7 Song Halloween Playlist LISTMANIA

Boo! 


Happy Halloween Gouhls and Boys! 

Today we are gonna keep it short and sweet with another Halloween music post that you can bump at all of your parties today and for the rest of the Halloween season! 

Herc has definitely pulled out all the stops for this playlist MANIA!  He's unstoppable.


Herc's Halloween Playlist MANIA
 
HALLOWEEN PLAYLIST MANIA


7 Songs with the word “DEVIL” in the title“Devil Inside” - INXS
“Sympathy For The Devil” - The Rolling Stones
“The Devil Went Down To Georgia” - Charlie Daniels Band
“Running With The Devil” - Van Halen
“Shout At The Devil” - Motley Crue
“Devil Woman” - Cliff Richard
“(You’re The) Devil In Disguise” - Elvis Presley


7 Novelty Songs from the 50s and 60s“Monster Mash - Bobby “Boris” Pickett
“Purple People Eater” - Sheb Wooley
“Haunted House” - Jumpin’ Gene Simmons
“Transfusion” - Nervous Norvus
“Frankenstein of ‘59” - Buchanan & Goodman
“They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” - Napoleon XIV
“Witch Doctor” - David Seville


7 Songs about the Female of the Species“Evil Woman” - Electric Light Orchestra
“Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen” - Santana
“Maneater” - Hall & Oates
“A Girl Like You” - Edwyn Collins
“Season of The Witch” - Donovan
“Little Miss Dangerous” - Ted Nugent
“Spooky” - Atlanta Rhythm Section


7 “KILLER” Songs“Riders On The Storm” - The Doors
“Psycho Killer” - Talking Heads
“Night Prowler” - AC/DC
“Red Right Hand” - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
“Killer Queen” - Queen
“Killer In The Home” - Adam & the Ants
“Murder By Numbers” - The Police


7 80s Songs“A Nightmare On My Street” - DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince [1988]
“Haunted House Of Rock” - Whodini [1983]
“Thriller” - Michael Jackson [1982]
“Ghostbusters” - Ray Parker, Jr. [1984]
“Cry Little Sister” - Gerard McMann [1987]
“Weird Science” - Oingo Boingo [1985]
“Somebody’s Watching Me” - Rockwell [1984]


7 Cover Songs“Abracadabra” - Sugar Ray
“I’m Your Boogie Man” - White Zombie
“Summer Breeze” - Type O Negative
“Last Kiss” - Pearl Jam
“Tainted Love” - Marilyn Manson
“Thriller” - Ian Brown
“Ain’t It Fun” - Guns N Roses


7 Sinister Sounding Songs“Gimme Shelter” - The Rolling Stones
“(Don’t) Fear The Reaper” - Blue Oyster Cult
“How Soon Is Now?” - The Smiths
“Mama” - Genesis
“Lullaby” - The Cure
“White Rabbit” - Jefferson Airplane
“Love Bites” - Judas Priest

Seven Underplayed Songs For Halloween Times

Hey Everyone!

Theme week comin' your way!  Herc is here to kick us off with a Halloween playlist.  He's got a knack for themed and appropriate music.  ENJOY!


7 Underplayed Songs For Your Halloween Playlist
(part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists)

The Halloween Playlist is a little more elusive, the pool of songs a little more shallow, than almost any other seasonal or situational playlist. Do you go all atmospheric musically? Do you go Goth? Do you go the familiar horror movie music? Do you go the “scare the children” route? Do you get all high concept? Do you use songs only about the Devil? Herc’s done it all and he’s been everywhere, man, and now he’s gonna share a few lesser known tracks from throughout all time with you.

Spoti-BOO!

“In the Shadows” - The Rasmus [2003]
A rousing, bass heavy anthem that rocks hard, this track from 2003 will kick your party up a notch or three. The lyrics (“I’ve been watching/I’ve been waiting”) paint a darker picture, abstract enough to hint at vampirism (They say/That I must learn to kill before I can feel safe”). There are three different videos for this song by the Finnish band so check them out next time your surfing the Web.

“Lil Red Riding Hood” - Sam The Sham & the Pharaohs [1966]The band that brought us “Wooly Bully” was no one-hit wonder - they followed up that massive hit with this 1966 gem which also made it all the way to #2 on the charts. It’s been featured in more than a few TV shows and movies and has been covered by several artists including those crazy nut rockers from Texas, Bowling for Soup.

“Heartbreak Hotel” - The Jacksons [1980]
Essentially a Michael Jackson solo effort, his brothers are credited with “percussion” while Tito lays down the tasty guitar solo. It predates the paranoid pathos that later blossomed full blown in songs like “Billie Jean” and “In The Closet” and features a creaky rhythm making it sound like a haunted house. Without explanation, the song’s official title was amended to “This Place Hotel” sometime in the late 1980s or early 1990s when the CD version of the 1980 album was released.

“Cat People (Puttin’ Out Fire)” - David Bowie [1982]
The original version of this song was written for and featured in 1982 movie Cat People. It is longer and more atmospheric, with a simmering slowness and features one of Bowie’s most haunted vocal performances. (It was used with surprising effect in 2009’s Inglourious Basterds as well.) Due to contractual conflicts, Bowie was unable to use the same recording for his 1983 album Let’s Dance so he re-recorded it with producer Nile Rodgers laying back on guitar, Tony Thompson pounding the drums and Carmine Rojas anchoring the bottom with his bass as a faster, sturdier rocker. The icing on this musical cake is then relatively unknown Stevie Ray Vaughan bringing the wicked solos - his debut solo album wouldn’t be released until a few months later.

“Strong As I Am” - The Prime Movers [1985]
Sounding eerily like a young U2 lyrically and musically, The Prime Movers released this song on their self-titled EP. Director Michael Mann, hot off his hitch on Miami Vice, heard it, loved it and snagged it for the soundtrack of his 1986 film Manhunter. He even personally financed the video for the song. The lead singer left shortly after but the band regrouped without him as Dread Zeppelin and released several reggae infused Led Zeppelin hybrids with Elvis-sounding vocals. Just like U2.

“Wicked Game” - Stone Sour [2006]
A live, acoustic cover of Chris Isaak’s impossibly high-voiced 1989 love lament by the lead singer of the bands Slipknot and Stone Sour, Corey Taylor. His reading adds a little more masculinity to the song while retaining the sadness and heartbreak.

“Used To Love Her” - Guns N Roses [1988]
Axl and the boys snuck this darkly funny acoustic yet metallic ballad out on the stop-gap EP, GNR Lies. It catches you off-guard lyrically and makes a delightful addition to any spooky set. Who knew those bad, bad boys had such a good, good sense of humor?

Spoti-BOO!

Spotify Almost Two Months Later

Dudes.  Herc wrote this post a while back and I neglected it.  Now, its almost a month after he intended for you to see it, and my lazy behind is just now putting it out for you. 

Its a really clever post, and more spotify playlists, get on it!


SPOTIFY - (almost) TWO MONTHS LATER

“Why?” - Bronski Beat

Isn’t Spotify great? Wait, are you listening to Spotify yet? Why not? Herc has never listened to so much music in his life as he has since Spotify finally came to the United States (& his beloved iPod Touch) and he has listened to a lot of music. A. LOT.

“Change” - John Waite

A work in progress, Spotify continues to evolve - no fewer than half a dozen software updates in the last two weeks alone. New features, new functions and new music...

"Gimme More" - Britney Spears

Since our last Spotify chat on August 31st, almost one million tracks have been added to Spotify’s library. (Let me do the math...carry the one...exactly 955,033 tracks.) More music than any human could possibly listen to in their lifetime but don’t let that stop you from trying.

“The Waiting” - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

It was never a Golden Ticket kind of phenomenon but when Spotify came to these shores, an invitation was required to partake in the musical goodness. You signed up and waited. Maybe you haven’t tried Spotify because you never got an invitation. Invitations are no longer required to get Spotify because...

“Power” - Kanye West

...Spotify is now fully integrated with Facebook, for better or for worse. If you haven’t signed up for a Spotify account yet it now requires you to sign in with your Facebook account. No Facebook account, no Spotify account for new users. There were some over-sharing issues initially but those have now been resolved.

“Radio, Radio” - Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Spotify finally has unleashed their Radio function Stateside - it’s on the left panel main menu just under What’s New. Sadly, they have removed some of Herc’s favorite channels (Disco, Funk, New Wave and Techno) and replaced them with three flavors of metal (Black, Death and Heavy). Play around with the Spotify Radio function by selecting more than one button at a time and see what pops up. While it lacks the fine-tuning capabilities of Slacker, Spotify Radio lets you skip as many songs as you want until you find one you want to hear.

“Let’s Go Crazy” - Prince & the Revolution

Remember when you had to ration your Spotify listening time because, as a Free User, there were monthly caps imposed by Spotify? Well those days are gone - you get unlimited listening for the first six months now before you have to start rationing. Go crazy, get nuts.

Seven One Hit Wonders Of The 80s

Hello Monday!

You remember what Monday means, right?  It means we are all about to be graced with Herc's presence. 

Today he is gonna talk about the 80s which, as we all know, is the best decade EVER! 

So many awesome things hailed from there, the most important is ME!

Go Herc!!!

7 One Hit Wonders of the 80s
[part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists]

Herc has a problem with certain terms: “chick flick”, “military intelligence” and “one hit wonder” are among his biggest peeves. By definition, a one hit wonder should be an artist’s one and only hit. This calls into question the definition of a hit - do we measure sales or airplay or both? Do we rely on the charts and, if we do, which chart? So many questions, so little time and space. Here are seven songs that show up whenever one hit wonder lists are compiled. Herc likes these songs and hopes you do as well.

ONE HIT WONDERS

“Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go” - Soft Cell [1981]

As originally released, “Tainted Love” was the radio single, a remake of a classic Northern Soul track. For the dance clubs, “Tainted Love” was coupled with the Supremes signature song, to form a seamless, damn near ten minute medley. Upon initial hearings, it’s hard to fathom that all that music is made by just one man and a couple of synths. Today, you can recreate the song on your iPad with Garage Band/

“Take On Me” - a-ha [1985]

The video for this song was groundbreaking for it’s time and has been lovingly recreated and parodied on Family Guy. The boys in a-ha recently performed a worldwide farewell tour celebrating more than a quarter century together and almost two dozen hits outside of America’s borders.

“Come On Eileen” - Dexy’s Midnight Runners [1982]

This one stands out from a lot of its contemporaries because of it’s gypsy, folksy instrumentation and pubbish sing-a-long vocals as opposed to smooth, polished vocals backed by synth drums, keytars and other electronic noisemakers. The sheer joy of the escalating vocal makes this a beloved standard in the Hercmobile. Also seek out the cool cover version - with female lead vocals - by Save Ferris.

“The Safety Dance” - Men Without Hats [1982]

Back in the day, this was Herc’s jam. He’d dance and sing across the floor while sweeping or mopping at his very first job. It’s where he met the future Mrs. Herc who wore the brown polyester uniform like no other. Most recently featured in an episode of Glee from earlier this year in which the wheelchair bound Artie gets up offa that thing and dances his butt off. But before you bow down and worship the music as miracle, you should know ***SPOILER ALERT*** that it was a daydream. Equally catchy is the band’s 1987 release “Pop Goes The World”.= which sounds like it is played on a toy piano.

“Turning Japanese” -The Vapors [1980]

Did you know that this song is about self-pleasure? Yup. Featuring an Oriental musical motif and an otherwise fast-rocking backing track, “Turning Japanese” is the tale of a man’s obsession with pictures of his lovely lady. He misses her so much that he learns to “love” himself. Repeatedly. Catchy, no?

“Mickey” - Toni Basil [1982]

Cheerleader rock returned to the charts some 20 years after Beach Boy Brian Wilson invented it with his classic “Be True To Your School”. But “Mickey” was different. The song’s lyrics had nothing to do with school spirit but the stop start beat and music video made it abundantly clear that cheerleaders were AWESOME. Singer Toni Basil was a choreographer first and foremost and after here brief singing career she went back to it but not before recording “Mickey” en Espanol.

“Funkytown” - Lipps, Inc. [1980]

This was Disco’s last breath if you will. Another two person outfit making all that joyful noise, this one was available as shortened yet still catchy radio single or a full length disco dancer featuring wonderfully manipulated voices decades before Auto-Tune. In 1986, Psuedo Echo covered ”Funkytown” in a guitar heavy, New Wave rocking sheen and scored their only U.S. hit thus making “Funkytown” that rarest of all birds, a one hit wonder for two artists.


ONE HIT WONDERS


Did Herc forget anything?  Is that the greatest 7 song playlist ever?  I vote YES. 

Seven Songs From Seven Eighties Movie Soundtracks

Friday again!  A happy one to all!

Today I have Herc again with an 80s film themed music post.  He is an 80s expert and as you know he knows a thing or two about music as well.  Let him educate you today!


7 Songs From Eighties Movie Soundtracks
[part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists]

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
“Goodbye, Goodbye” - Oingo Boingo from Fast Times At Ridgemont High
A frantic, manic and rollicking number from Danny Elfman and his gang of merry men. Check out that speed rap breakdown a little over two minutes in. If you’ve never oingo’d nor boingo’d and only know Elfman from his prolific soundtrack work on the films of Tim Burton and others, Herc has provided you a few choice cuts on this article’s accompanying Spotify playlist.

“Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young” - Fire, Inc. from Streets Of Fire
It’s a Jim Steinman penned mini-opera, one of two that bookend the movie. That’s not Diane Lane singing, though. Steinman recorded it with his stable of session people but the boys in the band (“the Attackers”) on film are actually the group Face To Face who had a couple of small hits of their own later that same year: “10-9-8” and “Under The Gun”.

“Only You” - Yaz from Can’t Hardly Wait
Depeche Mode, Yazoo (“Yaz” to us Yanks) and Erasure - that’s Vince Clarke’s resume. The keyboardist/songwriter was a founding member of DM, left to form Yazoo and then recruited vocalist Alison Moyet sound-alike Andy Bell to form Erasure. This song is one of his greatest works, a simple, beautiful melody coupled with heartfelt vocals from Ms. Moyet. (The YouTube link is to Herc’s favorite performance - unfortunately, Vince Clarke is not playing.)

“Ring Me Up” - Divinyls from Sixteen Candles
Back before Al Gore invented the interwebtubes, it was possible not to know what the name of a song was for years after you heard it. You could spend hours at the library (anyone remember those?) but if you were really lucky, someone would call in and request it by name on your favorite radio station. This was one such song for Herc - it took six years before he dropped the needle on this record, the band’s 1983 debut and realized it was what he had been looking for. (If you don’t recognize it from the opening notes then get thee to a TV and break out that DVD copy of Sixteen Candles.) Eight years later, the band would achieve one-hit wonder status with “I Touch Myself”.

“Danger Zone” - Kenny Loggins from Top Gun
Loggins - Mr. 80s Soundtrack to you - was actually the third choice to record this song: first choice Bryan Adams refused to as a Canadian/conscientious objector and Toto were not allowed to for “legal reasons” which is usually code for record company greed. Quick! Name two other awesome 80s soundtrack songs by our boy Kenny who is also known as the patron saint of “yacht rock”. Tick-tock. If you answered “I’m Alright” from Caddyshack and “Footloose” from Footloose, you win. Yay you!

“Relax” - Frankie Goes To Hollywood from Body Double
No, the song is currently not available on Spotify in any of it’s over bazillion remixes and versions by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Yes, it caused quite a stir back in the day and was banned from the public airwaves in their homeland. Yes, it is a great dance song - another Trevor Horn production - although the band performed it on TV in a much different style before he signed them. Yes, Herc saw the band in concert way back when and still has his original “Frankie Say...” shirt. Guess what song was played in it’s entirety when the lights went out just before the band took the stage? “Planet Claire” by the B-52’s. No, that song is not yet on Spotify either. Must be “legal reasons”.

“Tender Years” - John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band from Eddie & the Cruisers
The movie bombed (only $4.7M) at the box office and was subsequently pulled after only three weeks. The soundtrack died quietly with it in September 1983. Then it showed up on HBO the next year and radio stations were flooded with requests for two songs: “Tender Years” and “On The Dark Side”. The record company re-released the soundtrack and watched it sell more than four million copies almost a year after it’s original release. The bigger hit, Number One actually, was “On the Dark Side” but Herc has a soft spot in his heart for this one despite the fact that John Cafferty openly mimics Bruce Springsteen musically and in the way he dressed.


SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

BONUS PLAYLIST!!! If you didn’t find it, look in the “Danger Zone”!

Seven Songs That Peaked At #7

Guess what, I really like sevens.  Its been a thing my whole life.

When I was an athelete, I tried to always be number 7.  Sometimes I was 14 cause it was seven times two.  I also like math.  Nerd Alert.

Its Monday and you know what that means, right?  Herc is here with another installment of Music Mondays.  He's onto my love of sevens and has maxed it out in this post.  Check it!

Seven Songs That Only Peaked At #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Charts

(part of an ongoing series 7 Song Playlists)


“We’re #7! We’re #7!”
These songs reached their chart peak a mere six positions away from the pinnacle. They were the little engines that couldn’t. In an alternate universe, these shoulda-woulda-couldas … oh never mind, here they are:


“Beth” - Kiss (1976)


Long before those Glee-ful dudes re-introduced this ballad to your earholes, it originally languished as the b-side of “Detroit Rock City”, a rocking little ditty inspired by a fan killed in an auto accident on his way to a KISS concert, although this doesn’t make much sense until you hear the full length album version on Destroyer. Legend has it that a radio DJ somewhere flipped the record over and the phones lit up. Drummer Peter Criss co-wrote the song before he joined KISS and the woman’s name originally used was “Beck”, short for Becky. When performing this song in concert, Criss sang to a taped backing track while the other members took a breather backstage, probably reapplying their make-up and snapping Polaroids. I never would have guessed it but “Beth” is KISS’s highest charting single. (Yeah, yeah I know they are an album band. Whatevs.) Anyway, once Peter Criss was sacked and Eric Carr, The Fox, was brought in to take his place behind the skins, the band had the kabuki face painted stones to re-record and perform the song with his vocals. For me, the definitive Criss version is his lip-synched performance on Paul Lynde’s Halloween Special way back in 1976. The show is available on DVD and is notable for featuring KISS, Betty White, Tim Conway, Billy Barty and Donny & Marie Osmond amongst others. Truly, a once-in-a-lifetime gathering.

“Wanted Dead Or Alive” - Bon Jovi (1987)


Rock stars as cowboys. This song, like almost every other Bon Jovi song, encourages the listener to sing along at the top of his or her lungs. And with it’s echoing vocal style, this song has also inspired more dude duets than Hall & Oates ever did. Righteous. I might add that it has been my personal experience, after attending three Bon Jovi concerts in the late 1980s, that some of Bon Jovi’s female fans have some pretty spectacular ... “lungs”.


“Welcome To The Jungle” - Guns N Roses (1988)


In a drunken stupor, Axl Rose thought he was Balloo in The Jungle Book and wrote an epic dream song about it. Not really. Some people claim that the first songwriting collaboration between Axl and Slash is the greatest hard rock song of all time. Maybe it is or maybe it isn’t but this wailing piece of a hard rock cautionary tale pulled no punches in depicting the horrors that awaited big-eyed dreamers as they stepped off the bus that brought them from their podunk towns and hicksvilles to the big bad city. Should have brought knee pads, hayseeds. (“It’s gonna bring you to your knees!”) And flame retardant pajamas. (“You’re gonna burn!”) Does anyone else want a doormat with this song title on it? That would be so cool.


“Bust A Move” - Young MC (1989)


Young MC (not his birth name I’m guessing) was a college student at USC when he wrote three songs that would enable him to drop out of school and travel the world: “Bust A Move” for himself and two monster hits for Tone-Loc, “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina”. But Young MC stayed in school and got his degree, kids, so let that be a lesson for you. No matter how many rap hits you write, you should always finish what you start. And own your publishing, that’s where the money is. That and merch. Though technically no longer “young”, Mr. MC continues to write and perform to this day.


“7” - Prince (1993)


Not the best song Prince ever wrote, performed, recorded or released. Not even close. And then he released a bajillion remixes and edits of it. The video was a mess and I think he might have been using that symbol as his name at the time which didn’t help his case. No wait, the album’s title was that unpronounceable symbol. But it’s pretty cool that a song titled “7” only made to #7 on the charts, ain’t it?


“Barbie Girl” - Aqua (1997)

This was Devyn’s favorite song for a while back in the day. She even had the cassette single or “cass-ingle”. I wonder if it’s still her jam? The song regularly shows up on two all-time lists: One Hit Wonders and Worst Songs Ever. While they were initially litigious, taking their case all the way to the Supreme Court before being advised to “chill”, Barbie maker Mattel later used a lyrically modified version of the song in their ads.


“Higher” - Creed (2000)


Oh sweet irony that a song entitled “Higher” could not make it any higher than #7. Before they became a punchline, this bombastic anthem about lucid dreaming was their first charted single and Creed performed it on the rooftop of a Las Vegas casino (The Rio!) for some music awards show so that they were higher than the other acts. Unless Snoop was there.

Seven Songs From Seven Adam Sandler Films

Music Monday it is, TV WEEK it is not!

We are taking a brief break from themed weeks and today Herc has a special post on Adam Sandler.


A veritable expert on all things tv, music, movies, among many other topics, Herc is very much qualified to tell you about these things here on 7w/D. 

Take it away, Herc!


7 Songs From 7 Adam Sandler Films
(part of an ongoing series of 7 Song Playlists)  

Ignoring the argument whether or not Adam Sandler movies are worth watching, I’d like to propose a counterpoint discussion that the movies he is involved with as a star, writer or producer usually have really good soundtracks and are at least worth listening to.  Nothing new or unheard, just a delicious mix of over and under-played songs from the Seventies up til now as well as cover versions (see 50 First Dates), mash-ups (see Just Go With It) and popular songs performed by characters in the movie (see The Wedding Singer).

SPOTIFY IT!

“The Stroke” - Billy Squier

from Billy Madison

“Carry On Wayward Son” - Kansas

from Happy Gilmore

“Tom Sawyer” - Rush

from The Waterboy

“Disco Inferno” - The Trammps

from Bedtime Stories

“Photograph” - Ringo Starr

from Funny People

“Every 1’s A Winner” - Hot Chocolate

from Grown Ups

“Cooler Than Me” - Mike Posner

from Just Go With It

FULL DISCLOSURE:  My A.S.S. (Adam Sandler soundtracks) playlist contains more than 150 songs and these were the first seven that played in shuffle mode.

Seven Clash Songs aka The Magnificent Seven

Music Monday's the day!



The Clash is the subject!



How lucky are you today?! Herc is here to tell you all about this wonderful band.  Do as he says, soak up all of his knowledge and pass it on to everyone you know!


Take it away, Herc!

7 Clash Songs aka The Magnificent Seven
[part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists]

(If you have not had the pleasure of listening to the revolutionary music of the Clash before, please listen to the Spotify Playlist. Don’t worry, your shameful secret is safe with Herc. When you come back, we’ll continue.)

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

“Train in Vain (Stand By Me)” [1980]
 

This song was recorded and added to the London Calling double album after the cover artwork had already been printed so it shows up as an unlisted “secret track” at the end of the album. A snarling, groovy love song with hooks for days, I double dog dare you not to like love it.

“London Calling” [1980]

A haunting, apocalyptic song featuring piercing guitar chords matched by precision drumming and a doom-y bassline, “London Calling” is at once a dire warning, a call to arms and a hymn for future generations.

“Police On My Back” [1981]

With siren-like guitars and a runaway train rhythm, “Police on My Back” decries police brutality with its own full frontal musical assault. Although it is not an original composition by the band, having been written by Eddy Grant, they put their indelible musical imprint upon it and it stands out as one of their best-loved tracks.

“Rock The Casbah” [1982]

A rock and roll fable about the ruler of a far away land banning rock music leading the citizens to rise up and revolt, “Rock The Casbah” is noted for borrowing several words from other languages to paint an Arabian Nights-style narrative.



“Should I Stay Or Should I Go” [1982]

The rubbery bass line lays the foundation for the Spanish backing vocals with lyrics asking the not-so-hypothetical question of whether to stay in a relationship or runaway. If you have to ask, I say runaway. Now.



“Know Your Rights” [1982]

A “public service announcement... with GUITARS!” this militant screed laid out your rights, “all three of ‘em”. But the thing is, they are merely implied, bait and switch rights such as “you have the right not to be killed/Murder is a crime/Unless it is done by a policeman/Or an aristocrat”.



“This Is Radio Clash” [1981

Take old school New York City rap, throw in some bottom heavy dub, joyous funk and snotty punk attitude, and you have “This Is Radio Clash”, a start stop rap track with a decidedly British sneer. The song is a timeless slice of dance music, one of the great lost singles of the 80s.

“The Magnificent Seven” [1981]

Propelled by a bubbly bass loop, Joe Strummer’s words ride the rhythm effortlessly, flowing as England’s first rapper of any color. The immediate predecessor to “This Is Radio Clash” both stylistically and chronologically, “The Magnificent Seven” represents the first rap song by a rock band, beating Blondie’s better known “Rapture” by more than six months.

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST


all images copyright original owners - used for illustrative purposes only

Seven [11] School Songs

Lunes again.  

I've got Music Monday's post with Herc, special Back To School edition, with an exception to my 7 rule.  This is a list of 11 school songs that Herc has put together for the occasion!  

 Let's go Herc!

Seven 11 School Songs

(part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists)

Most kids, this little Herc included, loved going back to school every fall.  Sure, summer was over but if you did it right, you were exhausted and ready for the rigid discipline that school always brought. (Keep those comments polite, please.)  Not to mention the new clothes, shoes and all those cool school supplies that accompanied you.  Here’s a decades spanning mega list of seven eleven songs having to do with school.  Listen to the Spotify Study Guide and then feel free to add your own favorites in the comments.  Don’t be tardy.

SPOTIFY STUDY GUIDE

“Thirteen” - Big Star [1972]

Simply put, this is one of the sweetest, most innocent songs ever recorded.  The lyrics are brief but infused with awkward understated passion and if you ain’t played the game of love, you don’t know that these are the rules.  And those silky sweet harmonies in the background are absolutely angelic.  Pleading, practically begging to spend time with the one he loves (“Won't you let me walk you home from school?/Won't you let me meet you at the pool?”), our hero has the stones to stand up to her Dad (“Won't you tell your dad, "Get off my back"?/Tell him what we said about "Paint it, Black"/Rock 'n Roll is here to stay”).  Often used to great effect in mass media to portray a first love, “Thirteen” is one of the greatest love songs ever recorded.

“My Old School” - Steely Dan [1973]

Technically perfect and coldly soulless as are most Steely Dan records,  “My Old School” is a not so kind reminiscing of school days past.  The kind of song for people like Herc who do not attend reunions. (“And I’m never going back to my old school.”)  Neither am I, brother, neither am I.

“Rock N Roll High School” - Ramones [1979]

Three chords and a chant (“Fun fun/rock'n'roll high school”), this pounding punk blast from the 1979 motion picture of the same name says it all (“I don’t care about History/ Cause that’s not where I wanna be”).  Re-recorded by the band with legendary producer (and future convicted murderer), Phil Spector, for their 1980 End Of The Century album, the original movie version is the better bet.

“School Days” - Chuck Berry [1957]

A day in the life of a student set to a rockin’ beat.  (“Ring ring goes the bell”) Chuck leaves nothing to the imagination as he paints the day as hard work and drudgery that only pays off when school ends and (“You finally lay your burden down”) head to the juke joint (“Drop your quarter right into the slot”) and you dance the afternoon away until its time to go home and start it all over again tomorrow.  (“Hail! Hail! Rock and roll!”)

“Be True To Your School” - Beach Boys [1963]

Almost 20 years before Toni Basil brought cheerleader music back into pop consciousness, the Beach Boys built the bottom of the pyramid with this rah-rah song.  Showing school spirit without any one getting beaten, stabbed or shot, what a great concept.  The only smashing done is on the football field.  The song features marching band instrumentation and powerfully incessant cheers.  Put on your letterman’s sweater and pick up a pair of pom-poms cause it’s on, buddy.

“Teacher, Teacher” - Rockpile [1980]

Another one of those songs that sound creepier now than when they were recorded, “Teacher, Teacher” was Rockpile’s lone American Top 40 hit.  A rocking, driving song which combines rockabilly with the burgeoning “new wave”.  (Although Herc could not locate any prior versions of the song, it seems to have been written in the late Fifties or early Sixties.)  The band known as Rockpile released a total of four albums yet only one of them bears their name.  Two others were released as Dave Edmunds “solo” albums and the final one was a Nick Lowe “solo” album which contained “Cruel To Be Kind”, a power pop staple. 

“Hot For Teacher” - Van Halen [1984]

With its avalanche of drums intro and careening guitar, “Hot For Teacher” hits hard below the belt from the start and doesn’t let up.  The Parents Music Resource Center protested both the song and video, demanding they be pulled from the airwaves.  A nation of young males was grateful that the video, in particular, was not pulled.  Truth be told, Herc was hot for Ms. Bufano years before this song was released.

“School” - Supertramp [1974]

A slow burning song that features cascading piano riffs that tumble into a beautiful melody, with lyrics about someone (the father? the boy’s grown self?) watching a boy go to school and learn the rules.  A cautionary tale about conformity and treating all students the same much like the next song on the list.

“Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2” - Pink Floyd [1979]

With it’s accusatory tone (“Hey teacher/leave them kids alone”), fun to sing-along on the playground verse (“All in all/We’re just bricks in the wall”) and shout it at the top of your lungs opening lines (“We don’t need no education/we don’t need no thoughts controlled”), this is a song built to sing, shout and yell.

“School’s Out” - Alice Cooper [1972]

Ah, the joys of the last week of school.  Cleaning out your locker and desk, finding all those things you thought were lost.  Getting all your stuff back from the teacher who confiscated it throughout the year.  And finally, blowing the school to pieces.  At least it looked that way with all the paper and trash strewn about.  You know what the inspiration was for this song?  Someone asked the band what their “greatest three minutes ever” was and this is what they came up with.

“High School Never Ends” - Bowling For Soup [2006]

People like to think life will be different after high school and for a lot of people it’s true.  But for some people, high school is the pinnacle of their lives and they never mature past it.  They enjoy the lack of responsibility and focus on petty, shallow things like clothes or cars for the rest of their lives.  That’s what this song means to Herc.  What does it mean to you?

SPOTIFY STUDY GUIDE

Seven Covers of Songs Made Famous By Elvis Presley

Thursdaytime! 

Or, as I like to refer to it, Day Before Pay Day.  I would prefer if this day didn't exist.  Love Wednesdays, love Fridays, just hate that middle day.  

Since my powers of day deletion and calendar reformatting are not working these days, I guess we must Keep Calm and Seven On.  (see what I did there?)

Herc wrote another Elvis Week post for you.  He broke the rule of sevens and expanded to 8.  I have forgiven him though, and so should you.  Its worth the extra brain calories, I promise.

Contrary to my post on covers that Elvis did, his post is about covers of Elvis' that were done in honor of The King. Between Herc and I, we've got you covered!

Make sure to read through to the end, it will be worth your while. And don't forget to Spotify while reading, its a totally 3D blog experience!

Go Herc, go!

Seven 8 covers of songs made famous by Elvis Presley

[part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists]

It is no secret that Elvis was a singer and not a songwriter but what many non-believers fail to hear is that he was an undeniably talented and gifted stylist as well, imprinting each song he covered with a little bit of his own unique mojo.  Countless artists were inspired by Elvis Presley and they continue to honor and pay tribute to him by covering his songs.  These are a few of the best in Herc’s Book Of The King.

Viva Covers!

“Jailhouse Rock” - Jeff Beck Group featuring Rod Stewart on vocals

There were two Elvis covers on Beck-Ola, the 1969 album from which this track is lifted but this is the better one in Herc’s humble opinion.  Jeff and the boys fatten the sound while retaining its spirit, its outlaw-ish vibe.  There are a few too many solos but Rod Stewart’s distorted vocals pay tribute without imitation as most Elvis covers are prone to.  The lesser cover? “All Shook Up”.

“Always On My Mind” - Pet Shop Boys

In 1987, at a show mourning the Tenth Anniversary of Presley’s passing, Pet Shop Boys performed it live.  It was so well received that they soon entered the studio, recorded and released a single version which went on to become the duo’s biggest selling single in the UK and has since been named as one of the best cover versions of all time.  Vocally, it’s thinner but musically it’s deeper.  And you can dance to it!

“Suspicious Minds” - Fine Young Cannibals AND Dwight Yoakam

This was Elvis Presley’s 17th and final #1 Pop single in 1968.  Eighteen years later, the Fine Young Cannibals with a vocal assist from Jimmy Sommerville unleashed their version.  Lead singer Roland Gift demonstrates some fine Elvis mimicry even if he is gifted with a vocal range but it is Sommerville ultra-high yelping in the background that gets your attention.

In 1992, Dwight Yoakam recorded his version for inclusion on the all Elvis cover version soundtrack to the movie Honeymoon In Vegas.  The spiralling guitar is still there and Dwight’s twangy vocals are matched by dynamic female backing vocalists.  It is very Elvis-like in spirit and execution.

“Don’t Be Cruel” - Cheap Trick

Elvis’s biggest selling single was covered by the Boys from Illinois in 1987.  They stayed true to the E.P. original and the sound was standard Eighties rockabilly revival (think anything by Stray Cats or Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”).  The song made it into the Top 5 and gave the band one last gasp of fame before settling into the casino concert circuit.

“Viva Las Vegas” - Bruce Springsteen

The Boss snarls and howls his way through The King’s Sin City anthem.  It’s just as rockin’ and rowdy as the original if not more enthusiastic. Originally featured on the charity album, The Last Temptation Of Elvis, and later featured in Honeymoon In Vegas, Bruce has performed this song live in concert for decades.

“All Shook Up” - Paul McCartney

Lifetime Elvis fan Paul McCartney paid the ultimate tribute to his idol by faithfully reproducing the sound and attitude of this raver.  You just know he has sung this song thousands of times when no one else is listening and we’re fortunate he let us in on his private joy.

“(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You” - UB40

They renamed it, gave it a back-beat and then UB40 topped charts worldwide in 1993 with their ode to one of Elvis’s most beautiful love songs.  Herc serenades Mrs. Herc with this one so you know it’s powerful stuff.

Viva Covers!
 

*****Bonus Herc post!  An extra hunka hunka from my favorite resident music expert!  It was just too good to be forgotten or left out, I had to add it as a bonus! Enjoy!*****

7 Songs About Elvis
[part of ongoing series 7 Song Playlists]

The life and music of Elvis Presley has been the inspiration for many songs.  Here are Herc’s favorites songs and his favorite lyrics.

About Elvis!

“Black Velvet” - Alannah Myles [1988]
“The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true”

“Walking In Memphis” - Marc Cohn [1991]
“But there's a pretty little thing/Waiting for the King/Down in the Jungle Room”

“Graceland” - Paul Simon [1986]
“Poor boys and pilgrims with families/And we are going to Graceland”

“Calling Elvis” - Dire Straits [1991]
“Well tell him I was calling just to wish him well/Let me leave my number/
Heartbreak hotel”

“Riding With The King” - Eric Clapton & B.B. King [2000]
“You can see it in his face/The blues is his life”

“Man On The Moon” - R.E.M. [1992]
“Hey Andy, are you goofing on Elvis? Hey baby, are we losing touch?”

“Elvis Is Everywhere” - Mojo Nixon [1987]
“Elvis is in Nutty Buddies!”

About Elvis! 

A quick blurb on blog-keeping.  
     I am always trying to improve the experience for the reader and am open to your suggestions and input. Leave them in the comments or shoot me an email!  As you may have already noticed, I have added a few new features.  One is the "Your Thoughts?" poll at the bottom of each post.  Its just for fun(completely anonymous) and some of you have already had fun labeling some of my posts utter crap.  For this, I thank you.  Honesty is nice, especially if you are being sarcastic as intended.  On that note, has anyone noticed I can't handle not knowing who the "anonymous" comments are coming from? Sign your name!  Help me sleep at night!
     The next new thing is the "you might also like" links at the bottom of each post.  This is very new and works best with the blog posts that have images, all TWO of them.  I am thinking about retro-fitting some posts with images after discovering how easy it was to do.  Would you like that?
     Lastly, as a shameless plug, we are rapidly approaching my 50th post.  More of you read than I ever imagined.  I am wondering if my little slice of blog is worthy of being passed along to any of your friends and family?  Click any of the sharing widgets at the bottom of your favorite post and share it on your Twitter Feed, Facebook Wall, Gmail, Google+, or even your very own Blog!  I must reach more minds and grow the fanbase.  Bigger fanbase=bigger Devyn-ego.  Please and Thank you.  

     Truly, thank you for reading.  Thank you to those of you that guest post and take the reins every once in a while!  Thanks to Herc for letting me hijack the bottom of his post for business matters and for always letting me fluff up the start of each post of his, too!(Love that guy.) 

Just think, this is only the beginning...