The only song in Pink Floyd's Top 11 songs not from "The Wall". 5) "Learning To Fly":
4) "Comfortably Numb":
3) "Young Lust":
2) "Run Like Hell":
1) "Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2":
The perfect combination of "The Happiest Days Of Our Lives" and "Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2":
I'll finish this blog tomorrow, next musician is the great country band Alabama. They're the only country band in the top whatever number of bands finishes up being on my 80's era countdown.
Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience is touring this summer as the opener for Whitesnake and Foreigner on the Jukebox Heroes Tour. So just what does the band led by the son of the titanic drummer John Bonham sound like? And are they any good, well the following videos will answer those questions. Hold on!!
"Ramble On" and a snippet of "When The Levee Breaks":
Pearl Jam will perform two headlining shows on August 8th and 10th in Seattle at Safeco Field
The Home Showsmark Pearl Jam's first hometown appearance in 5 years, plus the largest headlining concert event in Seattle since the Rolling Stones' two-night stint at the Kingdome in 1981.
In addition to bringing nearly 100,000 fans from around the world together, The Home Shows will spotlight efforts across the city and King County to address the region’s homelessness issue.
Pearl Jam is pledging a minimum of $1 million toward local homelessness initiatives. They challenge everyone to join them -- with the goal of raising a minimum of $10 million pledged toward addressing homelessness in 2018.The band is researching a wide range of programs to address Seattle-area homelessness in varied ways with a plan to announce specific beneficiaries closer to the show dates.
The two people I'll probably be going with were at this show in mid-2016 at Madison Square Garden. Cheap Trick's "Surrender" with members of Cheap Trick:
I have never seen "Atomic Blonde" and probably won't ever see it- it's probably too risque for me. However this movie's soundtrack is killer, it's a great collection of killer 80's tracks. The first 16 songs are on the soundtrack and the 4 best songs in the movie that aren't on the soundtrack.
1) David Bowie "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)":
2) Peter Schilling "Major Tom (Coming Home)":
Not on the soundtrack, but this is the English language version:
3) Health "Blue Monday":
4) Tyler Bates "Sucker":
5) Nena "99 Luftballons":
6) George Michael "Father Figure":
I must have seen this video on MTV at least 17 million times and that's not as much of an exaggeration as you think it would be. 7) After The Fire "Der Kommissar":
8) Siouxsie and the Banshees "Cities In Dust":
9) Reflex "The Politics of Dancing":
10) Marilyn Manson and Tyler Bates "Stigmata":
11) Tyler Bates "Demonstration":
12) A Flock of Seagulls "I Ran (So Far Away)":
13) Kaleida "99 Luftballons":
14) 'Til Tuesday "Voices Carry":
15) The Clash "London Calling":
16) Tyler Bates "Finding The UHF Device":
Other songs played in the movie, but not on the soundtrack.
This is a continuing series of blogs I write from time to time. These top tens come from the August 4th, 2017 Entertainment Weekly. These were the Top Ten songs for that week in 1990.
10) Madonna "Hanky Panky":
A great, great song, but a very weird video: 9) Depeche Mode "Enjoy The Silence":
8) Michael Bolton "When I'm Back On My Feet":
Honestly I don't remember her or this song, but I like both. 7) Tyler Collins "Girls Nite Out":
6) Snap! "The Power":
5) En Vogue "Hold On":
4) Johnny Gill "Rub You The Right Way":
3) Billy Idol "Cradle of Love":
2) Mariah Carey "Vision of Love":
1) Glenn Medeiros feat. Bobby Brown "She Ain't Worth It":
Pink Floyd has one of the most interesting histories of any rock band, if not the most interesting history. They were besieged by genius and it's close cousin insanity, paranoia, band infighting, two of the most historic CDs of all-time, lawsuits, huge sales, epoch tours and bloated excess. After all that amazing history, they sort of petered out over the years. 2014's "The Endless River" isn't a fitting finale to one of the greatest and most intriguing bands of all-time.
The story of Syd Barrett deserves a well thought out and well researched book of his own. Over the years the band has sort of broke into two separate camps, basically Roger Waters vs. David Gilmour. The Waters side has been the most successful as Waters has a much higher work level. He's been touring "The Wall" for years and even released a CD last year. David Gilmour has been more about resting on his laurels, when he does release new music it's often only mediocre. Even his 2016 CD "Live at Pompeii" is 90% Pink Floyd music, the work from his solo career isn't as enduring. That's not to say he hasn't had good solo songs, "Rattle That Lock":
Although Waters solo work has been less than inspiring as well. But this series of blogs is not about them individually, but when they were 2/5ths of the classic Pink Floyd lineup.
Richard Wright – keyboards, piano, organ, vocals (1965–1979, 1987–1995, 2005; died 2008)
Syd Barrett – lead and rhythm guitars, vocals (1965–1968; died 2006)
Again Pink Floyd is responsible for two of the greatest CDs of all-time, "The Wall" and "Dark Side Of The Moon". Interestingly enough the rest of their music isn't up to that same level. Of the below CDs the only other very good CD is "Wish You Were Here". Overall some of the other CDs have their highlights, but overall don't live up to Pink Floyd's reputation.
This series of countdown blogs covers 1977's "Animals" to 1987's "A Momentary Lapse of Reason". However "The Wall" takes up 16 of the Floyd's 30 songs on this countdown, which goes to what I'm saying above. I would love to see Roger Waters in concert still, David Gilmour not so much. I have 181 Pink Floyd songs on my blog and 20 songs by the Australian Pink Floyd Show.
Sometimes I just want to write a random blog. This blog is about songs that mention and bands named after parts of the human body. First up songs that mention parts of the human body, I'll try not to overdose on Heart songs. I've reworked this blog quite a bit today.
Cutting Crew "(I Just) Died In Your Arms":
Aslan with Sinead O' Connor "Up In Arms":
Journey "Open Arms":
Sheena Easton "Arms of Orion":
Chairlift "I Belong In Your Arms":
Creed "With Arms Wide Open":
Peabo Bryson "If You're Ever In My Arms Again":
Joss Stone "Arms of My Baby":
Patsy Cline "Back In Baby's Arms":
Natalie Maines has such an amazing voice, wish we could hear it more. Dixie Chicks "Loving Arms":
For now I'll be bypassing my #23 Greatest 80's era band of all-time, Pink Floyd. I've listened to all the music for Blondie and haven't yet done so for The Floyd. I know many of you say I'm crazy for picking Blondie over Pink Floyd. While Pink Floyd is much more an influential and monumental band, my favorite band growing was Blondie. They're still touring and I would love to see them before they retire. I love early 80's Blondie and my favorite song at that time was "Heart of Glass". That's a song that sounds as good and crisp as when I first heard it almost 40 years ago. Damn I'm old.
This blog covers the CDs from 1978's "Plastic Letters" to 1982's not very good "The Hunter". They didn't release their next CD until 1999's "No Exit". Blondie has sold about 40 million CDs in it's career and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. I have 83 Blondie songs on my iTunes.
Key members over the years and still:
Debbie Harry – lead vocals (1974–1982, 1997–present)
Chris Stein – guitar, bass (1974–1982, 1997–present)
Seriously not another great musician gone too soon. I loved the Cranberries back in their heyday, but I've continued to love them since then. The Cranberries had a solid 3 CD run from 1993's "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" to 1994's "No Need To Argue" (the couch CD) and 1996's "To The Faithful Departed".
Current members
Noel Hogan - lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1989–2003, 2009–present)
Mike Hogan - bass, backing vocals (1989–2003, 2009–present)
Fergal Lawler - drums (1989–2003, 2009–present)
Former members
Niall Quinn - lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar (1989–1990)
Dolores O'Riordan - lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, keyboards (1990–2003, 2009–2018) (died 2018)
Touring musicians
Russell Burton – keyboards (1996–2003, 2012), rhythm guitar (2012)
Steve DeMarchi – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1996–2003)
I was in my favorite local record store, Graywhale, the other day and I heard this great band. They're name is The Remains, aka Barry and the Remains. They're a band that had their heyday in the mid 60s. However just a couple of days ago their Live 1969 set was reissued and that was the CD playing at Graywhale when I was there. This CD is a couple of originals, but mostly covers of some great songs. The Remains take these songs and make them their own. Obviously they're quite old now, but they still rock.
Now I'm not saying this is the greatest band ever or even one of the best bands of the 60s. But I keep on hearing throwback music being played, maybe it finally is the right time for The Remains.
This is the remains of The Remains.
An intro to The Remains:
"Why Do I Lie":
"Don't Look Back":
"Diddy Wah Diddy":
The Kinks "All Day and All Of The Night":
"Route 66":
"Like A Rolling Stone":
The Muddy Waters classic covered: "She's Nineteen Years Old":
This is a much sloppier version of the original: The McCoys is the band that first released this song. "Hang On Sloopy":
While all these songs are good, sadly Dio had some pretty lame videos. 7) "Rainbow In The Dark":
6) "Eat Your Heart Out":
5) "Sunset Superman":
4) "Holy Diver":
3) "One Night In The City":
2) "Hungry For Heaven":
With the way this world is going, the nuclear threat with North Korea, climate change (and not for the better), and a crazy president. I truly do believe Ronnie was right and we are the last in line. So we might as well enjoy some great rock music.
The only order these songs are in is alphabetical.
Aerosmith "Permanent Vacation":
"Heart's Done Time":
"St. John":
"Girl Keeps Coming Apart":
Although I like several Aerosmith songs, I don't really like Aerosmith. Why? It's because I think that Steven Tyler is a pretentious douchebag. I just wish I could be as cool as he thinks he is. "I'm Down":
David Bowie "Never Let Me Down", the title track:
"Bang Bang":
"Time Will Crawl":
"Day In Day Out":
One of the most joyous songs ever. Belinda Carlisle "Heaven Is A Place On Earth":
This blog was inspired by the Summer issue of Classic Rock magazine. Thirty years ago some of the greatest CDs were ever released. There was also some great songs that were released that weren't necessarily part of a great album. I looked through lists of some of the greatest country, rock and pop of 1987.
I've been thinking about this blog the last day or so and have spent some time thinking about it. And I'm a bit excited about it. This blog series will probably be a few blogs over the next few weeks, but I still intend on counting down the greatest 80's era musicians. I still have to finish the Dio blog and then it will be time to do the Blondie countdown blogs as I get closer and closer to #1.
The songs of 1987 have been covered hundreds of time, this I know. When I'm writing about these songs and CDs I intend on focusing on the more obscure songs. But of course there are some classics that I love so much that I'll be adding a few of those as well. I'll be going in a alphabetical order. As I said I looked through the greatest country CDs of 1987 and honestly I wasn't that impressed with any of them, but there were some great country songs from 1987. Here are a few...
Reba McEntire is a great singer and someone that knows how to pick a great song. My only complaint about Reba is she picks some very depressing songs. Even her happier songs aren't all that happy, such as these next two songs. "One Promise Too Late":
Reba McEntire "Last One To Know":
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard "Pancho and Lefty":
Alabama "Tar Top":
Dwight Yoakam "Little Sister":
Randy Travis "Forever and Ever, Amen":
Ricky Van Shelton "Somebody Lied":
Restless Heart "Why Does It Have To Be Wrong Or Right":
"Fishin' In The Dark":
"Baby's Got A Hold On Me":
The band led by Natalie Merchant and her highly enchanting voice, what an amazing singer. From 10,000 Maniacs "In My Tribe":
Right now I'm working on a series of blogs about some of the great songs of 1987. There were some amazing CDs and songs that came out in 1987. 1987 was the year of some truly titanic CD. Among many other great CDs, 1987 was the year of U2's "Joshua Tree", INXS "Kick", Guns n' Roses "Appetite For Destruction", Def Leppard's "Hysteria", "R.E.M.'s "Document", Michael Jackson's "Bad", Sinead O'Connor "The Lion and the Cobra" and Midnight Oil's "Diesel and Dust". There were also CDs by Prince, Sting, Whitney Houston, Erasure, The Cure, Pink Floyd, Motley Crue and John Mellencamp, RHCP, Dio, Foreigner and The Boss.
Blondie was my favorite band growing up and they still are one of my favorite bands. Blondie was a very influential band in the late 70s and early 80s as they explored a wide range of sounds from the rap on "Rapture" to the island flavor on "The Tide Is High" to the oddball sound on "Atomic". These are some of the best non-80s era songs of Blondie. Blondie had definitely their best music during the 80's era, their non=80's era music is frankly disappointing.
