I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my Monday night show, “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)
But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.
Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.
Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!
Please share the post to help spread the word!
Regardless of everything going on in the world that is way more important than my daily post, I will continue, nonetheless, in case someone is looking for a few minutes of respite.
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
From the opening notes of “What We Breathe In,” the title track from New York City based folk/rock group The Chordaes‘ 2019 album release, the first impression that the song will have some classic rock elements is fairly obvious from the inclusion of a sitar sound.
The song more than delivers a winning midtempo rocker with such a yearning vocal from Leo Sawkin that would make The Moody Blues proud!
A good melody and arrangement, including a singalong chorus, makes “What We Breathe In” a song that would survive in any era of Rock music!
In addition, it’s currently #1 on my Faves Song list this week!
The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “What We Breathe” by The Chordaes!!!
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!
I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my Monday night show, “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)
But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.
Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.
Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!
Please share the post to help spread the word!
Regardless of everything going on in the world that is way more important than my daily post, I will continue, nonetheless, in case someone is looking for a few minutes of respite.
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
We’re overdue for some Friday Music Fun!
Today’s tune is a tight, intensely syncopated jam called “Jukin’ and Shakin'” by Southeast Michigan Multiple Philby Award winning artist Joseph Veloz with Lucky Peterson from his “Offerings” album!
All of the tracks feature a collaboration with a different artist.
Two of the consistencies among tracks is the phenomenally talented musicians and Joseph‘s thumping bass!
Smashing through the intro, attacking horns, drums, and bass drop an incendiary device at the entrance of the song!
Lucky takes control of the vocals and then leads everything to his wickedly hot organ solo, followed by a stinging guitar turn!
The sound textures between the fluid keys and the bluesy string bending is an impressive contrast!
Peterson‘s strong vocals pull the rest of the song through, and just like that, it’s all over!
In fact, after a slightly longer than normal pause, Lucky has to tell the listener, “I’m done!”
What else could one want?
Great horns, organ, guitar, bass, and rockin’ drums!
Joseph Veloz made the track happen, and then he was smart enough and gracious enough to get out of Lucky‘s way!
For as long as I’ve been on the radio, and definitely for as long as I’ve been writing a blog, I will occasionally make a reference to a song being “One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded!” (GSER)
I would usually follow that by saying that I would eventually start a category for it, but then never get around to it.
I’ll select a song to celebrate and then give my thoughts about it. Nothing really brand new here that hasn’t been done before. But since I have a website, I can collect them and lay out what my own greatest songs are.
My radio show, “Prime Time Theme Attic,” is on Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET but is on hiatus because of the pandemic.
Even though I always emphasize new music and artists, it’s always fun to take a short drive through the legendary artists, since they influenced those other artists!
But a song doesn’t have to be old or done by a legendary Theme Attic Hall of Fame member to be thus honored.
I can think of several songs that are only a few years old or less that I could identify as One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded.
This will be fun, and hopefully you will join me on my journey…at least sometimes!
It was at a time when I was feeling very low about the 2016 inauguration.
Let’s face it. The talk was of American carnage .
And just when I thought all that was left was despair, a video popped up in my Facebook feed with a group of singers in the cold and snow, taking a downtrodden song right to his main hotel!
Hope!
Somebody was singing for me!
And to me!
Here’s a clip of that fateful day:
I wasn’t the only one that was moved by Windborne.
I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my Monday night show, “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)
But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.
Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.
Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!
Please share the post to help spread the word!
Regardless of everything going on in the world that is way more important than my daily post, I will continue, nonetheless, in case someone is looking for a few minutes of respite.
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Summer is officially over!
Some years it’s hard to tell, but not this year.
Southeast Michigan will not see weather like we had for the past week in November–warm, sunny, and dry, until Spring 2021.
The skies were almost the same as yesterday: Clear and lots of sun!
The difference was about 25 degrees colder!
Blues legend in the making and multiple Philby Award winner Samantha Fish, sings the first line of the chorus today’s song, and the poignant line registers a direct hit on my mental state:
“Farewell, my fair weather.”
Following a subdued downward Beatlesque phrase on guitar for an intro–tremendously different than her often incendiary string dazzling wizardry, Samantha tells a tale about a failed relationship that she compares to “Fair Weather,” a ballad on her most recent “Kill or Be Kind” album.
It was a perfect companion for today’s deteriorating Autumnal future!
The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Fair Weather” by Samantha Fish!!!
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!
Over time, my listening habits have changed and at the moment I usually listen to albums completely through. I haven’t done that in years, but it’s actually very rewarding—particularly when the album is good. Every album that will be on this list will fit that category.
Songs from the albums on this list forms the basis of my countdown list for the “Top 9 at 9:09” segment of my “Prime Time Theme Attic Show,” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)
(Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu)) on mostly alternating weeks, along with my “Phil’s Faves, Songs” lists!
It’s another peak into my listening habits—which is a goal of mine. If you want to know where I’m heading or what I think about some new music, you will find it here.
I honestly don’t expect there to be much volatility on this list because these albums are what I have been basing many of the sets on my show.
Once again, there will be no boundaries. I will go wherever my musical muse takes me.
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
There’s some “Light Magic” from Strawberry Heritage as their second #1 Faves Album!! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top 10 Albums for the Week of November 8, 2020
1. Light Magic—Strawberry Heritage 2. Red Sky Remembers—Gary Browe 3. Garden of Earthly Delights: An XTC Celebration—Various Artists 4. No Control—Alex Little and The Suspicious Minds 5. Out of the Blues—Boz Scaggs 6. Kill or Be Kind—Samantha Fish 7. A Simple Life—Nick Carter 8. Addicted—Will Ludford 9. Fun and Fancy Free—Sundae and Mr. Goessl 10.Silver City—Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Don’t forget to like my Facebook page!
This is a weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best songs that I listened to the previous week. Most songs will be current, but there are no boundaries. I’ve already stated on this web site that I am obsessed with music. I am constantly hunting it down whether it’s online, on CD, from my personal collection, from a library (Yes, I think the library is a great source of music–especially for music that you aren’t sure about.), TV, or radio. Since most of these sources mostly emphasize new music, the odds are pretty good that most of the songs on this list will be new. But in my search, I don’t use any boundaries for the other sources. I am just looking for good music that I haven’t heard, or happened to forget about. Everyone, including myself, has forgotten way more great music than they can ever remember-even if they are also music fanatics.
Also, there will be no rules concerning songs on this list. A song can show up or drop off a number of times. This will be the most volatile of my lists. It all depends on how much music I am exposed to during the week and what I find interesting. On really obscure stuff, I will try to include the source, if I know it.
Most of the songs heard on this list have been played on my radio show, “Prime Time Theme Attic,” currently on hiatus. (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET)
This list forms the basis of my countdown list on the “Top 9 at 9:09” segment of my “Prime Time Theme Attic Show” on mostly alternating weeks, along with my “Phil’s Faves, Albums” lists!
Here’s a link for the complete history of all the Fave Songs:
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq !
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ The Chordaes breathe in the air as this week’s #1 song! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top Ten Songs for the Week of November 8, 2020
1.What We Breathe In—The Chordaes(What We Breathe In) 2.In the Night—Wendy Webb (Step Out of Line) 3.Get Right—May Erlewine and The Motivations (In the Night) (Song starts at 1:18) 4.I Think I Came Too Late to the Party—Michael on Fire (Where Dreamers Only Go Soundtrack) 5. Our World to Save—Bob Hausler (Single) 6.She’s a Devil—The Wag (We Carry On) 7.Your Version of the Truth—Bill Edwards (Sounds Like Love) 8. Are You Listening?—Billy Brandt [Hall of Fame] and Sarana VerLin (Are You Listening?) 9. Say a Prayer—Dave Boutette and Kristi Lynn Davis (Easy As Pie) 10.Galaxy—The Whiskey Charmers (Lost on the Range) QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Don’t forget to like my Facebook page! Thank you!
I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my Monday night show, “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)
But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.
Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.
Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!
Please share the post to help spread the word!
Regardless of everything going on in the world that is way more important than my daily post, I will continue, nonetheless, in case someone is looking for a few minutes of respite.
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
As a kid growing up, “Indian Summer,” like “blue moon” is one of those terms that would drive me crazy!
And my older brother would use the idioms, but couldn’t explain them!
It wouldn’t be until many years later when I could look them up and understand them for myself.
Before that, I would get angry with my brother for not being able to explain to me why the moon wasn’t blue, if it was a blue moon.
He probably heard it on the radio or tv news, but didn’t know himself that it occurs when there is a second full moon in one month.
“Indian Summer” is a vaguer concept.
Technically, it’s a dry stretch of weather in Autumn with above average temperatures after a frost.
However, it’s also customary to refer to any stretch of warmer drier weather whether (See what I did there!) there (I did it again!) was a frost or even if the temps are below average.
So, sometimes it’s more of a feeling!
To get back to music, today’s song is just as nebulous as that “Indian Summer” idiom.
Going way back to about 1970, Phoenix based Fervor Records is known for finding musical archeologic artifacts that have been overlooked and usually very rare!
Last year, they released everything ever recorded by a Marquette prog rock/jazz/amorphous band featuring Mike McKelvy, Bill Etten, Don Kuhli, Kim French, and Randy Tessier, known collectively as Walrus.
(Some members of the band still play in the Ann Arbor area!)
It included their two albums, “Indian Summer” and “Greater Heights.”
I’m so glad that a label like Fervor exists to unearth music that might have disappeared forever without them!
Featuring an extended jazzy sax solo, Walrus brings their earthy sound to envelop “Indian Summer,” and bring the season back to terra firma!
I don’t think I will ever experience a week in November like the week we just had!
For a lot of reasons, The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Indian Summer” by Walrus!!!
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!
I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my Monday night show, “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)
But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.
Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.
Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!
Please share the post to help spread the word!
Regardless of everything going on in the world that is way more important than my daily post, I will continue, nonetheless, in case someone is looking for a few minutes of respite.
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
The weather has been beautiful lately!
It’s been so unseasonably warm and sunny, that I feel like I’m raking up leaves in the Summer!
After six straight days of the most comfortable November I can remember–(I turned my heat off last Wednesday!), with an amazing election result sandwiched in the middle, I decided to let my inhibitions go, and just enjoy the moment, instead of fretting over climate change!
Everything has been both brighter and lighter post election!
As fate would have it, today’s song, “Vincent’s Yellow House” by Southeast Michigan by way of Texas singer/songwriter Linden Thoburn, from her March 2020 album release, “Scarecrow,” popped up on my player.
Perfect!
The song uses artist Vincent Van Gogh’s “Yellow House” painting as the inspiration for a feel good song!
The track features a slew of stringed instruments to provide an “acoustic wall of sound!”
Playing on those zillion strings are a multitude of some of the best Michigan musicians: Drew “Captain Midnite” Howard on banjo, Aaron Markovitz from the Americana duo Escaping Pavement on mandolins, 6’3″ green eyed Jim Bizer (producer in his own right, as well as being a member of Diamonds in the Rust and other projects) on acoustic guitar along with Linden, and David Roof on bass! (“Scarecrow” was recorded at Dave’s Rooftop Recording studio. It was co-produced by him and Mike Gentry.)
The harmony vocals–which are as lush and layered as the acoustic instruments, features Thoburn, and singer/songwriters Rod Johnson, and Phil McMillon!
I’ve been opening the doors and windows in my house, now, in November, when that sometimes doesn’t happen for me in Detroit until May!
I figure at least I can try to keep the virus away before the house gets totally closed to the outside weather.
The joyous chorus of “Vincent’s Yellow House” describes that type of day:
“Throw the windows open wide/
Invite every beautiful thing inside/
There is nothin’ ya gotta leave out!
Give wing to imagining/
And make a life worth remembering/
In Vincent’s yellow house!”
The melody and five note music phrase on the last line, sounds like it would have fit quite nicely on Neil Young’s self titled solo album!
Sometimes the smartest thing to do is just play the hand fate has dealt you.
Might as well have a good song to keep you company!
And on an album full of good songs, “Vincent’s Yellow House” is the most uplifting song!
The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Vincent’s Yellow House” by Linden Thoburn!!!
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!
Over time, my listening habits have changed and at the moment I usually listen to albums completely through. I haven’t done that in years, but it’s actually very rewarding—particularly when the album is good. Every album that will be on this list will fit that category.
Songs from the albums on this list forms the basis of my countdown list for the “Top 9 at 9:09” segment of my “Prime Time Theme Attic Show,” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)
(Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu)) on mostly alternating weeks, along with my “Phil’s Faves, Songs” lists!
It’s another peak into my listening habits—which is a goal of mine. If you want to know where I’m heading or what I think about some new music, you will find it here.
I honestly don’t expect there to be much volatility on this list because these albums are what I have been basing many of the sets on my show.
Once again, there will be no boundaries. I will go wherever my musical muse takes me.
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Boz Scaggs might be “Out of the Blues” but he’s not out of #1! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top 10 Albums for the Week of November 1, 2020
1. Out of the Blues—Boz Scaggs 2. Garden of Earthly Delights: An XTC Celebration—Various Artists 3. Light Magic—Strawberry Heritage 4. Red Sky Remembers—Gary Browe 5. No Control—Alex Little and The Suspicious Minds 6. Kill or Be Kind—Samantha Fish 7. A Simple Life—Nick Carter 8. Addicted—Will Ludford 9. Fun and Fancy Free—Sundae and Mr. Goessl 10.High Times in the Dark—The Claudettes QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Don’t forget to like my Facebook page!
