A Milestone is Reached: Two Thousand Blog Posts!!!

I think it’s ok to acknowledge a milestone when one is reached.

But this is the first time I’m doing it.

It’s not that I hadn’t planned on doing one before.

I would’ve done one after every 500 posts, however, I would forget about it and would inconveniently remember after I had passed it by.

Even knowing that a reader would have no idea whether it was my 141st or 302nd, I found it dishonest and a breach of character to pretend it was a specific marker when it wasn’t.

This truly is my 2000th post!

Whew!

That needs a little explanation, though.

Over time, there have been a few posts that I have removed so I’ve probably done more, but I’m going according to the total number available.

Planning for this one way in advance, as I’ve stated, this is one of #2000 posts that are available to check out!

There is another milestone coming up in a couple of months, so I’ll explain more of what I’m planning for the future in that one.

But if you’ve read this far, I feel obliged to have some pertinent information within the post.

So here it is:

I will pause the Pandemic Philby Hot 100 Songs of 2020 Countdown after song #21. 

I will “bank” The Top 20 Song Countdown for when I return on the air. 

At that point, I will begin the Philby Best Albums of 2020 Countdown.

I hope that will create even more excitement!

And I have always said that no one ever gets tired of recognition and awards whenever it happens!

It’s getting close to the switchover date, too!

One last request:

Even though I tag this on almost every column (In business, I’ve always been told that if you don’t ask for the sale, you’ll never get it.), I never really make a conscious effort for it.

Here’s a sincere conscious effort!

So, if you occasionally read my posts, I am honored and I thank you for that!

If you have already “liked” my Facebook page, I am honored and I thank you for that, too!

If, by some chance, you haven’t gotten around to “liking” my page, I humbly ask for you to do so!

Now I have several people that “follow” my page and I am truly grateful for that also, but I would appreciate it even more if you would convert that to a “like.”

Here is the link to do so: https://www.facebook.com/phil.maq.

If by some chance you don’t feel I deserve your “like,” I hope that I will do enough to earn it some other time in the future!

Either way you choose, I thank you for reading and following what I attempt to do!

Gooooooolllllllyyyyy!

2ooo blog posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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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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New Key Album of the Week: “This Is Dolph Chaney” by Dolph Chaney!!!

Here’s a new feature I’m starting.

I’m selecting one album per week that I will call my “New Key Album of the Week!”

I’m not reviewing the choice and I’m not saying it will end up on any of my other lists.

What I am saying is that I think this is a good album and deserves more spins and analysis.

I hope you will sometimes join me on my journey for new and exciting music!

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What do matadors, erections, and prostate exams have in common?

Well, this time the answer is Dolph Chaney and his new Big Stir Records album release, “This Is Dolph Chaney.”

To say that his new album is not your typical June/moon/swoon pop/rock fodder lyrics would be an understatement to infinity…and perhaps beyond!

Working up 13 songs that were apparently part of his oeuvre for decades, Dolph knows how to build a verse while simultaneously carving up a relationship.

Some songwriters might use a Thesaurus and a rhyming dictionary.

Dolph Chaney brings all of that plus a Shun Premier Slicing knife and a Cincinnati Scalpel!

I haven’t had this much fun reading and listening to lyrics in a while!

Here’s a sample from the opening track “Status Unknown” :

I deny it categorically
I avoid it matadorically
but this bull won’t leave me alone

Whoa! He’s making up adverbs that dovetail back on themselves!

On, “I Wanted You” Dolph goes rhyming crazy!:

You wanted my affection
I wanted you
You laughed at my erection
I wanted you
You regalized rejection
I wanted you
I can’t believe I wanted you

Ouch! That’s hurts! Especially that erection thing!

Same song, second verse!:

You wanted my convenience
I wanted you
You wanted my obedience
I wanted you
You exploited my lenience
I wanted you
I can’t believe I wanted you

Sometimes I have to remind myself that, more than likely, a song isn’t an autobiographical portrait. It’s probably about someone else or it’s at least an embellishment.

However, on “Now I Am a Man,” (background vocals by Lindsay Murray of Gretchen’s Wheel), Dolph equates a prostrate exam to a manly right of passage for toughness:

When Jesus was my age,
they nailed Him up in rage,
but I bet they’d just let me slide.
I started out lofty
but wound up a softie—
I’d melt away if crucified.

Lengthening in the tooth,
Brushed off angry youth:
Now I am a man
I just had my first prostate exam
and it brought a tear to my eye
Now I am a man.

“This Is Dolph Chaney” has all of the necessary ingredients to make a great pop/rock record: Chiming guitars, booming drums from producer Nick Bertling, and enough hooks to make an angler think they’ve died and gone to a tackle box nirvana!

But I dare to say that the lyrics are in Elvis Costello territory!

Although the songs may occasionally have enough angst to make anyone uncomfortable, Dolph Chaney delivers his lines with bravery and supreme confidence!

The New Key Album of the Week is “This Is Dolph Chaney” by Dolph Chaney!!!

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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!

#ThisIsDolphChaney #NowIAmAManSong #DolphChaney #LindsayMurray #GretchensWheel #NickBertling #BigStirRecords #PhilMaq #NewKeyAlbumoftheWeek

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Phil’s Faves: Songs, February 14, 2021

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:

https://philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-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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Singer/Songwriter MJ Bishop puts her heart into her second #1 Faves Song!!
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Top Ten Songs for the Week of February 14, 2021

1. Give It Away Again—MJ Bishop (Give It Away Again)
2. Dichotomy of Disbelief—Latvian Radio (Pick Your Poison, Pick Your Blues)
3. I Will Make My Nest High Up—Erin Zindle (Scenes From the Fragile, Agile Avian World)
4. Stuck in a Rhyme—Cool King Chris (Paradigm Shift)
5. Save All My Cryin’ (For Sunday Afternoon)—Vicky Emerson (Wake Me When the Wind Dies Down)
6. Make Up Your Mind—Heathcote Hill (Fight Another Day)
7. Beautiful—Karyn Oliver (A List of Names)
8. Built to BreakMike Galbraith (Here, Elsewhere)
9. Your Dreams—The Dirk Kroll Band (This Broken Play)
10.Heart Stops BeatingNick Piunti (Beyond the Static)
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New Key Song of the Week: Non-Dramatic Breakup Song—Linnea’s Garden (Nowhere Friday Night)
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Don’t forget to like my Facebook page! Thank you!

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New Key Song of the Week: “Non-Dramatic Breakup Song” by Linnea’s Garden!!!

I have decided to come up with a different music goal for this year.

Every week, I plan to highlight two acts that I have never played before! 

There will be one artist each for a key song and a album.

I intend to only consider releases from 2021 or received as part of a current promotion  for this designation.

Whether I consider them for future lists will depend on whether my “snap judgment” is worthy of that.

On old WKNR music guides, this was a weekly feature, so it’s kind of an homage to the station.

My distinction will be a weekly “key album.”

I hope you like my NEW New Year’s resolution, and together we will continue to explore new music!

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I have this personal opinion that most songs today are too long.

I’m not trying to censor artists nor their ability to create a singular work of art, but sometimes a lot of music is has too many words or instrumental passages that appear to go out for a walk with absolutely no destination in mind.

That’s a discussion for another post because Linnea’s Garden has put out a new song from an upcoming album, “Nowhere Friday Night,” that avoids the previously mentioned traps!

Delivering the musical goods in 2:15 with a song that conjures up memories of the great New Wave/PowerPop/Punk era, “Non-Dramatic Breakup Song” is full of hooky energy that I like!

Nice guitar riff and tambourine!

Nice message, too! : “Neither of us were wrong” but they have to break up “so I won’t hate you!”

Direct and to the point!

The video carries on the DIY spirit of the song!

I even like the band’s logo!

The New Key Song of the Week is “Non-Dramatic Breakup Song” by Linnea’s Garden!!!

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I’m Phil Maq and I normally do a weekly College radio show which is currently on hiatus.

I’m on the lookout for new music and artists!

Actually, I’m looking for any and all “good music” all of the time!

If you read this and want to send me your music, please send mp3s to phil@philmaq.com!

If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!

#NonDramaticBreakupSong #LinneasGarden #NowhereFridayNight #PhilMaq #NewKeySongoftheWeek

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One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded: “The Fish Is In the Freezer” by Uncle Bonsai!!!

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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.

The show can be heard on WHFR 89.3 FM in the Dearborn-Detroit area of Michigan, or it can be streamed with this link: https://www.whfr.fm/streamer/!

The Greatest Songs will pretty much follow the pattern of The Most Awesomest Song of the Day.

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.

Here’s a link to 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!”

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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One of the first albums that found me when I first started at the radio station was “The Grim Parade” by Seattle based Americana band Uncle Bonsai.

I was attracted by the happy looking artwork on the cover.

I noticed a dog, a cat, a turtle, a rabbit, and a guinea pig.

Then I noticed the foreboding dead tree and shovel in the upper left corner as well as the album title.

Oh. That’s what it means.

I never thought of dead pets being in a “parade,” but most of their lifespans are so much shorter than humans.

Starting off with a snappy staccato acoustic guitar and bass riff, that includes an atmospheric answer of an electric guitar awash in reverb and echo, “The Fish Is in the Freezer” doesn’t waste any time in establishing a funeral setting:

“The fish is in the freezer/
We’re waiting for the ground to thaw.”

From that starting point, the real substance of the song is addressed: How does one explain the death of a pet to a child?

Well, you can lie:

“The fish is up in heaven/
At least that’s what my mother said.”

Mothers are wonderful!

Of course, there’s a fishy heaven!

However, the next line tells the real honest truth from the perspective of a child:

“There used to be another/
But every fish I’ve owned is dead.”

The song then switches to a middle eight that contains some beautiful haunting harmonies!:

“Oh, there’s a place I know/
Where all the dead fish go.
Out in the fertile ground/
Where all the cats hang out.”

That observation always makes me laugh, as well as the next confusing line:

“The fish once had a brother/
Boy fish are the first to go.”

Huh?

But the song is heading towards the end and there isn’t enough time to think too long about it:

“Oh, if I just knew why/
All of the good ones die.
The coldest day in Winter/
I never got to say goodbye.”

I’ve been a part of a few animal funerals, and I’m guessing that they were important at some point in a child’s mental development.

Thankfully I never had to put one in the freezer to wait until the ground thawed.

However, my sister and I would laugh about the song if she heard me play it on my show.

And then the song became a real life situation for her.

She had come in to town to help our mother prepare for moving to Las Vegas after selling her house. My sister happened to also own a couple of goldfish as pets, Opal and Marmalade.

While she was helping mom clear things up so she could relocate, both fish died.

Perhaps, because of “The Fish Is in the Freezer,” they were placed in that cold wasteland that preserves a good portion of what we eat later, until they could receive a proper burial.

To exaggerate things even more, the next time I played the song, I did a homage to Casey Kasem, a DJ hero of mine as well as probably all DJs, by naming myself “Phil Philsem,” and “sending out a long distance dedication to Opal and Marmalade, hoping they could hear it up in fishy heaven!”

I even coerced my son into making a little “Top 40: The Hits From Coast to Coast” synthesized intro!

Yeah. I love this song!

One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded is “The Fish Is In the Freezer” by Uncle Bonsai!!!

I’m including a bonus video.

This is a live performance of “The Fish Is in the Freezer” by Uncle Bonsai as well as The Wintergrass Youth Orchestra.

The performance is spirited!

I also thought adding the strings gave the song an added depth!

And I found it an interesting idea of including children in a song about a “fishy funeral!”

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I have plenty of other musical areas to explore:

Here’s a link for my weekly list of Fave Songs:

https://philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-songs/!

Here’s a link for my weekly Fave Album lists:
philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-albums

My somewhat unusual Hall of Fame can be explored here: https://philmaq.com/hall-of-fame/!

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!

#TheFishIsintheFreezer #UncleBonsai #TheGrimParade #TheWintergrassYouthOrchestra #OplandMarmalade #PhilMaq #OneoftheGreatestSongsEverRecorded #GSER

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One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded: “Mardi Gras” by Queen Ida and Her Bon Temps Zydeco Band!!!

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!

It will pretty much follow the pattern of The Most Awesomest Song of the Day.

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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If my memory serves me well, I think I first saw Queen Ida [Hall of Fame] on Saturday Night Live in 1985.

I had videotaped the show, but I was fascinated with her performance!

I played that tape of Queen Ida over and over!

I played it for my family!

I played it for my friends!

I played it for everyone I could think of!

I’ve mentioned before that I came from a Polish family that for most of my pre adult years probably had more Polka records in the house than pop music.

But this…this….this was the way accordion music should sound!

And feel!

It set me off on a zydeco phase that lasted almost a decade, as well as a long suppressed joyful feelings for the accordion!

Queen Ida was The Beatles of zydeco music to me!

“Mardi Gras” is the title track of a wonderful collection of Queen Ida’s songs and worthy of its namesake holiday!

Whenever I hear her music, I always feel better!

Of course, I’m usually singing and dancing, too!

One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded is “Mardi Gras” by Queen Ida and Her Bon Temps Zydeco Band!!!

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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!

#QueenIda #MardiGras #PhilMaq #OneoftheGreatestSongsEverRecorded #GSER

 

 

 

 

 

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It’s Triple Play Tuesday for the Pandemic Philby Hot 100 Songs of 2020 Countdown Update!!!

The Philby Award

Welcome to the 2020 Pandemic Philbys!

For the near future, the Countdown of Philby Hot 100 Songs of 2020 will take a blog format.

I am presuming it will eventually change and I will then switch to radio.

But since nothing is the same right now, I have no idea when or if that will happen.

I will reveal one song per day.

If by some chance I miss a day, I will reveal two the next time I post, to avoid having a slow process get even slower.

I’m not planning to tag anyone with my daily reveal.

I have decided to change how often I do a partial update to every 10 songs for now.

One last reminder: If a song by an artist isn’t on my weekly Phil’s Faves Songs List, it will NOT appear on the Philby year end list

I suggest that you “like” my Facebook page, Phil Maq, to stay up to date along the way.

And I’m still accepting submissions.

I will have this information after every Philby post.

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The latest Pandemic Philby Countdown update follows!

Flint rockers Building Birds were a perennial favorite on my Philby Award lists until lead singer Ashley Peacock tragically ended his life.

I still keep their music on my player, and “Step Right Up” from their If a Tree Falls…” album, feels like the appropriate posthumous memory!

Congratulations Building Birds!!!

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Americana family group, The Bankesters, sing beautiful sibling harmonies on this lovely song from their Philby Award winning album, Nightbird!”

Congratulations The Bankesters!!!

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Southeast Michigan’s singer/songwriter and multiple Philby Award winner Michael on Fire released a retrospective soundtrack album, Where Dreamers Only Go to accompany a superb documentary of the same name in 2019!

Although “I Think I Came Too Late to the Party” is a song that came earlier in his career, the infectious groove is timeless!

Congratulations Michael on Fire!!!

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Here’s a section on submissions:

The album selections are made from a sliding four year pool of music.

This year that pool is 2017-2020.

The song selections are usually from the same range, too, but I’m a little more open to almost anything, since over time, there have been plenty of older songs that have found new life years after they’ve been recorded, even ending up on hit movie soundtracks.

Needless to say, this year is going to be unlike any year.

However, I have arrived at the realization that there will be issues every year no matter what I plan.

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 what would qualify from the prior years.

Up to this point of the year, I just reached my largest batch of albums.

So, it’s basically a little over the number I used last year.

But let’s talk about this year, which is absolutely the weirdest year ever!

I haven’t even done a show for months!

I haven’t any idea how this will affect either list.

However, I will come up with something that makes sense.

And as large as my working list is, I know I have room for more.

I can never have enough!

Therefore, I am accepting entries for Philby consideration!

So, if you’ve made some music dating back as far as 2017, I will accept that music for consideration.

If you have something older than 2016, 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!
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My weekly radio show “Prime Time Theme Attic,” can be heard Mondays, 8P-10P ET when it returns.

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!

#Philbys #2020PandemicPhilbys #PhilbyAwards

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One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded: “Big Chief” by Professor Longhair!!!

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.

The show can be heard on WHFR 89.3 FM in the Dearborn-Detroit area of Michigan, or it can be streamed with this link: https://www.whfr.fm/streamer/!

The Greatest Songs will pretty much follow the pattern of The Most Awesomest Song of the Day.

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.

Here’s a link to 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!”

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’m a little fuzzy about when I became aware of Professor Longhair [Hall of Fame].

I can’t remember if I originally bought the album, “Crawfish Fiesta” by Professor Longhair [Hall of Fame] because of its colorful cover, because it was on Alligator Records and I was always willing to take a chance on one of their albums, or because I had returned from a vacation to New Orleans and was in the middle of a Cajun/Zydeco/Blues/Jazz phase.

I had it on vinyl which means I purchased it pre 1991 for me.

I also have a CD copy of it.

Regardless of the reason, “Crawfish Fiesta” is a smokin’ hot gumbo of musical styles!

Starting off with that crazy piano riff on the opening track, “Big Chief,” the rhythm section joins in and drives the song relentlessly around the Vieux Carre’ at a breakneck speed until it ends!

The congas and horns offer nice sound textures as well as the Professor’s distinctive whistling and vocal!

This version of “Big Chief” is an updated version of his original hit.

No Mardi Gras party should be without it!

One of the Greatest Songs Ever Recorded is “Big Chief” by Professor Longhair!!!

Here’s the original version for comparison. It was a two part single. It’s much slower but the horns are great! Part 1 is an instrumental version.

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I have other musical areas to explore:

My somewhat unusual Hall of Fame can be explored here: https://philmaq.com/hall-of-fame/!

Lastly, but most importantly, is my Philby Awards link! A Philby is my annual award for brilliant 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!

#ProfessorLonghair #BigChiefNew #BigChiefOriginal #CrawfishFiesta  #Fess #RoyBird #MardiGras #AlligatorRecords #PhilMaq #ThemeAttic #OneoftheGreatestSongsEverRecorded #GSER

 

 

 

Posted in Favorite Songs of All Time, Greatest Songs Ever Recorded, Hall of Fame, Mardi Gras Song | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Unofficial Pandemic Philby Hot 100 Songs of 2020 Countdown Update #6!!!

The Philby Award

Here’s the latest unofficial update of the Pandemic Philby Hot 100 Songs of 2020!

As usual, I have included submission information after the update.

Here’s the unofficial Countdown so far:

41.Don’t—Larkin Poe (Kin)

42.Phone Call—Kristen Toedtman (Limbo)

43.Come On to Me—Paul McCartney (Egypt Station)

44.Marching Orders—The New Pornographers (Brill Brusiers)

45.The Piper in the Cave/An Ghaoth Aniar Aneas (The South-West Wind)—Altan [Hall of Fame] (The Gap of Dreams)

46.Riding Low (And Flying High)Dan Sheehan (Tales From Earth, Inc.)

47.I Like Your Hair—Kid Gulliver (Spree)

48.Cruel World—Billy W. Brandt and The Thing and Stuff Band (Seattle Jazz Musician) (Get It Going!) 

49.Say a Prayer—Dave Boutette and Kristi Lynn Davis (Easy As Pie)

50.What You’re Made Of—Davy Knowles (Three Miles From Avalon)

51.Bones of Saints—Robert Plant (Carry Fire)

52.Kimmie’s Song—The Pennock/Stephens Project ( The Pennock/Stephens Project)

53.Tell Me—The Forty Nineteens (Single)

54.The Ride—Dave Solo (December 32nd)

55.Change—Mavis Staples (We Get By)

56.Nuages—Deni Bonet (Bright Shiny Objects)

57.End of the World—Flamin’ Groovies (Fantastic Plastic)

58.Hoodwink—Steve Leaf and The Ex—Pats (Lightspeed)

59.You and Me and the Sun—Annie Fitzgerald (You and Me and the Sun)

60.SanctifiedEllie Zwart (Toward Home)

61.Not About You—Joanna and The Jaywalkers (The Open Sea Before Me)

62.Dirt Roads and Dandelions—Mike Gentry (Mike Gentry)

63.The Next Big Thing—Jeff Scott (NOLA to New York)

64.Anthem—Ed Dupas (Tennessee Night)

65.Winter’s BoneLee Anna Atwell, Allison Edberg Nyquist, Linda Hicks, Joe Peters (A Night at the Delphi Opera House)

66.Friend of Mine—Courtney Yasmineh (Red Letter Day)

67.Before the Lights Go Out—C.J. Ramone (American Beauty)

68.Hey Buddy—Phil Lee (…And the Horse He Rode In On)

69.Upbeat—Deane Nesbitt, Jr. (Soundtracks in the Sand)

70.Everything She DoDog Society (In the Shade)

71.Been Such a Long Time—Greg Nagy (Stranded)

72.Honey, I Love You—The Dustbowl Revival (The Dustbowl Revival)

73.Shines—The Donkeys (Ride the Black Wave)

74.Who Wants Cilla?—The Hangabouts (Single)

75.Whispers and Moans—Sugar Snow (Woodface Reimagined)

76.Your Version of the Truth—Bill Edwards (Sounds Like Love)

77.Secret Recipe—Joe Kidd and Sheila Burke (Everybody Has a Purpose)

78.You Better Stop—Will Ludford (Addicted)

79.Aimless Knowledge—Cindy Ruenes (Please Don’t Tell Me How to Dance)

80.Soldier of Love—Ben Reel (Land of Escape)

81.(Don’t) Give Up on Love—Car City (Car City)

82.Happy New Year—Annie and Rod Capps (Where They Fall)

83.Rich Man Blues—Michael Snyder—Barker (Tales of Whoa!)

84.Patient Man—Where’s Keith? (Living On Mars)

85.Rescue Me—Amy Helm (Didn’t It Rain?)

86.Flying High—Desert Dragon (Before the Storm)

87.Heaven On Earth—Nick Urb and Olivia Dear (Millerschin)(Until the End of Days)

88.Think About You—M French (Matthew French)(Sweet Love)

89.Colors of Christmas—The Hangabouts (Single)

90.Sand—Chris Meck and The Guilty Birds (It’s 4AM Somewhere)[Language Warning]

91.Boxes—Circus of the West (We’ll See Ourselves Out)

92.It’s That Time Again—Mark Jewett (Single)

93.The Fall—Goodbye Motel (If)

94.Olivia—Go Fever (Daydream Hawker)[Language Warning]

95.Hurt’s All Gone—Samantha Fish (Chills and Fever)

96.Can’t Go On Like This—Native Harrow (Happier Now)

97.The Get Up and Go—Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio (Singin’)

98.Walk You Home—Phil Ayoub (Arrivals and Departures)

99.Let It Roll—The Garden of Soul (Forsaken)[Language Warning]

100.Dollar Store Christmas—Barker and Broski (Single)

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Here’s a section on submissions:

The album selections are made from a sliding four year pool of music.

This year that pool is 2017-2020.

The song selections are usually from the same range, too, but I’m a little more open to almost anything, since over time, there have been plenty of older songs that have found new life years after they’ve been recorded, even ending up on hit movie soundtracks.

Needless to say, this year is going to be unlike any year.

However, I have arrived at the realization that there will be issues every year no matter what I plan.

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 what would qualify from the prior years.

Up to this point of the year, I just reached my largest batch of albums.

So, it’s basically a little over the number I used last year.

But let’s talk about this year, which is absolutely the weirdest year ever!

I haven’t even done a show for months!

I haven’t any idea how this will affect either list.

However, I will come up with something that makes sense.

And as large as my working list is, I know I have room for more.

I can never have enough!

Therefore, I am accepting entries for Philby consideration!

So, if you’ve made some music dating back as far as 2017, I will accept that music for consideration.

If you have something older than 2016, 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!
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My weekly radio show “Prime Time Theme Attic,” can be heard Mondays, 8P-10P ET when it returns.

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!

#Philbys #2020PandemicPhilbys #PhilbyAwards #PandemicPhilbyUpdates

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The Most Awesomest Song of the Day: “Give It Away Again” by MJ Bishop!!!

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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For Valentine’s Day, I have selected a heartfelt song (see what I did there?), “Give It Away Again,” the title track of Nashville singer/songwriter by way of St. Ignace and Lansing,  (Mary Jo) Bishop’s Philby Award winning album!

The track is sharply written, highlighting many anthropomorphic characteristics of cardiac imagery!

With a fiddle and guitar intro, “Give It Away Again” grabs the listener as soon as it starts!

MJ’s fragile, yet strong, vocal guides the song through some physical features of the heart.

My favorite is thinking of the heart as a “human metronome!”

For the most part, we rarely think of the heart at all–unless, of course, a relationship goes bad.

MJ tells it much more descriptively:

“It’s a muscle, you can’t break it/
But it hurts like hell when you strain it/
And that hurt seems to go on forever/
Like the coldest night of winter!”

“So we close it up and wait/
That’s the hole, guard the gate!”

Yes, when we’re on the wrong side of a relationship, it’s easy to be guarded and perhaps, maybe even a little scared.

Eventually, if we’re lucky enough, hope and the promise of a new relationship causes us all to forget the previous bad ones!

If you’re a hopeless romantic, then you’d agree that “we give it away again and again and again!” 

Every time!

And even if you’re in a committed relationship, I feel that one gives their heart to someone often–probably several times a day!

For me, trust and love go together!

The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Give It Away Again” by MJ Bishop!!!

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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!

#GiveItAwayAgain #MJBishop #ValentineSong  #PhilMaq #TheMostAwesomestSongoftheDay

 

 

 

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