Retro Video of the Week: "Luka" by Suzanne Vega

Tomorrow is the 35th anniversary of the release of singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega's second studio album, Solitude Standing.  It contained her two most well-known songs, "Tom's Diner" (which was remixed in 1990 by British group DNA and became a worldwide hit) and "Luka."  The album went to #11 on the Billboard album chart, and "Luka" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 -- both her highest-charting entries on those respective charts.

"Luka" is one of those songs that made an impression on me, even as a nine-year-old.  It's sung from the perspective of a young boy named Luka who is being abused by his parents and is basically telling the neighbors in his apartment not to confront him about noises that may be coming from his apartment.  It's an obviously heavy subject matter, and Vega handles it with reality and grace.

CoronaVinyl Day 407 (H): Longer Fuse by Dan Hill

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "H," and among the many albums in my most recent haul from my neighbor were three Dan Hill albums.  Today, I listened to his third studio album, 1977's Shorter Fuse.

Before today, I knew next to nothing about Hill or his music.  Turns out he's a Canadian singer-songwriter whose father was an activist and whose siblings were writers.  Hill got a record contract with RCA when he was still a teenager, but then was able to break that contract when RCA wasn't doing much to advance his career.  He switched to the Canadian label GRT, on which he released his debut album in 1975, then Hold On in 1976, and Longer Fuse in 1977.

Longer Fuse is mostly soft pop, sometimes bordering on soft rock, sometimes syrupy and schmaltzy, and nearly all very mellow.  It contains Hill's biggest hit, "Sometimes When We Touch," which was co-written by Hill and legendary Brill Building songwriter Barry Mann.  It topped the Canadian pop chart, went to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Australian pop chart, and went to #4 on the New Zealand pop chart.  I'm sure in 1977, plenty of babies were made to "Sometimes When We Touch."

He continued releasing music in the '90s, and he had another Top 10 hit in the U.S. in 1987, with "Can't We Try," a duet with Vonda Shepard that reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. That kicked off a string of five Top 10 songs on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart between 1987 and 1991 for Hill.  He also won a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1996 as the co-producer of Celine Dion's album Falling Into You (which is also one of the best-selling albums of all-time).  Last year, Hill was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Favorite Song on Side 1:  "Crazy"
This one is a little peppier than most of the songs on the album.

Favorite Song on Side 2:  "Longer Fuse"
The title track is a nice, soulful soft rock song, presumably referring to his wang.

Tuesday Top Ten: Fun Facts About This Year's Final Four

And in the blink of an eye, we've gone from 68 to 4.  After what was a relatively low-seeded Sweet 16 -- with five teams seeded 8 or higher -- the Final Four is very blue blood heavy, with 61 Final Fours and 17 national titles between the four, and all four teams ranking in the Top 20 all-time in NCAA Division 1 men's basketball wins:  (1) Kansas, (3) North Carolina, (4) Duke, and (19) Villanova.

In the Elite 8, only one game was kind of close, in the South Region, where 2-seed Villanova held off 5-seed Houston in a 50-44 rock fight.  In the West, 2-seed Duke beat 4-seed Arkansas, 78-69.  In the Midwest, the only remaining 1-seed, Kansas, crushed 10-seed Miami (who was playing in its first Elite 8), 76-50.  And in the East, 8-seed North Carolina finally ended the miraculous run of 15-seed St. Peter's, with a 69-49 win.

I'd be remiss if I didn't take a second to congratulate St. Peter's.  Not only did they become the first team seeded higher than a 12-seed to make it to the Elite 8, but they also sent Kentucky and Purdue home in the process.  As an IU alum, it's easy to see why the Peacocks became my favorite team in the tournament once the Hoosiers were knocked out.

Here are the Final Four game times this Saturday (Eastern).  Both games are on CBS:

(MW1) Kansas vs. (S2) Villanova – 6:09 p.m.

(W2) Duke vs. (E8) North Carolina – 8:49 p.m.

Despite having one of the most storied and celebrated rivalries in college basketball, in their 257 meetings to this point, the Tar Heels and Blue Devils have never played each other in the NCAA Tournament.  Of course, the stakes are raised even higher this year, as it's Coach K's last season at Duke before retiring, and North Carolina ruined his last home game at Cameron a few weeks ago by beating Duke 94-81.

As I do this time of year, I'm going to drop some Final Four statistical knowledge on you.  Get ready for it.

13.  This is only the 11th time since the NCAA tournament began in 1939 where each of the Final Four teams has already won an NCAA title.  The other years in which this occurred were 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2018.

12.  If Duke and Villanova win their semifinal games and meet in the championship game, it would be only the 7th time in the history of the NCAA Tournament that two private schools will have faced off in the championship game.  Here are the other occurrences:

-2021:  Baylor over Gonzaga

-2010:  Duke over Butler

-1985:  Villanova over Georgetown

-1955:  San Francisco over LaSalle

-1954:  LaSalle over Bradley

-1942:  Stanford over Dartmouth

This is also only the 23rd Final Four ever to feature two or more private colleges/universities.  Here are the others:

-1940:  Duquesne, USC

-1942:  Stanford*, Dartmouth**

-1943:  Georgetown**, DePaul

-1948:  Baylor**, Holy Cross

-1950:  Bradley**, Baylor

-1952:  St. John's**, Santa Clara

-1954:  LaSalle*, Bradley**, USC

-1955:  San Francisco*, LaSalle**

-1956:  San Francisco*, SMU, Temple

-1958:  Seattle**, Temple

-1963:  Loyola (IL)*, Duke

-1970:  Jacksonville**, St. Bonaventure

-1978:  Duke**, Notre Dame

-1979:  DePaul, Penn

-1985:  Villanova*, Georgetown**, St. John's

-1987:  Syracuse**, Providence

-1989:  Seton Hall**, Duke

-2003:  Syracuse*, Marquette

-2010:  Duke*, Butler**

-2016:  Villanova*, Syracuse

-2018:  Villanova*, Loyola (IL)

-2021:  Baylor*, Gonzaga**

-2022:  Duke, Villanova

*Champions

**Advanced to championship game

11.  Last year, North Carolina was also an 8-seed, but they lost in the First Round to Wisconsin.  The Tar Heels join a list of now 50 teams who made the Final Four the year after losing their first game of the NCAA Tournament.  18 of those teams have went onto the title game, with 6 winning it all.  Here are the others who have done it (this does not include teams that made the Final Four a year after not participating in the NCAA Tournament):

2022:  North Carolina

2019:  Virginia*

2015:  Duke*

2014:  Wisconsin

2013:  Michigan**, Wichita State

2012:  Louisville

2010:  Butler**, West Virginia

2009:  UConn

2006:  UCLA**, LSU

2005:  Louisville, Michigan State

2003:  Marquette

2002:  Indiana**, Oklahoma

2000:  North Carolina, Wisconsin

1995:  UCLA*

1994:  Arizona

1990:  Georgia Tech

1988:  Arizona

1987:  Indiana*

1986:  LSU

1985:  St. John's

1983:  NC State*

1982:  Georgetown**, Louisville, Houston

1981:  North Carolina**

1980:  Iowa

1978:  Arkansas

1977:  North Carolina**

1976:  Michigan**, Rutgers

1975:  Louisville, Syracuse

1974:  Marquette**

1973:  Providence

1971:  Western Kentucky

1964:  UCLA*

1961:  St. Joseph's, Utah

1959:  West Virginia**, Cincinnati

1956:  SMU

1955:  Colorado

1944:  Dartmouth**

1942:  Dartmouth**

*Champions

**Advanced to championship game

10.  Along those same lines, last year Duke missed the tournament, and now they're in the Final Four.  Since the NCAA Tournament began in 1939, this is the 112th time that a school has made it to the Final Four the year after missing the NCAA Tournament.  As you can see from the list below, most of the times this happened were in the '40s and '50s (when the tournament was much smaller), and since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, only 19 schools have made it to the Final Four the year after missing the tournament, with only four winning it all in that span and only seven advancing to the title game.

2022:  Duke

2021:  UCLA

2018:  Loyola (IL)

2017:  South Carolina

2016:  Syracuse

2014:  UConn*, Kentucky**

2011:  UConn*, VCU

2006:  George Mason

2004:  Georgia Tech**

2003:  Syracuse*

1999:  Ohio State

1997:  Minnesota

1994:  Florida

1992:  Michigan**, Cincinnati

1987:  Providence

1986:  Louisville*

1983:  Georgia

1981:  Virginia

1980:  Purdue

1979:  Indiana State**

1978:  Duke**

1977:  UNC Charlotte

1975:  Kentucky**

1974:  NC State*, Kansas

1973:  Memphis State**, Indiana

1972:  Florida State**, Louisville, North Carolina

1971:  Kansas

1970:  Jacksonville**, St. Bonaventure

1969:  Purdue**, Drake

1968:  Ohio State

1967:  UCLA*, North Carolina

1966:  Texas Western*, Kentucky**, Duke, Utah

1964:  Kansas State, Michigan

1963:  Loyola (IL)*, Duke

1962:  UCLA

1960:  Ohio State*, NYU

1959:  Louisville

1958:  Seattle**, Kansas State, Temple

1957:  North Carolina*, Kansas**, Michigan State

1956:  Temple

1955:  San Francisco*, Iowa

1954:  LaSalle*, Bradley**, Penn State, USC

1953:  Indiana*, LSU, Washington

1952:  Kansas*, Santa Clara

1951:  Kentucky*, Kansas State, Illinois, Oklahoma A&M

1950:  CCNY*, Bradley**, Baylor, NC State

1949:  Oklahoma A&M**, Illinois, Oregon State

1948:  Kentucky*, Baylor**, Kansas State

1947:  Holy Cross*, Oklahoma**, CCNY, Texas

1946:  North Carolina*, California

1945:  Oklahoma A&M*, NYU**, Arkansas

1944:  Utah*, Iowa State, Ohio State

1943:  Wyoming*, Georgetown, DePaul, Texas

1942:  Stanford*, Colorado, Kentucky

1941:  Wisconsin*, Washington State**, Arkansas, Pittsburgh

1940:  Indiana*, Kansas**, Duquesne, USC

*Champions

**Advanced to championship game

9.  With Duke and North Carolina both making the Final Four this year, it is the first time in NCAA Tournament history that two teams from both the same conference and the same state have made the Final Four in the same year.  It also marks the 25th time that one conference has had two or more teams in the same Final Four.  Here is when it has happened (note:  the NCAA Tournament began giving out at-large bids in 1975, so that was the first year there could have been more than one team from the same conference in an NCAA Tournament):

2022:  ACC - Duke, North Carolina

2016:  ACC – North Carolina, Syracuse

2015:  Big Ten - Michigan State, Wisconsin

2014:  SEC – Florida, Kentucky

2013:  Big East – Louisville, Syracuse

2009:  Big East – Connecticut, Villanova

2006:  SEC – Florida, LSU

2005:  Big Ten – Illinois, Michigan State

2003:  Big 12 – Kansas, Texas

2002:  Big 12 – Kansas, Oklahoma

2001:  ACC – Duke, Maryland

2000:  Big Ten – Michigan State, Wisconsin

1999:  Big Ten – Michigan State, Ohio State

1996:  SEC – Kentucky, Mississippi State

1994:  SEC – Arkansas, Florida

1992:  Big Ten – Indiana, Michigan

1991:  ACC – Duke, North Carolina

1990:  ACC – Duke, Georgia Tech

1989:  Big Ten – Illinois, Michigan

1988:  Big 8 – Kansas, Oklahoma

1987:  Big East – Providence, Syracuse

1985:  Big East – Georgetown, St. John's, Villanova

1981:  ACC – North Carolina, Virginia

1980:  Big Ten – Iowa, Purdue

1976:  Big Ten – Indiana, Michigan

8.  With Duke's win Saturday, Mike Krzyzewski is coaching in his 13th Final Four, moving him into sole possession of first place on the all-time list of head coaching Final Four appearances, passing John Wooden.  Here are the coaches who have been to 5 or more Final Fours (counting vacated appearances):

1.  Mike Krzyzewski - Duke (13)

2.  John Wooden - UCLA (12)

3.  Dean Smith - North Carolina (11)

4.  Roy Williams - Kansas, North Carolina (9)

5.  Tom Izzo - Michigan State (8)

6.  Rick Pitino - Providence, Kentucky, Louisville (7) (includes 2 vacated appearances)

7 (tie).  John Calipari - UMass, Memphis, Kentucky (6) (includes 2 vacated appearances)

7 (tie).  Denny Crum – Louisville (6)

7 (tie).  Adolph Rupp – Kentucky (6)

10 (tie).  Jim Boeheim – Syracuse (5)

10 (tie).  Bob Knight – Indiana (5)

10 (tie).  Guy Lewis – Houston (5)

10 (tie).  Lute Olson – Iowa, Arizona (5)

7.  North Carolina is going to its 21st Final Four, Duke is going to its 17th Final Four, and Kansas is going to its 16th Final Four.  There are 10 schools with 8 or more Final Fours (including vacated appearances):  North Carolina (21), UCLA (19), Duke (17), Kentucky (17), Kansas (16), Ohio State (11), Louisville (10), Michigan State (10), Indiana (8), and Michigan (8).  This is the 36th tournament in a row and the 64th year out of the last 65 that at least one of those ten teams has been in the Final Four.  In fact, one of those teams has been in all but 8 of 82 Final Fours (1941, 1943, 1947, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1985).

6.  Hubert Davis becomes the 10th coach to take a school to the Final Four in his first season as head coach.  History has not been kind to those in his position, as only 2 have advanced to the national title game and Steve Fisher is the only one who has won it all (man, Bill Frieder still has to be kicking himself for that one).  Here is the list, in reverse chronological order:

-Hubert Davis (North Carolina, 2022)

-Bill Guthridge (North Carolina, 1998)

-Steve Fisher (Michigan, 1989)*

-Bill Hodges (Indiana State, 1979)**

-Denny Crum (Louisville, 1972)

-Gary Thompson (Wichita State, 1965)

-Dick Harp (Kansas, 1957)**

-Bully Gilstrap (Texas, 1943) (if that's not the most Texas name for a coach, I don't know what is)

-Ray Meyer (DePaul, 1943)

-Bruce Drake (Oklahoma, 1939)

*Champions

**Advanced to championship game

5.  Davis also becomes the 6th head coach to take North Carolina to a Final Four, which is a pretty rare feat.  Here are the schools that have had three or more coaches take them to the Final Four (including vacated appearances):

-Kansas:  Phog Allen, Dick Harp, Ted Owens, Larry Brown, Roy Williams, Bill Self

-North Carolina:  Ben Carnevale, Frank McGuire, Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, Roy Williams, Hubert Davis

-UCLA:  John Wooden, Gene Bartow, Larry Brown, Jim Harrick, Ben Howland, Mick Cronin

4.  On a similar note, if North Carolina wins the national title, it will be the 28th time that a first-time Final Four coach will have won the championship.  Of course, those numbers are heavily skewed towards the beginning decades of the NCAA Tournament.  Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, it has only happened 9 times (though this would be the third in a row).  Here is everyone (including before 1985), in reverse chronological order:

-Scott Drew (Baylor, 2021)

-Tony Bennett (Virginia, 2019)

-Kevin Ollie (UConn, 2014)

-Bill Self (Kansas, 2008)

-Jim Calhoun (UConn, 1999)

-Tubby Smith (Kentucky, 1998)

-Jim Harrick (UCLA, 1995)

-Steve Fisher (Michigan, 1989)

-Rollie Massimino (Villanova, 1985)

-Jim Valvano (NC State, 1983)

-Jud Heathcote (Michigan State, 1979)

-Norm Sloan (NC State, 1974)

-Don Haskins (Texas Western, 1966)

-George Ireland (Loyola (IL), 1963)

-Ed Jucker (Cincinnati, 1961)

-Fred Taylor (Ohio State, 1960)

-Pete Newell (California, 1959)

-Phil Woolpert (San Francisco, 1955)

-Ken Loeffler (LaSalle, 1954)

-Doggie Julian (Holy Cross, 1947)

-Henry Iba (Oklahoma A&M, 1945)

-Vadal Peterson (Utah, 1944)

-Everett Shelton (Wyoming, 1943)

-Everett Dean (Stanford, 1942)

-Harold E. Foster (Wisconsin, 1941)

-Branch McCracken (Indiana, 1940)

-Howard Hobson (Oregon, 1939)

3.  Kansas is the only 1-seed in the Final Four.  Here is a breakdown of how many #1 seeds have advanced to the Final Four each year since 1979.

2022:  1 (Kansas)

2021:  2 (Baylor*, Gonzaga**)

2019:  1 (Virginia*)

2018:  2 (Villanova*, Kansas)

2017:  2 (North Carolina*, Gonzaga**)

2016: 1 (North Carolina**)

2015: 3 (Duke*, Wisconsin**, Kentucky)

2014: 1 (Florida)

2013: 1 (Louisville*)

2012: 1 (Kentucky*)

2011: 0

2010: 1 (Duke*)

2009: 2 (North Carolina*, Connecticut)

2008: 4 (Kansas*, Memphis**, North Carolina, UCLA)

2007: 2 (Florida*, Ohio State**)

2006: 0

2005: 2 (North Carolina*, Illinois**)

2004: 1 (Duke)

2003: 1 (Texas)

2002: 2 (Maryland*, Kansas)

2001: 2 (Duke*, Michigan State)

2000: 1 (Michigan State*)

1999: 3 (Connecticut*, Duke**, Michigan State)

1998: 1 (North Carolina)

1997: 3 (Kentucky**, North Carolina, Minnesota)

1996: 2 (Kentucky*, Massachusetts)

1995: 1 (UCLA*)

1994: 1 (Arkansas*)

1993: 3 (North Carolina*, Michigan**, Kentucky)

1992: 1 (Duke*)

1991: 2 (UNLV, North Carolina)

1990: 1 (UNLV*)

1989: 1 (Illinois)

1988: 2 (Oklahoma**, Arizona)

1987: 2 (Indiana*, UNLV)

1986: 2 (Duke**, Kansas)

1985: 2 (Georgetown**, St. John's)

1984: 2 (Georgetown*, Kentucky)

1983: 2 (Houston**, Louisville)

1982: 2 (North Carolina*, Georgetown**)

1981: 2 (LSU, Virginia)

1980: 0

1979: 1 (Indiana State**)

*Champions

**Advanced to championship game

2.  The average seed for this year's Final Four is 3.25, which is a little higher than usual, and the fifth time in the last six tournaments that it's been 3 or higher.  Here are the average seeds for the Final Four since 1979:

2022:  3.25

2021:  3.75

2019:  2.75

2018:  4

2017:  3

2016: 3.75

2015: 2.5

2014: 4.5

2013: 4.5

2012: 2.25

2011: 6.5

2010: 3.25

2009: 1.75

2008: 1

2007: 1.5

2006: 5

2005: 2.75

2004: 2

2003: 2.25

2002: 2.25

2001: 1.75

2000: 5.5

1999: 1.75

1998: 2.25

1997: 1.75

1996: 2.75

1995: 2.25

1994: 2

1993: 1.25

1992: 3.25

1991: 1.75

1990: 3

1989: 2.25

1988: 2.5

1987: 2.5

1986: 3.75

1985: 3

1984: 2.75

1983: 3

1982: 2.75

1981: 1.75

1980: 5.25

1979: 3.5

1.  With North Carolina advancing to the Final Four as an 8-seed, this is the 9th tournament in a row in which at least one team seeded 5 or higher has made it to the Final Four.  Of the prior 32 teams to have accomplished the feat, only 4 have won it all, another 7 have been runners up, and the remaining 21 have lost in the semis.  Here are the years in which there have been any teams seeded 5 or higher in the Final Four since 1979:

2022:  8-seed North Carolina

2021:  1:  11-seed UCLA

2019:  1:  5-seed Auburn

2018:  1:  11-seed Loyola (IL)

2017:  1:  7-seed South Carolina

2016:  1: 10-seed Syracuse

2015:  1: 7-seed Michigan State

2014:  2: 7-seed UConn* and 8-seed Kentucky**

2013:  1: 9-seed Wichita State

2011:  2: 8-seed Butler** and 11-seed VCU

2010:  2: 5-seeds Butler** and Michigan State

2006:  1: 11-seed George Mason

2005:  1: 5-seed Michigan State

2002:  1: 5-seed Indiana**

2000:  3: 5-seed Florida**, 8-seeds North Carolina and Wisconsin

1996:  1: 5-seed Mississippi State

1992:  1: 6-seed Michigan**

1988:  1: 6-seed Kansas*

1987:  1: 6-seed Providence

1986:  1: 11-seed LSU

1985:  1: 8-seed Villanova*

1984:  1: 7-seed Virginia

1983:  1: 6-seed NC State*

1982:  1: 6-seed Houston

1980:  3: 5-seed Purdue, 6-seed Iowa, 8-seed UCLA**

1979:  1: 9-seed Penn

*Champions

**Advanced to championship game

CoronaVinyl Day 406 (G): Whirlwind by Andrew Gold

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "G," and I listened to multi-instrumentalist Andrew Gold's fourth studio album, 1980's Whirlwind.

Gold is perhaps best known for two songs:  his Top 25 1978 hit "Thank You For Being a Friend," which would later become the Golden Girls' theme song (sung then by Cindy Free), and his 1996 Halloween novelty song "Spooky Scary Skeletons," which became rejuvenated as a meme about ten years ago.  He also wrote and sang the theme song to Mad About You.

Gold was kind of a jack of all trades in the music industry.  He wrote, arranged, produced, was a session musician, was a backing musician, played various instruments, and released his own solo material.  For much of the '70s, he was in Linda Ronstadt's band and arranged several of her albums.  Even after he started recording solo material in 1975, he was still recording with and producing other musicians.  His biggest solo hit came in 1977, with "Lonely Boy," which reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

I wasn't sure what to expect with Whirlwind.  I guess I assumed it would be soft rock or singer-songwriter type stuff, but I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of rock on it and with Gold's guitar playing.  It's a good mix of pop, pop rock, AOR, and power pop.  Unfortunately, it didn't chart on the Billboard album chart, nor produce any charting songs, but listening to it, I think it definitely foreshadowed some of the pop-oriented rock that would follow a few years later.

The Spotify version of the album has four bonus tracks.

Favorite Song on Side 1:  "Leave Her Alone"
This is snarly, bluesy song sung from the perspective of a guy telling another guy not to wreck his home.

Favorite Song on Side 2:  "Brand New Face"
The second side kicks off with a nice guitar riff, and this song could easily fit in on a Babys or a Foreigner album from the same time period.

CoronaVinyl Day 405 (F): In Camera Obscura by Figures On a Beach

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "F," and I decided on what I thought was a full-length album, but turned out to be a 12-inch single, Figures On a Beach's 1985 single, "In Camera Obscura" / "Paradise" -- with the single version and an extended dance mix of each.

In Camera Obscura was a new wave band from Detroit, whose only charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 was a 1989 cover of BTO's "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet," which went to #67.  The two songs on this single are pure new wave.  They're not bad.  Obviously, I'm not going to pick a favorite from each side -- though I prefer "In Camera Obscura" -- but I'll post the YouTube "videos" of the dance mixes of both songs.

CoronaVinyl Day 404 (E): Wha'ppen? by The English Beat

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "E," and I went with an album that perhaps matches my living room rug better than any other record I own, The English Beat's second studio album, 1981's Wha'ppen?

While staying true to their ska and two-tone roots, the band changed musical direction somewhat on Wha'ppen? to incorporate more world music influences and was less punky than their first album, I Just Can't Stop It.  There are songs with Spanish guitars, steel drums, and even a song sung in Dominican creole ("French Toast (Soleil Trop Chaud)").  It's a great album to listen to on a warm day with a cocktail in your hand.

The album only reached #126 on the Billboard album chart, but went to #3 on the UK album chart, tying I Just Can't Stop It for their highest-charting album in the UK.  It produced two Top 40 songs on the UK pop chart, "Drowning" (#22) and "Doors of Your Heart" (#33).  Most importantly, the album title reminds me of Fred Willard's character in A Mighty Wind, which always puts a smile on my face.  "Wha' happened?"

The Spotify version of the album is an extended version with four extra tracks.

Favorite Song on Side 1:  "All Out to Get You"
This is an uptempo song with some sax and a nice Caribbean feel.

Favorite Song on Side 2:  "Dream Home in New Zealand"
I wonder how close it is to the Toothbrush Fence.

Retro Video of the Week: "Mr. Wendal" by Arrested Development

Tomorrow marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Atlanta hip hop group Arrested Development's stellar debut album, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of . . ., which is a reference to how long it took the group to get a record deal, not that they were counting.

The album was a breath of fresh air, standing in stark contrast to the gangsta rap that dominated the era, and that was actually kind of the point of the group.  It was founded specifically as an alternative to gangsta rap, focusing on social issues and Afrocentric issues, and melding them with a much brighter and eclectic sound.  And it certainly worked.  The album was a smash, both critically and commercially, reaching #7 on the Billboard album chart and eventually going quadruple platinum in the U.S.  It was also a huge influence on the Southern rap genre that would start to blossom a few years later.

The group's three biggest hits -- all Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 -- came from this album:  "Tennessee" (#6), "Mr. Wendal" (#6), and "People Everyday" (#8).  They're all great songs, but I've always liked "Mr. Wendal" just a touch more than the other two, so that's what I'm going with today.  "Mr. Wendal" is all about empathy and understanding for the homeless, and it was not only a huge hit in the U.S., but around the world as well, reaching the Top 10 on the pop charts in five other countries.