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, “Theme Attic,” heard Wednesdays 2PM-4PM ET!
This list forms the basis of my countdown list on the “Top 9 at 3:09” segment of my 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:
Lastly, but most importantly, is my Philby Awards link! A Philby is my annual award for outstanding musical achievement! : https://philmaq.com/philbys/
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 Mental Health Day feels much better as this week’s #1 Faves song! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top Ten Songs for the Week of May 2, 2021
1.Every Day—Mental Health Day (You Could Be Anywhere) 2.Born Again—Judy Banker (Buffalo Motel) 3.Solo—Arnold Mitchem (Solo) 4. Show Them It’s True—The Simon Kennedy Band (Make Up Your Mind) 5. Starcrossed Losers—The Fratellis (In Your Own Sweet Time) 6.Please Don’t Tell Me How to Dance—Cindy Ruenes (Please Don’t Tell Me How to Dance) 7.Hope—Diamonds in the Rust (The Whole Half) 8. Snake Wine—Transit Method(We Won’t Get Out of Here Alive) 9. Control—The Cordial Sins (Only Human) 10.How Will You Go?—Sugar Snow (Woodface Reimagined) QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ Don’t forget to like my Phil Maq page! Thank you!
Tune in to 89.3 WHFR.FM in the Dearborn-Detroit area, ask Alexa or Siri to find the station for you, or use this special “muy caliente” link: https://www.whfr.fm/streamer/ to stream it!!!
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,
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, “Theme Attic,” is on Wednesdays 2PM-4PM ET.
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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It’s been a year since I posted “Blessed Be the Nation” by Judy Banker.
When I posted the song, I was just getting organized with my new posts about music.
I would most certainly have posted “Blessed Be the Nation” as One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded except I didn’t have a graphic for it.
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!
With the sounds of the music from Wednesday’s “Theme Attic” Philby Top 20 Songs of 2020″ still ringing in our collective brains, some loyal listeners and artists might be wondering what the final Philby schedule might be!
So, for the first time ever, I have given some thought to the next several shows!:
May 5-Cinco de Mayo Show (Top 9 Fave Albums)
May 12-The Philby Best Albums of 2020, Py.3 (63-42)
May 19-The Philby Best Albums of 2020, Pt.4 (41-21)
May 26-The Semi-Annual Theme Attic Hall of Fame Show
June 2-Show 450 (Top 9 Fave Albums or Songs)
June 9-The Grand Finale: The Philby Top 20 Albums of 2020
Wow! That is some lineup!
I’m getting excited just thinking about them!
All of the shows are subject to change, so the best way to stay up to date is by giving a “like” to the Phil Maq Facebook page!
However, I will try very hard to stick to this planned schedule!
Please try to join me as often as you can to hear the GREAT music I have planned!
One final thought: Philby Fever! Catch it!
And since this is a Philby post, I have included the mandatory section on submissions!
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Here’s a section on submissions:
I am accepting entries for Philby consideration!
The album selections are made from a sliding four year pool of music.
The pool for 2021 is 2018-2021.
One of the reasons that I use a multiple year submission scale is that just getting music out to the world is sometimes difficult for an artist.
A lot of them are not really wired for self promotion.
Making music is totally different than drumming up interest in it, especially for independent musicians.
Yes, there are promoters that can help with that. And nothing against promoters because they have a role to play. But they cost money, and the artist already had to pay to record the music, and may not be prepared for the process of promoting it.
After looking at how some other independent awards are handled, I figured a four year window allows me enough time to serendipitously run across someone’s music.
I have told this story several times, but I try very hard to listen to everything that is submitted.
Although I work on my list, starting literally on January 1st, using a four year sliding window, I carry over some of what would qualify from the prior years.
So, if you’ve made some music dating back as far as 2018, I will accept that music for consideration.
If you have something older than 2018, send that, too, but identify the release date. I’m always looking for GREAT music.
For the Philbys, I’m looking for full albums.
However, if you only have a single, I’ll accept that, too. Don’t forget that I also have a Philby Hot Songs list, and more artists are releasing singles these days.
But please don’t send me an incomplete album if you have one.
So, please don’t edit for me.
I hate that and I might not even check out the item. I don’t know why anyone would only send selected songs instead of their whole work of art for consideration.
Please don’t send me links to listen to music. That’s not how I listen to music. And I probably won’t listen to it if you send me a link to stream it. Either send me the album to download or request my mailing address to send a physical copy.
Every year I say that if your item came out later than May, it may not end up on this year’s list. So it’s possible that submissions entered now may only be considered for 2021. (It sounds so good to think of 2020 being finished!)
However, this year will be totally different than other years. I have not received any where near the amount of releases that I normally do.
It might be an excellent year to send a submission.
I will accept any genre of music. I like a variety of styles, even on the same album!
So, please e-mail your mp3s, and please make sure it is an mp3 only, to phil@philmaq.com.
If you want a physical address or have other questions, please e-mail me at the same address. Because selections will be considered for more than a single year, there isn’t an expiration date at the present.
If you want someone who will actually listen to your music, I am that person.
If you want some recognition for working hard and baring your soul, that might be me, too. I can’t make any promises, but I will listen to your music.
If you are reading this and are not a musician but know someone who is, please forward this to them.
Good luck to all who participate! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
My weekly radio show “Theme Attic,” can be heard Wednesdays, 2P-4P ET!
It almost always includes a weekly countdown of my favorite albums or songs and some shows feature two countdowns!
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
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 3:09” segment of my “Theme Attic Show,” Wednesdays 2PM-4PM ET 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.
Lastly, but most importantly, is my Philby Awards link! A Philby is my annual award for outstanding musical achievement! https://philmaq.com/philbys/!
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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“Collaboration” is sweeping the nation as the #1 Faves Album for a second week!! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top 10 Albums for the Week of April 25, 2021
1. Collaboration—Warriors, Zombies and Other Joedai Pilgrims 2. Fierce—Tracy Kash 3. The Power, The Glory, and The Monkey Time: Redux 2020—George Stephen Kelly 4. Moon On Havana—Wendy Webb 5. Wanderlust—Jillian Rae 6. Almost Ready For the Future—Tom Curless and The 46% 7. Quarantine Dream—Scott Martin 8. Please Yourself—Michael on Fire 9. Never Trust the Living—Johnny Mastro and Mama’s Boys 10.Listen to Crows—Ariane Lydon QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Don’t forget to like my Phil Maq 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, “Theme Attic,” heard Wednesdays 2PM-4PM ET!
This list forms the basis of my countdown list on the “Top 9 at 3:09” segment of my show on mostly alternating weeks, along with my “Phil’s Faves, Albums” lists!
Lastly, is my Philby Awards link! A Philby is my annual award for outstanding musical achievement! https://philmaq.com/philbys/
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 Fratellis take two “Starcrossed Losers to #1! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top Ten Songs for the Week of April 25, 2021
1.Starcrossed Losers—The Fratellis (In Your Own Sweet Time) 2.Please Don’t Tell Me How to Dance—Cindy Ruenes (Please Don’t Tell Me How to Dance) 3.Every Day—Mental Health Day (You Could Be Anywhere) 4. How Will You Go?—Sugar Snow (Woodface Reimagined) 5. Born Again—Judy Banker (Buffalo Motel) 6.Solo—Arnold Mitchem (Solo) 7.Show Them It’s True—The Simon Kennedy Band (Make Up Your Mind) 8. Hope—Diamonds in the Rust (The Whole Half) 9. Snake Wine—Transit Method(We Won’t Get Out of Here Alive) 10.Control—The Cordial Sins (Only Human) QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ Don’t forget to like my Phil Maq page! Thank you!
Tune in to 89.3 WHFR.FMin the Dearborn-Detroit area, ask Alexa or Siri to find the station for you, or use this special “Philbyriffic” link: https://www.whfr.fm/streamer/ to stream it!!!
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!
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Here’s a section on submissions:
I am accepting entries for Philby consideration!
The album selections are made from a sliding four year pool of music.
The pool for 2021 is 2018-2021.
One of the reasons that I use a multiple year submission scale is that just getting music out to the world is sometimes difficult for an artist.
A lot of them are not really wired for self promotion.
Making music is totally different than drumming up interest in it, especially for independent musicians.
Yes, there are promoters that can help with that. And nothing against promoters because they have a role to play. But they cost money, and the artist already had to pay to record the music, and may not be prepared for the process of promoting it.
After looking at how some other independent awards are handled, I figured a four year window allows me enough time to serendipitously run across someone’s music.
I have told this story several times, but I try very hard to listen to everything that is submitted.
Although I work on my list, starting literally on January 1st, using a four year sliding window, I carry over some of what would qualify from the prior years.
So, if you’ve made some music dating back as far as 2018, I will accept that music for consideration.
If you have something older than 2018, send that, too, but identify the release date. I’m always looking for GREAT music.
For the Philbys, I’m looking for full albums.
However, if you only have a single, I’ll accept that, too. Don’t forget that I also have a Philby Hot Songs list, and more artists are releasing singles these days.
But please don’t send me an incomplete album if you have one.
So, please don’t edit for me.
I hate that and I might not even check out the item. I don’t know why anyone would only send selected songs instead of their whole work of art for consideration.
Please don’t send me links to listen to music. That’s not how I listen to music. And I probably won’t listen to it if you send me a link to stream it. Either send me the album to download or request my mailing address to send a physical copy.
Every year I say that if your item came out later than May, it may not end up on this year’s list. So it’s possible that submissions entered now may only be considered for 2021. (It sounds so good to think of 2020 being finished!)
However, this year will be totally different than other years. I have not received any where near the amount of releases that I normally do.
It might be an excellent year to send a submission.
I will accept any genre of music. I like a variety of styles, even on the same album!
So, please e-mail your mp3s, and please make sure it is an mp3 only, to phil@philmaq.com.
If you want a physical address or have other questions, please e-mail me at the same address. Because selections will be considered for more than a single year, there isn’t an expiration date at the present.
If you want someone who will actually listen to your music, I am that person.
If you want some recognition for working hard and baring your soul, that might be me, too. I can’t make any promises, but I will listen to your music.
If you are reading this and are not a musician but know someone who is, please forward this to them.
Good luck to all who participate! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
My weekly radio show “Theme Attic,” can be heard Wednesdays, 2P-4P ET!
It almost always includes a weekly countdown of my favorite albums or songs and some shows feature two countdowns!
If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!
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 2PM-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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Today’s selection is another Blues Moon Tune, “The Moon Is Full” by the legendary British blueser, John Mayall, brilliantly assisted by Saginaw, Michigan’s own Larry McCray!
It’s from John‘s most recent album, “Nobody Told Me,” an album jammed full of blistering songs and a roster of guests that keep the energy level always stoked!
On “The Moon Is Full,” McCray‘s stinging guitar riffs complement Mayall‘s smooth sounding keyboards and strong vocal!
It’s the way blues should sound and feel!
One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded is “The Moon Is Full” by John Mayall with Larry McCray!!! (Written by Gwendolyn Collins!!!)
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 3:09” segment of my “Theme Attic Show,” Wednesdays 2PM-4PM ET 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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This week’s #1 Album has the largest group of musical “Collaboration” artists for a Faves Album! QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Top 10 Albums for the Week of April 18, 2021
1. Collaboration—Warriors, Zombies and Other Joedai Pilgrims 2. The Power, The Glory, and The Monkey Time: Redux 2020—George Stephen Kelly 3. Fierce—Tracy Kash 4. Moon On Havana—Wendy Webb 5. Hollowed Sigh—Scott Baker 6. Almost Ready For the Future—Tom Curless and The 46% 7. Wanderlust—Jillian Rae 8. Quarantine Dream—Scott Martin 9. Please Yourself—Michael on Fire 10.Scenes From the Fragile, Agile, Avian World—Erin ZindleQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ
Don’t forget to like my Phil Maq Facebook page!
