Foreigner - Heart Turns to Stone

Fleetwood Mac - Seven Wonders & Kansas - Windows

When I woke up at 6:30 am, this is the song that was on my mind. I went back to sleep. Then when I woke up at 8:00 am, it was this song. Welcome to my world.

Frank Stallone - Far From Over

I had a dream last night that I was in the recording studio (with Frank Stallone) helping record this song. WTF? Seriously, that seems pretty tame as dreams go but it's still tips the scale in random weirdness.

Juliana Hatfield - Simplicity Is Beautiful

Two songs were bouncing around together this morning. Funny that they are by the same artist. The second was "Cool Rock Boy" also by Juliana Hatfield. I couldn't find a sample to put on here.
Some mornings I wake up with several songs fighting for attention. Sometimes it's the same artist and sometimes it's several artists at once. It makes me wonder what their relationship is. Common rhythm, key, theme, what? I just don't know.

Suzanne - Journey

Don Henley - The End Of The Innocence

This song was played on the classic rock radio station the other day and I challenged it's status as "classic rock." It seems more pop than rock to me. I suppose they give Don Henley classic rock cred since he was in the Eagles. Personally, I wouldn't include this in a classic rock playlist. Pretty good song, though.

KISS - Got To Choose

It's about time KISS showed up. When I was a kid, I was a huge KISS fan. I had all their albums, posters all over my walls, etc. I was a bit crazy. People at church were praying for my eternal soul because I was worshiping at the altar of the Knights in Satan's Service. (I wish I knew who came up with that. It's brilliant and ridiculous all at the same time) Despite being such a fan, I have yet to see them in concert. A friend of mine posted on FB yesterday that his entire family was going that night. I asked, "When did a KISS concert become a family event?" It's funny how time changes perspective. 35 years ago I (and thousands of kids just like me) was condemned to Hell for liking these weird guys in makeup and now entire families are going to see the concerts. Well, KISS is what it is. 4 guys making tons of money by donning weird makeup and putting on a great show. It's basically the same as going to a Broadway show.

Kansas - Child of Innocence

I woke up from a dream with a cacophony of Kansas songs in my head. The guitar that opens this song was looping in my head w/ other songs trying to jump in and take over. This one prevailed. It's a great song by a great band.
Speaking of dreams, I rarely remember mine. Even if I wake up w/ one fresh in my mind, it's gone pretty quickly. I should start writing them down but, some of them are so disturbing, I'd rather not.
Oh, I just had a flash from last night's dream. All I can remember is that I was in seminary but the school looked more like my middle school than the actual seminary. I remember needing to take a math class to graduate, which is dumb because I took all that stuff before ever getting to seminary. That's all I remember.
Dreams are so weird.

Patty Smyth - Heartache Heard Round The World

This is one of those songs (and the album it's from "Never Enough") that I never get tired of. Patty Smyth is one of the few, great female rock and rollers. She started with the band Scandal and then put out a few solo albums. To my knowledge, this is the only decent one she did...but it's a winner. She quit rockin' and rollin', married John McEnroe (yes, that John McEnroe) and cranked out a bunch of kids.
My greatest memories of this album are from a trip to NYC. Patty is from NYC, so I always connected her to the city. During the trip, I saw an interview with her on TV. I just happened to have the album with me on tape w/ a Walkman (remember those). I wore that tape out on that trip. The music just made more sense hearing it in her city especially her cover of Tom Wait's "Downtown Train."
If you've never heard this album, listen to it immediately. I would say it's in my Top Ten or darn close.

Rage Against the Machine - Bullet in your head

Wow. What a song to wake up to. Wonder what kind of day this will be?

Fair Exchange - Kansas

Kansas is, perhaps, my favorite American prog band. I've been a fan since the 70's. I saw them in concert during the Vinyl Confessions tour back in '82 so I saw them do this song live. It was an amazing musical experience. This was their last decent album. Steve Walsh, the lead vocalist, had already left due to the band's (primarily Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope) move toward Christianity.
This was their last great album. 

Bee Gees - You Should Be Dancing

The Bee Gees have dominated this blog. Three entries since I started a couple months ago. I guess the remnants of the Travolta-themed art show I was a part of are hangin' on. So, enjoy this dance sequence w/ Mr. Travolta and, hopefully, the Bee Gees will take a sabbatical for a while.

Julie Miller - Dogtown

Shortest song ever on AM/FM. This song came to me in a dream. I can't remember anything about the dream, just that this song was in it.

The Partridge Family - I'm On My Way Back Home

I've been watching too much Partridge Family lately.

Public Image Limited - Seattle

Despite what Johnny says in this interview, I've always heard that the song is about the band's dislike for Seattle. I don't dislike Seattle. In fact, I really love it here...but...there are some things I don't like. Here's a list.

1) Cost of Living: It's super expensive here. Sarah and I could afford a house on what we make almost anywhere else in the country, but not in Seattle. Hate that.

2) City Life: Sometimes I enjoy it but I really get tired of the noise. Sarah and I talk of retiring to Whidbey Island and that sounds fine with me.

3) The Seattle Freeze: People here are friendly but they won't let you get close to them. That's the Freeze. We've lived here 7 years and it's been a struggle the entire time to make friends and keep them. We get weary of the process.

4) No Sense of Humor: For the most part, folks in Seattle don't have a good sense of humor. For the first year or two I was here I thought I had lost my touch. But, no...it's not me. I've confirmed this w/ others who have moved here. Seattlites take themselves way too seriously. It's sad but I never laugh anymore. I miss that.

5) Traffic: It's bad here. Getting from one place to another takes planning...especially if you want to arrive on time.

6) Long Winters: They do get a bit long and dreary but I do prefer it over the alternative which is scorching heat in the summer everywhere else.

That's all I can think of. Perhaps one day I'll share what I do like about Seattle. That list is much longer.

Stumped? Mystery Solved!

I have a song on my brain and I can't find it. I even used the software where you sing or hum into the mic and it didn't work. So frustrating. It's a 60s song with a surfer feel. The only lyrics I know are "Little one" then a keyboard riff..."little one" keyboard riff. The beginning of the song is a guitar riff with the keyboard echoing. So, if on that vague info you can help me with the answer...HELP! It's driving me crazy!


Finally heard it on the radio. Mystery solved! I had the riff right but the lyrics all wrong. No wonder I couldn't find it.

Little Feat - Dixie Chicken

This is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands of all time. "Waiting for Columbus" is an amazing live album. It's a shame that Lowell George died back in '79. The band hasn't been the same since he passed.
Also running thru my head this morning was the line, "Mother, do you think they'll drop the bomb?" So, I'll throw in a little extra Floyd for ya this morning. Feat and Floyd. Good stuff for a Sunday morning.

Magic Pie - Freakshow

This band is a fairly recent discovery. Since I've started using Spotify, I've been able to listen to tons more new (to me) music. One of my fave genres of music is prog but it's hard to get hold of. You have to really search it out. Spotify has made it easier. I now have a huge playlist of new prog discoveries and Magic Pie is one of those. I've really enjoyed listening to their albums and look forward to more in the future.

Eagles - Peaceful Easy Feeling

Must be an Eagles kinda morning. Woke up with this song on my brain then, when I got in the jeep to drive to work, "Lyin' Eyes" was on the radio. It's funny how weird coincidences happen like that. Or...is it fate. Dum-dum-DUM!
Anyway, have a peaceful, easy day and I'm gonna try to do the same.

Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgettin'

I didn't get to listen to music yesterday. Spent the whole day at work so no studio time (where I usually listen to music). I prefer for a song to come out of the blue rather than having been influenced by what I listened to the previous day.
I've always loved Michael McDonald's voice. It's very distinct. I love hearing it in the background of old Steely Dan songs. (He was in that group before the Doobie Brothers) When he left the Doobie Bros, it was kinda sad at the time but looking back, I think it was good that the Doobie's were able to go back to their signature sound. The McDonald period is cool but the original Doobie sound is amazing.
McDonald was here in concert a few weeks ago w/ Boz Skaggs and Donald Fagan. I would love to have gone but money's tight right now. I would have loved to have seen these three work their musical magic.

Yes - Into The Lens

I sabotaged myself. Last night before bed, I was listening to Spotify and the last song that came on was "Daisy Jane" by America. I said to myself, "That's going to be the song in my head in the morning...and it was.
The second non-influenced song in my head was Yes. Many Yes fans don't like this album because Jon Anderson declined to be a part of it but I like it. It's got some good songs on it...and some guys trying to sound like Jon Anderson. To be fair, those guys were Geoff Downes (Buggles, Asia) and Trevor Horn (Buggles, Art of Noise).
Just to be fair, I'll post "Daisy Jane" as well. It's a great song but I just feel like I influenced my selection and I don't want to do that.

The Emotions - Best Of My Love

I woke up with a horn intro in my head. I thought it was "Best of My Love" but it's not. For the life of me, I can't place the song. I'll have to do some research when I get home from work. I can place most songs...but not today. I'll post it if I can come up with the answer.
It's funny how one song will lead to another in my head. I woke up with the horn arrangement and that lead me to "Best of My Love." That then transitioned into the horn part on Phil Collins' "It Don't Matter To Me" which then moved to another Collins song, "One More Night." This happens to me every morning.
It's exhausting being me.

Aerosmith - Combination

This is Aerosmith's first time to crack the AM/PM list. I like their first 4-5 albums but after that...meh. I tried to find a live video to share but they all sounded terrible. Bad sound, bad vocals. So, enjoy this studio recording from their heyday.
Not much else to say this morning. I'm still trying to wake up. I've gotta go do my walk then come back to the studio and do some cleaning up. I finished some work for some deadlines and it's time to put the studio back into some semblance of order.
Enjoy your day!

Elvis - Promised Land

We watched "Men in Black" last night and this song plays during the scene when Tommy Lee Jones drives the car thru the tunnel.
I'm not a huge fan of Elvis' music but I am fascinated by his fame. I like to compare/contrast him w/ Jesus in my art. You can see a sample of this here. Gotta run. Delivering and picking up art in West Seattle today.

The Jacksons - We Can Change The World

I had a hard time getting up this morning. I woke up multiple times but went right back to sleep. Every time I woke up, I had a different song in my head but I can't remember what they were. This is the one I can remember.
I don't want to get overly pessimistic today but this song prompts me towards thinking about how I used to think I could change the world. Do all young people think they have the power to change things? I did. Unfortunately, that feeling was driven out of me by the realization that I couldn't. There were too many people with agendas and just enough power to keep me from doing what I thought was right. So, I stopped trying. Now, I quietly send forth my ideas thru my art. Perhaps I am changing the world a bit.
We have a magnet on our fridge by artist Ray Troll that says, "Artists and writers, alone in their chairs, changing the world one line at a time." That's me. Hours alone in my studio making art out of the weird ideas that burst out of my head, hoping that someone will see it and connect with it. It's what I'll be doing today, tomorrow and every day I can for the rest of my days. I'd better get to it.
See you tomorrow.

Deniece Williams - Lets Hear It for the Boy

The only reason I can think this song might be in my head is because I was considering titling one of my collages "Let's Hear It for the Boy" but I opted for "Excitable Boy" instead. I just had to use "boy" in the title. Wanna see the piece I'm talking about? Go here.

The Partridge Family - Love is All That I Ever Needed

I knew this was going to happen.
I was a huge fan of the Partridge Family when I was a kid. Watched the show, had the albums, etc. A few weeks ago I ran across Season 2 of the show on DVD for $6. Well, how can you pass that up? I bought it and have been making my way thru the episodes. Does it hold up? Yes and no. The humor holds up surprisingly well. The presence of Danny, the financial guru/resident smart ass never fails to keep things lively and the banter between him and Reuben Kincaid (the band's manager) is usually fun. What doesn't hold up as well are the songs. I have found myself fast-forwarding thru quite a few of them. However, there are quite a few gems in there. Despite the cheesy arrangements, there are some good songs in there. You could easily do some updating and have them sounding really great. I once had a discussion with a friend about music and the topic was, "There are no bad songs, only bad arrangements." True or not, many songs can be rescued w/ a fresh interpretation.
Back to the Partridge Family. A few years ago, Sarah and I saw "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" starring Patrick Cassidy. He's one of Shirley's sons. (David was her step-son) Right before the show, Sarah turns to me and says, "That lady looks like Shirley Jones." I looked and said, "That's because she is Shirley Jones." Yep. She sat about 2 rows in front of us. I'm hoping that I might run into Danny Bonaduce in town sometime. He works for a local radio station.
Anyhow, my geek is showing a little too much for comfort so I'll shutup now. Enjoy your day.

The Guess Who - No Time

While I'm not encouraged by this message, I do love me some Guess Who. I had the opportunity to see them in concert back in the early 2000's. Burton Cummings wasn't with them but the vocalist they had sounded very much like him. My wife has crossed paths with them, also. She worked a summer at a theater somewhere on the East Coast and they did a concert there. I think she said that one of the old guys flirted with her.
When the theme of time hit my brain this morning, I was also hit by the song "Tempus Fugit" by Yes. What other "time" songs can you think of? I'd love to hear from you.

Beach Boys - Surfin' USA

To be fair, the Scorpions' "Wind of Change" popped into my brain also but "Surfin' USA" was first. Thank goodness! I hate "Wind of Change." That whistling is annoying.
Speaking of whistling, Andy Griffith just passed away. I am a die hard TAGS (The Andy Griffith Show) fan. I have the first 5 seasons on DVD. (The color episodes don't exist to me) As tribute, I'm posting this video. I wish I had woken up to this. It would have been very fitting.
Goodbye, Andy.

David Bowie - Jean Genie

A bit of a conundrum this morning. I woke up with a guitar riff in my head. That's it. I thought (and still think) that it's the riff to an uptempo, sixties-era "Mannish Boy" cover but I can't think of the artist. I don't know enough info to find it. All I hear is the guitar riff which is similar to "Jean Genie". To be fair, as I was trying to figure out he song (while still lying in bed), Bowie popped into my head as well. So it's not a cheat, only a sort of substitution. If I can find the first song, I'll let you all know in a future post. It's going to drive me crazy until I figure it out or hear it.

If you can help me out, let me know in the comments. It may not be a "Mannish Boy" cover but it's the same riff only sped up. (About the same tempo as "Jean Genie") It's very stripped down and staccato, perhaps only guitar, bass and very minimal drums. And I think there's a harmonica in there doubling the guitar. That's all I've got. Help!

A Quick Word About Annoying Ads...

I pledge to never post a video with an ad before it. I won't do that to you fine folks. What that means, however, is that I won't be able to always use the version of a song that I might want to. For example, today I was going to use the classic "Faith" video w/ the jukebox. Well, it had an ad so I trolled around for something else. I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to keep AM/FM ad free as much as possible. They annoy me, too.

George Michael - Faith

Someone sang this song the other night at Karaoke Bingo. I'm fairly certain that's why it's popped into my brain this morning. Karaoke Bingo was fun. It's a very popular event that's put on at the Greenwood Senior Center every month. It's amazing how young the crowd is. Most were under 30 and the room was full. The host was Jeanne (who owns Mae's Cafe) and she was is a dirty bird. Right before I sang my karaoke selection (Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf) she pinched me on the butt. We didn't win any of the Bingo games but it was a fun night anyway.
Allow me to speak to Karaoke for a moment. I love it! I wish I could go at least once a week. It's the only opportunity I have to sing anymore. Maybe one day I'll find a crew who wants to go with me on a regular basis. My 50th birthday was a Karaoke bash and it was so much fun! Why wait a full year to repeat a fun experience?