Playlist: In Praise of Sunshine Pop II

A continuing celebration of my favorite sunshine pop. Updated. Enjoy! 

01. Tommy Roe – “Paisley Dreams” (1967)

02. The 5th Dimension – “Never My Love (Live)” (1971)

03. Roger Nichols & the Small Circle of Friends – “The Drifter” (1968)

04. Strawberry Alarm Clock – “Barefoot in Baltimore” (1968)

05. Bunky and Jake – “Hey Buckaroo” (1968)

06. The Mamas and the Papas – “People Like Us” (1971)

07. Kenny O’Dell – “Flower Girl” (1967)

08. Roger Nichols & the Small Circle of Friends – “Let’s Ride” (1968)

09. The Bells – “Moody Manitoba Morning” (1970)

10. The Mamas and the Papas – “Pacific Coast Highway (1971)

11. Spanky and Our Gang – “Sunday Will Never Be the Same” (1967)

12. The Gates of Eden – “No One Was There” (1967)

13. The New Hobbits – “I Could Hear the Grass Growin’” (1969)

14. Eternity’s Children – “Rumors” (1967)

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Playlist: Psychedelic Laundromat II

A continuing celebration of my favorite psychedelic songs. Updated. Enjoy! 

 

01. The Fun and Games – “It Must Have Been the Wind” (1968)

02. Harumi – “Hunters of Heaven” (1968)

03. The Holy Mackerel – “Wildflowers” (1968)

04. Kathy McCord – “Rainbow Ride” (1970)

05. The Pipe Dream – “January Girl” (1969)

06. Dino Valente – “Birdses” (1964)

07. Lynn Castle w/ Last Friday’s Fire – “The Lady Barber” (1967)

08. The Lollipop Fantasy – “It’s a Groovy World” (1967)

09. The Peppermint Trolley Company – “9 O’Clock Business Man” (1968)

10. Shalynn – “Flower Song” (Unknown)

11. Stained Glass – “A Scene in Between” (1967)

12. The Pipe Dream – “The Middle of the Night” (1969)

13. The Gainsborough Gallery – “Light in the Window” (1970)

14. The Avante-Garde – “Naturally Stoned” (1968)

15. Sally Eaton – “Flowers in the Air” (1970)

16. The Second Helping – “Floating Downstream on an Inflatable Rubber Raft” (1967)

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Playlist: Folk-Rock Explosion! II

A continuing celebration of my favorite folk-rock. Updated. Enjoy! 

 

01. Tom Parrott – “Groovy & Linda” (1968)

02. Bob Ray – “(Girl with The) Cameo Ring” (1970)

03. J.P. Rags – “Soul Sunrise” (1968)

04. The Hubbels – “Hippy Dippy Funky Monkey Double Bubble Sitar Man” (1969)

05. The Spike Drivers – “Break Out the Wine” (1967)

06. The Tradewinds – “Mind Excursion” (1967)

07. The Factory – “No Place I’d Rather Be” (1967)

08. Marcus – “Grains of Sand” (1970)

09. Smokey & His Sister – “In a Dream of Silent Seas (You Can Find Me)” (1967)

10. Tony Green and Barry Stagg – “Life and Love” (1969)

11. 3’s a Crowd – “Coat of Colors” (1968)

12. Wendy & Bonnie – “You Keep Hanging Up on My Mind” (1969)

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Playlist: New Faves 03/01/2023

A new batch of my favorite recent musical discoveries. Enjoy!

I think I owned this record circa 1977

01. Debbie Reynolds – “Tammy” (1957)

02. Cecil Andrews – “I'll Take Romance” (2022)

03. Casting Crowns feat. CAIN – “Desert Road” (2022)

04. Bob Hope and Shirley Ross – “Thanks for the Memory” (1938)

05. The String-A-Longs – “Wheels” (1960)

06. Harry Belafonte – “Matilda” (1955)

07. George McGregor & The Bronzettes – “Temptation Is Hard to Fight” (1967)

08. Burt Reynolds – “Childhood 1949” (1973)

09. Margaret Whiting and Bob Hope – “Ain't We Got Fun” (1949)

10. Swan Silvertones – “Oh Mary, Don't You Weep” (1958)

11. Oscar Peterson – “Blue and Sentimental” (1956)

12. The Kingston Trio – “M.T.A.” (1959)

13. Roger Miller – “Oo-De-Lally” (1973)

14. Mr. Acker Bilk and the Leon Young String Chorale – “Stranger on the Shore” (1961)

15. Horst Jankowksi – “A Walk in the Black Forest” (1965)

16. The Ames Brothers – “The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane” (1954)

17. Seals and Crofts – “This Day Belongs to Me” (1977)

18. Gene Ammons – “My Romance” (1960)

19. Sagittarius – “In My Room” (1969)

20. The New Seekers – “Free to Be... You and Me” (1972)

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Playlist: Christmas Faves II – Part 2

A continuing celebration of my favorite Christmas songs. Updated. Enjoy!

01. Red Simpson – “Truckin’ Trees for Christmas” (1973)

02. The Youngsters – “Christmas in Jail” (1956)

03. Johnny Cash feat. June Carter Cash – “Christmas with You” (1972)

04. Frank Sinatra – “The Christmas Waltz” (1957)

05. Andy Williams – “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (1963)

06. Jimmy Smith – “Silent Night” (1964)

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

08. Cary Grant – “Christmas Lullaby” (1967)

09. Bing Crosby – “Adeste Fideles” (1942)

10. Frank Sinatra – “Jingle Bells” (1957)

11. Chris Rea – “Driving Home for Christmas” (1988)

12. Andy Williams – “Silent Night, Holy Night” (1963)

13. Nat King Cole – “O Come All Ye Faithful” (1960)

14. Harry Belafonte – “Mary’s Boy Child” (1957)

15. Oscar Peterson – “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” (1995)

16. Andy Williams – “The First Noël” (1963)

17. Mariah Carey – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (1994)

18. Céline Dion – “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (1998)

19. Frank Sinatra – “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (1948)

20. Peggy Lee – “The Christmas List” (1960)

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Playlist: Christmas Faves II – Part 1

A continuing celebration of my favorite Christmas songs. Updated. Enjoy!

01. Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal)” (1965)

02. Tammy Wynette – “Silent Night, Holy Night” (1970)

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

04. Andy Williams – “White Christmas” (1963)

05. Johnny Mathis – “We Need a Little Christmas” (1986)

06. Andy Williams – “Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season” (1963)

07. Ray Connif and The Ray Conniff Singers – “Medley: Jolly Old St. Nicholas / The Little Drummer Boy” (1962)

08. Paul McCartney – “Wonderful Christmastime” (1979)

09. MercyMe – “Joseph’s Lullaby” (2005) 

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

11. Henry Mancini – “Carol for Another Christmas” (1966)

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

13. 101 Strings Orchestra – “Away in a Manger” (Unknown)

14. Lena Horne – “Let it Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (1966)

15. Lena Horne – “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” (1966)

16. John Denver and the Muppets – “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (1979)

17. Leona Lewis – “O Holy Night” (2013)

18. José Feliciano – “O Come All Ye Faithful” (1970)

19. Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra – “Winter Wonderland” (1959)

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

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New Faves 12/10/2022 – Part 2

Among my most recent favorite musical discoveries are obscure ‘60s sunshine pop tunes that hit that sweet spot between catchy Mamas and Papas imitation and teeny bopper psychedelic. If I had one hour to spend in an independent record store, I would start at any section marked ‘60s sunshine pop and make time for any album covers hinting at ‘60s baroque pop. I’m also partial to groovy cover versions of familiar songs- always have been- so long as the artist puts their own original stamp on it. When I was the singer in our high school punk band, Twinkie Force, the other members used to bristle at my cover requests and want us to focus instead on our original material which, of course, has been lost to time. But a good cover version can stand the test of time- and even outdo the original.

The days of spinning vinyl in your basement on rainy days and holding album artwork in your hands are over, as are the days of any broad-based popular consensus on what songs deserve to be called hits. Then again, the magical age of ‘60s rock music, while influential, also began to implode as soon as people began to take rock music seriously, write articles and books about it, and take drugs (society is still living with the ruinous results). Perhaps that is why I am attracted to more under the radar music that does not take itself too seriously but respects my time and intelligence, feeds my imagination, and stirs my spirit- even if it is only for three minutes. And music that can do all that is hard to find. Enjoy more of my new faves!

01. Pixies – “Dregs of the Wine” (2022)

02. David McWilliams – “I Love Susie in the Summer” (1967)

03. Glen Campbell – “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” (2008)

04. Cliff Richard and the Shadows – “In the Country” (1966)

05. The Divine Comedy – “Norman and Norma” (2019)

06. Xavier Cugat – “Perfidia” (1941) 

07. Glen Campbell – “Times Like These” (2008)

08. Margo Guryan – “Someone I Know” (1968)

09. 3's a Crowd – “I Don't Want to Drive You Away” (1968)

10. The New Wave – “The Shade of the Sun” (1967)

11. Angel Pavement – “Green Mello Hill” (1969)

12. Journey – “Any Way You Want It (Live)” (2021)

13. The Divine Comedy – “Mother Dear” (2006)

14. The Beautiful South – “Don't Fear the Reaper” (2004)

15. Blondie – “I Love You Honey, Give Me a Beer (Go Through It)” (1980)

16. The Everly Brothers – “Milk Train” (1968)

17. Pulp – “Whiskey in the Jar (Live)” (1995)

18. The Beautiful South – “You're the One That I Want” (2004)

19. Franck: “Panis Angelicus” – Sissel, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (2022)

20. David Bowie – “Modern Love (Moonage Daydream Mix)” (2022)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

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