I am assessing my latest endeavor, “The Most Awesomest Song of the Day!”
Up to this point, I have posted 10 entries.
The songs range from garage rock, to ska, to americana, to emotional meditative pieces, to jazz flavored funk, to classical flavored R&B, and to rock variations and more.
The songs also range from just released, to a couple of years old, to a re-release, and to an old classic.
Some make me cry, some make me wanna dance and/or turn the volume up.
Sounds like things are going as I hoped they would!
These selections are different and separate from both my Faves lists and The Philbys, although some of them may end up on those lists.
What I did feel the songs should be singled out for, was its own Awesomest page so that they can be collected for easy reference so they can be explored and listened to!
I am pleased to announce The Most Awesomest Songs of the Day page!!!
Please feel free to share!
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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.)
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,” (Mondays, 8P-10P ET. Temporarily on hiatus.) 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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Sarah Morris and “All Mine” stay #1 for two!! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top 10 Albums for the Week of April 19, 2020
1. All Mine—Sarah Morris 2. Buffalo Motel—Judy Banker 3. Radiant—Wild Ponies 4. Scarecrow—Linden Thoburn 5. We Wonder—Mike Ward 6. Lost on the Range—The Whiskey Charmers 7. Dudee Free—Big Dudee Roo 8. For the Ride Home—Mike Rocket 9. Whistleblower—Luti 10.Donny Brown—Donny Brown QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Don’t forget to like my Facebook page!
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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It’s been one year since the music world was shocked by the death of Ashley Peacock, lead singer of Flint’s rock/pop band, Building Birds.
I featured the band’s music many times on my show over the years.
I almost always got a response from listeners.
And the memories.
There was the time I was playing one of their songs on air and a group of students huddled around the station’s external speaker listening in.
There was the time I saw them at P.J.’s Lager House on a chilly spring night, and went outside to take a triumphant picture with the band. The Detroit skyline, as a background with its blinking lights, seemed to resemble the bright future the band had ahead of it! (I tried really hard to locate that picture, but couldn’t find it.)
I remember reading Ashley’s own comments about how great it was to play Arts, Beats and Eats, and the response from the fans.
But, sadly, tragically, Ashley took his own life.
The legacy is that Ashley Peacock lives on in the great music that Building Birds recorded.
A personal favorite of mine is “Step Right Up” from their second album “If a Tree Falls…”
It features a slow powerful build starting with a simple solo guitar intro.
The first verse starts with Ashley singing a powerful line:
“Love, don’t say it’s love/Unless it’s been there long before time.”
When he comes around for the second verse, the lyrics are even more raw and pointed:
“Don’t, come say it’s love/Unless you’re willing to lay down your life.”
Ashley Peacock’s music was uncompromising.
There weren’t any gray areas.
The song fades out with Ashley singing: “La da da da da da da…”
I can just see him up on stage with his head back, singing his heart out on those nonsense syllables!
That is how I want to remember him–giving his all!
I cannot listen to this song without crying.
I probably never can.
The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is : “Step Right Up” by Building Birds!!!
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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!
Since I started my radio show, I’ve always been lucky enough to have some very loyal listeners.
One of them was my Mother-in-Law, Helen.
She liked to laugh, and was always kind to me!
Even though she was getting up there in age-she was never into rock music, she always tuned in to my show.
Since I played a wide variety of music, it was always kinda easy to slip in a Frank Sinatra song or something else along those lines.
Her favorite one was “El Paso” by Marty Robins.
Hey! That was a favorite of mine, too, so I might have played that one a couple of times a year.
Towards the end, Helen was almost a captive audience because she wasn’t able to get around much.
However, she listened closely. She wasn’t a musician, but I was amazed how she would make comments about some of the music I played, since it was mostly newer stuff.
She even started liking some of them, remembering their names. I was even more stunned when she would repeat some of the things I would talk about on my show.
My childhood home had quite a bit of music being played.
Most of it was Polish music.
It took quite a few years before the mixture for me was even 50/50 between Pop and Polish.
Helen grew up on Polish music, too!
At her funeral, my wife said that she liked me, but she loved Phil Maq!
Every year on or around her birthday, I would play a terrific version of “Helena Polka” that I ran across by a hot band called Brian Marshall and His Tex-Slavik Playboys!
Well, today is her birthday.
This one’s for her.
Happy Birthday, Helen!!!
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My radio show, “Theme Attic,” is on Wednesdays 12PM-4PM ET.
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. Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu)
I don’t intend to say too much about the selections. Just a few short, sweet sentences.
I’m not even sure if I’ll do it everyday.
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 being Earth Day, I selected a song by an artist that has local roots.
John Hanson has been putting out tranquil music with beautiful layered harmonies for many years. Strawberry Heritage is a multi-Philby Award winner and I have been playing them almost as long as I’ve had a show! I always look forward to a new album.
Well, I don’t have to wait any more because the latest one, “Light Magic,” was just released!
It features a fresh batch of melodic songs that are often about nature!
The album is an Earthwork Music release, a label that has many incredible artists that sing about nature!
Since today is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day–I always do an annual show on Mt. Dearborn ;), I am happy to announce a brand new track as The Most Awesomest Song of the Day: “Matriarch of Nature” by Strawberry Heritage!!!
Since this is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, here’s a bonus song.
The first time I ever ran across a John Prine song was on John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High-a favorite album of mine!
At the time, there was a major battle going on in Colorado with some people trying to bring the 1976 Olympics to Denver. The environmental fight was on, and John Denver (Man there’s a lot of Johns in this post! And a lot of Denvers!) even had a verse about it in the title track of the album.
He already had a tie to the Appalachian mountains and West Virginia with his first hit, “Take Me Home Country Roads.”
Since there were plans to change the mountains by adding a village and all of the other Olympic requirements, John Denver identified with John Prine’s “Paradise” song about damaging the eastern mountains and relating it to the Rocky Mountains.
The city of Denver rejected hosting the Olympics showing that environmentalists did have strength in numbers!
A young impressionable listener noticed that the song was written by John Prine. And he eventually learned that John Denver had covered him before-but that’s another story. Sometimes you don’t know how you end up in a situation, and Denver remained a strong environmentalist-even though he had his own personal issues maintaining his stance.
And finally, I’ll end this post with a song I play every Earth Day: “I Wanna Be Green” by Joanie Leeds and The Nightlights from her “I’m a Rock Star” album.
It’s the happiest song about recycling that I’ve ever heard!
So do what you can to help the planet this Earth Day and every day! The smallest gesture is often multiplied by billions!
HAPPY EARTHDAY!!!
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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.)
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!
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 Rallies only know “One Way” to #1! This is their second #1 Faves song!! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Like most everyone else, I have been occupying my time during this forced stationary survival segment, doing various things that I’ve done before, but wishing I could do more.
With WHFR only playing Classical music and with my show on hiatus, I don’t have too many options to present music in a way that I feel might have an impact.
I am continuing my weekly Faves lists for songs and albums, so that won’t be changing.
I ran across a musician posting about how he was examining the new meaning his song lyrics seemed to be telling him, as he was singing them under these new life circumstances. (If I could remember who it was, I would tell you.)
I found that interesting because I was having similar feelings with music that I was listening to.
Eventually, I got an idea: I could do a “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. Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu)
Therefore, I am happy to announce:
“The Most Awesomest Song of the Day!”
I don’t intend to say too much about the selections. Just a few short, sweet sentences.
I’m not even sure if I’ll do it everyday…but I might. I mean, I had an idea for an album review last week and I still haven’t gotten around to it.
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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How about a darker song?
Today’s selection was actually written several years ago. 2006 to be exact, however, it was re-released last year. It doesn’t matter because the lyrics sound as if they were written yesterday, or during any dark phase of global angst!
It’s a minor key ska tune by The Slackers from their “Peculiar” album. Ironically, the band features Vic Ruggiero as their frontman, whose album “This” is on my “Best Albums of 2014” list!
It is a small world after all!
The song goes through my mind a lot these days, and I listen to it quite often.
It’s a gloom and doom song that you makes you want to dance while you sing along mindlessly to the chorus–at least in my world!
There’s a lot of horns and great solos!
If the Apocalypse has a soundtrack, this song will be on it!
It is with some trepidation that I announce The Most Awesomest Song of the Day: “Crazy” by The Slackers!!!
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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!
Like most everyone else, I have been occupying my time during this forced stationary survival segment, doing various things that I’ve done before, but wishing I could do more.
With WHFR only playing Classical music and with my show on hiatus, I don’t have too many options to present music in a way that I feel might have an impact.
I am continuing my weekly Faves lists for songs and albums, so that won’t be changing.
I ran across a musician posting about how he was examining the new meaning his song lyrics seemed to be telling him, as he was singing them under these new life circumstances. (If I could remember who it was, I would tell you.)
I found that interesting because I was having similar feelings with music that I was listening to.
Eventually, I got an idea: I could do a “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. Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu)
Therefore, I am happy to announce:
“The Most Awesomest Song of the Day!”
I don’t intend to say too much about the selections. Just a few short, sweet sentences.
I’m not even sure if I’ll do it everyday…but I might. I mean, I had an idea for an album review last week and I still haven’t gotten around to it.
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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We stay in the Detroit area for today’s selection.
Jeff Scott has one of the best male voices I’ve ever heard!
It’s powerful when it needs to be, and he always has it under control–like all legendary singers.
His most recent album is called “NOLA to New York,” and this song hit me today!
It starts off on a catchy bass riff with the drummer tapping out a beat on the sides of his drums.
When the chorus kicks in, you might as well hang on for the ride!
The arrangement weaves horns, keyboards, and guitar in and out with nice dynamics!
The whole song is a happy, funky jam!
I am happy to announce that The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Sanctified Man” by Jeff Scott!!!
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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!
Like most everyone else, I have been occupying my time during this forced stationary survival segment, doing various things that I’ve done before, but wishing I could do more.
With WHFR only playing Classical music and with my show on hiatus, I don’t have too many options to present music in a way that I feel might have an impact.
I am continuing my weekly Faves lists for songs and albums, so that won’t be changing.
I ran across a musician posting about how he was examining the new meaning his song lyrics seemed to be telling him, as he was singing them under these new life circumstances. (If I could remember who it was, I would tell you.)
I found that interesting because I was having similar feelings with music that I was listening to.
Eventually, I got an idea: I could do a “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. Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu)
Therefore, I am happy to announce:
“The Most Awesomest Song of the Day!”
I don’t intend to say too much about the selections. Just a few short, sweet sentences.
I’m not even sure if I’ll do it everyday…but I might. I mean, I had an idea for an album review last week and I still haven’t gotten around to it.
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!
She has a voice that, when you hear it, makes your heart want to strive to do better!
That makes Tosha’s collaborations with Detroit Strong Music featuring song’s written by Keith Laurin, truly special events! They are both interested in raising Detroit’s image and, indirectly, everyone else’s!
Even though “We’ve Got hate on the Run” is currently on my weekly Faves list, it deserves its own spotlight.
It is a musical tour-de-force combining R&B and Gospel with Classical elements!
I am happy to announce “The Most Awesomest Song of the Day”: “We’ve Got Hate on the Run” by Tosha Owens and Detroit Strong Music!!!
I hope you explore my daily picks with me and that I can take your mind away from what’s happening in the world today!
