Home for the Holidaze

Is it just me or, this year, does it seem that the holiday season has sprung up out of nowhere? Maybe it was due to this years' November baseball - I was watching the World Series and then when I went out to the store, the whole shopping area was filled with Christmas decorations. Or perhaps it's because for the second year in a row, this holiday season finds me (and countless others) still unemployed. Whatever the reason, it just doesn't seem very Christmasy this year. Oh well, c'est la vie. Enjoy the music and leave comments. I really love hearing from people.

Bryan Ferry - The Times They Are A-Changin'

The more things change the more they stay the same. Bob Dylan wrote this song over 45 years ago and it still sounds apropos to our current time. Bryan Ferry's version has always been a favorite,so here it is.

Carl Perkins - Her Love Rubbed Off

Carl might not have been as wild as some of his Sun Records contemporaries but, as this song proves, he could be just as intense in his own somewhat softer, quieter way.
Casey Jones & the Governors - Don't Ha Ha

I've always loved this song by Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns and here, CJ & Co turn in a snappy sped-up version. Back when I used to see The Swingin' Neckbreakers, they always used to do this song and now I know from where they most likely got their arrangement.
Crabby Appleton - Go Back
Stories - I'm Coming Home

And now for the hit portion of our program. Back in May of 1970, Crabby Appleton hit the charts for the first and last time when "Go Back" made it up to number 36 on the Billboard Top 100. Two years later, Stories had their first of a handful of chart entries as "I'm Coming Home" climbed up to number 42. This song was written by Michael Brown who, a few years earlier, wrote "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina" for the Left Banke.

Fred Neil - The Dolphins

Fred Neil was very active in the early 60's folk scene and the list of songs he wrote for himself and others is quite impressive to say the least. "The Dolphins" has always been a personal favorite of mine.
Gino Washington - Out Of This World

I seem to remember playing this a few times in my DJ days and, if memory serves me correctly, it never failed to fill up the dance floor. Listening to it now on my computer, it still sounds damn fine.
John Fred & Playboy Band - Can I Get a Word In

Although JF & Co. are mostly remembered for their rather annoying hit record "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)", they had a handful of other singles, of which this is but one, that were so much better.
Little WIllie John - Talk To Me, Talk To Me

For my money, Little Willie John had one of the best voices in R&B and was second to none in the way he could put over a song. Sadly, he died while in prison in 1968 at the young age of 40.
The Lyres - You Won't Be Sad Anymore

Despite the fact that the vocals are somewhat muffled and it's hard to make out the words, this has alway been one of my favorite Lyres songs. At this point they are not as active as they once were which is a shame because when they were running on all cylinders, their shows were second to none.
Mando Diao - Cinderella

I don't remember exactly when and where I first heard of these guys although now that I have, I am definitely a fan. Hailing from Sweden it's not likely that they'll be playing NYC anytime soon but if and when they do, I will definitely be there to cheer them on. Check out their MySpace page.
Paul Revere & The Raiders - Good Thing

According to my friend and Top Shelf Radio DJ Dave the Rave, he is working with some folks at Collector's Choice Records on a multi-disc Paul Revere & The Raiders singles box. Although many of the single versions have appeared as bonus tracks on some Sundazed PR&TR album reissues, this will be the first time that they are all together in one place. I for one, can't wait.
Doris Troy - Special Care

This song is from the album she recorded for Apple Records which is now out of print and is selling for big bucks on places like Amazon and Gemm Music.
Willie Egans - It's a Shame

"It's a Shame" is pretty standard, straightforward mid-50s R&B. While it may sound like hundreds of other records made back in the day, and despite the rather crude recording, it's definitely got an extra spark of something that makes it sound fresh and exciting 55-plus years later.
The Cobras - I Wanna Be Your Love

While many of you will already know this song from the "Teenage Shutdown" series this version comes from a privately pressed CD-R, made directly from the 45s. And anyway, this is one of those songs you can never hear too many times.
Thelonious Monk - Boo Boo's Birthday

I always feel a little intimidated writing about Jazz. I feel like one of those people who say "I know nothing about art but I know what I like". But the fact is that I do like this song a lot. It's got an upbeat happy sounding melody and I like how the soloists go out on their own but never seem to stray too far from the tune.

When you kiss me tonight you pretend that his lips are mine