Before there was a lot of automation and digital equipment, radio hosts had to play 45’s or album tracks manually. With the average song being in the 3 minute range, that didn’t leave a lot of time to leave the booth for refreshment, a smoke or to answer the call …
Released in September 1969, Get Ready is Rare Earth’s second album, and their first with Motown Records. Rare Earth started out in Detroit, where the Motown sound was a huge influence. They began as The Sunliners and got local notice. In 1968, realizing their name was likely holding them back, …
A little bit of a departure for this playlist as I’m focusing on two Canadian bands that deserve a little time in the spotlight: 54-40 and The Northern Pikes. These lads provided some really good tunes and were a mainstay on Canadian radio and MuchMusic in the mid ’80’s to …
Armed Forces, released in January, 1979, is Elvis Costello’s third album & the first to include The Attractions on the cover (Elvis Costello and The Attractions). I bought this album when it first came out, and the North American release featured the paint splattering cover, with the stampeding elephants on …
Spencer Davis passed on October 19, 2020. He is best known for the Spencer Davis Group, in which Steve Winwood got his start. The group had some well known hits in the mid ’60’s (“Keep on Runnin’”, “I’m A Man”, “Gimme Some Lovin’”), but the group’s fame waned with Winwood’s …
It was a very slow day, and I needed something to get me going. So, what better than some kick ass tunes? These cross several years, but the one thing they all have in common is a driving beat that will get you off your butt and up & about. …
Largely known for their two biggest hits, “On The Road Again” and “Going Up The Country” and an energetic Woodstock performance, Canned Heat was a great caretaker of the blues and boogie tradition in American music. Unfortunately, most of the original band members (Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson, Bob “The …
I was never really a “lyric” guy when it came to songs. I was much more into the music, and if the music caught me, then the singer could be reciting the alphabet for all I cared. Of course, I’ve matured a tad in my appreciation of the contribution that …
1979 – What a time for music: disco, rock, punk & New Wave all alive and competing for the hearts, minds & ears of music fans. I was not at all a disco fan, and rock had grown a tad stale. Punk & New Wave were the saviours, in my …
The 2020 induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio will be held on Nov. 7, 2020. Along with many other folk, I’ve had issues with bands that have not made it in. I’m sure there are some legitimate screening rules, but I have to …
