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.)
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!
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Today is the anniversary of one of the darkest moments in American history.
I was pretty young when it happened, and it didn’t make any sense to me.
Fifty years later, it still doesn’t make any sense to me.
I’m referring to the shootings at Kent State University, where four American citizens lost their lives, and another nine were were wounded, when the Ohio National Guard fired upon the crowd at an anti-war demonstration.
I remember listening to WABX in Detroit, when one of the DJ’s (I can’t remember who. Maybe Dave Dixon or Jerry Lubin) rushed into the studio with a brand new song that was hand delivered. The impression was that this was some incredible underground explanation of the Kent State shootings. This was a song about “The Man!”
That was the first time anyone in our area ever heard “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. It was a song rushed out by the band and the label, Atlantic Records, to tap into the “youth market.”
And it was an accounting of the incident that took place just weeks before. But this was the first time that I realized that music, and my heroes, couldn’t solve everything, because that song had no answers. Zero.
It had haunting lyrics and hot guitar licks. It had vitriol. It name checked Nixon-the first song that I can remember doing that! Nice harmonies. But zip for any solutions.
And the relevance of “Ohio” barely lasted through the summer of 1970, soon resembling an old yellowing newspaper.
Sometimes, things are too close to home to even attempt to understand.
It became crystal clear in 1989 at Tiananmen Square when the Chinese army fired upon unarmed citizens killing and wounding hundreds.
How could that happen?
How could Kent State happen?
I think a lot of it has to do with “truth.”
Back in 1970, there was a distrust that the government in charge wasn’t being “honest” in many areas.
That distrust continues today.
All I know, if I break it down to a personal level-and I have to think that most people were raised this way, is that I don’t associate with people who don’t tell the truth.
In my world, my life, truth matters.
So does honesty. Integrity. Character. Respect.
If you don’t have these core principles, why would anyone want to interact with you, unless they had to?
Singer/songwriter/guitarist tackles some of these subjects in his “December 32nd” release from last year.
In a song called “Diminution (As the Boom Rolls Away),” Dave examines how hippies and peaceniks who didn’t trust “The Man” then, now blindly support a deceitful government.
That one’s good, too, but my choice today looks at “Truth”–the building block of credibility!
I don’t understand how we go from a President who couldn’t tell a lie, to one who never tells the truth.
Dave’s song talks about solving the mysteries of life-something we all do, consciously or subconsciously. He questions how can future generations solve their own mysteries if truth no longer exists–if a conspiracy theory has to be created to misdirect someone from the truth in order to cover up a lie.
The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Truth” by Dave Solo!!!
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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!
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!
My earliest recollection of his music was a song called “Little Boxes.”
Back in the day, it was difficult to find any music of any kind on Sunday mornings because every radio station played religious shows or public service shows. It was like being in music prison!
One show that I did find, was an ecumenical show on an AM station that came on at 7:30 AM. It had nice generic segments about being kind to each other.
It also had music!
I remember three songs: “What the World Needs Now” by Burt Bacharach [Hall of Fame], “Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie” by Blood, Sweat, and Tears (1st Movement only and I knew that because I owned the album. That might have been the first hook that got me to tune in.), and “Little Boxes” by Pete Seeger.
Now, I didn’t know who the artists were on the other songs until years later, but that’s the first time I heard him. And it was that live track where everyone seemed to laugh hysterically.
My next memory was seeing Pete on the local news singing a song about “Garbage.” He was in Detroit holding a rally or something. It might have been for Earth Day.
I thought, what a strange song! The words were things my dad had talked about for as long as I could remember.
Things finally came full circle when I ordered “The World of Pete Seeger” from Columbia House as a cutout.
I would order anything if the price was right! I had my own chump change and I was willing to spend it! My own “little boxes” came in pretty often!
“The World of Pete Seeger” truly was a whole world!
There was an instrumental banjo tune and a song about a boxer being killed in the fighting ring for sport, next to songs about war criminals, a Civil Rights anthem, love songs, classic Folk gems, the most brutal version of “Masters of War” that you will ever hear, translated into Japanese as he sings it, songs of peace, and a beautiful version of Woody Guthrie‘s [Hall of Fame] “Hobo’s Lullaby,” as well as one of the greatest songs ever recorded, “My Rainbow Race!”
And those are just some of the songs! And in the middle of those songs was the aforementioned, “Little Boxes!”
I am saddened when I hear singer/songwriters of today act like Pete Seeger is some long forgotten useless elderly person in a nursing home that they don’t want to remember.
Pete would be the first one cheering their effort. He found good in almost everybody and their music.
He had major songs of his own, with big easy choruses for the audience to learn and sing along, like “If I Had a Hammer” and “Turn, Turn, Turn.”
But he also sang other songwriter’s songs as if they were his own.
He was a voice for the lowliest peoples on earth–the ones who didn’t have political power but should have because of their numbers.
Every type of music is pretty much represented in his catalog.
Judy Banker has been on my show more times than any other guest.
She has assisted me on pledge drives to keep my head attached–at least somewhat.
Judy took a poem that Pete Seeger had written with Jim Mussleman from 1964 and was allowed to add a melody.
A new Pete Seeger song!
And I know one of the people who wrote it and others that played on it!
To me, that’s the equivalent of the remaining Beatles joining together to create a new song from a John Lennon demo!
And the song is terrific! It sounds like something that Pete could have written, yet it still retains the Judy Banker sound! I think the phrasing even sounds like Pete!
And I was hooked right from the first time I heard it!
And even though the song is going on fifty years old, it’s, unfortunately, still relevant!
The repetition of “People not profits” for life and death work decisions is how things should be run and is a plea for universal health care–something that would make the coronavirus situation just a tiny bit easier to deal with.
I sure wish I was singing in that choir! They sound so great!
But at least I can sing along with the song.
This song is the only song I have ever played twice on a show because I wanted to hear it again and didn’t want to wait!
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.)
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.)
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.
Most of the songs heard on this list have been played on my radio show, “Prime Time Theme Attic,” heard Mondays, 8PM-10PM ET! (Temporarily on hiatus. Here’s a link for when it returns: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu)
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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Judy Banker rebounds to spend another week at the #1 “Buffalo Motel!!” QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top 10 Albums for the Week of April 26, 2020
1. Buffalo Motel—Judy Banker 2. Radiant—Wild Ponies 3. All Mine—Sarah Morris 4. Scarecrow—Linden Thoburn 5. Lost on the Range—The Whiskey Charmers 6. Whistleblower—Luti 7. Little Bit of Love—The Loving Mary Band 8. Driving Friend—Johnny Irion 9. Heaven to Me—Jay Stielstra 10.We Wonder—Mike Ward QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Don’t forget to like my Facebook page!
I have started a new feature: The Most Awesomest Song of the Day!
Here’s a link to the complete list: https://philmaq.com/most-awesomest-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!
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Today’s music selection is, in three words, “Pure Pop Perfection!”
In fact, I’m even going to say it doesn’t get any better than this!
Detroit is truly lucky that singer/songwriter Tracy Kash has selected our city for her home!
She excels at many musical styles, from jazz to pop. And she does so on keyboards, flute, and her voice!
In fact, she’s so good at flute, (and I love this story!) Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull [Hall of Fame]–a pretty good player himself (ha, ha!), had Tracy join him onstage for a duet when he came to town in 2003!
She absolutely sounds like Carole King on today’s song from her most recent album, “Fierce!”
The song sounds and smells like it was conceived in “The Brill Building” (where many great hits from the 50’s and 60’s were written), with Neil Sedaka working on “Calendar Girl” in the room next door!
It has a playful Latin rhythm with a very tasty guitar solo!
I can imagine the backup singers–3 of them, standing around a single mike wearing taffeta dresses, or whatever it was they wore back then!
The lyrics highlight a hopeful encounter for romance!
The song is as catchy a bug getting stuck to a No-Pest strip on a hot sultry night!
It lifts my heart!
I’ve said enough!
I’m running out of exclamation points!
Check it out yourself!
I am excited to announce that The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “If I” by Tracy Kash!!!
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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!
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,” heard Mondays, 8PM-10PM ET! (Temporarily on hiatus. Here’s a link for when it returns: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu)
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!
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Tosha Owens gets hate and everything else on the run for her fourth straight #1 Faves song!!!!
This is also the third straight #1 Faves song for Keith Laurin and Detroit Strong Music!!! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
I have started a new feature: The Most Awesomest Song of the Day!
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!
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I think Heather Pierson is one of the greatest musicians I have ever seen in my life!
How’s that for an opening statement?
She plays tenor banjo, guitar, and keyboards, and she plays those so well, that you might forget about her other instrument–her voice!
Heather has just released a brand new album entitled “Be Here Now: Songs Inspired By and Offered for Meditation.”
And while she is incredibly gifted on the instruments in her repertoire, she actually leaves those behind for this album, and uses only her voice.
What???!!!
Well, Heather likes to create and perform music in various styles. She also likes to investigate what a layered single voice can do!
Miscellaneous but tasteful percussion are the only other sounds on “Be Here Now.”
In these unusual times where everything seems like a Science Fiction movie, Heather Pierson has delivered an album to the world that can calm the soul and relieve anxiety–if only for a little while.
I would recommend listening to the album in short sections, or a song a day for meditating. The songs themselves are melodic and take on their own personalities.
Some even sound like church hymns!
And when a voice is the only instrument you’re listening to, you realize just how beautiful hers is!
I am calmly announcing that The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “The River of Thought” by Heather Pierson!!!
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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 have started a new feature: The Most Awesomest Song of the Day!
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!
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In today’s world, every day may have a life and death encounter.
Most of consciously try to minimize that possibility.
However, there are workers who don’t have that option. Their encounter odds go up, but they continue to do their jobs to help someone that they don’t even know, and indirectly keep our society together.
Keith Laurin, through his Detroit Strong Music group, has written and recorded another song that celebrates the goodness of our community.
Nick Small gives us all a voice to thank all essential workers!
I think that’s songwriter Keith Laurin making a cameo at 2:42 toasting everyone!
Detroit has had some nice salutes to Frontline workers, but there are many more working in lower profile positions. I’m sure there’s more than any one of us could think of!
Detroit isn’t New York where health workers can hear us applaud for them.
Detroit isn’t Italy where we have tried to replicate a daily spontaneous porch singing event for songs no one wants to sing.
This is a song of gratitude that can be used around the world!
