Bowie re-recorded it for this album because the label that owned the original wouldn't let him use the original, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise because Vaughan really shines on this version.  He doesn't get many opportunities to show of his skills, but I feel like he gets his shot on this song, with a few nice little solos.

CoronaVinyl Day 167 (A): Laid Back by Gregg Allman

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "A," and I'm going with Gregg Allman's 1973 solo debut album, Laid Back.

Though he was still very much a part of The Allman Brothers Band when he recorded and released Laid Back -- they were recording Brothers and Sisters around the same time -- Gregg Allman wanted to do a solo album for the same reason many musicians want to do solo albums -- to make music that might not necessarily fit within the confines of their current band.  

Given how closely I associate The Allman Brothers' sound with Gregg Allman's voice, it's tough for me to think of the songs on Laid Back as songs that couldn't have been Allman Brothers songs.  But then stepping back, the songs are more introspective and ballad-esque, with both more of a Southern rock/country rock feel and soul feel that a typical Allman Brothers offering.  It certainly has a sad feel to it, no doubt driven by Allman's still-fresh wounds from the death of his brother Duane in October 1971.

The album did pretty well on the charts, reaching #13 on the Billboard album chart.  Allman's reworking of "Midnight Rider" was also a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #19.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Midnight Rider"

Even though I like the original Allman Brothers version better, I still enjoy Allman's remake of his own song.  This version is intentionally "swamp-like," and has a creepier and funkier air to it than the original.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "These Days"
Before today, I hadn't realized a few things about this song.  First, I didn't know that anyone other than Velvet Underground chanteuse Nico recorded it.  Second, I had no idea that a 16-year-old Jackson Browne was the songwriter.  I immediately recognized the the first line -- "Well, I've been out walking / I don't do that much talking these days."  The original version -- which you will likely recognize if you're a Royal Tenenbaums fan -- was haunting, thanks to Nico's distinctive monotone voice.  Allman's version is very country rock, with a slide guitar and all, and it's more of a heartfelt ballad.

Hair Band Friday - 11/20/20

1.  "Who Wants to Be Lonely" by KISS

2.  "Look My Way" by Britny Fox

3.  "17 Crash" by L.A. Guns

4.  "Girl Crazy" by Y&T

5.  "Reach For Me" by Jackyl

6.  "Fastest Gun In Town" by Roxx Gang

7.  "Rock on the Radio" by FireHouse

8.  "Young Man" by Hurricane

9.  "Desperate" by Vixen

10.  "All In the Name Of . . ." (live) by Mötley Crüe

CoronaVinyl Day 166 (#): Tour de Force by .38 Special

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Well folks, when I initially started CoronaVinyl a little more than eight months ago, I was silly enough to think that we would be back to normal and I would be back at work after 30 days.  And then when it became more apparent that this pandemic wasn't going away for a while, I started adding CoronaVinyl categories to the original 30, with the intention of hopefully having enough categories to last until I went back to work.  Well, I've gone through all 135 of my additional categories -- and that was even with skipping October -- so now I'm just going to go A-Z through the rest of my vinyl collection, but not linearly.  

Starting today, I'm going to start at the beginning of my collection alphabetically -- which isn't a letter, but rather .38 Special -- and then feature an album from an artist with a different letter each day, A-Z, and then start over.  So, today, it's .38 Special.  Tomorrow, it will be a band or artist starting with A.  Monday, it will be a band or artist starting with B, and so on and so forth.  The way I organize my vinyl, I have collections and compilations by various artists after Z, so once I hit Z, I'm going go with one of those compilations or collections.  Then the next day, I'm going back to A, and we're gonna do this as many times as it takes until I go back to work or run out of vinyl.  I have well over 500 albums, so given that I skip weekends and holidays for CoronaVinyl, it would take us until sometime in 2022 to get through everything.  For everyone's sake, I hope that doesn't happen.

Here are a few things that will guide my choices:

• To the extent possible, I'm first going to go with albums by artists I haven't yet featured on CoronaVinyl.  Obviously, this isn't always going to be possible.
• I'm also going to first go with albums I've never listened to, so if I get to a letter with both an artist I haven't yet featured and an album by that artist I've never listened to, double whammy!
• I'm going to include 10-inch and 12-inch EPs and singles, as long as they play at 33 1/3 RPM.  I have a handful of 78s, but my record player doesn't have a setting for 78 RPM, so I won't be including those.  Likewise, 45s are out.  I have hundreds of those, but we'll save those for the next pandemic.

So anyway, today's selection is .38 Special's sixth studio album, 1983's Tour de Force.  The band was founded in 1974 by Donnie Van Zant, the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd original lead singer, the late Ronnie Van Zant, and the older brother of Johnny Van Zant, who has been Skynyrd's lead singer since 1987.  Van Zant and rhythm guitarist Don Barnes shared lead vocal duties, and the band also had two drummers.  They band released their self-titled debut album in 1977 and then follow up albums in each of the following two years.  Unsurprisingly, the band's sound was Southern rock.

From their third album and into the early '80s, the band switched to more of an arena rock and AOR sound, and they often collaborated on songwriting with with Survivor co-founder and songwriter Jim Peterik, who helped co-write several of the band's biggest hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including 1979's "Rockin' into the Night" (#43), 1981's "Hold On Loosely" (#27), and the band's first Top 10 hit, 1982's "Caught Up in You."

By the time Tour de Force was recorded, they had split ties with Peterik, though I still hear his influence on many of the songs.  The album is definitely more AOR than Southern rock.  If you heard any of these songs without knowing who the band was or what year the album came out, chances are you'd say "early '80s."  That's not a bad thing.  The album is a good example of early '80s radio-friendly catchy rock and roll.

Tour de Force did pretty well on the charts and commercially.  It reached #22 on the Billboard album charts and eventually went platinum in the U.S.  The album also produced the band's second and third Top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100:  "If I'd Been The One" (#19) and "Back Where You Belong" (#20).  Both of those were also Top 5 songs on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, with the former hitting #1.  "One Time for Old Times" also charted at #17 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "If I'd Been The One"

This was the biggest hit from the album, and it's the first track.  It's a catchy rock song, so it's no wonder it was a Top 20 hit.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Long Distance Affair"
Listening to "Long Distance Affair," you would think Peterik had a hand in the songwriting (because of its polished Survivor-esque sound), but he didn't.  Regardless, it's another solid early '80s rock song.

CoronaVinyl Day 165 (Most Recent Album Acquired): Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is my most recent album acquired.  Being a man of my word, I will, for the first time in this eight-month stay-at-home musical journey, repeat an artist.  The most recent album I acquired was The Beach Boys' iconic 1966 album Pet Sounds, which a friend of mine recently gave me for my birthday.  And yes, it's true, I did not have Pet Sounds on vinyl before then.

I'm not going to inundate you with all of the accolades Pet Sounds has received over the years, but suffice it to say, it is widely (and rightly) recognized as one of the greatest albums in music history.  For instance, it has been ranked #2 on every one of Rolling Stone's lists of the 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time, behind only The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Pet Sounds is an exhibition in songwriting, arranging, and production.  By the time the album was released in May 1966, the band already had 17 Top 40 songs and had established itself as the premier American rock band, but then they (well, mostly Brian Wilson) made what was probably the most ambitious rock album that had been made to that point.  Inspired by Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, weed, acid, and The Beatles' Rubber Soul -- and the idea that a pop group could make an artistic statement -- The Beach Boys set out to make a an album that transcended musical conventions while at the same time had lyrics and themes that remained relatable, and they did just that.  They went from singing mostly about teenage love and surfing -- albeit with the most beautiful harmonies you've ever heard -- to making the album that helped usher in the psychedelic era and inspired The Beatles to make Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.  Even the end of "Caroline, No" -- the last track on the album -- fades into sounds of barking dogs and trains, not unlike the animal noises at the end of "Good Morning Good Morning" on Sgt. Pepper's a year later.

There are plenty of well-known Beach Boys classics on this, like "Wouldn't It Be Nice," their adaptation of "Sloop John B" (a tale of rape on the high seas!), "God Only Knows" (many a couples' first wedding dance), and "Caroline, No."  For me, though, it's the lesser-known songs that make the album great.  "That's Not Me," "I'm Waiting For The Day," "I Know There's An Answer" (although I like the original version "Hang On To Your Ego" a little better), "Here Today," and "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" are all fantastic.  In addition to The Beach Boys' own talents, the album is backed by the Sid Sharp strings and the famous Wrecking Crew.

What's really crazy, though, is that when Pet Sounds was released, Carl Wilson was 19, Dennis Wilson was 21, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston were 23, and Mike Love was the elder statesman at 25.  By comparison, when I was 19, 21, 23, and 25, I was not writing or recording one of the greatest albums ever made.  I was drinking a lot of light beer, though.  A lot of light beer.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "I'm Waiting For The Day"

This is my favorite song on the album.  It's is an underrated gem, alternating between bombastic timpanies and Wall of Sound woodwinds, and quiet, sweet verses sung by Brian Wilson.  The song is about a guy singing to a girl who recently had her heart broken by someone else.  He's comforting her and patiently waiting for the day when she can love again, while at the same time he's concerned that she still has feelings for her ex.  I especially love the false ending at about the 2:25 mark, as it appears to be fading out, before those timpanies kick back in, and Wilson exultantly exclaims, "You didn't think, no, that I could sit around and let him work! / You didn't think, no, that I could sit around and watch him take you! / You didn't think that I could sit around and watch him go! / You didn't think that I could sit back and let you go!"  And the drums are played by Jim Gordon, then an in-demand studio drummer, who would go on to play in Derek & The Dominos and Traffic.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Here Today"
Another Wall of Sound-esque underrated gem, "Here Today" is all about how love and relationships are fleeting.  Mike Love handles lead vocals, with the rest of the group providing those signature harmonies in the background.  Musically, Brian Wilson was inspired by Bach and was experimenting with the bass guitar, tuning it an octave above normal.  There are also some weird time signatures with the bass that someone with any sort of musical theory training could probably explain, but all I can tell you is that it's considered brilliant.

CoronaVinyl Day 164 (Larger Than Triple Album): The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz by Various Artist

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "larger than triple album," and I have The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz, a sprawling 6-LP collection released in 1973 by the Smithsonian Institution.  As you may be able to see from the price tag that I never took off the album, I got this for a measly $4.99.  That's less than 42 cents per side!

It features songs from early blues, jazz, and ragtime, up through bebop, post-bop, and free jazz, from artists including, but not limited to, Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Krupa, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, and John Coltrane.

I'm not even going to try to give you my favorite songs from all 12 sides of the collection, but someone has dutifully recreated the collection on a Spotify playlist (as best he could), so if you want to listen to how jazz evolved from the '20s to the '60s, and you have nearly six hours to spare, here you go.

CoronaVinyl Day 163 (Britpop): (What's The Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis

 For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is Britpop, the musical genre that developed in the UK in the early to mid '90s as kind of reaction to the sullenness of grunge and shoegaze.  As the name implies, it was more pop oriented, but was still generally guitar-driven rock.  Along with the musical aspects of the genre, it was seen as a rejuvenation of interest in Britain, and particularly the Swinging London-era '60s.  Bands like Oasis, Blur, Suede, and Pulp led the way.  There was famously a press-dubbed "Battle of Britpop" between Oasis and Blur in the mid '90s, as both bands were selling records and charting hits in the UK at a solid clip.

I recently bought a special edition of Oasis's magnificent 1995 sophomore studio album (What's The Story) Morning Glory? that the band put out in honor of its 25th anniversary.  As you can see from the photos above, it's split into two discs, and they are both front-and-back picture discs.

It's just an awesome album, even without the picture discs.  The album is a demonstration in everything that was great about Britpop, full of catchy rock songs with a decidedly British feel.  It has some of Oasis's best-known songs and biggest hits, like "Wonderwall," "Don't Look Back in Anger," "Champagne Supernova," "Roll With It," "Morning Glory," "Some Might Say," and "Hey Now!"

The album was a smash in the UK, selling a then-record-breaking 345,000 copies in its first week in the UK alone.  It would go on to become the UK's best-selling album of the '90s, and it has since sold nearly 5 million copies in the UK, making it the UK's fifth best-selling album and third best-selling studio album of all-time.  The album spent 10 weeks at #1 on the UK album chart, won the award for Best British Album at the 1996 Brit Awards, and spawned four singles in the UK, all of which either hit #1 or #2 on the UK pop chart -- "Some Might Say" (#1), "Don't Look Back in Anger" (#1), "Roll With It" (#2), and "Wonderwall" (#2).  At the 2010 Brit Awards, the album was named the greatest British album since 1980.

(What's The Story) Morning Glory? was also the album that made Oasis into international superstars.  It went to #4 on the Billboard album chart and has gone platinum four times in the U.S.  "Wonderwall" reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 (the band's highest-charting song to date in the U.S.) and "Don't Look Back in Anger" reached #55.  "Wonderwall," "Champagne Supernova," and "Don't Look Back in Anger" were all Top 10 songs on the Billboard Alternative Rock Tracks chart, with the first two both reaching #1.  "Morning Glory" also went to #24 on that chart.

Outside of the UK and U.S.: 

• The album reached the Top 10 on 22 other album charts around the world, topping nine of them.
• "Wonderall" reached the Top 40 on 22 pop singles charts, the Top 10 on 17 of those, and #1 in Australia and New Zealand.
• "Don't Look Back in Anger" reached the Top 40 on 19 pop singles charts, the Top 10 on nine of those and #1 in Ireland and Scotland.
• "Roll With It" reached the Top 40 on nine pop singles charts, the Top 10 on six of those, and #1 in Scotland.
• "Some Might Say" reached the Top 40 on seven pop singles charts, and it also reached the Top 10 on six of those and #1 in Scotland. 
• "Champagne Supernova" reached the Top 40 on four pop singles charts.
• "Morning Glory" reached the Top 40 on two pop singles charts.

Overall, it has sold over 22 million albums worldwide, making it one of the 60 best-selling albums ever.  And because the version I have splits the album into four sides, I get to highlight four songs for you, instead of two.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Wonderwall"

"Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you" is one of the best and most memorable opening lines in rock history.  There's a reason this song was such a huge hit all over the world.  It's a great rock song.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Don't Look Back in Anger"

While "Wonderwall" gets all the love, I like "Don't Look Back in Anger" more.  The chorus is majestic.  Alan White has delicious fills throughout.  This is an anthem, simply put.

Favorite song from Side 3:  "Some Might Say"

"Some Might Say" wasn't released as a single in the U.S., so I feel like it can get lost on this side of the pond when talking about Oasis or this album.  But it's a great song, with a glammy guitar intro and catchy, echo-y chorus that's just so damn '90s.

Favorite song from Side 4:  "Morning Glory"

The title track is more uptempo than most of the album, and it's another solid rock and roll song.  

CoronaVinyl Day 162 (Two First Names): Street Songs by Rick James

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "two first names."  Back in August, I did a category called "all first names," featuring Sam & Dave's greatest hits.  That category related to bands or groups.  This one relates to individuals that have first names and last names that could be first names.  Some examples include Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Billy Joel, Willie Nelson, Billy Paul, George Harrison, George Michael, Lionel Richie, Lou Reed, Huey Lewis, Rod Stewart, Carla Thomas, Mariah Carey, Gene Vincent, Bonnie Tyler, James Taylor, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Joe Jackson, Buddy Guy, Montell Jordan, Carl Douglas, Wyclef Jean, Paul Simon, Carly Simon, Gary Clark, Jr., Ricky Martin, Will Smith, Robert Randolph, Tommy James, Kim Gordon, and Wesley Willis, to name a few.

And, of course, there is funk and soul legend Rick James.  With his garish fashion sense, overtly sexual lyrics, outspokenness, and longtime hardcore drug use ("cocaine is a hell of a drug"), James was both famous and infamous.  Of course, his popularity resurged in 2004, after his appearance and comedic dramatization on Chappelle's Show as part of one of the hilarious Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories.  "I'm Rick James, bitch" was both a high point for Chappelle and one of those damn things that, after that, everyone felt the need to say to Chappelle.  Sadly, James died later that year.

Anywho, I have his 1981 album Street Songs, which was his fifth studio album and I think is fairly considered his signature album.  The album cover tells you everything you need to know about Rick James.  He's dressed is black leather pants, a black leather jacket, unzipped to show his bare chest, and thigh-high red leather boots.  Magnificent.

The album itself is a zesty combination of funk, soul, disco, and R&B, with an early '80s flair.  Backing vocals on the album are provided by the likes of The Temptations, Teena Marie, The Mary Jane Girls, and Welcome Back, Kotter actor Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, and Stevie Wonder even makes an appearance with a harmonica solo on "Mr. Policeman."

Street Songs was his highest-charting album, reaching #3 on the Billboard album chart and #1 on the Billboard R&B album chart.  It has two of his most well-known songs.  "Give It To Me Baby," which has appeared in various commercials over the years, hit #40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it also reached #1 on the Billboard R&B Singles and Hot Dance Club Play charts.  "Super Freak" -- which was famously sampled by MC Hammer on "U Can't Touch This," earning James a Grammy for composing the song -- reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart, and #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play charts.

The Spotify version of the album has two bonus tracks -- the 12" versions of "Give It To Me Baby" and "Super Freak."

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Give It To Me Baby"

This is just a great, catchy, uptempo funk song.  As a former bassist, I appreciate the funky bass intro.  Temptations founding member Melvin Franklin provides that deep bass backing vocal.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Below The Funk (Pass The J)"
This one is another fast-paced funky number about James's upbringing in Buffalo and rise to fame.

Hair Band Friday - 11/13/20

1.  "The Last Mile" by Cinderella

2.  "Don't Say It's Over" by White Lion

3.  "As Soon As the Good Times Roll" by Scorpions

4.  "Penny" by Night Ranger

5.  "Let's Get It Up" by AC/DC

6.  "Grinder" by Judas Priest

7.  "I'm the One" by Van Halen

8.  "Time to Surrender" by Winger

9.  "Feel the Power" by Twisted Sister

10.  "Dance of the Dogs" by Lynch Mob

CoronaVinyl Day 161 (Self-Titled Non-Debut): Traffic by Traffic

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Yesterday we looked at self-titled debut albums, and today's CoronaVinyl category is self-titled non-debut album.  Usually when a band or artist releases a self-titled album, it's their debut album.  It's a "since we're new to this whole music scene thing, if you can't remember our band's name, it's also the name of the album, so that way, you won't forget us" kind of thing.  But there are also plenty of examples throughout modern music history when a band or artist releases a self-titled album further on in their careers.  Some of them end up being some of bands' best-known records, like The Beatles' 1968 self-titled double album (aka, "The White Album"), or Metallica's huge 1991 self-titled album (aka, "The Black Album").

English rock band Traffic formed in 1967, after singer/keyboardist/guitarist Steve Winwood (still only 19 at the time) left The Spencer Davis Group.  He jammed with drummer/singer Jim Capaldi and guitarist/singer Dave Mason (both formerly of the Hellions and Deep Feeling) and woodwinds player Chris Wood (formerly of Locomotive), and it apparently went well, as they formed Traffic shortly thereafter.  They released their debut album, Mr. Fantasy, in 1967, and then followed that up with their self-titled sophomore effort.

Traffic (the album) is a solid collection of psychedelic rock, early prog rock, and folk rock.  There was apparently some internal tension in the band, with Winwood and Capaldi wanting to go in more of a psychedelic and blues-rock direction, while Mason wanted to go more in a pop direction.  Mason and Winwood split lead vocals, with Mason handling the duties on the songs he wrote, while Winwood handling vocals on the rest.  Mason also didn't play on a few of the songs that he didn't write.  

The album features some of the band's signature songs, like "Feelin' Alright?" and "Pearly Queen."  It was also the band's only Top 10 album in their native UK, also reaching #17 on the Billboard album chart, despite not having a song that sniffed the Billboard Hot 100.

After this album, the band released Last Exit in May 1969 and then broke up, with Winwood forming supergroup Blind Faith with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Rick Grech.  However, Traffic would reform less than a year later, though without Mason, who was pursuing a solo career.  Winwood brought Grech with him from Blind Faith to play bass, and then, in 1971, added drummer Jim Gordon of Derek and the Dominos and Ghanaian percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah.  Mason briefly came back into the fold in 1971, but then left quickly.  The group put out four albums between 1970 and 1974 before breaking up for good -- or at least for 20 years.  Winwood and Capaldi reformed the band in 1994 to tour as The Grateful Dead's opening act, and then Traffic -- or, more accurately, Winwood and Capaldi -- made another studio album that year before going their separate ways again.  In 2014, Traffic was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Spotify version of the album has five bonus tracks.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Feelin' Alright?"

Joe Cocker's cover of this is probably better known, but I've always liked the original better.  Mason wrote and handled lead vocals on this one.  It's an acoustic rocker that picks up in the choruses.  With Winwood's piano and Wood's sax, it feels like it foreshadows the sound that The Rolling Stones would embrace a year later when they started using saxophonist Bobby Keys.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Forty Thousand Headman"
Penned by Winwood and Capaldi and also called "Roamin' Thro' the Gloamin with 40,000 Headmen," this one is a psychedelic folk rock song, highlighted by Wood's flute, Coke tin, and sleigh bells, which give the song a dream-like quality.  And that makes sense, as apparently it was inspired by a dream Capaldi had while high on hash.

Retro Video of the Week: "Cult of Personality" by Living Colour

Four years ago, the day after Donald Trump was elected president, I posted R.E.M.'s "It's The End of the World As We Know It" and Living Colour's "Cult of Personality" as the Retro Videos of the Week.  Both songs seemed to accurately sum up what I was feeling at the time.  Four years later, as Trump's tenure in the White House is crashing to a fiery end, I'd like to highlight "Cult of Personality" again.  Even when it was released in 1988, it seemed like a powerful song.  Musically, it didn't really fit within the confines of the popular hard rock genres of the day.  It didn't sound like a hair band, nor did it sound like thrash metal.  Simply put, it's just a damn good hard rock song.  Vernon Reid's riff is brutal, and his guitar playing is spectacular.

Lyrically, though, it's a scathing commentary on the "cult of personality" -- the cultural/political phenomenon when a political leader or hopeful leader uses propaganda, lies, so-called patriotism, and the like to create an idealized version of him- or herself as a demigod.  Only what that person says should be taken as the truth, and anything that is contrary to what that person says is condemned and rejected as false or unpatriotic, regardless of its basis in actual fact.  Sound familiar?  Needless to say, the cult of personality is commonly associated with authoritarian regimes.

The song discusses various political and social leaders on both sides of the political spectrum, mainly from the second half of the 20th Century, and it comments on how they use their constituents' emotions against them to gain power and trust.  Sound familiar?  As Trump and his band of merry idiots try to discredit and dismantle American democracy, and as Trump's followers blindly believe his ridiculous claims of voter fraud (which is a phenomenon that simply does not exist in any significant manner in this country), and as Trump scoffs at the notion of a peaceful transition of power that our country has always enjoyed, listen to the lyrics of this song.  

"I exploit you / Still you love me / I tell you one and one makes three."  That essentially sums up the last four years -- and even now, as Trump is literally trying to say that he won states in which he was soundly defeated.  When this is all over -- whether by Trump resigning early, being dragged kicking and screaming from the White House on January 20, or going the cowardly way of Adolf Hitler -- it is my sincere hope that at least some of his supporters come out of whatever trance this charlatan put on them and realize they were duped, like someone who escaped from a cult.  Perhaps even some of them will choose to believe in science and fact again or re-open that part of their brains that engages in critical thinking, and maybe they'll even start wearing masks and socially distancing, so that we can all, as a nation, help quash COVID as much as possible while we impatiently wait for a vaccine.

CoronaVinyl Day 160 (Self-Titled Debut): The Doobie Brothers by The Doobie Brothers

  For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is self-titled debut album, and I have many of them, although I have already featured some of them in CoronaVinyl (or other albums by the bands or artists).  Thankfully, my collection is deep, which gives me the chance to listen to records I normally wouldn't break out.

I'm going with The Doobie Brothers' 1971 self-titled debut.  The album didn't chart on the Billboard album chart, and there aren't any huge hits -- though "Nobody" did reach #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 after it was re-released several years later -- but you can definitely hear the beginnings of their classic pre-Michael McDonald sound, kind of a combination of rock, hard rock, country rock, and southern rock.  It clearly set the stage for the band's success, as their follow-up album, 1972's Toulouse Street reached #21 on the Billboard album chart, and after that, it was seven Top 10 albums in a row.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Nobody"

The first song on the album sounds like a classic Doobie Brothers song.  Even if you had never heard it before, within the first few bars, you would peg it as one of their songs.  It's a catchy acoustic rock song with those signature harmonies on the choruses.  It also has a nice rocking guitar solo.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Beehive State"
This is a cover of a song originally recorded (and written) by legendary songwriter Randy Newman, and The Doobie Brothers turned it into a great rock song.  The song implores you to forget about Kansas and think about Utah.

CoronaVinyl Day 159 ('50s Soul): Encore of Golden Hits by The Platters

 For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is '50s soul, and The Platters were one of the groups that epitomized the sound of '50s soul.  I have a greatest hits album released in 1960 called Encore of Golden Hits, featuring 12 songs released between 1955 and 1959 by the "classic" lineup of David Lynch (not the famed director), Herb Reed, Paul Robi, Zola Taylor, and Tony Williams.

Now that we are more than 60 years past The Platters' heyday, it's easy to forget how much of a force they were, both in the U.S. and abroad.  With Williams on lead vocals, and the rest of the group lending silky smooth backing vocals, The Platters became one of the biggest groups (of any genre) in the late '50s.  Between 1955 and the end of the decade, the group had 15 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 (or its predecessor), including 6 Top 10s and 4 #1s. On the Billboard R&B singles chart, in that same time span, they had 12 Top 10 songs, including 4 #1s.  They were also successful in the UK, where they had 9 Top 40 hits on the UK pop chart, including five Top 5 hits and one #1.  And to top it off, they had three #1 songs on the Australian pop chart.  The group also appeared in the legendary 1956 rock and roll movie, Rock Around the Clock, performing "Only You" and "The Great Pretender."

The album I have features all four of the group's #1 songs -- "The Great Pretender," "My Prayer," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," and "Twilight Time" -- and the other eight songs were also hits, with songs that charted between #4 and #41 on the Billboard Hot 100 (or its predecessor).

After 1959, Williams was ousted, and the group went through various lineup changes over the next decade.  While their popularity waned in the '60s, they still had some success, with 7 additional Top 40 hits, including one Top 10 song (1960's "Harbor Lights," which reached #8).  And then, like so many other groups, there have been competing versions of The Platters (often touring concurrently), each with one or more former members of the group and using someone's name in the title, like "The Platters featuring Tony Williams."

And finally, for my fellow Bulls fans, I had always been under the impression that former Bulls player Scott Williams was Platters' lead singer Tony Williams's son -- and there is even a 1993 Sports Illustrated article suggesting that -- but that isn't the case.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "The Great Pretender"

Their second single from the classic lineup became their first #1 hit on the Billboard pop chart and their second #1 on the Billboard R&B chart.  It's a classic '50s soul song, describing a guy who's pretending to be happy, when really he's lonely and miserable because his steady gal is no longer around.  Whether that's because she broke up with him, moved away, or was brutally murdered is unclear.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "Heaven on Earth"
While this wasn't one of their bigger hits -- only reaching #39 on the Billboard pop chart and #13 on the Billboard R&B chart -- it's a great, soulful song, with Williams belting it out in a few spots.

CoronaVinyl Day 158 (Arizona): Heart Like a Wheel by Linda Ronstadt

 For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is Arizona, which turns out to be more timely than I could have imagined when I made my list of CoronaVinyl categories, as Arizona's presidential votes are still being counted and could help nail Trump's coffin shut.  If it goes blue, it will be the first time since 1996 and only the second time since 1948.

But politics isn't what we're talking about here, so let's get to the music.  Perhaps one of the most famous musicians from Arizona is Linda Ronstadt.  Born and raised in Tucson, her family's roots in Arizona go all the way back to before it was even part of the U.S., and several of her ancestors have made various contributions to Arizona's history.

Ronstadt became one of the biggest solo stars of the '70s, with her silky voice and easy listening combination of rock, folk, and country.  She had five Top 5 albums on the Billboard album chart between 1974 and 1978 -- three of which hit #1 -- and all of them went platinum.

1974's Heart Like a Wheel was her fifth studio album, and it's the one that broker her into stardom, reaching #1 on the Billboard album chart -- a whole 44 spots higher than her previous highest-charting album.  She also netted her first two Top 10 songs from this album.  "You're No Good" hit #1, and "When Will I Be Loved" hit #2.

The album received four Grammy nominations (including Album of the Year), and she won the award for Best Country Vocal Performance Female for "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love with You."  If you look at who contributed to the album, that's not too much of a surprise.  

• The album was produced by Peter Asher, half of British Invasion pop duo Peter and Gordon.  
• Andrew Gold contributed to most of the songs.  Among his many accomplishments are that he wrote and recorded the original version of "Thank You For Being a Friend," which was later covered as the now-iconic theme song to Golden Girls, he wrote and sang the theme for Mad About You, and his 1996 novelty Halloween song "Spooky Scary Skeletons" became a big viral/meme hit in the 2010s.
• Other artists who lent their talents to the album include:  Eagles members Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Timothy Schmit; Emmylou Harris; famed composer/arranger David Campbell (whose song is Beck); former Flying Burrito Brothers Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Chris Ethridge; and session drummer Russ Kunkel.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Dark End of the Street"

This is a soulful ballad, where Ronstadt shows off her pipes.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "When Will I Be Loved"
This is a rollicking country rock cover of my favorite Everly Brothers song.