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!
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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!
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!
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So, here we are.
It’s another Election Day, and I have to think that anyone who is voting, already has their choice in mind.
However, I will approach this post as if I am trying to convince at least one person who was in a coma, and just woke up to vote on Election Day.
Outside of that, I have to presume that maybe others will read what I wrote and listen to the song some other time, and decide to consider voting for the correct party.
I’ve written about singer/songwriter/ ethnomusicologist multi Philby Award winner Scott Ainslie before.
I’ve even given some thought that his performance the first time I saw him, might be the best concert I’ve ever seen!
He’s an artist that mostly recreates classic Blues songs. And he does those songs so well, the spirit of the deceased artists usually enter the room and hang in the aura for awhile!
But he also has several songs of his own that you might not be able to tell the difference between his or a Blues legend’s!
“Late Last Night” is one such song.
The timeless lyrics of the song could place it anywhere on a time continuum from the beginning of the Industrial Age to this current moment.
Ainslie was shooting for the mid 1930’s because he based his, “The Last Shot Got Him” album, on songs written in the time period of the latest vintage guitar that he had obtained.
The lyrics tell of a tale that hasn’t changed much in the past hundred and fifty years or so.
It concerns the societal interaction between the people in power who pull the levers, and the workers who never catch a break.
And the workers never know when the rough stretch is coming.
It never affects the rich. They can always get through a down time.
But you can rest assured that the decision was probably made in a windowless room, where those in charge wanted to squeeze a little more blood out of the hourly workers:
“Late last night rich and powerful men/
Set the dogs loose on our throats again.”
The upper 1% doesn’t have to literally be involved in the process, but somebody always has to follow orders or he or she and their family doesn’t eat, have a house, or a car.
To some rich people, it’s almost a sport:
“It’s the money. You know it is/
Somebody pulls the trigger/
And somebody gets rich.
Hey! It’s not the wealthy person’s fault. They weren’t there. Never mind that their fiscal practices put workers against each other just to survive.
Scott then brings things back in focus by emphasizing that a life is more valuable than anything!:
“But there ain’t a thing in this whole wide world/
Worth the life of one boy, the life of one girl.
That’s something that money can’t buy.”
However, that brief, happy thought, is quickly pushed out by some of the greatest lines in music:
“No use cryin’ over a little spilt milk/
When someone makes a killing/
Somebody gets killed.
There’ll be no cross at the side of the road/
No photograph. No plastic rose.”
In a society like capitalism, there can only be one winner. And the person who gets killed, doesn’t actually, physically die for possibly many decades, but more than likely continues on a path that stacks the odds against them.
Ainslie wraps things up by returning to the first few lines, the dogs on the throats imagery.
He does end the song on a high note, by suggesting breaking out a flask and enjoying what we can out of life, because those dogs are always waiting.
Usually, when I hear this song, it makes me cry.
I feel the camaraderie with my fellow sisters and brothers because, whether they know it or not, we are all in the same boat and need to work together against that late night plot!
One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded is “Late Last Night” by Scott Ainslie!!!
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If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
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.
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About thirty years ago, legendary Blues band, Little Charlie and The Nightcats, released a classic album entitled, “The Big Break.”
A little short history first:
Little Charlie was led by guitar great Charlie Baty.
The live band was fronted by dynamic harp player, Rick Estrin!
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:
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.
Featuring mostly upbeat country flavored songs that also rock in a honky tonk kinda way, Tim uses his keen observational talent to construct catchy and lyrically smart songs!
One of his songs, “A Dangerous Man,” describes someone who was a bad choice for a first term in office, and is an even more terrible option for a second term.
The warning has been sounded, and it’s even more relevant today!
You’ll figure it out–especially that Fifth Avenue reference!
The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “A Dangerous Man” by Tim Bennett!!!
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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.
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With just two days until the election, I decided to pick a song that is short and to the point.
Christine Lavin put out a parody song about a president who has lied more than any other one.
It’s from a couple of years ago, and the words could be changed to fit a whole new warehouse list full of scandals and disasters.
Sung to the tune of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” made famous by The Tokens, the song describes the work habits of the person in the White House.
The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “The Liar Tweets Tonight” by Christine Lavin!!!
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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!
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.
Well, now I’m getting around to it!
My radio show, “Theme Attic,” is on Wednesdays 12PM-4PM ET.
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.
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!
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
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I decided to do a bonus song today.
I mean, a blue moon happens about every 2 and 1/2 years, so it would be a while before I would get to a blue moon song if I didn’t do it today.
In case you don’t remember, a blue moon is the second full moon of the month–like tonight.
It does NOT look blue in color. That’s a poetic description.
“Once in a Very Blue Moon” is the first song I ever heard by her.
I fell asleep recording a show on PBS on a VHS tape and I didn’t have the timer on, so it kept taping.
When I watched the tape and saw what I wnated to see, I’m a curious kinda guy, so I let the tape continue. It had taped an Austin City Limits retrospective show.
At that time, I’m not sure I was even aware of that show.
One of the featured artists was a soft spoken singer who looked so cute!
However, she had an excellent use of dynamics, and could really belt out the parts she really wanted to!
I was smitten! I still am!
I watched “Blue Moon” over and over getting chills up my spine!
Such a wistful and touching look at a failed relationship.
Occasionally, the singer looks back and thinks about what might have been.
It doesn’t control her life. It’s just a nice memory.
Over the years, I was lucky enough to see Nanci several times.
She’s probably one of my Top Ten favorite artists!
One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded is “Once in a Very Blue Moon” by Nanci Griffith!!!
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.
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One of the most pleasant surprises in music that I have run across this year is a local Detroit band called Mollywop!
Today’s song is from their, “Stand Up!” album called “Gimme Five!”
The album is an incredible mixture of R&B, rock, neo soul, gospel, hip hop, rap, reggae, and probably a couple more genres that I’m forgetting!
But funk presides over everything in “Stand Up!”
When the album was recorded last year, Mollywop! had no idea that so many events would force the Black Lives Matter movement to the front of political discussions, although there were plenty to draw from then.
But the album has several songs that are as current as any headline!
Unfortunately.
It’s unfortunate in the sense that some things that should still not be happening keep happening, making the socially conscious songs relevant.
The songs all have a beat, and the band lets you take your own path as to how deeply you want to think about things while your boppin’ to the music!
At the least, maybe some of that message might seep into the listener’s brain over time through osmosis and repeated spins!
And Mollywop! celebrates both its cultural heritage as well as its musical heritage with nods to Malcolm X, while riffing with the best that Parliament/Funkcadelic has to offer!
They even have psychedelicized guitar solos! (Wooo!)
Getting back to “Gimme Five,” it’s a perfect introductory song to Mollywop!
A guitar starts things out, and then the rhythm section kicks the funk into gear!
The syncopated rhythms take over and then it’s full on fire until the song ends!
There’s nice soulful gospel chorus vocals that are easy to sing and dance to!
It’s a powerful wall of sound funk masterpiece!
It’s the best music not on radio, yet–unless I’m playing it!
I can’t say enough good things about “Stand Up!”
Mollywop! will rock that funky beat!
The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Gimme Five” by Mollywop!!!!
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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.
From her most recent album, “Love’s Middle Name,” “Lucky Rocks” tells a tale of a woman trying to get her lover to fall deeper in love with her. She tries to create her own good fortune by keeping “Lucky Rocks” in her pocket!
When that doesn’t quite do the trick, she even goes to see a witch for a “love potion” to supersede the rocks!
Starting off with a jungle beat from the rhythm section, “Lucky Rocks” has the kind of gritty, swampy rock groove that I really like!
The chorus is catchy to sing along and dance to!
Drums are loud, especially the snare!
Guitars are jangly, and the solo is tight, short, and expressive!
And I really like it every time there’s a break after the chorus, and Sarah gives her super hook vocal:
“ooh-ooh!”
I asked Sarah about the song, and she said it was a true story.
