Steely Dan - Don't Take Me Alive

My artist friends and I listened to "The Royal Scam" last night on vinyl so I knew this song would get stuck in my head. We even joked about it. It was meant to be.

Kerry Livgren - I'll Follow You

I had a bunch of songs swirling around in my head this morning...a lot of Kerry Livgren like "How Can You Live", "Ground Zero" and, the song that ultimately dominated, "I'll Follow You."
From what I understand, many of the songs on this album were meant for Kansas' Vinyl Confessions but, for whatever reason, were not used. Despite the use of a drum machine, this is a solid album. I had it on cassette. Cassette? What's that?

Paul Carrack - Don't Shed A Tear

Kerry Livgren - Children Of The Shadows

This song was on my brain when I woke up at 6am. I took some ibuprofen and went back to bed. Previous to that, I had a dream about a tribute to the Jacksons and the song that was used in the presentation was an acapella song that doesn't exist. I guess my brain wrote it. It does that sometimes. I can't remember how it goes now.
For those of you not familiar with Livgren, he was a part of the band Kansas. He broke from the group during the 80's and started recording primarily Christian music. This song is from one of his Prime Mover album.
When I woke up at 8am, there was a cacophony of songs in my head. The Huey Lewis song from yesterday plus "Buzz Buzz Buzz", "Kings and Queens" by Aerosmith and "Heat of the Moment" by Asia.
My brain wears me out.

Huey Lewis & The News - The Only One

Kiss- I Stole Your Love

David Bowie - Fashion

Weird morning. I actually woke up with no song in my head. I distinctly remember dreaming about a guy w/ a huge goiter-looking wound on his head asking me to baptize 2 people. My response was, "I'll think about it" then I woke up. I then thought, "There's no song in my head" which made me begin to force songs into my head. I thought of the past 2 mornings w/ "Rocket Man" and "Sound + Vision." The latter stuck in my head but sometime during my shower it shifted to "Fashion."
That's what it's like to be my brain in the morning. Scary, eh?

David Bowie - Sound and Vision

I was with 2 friends last night making art for an upcoming show. Craig has a record player in his studio and Tim brought some albums for us to listen to. One of them was David Bowie's "Low." So, naturally, the song in my head this morning was this gem.
I also ended up dreaming about hanging art shows all night. Man, am I tired.

Elton John - Rocketman

Them - Gloria

I almost forgot to post today's tune. Glad I remembered what it was.

Frederic Chopin - Minute Waltz

And...out of nowhere comes a classical selection from my weird, random brain. I am familiar with classical music. I went thru a phase some years back where I listened to a lot of it. Chopin is one of my favorites.
But of course, like most people my age, my seminal classical music knowledge comes from Looney Tunes. Please enjoy the following cartoon which includes the "Minute Waltz."

Joe Tex - I Gotcha & The Rascals - People Got to Be Free

Three songs this morning. Badge by Cream (which I've featured before), I Gotcha by Joe Tex and People Got to Be Free by the Rascals. Is there a connection? Probably not.

April Wine - 21st Century Schizoid Man

I know that this song was originally written and recorded by King Crimson but it was this version that was in my brain this morning. For all their greatness, King Crimson has never been one of my favorite prog bands. I enjoy pulling their stuff out and listening to it every once in a while but that's it for me. I can't explain why...that's just the way it is.

Heart - Hijinx

Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell - If I Could Build My Whole World Around You

I had a few songs rolling around in my brain this morning. Among them were "Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, "Come See About Me" by the Supremes and this peppy number by the fantastic duo of Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell. I really wonder how much farther they would have gone together if Tammy had not died. Marvin did go on to have much success but we all know what happened to him in the end. So much tragedy surrounding these two.
So, to keep from getting depressed...listen to this song. See what I did there? How I brought it back around? Genius.

KISS - Christine Sixteen

I used to be a huge KISS freak when I was a kid but I never liked this song. My wife wouldn't like it either. I learned the other day that Sarah doesn't like songs where the lead singer starts talking. I had some fun with her about it.
Meanwhile, I haven't been sleeping well lately. It's been a bit warm (we have no AC) and I am having some of the weirdest dreams ever. Here's hoping the heat and the dreams pass so I can get some sleep.
The Heat and the Dreams...good name for a band.

Kansas - Play the Game Tonight

You'd think Kansas, one of the greatest prog bands of the 70's, could put together a better video. But, in their defense, most videos were pretty lame back then. "Um...I know! Let's put the band on a giant chess board!"

Heatwave - The Groove Line

Heatwave has shown up on AM/FM before w/ "Boogie Nights." I always think it's Kool and the Gang when I wake up.
I also remember hearing the theme from "Hot in Cleveland" in my head last night but I'll spare you that cheerful earworm. I like the show but the theme will stay in your head all day...and that's not a good thing.

Tom Petty - I Need To Know & Little Feat - On the Way Down

Tom Petty happened when I woke up at 5 am. Then, when I woke up at 9 am it was Little Feat. Two for one this morning. Enjoy!

Aerosmith - Adam's Apple

Cream - Badge

More George Harrison creeping in. He and Eric Clapton wrote this song but it was recorded by Cream. I finally finished the Harrison documentary. While I found a bit disjointed, I still enjoyed it. It's a nice look into the life and career of George Harrison, the quiet Beatle. It's called "Living in the Material World" and it's directed by Martin Scorcese. Check it out.

George Harrison - Beware of Darkness

I'm still trying to finish up that George Harrison documentary. It's 3.5 hours long and I've been watching about a half hour a day but I didn't watch it at all over the weekend. Fascinating guy, that George.

The Dead Weather - Hustle and Cuss

I sabotaged myself by listening to this song right before bed. I prefer to wake up with a random song on the brain. Good song, though.
I spent more time yesterday looking for the swing-era song that was eluding me but to no avail. It doesn't help that the song has now left my brain. One day I'll hear it and have a spazz attack. People around me will hear me sputter, "THAT'S IT! WHAT'S THAT SONG?" If you witness this, I apologize in advance.

Swing Era Stumper

I'm stumped! I woke up with a swing era, big band song in my head and I can't find the title. It's one of the standards but I just can't locate it. I'm sure it will hit me at some point. Maybe today, maybe next week, maybe 2 months from now...but I'll figure it out.
Meanwhile, I had a crazy dream last night. I was in the lobby of a big church or auditorium w/ a bunch of friends and acquaintances. I am wearing a black suit. We hear a loud explosion and go to the front windows. In the sky is the steeple of a church flying up into the air like a rocket but then it begins to fall over towards us. We run but thin rods skewer some of the people around me including a female acquaintance who gets one right thru the chest. We run over and cut the ends off the front and back and assume she'll be okay. We then ascertain that the church across the street has exploded, sending it's steeple flying. I have my camera with me so I try to get over there and take pictures. The path to the church is like hiking a wilderness trail. I finally arrive and start taking pictures of the burning wreck of a church. I am confronted by another photographer who says I can't take pictures. He's afraid I'm working for a rival newspaper or magazine and that he won't get paid. I tell him off and continue to take pictures. Somewhere in there is the impression that I was to go hiking with friends but back out and that I was attending a church other than the one I usually attended. That's all I can remember.
Dreams are so weird.

English Beat - Save It For Later

She's a Rainbow - Rolling Stones

I'm not a Rolling Stone fan. As a matter of fact, if a RS song comes on the radio I will switch the station. Unfortunately, that didn't stop me from waking up with two Stone's songs in my head. "She's a Rainbow" and "Ruby Tuesday." The phrase, "She comes in colors" was in my head first so I'm going with that one.
I hate it when I wake up with a song I don't like in my head.

She's a Rainbow - Rolling Stones

I'm not a Rolling Stone fan. As a matter of fact, if a RS song comes on the radio I will switch the station. Unfortunately, that didn't stop me from waking up with two Stone's songs in my head. "She's a Rainbow" and "Ruby Tuesday." The phrase, "She comes in colors" was in my head first so I'm going with that one.
I hate it when I wake up with a song I don't like in my head.

Born On The Bayou - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Jim Croce - Time in a Bottle

Once again, timing is everything. This song comes at an appropriate time. The line, "There never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them" is especially timely. At 50, time is slipping away from me at an alarming rate. I have so much more I'd like to accomplish in life but there are so many obstacles...not having enough time being one of them.
Jim, you were so right.

George Harrison - All Things Must Pass

Timing is everything. This song comes at a perfect time. We lost a friend to cancer this week so it's a good time to reflect on love, loss and the fleeting nature of life.
I started watching the new George Harrison documentary yesterday which is why this song is so fresh in my head. It's a phenomenal song. George Harrison was never a favorite Beatle of mine but I've come to appreciate him more and more as I get older. I identify with his quiet, contemplative spirit and his ability to deal w/ issues, worldly and personal, thru his art. At 50, I think George may now be my favorite Beatle and his songs have taken on fresh, new meaning for me as I pass into the autumn years of my life.
Rest in peace, Nathan.

Freddie's Dead - Fishbone

The original song is a classic by the great Curtis Mayfield but I woke up with this cover in my head this morning. And a crazy, wonderful cover it is. Gotta love Fishbone!