The next band on my Top 80's musicians countdown is Bon Jovi. This is how deep the 80's were for great bands that Bon Jovi is only the 53rd ranked band. There seems to be a reputation that Bon Jovi is just a pretty boy band and I know it's cool to dislike them. Obviously with how they are on my list I don't dislike them, although they can come off as a bit pretentious. However there's nothing pretentious about their 1986 classic CD "Slippery When Wet". This was their third CD, but it's their first great CD. Bon Jovi peaked with the twin towers of "Slippery When Wet" and the not quite as good "New Jersey". But this blog is only about "Slippery When Wet".
Some of these songs have been overplayed, some of them to the point of being a cliche. However listening to "Slippery" last night with fresh ears, I just kept on realizing how great the songs on this CD are. In case you missed it "Slippery When Wet" is an amazing CD.
A word about the cover: the original cover was a buxom woman (a rock CD with a cover of a big breasted woman- how cliche is that?) but that cover was nixed. Was it because of good taste? common sense? or what? who knows? However the cover it was changed to- "Slippery When Wet" written on a garbage bag is a much cooler cover.
After I listen to all five of Bon Jovi's 80's era CDs, I will still have my usual countdown of their best songs.
It's still good to see old rock bands releasing new music, especially when that music is good. Bon Jovi's new CD "This House Is Not For Sale" will be released on October 21st, 2016. Here's the title song, sharing some of the same themes as their fellow New Jersey native, Bruce Springsteen. This is the title track from Bon Jovi's upcoming CD:
I hope you enjoy one of the 80's best CDs, "Slippery When Wet":
1) "Let It Rock":
2) "You Give Love A Bad Name":
Don't pretend you don't love this song now as much as you did back in the day. This is just a great great song. 3) "Livin' On A Prayer":
4) "Social Disease":
This song is a stroke of genius. 5) "Wanted Dead Or Alive" (Live):
The original video, 67 million views and still counting:
6) "Raise Your Hands":
Most CDs have at least one or two decent songs. However to be considered a great CD, the non-hits have to be great songs. Songs such as 7) "Without Love":
Now for the Top Ten 80's era songs of Miss Cyndi Lauper:
10) "Primitive":
9) "I'm Gonna Be Strong":
I realize this isn't her song, I'm adding it here as I really like this version. 8) "Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2" (Live with Roger Waters) This song has one of the greatest guitar solos ever:
This is a review of the Cyndi Lauper/ Charlie Musselwhite concert on September 20th, 2016. It was a sold out show at The Depot in downtown Salt Lake City. Lauper is supporting her latest CD "Detour", which truly is a detour from the music she's best known for. "Detour" is a throwback to classic country songs. She reimagines the songs of Patsy Cline, Patsy Montana, Willie Nelson and Wanda Jackson. Lauper and her excellent band add a modern shine to these classics. They played many songs from her current CD, as well as most of the classics you'd expect. I'd urge you to go see Miss Lauper and her great band.
The setlist:
This is my favorite song from "Detour", 1) "Funnel of Love":
Here's Wanda Jackson's original:
2) "She Bop":
3) "Heartaches By The Number":
4) "Just Your Fool" (featuring Charlie Musselwhite):
5) "I Drove All Night":
One of the greatest songs of all-time, but Skeeter Davis' version will never be topped. Lauper's version is surprisingly bland. 6) "End of The World"
The ultimate version:
7) "Walkin' After Midnight"
8) "A Cowboy's Sweetheart":
One of Miss Lauper's lesser known songs, from 1996's "Sisters of Avalon" 9) "You Don't Know":
This is a Prince song, which Miss Lauper recorded way back on "She's So Unusual". She shared memories of Prince coming and seeing her in concert and other memories of the legendary funk master. 10) "When You Were Mine"
Band Introductions
11) "Money Changes Everything":
Encore
12) "Misty Blue"
13) "Kindred Spirit/ Time After Time":
The song that everyone came to hear, especially the two obnoxious women to my right. They were also screaming "sing something we know". She introduced this song with a terrible country twang start, thankfully she was just teasing into. She then broke into the actual version. Although the live version is a bit scattered. 14) "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
Second Encore
15) "True Colors":
Overall the concert was very good. and she's still a great performer. Her voice still sounds great and is in fine form. She still retains a youthful mindset, although colored by her experiences. She swears like a sailor, says exactly what she thinks and talks in a stream of consciousness way. On this night Lauper was in a chatty mood, besides Prince she also talked about Madonna, David Bowie, the television shows she watched with her Nana and urged us to vote several times. Although she's a well known Donald Trump hater- who in their right mind isn't?- she never mentioned him.
Although her setlist was perfectly fine, maybe replacing/adding to some of the lesser known/ twangy songs would have helped overall. These are just suggestions. I would never try to alter an artist's self expression, like some of the idiot record company people she had to deal with back in the day. All I'm saying is it would have been good to hear some of these songs as well:
"Change of Heart":
"All Through The Night":
She mentioned her first band The Blue Angels, her first band, but she also could have played their amazing "I'm Gonna Be Strong":
This blog is inspired by seeing Cyndi Lauper in concert last night. She's one of the many great creative minds behind the Broadway play "Kinky Boots". She talked about the play last night, but didn't play any songs from it. She's busy promoting her not as good country tinged CD "Detour". Since "Kinky Boots" matches the best of Cyndi Lauper's work, but probably isn't known as well in some circles, I thought I should give it an introduction. Here are the seven best songs from "Kinky Boots".
I started this blog on the night that I went and saw Miss Cyndi Lauper in concert. I didn't do this purposefully, that's just what happened. After reading what her setlist is though, I'm not as excited about the concert as I would have been a greatest hits tour. She's currently supporting her latest CD "Detour", which is versions of some classic songs she likes. "Detour" is okay, but I'm disappointed that she's only singing 6 or 7 of her classics. There will be a review coming of her concert. I do like this song from her new CD, it's called "Funnel of Love":
Anyway Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper was born June 22nd, 1953, which makes her 63. She's still looking incredible. She won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1985. She beat out Corey Hart, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Shiela E. and The Judds. None of the non-winning nominees made my Top 106 Greatest 80's Bands. In fact for the most part being nominated for best new artist in the 80's was pretty much a death knell.
She has released 11 CDs from 1983's classic "She's So Unusual" to 2016's "Detour". She also was a writer of the music for the great Broadway play, "Kinky Boots". That's one of the best Broadway plays of the last several years, along with "Hamilton" and others. Miss Lauper has sold an estimated 50 million CDs. I have 59 of her songs on my iTunes- that is if you include "Kinky Boots".
This blog was inspired by hearing Eric Church's "Springsteen" on my iPod while walking this morning. That's just an amazing song. I know I have a bunch of partial blogs out there- some I'll even finish. But I wanted to break out of the things that I've been writing about lately. So here's a blog with some of the greatest country hits of all-time.
Starting with Eric Church's amazing "Springsteen":
Willie Nelson's "Always On My Mind":
Keith Whitley's "When You Say Nothing At All":
Patsy Cline's "Crazy":
Merle Haggard "If We Make It Through December":
Hunter Hayes "I Want Crazy":
George Jones "He Stopped Loving Her Today":
Kenny Rogers "She Believes In Me":
Rascal Flatts "I Melt":
John Denver's "Annie's Song":
Trisha Yearwood "She's In Love With The Boy":
Trisha Yearwood "XXXs and OOO's (An American Girl)":
When I write up a blog for the next band in my 80's countdown blog series, I usually listen to all of a bands CDs from the 70's, 80's and early 90's. I write down each song and rank them as I listen to those CDs. Then I go back and rank all the songs I deemed good enough. According to that process with Bananarama they are a bit too high on my rankings. They have at least 3 great songs, but they have surprisingly few good songs. I put 14 songs on this list, but honestly that's a bit generous.
The bikini tops are embarrassingly tacky. 14) "Preacher Man":
13) "True Confessions":
12) "A Trick of The Night":
11) "He Was Really Sayin' Something":
10) "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye":
9) "Long Train Running":
8) "Love In The First Degree":
7) "Nathan Jones":
6) "Robert Deniro's Waiting":
5) "Shy Boy":
4) "I Can't Help It":
"I Can't Help It" (12" Inch Mix):
Now here's the three songs everyone thinks of when they think of Bananarama. 3) "I Heard A Rumor":
This is my review of the Starship concert in Layton, Utah on September 10th, 2016.
Setlist:
1) "Layin' It On The Line":
2) "Jane":
3) "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now":
4) "Sara":
Their performance last night of this song was much better. 5) "Stranger":
6) "Set The Night To Music":
7) "White Rabbit": sultry lead vocals by Stephanie Calvert (who was rocking the spandex/ Jimi Hendrix t-shirt last night)
8) Medley: "Miracles (If Only You Believe")/ "Count On Me":
"Count On Me":
9) "Somebody To Love": sultry lead vocals by Stephanie Calvert
10) "Fooled Around Fell In Love"/ Drum Solo: Darrell Verdusco
11) "It's Not Enough":
12) "We Built This City":
Encore/ Keys Solo: Phil Bennett
13) "Find Your Way Back":
14) "Rock Music":
I expected to like this concert, but it exceeded my wildest dreams. This concert kicked ass. A full band that obviously has played together for a long time. It seems that they might not be the best of the friends, but they play off each other very well. The band kicked butt all night long. Mickey Thomas is the last link to the original band, and that link isn't very strong. In the place of Grace Slick is Miss Stephanie Calvert. The band is powered by guitar virtuoso John Roth- this guy is amazing. He had many highlights throughout the night. Jeff Adams is bassist, with Phil Bennett on keys and Darrell Verdusco playing drums.
Thomas vocals were a bit louder than Calvert's vocals, Thomas acts like he doesn't like sharing the spotlight. Although each musician did have the chance to shine. They played all the songs that you would expect and had mixed up their setlist a bit from previous setlists. Highlights included a rocked up version of "We Built This City" (without the dee jay talking over the song), "Stranger", "White Rabbit", "Layin' It On The Line" and "Find Your Way Back".
I highly recommend them out when they come to your city. Long live rock and roll!!
It's a rock and roll weekend, tonight I'm going to go see Starship!!
I went and saw Volbeat and Killswitch Engage in concert with my rock concert girlfriend Friday night, September 9th, 2016. We caught the last couple of songs of the band Black Wizard. They were most notable for the lead singer saying "we have shirts for sale, just saying." Not surprisingly no one rushed off to buy a shirt.
The middle band was Killswitch Engage, they are one of these screamo bands. It seems being loud is the most important thing to them. Not being good, not being understood, not having any melody whatsoever. I was glad when they stopped playing between songs, so that I could tell that they moved on to a new "song". The highlight of the night was when they played a pretty solid cover of Dio's "Holy Diver" and they should have stopped there. However they played one more song that sounded the same and the lame as the rest of their other non-Dio songs:
They aren't the worst band ever, but I don't ever need to see Killswitch Engage again.
I'm familiar with them, but not their biggest fan. Although I'm not a hater either. I like their music, if a lot of it does sound too similar. Although on their new CD they expand their sound for the better. I'm writing this blog for those who'd like to know more about Volbeat and for me to be more familiar with their music. Here's the songs they played in their concert according to the latest setlist I can find. This is the setlist from their September 5th, 2016 concert in Seattle, according to setlist.fm.
Again as I said above, I'm familiar with Volbeat. I know most of their songs, but don't know all the ins and outs of their songs. Also I usually write down the setlist as the concert goes on, but was unable to do so last night. I brought pens with me, but I wasn't allowed to bring them in as I could use them as "a weapon". I get it, but still that seems a bit ridiculous. Other than church, a rock concert is one of the most mellow places a person can go. People are just there to have a good time and last night proved no different. People talked amiably and had a great time, the only use for a pen was to write with it.
As far as I could tell this setlist is the same as it was at last night's concert. So how was Volbeat in concert, it was pretty good. It would have been better if I'd known there songs a bit more. But as soon as they took the stage, they were a welcome change from Killswitch Engage. They played actual melodies. Although a lot of their songs do sound alike, I could usually tell when they switched from one song to another. I would have loved if they had played this song:
But overall Volbeat was pretty good. However my feet just aren't meant to stand on concrete for hours on end any more. It would have been nice to have a chair to sit down in occasionally. Also I understand why they have 3 bands in one night, but it doesn't usually help the concert experience. I'm going to go see Starship tonight, they are the only band playing.
Highlights for Volbeat include the musicianship of their very good band. Michael Poulsen is an able lead singer. He seemed to be enjoying himself and wanting the audience to enjoy themselves as well. I loved their bearded guitarist, he just stands on the side of the stage playing. He just seems to be a mellow and laid back guy. The drummer and the bassist are also very good.
If you get a chance to go see Volbeat, take it. However if you can skip any opening acts, then that's even better.
1) "The Devil's Bleeding Crown":
2) "Heaven Nor Hell/ A Warrior's Call/ I Only Want To Be With You":
Nicole Krauss's "The History Of Love" is the slightly confusing tale of the one love and the life of Leo Gursky. The woman, Alma, he had lost due to circumstances beyond his control 60 years previous in Poland. A woman that he told that he would never love anyone else again, he stayed true to his word. We also hear about the twisted history and journey of the book he wrote, which also is called "The History of Love". The book he wrote about his one and only love. The book's circuitous path helped connect many people over the years, including two strangers at the end of the book. Although in one sense they are strangers, in another sense they are connected.
We also read about Alma, a young girl of 15. She lives with her little brother, Bird, and their broken hearted mother. Alma's father, David Singer, had died about 8 years previous of cancer. Mrs Singer also hadn't fallen out of love with David, even briefly taking up gardening as it was something David enjoyed when he was alive.
The book is a bit confusing trying to keep track of all of the interconnected characters, however the writing is amazing. I love this line "Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend the rest of his life answering.
The History of Love" is a poignant novel, highlighted by the amazing writing. Although there are many amazing sentences and paragraphs in this novel, this is one of my favorites:
"And if the man who once upon a time had been a boy who promised he'd never fall in love with another girl as long as he lived kept his promise, it wasn't because he was stubborn or even loyal. He couldn't help it. And having hidden for three and a half years, hiding his love for a son who didn't know he existed didn't seem unthinkable. Not if it was what the only woman he would ever love needed him to do. After all, what does it mean for a man to hide one more thing when he has vanished completely."
Disappearing is a strong theme throughout this book. People disappearing, people who may or mat not be there etc. I read the above paragraph before coming home from work. For drive music I've been listening to Beware of Darkness. They have a song titled "Morning Tea": This song has many mentions of disappearing.
The lyrics to this song fit in perfectly with "The History of Love":
All I want to do is disappear Into the darkness of my room Come away I am numb You can be numb too Disappear slowly De-attach now Slip into nothing Nothing at all
Anyway while the story of "The History of Love" isn't the best story ever, it's good. But the writing is amazing. Again very poignant and powerful.
Tears For Fears main members are Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. They formed in the long ago time known as the 80s- 1981 specifically. They released 3 CDs in the 80s, including their most famous CD "Songs From The Big Chair". The title comes from a psychological theory. "Songs From The Big Chair" still sounds as good as it did when it was released in 1985. Although the band broke up in the early 90s, they have reformed and are currently working on their 7th CD. They are also preparing to do a few shows in Canada and the USA in September and October, 2016. I have 51 Tears For Fears songs on my iTunes. (Thanks to Wikipedia for the biographical information.)
10) "Woman In Chains":
9) "The Working Hour":
8) "Sowing The Seeds of Love":
7) "Mother's Talk":
This song hasn't aged as well as some of their other classic songs 6) "Shout":
5) "Change":
4) "Mad World":
3) "Pale Shelter":
2) "Head Over Heels":
It would be hard to convince me that this isn't their best song: 1) "Everybody Wants To Rule The World":
I had so much fun writing the first off the beaten path greatest hits, I decided to write another one. All the below songs are all-time greatest hits, just not the most obvious all-time greatest hits. As much as possible I've tried not to post songs that I've ever posted before, but there will be a few repeats. Enjoy the music.
I know, I know I have two Tears For Fears blogs to complete and I assure you I will do that. I've been a bit busy lately. I worked 6 days last week and last night I watched college football all night. That included BYU's thrilling victory over Arizona last night:
Okay, I digress. Anyway this blog was inspired by two things. The first is on my morning walk the other day my iPod played Ozzy's "Crazy Train". I never ever get tired of hearing that song. It's definitely an all-time classic. Originally I wanted to write a blog that focused on some of the all-time greatest songs. But that blog has been written better and by many other people. So I moved on to maybe a blog of off the beaten track classic songs.
The second thing this blog is inspired by is looking through a box of memories this morning, I came across some cassingles that I have kept from the 80's. I was about to throw them away, but then I thought maybe I'd listen to some of the songs on these cassingles. I have 7 cassingles and only remember three of the songs on those cassingles.
This blog, eventually, will feature all 7 songs from the cassingles. But then I'll add some songs that are great songs, but may have been forgotten in the sands of time. These are the four songs I can't remember for the life of me:
Curtis Stigers "I Wonder Why":
Rhythm Syndicate "P.A.S.S.I.O.N.":
Snap "Rhythm Is A Dancer":
The Smithereens "A Girl Like You":
Modern English "Melt With You":
Speaking of Snap, this is "The Power":
Jane Child "Don't Wanna Fall In Love":
Meat Loaf "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad":
Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart":
Stan Ridgeway "Camoflauge":
Taco "Puttin' On The Ritz":
Thank U Prince for writing this magical song and thank u Sinead for making this song even more amazing. Miss O' Connor "Nothing Compares To U":
