Song of the Day

Song of the Day (163): Merry Christmas from the Family – Robert Earl Keen

We’re getting on Christmas, so I will sprinkle in a few holiday songs starting with this classic. With his barb wired wit, sharp eye and phrase making, Robert Earl Keen captures the absurdity of family gatherings designed to promote love and harmony but resulting in a chaotic mess. Of course, it comes from Texas where […]

Song of the Day (162): Hammond Song – The Roches

From their 1979 debut album, this song has the three sisters voicing a plea: If you go down to Hammondyou’ll never come backIn my opinion you’reon the wrong track It turns into an internal dialogue of sorts of a family unit breaking a part. One side is saying don’t go and the responds I’m going. […]

Song of the Day (161): Travelin’ Band – Creedence Clearwater Revival

This song had me from the opening chords with Doug Clifford’s drumming charging the whole piece with a frantic energy. John Fogerty wanted to pay homage to one of his idols, Little Richard, thus he added the saxophone and some Little Richard Like yells mid-way through the song. First heard it when I copy of […]

Song of the Day (160): Suzanne – Leonard Cohen

Here’s a winter song full of smoke and intimacy huddled against the cold. Leonard Cohen, the Jewish mystic poet form Montreal who turned away from the path of wealth and comfort his family laid before him, took up with Suzanne Verdal, a dancer who lived along the St. Lawernce River and they really shared tea […]

Song of the Day (159): The Devil Went Down to Georgia – The Charlie Daniels Band

The Devil Went Down to Georgia falls into a long line of songs and stories (e.g., Robert Johnson, Faust) of a man dueling with the Devil for fame or his soul. Daniel’s, a consummate musician who made a living as a studio man, had great fun with this song. Listen to the fiddle work and […]

Song of the Day (158): Bob Dylan’s Dream – Bob Dylan

By the time Dylan released his second album, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” in 1963, he could see how fast his life was changing. This song embodies the sadness and longing that tinges our aging. The clarity of our youth grows hazy as the world and our lives seem more complex and the simple bonds of […]

Song of the Day (157): Life is Large – The Kennedy’s

A favorite of the now retired NY DJ Vin Scelsa, the Kennedys bring a verve and optimism to all their performances. Pete and Maura, bandmates and a married couple, are survivors, never hitting it big but finding a way to keep playing their music. They say their first date found them visiting Buddy Holly’s grave […]

Song of the Day (156): Grits Ain’t Groceries – Little Milton

Sometimes everything comes together on a perfect record and that happened for Little Milton in 1969 with “Grits Ain’t Groceries.” A song that professes love of outlandish proportions, if a man sung this for you, you would swoon indeed. Shimmering guitar, hard-punching horns, thumping bass, perfectly paced drums and heartfelt singing mix to create as […]

Song of the Day (155): You Can’t Hurry Love – The Supremes

A little Motown for your listening pleasure. A little symphony clocking in under three minutes that has you swaying, dancing, and singing along. A funny thing about this song and many of the Supremes’ songs. The lyrics tell of heartache, but the music is bright and cheery. It is another hit by the Motown songwriting […]