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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The “Earthly Garden” is so “Delightful,” it stays at #1 for a second week!! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top 10 Albums for the Week of October 25, 2020
1. Garden of Earthly Delights: An XTC Celebration—Various Artists 2. Out of the Blues—Boz Scaggs 3. Light Magic—Strawberry Heritage 4. Red Sky Remembers—Gary Browe 5. No Control—Alex Little and The Suspicious Minds 6. High Times in the Dark—The Claudettes 7. Kill or Be Kind—Samantha Fish 8. A Simple Life—Nick Carter 9. Addicted—Will Ludford 10.The Landing—Katie Pedersen 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 Wag top this week’s list with a “devilish” #1! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top Ten Songs for the Week of October 25, 2020
1.She’s a Devil—The Wag (We Carry On) 2.Bones of Saints—Robert Plant (Carry Fire) 3.Ascent—(Eddie) Arjun with Cory Henry (Gravity) 4.Our World to Save—Bob Hausler (Single) 5. Stir Me Up—Sarah Morris (All Mine) 6.In the Night—Wendy Webb (Step Out of Line) 7.Rescue Me—Amy Helm (Didn’t It Rain?) 8. Bad Reputation—Angela Perley and The Howlin’ Moons (Hey Kid!) 9. Get Right—May Erlewine and The Motivations (In the Night)(Song starts at 1:18) 10.What We Breathe In—The Chordaes(What We Breathe In) QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Don’t forget to like my Facebook page! Thank you!
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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When singer/songwriter, TV host, and multiple Philby Award winner Eric Gnezda told me he’d written a new song called, “Separation,” I made the presumption in my mind, that it was a song about a marriage that was failing.
He asked if he could send me a copy.
I said, “Yes. Of course!”
Who was I to turn down a song from a songwriter that I felt had already written One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded: “Daddy’s Wheels?” (But that’s a story for another day.)
I was doing show prep, but something told me to listen to the song after receiving a digital copy.
“Separation” opens with three discordant piano notes and some synth strings setting a moody musical palette.
After Eric switches to chords, the lyrics begin to tell the tale:
“She once seemed to have it all/
Brilliant, brave, and beautiful/
She was everything you’d ever want to be.”
OK. So far “Separation” sounds like I thought it would. A guy was obviously in love with a woman.
The song continued:
“She was free and self assured/
Everyone looked up to her/
A shining light for all the world to see.”
Now I’m not so sure where we’re going. If this female was so great, what happened?
“But she lost touch with who she was/
And all she’d ever be/
Now we can’t even talk without a fight.”
Now we’re getting to it.
Somebody cheated.
Somebody lied.
Someone left the toilet seat up?
What would it be?
What caused the breakup?
“I hate to have to say it.”
Yes. Yes. I’m with you. I’m waiting in anticipation of the reason.
‘”‘Cause it hurts down to the core.”
Yes…………………………………
“But I don’t know my country anymore.”
WHOA!
Gut punch!
I was reeled in by Eric, and then got sucker punched in my stomach, knocking the wind out of me!
At least emotionally!
No matter what I was planning to play, I knew that song would be on my show that night!
It was like Eric had bored into my heart, and then left it exposed to an onslaught of even more powerful feelings!
And, of course, he did singing about dreams that might not be fulfilled.
He contemplates the thought that the situation my be irreparable.
When the song was released in 2018, before the Mid Term elections, those feelings were very strong.
And they may be even more so today before the 2020 election!
Speaking only about “Separation” as a song, it holds a simple beauty that anyone on the political spectrum, from far left to far right, can identify with it!
It’s like a painting that can change depending on the angle that one looks at it!
The lyrical structure of the song is asymmetrical, but it doesn’t matter because it always dovetails back to the one line chorus:
“But I don’t know my country anymore.”
You can’t top the impact of that line!
As the song fades out, “Separation” stays unresolved in both its music and lyrics.
It gives the listener time to contemplate a couple of truly haunting lines:
“Is it too late to get back all we’ve lost?
Also:
“…and afraid of what’s in store”
Those sentiments are probably currently in the back of most voters.
For anyone who has heard my show, they know I play a “Grand Finale” for my sign off song.
“Separation” closed the show so the thoughts presented in the song could echo in the listeners’ heads.
I also think I was the first person to have the honor of playing it!
If you’d like to know what I think are even better than the awesome songs, have a look at “The Greatest Songs Ever Recorded”:https://philmaq.com/the-greatest-songs-ever-recorded/! Occasionally, an “awesome song” crosses over to become a “Greatest Song!”
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!
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It’s getting close to Halloween, so I decided to go with one that I’ve been listening to a lot!
Multi Philby Award winners, The Wag, released another solid album (in a twenty year run of solid albums!) towards the end of 2018 entitled, “We Carry On.”
Featuring a variety of shimmery, harmonic pop/rock, The Wag focus on an area of music that I feel is missing in today’s sterile, or boring if you prefer, radio playlists.
You know.
The kind you can sing along to!
Many artists try to act like they’re above pop/rock.
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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This is the first picture I’ve posted about my dad.
There’s a couple of reasons why this is so.
I’ve never really good with pictures.
For most of my life–until I started DJing, I always acted like I was in a witness protection program.
My family was large and everybody took pictures.
A lot of pictures!
I felt that anybody else taking pictures just added to the burden, so I tried to avoid them.
In other words, I don’t have too many pictures of him and me to begin with let alone where they might be.
I used to spend a lot of Sunday mornings with him-mostly not saying anything but flipping through music stations to find something I wanted to hear.
There was a definite generation gap.
I’ve said before that my dad was very old.
In fact, I only know him as an old man. I was the second to last child out of six, so both of my parents were set in their ways by the time I showed up.
I know I confused them because I wasn’t like my other brothers and sisters.
I was interested in baseball…and music.
When I was a kid, the sun never set on either of those interests for me, as I usually pursued both late into the evening.
Occasionally, my dad would ask me a question or start on a subject that had mutual interest.
But more often than that, we would both remain silent until he criticized my choices in music.
So it came as a shock to me when I ran across the picture of my father in this post.
One of my sisters had it hanging on the wall at her house.
I had seen my parents’ wedding picture that hung on the wall for, oh, so many years.
But this was different.
Who was this smiling dude?
And on top of that, with a fiddle in his hand?!
I was vaguely aware that he played music in his younger days, but I sure hadn’t seen a picture.
I only knew that he played accordion because a roomful of people had asked him to play it one Sunday afternoon when I was probably in grade school.
He had turned them down several times, saying that he hadn’t touched it in years. He even claimed that he wasn’t sure where it was.
But one of my brothers knew and hauled it out for him.
So, he settled in, and whipped off a few tunes.
I think he must have been pretty good because it sounded fine to me. It wasn’t distasteful.
I’m pretty sure he enjoyed it.
But it was the last time he ever played.
Now I have a picture of a persona that I had no idea even existed!
We might have had some common ground, and I always like listening to music stories!
I’m sure there had to be some good ones!
Look at that smile!
But, sadly, that’s something that is not meant to be.
I was hooked on Willie, like most of the country was at the time that the album came out, and I think I had the song on a vacation tape.
I really don’t remember why he and I were together at the time, (we were probably going somewhere), but I remember him leaning in to listen and then declaring, “That song is one of the most beautiful songs ever written!”
Hey! I sound like him!
That’s something that I only heard that one time!
I’m not sure what version of the song he knew, but he was ok with Willie and Leon‘s version.
The slow churchy arrangement, with nice harmonies, made it sound like living out West was a religious experience!
I absolutely agree!
This one goes out to you, Dad!
One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded is “Let the Rest of the World Go By” by Willie Nelson and Leon Russell!!!
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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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It was one year ago today that I was in Grand Rapids attending a F.A.R.M. convention.
As much as that sounds like livestock would be involved, it’s actually a regional gathering of Americana-ish musicians, artists, venue promoters, and other people related to the business.
It was one of the most interesting weekends I’ve ever had!
The convention takes over most of the hotel, and there’s plenty of workshops and lectures on a myriad number of topics!
I learned a lot that weekend, heard plenty of music, and made many new friends, as well as meeting some like minded friends that I hadn’t met in person, for the first time!
Two of my newest friends and I just happened to be roaming around the hallways at about 3:20 in the morning.
From left to right is Lilli Kuzma–a DJ from Chicago, Amy Dixon-Kolar-a singer/songwriter from the Chicago area, and myself.
The stealthy looking black and white image was taken by ace photographer Robin Scully, who chronicled the event!
It looks like we were looking for trouble, but like everyone else that weekend, we were looking for music!
My song for today, which is below the picture is “Morning Quiet” by Amy from her Now It’s Time” album.
That’s “Morning Quiet,” because we weren’t trying to be very noisy at the time. (Wink, wink!)
The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Morning Quiet” by Amy Dixon-Kolar!!!
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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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How about some Friday Music Fun?
I have selected a hard rock guitar frenzy song like they used to make in those Classic Rock days!
“Snake Wine” by Transit Method from their “We Won’t Get Out of Here Alive” album, has lots of wicked guitar and plenty of starts and stops!
And the solo is soul shredding awesome!
The thought of drinking snake wine is an awful thought, but as a song it’s really tasty!
The song rocks hard!
So does the album!
‘Nuff said!
The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Snake Wine” by Transit Method!!!
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 what makes a song great?
Is it the melody?
Is it the chorus?
Is it the arrangements?
The solos?
The lyrics?
Well, yes…and no.
Sometimes it’s all of them, and sometimes it’s just one or two of them.
Today’s song, “Our World to Save” by Bob Hausler, only has a couple of those ingredients, but they’re more than enough!
I remember receiving the song about an hour before I was going on the air in 2018.
I was blown away!
I still am when I listen to it!
It was election eve and I played that song as my finale! (Yeah, sometimes it happens that fast!)
There was no way I wasn’t going to play it!
The lyrics are simple yet powerful:
“Sometimes you gotta stand up and be counted/
Just set your fears aside/
Pick up and fight/
For what we believe is right/
For it’s our world to save!”
If that doesn’t get your heart pumpin,’ someone needs to hold a mirror under your nose!
Bob logically lays out the situation and the reasons why things need to change!
And, hey! Wouldn’t you know it?
Love conquers hate!
The song arrangement is pretty simple: a guitar and cajon.
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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A “Garden of Earthly Delights” arrives at #1! This is the third #1 Faves compilation from Futureman Records!!! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top 10 Albums for the Week of October 18, 2020
1. Garden of Earthly Delights: An XTC Celebration—Various Artists 2. Light Magic—Strawberry Heritage 3. High Times in the Dark—The Claudettes 4. Out of the Blues—Boz Scaggs 5. Red Sky Remembers—Gary Browe 6. The Landing—Katie Pedersen 7. Fantastic Planet—Flamin’ Groovies 8. Spirit of the Island—Makoto 9. No Control—Alex Little and The Suspicious Minds 10.Kill or Be Kind—Samantha Fish 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.
Well, now I’m getting around to it!
My radio show, “Theme Attic,” is on Wednesdays 1PM-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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Well, I guess it’s finally time to post today’s song.
I had to turn the heat on for one day this week. It was just too cold in the house without it.
The leaves have already changed colors, and I have started to rake them up.
Those are just a couple of reasons why I hate Autumn.
