Al Jarreau passed away on Sunday (February 12) at the age of 76. He had just retired from touring, effectively, due to exhaustion. At first glance it would appear that Al made a minor contribution to popular music, what with only three Top 40 hits. That's nowhere near the full story. His works reached the … Continue reading RIP Al Jarreau: “Moonlighting” (1987)
Greatest misses: Jon Astley, “Jane’s Getting Serious” (1987)
(Above: Jon Astley's debut album.) Jon Astley is a name that many music fans do not know, but probably should. In terms of the pop charts, he qualifies as a "no-hit wonder": two singles that failed to make the Billboard Top 40. They both got considerable airplay on rock radio, though, which is why the … Continue reading Greatest misses: Jon Astley, “Jane’s Getting Serious” (1987)
Good morning Joliet: WLLI-FM, February 7, 1992
(Above: Yours truly in the I-Rock studio, 1991) 25 years ago this morning the buzz in the sports world was Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen both starting in the NBA All-Star game. It was a Friday, so many were beginning to make their weekend plans. And in Joliet, a 22-year-old kid was having the time … Continue reading Good morning Joliet: WLLI-FM, February 7, 1992
RIP, Sonny Geraci: The Outsiders, “Respectable” (1966)
Lost in all of the Super Bowl hype today is the fact that Sonny Geraci of the Outsiders passed away at the age of 69. If you have spent any time listening to Oldies radio, you undoubtedly know "Time Won't Let Me," the song the band is best known for. The tight playlists of Oldies … Continue reading RIP, Sonny Geraci: The Outsiders, “Respectable” (1966)
Mixtape review: “1984”
(Above: Non-Orwellian pop music.) A couple of weeks ago I spent a Saturday night going through boxes of 45s from the 1980s (read about that here and here) to see what sort of musical surprises lay within. On more than one occasion that evening I remarked about a mixtape of songs from in and around … Continue reading Mixtape review: “1984”
One boy’s quest for vinyl: Buddy Holly, “That’ll Be the Day” (1957)
The tragic story of Charles Hardin Holley has always fascinated and saddened me. What would rock and roll have been had Buddy Holly not perished in the famous plane crash on the early morning of February 3, 1959 in Clear Lake, Iowa? Would a British band inspired by his music so much that they also … Continue reading One boy’s quest for vinyl: Buddy Holly, “That’ll Be the Day” (1957)
Rest in peace, John Wetton: Asia, “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” (1983)
(Above: And now you find yourself in '82.) Among the first stories that I read this morning was the sad news of the death of John Wetton at the age of 67. Wetton was a part of a group that isn't often referred to as a "supergroup" anymore, Asia - although they definitely count as … Continue reading Rest in peace, John Wetton: Asia, “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” (1983)
As I board my plane: The Ides of March, “L.A. Goodbye” (1971)
23 years ago this week I came back from my first trip to New Zealand to find myself unemployed, and at the same time caught up in a battle to obtain a visa as an immigrant worker that was rejected. Some context is required. At the end of 1993 two things happened. One was that … Continue reading As I board my plane: The Ides of March, “L.A. Goodbye” (1971)
Radio time travel: Ron Britain, WCFL, Chicago (January 28, 1967)
(Above: The psychedelic world of Ron Britain, WCFL.) In the last post I lamented the inability to travel through time to hear the WERX countdown. Today, at least, time travel IS possible, because we have this bit of radio wonderfulness to enjoy. 50 years ago this weekend, Chicago was cleaning up from the Blizzard of … Continue reading Radio time travel: Ron Britain, WCFL, Chicago (January 28, 1967)
Pop charts: WERX, Grand Rapids, Michigan (January 12, 1967)
(Above: Pepper-Uppers, unite.) If there's one thing we can count on in 2017, it's a lot of 50th anniversary retrospectives looking back at 1967. "Anniversary fatigue" is real, and while I don't want to do a lot of it this year, the problem is that some aspects of popular culture are just too damned good … Continue reading Pop charts: WERX, Grand Rapids, Michigan (January 12, 1967)
45 Ruminations Per Megabyte 