WE'RE GONNA CHANGE IT UP A BIT - COVER SONGS THAT WERE DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE ORIGINAL

Let's face it, most cover songs sound pretty close to the original. The Beatles version of "Twist and Shout" sounds like the Isley Brothers version, Smash Mouth's version of "I'm a Believer" sounds almost identical to The Monkees version, and even the Jeff Beck Group's version of "Love Is Blue" sounds like Paul Mauriat's "Love is Blue." These are called "faithful" cover versions.

However, there artist that take things in a totally different direction. This blog post (and podcast) will celebrate those great cover versions that "changed it up a bit."

Since I'm using the podcast for illustration, I won't go into very much detail. However, I will point out the inspiration for this post. The Bluebelles' 1984 British hit "Young At Heart" was the subject of a lawsuit by former Fabulous Poodles' fiddle player Bobby Valentino, who played on the record. He said that he should get a credit and some compensation, because his fiddle playing contributed to the success of The Bluebelles recording. It was originally recorded by Bananarama the previous year with a typical bouncy, synthesizer pop song that Bananarama was known for. The judge agreed that his country pop fiddle made the remake a big hit.

I got to thinking about other cover songs that seem to be unrecognizable from the original. Vanilla Fudge's headbanging psychedelic version of The Supremes hit "You Keep Me Hanging On" came to mind, along with Peggy Lee's smoldering, beatnikish version of Little Willie John's bumpin blues "Fever."

I once heard an interview where Screaming Jay Hawkins said he liked Nina Simone's version of "I Put a Spell On You" better than his. On the other hand, I had a co-worker in radio, who would become visibly angry at the very mention of James Taylor's version of the Jimmy Jones hit "Handy Man." Personally, I never cared for Donna Summer's version of "MacArthur Park" and I like most of Donna Summer's hits.

Everyone has covered "Do You Want To Dance?" and "Money," but Bette Midler and the Flying Lizards did those songs different than any other act.

Many of theses are either, rocker becomes ballad, soft rock becomes heavy metal or disco, even a psychedelic pop song turned into a bluegrass song and a bluegrass song from a 60's rural sitcom turned into a Celtic dirge. Even a British rock band doing a goofy Perry Como song about mannequin lust. So lets take a listen.

NOTE: I realize the sound is bad on this. I'm using "borrowed" equipment, so I don't have control of the sound quality. My apologies. I also used a "guest announcer" for this podcast.

"Young At Heart" The Bluebelles 1984 (Original recording by Bananarama 1983)
"For Once In My Life" Stevie Wonder 1968 (Original hit Tony Bennett in 1967)
"Summertime Blues" Blue Cheer 1967 (Original hit by Eddie Cochran 1958)
"Do You Want To Dance?" Bette Midler 1972 (Original hit by Bobby Freeman 1958)
"Love Buzz" Nirvana 1989 (Original recording by Shocking Blue 1969)

"Hooked On a Feeling" Blue Suede 1974 (Original hit by B.J Thomas)
"I Put a Spell On You" Nina Simone 1965 (Original hit by Screaming Jay Hawkins 1955)
"There Is a Time" Solas 2008 (Original recording by The Dillards with Maggie Peterson 1964)
"Fever" Peggy Lee 1958 (Original recording by Little Willie John 1956)
"Diamonds & Rust" Judas Priest 1977  (Original hit by Joan Baez 1975)
"Careless Whispers" Seether 2009 (Original hit by Wham 1984)
"Handy Man" James Taylor 1978 (Original hit by Jimmy Jones 1960)
"The Locomotion" Grand Funk Railroad 1974 (Original hit by Little Eva 1962)
"Bette Davis Eyes" Kim Carnes 1981 (Original recording by Jackie DeShannon 1975)
"Money" The Flying Lizards 1980 (Barrett Strong 1959)
"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)" Marilyn Manson 1994 (Original hit for The Eurythmics 1983)
"Satisfaction" Devo 1980 (Original hit for The Rolling Stones 1965)
"Fox On the Run" Tom T. Hall 1976 (Original hit by Manfred Mann 1969)
"Summertime" Billy Stewart 1966 (Written in 1937, first rock era version by Sam Cooke 1957)
"Never Gonna Say Goodbye" Gloria Gaynor 1974 (Original hit by the Jackson Five 1972)
"You Keep Me Hanging On" Vanilla Fudge 1968 (Original hit by The Supremes 1966)
"MacArthur Park" Donna Summer 1980 (Original hit by Richard Harris 1968)
"Woodstock" Mathews Southern Comfort fall 1970 (Original hit by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young March 1970)
"With a Little Help From My Friends" Joe Cocker 1968 (Originally recorded by The Beatles in 1967)
"Walk On By" The Stranglers 1980 (Original hit for Dionne Warwick 1962)
"Proud Mary" Ike & Tina Turner 1971 (Original hit for Creedence Clearwater Revival 1969)
"Light My Fire" Jose Feliciano 1968 (Original hit by The Doors 1967)
"Knock On Wood" Amii Stewart 1979  (Original hit by Eddie Floyd 1966)
"I'm a Man" The Yardbirds 1965 (Original hit by Bo Diddley 1955)
"House of the Rising Sun"  Frygid Pink 1970 (Original hit by The Animals 1964)
"Hey Joe"  Jimi Hendrix 1967 (Original hit by The Leaves 1965)
"Glendora" The Downliners Sect 1966 (Original hit by Perry Como 1956)
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Diana Ross 1970 (Original hit for Marvin Gaye & Tami Terrell 1967)

And last but not least:

"Blinded By The Light," "For You" and "Spirits In the Night" Manfred Mann's Earth Band 1976-1980 (Original recordings by Bruce Springsteen 1973).

P. S: Before you say "You left off The Cowboy Junkies version of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane." It is different than the version of the Loaded LP." True, but the Cowboy Junkies version is identical to the version The Velvet Underground performs on the Live 1969 LP. So it doesn't count.

DESDINOVA'S FAVORITE PRINCE SONGS

I was attracted to Prince, not just because of his music was great, but because he was considered "evil" by adults. Most people seem to have forgotten about this in the passing years. Of course, the right-wing arm of the media is trying to remind us of this, while scandalizing his death. I notice they leave out the name of the person, who brought Prince's erotic hits to public scrutiny: Tipper Gore, ex-wife of former Vice President Al Gore Jr.

I spent most of one summer trying to tape a perfect recording of "When Doves Cry" from the radio. I loved the opening fuzztone guitar solo.

Remember these are my personal rankings, not anything official.

1. "When Doves Cry"
2. "Little Red Corvette"
3. "Let's Go Crazy"
4. "Peach"
5. "Delirious"
6. "Darling Nikki"
7. "U Got the Look"
8. "1999"
9. "Raspberry Beret"
10. "Purple Rain"
11. "Kiss"
12. "Take Me With U"
13. "I Would Die for You"
14. "I Wanna Be Your Lover"
15. "Controversy"

R. I. P MAURICE WHITE

THEIR BIGGEST HIT WAS THEIR WORST HIT

In high school, I had the pleasure of becoming friends with two foreign exchange students from Germany. Frequently, there would be discussions about what did they do back home in Germany for fun. One of the hot topics in the mid-80s revolved around a recent hit record, "99 Luftballoons/99 Red Balloons" by a German singer named Nena. Both of these German teens said the same thing, they could believe Americans made Nena's worst song a big hit.

The truth is this happens quite a bit in the American pop chart, a major acts biggest hit is not the best. In many cases, it is a boring ballad or sappy love song, instead of an upbeat rocker or funky dance number. Not sure what causes this to happen. You could blame the industry I'm in, radio, since, in the past, many radio stations tried to be "safe" and overplayed the boring stuff. Of course, what eventually came to pass is "classic" or "oldie" formats wound up playing the good songs, because that is what the audience really liked. As for the sales factor, we can figure that out.

I'm going to give you a list of songs that were big hits that are annoying, depressing or just bad, but they were either number one or went platinum several times over or both of those, while a more enjoyable song didn't achieve these honors. We will start with the song that is playing while I write this at work and end, kind of full circle, with a German band (easy listening but still).

1. Foreigner - "I Want to Know What Love Is" - It is long, slow, depressing and repetitive. Songs that should have been the big hit: "Hot Blooded," "Double Vision," "Waiting for a Girl Like You," "Cold as Ice," "Urgent" and "Feels Like The First Time.

2. Aerosmith - "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing" - The sad truth of rock & roll is that when you give up drugs and booze, you wind up recording lame songs like this one. Part of the success could be attributed to the move Armageddon, a cover on the country charts and (yes) a ton of radio airplay. Songs that should have been the big hit: "Walk This Way," "Same Old Song and Dance," "The Other Side," "Dream On," "Kings and Queens," "Back In the Saddle" and "Love In an Elevator."

3. Cheap Trick - "The Flame" - Another slow, boring song. Songs that should have been the big hit: "I Want You To Want Me (live version)," "Surrender," "Dream Police," "Voices," "Gonna Raise Hell" and "Don't Be Cruel."

4. Stevie Wonder - "I Just Called To Say I Love You" - Another movie song and as mushy and sappy as a love song can get. Stevie has had several number ones, but this one is his biggest seller of all time. Songs that should have been the big hit: "Superstition," "Sir Duke," "Higher Ground," "Uptight," "Shoo-Be Doo-Be Doo Da," "For Once In My Life" and "You Met Your Match."

5. Journey - "Open Arms" - I have never figured out why people like this song. Even worse, why radio continues to force this one down our throats. Songs that should have been the big hit: "Any Way You Want It," "Wheel In The Sky," "Who's Crying Now," "Lights" and "Separate Ways."

6. Chuck Berry - "My Ding A- Ling" - If I was ranking these according to injustice, this would be number one. Consider all of his great, ground-breaking, pioneering rock & roll hits of the 50s and 60s, filled with those iconic guitar riffs, then realize this was his only number one hit. Songs that should have been the big hit: "Johnny B. Good," "School Days," "Sweet Little Sixteen," "Brown Eyed Hansom Man," "Nadine," "Maybeline" and "You Never Can Tell." (This list could go on for ever)

7. Styx - "Babe" - Many have said this was the first chink in the armor of Styx. The fact that it went to number one adds insult to injury. Songs that should have been the big hit: "Lady," "Come Sail Away," "Blue Collar Man," "Too Much Time On My Hands," "Miss America," "Suite Madam Blue," and "Renegade."

8. Marvin Gaye - "Let's Get It On" - This may shock you, but this song out sold "I Heard It Through The Grapevine." To me, this song is a bluesy guitar and Marvin yammering. Songs that should have been the big hit: "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "What's Going On," "Mercy Mercy Me," "Inner City Blues" and "Sexual Healing."

9. Bryan Adams - "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" - Slow, dull and painful. I've been to several weddings where this was used and each one ended in a divorce. Songs that should have been the big hit: "Run To You," "Cuts Like a Knife," "I Need Somebody" and "Summer of 69."

10. Bert Kaempfert - "Wonderland By Night"- You are probably looking at this and think "Why is this on here?" Two reasons: 1) This was the artist that got me to thinking about doing this post, and 2) I began this with a German singer, so I will end with a German orchestra leader. Kaempfert's music was used a lot in the 60s & 70s in radio and TV as background music because it was peppy and cheerful. The 60s version of The Match Game used his song "Swinging Safari" (which became a big hit for saxaphonist Billy Vaughn). It featured a playful brass section and a thumping bass guitar, not heard in most easy listening groups of the time. However, his only number one hit in this country was a slow, depressing instrumental called "Wonderland By Night." Many view its hitting number one in 1960 as an example of the state of music after the death of Buddy Holly and the payola scandals. Songs that should have been the big hit: "Swinging Safari," "Afrikan Beat," "Happy Trumpet," "That Happy Feeling," and "Zambesi." These songs can be found here on YouTube.

R. I. P. JIMMY RUFFIN

Bobby Womack dead at 70

Bobby Womack, legendary soul singer, dead at 70

My favorite Bobby Womack recording is the theme to Across 110th Street.

 

THE FATHERS OF FAMOUS JUNIORS

I've considered doing this post for quite some time. There are some well-known public figures with a "junior" on the end of their name. Granted, some juniors are obvious as to who the senior was and what they did because junior followed in their footsteps (Frank Sinatra, Hank Williams, Douglas Fairbanks, John F. Kennedy, Al Gore, Ed Begley, Alan Hale, Freddie Prinze).

These are some famous juniors, who were either in another line of work or eclipsed their father's notority.

Norman Swartzkopf Sr. - Head of New Jersey State Police and narrator of the radio show Gangbusters.

Efrem Zimbalist Sr. - Violinist, composer and symphony conductor.

Harry Connick Sr.- District Attorney for New Orleans.

Robert Downey Sr. - Director of the movies Putney Swope and Greaser's Palace.

Cuba Gooding Sr. - Lead singer of the 70's R & B group The Main Ingredient (guy in middle)

Sammy Davis Sr. - Vaudeville dancer

Martin Luther King Sr. -Minister

Morton Downey Sr. -Irish crooner and radio show host

Kurt Vonnegut Sr. - Influential architect who designed many of the art deco buildings in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a photo of him.

I AM NOT ASHAMED IPOD PLAYLIST 10

Yes, it is hard to believe but this is the tenth Ipod playlist of songs in my playlist that could be considered guilty pleasures. Of course, I am not ashamed of liking these songs, no matter who tells me I shouldn't like them. You should hunt them down and enjoy them too.

"Flash's Theme" - Queen
"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" - Green Day
"Key Largo" - Bertie Higgins
"Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" - Glass Tiger
"Strawberry Letter 23" - The Brothers Johnson
"Lost In Emotion" - Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
"Silent Running" - Mike and the Mechanics
"Whip It" - Devo
"Sk8er Boi" - Avril Lavigne
"Come To The Sunshine" - Harper's Bizare
"I Was Made For Loving You Baby" - Kiss
"Exodus (Theme)" - Ferrante and Teicher
"(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" - The Amen Corner
"Radio Nowhere" - Bruce Springsteen
"Fallin in Love" - Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds
"Skip a Rope" - Henson Cargill
"My Heart Will Go On" - Celine Dion
"Barbie Girl" - Aqua
"Ride Like The Wind" - Christopher Cross
"Last Friday Night" - Katy Perry
"Monster Mash" - Bobby B. Pickett and the Crypt Kickers
"Moonlight Feels Right" - Starbuck
"Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" - Crystal Gale
"A Wonderful Dream" - The Majors
"My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama" - The Mothers of Inventions
"Bobby Sue" - The Oak Ridge Boys
"You're Holding Me Down" - The Buzz
"Come Back When You Grow Up Girl" - Bobby Vee
"A Sign of the Times" - Petula Clark
"Free Ride" - Edgar Winter Group
"Things I'd Like To Say" - New Colony Six
"Centerfold" - J. Geils Band
"Love Is In The Air" - John Paul Young
"Images" - The Freeborne
"Gary Gilmore's Eyes" - The Adverts
"Rock The Boat" - The Hughes Corporation
"Seminole Wind" - John Anderson
"Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?" - The Cramps
"House of the Rising Sun" - Frigid Pink
"I'm On Fire" - The Dwight Twilley Band

NOTE: I try to delete songs I list from the playlist I use to create these list. Occasionally, some songs are either not deleted or multiply recordings wind up in the list, causing duplicates across the other list.

I AM NOT ASHAMED IPOD PLAYLIST 9

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, another list of songs that are in my Ipod/Itunes that people are criticized and ridiculed me for enjoying. Some would call these "guilty pleasures" except I don't feel that I should feel guilty for liking these. Of course, the people that like these like country music. So check these out and see if you don't start liking them too.

"Sweet Dreams" - Air Supply
"Every Time I Think of You" - The Babys
"The Mummer's Dance" - Loreena McKennett
"Groove is In The Heart" - Deee-Lite
"The Crying Game" - Dave Berry
"Talkin To The Blues" - Jim Lowe (You Dawg!)
"Wannabe" - Spice Girls
"Fall On Me" - Pousette-Dart Band
"Trouble" - Lindsey Buckingham
"Feels So Good" - Chuck Mangione
"When The Heart Rules The Mind" - GTR
"Lady Samantha" - Elton John
"The Blob" - The Five Blobs
"Cherry Pie" - Warrant (Ya ain't gonna swing with my daughter no more!)
"Baby One More Time" - Brittney Spears
"My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" - Willie Nelson
"No Matter What" - Badfinger
"La La La (If I Had You)" - Bobby Sherman
"A Summer Song" - Chad & Jeremy
"Undercover Angel" - Alan O'Day
"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" - Bob B. Sox & the Blue Jeans (Walt Disney meets Phil Spector)
"Only In My Dreams" - Debbie Gibson
"You Dropped a Bomb On Me" - The Gap Band
"Jolene" - Dolly Parton
"Yellow River" - Christie
"Butterfly" - Crazy Town
"Surfin Cow" - The Dead Milkmen (I can't believe I left this off the college rock playlist)
"Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" - B.J. Thomas
"On The Loose" - Saga
"Calcutta" - Lawrence Welk Orchestra (Wunder-ful wunder-ful!)
"The Final Countdown" - Europe
"Big Red Kite" - Lobo
"I Should Be So Lucky" - Kylie Minogue (I also like French & Saunders opera version)
"Rockit" - Herbie Hancock
"The First Day of Summer" - Tony Carey
"Cool It Now" - New Edition
"Sweet City Woman" - The Stampeders (I like this song even though I frown on banjos in rock songs)
"Nadia's Theme (The Young & the Restless)" - Barry Devorzon & Perry Botkin Jr.
"Obsession" - Animotion
"This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both of Us" - Sparks
"Dancing In The Moonlight" - King Havest
"Romeo's Tune" - Steve Forbert
"Mr. Pinnodmy's Dilemma" - The Attack (A Who-clone band - singing about a deaf & dumb kid)
"ABC" - Jackson 5
"She's a Bad Mama Jama" - Carl Carlton
"Soul Dracula" - Red Blood
"Born This Way" Lady Gaga
"Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March" - The Box Tops
"Summer Girls" - LFO
"Funny (How Time Slips Away)" - Joe Hinton
"You Were On My Mind" - We Five
 "Mind, Body & Soul" - The Flaming Embers
"Cups (When I'm Gone)" - Anna Kendrick
"Ando Meio Desligado" - Os Muntantes (This is to upset all the racist bigots here in the Ozarks)
"Holy Thursday" - David Axelrod

I'll expect you to download all of these and start liking them - BECAUSE I SAID SO!
 

PANCAKES PLAYLIST 3 - THE QUERKY TWERKY EDITION

All these photos of Miley Cyrus on the MTV VMA awards got me to thinking about "pancakes" (The Retrospace kind). I quickly compiled another edition in honor of Miley and her twerk.

"Here She Comes Now" - Velvet Underground
"Black Betty" - Ram Jam
"Head" - Prince
"Squeeze Box" - The Who
"Get It" - Hank Ballard & the Midniters
"Tush" - ZZ Top
"Let's Get It On" - Marvin Gaye
"Romeo" Mr. Big (The UK band)
"Gloria" - Them
"I Like What You Are Doing To Me" - Young & Company
"Sex As A Weapon" - Pat Benetar
"(I Wanna) Testify" - The Parliments
"Young Lust" - Pink Floyd
"Hold Me" - P.J. Proby
"What Is Love" - The Playmates
"Singapore Silk Torpedo" - Pretty Things
"Nasty" - Janet Jackson"Original Sin" - INXS
"Get Up (Sex Machine)" - James Brown
"I Kissed a Girl" - Katy Perry
"Love Blonde" - Kim Wilde
"(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty" - K.C. & The Sunshine Band
"Passion" - Rod Stewart
"Brown Sugar" - Rolling Stones
"Touch Me (I Want To Feel Your Body)" - Samantha Fox
"Ring Dang Do" - Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
"So Young, So Bad" - Starz
"She Was Naked" - Supersister
"Hots For Teacher" - Van Halen
"Teach Me Tiger" - April Stevens
"Hot N Nasty" - Black Oak Arkansas (Not to be confused with "Hot & Nasty" by Humble Pie)
"I'm On Fire For You, Baby" - April Wine
"Joystick" - The Dazz Band
"Light My Fire" - The Doors
"Once Bitten Twice Shy" -Great White
"Dirty Love" Frank Zappa
"Big Love" - Fleetwood Mac
"Night Moves" - Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
"The Stripper" - David Rose
"Superlungs My Supergirl" - Donovan with Jeff Beck Group
"Baby It's Cold Outside" - Dean Martin
"Stroke You Up" - Changing Faces
"Jungle Fever" - The Chakachas
"If U Seek Amy" - Britney Spears
"Do It (Til Your Satisfied)" - B.T. Express
"Sex O-Matic" - The Bar Kays
"Milkshake" - Kelis

The Dells singer Marvin Junior dies

The Dells singer Marvin Junior dies

Five Stairsteps singer Clarence Burke Jr. dies

Five Stairsteps singer Clarence Burke Jr. dies

PANCAKES IPOD PLAYLIST 2

Retrospace coined the phase "pancakes" as a euphemism for a prominent for of entertainment on the Internet that also starts with the letter "p." There were so many pop songs about "pancakes" that I needed a second playlist. I also see that I could make "pancake" playlist for The Rolling Stones and Prince alone. If you remember, Prince's popularity lead to the call for warning labels on music.

One of the radio stations here in the Ozarks runs a liner that says "Would you want your grandmother to hear some of the current hits played on other radio stations?" My Grandma Jones (Rest her soul) referred to a woman in a skimpy or short dress as "showing Christmas" and referring to a small amount of something as not being "enough to fill a cat's butt." Emenim and 50 Cent isn't going to upset her too much.

Here is those songs about "pancakes" that would upset the grandmas of Springfield, MO.

"Sink the Pink" - AC/DC
"Touch It" - Monifah
"Lightning Strikes" - Lou Christie (In the mid-60s, Lou Christie was banned from some radio stations)
"Sexual Healing" - Marvin Gaye
"Do Me Baby" - Prince
"Tube Snake Boogie" - ZZ Top
"Rattlesnake Shake" - Fleetwood Mac
"Shake, Rattle and Roll" - Big Joe Turner
"Skin Tight" - Ohio Players
"Fat Bottomed Girls" - Queen
"Bump N Grind" - R. Kelly
"Between the Sheets" The Isley Brothers
"One On One" - Hall & Oates
"Centerfold" - J.Geils Band
"Lets Put the X In Sex" - Kiss
"Bad Boy" - Ray Parker Jr.
"Lady Marmalade" - Labelle
"Every Picture Tells a Story" - Rod Stewart
"Something's Burning" The First Edition
"Self Control" - Laura Branigan
"Juicy Fruit" - Mtume
"The Lemon Song" - Led Zeppelin
"She Was Hot" - The Rolling Stones
"When You Touch Me" - Skyy
"Wiggle Wiggle" - The Accents (A "Litty Bitty Pretty One" rip off with racey lyrics)
"Strip" - Adam Ant
"Big Ten Inch Record" - Aerosmith
"Wonder Girl" - Sparks
"Penetration" - Iggy & the Stooges
"Muscles of Love" - Alice Cooper
"Peaches" - The Stranglers
"Turn Off The Lights" - Teddy Pendergrass
"Obsession" - Animotion
"I Touch Myself" - The Divinyls
"Hungry Like The Wolf" - Duran Duran
"Relax" - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
"Shakin" - Eddy Money
"I Wanna Sex You Up" - Color Me Badd
"Sex (I'm a...) - Berlin
"You've Never Been This Far Before" - Conway Twitty (Bom-bom-bom)
"Work With Me Annie" - Hank Ballard and the Midnighters

Remember, practice safe "pancakes."

BTW: Retrospace is looking at the scientific probability of "pancakes" happening.

Bobbie Smith, Voice of The Spinners, dies at 76

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/21/arts/music/bobbie-smith-voice-of-the-spinners-dies-at-76.html?smid=pl-share

Article courtesy of the New York Times. Here is some footage of the Spinners performing "It's a Shame" on the PBS music series Soundstage in 1976.

DESDINOVA'S 40 FAVORITE DISCO SONGS

Before I hear any snide remarks about me posting a disco Ipod playlist, let me explain something. I realize it is considered "uncool" for a guy my age to like disco. Some idiots will tell you that a man who likes disco is "gay." Truth is, I used to think the same way when I was younger.

What changed my opinion of disco? A few years back, a radio station here in Springfield was bought out by another company. As a stunt, for the first week or two, they ran nothing but disco hits. I would listen and found there were many of these songs brought back pleasant memories of my childhood. The radio station eventually unveiled there format would be "classic rock without the loud heavy metal" (This slogan was part of a bad trend at the time, which someone in the radio industry once said was like "making love without all that unsanitary kissing"). They "vowed never to play disco again." They have have lived up to that, although they tweaked the format a few years back and added Aerosmith, Ozzy, Deep Purple and AC/DC to there playlist.

After that, I became nostalgic for the disco music that filled the airwaves during my elementary school years. Besides I can enjoy disco where as I CANNOT STAND COUNTRY MUSIC!!!

I have broken this into two list, one for standard disco and the other for those artist that we thought would "never stoop so low as to make a disco record" and wound up making some of the best disco songs ever.

A message to guys of my age: Don't worry, I'm planing a "heavy metal/hair band" playlist filled with testosterone, adrenaline and alcohol.

"Staying Alive" Bee Gees
"Hot Stuff" Donna Summer
“Fifth of Beethoven” Walter Murphy
“I Will Survive” Gloria Gaynor
“Dancing Queen” ABBA
“Last Dance” Donna Summer
“I’m On Fire” 5000 Volts
“Making It” David Naughton
“Ladies Night” Kool & the Gang
“Pop Muizk” M
“Voulez Vous” ABBA
“You Sexy Thing” Hot Chocolate
“(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty” K.C. & the Sunshine Band
"Funkytown" Lipps, Inc.
"TSOP (Sound of Philadelphia)" M.F.S.B
"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" McFadden & Whitehead
"Upside Down" Diana Ross
“That's The Way (I Like)” K.C. & the Sunshine Band
“Y.M.C.A” Village People
“Kiss In The Dark” Pink Lady
“Cupid/I’ve Loved You For a Long Time” The Spinners
“Disco Inferno” The Trammps
“Love Is In The Air” John Paul Jones
“Heaven Knows" Donna Summer
“Fly Robin Fly” Silver Connection
“La Freak” Chic
"Don't Let Go" Issac Hayes
"Bad Girls" Donna Summer
"Take Your Time (Do It Right)" S.O.S. Band
"You Should Be Dancing" Bee Gees
"All Night Thing" The Invisible Man's Band
“Rock The Boat” Hues Corporation
"I Love The Nightlife" Alicia Bridges
“The Hustle” Van McCoy
"Livin It Up (Friday Night)" Bell & James
"If I Can't Have You" Yvonne Ulliman
"Dancing Machine" The Jackson 5
"Soul Dracula" Hot Blood
"Night Fever" Bee Gees
"Boogie Nights" Heatwave  

THE PANCAKES AND POPSICLES IPOD PLAYLIST

Most of the banners or cards on Facebook are either silly or insult my political beliefs. This one is funny because it pokes fun at the self righteous "kids-today-are worthless" garbage that many of the other banners and cards on Facebook tend to exposes.

I thought I would take a look at a few songs that should keep my generation and the Baby Boomer generation from being so high and mighty on the subject of "wholesome, family friendly" music.

So why did I entitle this post "Pancakes and Popsicles Ipod Playlist"? I used "pancakes" as a tip of the hat to Gilligan Newton-John of the Retrospace blog. He uses "pancakes" as a euphemism for certain activities. This was he can talk about how attitudes about "pancakes" have changed since the 60s, 70s and 80s, without attracting an unsavory crowd who are Googling the word that "pancakes" substitutes. Some cranky adults and Ozarkers  (Remember State Rep. Jean Dixon?) would say that all of these songs are "pancakes."

Those of you who read the old blog, may remember I used to poke fun at a certain Springfield talk radio show host. He used the word "Popsicles" as a euphemism for a part of the male anatomy. He would say that your truly didn't have the Popsicles to make fun of him in person. Why would I want to be face to face with this crazy nut? He threw a sack of tennis balls a former News Leader editor Tony Messenger because he said he didn't have any "Popsicles" (The sack of tennis balls was a metaphor for what he used the word "Popsicles" for on the radio). That is one of the reasons I had the photo of Paris Hilton eating a Popsicle that I used on my last post.

I guess you could say I have a lot of "Popsicles" to create an Ipod playlist about "pancakes."

"Push It" Salt N Peppa
"Me So Horny" 2 Live Crew
"You Shook Me All Night Long" AC/DC
"Sister Ray" Velvet Underground
"Little Girl" John & Jackie
"Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus" Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin
"Talk Dirty To Me" Poison
"Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" The Swinging Medallions
"Do It Again a Little Bit Slower" Jon & Robin and The Crowd (written by a guy from Springfield, MO)
"Miracles" Jefferson Starship
"Physical" Olivia Newton-John
"Sugar Walls" Sheena Easton
"Imaginary Lover" Atlanta Rhythm Section
"Can Your Pussy Do The Dog?" The Cramps
"Turning Japanese" The Vapors
"Sex Dwarf" Soft Cell
"Blister In the Sun" Violent Femmes
"O.P.P" Naughty By Nature
"Let's Spend The Night Together" The Rolling Stones
"Take It Off" The Donnas
"Do You Wanna Touch?" Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
"She Bop" Cyndi Lauper
"Sweet Cream Ladies" The Box Tops
"Flesh For Fantasy" Billy Idol
"Love To Love You Baby" Donna Summer
"Cherry Hill Park" Billy Joe Royal
"Rhapsody In the Rain" Lou Christie
"Naughty Naughty" John Parr
"Humpin" The Gap Band
"Good Girls Don't" The Knack
"Cherry Pie" Warrant
"I Want To Do Something Freaky To You" Leon Haywood
"Hot Rod Hearts" Robbie Dupree
"Don't Touch Me There" The Tubes
"Kama Sutra" Bonzo Dog Band
"Let's Pretend We're Married" Prince

There are enough of these for a second "pancake" Ipod playlist. I hope people are not getting too tired of the Ipod playlist. You must understand I'm a frustrated radio program director at heart 

          

DESDINOVA'S VALENTINE'S DAY IPOD PLAYLIST 2

This is the second Ipod playlist for Valentine's Day.

"Stand By Me" - Ben E. King
"Fall On Me" - Pousette-Dart Band
"P.S. I Love You" The Beatles
"What a Difference You Made In My Life" - Ronnie Milsap
"The Word" - The Beatles
"Make Me Smile" - Chicago
"True" - Spandau Ballet
"Cherish" - Kool & the Gang
"To Make You Feel My Love" - Garth Brooks (written by Bob Dylan)
"With This Ring' The Platters
"That Is the Way of the World" - Earth, Wind and Fire
"I Just Want To Be Your Everything" - Andy Gibb
"You Know That I Love You" - Santana
"Heaven Is a Place on Earth" - Belinda Carlisle
"Being With You" - Smokey Robinson
"Have I Told You Lately" - Van Morrison
"Get Together" - The Youngbloods
"You're My Soul and Inspiration" - The Righteous Brothers
"Do That To Me One More Time" - Captain & Tennille
"You Needed Me" - Anne Murray
"To Know Him Is To Love Him" - The Teddy Bears
"Be My Baby" - The Ronettes
"Looking Through The Eyes of Love" - Partridge Family
"You Know What I Mean" - The Turtles
"Unchained Melody" - The Righteous Brothers
"Wild Is the Wind" - David Bowie
"Groovy Kind of Love" - The Mindbenders
"Every Thing I Do (I Do For You) - Bryan Adams
"I Drove All Night" Cyndi Lauper
 "She Belongs To Me" Rick Nelson (Another Bob Dylan song)
"Nadia's Theme (The Young & The Restless)" - Barry DeVorzon
"Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" - The Spinners
"Always and Forever" - Heatwave
"Just What I've Been  Looking For" - The Vogues
"I Say a Little Prayer" - Dionne Warwick
"Baby What a Big Surprise" - Chicago
"Sweets For Sweet" - The Searchers
"It's Love Thing" - The Whispers
"Sharing The Night Together" - Dr. Hook
"Then He Kissed Me" - The Crystals
"Things We Said Today" - The Beatles
"I Just Called To Say I Love You" - Stevie Wonder
"Theme From A Summer Place" - Percy Faith

BEST OF DESDINOVA: DESDINOVA'S VALENTINE'S DAY IPOD PLAYLIST

These are the songs I'm listening to in my Ipod today.

Never My Love - The Association
If Tomorrow Never Comes - Joose
The Air That I Breath - the Hollies
You Made Me Believe In Magic - Bay City Rollers
You Can Do Magic - America
One Fine Day - the Chiffons
Biggest Part of Me - Ambrosia
All My Loving - the Beatles
For Love - Pousette Dart Band
Miracles - Jefferson Starship
More Than Yesterday - Spiral Staircase
Come Softly To Me - Jane Olivor
Heaven - Bryan Adams
Heatbeat: Its a Love Beat - DeFranco Family
I'll Be There - Jackson 5
(Your Love Keeps Lifting me) Higher & Higher - Jackie Wilson
Words - F.R. David
Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennielle
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
This Magic Moment - Jay & the Americans
Together - The Intruders
Best of My Love - The Eagles
Just Like Heaven - The Cure
Shining Star - The Manhattans
You Are Everything - The Stylistics
True Love Ways - Buddy Holly
All I Really Want To Do - The Byrds
Take My Breath Away - Berlin
I Love You - Climax Blues Band
So Much In Love - The Tymes
I Would Die 4 U - Prince
Something - The Beatles
Kiss On My List - Hall & Oats
Cupid/I've Loved You For a Long Time - The Spinners
I'd Really Love to See You Tonight - England Dan & John Ford Coley
Soul Coaxing - Raymond LeFevre
There Is - The Dells
Do You Believe In Magic? - Lovin Spoonful
(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice - Amen Corner
Strange Magic - ELO
Touch Me - The Doors
I'm Believer - The Monkees
I Can Dream About You - Dan Hartman
Your Song - Elton John
I'm Your Puppet - James & Bobby Purify
Love Is Blue - Paul Mauriat
Cool Night - Paul Davis
Can't Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
Like to Get to Know You - Spanky & Our Gang
Oh How Happy - Shades of Blue
Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
You're My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration - Teddy Pendergrass
Happy Together - The Turtles
If I Had Words - Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keely
La La Means I Love You - The Delfonics
Always on My Mind - Pet Shop Boys
Love So Fine - Roger Nichols & Small Circle of Friends
We've Got Tonight - Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton
Because - Dave Clark 5
You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
Mind, Body & Soul - Flaming Ember
Lost in Love - Air Supply
Nights in White Satin - Moody Blues
The Look of Love - Dusty Springfield
Just You n Me - Chicago
When Doves Cry - Prince
Fallin In Love - Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds
Best Thing That Ever Happened - Gladys Knight and the Pips
Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis
I Will Always Think About - New Colony Six
I Think I Love You - Partridge Family
Just Between You & Me - April Wine
Still - the Commodores
The Best of Times - Styx
Nice to Be With You - Gallery
If You Leave - Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark
Tonight's the Night - Rod Stewart
Love's Theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra
You've Made Me So Very Happy - Blood Sweat & Tears
When Will I See You Again - Three Degrees
An Old Fashion Love Song - 3 Dog Night
I Saw The Light - Todd Rundgren
Love Is All Around - the Troggs
You Showed Me - The Turtles
You're the One - The Vogues
Magnet & Steel - Walter Egan
The Promise - When In Rome
See Me, Feel Me - The Who
For Your Love - The Yardbirds
Working on a Groovy Thing - 5th Dimmenson
Afterglow - Small Faces
Make Me You Baby - Barbara Lewis
You’re the First, My Last, My Everything - Barry White
Wouldn’t It Be Nice - The Beach Boys
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
Softly Whispering I Love You- The (English) Congregation
No Matter What - Badfinger
Everytime I Think of You - The Babys
Love Minus Zero/No Limit - Bob Dylan
Masterpiece - Atlantic Star
I Second That Emotion - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Going Out of My Head - Little Anthony & the Imperials
Thinking of You - Loggins & Messinia
More Than I Can Say - Leo Sayer
Precious and Few - Climax

Jazz Musician Donald Byrd's Death Confirmed, Leaves Legacy In Hip Hop

Jazz Musician Donald Byrd's Death Confirmed, Leaves Legacy In Hip Hop

"Cristo Redentor" is one of Donald Byrd's best and great male-out music. I would have liked to post "Walking In Rhythm" by the Blackbyrds by it is blocked from You Tube. I will load it into the Amazon MP3 widget.

Jimmy O'Neill dies at 73; L.A. deejay hosted TV's 'Shindig!'

Jimmy O'Neill dies at 73; L.A. deejay hosted TV's 'Shindig!'

Sorry this is a little late, but I just now learned of this.