Been listening to a lot of music on the cable TV “music” stations lately…mostly the R&B/Soul station, but occasionally tuning in to the 80s station. But what’s up with playing a song from 1979 on the 80s channel?

Popularity: 3% [?]

Browsing through YouTube yesterday and Krista found something that I never thought that I would see…David Bowie and Cher performing a medley of songs. They start off with “Young Americans” and work their way through Neil Diamond, Three Dog Night, Shawn Cassidy (!), The Fifth Dimension, and many more.
Don’t get me wrong: I’ve always been a fan of the variety shows that used to dominate the TV waves, and very much enjoy medleys of all sorts. I just never imagined that Bowie had participated in such. With CHER, no less. I mean, Bowie was my second musical idol (Doors were first), and it’s just hard to reconcile the image of Ziggy Stardust or the Thin White Duke with this appearance. I had only recently been able to fully comprehend Bowie and Der Binger crooning “Little Drummer Boy,” and now I have to figure out where to file the Bowie/Cher duet in my mental files.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Wow…don’t recall seeing this commercial back in the 80s…if I had, who knows? I coulda been a contendah…trading moves with Turbo and Ozone…challening Electro-Rock in a break-off…

Popularity: 12% [?]

It was just over two years ago that we lost Luther Vandross - one of the best vocalists of the past several decades. I just discovered a few weeks ago that Luther was a singer for the 1980-era studio band “Change,” and sang lead vocal on “The Glow Of Love,” which is an amazing song, both in sound and spirit, and “The Very Best In You.” As one reviewer noted on the Amazon site, Luther’s “Change” days were definitely more upbeat compared to his solo recordings, which - while certainly beautiful and memorable - more often than not tended to be ballad-like and slow.

So - how many of you love listening to Luther?

Popularity: 16% [?]

Because You Care: the 25 songs in my iTunes that have the longest running time. After you look at my 25, you should post your 25 longest songs.

Popularity: 15% [?]

BREAKIN’ - the movie. May, 1984. Great movie, great songs, great memories.

Popularity: 16% [?]

I have been searching for years - literally - to find “Skinny Little White Girl” by Latimore and “On The Loose” by Saga. Tried Napster, back in the day, then Kazaa, and most recently iTunes…and finally my search has ended! Two days ago, during one of my semi-annual search marathons, I did indeed find “Skinny Little White Girl” on iTunes! The only time I’ve ever heard that song was way back in the early 90s on the Chuck Andrews show on Saturday mornings on 96.1FM in San Antonio. And the Saga tune just showed up on iTunes today apparently - yay! An early MTV fave who went nowhere fast (commercially, in America, anyway), Saga created an amazing song with “On The Loose” - a tight, energetic musical rush. Two cool songs, found at last!

Popularity: 16% [?]

When the jazzman’s testifyin’ a faithless man believes
he can sing you into paradise or bring you to your knees.
It’s a gospel kind of feelin’, a touch of Georgia slide,
a song of pure revival and a style that’s sanctified.
- Jazzman by Carole King

I had heard Carole King songs many times over the years, and while they were pleasant enough, they didn’t really grab me..just filler songs that were mild and nice. Until the “‘Round Springfield” episode of “The Simpsons” when Bleeding Gums Murphy and Lisa, in the final scene, perform a duet of King’s song “Jazzman.” The joy in Lisa’s voice, and Murphy’s last hurrah…well…OK, I’ll admit that the scene can choke me up. And ever since then, that song has been one of my favorites. The deep piano, the soaring sax…it all comes together perfectly.

Popularity: 14% [?]