Rolling Stones “Dance Little Sister” (1974)
Over the years, rockers seem to have exhibited some curious ideas about sisters, but in particular little sisters. The thought occurred to me recently when hearing Elton John’s much-forgotten rave-up ‘Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock and Roll)’ – not explicitly about a “little” sister, but with the lyric..... Read More
Maxshh “Song For Dad” (2020)
..Rather than try to record what he’d conceived of as his far-reaching “super-incubated encyclopedia of everything,” he returned, instead, to one of his earliest listening roots: pop/rock music, songs formulated and stylized to leave a first impression of “nice” rather than “challenging.”... Read More
Richie Havens “Freedom” (1969)
Of all the iconic performances that took place at Woodstock during its era-defining “3 Days of Peace & Music,” 32 acts in total, perhaps none was as singularly identifiable with the event, as historically significant for truly capturing the zeitgeist of the counter-culture moment, as Richie Havens’ classic rendition of his song ‘Freedom.’ Guess how...... Read More
Bob Dylan “My Back Pages”
The single greatest collection of superstar artists ever gathered together on one stage to perform one song: My Back Pages @ MSG by a murderers row of McGuinn, Petty, Young, Clapton, Dylan, and Harrison.... Read More
Tom’s Record Of The Day / Erma Franklin “Piece Of My Heart” (1967)
Did you know Aretha Franklin had a sister who was also a recording artist? Did you know that Janis Joplin’s iconic recording of ‘Piece Of My Heart’ was not the original version? If you’re like me, the answer to both questions would be ‘no.’ But Tom Clifford knows.... Read More
Lynyrd Skynyrd “Freebird” (1973)
It’s two songs, really. The second part – the seemingly endless rounds of classic chord progressions and never-to-be-matched guitar wailing – made it what it is, arguably the greatest rock song of all time. But would it be remembered that way without the first part, that sweet, melancholic ballad written and sung by perhaps the...... Read More
The Beatles “All Together Now” (1969)
Since the onset of the Coronavirus crisis we’ve been bombarded with the message “We’re all in this together.” Celebrities, newscasters, friends, neighbors, all well-intentioned, no doubt. Well guess what, I’m calling bullshit. Sad to say but we’re not actually all in this together... Read More
Jimmy Reed “Take Out Some Insurance” (1959)
I hate paying for home insurance. Thousands and thousands of dollars, year after year, just out the window. With absolutely nothing to show for it. And for what, just in case my house gets struck by lightning and burns down? Come on, how on earth is that ever going to occur? What a colossal waste....... Read More
Another Covid 19 Playlist
Another weird week, in a string of weird weeks. Another 19 songs. Another Covid 19 Playlist. Unlike my prior effort, no self-imposed, OCD-driven, 1970’s-only restrictions for this one, so I can now give ‘Strange Days’ the opening slot it deserves. Lots of cautions lately to please ‘Don’t Stand So Close To Me,’ ‘Keep Your Hands...... Read More
Bruce Springsteen “Countin’ On A Miracle” (2002)
"Hope is not a strategy" is a well accepted maxim in the world of business, and surely for life in general as well. Plenty has been written, deservedly, about the power of positive thinking, and yet it must also be remembered that irrational optimism is not always benign. Personally, I can be accused... Read More