What’s the Alternative? IV – Part 1

When the ‘90s began, I was a pimply high school sophomore riding my bike around my small Long Island town getting into mischief with Toast. By decade’s end, I was a newly sworn-in Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria shaking hands with President Clinton in Sofia (in November 1999). My memories of the ‘90s include making and listening to mixtapes; frequenting diners, movie theatres, and bowling alleys; and smoking disgusting cigarettes. During the ‘90s, I also obtained two college degrees and it was during those college years my musical tastes began to evolve from hardcore and punk music to indie/alternative (I even started buying and wearing cheap vintage clothing from the Salvation Army). 

Superchunk

After the Nirvana-led grunge explosion of the early ‘90s (which had its roots in the ‘80s underground music scene), “the scene” in America sputtered as bands and fans grew up, got jobs, and cashed in their chips before it got too late (though many could still be seen in recent years at pre-COVID-19 reunion and sing-along nostalgia concerts to which some even brought their kids). For me, indie/alternative stopped progressing sometime in the mid-‘90s (right around the time of the last Jawbreaker album) though, like any genre, many indie practitioners shred on some 40 years after the birth of R.E.M. (from Athens, GA). Here are some of my favorite indie/alternative songs featuring American artists (except for a couple of European acts turning in solid covers of two American classics). Enjoy- and Happy New Year! 

Superchunk

01. Jawbreaker – “Oyster” (1995)

02. American Music Club – “Johnny Mathis’ Feet” (1993)

03. Jawbreaker – “Bad Scene, Everyone’s Fault” (1995)

04. Greg Dulli – “Pussywillow” (2005)

05. R.E.M. – “(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville” (1984)

06. Jawbreaker – “Sluttering (May 4th)” (1995)

07. The Smashing Pumpkins – “Tonight Reprise (Version 1)” (1995)

08. Superchunk – “Here’s Where the Strings Come In” (1995)

09. Dinosaur Jr. – “Raisans” (1987)

10. Bat for Lashes – “The Boys of Summer (Live)” (2019)

11. Evan Dando – “The Same Thing You Thought Hard About Is the Same Part I Can Live Without” (2003)

12. Hüsker Dü – “Divide and Conquer” (1985)

13. Jawbreaker – “Chemistry” (1995)

14. Liz Phair – “Favorite” (2003)

15. Dinosaur Jr. – “Kracked” (1987) 

16. R.E.M. – “The Flowers of Guatemala” (1986)

17. The Magnetic Fields – “The Day the Politicians Died” (2020)

18. Bright Eyes – “Devil Town” (2004)

19. Violent Femmes – “Good Feeling” (1983)

20. Migala – “Moon River” (1997)

Jawbreaker 2017

President Clinton, Sofia, Bulgaria, 1999

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Wheat – “Don’t I Hold You”

Christmas Faves IV

“And so this is Christmas,” John Lennon observed in his sole contribution to the Christmas music genre, “and what have you done? Another year over and a new one just begun.” I think we can all agree 2020 has overstayed its welcome and, wherever we are this Christmas, we should try to have some fun and usher in 2021 with a spirit of hope. That is what Christmas is, after all, the celebration of man’s hope fulfilled in God incarnate: eternal spirit, creator of the universe, born a babe in poverty surrounded by shepherds and animals; all-powerful Son of God, fully human and fully God; helpless, meek, and mild as a lamb; heavenly prince of peace, hidden from the wise and the learned but revealed to the childlike.

Mild He lays His glory by 
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing 
“Glory to the new-born king!”

Here are some of my favorite Christmas songs. Enjoy- and Merry Christmas from the Caribbean!

01. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert – “Can I Interest You in Hannukah?” (2008)

02. Ella Fitzgerald – “Frosty the Snowman” (1960)

03. Bing Crosby – “Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)” (1950) 

04. Frank Sinatra – “An Old Fashioned Christmas” (1964)

05. Frank Sinatra – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (1963)

06. Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra – “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”  (1959)

07. Elvis Presley – “Silver Bells” (1971)

08. Chet Baker Quartet – “Winter Wonderland” (1953)

09. Sarah McLachlan – “Silent Night” (2006)

10. Ella Fitzgerald – “O Holy Night” (1967)

11. Lea Michele – “Christmas in New York” (2019)

12. Jeff Goldblum – “Winter Wonderland” (2019)

13. Ramsey Lewis Trio – “Here Comes Santa Claus” (1961)

14. Perry Como – ‘Here We Come A-Caroling/We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (1959)

15. Lauren Daigle – “Light of the World” (2016)

16. Choir of Paisley Abbey – “The Holly and the Ivy” (1995)

17. Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra – “A Christmas Festival” (1959)

18. Bing Crosby – “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1943)

19. Bing Crosby – “O Holy Night” (1962)

20. Bing Crosby – “Do You Hear What I Hear?” (1963)

21. Sarah McLachlan – “Song for a Winter’s Night” (2006)

22. Carpenters – “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” (1978)

23. Sarah McLachlan – “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (2006)

24. Carpenters – “Merry Christmas Darling” (1970)

25. Duke Pearson – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (1969)

Sarah McLachlan

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Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk – A Brief Summary of Catholicism

Bishop Barron on Christmas

The Nativity – Fulton Sheen Timeless Wisdom

Folk-Rock Explosion! II

The Beatles (and George Martin) lit the fuse that set off the ‘60s folk-rock explosion that influenced popular music for the past 50 years. Folk-rock (I also like the term freedom rock) is a broad term encompassing ‘60s artists who dug the Beatles and Bob Dylan and who followed the new spirit of musical freedom wherever it led them (including to Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles). A forerunner of country rock and singer-songwriter music, folk-rock was a reflection of the times in both England and America. While as a movement folk-rock did not survive the decade, a few hardcore hippies like David Crosby have tried to keep it going (and Gen X musicians like Jakob Dylan look back in wonder at the golden age of folk-rock and wish they knew its secret formula). Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy! 

David Crosby

01. The Beatles – “I Feel Fine” (1964)

02. The Seekers – “I’ll Never Find Another You” (1964)

03. The Byrds – “She Don’t Care About Time (Single Version)” (1965)

04. The Beatles – “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” (1965)

05. The Byrds – “The Times They Are A-Changin’” (1965)

06. The Byrds – “5D (Fifth Dimension)” (1966)

07. The Seekers – “Georgy Girl” (1966)

08. The Gants – “I Wonder” (1966)

09. The Mamas and the Papas – “Dedicated to the One I Love” (1967)

10. The Byrds – “Lady Friend” (1967)

11. Judy Collins – “Since You Asked” (1967)

12. Leonard Cohen – “Suzanne” (1967)

13. The Byrds – “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” (1968)

14. Jim Sullivan – “U.F.O.” (1969)

15. Michael Nesmith – “Joanne” (1970)

16. Grateful Dead – “Brokedown Palace” (1970)

17. David Crosby – “Music Is Love” (1971)

18. Crosby & Nash – “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” (2004)

19. David Crosby – “Woodstock” (2018)

20. Jakob Dylan and Jade Castrinos – “Go Where You Wanna Go” (2019)

David Crosby and Jakob Dylan

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David Crosby: Remember My Name – Trailer

Echo in the Canyon – Trailer

Channeling AM Pop II

40 years ago this month, while walking home with his wife to see their little boy, John Lennon was shot and killed in New York City. (October 9, 2020 would have marked Lennon’s 80th birthday). Like the other members of the Fab Four, Lennon’s ‘70s solo career was overshadowed by the Beatles’ musical legacy and, at the time of his murder, a new generation of artists- including punk and new wave (some of which Lennon reportedly liked)- were taking over the charts. While the new wave and its fans had little use for their parents’ Beatlemania, for kids like me it was AM radio that introduced us to the sounds of “older” artists like the Beatles, the Mamas and the Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, and even Frank Sinatra. 

John Lennon

Driving home with mom from some Long Island strip mall on a dreary Sunday afternoon and listening to AM radio, a song by the Beatles, the Mamas and the Papas, Simon and Garfunkel, or John Lennon might suddenly come on like a ray of sunlight shining down from heaven to make everyone feel alright. Not merely oldies, AM pop (which runs roughly from the birth of the Beatles to Lennon’s death) has a distinct sound and feel and includes music that a majority of Americans at the time agreed was the best pop music humanity had to offer up to that point. There was little debate and quite a bit of comfort in knowing that when you turned on a scratchy AM station- at least in New York- you were going to hear the soundtrack to your life- or, in my case, the lives of my parents. Here are some of my faves. Enjoy! 

01. Frank Sinatra – “I Would Be in Love (Anyway)” (1970)

02. The Mamas and the Papas – “Go Where You Wanna Go” (1966)

03. Simon & Garfunkel – “Mrs. Robinson” (1968)

04. Frank Sinatra – “Mrs. Robinson” (1969)

05. The Beatles – “Nowhere Man” (1965)

06. The Searchers – “Needles and Pins” (1964)

07. Don McLean – “Till Tomorrow” (1971)

08. John Lennon – “Imagine” (1971)

09. Carpenters – “Rainy Days and Mondays” (1971)

10. Don McLean – “American Pie” (1971)

11. Sly & the Family Stone – “Everyday People” (1968)

12. Simon & Garfunkel – “At the Zoo” (1968)

13. John Lennon – “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) (2020 Remix)” (1970)

14. Paul Williams – “An Old Fashioned Love Song” (1971)

15. Paul Simon – “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” (1972)

16. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass – “This Guy’s in Love with You” (1968)

Paul McCartney attending the March for Our Lives in New York City in 2018

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The Killing Fields – Imagine

WKRP Censorship

In Search of Baroque Pop II

Some credit (who else?) Lennon and McCartney (and producer George Martin) with creating baroque pop, and- listening to the strings on “Yesterday”; the timeless “Eleanor Rigby” (which sounds like it could have been recorded 300 years ago- or yesterday); and the harpsichord sounding piano on “In My Life”- they might be right. Yet by the time baroque pop hit its peak in the latter half of the ‘60s, the Beatles had already moved on to new sounds and baroque pop as a musical fad did not survive the decade.

If you enjoy sweeping strings, soaring harmonies, introspection, reflection, dramatic intensity, oddball, eccentric dandies, European history, and moping around the house on weekends, then baroque pop may be just what the doctor ordered. For me, there is something comforting in baroque pop’s epic albeit faux majesty and grandeur. But instead of making fun of pre-disco Bee Gees for attempting grand and audacious albums like Odessa, Cucumber Castle, and Trafalgar, perhaps we should be asking why today’s artists are not attempting such bold feats. No talent? No imagination? Too expensive? 

In my continuing search for top shelf baroque pop, I have noticed certain themes emerge including childhood innocence, beautiful girls, otherworldly imagery, and unrequited love, all inspired perhaps by “Alice in Wonderland”. The Left Banke’s “Desirée” may be the first baroque garage song though by now I’ve learned trying to define musical genres like garage rock, psychedelic, folk-rock, baroque pop, and sunshine pop for ‘60s music is all a bit pointless given how many ‘60s artists incorporate all of the above (including the Beatles, the Monkees, the Turtles, the Mamas and the Papas, and the Association, not to mention lesser known artists such as Love, the Neon Philharmonic, Sagittarius, and the Left Banke). Here are some of my favorite baroque pop songs. Enjoy!

01. Honeybus – “(Do I Figure) In Your Life” (1967)

02. The Neon Philharmonic – “Morning Girl” (1969)

03. Sagittarius – “Song to the Magic Frog (Will You Ever Know)” (1968)

04. Bee Gees – “First of May” (1969)

05. Scott Walker – “Black Sheep Boy” (1968)

06. Bee Gees – “With All Nations (International Anthem)” (1969)

07. The Cyrkle – “Please Don’t Ever Leave Me” (1966)

08. The Neon Philharmonic – “Morning Girl, Later” (1969)

09. The Left Banke – “Desirée” (1967)

10. The Left Banke – “Pretty Ballerina” (1966)

11. The Mamas and the Papas – “Dancing Bear” (1966)

12. Bee Gees – “Sun in My Morning” (1969)

13. Classics IV – “Traces” (1969)

14. The Sunshine Company – “Back on the Street Again” (1967)

15. Scott Walker – “30 Century Man” (1969)

16. Bee Gees – “My Thing” (1970) 17. Bee Gees – “The Chance of Love” (1970)

18. Bee Gees – “Don’t Wanna Live Inside Myself” (1971)

19. The Mamas and the Papas – “Safe in My Garden” (1968)

20. Johnny Rivers – “Positively 4th Street” (1968)

Inside album photo from Bee Gees’ Trafalgar

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Psychedelic Laundromat III

‘60s psychedelic music owed a great deal to Bob Dylan’s uninhibited and surrealistic lyrics as well as the Beatles’ sonic experimentation (after reportedly getting high while listening to the Fab Four’s songs on headphones, John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas realized where popular music needed to go). But Dylan and the Beatles were also artists in every sense of the word and could not help but soak in and get inspiration from the sights and sounds around them. The Byrds, whose influences included Dylan and the Beatles (not to mention jazz and folk), returned the favor by inspiring Dylan to see there was more fun (and more money) in rock music; and Byrds albums impressed an inspired the Beatles. 

Bob Dylan

Whether it was the U.K. or the U.S.A., psychedelic sounds were for a short time the hip sound of popular music- at least for a new generation of listeners who were looking at reality in radically new ways (and LSD was legal in the United States until 1968). As Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead is said to have exclaimed after taking LSD for the first time, “I knew they weren’t telling us everything!” Here are some of my favorite psychedelic songs, including some of the biggest names in ‘60s music (though I caution both artists and listeners: drugs do not create anything- they merely lower inhibitions). Enjoy!

01. The Beatles – “Strawberry Fields Forever (Take 4)” (1966)

02. Bob Dylan – “Desolation Row” (1965)

03. Bob Dylan – “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (1965)

04. The Association – “P.F. Sloan” (1971)

05. The Monkees – “The Good Earth” (1969)

06. The Mamas and the Papas – “My Heart Stood Still” (1966)

07. The Beatles – “If I Needed Someone” (1965)

08. The Byrds – “Chimes of Freedom” (1965)

09. The Mamas and the Papas – “Look Through My Window” (1967)

10. The Zombies – “She’s Not There” (1964)

11. Bob Dylan – “Tombstone Blues” (1965)

12. The Beatles – “Eleanor Rigby” (1966)

13. The Kinks – “You Really Got Me” (1964)

14. Bob Dylan – “All Along the Watchtower” (1967)

15. The Beatles – “In My Life” (1965)

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The Beatles – “In My Life”

End of an Era

In Praise of Sunshine Pop III

Sunshine pop owes its existence to the Beatles whose early love songs and positive vibes transformed the planet and inspired a generation of imitators who- like the Fab Four- used new and exciting sounds to create groovy colors and feelings that defined ‘60s pop culture. Sunshine pop- which can make even heartache and disappointment seem like a warm shot of sunshine- didn’t survive the ‘70s but inspired legions of Gen X indie/alternative artists and the best of sunshine pop can still make today’s listeners feel the youthful optimism and empathy that ruled the airwaves for all too brief a time when peace and love were hip and actually seemed within reach. Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy the sunshine!    

01. Davy Jones – “Girl” (1971)

02. The Mamas and the Papas – “I Call Your Name” (1966)

03. Mercy – “Love (Can Make You Happy)” (1968)

04. The Clique – “Superman” (1969)

05. The Mamas and the Papas – “Once Was a Time I Thought” (1966)

06. The 5th Dimension – “(Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All” (1972)

07. The Association – “Along Comes Mary” (1966)

08. The Monkees – “Daydream Believer” (1967)

09. The Peppermint Rainbow – “Don’t Wake Me Up in the Morning, Michael” (1969)

10. Harper and Rowe – “On the Roof Top” (1967)

11. The Association – “Rose Petals, Incense, and a Kitten” (1968)

12. The Rose Garden – “Next Plane to London” (1968)

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Davy Jones on the Brady Bunch – Part 1