Add Some (More) Music to Your Day...
 

Everybody's tastes are different (DUH!!!), but throw out some tunes that may not be too well known, but you frickin' love for whatever reason.

1. I kept hearing this song in commercials, so I sought it out and now believe 'Ends Of The Earth' by Lord Huron could be one of the greatest songs ever!!!! Somber and gripping. It helps to have the lyrics on display when you first listen to it.

2. Didn't remember this song from the 80's, but we saw these guys at a fair in California and they rocked the hell out of it. 'You Keep Runnin' Away' by 38 Special.

3. And I can't even explain how much I love this live version of the Floyd tune, 'Wot's...Uh The Deal' by David Gilmour. (It's a bonus cut from his 'Live In Gdańsk' album...wait, are they called "albums" anymore??)

Not sure if this is my top 10, but it's pretty darn close.

"Stained Glass" by Danny Schmidt
"Apres Moi" by Regina Spektor
"Yes Anastasia" by Tori Amos
"Now You Like Me How" by Woodpigeon
"A Better Son/Daughter" by Rilo Kiley
"Panic Switch" by Silversun Pickups
"Lay Your Head Down" by Keren Ann
"Australia" by The Shins
"Elephant Gun" by Beirut
"Eli Eli" by Sophie Milman

And I don't know how well known it is, but for my money this is the greatest six minutes in television history.

Will gladly contribute to this thread. More of a soft rock vibe with this one that I'll recommend. It's How Much I Feel by Ambrosia. Love the chorus and the Harmonies! Been stuck in my head for quite a bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQB5qpxcixc

I liked that first one a lot. Here's one I discovered a few months ago...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9id4HVPYgzA

Beautiful song. I’d put it in the same class as I’m Not in Love by 10cc.

One great song is It Is Not Meant To Be, by Tame Impala. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpLXx...st=LL&index=11

I'd also recommend anything from the first two albums of Big Star. Almost no one knows about Big Star, but their first two albums are among the greatest ever.

Lord Huron's good. Have you heard The World Ender, by Lord Huron? It's a good song, thematically a descendant of Ironman by Black Sabbath.

I'd agree, I really enjoy it. There's also a live version of the song, that's on spotify. It's slightly extended so you get a full third chorus out of it. The harmonization on "Live for your loving" is my favorite part, I think.

I really like "Hypotheticals" by Lake Street Dive ever since the first time I heard it a few months ago.

A few suggestions. My musical tastes are all over the place. Some may have heard of the bands, but some of the songs are not as well known.

Azteca - Whatcha Gonna Do. California Latin rock. Founders of the band are Coke Escovedo and Pete Escovedo. Sheila E's uncle and father respectively. Formed after Pete left Santana. Discovered this when I was in college radio 1979-82.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1G5vNCddgE

Pasadenas - Tribute (Right On). Originally a group of British dancers. They were turned into a musical group. Great video. Wish I could dance that well. Real solid bass intro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQLN-X13oTQ

Patti Austin - Another Nail in My Heart. The r&b/jazz singer covers Squeeze for producer Creed Taylor. I would play this on college radio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPQIe65Wm_U

Live - Pain Lies on the Riverside. I think this is their best song. There is a good live video. I like the studio version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6_TGfDKpCM

Piper - Can't Wait. Billy Squier's first band. I saw them play at a radio station promotional show - 95¢. The Babys were the opening act. Roger Taylor of Queen was sitting a few rows in front of me. Queen was using the theatre to rehearse for their News of the World tour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLAKyE3rNCA

Caroline's Spine - Hippie Boy. I first heard them in South Carolina while I was driving from Mass. to Atlanta for a convention. Needed the car for all of the free stuff we got. I heard their song "Sullivan" about the Sullivan Brothers in WWII. You can look it up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub4g1KskHK8

Also try Wallflower by them. They catch the feeling of loneliness in the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ed62STOsmA

Robert Ellis Orrall/Carlene Carter - I Couldn't Say No. I knew him when he was a new wave singer in Boston. His drummer was a friend of one my radio station buddies. He moved to Nashville and is a very successful country songwriter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8v0d12O2wc

Gary Shane and the Detour - Johnny's Coaltrain. Boston band from the 1980's. Gary played in quite a few bands. I believe the train station is the old Salem train station. They moved it up the tracks a few hundred yards. The subway is the Red Line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piuOXjEOFBM

Neal Coty - Tainted. I saw him perform at a college fest in Boston. I went to those even in my 30's to see the musicians and get the free music samplers. I like songs where guys don't take shit from the women unlike those pussies in Hoobastank who say it was all their fault in their big hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ynEJho2fdk

Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster. One of the early Irish punk bands. Jake Burns, the lead singer, now lives in Chicago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26VMUqbMPd0

Public Image Limited - Public Image. Great social commentary. Johnny Rotten gets together with some very talented musicians for his post Sex Pistols band. This was on their first album 'First Issue'. Written by John while still with the Sex Pistols. The bass player is Jah Wobble (John Wardle) and the guitar is Keith Levene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylOCIP54PIQ

Ambrosia
 

Very underrated band overall...listen to Cowboy Song, Nice Nice Very Nice, Time Waits for No One, Harvey, and Life Beyond LA.

These songs should have been hits, they were expertly crafted/arranged.

But that's how we come up with hidden gems in the first place!

Velvet Starlings: My favorite song of the last 5 years. Can't believe this teenager has such a throwback vibe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdPoZdi61uE

Like many I'm sure, I go in spurts of what I listen to. Lately, I've been re-discovering some old Detroit classics. Here's about a half hour playlist you might have heard on WRIF in Detroit in about 1978. The MC5 song has a naughty swear word at the beginning, but after that it's fine.

These songs rock a bit more than what I've checked out from others' lists (which are great - thanks to all - I'm always looking for new or old stuff I haven't heard a million times before) but if you're a "mellow fellow" these are probably not for you.

East Side Story - Bob Seger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPxwWnJD_Uo

Kick Out the Jams - MC5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XhQRFO4M7A

A Night Like This - Romantics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0F4BHWOhT0

Turn Up The Radio - The Rockets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7LWVwqufjI

Time To Move - Bittersweet Alley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK4osuC4HoU

Lust For Life - Iggy Pop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQvUBf5l7Vw

I like something from most genres, but I am mainly an alt-country and roots rock fan. Three songs are on my mind right now:

"Alabama at Night" by Robbie Fulks, which is a retelling of the story of Walker Evans and James Agee.

"Getting Ready to Get Down" by Josh Ritter

"Saying Goodbye" by J. S. Ondara

I also find myself listening to The Stooges "Funhouse" album frequently. It isn't exactly obscure, but it is raw, unrestrained energy, and it is really clear why it is so influential even 50 years later.

Great band, fantastic song, in one of the smallest if not the smallest, 'venues'. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y40dlwIUN7Q

"Saying Goodbye" is good, but the online radio station I listen to played it too much for a bit, so I have to admit I got tired of it. A Josh Ritter song was just on, so maybe you'd like the site I listen to. :D https://radioparadise.com/ The only site I know that plays both Sphongle and The Beatles. (unpaid-it's just really good)

My dad likes "Funhouse", but I haven't listened to it before.

Another song I wanted to add, is Caught Up In You, by .38 Special

It's such a catchy tune, with some fantastic guitar riffs and solo's thrown in there. I am partial to one of their live recordings of the song, as it has a conclusive end as opposed to just fading out. I've linked it below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rBc...pJpqY&index=17

I will give it a try. I have an Amazon music subscription and they have a lot of good playlists, but I'm always looking for other sources. Especially free ones.

Hey now! There is no need to be ageist.

True story. A few years ago, my wife and I went to an Alice in Chains concert. While waiting for it to start, we chatted some with the young man sitting behind us. At one point he said "My father likes Alice in Chains and he is old, too." I politely mentioned to the little embryo that I was the same age as Jerry Cantrell.

Man, I've really been on a Glenn Campbell kick lately. This particular version of his classic Gentle on My Mind is just absolutely incredible. You're in for a nice treat when he really starts playing that guitar of his.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTrz54kDk00

I used to think from the lyrics it was a Jimmy Webb song -- but it's not.

I'm not sure if he's a great singer or just had the opportunity to sing some truly great and popular songs for the first time, or maybe it's a little of each.

My favorite is probably the heartbreaking "Where's the Playground, Susie?" which of course is Webb.

He sure can play guitar too. He was a studio musician originally.

Here's my contribution:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSgn...l=ANTI-Records

This is my single favorite YouTube musical treat. Have prob watched it 500 times. If only I had the skill to do 1/1,000 of what these dudes had going on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggeab0lKz2c

Sublime. Duane supposedly was the great virtuoso guitarist but Betts was great in his own right, and nobody can sing that particular genre like Gregg. I can't find it now but there's another version with just the two of them which is wonderful.

One of my You Tube favorites.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhe3...8MB5g&index=55

Love this version with John Prine who wrote the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1T5NuI6Ai-o

"Live from Darryl's House" is also a great choice for listening to some great songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypwcitHSEQo

They perform it together here. There's also a version with Jackson Browne out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp0VdkarNck

I never understood the lyrics, but they work.

Tragically, Prine died early in the pandemic. Very interesting character for sure.

John just wrote about everyday life things. He could take something ordinary, something that happened everyday to each and everyone of us and make a song out of it.
Talented beyond believe and a song writer, who, imo, will never be replaced nor replicated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfwGkplB_sY
https://youtu.be/P8tTwXv4glY
https://youtu.be/2xhmPectY9U

I saw Bonnie Raitt sing this live and it was enough to just about bring a grown man to tears. Susan Tedeschi also does a great job on the song (and the flute solo by Kofi Burbridge is wonderful.)

I am a big Jason Isbell fan. I think he is one of the greatest songwriters today. When talking about songwriting, he has mentioned that a 25 year old Prine writing and singing "Angel from Montgomery" from the perspective of an older woman was a revelation and, in no small part, informs his writing.

"Sam Stone"
One of Johns best written songs, of many, and one of the saddest songs about the Vietnam War.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2X2iMQyvyrU

About as far from a rocker as one can get but here are a couple of Irish chicks making pure magic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwaBoX97PbQ

maybe the best song in the last 20 years, out last week
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agvibm7Wqy4


"Years ago, we all thought it was a joke, see?
That every kid got a motherf--king trophy
But yo homie, here's the situation
A nation of pussies is our next generation
And these minions and their agendas
Every opinion has a millennial offended
But this amendment one, it rings true
And if you don't dissent, bitch, then see number two"

The other day I asked Alexa to play Americana music. In her infinite wisdom, she brought up a playlist called Americana Soul, which was totally different music. But, I listened to it anyways and heard this song by Leon Bridges and Khruangbin "Texas Sun"

It is a lovely song,but the video really makes it. It brought to mind something I read years ago from the poet Merrill Gilfillan:

On this continent and in the psyche of its people the plains have always been a staggering presence, a place for transformation, bafflement, or heartbreak. From the east they are a release from the clawing of swamp and tangle and human density. From the west they are a drop and a straightening after the kinks and strains of mountains. Entered from any direction they are a new air, a joy to behold, a combination of large-scale intimidations and primordial inner acoustics.

Texas Sun is a monster song.

I am sitting here waiting and watching my bids in the Love of the Game auction closing tonight and listening to the following song on repeat.

El Dorado by Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

I've been listening to a lot of thrash metal lately, but I think this is kicking off a bluegrass phase.

No matter how many times I hear her, I still get chills down my spine. Here's Linda Ronstadt with a fantastic cover of Tumbling Dice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I7GkHy5iOA

To quote the great Willie Nelson "There are two kinds of men in this world, those who have a crush on Linda Ronstadt and those who have never heard of her."

When you see her perform a song, you can understand how she made men see hearts in their eyes.

The album of standards she did with Nelson Riddle Orchestra is one of my all time favorites. There is lalso a really good documentary about her called "Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice." Well worth a watch.

I'll toss a couple of albums in the mix:

The Blues Project Projections

Elton John Tumbleweed Connection

There seems to be a lot of Americana fans here. Have you guys heard of Son Volt? Here's one from their first album, Trace, which IMHO is a masterpiece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1XrTzVzbJY

I really like one song - "Medication" - by Son Volt. Haven't heard a lot else from them - I have heard "Windfall", the one you shared, before and like it.

Of the two bands that formed out of the break-up of Uncle Tupelo, Wilco is the one that's had my attention. They have a lot of very good songs. It's hard for me to pick a favorite, but "Impossible Germany" is a great one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY-7q42UZR0

Iron Maiden “Die with your boots on”

For some reason it relaxes me

John Prine's son, Tommy.
"Ships in the Harbor"
https://youtu.be/AVBMNFap8Wc

I very rarely find newer artists, or bands that I enjoy as much as the older stuff. I've known of this band Greta Van Fleet for a while. Their lead singer sounds a little bit like Robert Plant. I found one of their performances to be particularly good, check it out below. The title of the song is Light My Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3bHTm_xs2Y

She was awesome!! I sent her a dozen roses once...


.

From the late, great Michael Nesmith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxAL...&start_radio=1

Linda
 

Ah, yes, Linda Ronstadt with the Stone Poneys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGZznJXY1Xc


what a remarkable voice.......

Brian

Wilco has certainly had more commercial success than Son Volt. But I have always been more a Jay fan than a Jeff fan, although I like Wilco a lot, especially their early stuff. AM through A Ghost is Born is incredible stuff.