Middle-aged Dummies are back and bursting at the "themes" to get going! Full theme ahead! (13 Viewers)

[Eephus]

This is what Chi-Fi has to do with all this. That's a clone of a clone. Oldchen cloned a venerable 60s tube amp and sells it for $300. Owners marvel about it on Youtube. The clone of the oldchen is $180 delivered. Diyers can't touch this. One of mine is based on the same basic design and the same EL34 tubes. It sounds almost identical to $1500 mono blocks to me.

I usually avoid AliEx stores that haven't been open for at least a year.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I forgot to brag a little as i got a little more accurate with yambags picks. I guessed Exodus, GWAR, and Halloween. I had some GWAR on my list for awhile. I had a couple albums, but didn't listen to them much so took them off. The other two i just know a couple hits of each. Great tunes.

I can't talk about my playlist picks more because we still haven’t gotten to my next pick after GnR in the alphabet yet.

 

[jwb]

Here's what caught my eye in the long article above.

Charlie Hansen of acclaimed solid-state audio-equipment manufacturer Ayre Acoustics knows. “If you know how to solder and the basics of electronics,” he says, “you can make a tube amplifier that’s going to sound really, really good, almost guaranteed.”

That's coming from a guy who sells a $200,000 audiophile system. The Chinese certainly know how to solder. They also graduate migratory herds of electrical engineers every year, so they know more than the basics of electronics. That cloned clone is the best thing I've mentioned Chi-Fi posting.

I could see myself dabbling in this in a few years (once I retire).

 

[Yambag]

I forgot to brag a little as i got a little more accurate with yambags picks. I got Exodus, GWAR, and Halloween. I had some GWAR on my list for awhile. I had a couple albums, but didn't listen to them much so took them off. The other two i just know a couple hits of each. Great tunes.

I can't talk about my playlist picks more because we still haven’t gotten to my next pick after GnR in the alphabet yet.

Gwar and Halloween were great guesses, I thought they might be enough off the radar.

 

[Chaos34]

I could see myself dabbling in this in a few years (once I retire).

This is all I can offer as advice

 

[Chaos34]

I usually avoid AliEx stores that haven't been open for at least a year.

I'd emphasize how easy tube amps are to build compared to almost all other kinds of electronics. We're not talking much money here, and the Oldchen has been around for a long time with very good reviews.

Also I've gone from a little phobic on Chinese stuff, to kind of excited about the stuff I find.

 

[Eephus]

Dusty Springfield deserves to be a honorary mononym.

 

[Eephus]

The Raveonettes were semi-noteworthy 20 years ago for writing/performing all of their songs in a single key. I looked it up and unfortunately, it was B flat minor rather than D sharp minor. The band's second album was apparently all in B flat major.

 

[rockaction]

Dusty Springfield deserves to be a honorary mononym.

I always think of it as Dusty in Memphis, which it is—and it’s almost synonymous with her.

 

[Raging weasel]

The 22's
Known and liked songs
Simple Man
1234
Superfreak
Born to Run
Here I Go Again
Tainted Love

New to me likes
Happy When It Rains
Jerk Ribs
Into the Sea- especially the guitar in the intro
Finisterra
She La
Your Teeth in My Neck
Motorist

 

[Mt. Man]

I was going to make a pun involving the #21s, but it might spotlight a song yet to come on my list. So instead here’s what I liked “best”.

Known Numbers:
I Dig Rock and Roll Music - Peter, Paul & Mary
Song For America - Kansas
So. Central Rain - R.E.M. Possible future crossover?
The Lovecats - The Cure
Angel’s Song - Sevendust

Total Surprises:
Eagle Fly Free - Helloween
African Jive (Moto) - **** Khoza
Do the Du - A Certain Ratio
West Coast Poplock - Ronnie Hudson
Indie Rokkers - Soccer Mommy

Go Figure:
Hmm. I think some CSB/odd facts fit. Kept relatively short.

I have to put Green Jelly’s version of “Anarchy in the U.K’ under known songs, though it’s probably been decades since I heard it. One of the “cool” people I hung out with really loved the album through most of high school. It’s still amusing to think this band got (temporarily) famous with a version of “Three Little Pigs”.

It’s less surprising that I know Extreme’s “More Than Words”. Odd fact: this was my walk-up song for my wedding. More the wife’s idea as I didn’t have an extreme (ha?) tie for me, but hey, I liked it enough to agree to it. You might not be surprised that we didn’t have the most typical ceremony.[/b]

 

[Chaos34]

higgins – Instrumentals with places in the title

Full Moon - Dave Weckl

Played the 21s again driving and want to give this it's due. I guess I was preoccupied the first time through. Jazz, yay. I had to check my phone to see who it was. Dave Weckl yay. He's one of the top jazz drummers on earth. Jazz drummers are technical freaks and they consider him a technical freak's freak. Great pick @higgins. If like me, you didn't pay close attention, check out the drum work to close this song. Woof.

 

[Chaos34]

The Raveonettes were semi-noteworthy 20 years ago for writing/performing all of their songs in a single key. I looked it up and unfortunately, it was B flat minor rather than D sharp minor. The band's second album was apparently all in B flat major.

If you didn't catch last years release, I think you'd like it about as much you're gonna like this genre I'm doing. 10 mostly recognizable covers Raveonetted. Leader of the Pack, Will You Love Me Tomorrow, Wishing, Return of the Grievous Angel, etc.

 

[Chaos34]

More Chi-Fi info.

How to roll op amps.

Here's a pic of my Aiyima amp opened up. A small flathead screwdriver easily opens these amps. On the lower and center right you see two 8 legged black thingies. Those are op amps. With the same flathead they are easily popped out. The replacements are easily plugged in. That's it.

Doubt that amp is as good as the nerds say? That pic is from this Audio Science Review. Mic'd n measured.

I connected the A07 Max, don't laugh, to my $23,000 Revel Salon 2 speakers as requested by a member. I must say, I was not remotely prepared for what I heard. This little amp with its 36 volt/6amp power supply had no trouble driving the Revels to incredible dynamics! Resolution and detail was superb. Deep, sub-bass was produced with no sign of amp straining or wanting to turn off. I am still listening to it as I type this and can't believe what I am hearing. The binding posts on the speakers probably weigh as much as this amp!

 

[KarmaPolice]

I forgot to brag a little as i got a little more accurate with yambags picks. I got Exodus, GWAR, and Halloween. I had some GWAR on my list for awhile. I had a couple albums, but didn't listen to them much so took them off. The other two i just know a couple hits of each. Great tunes.

I can't talk about my playlist picks more because we still haven’t gotten to my next pick after GnR in the alphabet yet.

Gwar and Halloween were great guesses, I thought they might be enough off the radar.

I probably wouldn't have gotten there if you weren't giving me clues. As I joked, it was much harder than I thought despite drawing from the same pool of artists. Knowing it was alphabetical, the years involved, and you at least being nice enough to tell me % we crossed over from my playlist and which of those guesses I had right led me to some of these.

Thanks again for your theme, as it's been a great trip down memory lane. I laughed at and listened to some songs from albums that I had forgotten about having in my possession as I dug though lists and options. Since we are way past A, here was one "gem" that I had forgotten about:

Violent by Nature

Atrophy · Violent By Nature · Song · 1990

open.spotify.com

Today's I am very excited about. If not the most important album for me from this time frame, it's in the conversation. It is also still one of my favorite metal albums of all time as well, and in hindsight is probably shorthand for what my taste in metal music is. It is still driving me a bit crazy what 3 songs we had exactly same, though.

 

[krista4]

#20 songs

kupcho1 – rain

It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls


Eephus – Single (Named) Ladies

Ibtihaj - Rapsody feat. D'Angelo & GZA


Charlie Steiner – songs from Mad Men

Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford


simey – train songs

Southbound Train - Graham Nash, David Crosby


Yambag – Metal songs from 1988-1992 that became the gateway into the world of music for a young Yambag

The Evil That Men Do - Iron Maiden


Dr. Octopus – guitarists I’ve seen live

Red Barchetta - Rush (Alex Lifeson)


Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Heart Attack Man - Beastie Boys


Mrs. Rannous – umlauts

Up Rose The Mountain - G̈r̈oẗus̈


KarmaPolice – songs from artists not on shuke’s list

Wheelz of Steel - Outkast


Don Quixote – Afrobeat

Disco Dancer (Spotify) - Kiki Gyan (Ghana)


JMLs secret identity – songs in D#Minor, the saddest key of all

Smile Like You Mean It (Spotify) - The Killers


-OZ- - song / music moments from the Marvel cinematic universe

Mesmerized - Faith Evans


Mt. Man – Number, Please

409 - The Beach Boys


Pip’s Invitation – songs from albums produced and/or engineered by Todd Rundgren

I Am a Gambler - Felix Cavaliere


falguy – songs by 31 different Canadian artists

All Uncovered - The Watchmen


Raging weasel – name-checking Beatles or their songs

Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio? - Ramones


jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

Mockingbird – Carly Simon and James Taylor


scorchy – songs by Manchester(-ish) artists

Voodoo Ray - A Guy Called Gerald


titusbramble – Grand Theft Auto, specifically the 3D era

Keep On Movin - Soul II Soul (SA - CSR 103.9)


shuke – Saxytime

Give A Little Bit (Spotify) – Supertramp


Ilov80s - One song from each of the 31 best albums of 1984

Stay - The Blue Nile


John Maddens Lunchbox – Batman

Moaner (Spotify) - Underworld


Mister CIA – Texas Places in Song Titles

Loving County - Charlie Robison


El Floppo – Mallet Rock

Perfect Sound Whatever - Jeff Rosenstock


landrys hat - favorite Side 2 Track 1s from my record collection

Step out of Time - Plan 9 - Dealing With the Dead (1984)


rockaction - Songs that state the genre they’re in

Punk As **** - Down By Law


ditkaburgers - Girl Groups X Boy Bands

How You Like That - BLACKPINK


MrsKarmaPolice – Animal Kingdom

Little Bird - The White Stripes


Tau837 – Hair metal

Looks That Kill - Motley Crue


DrIanMalcolm – Songs about New York

New York Groove - Ace Frehley


higgins – Instrumentals with places in the title

"Star Trek - Picard" theme - Jeff Russo


Zegras11 – New wave

Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes


Chaos34 - Post Surf Rock Surf Rockish (80s fwd)

Space 1991 - Man or Astro-Man?


krista4 – Chicagoland

The El – Rhett Miller


Anonymous Mystery Theme Dictator - ???

Goddess On A Hiway - Mercury Rev


MAC_32 – Songs to play during (and after) a funeral

I Feel Home - OAR

 

[krista4]

#20 Playlist

 

[krista4]

Selections:

31. If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers

30. Hear The Drummer Get Wicked - Chad Jackson

29. Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

28. Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai

27. Another Chance - Roger Sanchez

26. Living On My Own - Freddie Mercury

25. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top

24. Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay

23. Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music

22. By The Time I Get To Arizona - Public Enemy

21. I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry

20. Goddess On A Hiway - Mercury Rev



Incorrect guesses:

Songs that give advice

Bands That Have Never Been in My Kitchen

Songs by artists who have headlined Glastonbury

Songs featuring the Mellotron

Fear mongering

Song titles that could be part of geometry proofs

Bands who have a member whose first or last name is a James Bond reference

Bands with family members

Songs that reference a location in another country

Songs that have nine or more words in the title

Songs that mention famous streets

Bands who had a member mysteriously disappear, get declared dead, but no body has ever been found

Songs that reference footballguys user names

Songs without a guitar

Song titles that are commands

First two words of song titles in order of lyrics from The Youngbloods’ Get Together

Songs about resilience in the face of adversity

Songs about the importance of progress

Songs to make people overthink and speculate about an imaginary theme that doesn't really exist

31 songs that MADs submitted in prior MAD rounds, but judge disqualified because the submitting MAD failed to get the long-form birth certificate of all band members before submitting

Songs NOT produced by Todd Rundgren

Artists without umlauts

Songs Sam Rockwell has danced to in a movie

Songs about navigating and adapting to a constantly changing world

Songs credited to more than one songwriter

UK top ten singles

Singles released by UK artist/bands

31 British Isles Songs That Did Not Appear in the MAD British Isles Countdown

Non-guitar driven songs

Songs in 4/4 time

Broadway shows

Songs that all charted in the same six countries:
UK
Australia
Germany
France
Ireland
Netherlands

Songs under 5 minutes

Songs where artists let out excessive vocalizations of the “ahh,” “ooh,” “dee,” etc. variety

A break up and starting over

Things that will drive a bunch of middle aged dummies who are trying to find a pattern go crazy

Stages in Rustoluem’s marriage

Guinness World Records

Songs that can qualify for other people’s themes

Songs by people with facial hair

All songs use an instrument with keys

Songs that are the narrative arc of a divorce

Addiction

Songs with 125 BPM or more

Songs that sample other songs on the list

Songs representing different Nicholas Cage movies / characters

Songs

This is your life, Krista

Something to do with Tina Turner/abused women

Jimi Hendrix

Detailing Britney Spears’ descent into madness

Addiction ... to love

Songs in A Minor

 

[kupcho1]

kupcho1 – rain

It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls

What can I say, we needed a fun one, and The Weather Girls deliver.

Humidity is rising (Mm rising), barometer's getting low (How low, girl?)
According to all sources (What sources now?)
The street's the place to go (You better hurry up)
'Cause tonight for the first time (First time)
Just about half-past ten (Half-past ten)
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men (Start raining men)

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Heart Attack Man - Beastie Boys

Oh, Lord

 

[Charlie Steiner]

20. Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford

Sacajawea carried a baby on her back all the way to the Pacific Ocean. And somewhere, that baby thinks he discovered America. - Bert Cooper, season 3, episode 7, Seven Twenty Three

This scene is one of Robert Morse's greatest from the entire series, as his character, Bert Cooper, reveals the ruthless businessman lurking behind his 'eccentric' facade.

The irony of comparing Don signing a generous contract that included a large signing bonus as Sixteen Tons plays wasn't lost on me, and it prompted me to dig a little more into the song itself.

The song was written in 1946 by Merle Travis, though folk singer George Davis claimed to have written it under a different title (Nine-to-ten tons and alternatively, 21 Tons), though his claim was never substantiated. Travis was inspired to write the song based on a letter written to him by his brother who worked at the coal mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, a place that John Prine fans should recognize from his song, Paradise.

Some may also already know of Ford's version only from its reference in Back to the Future, where it was being sold in a record store that Marty passed. Ford parlayed this success into stardom that saw him host his own variety show and even make appearances in other shows, including multiple appearances on I Love Lucy. There are three stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame with his name on them: one for radio, one for records and one for TV.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

kupcho1 – rain

It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls

What can I say, we needed a fun one, and The Weather Girls deliver.

Humidity is rising (Mm rising), barometer's getting low (How low, girl?)
According to all sources (What sources now?)
The street's the place to go (You better hurry up)
'Cause tonight for the first time (First time)
Just about half-past ten (Half-past ten)
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men (Start raining men)

This record slams. The video is absolutely hilarious.

Wasn't the lead singer on this the same that did "Gonna Make You Sweat"? The record company then hired a model for the official video.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Round 20 - Up Rose the Mountain - G̈r̈oẗus̈

Industrial rock band from San Francisco with two bassists and two drummers. Those rock dots are very extra.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

20. Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford

Sacajawea carried a baby on her back all the way to the Pacific Ocean. And somewhere, that baby thinks he discovered America. - Bert Cooper, season 3, episode 7, Seven Twenty Three

This scene is one of Robert Morse's greatest from the entire series, as his character, Bert Cooper, reveals the ruthless businessman lurking behind his 'eccentric' facade.

The irony of comparing Don signing a generous contract that included a large signing bonus as Sixteen Tons plays wasn't lost on me, and it prompted me to dig a little more into the song itself.

The song was written in 1946 by Merle Travis, though folk singer George Davis claimed to have written it under a different title (Nine-to-ten tons and alternatively, 21 Tons), though his claim was never substantiated. Travis was inspired to write the song based on a letter written to him by his brother who worked at the coal mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, a place that John Prine fans should recognize from his song, Paradise.

Some may also already know of Ford's version only from its reference in Back to the Future, where it was being sold in a record store that Marty passed. Ford parlayed this success into stardom that saw him host his own variety show and even make appearances in other shows, including multiple appearances on I Love Lucy. There are three stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame with his name on them: one for radio, one for records and one for TV.

Love this one. Boasting rappers and metal kids have nothing on Ernie.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Heart Attack Man - Beastie Boys

Oh, Lord

By the way, I have a guess at the theme for this writeup but will hold off. I'm sure Mama's will be better than what popped into my head.

 

[-OZ-]

-OZ- - song / music moments from the Marvel cinematic universe

Mesmerized - Faith Evans

Fans of MCU movies might wonder when this was on.

Those familiar with the Netflix shows will know, Luke Cage. Harlem’s paradise is sort of a cheat code for great music, at a club with a few great live performances and other scenes.

Although in hindsight I messed up by not including the best musical scene from the show, Long live the chief

Next up - we’ll stay in Harlem for a few minutes more.

 

[kupcho1]

The photos for the playlists are killing me. Please tell me that the latest one is one of you from your personal collection.

 

[kupcho1]

Although in hindsight I messed up by not including the best musical scene from the show, Long live the chief

Yeah, that's a big miss. Love that tune. It was a definite add to my 2017 playlist.

 

[Ilov80s]

Theme: 31 Best Albums of 1984

20. Stay by The Blue Nile

Album: A Walk Across Rooftops
Released: April 30

Their debut album was also the debut album for the small audiophile Linn Records. Linn started as a Scottish manufacturer of high end audio equipment. They were disappointed in the quality of records being given to them for demos so they began building their own record cutting equipment and decided to make their own label. The first artist they signed was The Blue Nile. It took months for them to produce the album, spending every penny they received and obsessing over every single bit of sound that did or didn't make the album. What they produced stunned critics, receving almost universal praise for it's elegance, craftmanship, inventive use of empty space and it's oxymoronic lush austerity. Quite a fitting start for a new label built around aural quality. I don't think the album ever did much with audiences and it took 5 years to produce a follow up but Linn Records continued to thrive with their niche market of the highest quality physical and eventually digital music specializing in classical and jazz. The Glasgow label were international leaders for getting high fidelity music available to markets. They recently announced they will be shutting down their online music catalog on 2/25/25 believing that they have won their battle and high quality streaming and downloadable music is now widely available.

Stay was the lead single but it didn't do too much in the UK and even less in America. I can't pinpoint why though, to me it sounds like it should have been a slam dunk top 40 hit with it's beautiful chorus. What do you guys think? Should Stay have been a big hit?

Stay

The Blue Nile · A Walk Across the Rooftops · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

 

[Don Quixote]

Don Quixote – Afrobeat

Disco Dancer (Spotify) - Kiki Gyan (Ghana)

Kiki Gyan is one of those “what could have been” stories. His talent led to him dropping out of school and joining Osibisa when he was 15 years old. He left a few years later to pursue a solo career. He was called the Stevie Wonder of Africa, and at the height of his career was voted the 8th greatest keyboardist in the world. It was also around this time that he married Fela Kuti’s oldest daughter.

But he had a pretty quick fall from these heights — during touring America, he got introduced to drugs and became deeply addicted. Attempts at rehabilitation kept failing and he’d go back to drugs as soon as exiting rehab. He would caution young musicians to avoid drugs, even if he could not save himself, and eventually died at a young age in poverty in Ghana as a result of AIDS and drugs.

Despite the sad turn that his life took, the brief time when he was at his peak led to some good music. The 24 Hours in a Disco collection contains some of his singles from the era. I probably would not really classify as Afrobeat (as more like Afrodisco, or maybe just straight disco), but being from Ghana and the connection to Fela Kuti and Osibisa, I decided to err in favor of just including what I’d consider some good music.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

21.

Who? – Alex Lifeson

What? – Rush

Where? – Nassau Coliseum

When? – 1985

Why? – The first real concert I attended with just my friends (no parents) and I was blown away. I’m not a huge fan of Rush but remember being blown away by how good a three-man band could sound. Lifeson always seemed to be underrated, perhaps due to Peart’s and Lee’s expertise on drums and bass, but Lifeson is a huge part of the band’s sound and is a virtuoso in his own right.

 

[Raging weasel]

20) Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio? Ramones
Key Lyrics
Will you remember Jerry Lee
John Lennon,T. Rex and old Moulty?

 

[Yo Mama]

World’s Worst Superheroes #20

Heart Attack Man
Artist - Beastie Boys (1994)

Strengths - Incredible focus and tenacity; extremely passionate about everything - work, family, his favorite football team, politics, online debates about the greatest NBA player of all time and how to fix the all-star game, the stock market, the horrible refereeing in his kids’ AYSO match, you name it

Weaknesses - Arterial plaque buildup; a family history of coronary issues; high health insurance deductibles: politics subforums on fake football message boards; lungs full of tar and a stomach full of Spam


There Goes my Hero

Situation - You’re an IMF agent that is trying to break into CIA headquarters to steal the NOC list. The file is stored in a high-security vault with floor pressure sensors and super sensitive noise and temperature readers to catch any intruders. The only way in is to lower an agent into the room from the air shaft above. You’d do it yourself, but you injured yourself doing your own stunt in a previous scene. Only one man can save the day (he was the only superhero to reply to your Craigslist help wanted ad).

You: [remote via radio from the van] “Ok, you’re over the vault now. Lower Heart Attack Man slowly to retrieve the file with the NOC list.”

Krieger: [massively struggling] “What does this guy weigh? 275? Luther, get in here. I need your help!”

Luther: [chuckling] “He’s pretty hefty. He’s like the guy in the Hefty bag commercial. What are his vitals?”

You: “Pulse 120 bpm, body temp 100 degrees, blood pressure 140/95, he’s already breathing heavily and sweating profusely. Heart Attack Man, you need to calm down or the vault sensors will go off!”

Heart Attack Man: [eating a pastrami sandwich with one hand and holding a lit cigarette in the other] “Actually, I’m feeling pretty relaxed right now.”

Luther and Krieger nearly drop the hefty superhero to the ground due to his immense weight but catch him at the last second.

HAM: [grabs left arm] “What the heck was that!”

You: “Pulse 140 bpm, body temp 105 degrees, blood pressure 155/101. Heart Attack Man, you need to settle down!”

Alarms all go off at once.

HAM: [grabs chest emphatically] “Ah! This is the big one! You hear that Elizabeth! I’m coming to join you, honey!” [flatlines]

 

[Yo Mama]

Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Heart Attack Man - Beastie Boys

Oh, Lord

By the way, I have a guess at the theme for this writeup but will hold off. I'm sure Mama's will be better than what popped into my head.

Was it Fred Sanford joins the Mission Impossible team?

 

[Leroy Hoard]

#20 songs


Charlie Steiner – songs from Mad Men

Sixteen Tons - Tennessee Ernie Ford


Yambag – Metal songs from 1988-1992 that became the gateway into the world of music for a young Yambag

The Evil That Men Do - Iron Maiden


Dr. Octopus – guitarists I’ve seen live

Red Barchetta - Rush (Alex Lifeson)



Mrs. Rannous – umlauts

Up Rose The Mountain - G̈r̈oẗus̈

Mt. Man – Number, Please

409 - The Beach Boys


Raging weasel – name-checking Beatles or their songs

Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio? - Ramones


Ilov80s - One song from each of the 31 best albums of 1984

Stay - The Blue Nile



landrys hat - favorite Side 2 Track 1s from my record collection

Step out of Time - Plan 9 - Dealing With the Dead (1984)



Tau837 – Hair metal

Looks That Kill - Motley Crue


DrIanMalcolm – Songs about New York

New York Groove - Ace Frehley


Zegras11 – New wave

Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes


Chaos34 - Post Surf Rock Surf Rockish (80s fwd)

Space 1991 - Man or Astro-Man?

I'm glad to see the #20 represented so well, Barry Sanders would be proud.

 

[zamboni]

kupcho1 – rain

It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls

What can I say, we needed a fun one, and The Weather Girls deliver.

Humidity is rising (Mm rising), barometer's getting low (How low, girl?)
According to all sources (What sources now?)
The street's the place to go (You better hurry up)
'Cause tonight for the first time (First time)
Just about half-past ten (Half-past ten)
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men (Start raining men)

I always get In Living Color vibes when I hear the tune.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Heart Attack Man - Beastie Boys

Oh, Lord

By the way, I have a guess at the theme for this writeup but will hold off. I'm sure Mama's will be better than what popped into my head.

Was it Fred Sanford joins the Mission Impossible team?

It WAS Fred Sanford, but I didn't have the IMF angle. Well done!

 

[Don Quixote]

22. By The Time I Get To Arizona - Public Enemy

21. I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry

20. Goddess On A Hiway - Mercury Rev

Now it’s feeling like the plot to Thelma and Louise.

 

[Eephus]

kupcho1 – rain

It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls

What can I say, we needed a fun one, and The Weather Girls deliver.

Humidity is rising (Mm rising), barometer's getting low (How low, girl?)
According to all sources (What sources now?)
The street's the place to go (You better hurry up)
'Cause tonight for the first time (First time)
Just about half-past ten (Half-past ten)
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men (Start raining men)

This record slams. The video is absolutely hilarious.

Wasn't the lead singer on this the same that did "Gonna Make You Sweat"? The record company then hired a model for the official video.

The great Martha Wash

 

[Eephus]

Theme: 31 Best Albums of 1984

20. Stay by The Blue Nile

Album: A Walk Across Rooftops
Released: April 30

Their debut album was also the debut album for the small audiophile Linn Records. Linn started as a Scottish manufacturer of high end audio equipment. They were disappointed in the quality of records being given to them for demos so they began building their own record cutting equipment and decided to make their own label. The first artist they signed was The Blue Nile. It took months for them to produce the album, spending every penny they received and obsessing over every single bit of sound that did or didn't make the album. What they produced stunned critics, receving almost universal praise for it's elegance, craftmanship, inventive use of empty space and it's oxymoronic lush austerity. Quite a fitting start for a new label built around aural quality. I don't think the album ever did much with audiences and it took 5 years to produce a follow up but Linn Records continued to thrive with their niche market of the highest quality physical and eventually digital music specializing in classical and jazz. The Glasgow label were international leaders for getting high fidelity music available to markets. They recently announced they will be shutting down their online music catalog on 2/25/25 believing that they have won their battle and high quality streaming and downloadable music is now widely available.

Stay was the lead single but it didn't do too much in the UK and even less in America. I can't pinpoint why though, to me it sounds like it should have been a slam dunk top 40 hit with it's beautiful chorus. What do you guys think? Should Stay have been a big hit?

Stay

The Blue Nile · A Walk Across the Rooftops · Song · 1984

open.spotify.com

Big fan of the band and Paul Buchanan's voice. I just listened to their second album Hats a few weeks ago for about the hundredth time.

I think the reason they didn't break bigger is right there in the first sentence of your write-up. Linn records wasn't in any position to promote the record in a very crowded musical marketplace of 1984.

 

[titusbramble]

Aw man, we skipped right past 505 by Arctic Monkeys on the numbers countdown :(

 

[Zegras11]

Always Something There to Remind Me - 2018 Remaster

Naked Eyes · Naked Eyes · Song · 1983

open.spotify.com

"(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" is a song written by American songwriting duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Originally recorded as a demo by Dionne Warwick in 1963, "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" first charted for Lou Johnson, whose version reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-1964.\ Sandie Shaw took the song to No. 1 in the UK that same year, while the duo Naked Eyes had a No. 8 hit with the song in the US two decades later in 1983.

Promises, Promises - US Single Version

Naked Eyes · Naked Eyes · Song · 1983

open.spotify.com

 

[jwb]

jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

Mockingbird – Carly Simon and James Taylor

Different songs are here for different reasons. Although it uses the speakers and placement of sound just fine, this one isn't a classic audiophile recording by any stretch. But vocalists are a big part of the listening experience, and here are two of the 70's best having a heck of a time singing this one (and I believe they were married to each other at the time). You can just hear the fun they are having, and they both sound great (especially Carly). They are next to each other in the mix, but they switch front and back positions for the two verses, which is pretty cool. Pretty solid sax going on here too.

 

[krista4]

krista4 – Chicagoland

The El – Rhett Miller

This is another one where I kinda messed up the scoring. But it's OK - ol' Rhett is quite fetching, so I'll allow him the higher-than-deserved ranking.

Artist connection to Chicago (1-5 scale): 2 - I think he was a 1.5 I rounded up. His label for a time was Chicago's Bloodshot Records, and the Old 97's seemed to play here every day for a time. And he played at least once with Chicago legend Robbie Fulks. Maybe I was just being hopeful that I'd run into him in Chicago sometime.
Song connection to Chicago (1-10 scale): 5 - A higher score than it likely deserved. It does mention Chicago and The El a lot, but the narrative really could be about anywhere. I do love how he connects the stages of a relationship with the El.
Total: 7

 

[Charlie Steiner]

Always Something There to Remind Me" first charted for Lou Johnson, whose version reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-1964.

Almost made my countdown.

 

[krista4]

Always Something There to Remind Me" first charted for Lou Johnson, whose version reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-1964.

Almost made my countdown.

I finished season 1 of Mad Men last night and checked your list to see if a particular song was on there. Still not reading your write-ups yet but will go back and do so after I'm through the series.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

20. I Am a Gambler
Artist: Felix Cavaliere
Album: Felix Cavaliere (1974)
Todd's role(s): producer, guitar
Writer(s): Felix Cavaliere and Carman Moore

The song: Felix Cavaliere, lead vocalist on most of the '60s hits of the (Young) Rascals, sounds unmistakably '70s on "I Am a Gambler," the second song on his Todd Rundgren-produced self-titled debut solo album. The trappings are very 1974: electric piano, organ, funky guitar, heavy percussion, a sax solo, a vocal arrangement that sounds like something Curtis Mayfield might have pulled off, and, of course, cowbell! Cavaliere's voice transcends the trappings of the time and is as powerful as it was on any Rascals track. This tune is a hoot, as people sometimes said back then, and ends too soon at 3:17.

The album: After the Rascals broke up in 1972, Cavaliere signed a solo deal with Bearsville and wanted to cut either a sprawling, politically minded record like the Rascals' Freedom Suite (1969) or a rock opera he had written based on Frank Herbert's Dune. Mo Ostin, chairman and CEO of Bearsville's distributor Warner Bros., and Albert Grossman, the head of Bearsville, had no interest in such indulgences, and wanted Cavaliere to generate hit singles. After early work on the album was unsatisfactory to Grossman, he asked Rundgren to step in and take over the project in hopes that he would be able to make something sound like a hit. Rundgren brought in current or future Utopia members Kevin Ellman, John Siegler and Roger Powell to overdub drum, bass and synthesizer tracks, respectively, and played guitar himself on some songs. But the album failed to chart or produce any singles that got traction.

In the liner notes for the 2012 reissue of the album, Cavaliere said Rundgren "was very much concerned with his own, personal work…[and] I had just a lot of trouble trying to understand his attitude towards the product that we were doing." All Rundgren had to say was that he and his client "sort of got along personally."

You Might Also Like: "Funky Friday" blends forthright vocals from Cavaliere with some interesting syncopation and tasty guitar leads from Rundgren: https://open.spotify.com/track/4bFyMgCBwXyia2aKQ6DM1r?si=4d5dd68f38fa4249

At #19, one of Rundgren's final outside production jobs, for a band from a genre that he didn't typically work in.

 

[Ilov80s]

Always Something There to Remind Me" first charted for Lou Johnson, whose version reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 in mid-1964.

Almost made my countdown.

I finished season 1 of Mad Men last night and checked your list to see if a particular song was on there. Still not reading your write-ups yet but will go back and do so after I'm through the series.

I take it you've enjoyed the first season if you're talking about finishing it?

 

[krista4]

I take it you've enjoyed the first season if you're talking about finishing it?

Yes! There's something about it that is really unsettling to me that I haven't experienced watching other shows, but that makes me even more intrigued by it. Maybe because there are no "good" people in the show, other than possibly Peggy. On the other hand, I've enjoyed TV shows without good guys before - Succession, The Sopranos, to name two - and not felt that way. I'm wondering if the difference is that these people hit closer to home for me, in that they seem more like "regular" people. Succession's characters were closer to caricatures, and I can't relate to mobsters, but this one is office workers I feel like I've known through the years.

 

[krista4]

I made it through the 21s and enjoyed that playlist a bunch. Added to my new favorites playlist were "Barbara's Song" by Ian Noe, "Do the Du" by A Certain Ratio, "Full Moon" by Dave Weckl, and "Natural's Not In it" by Gang of Four. The last one is undoubtedly not actually new to me, because OH loves that band, and while I was playing it he started singing along from a different room 50 feet away, so I'm sure I've heard him play it but don't remember.

Other highlights were "Eagle Fly Free" from Helloween and "We're Here for a Good Time" by Trooper, as well as others I'm too tired to list.