As a fan of a wide variety of popular (and not-so-popular) music from the 1950s (and sometimes even earlier) up through the present, one of my bucket list projects for years has been to put together a list of my 100 favorite songs of all time. At some point I decided that, once I got around to figuring that out, I could put it out on a blog, for the infinitesimally small proportion of the Internet world that might be interested. So, here we are. While the Top 100 will be a major focus, I also plan to post on a variety of other musical (and occasionally non-musical) topics, in which you may or may not be interested. (If a particular posting doesn’t ring your bell, you’re only a few clicks away from a dancing cat video on YouTube.)

Saturday, June 25, 2016

#125 From A Window Seat – Dawes (2013)


 
Dawes is one of the best bands out there today, and the only reason they didn’t get something into my original list is that I couldn’t decide between this one and “A Little Bit Of Everything”. (It’s still really too close to call.) The band has always drawn a lot of Jackson Browne comparisons, which I didn’t fully appreciate until I listened to this track a few times. Taylor Goldsmith’s vocals don’t sound all that much like Jackson, but you can easily imagine him writing and recording this song (especially the line about “the conversation between the rivers and the freeways”).

#124 Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go – Soft Cell (1982)


 
Perhaps the ultimate 1980s alt-rock classic, it had perhaps the slowest climb in the history of Billboard’s Hot 100, eventually reaching #8 and spending a then-unheard-of total of 43 weeks on the chart.
 
As previously discussed, this failed to make my original list of 100 favorite songs for technical reasons only.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

#123 Don’t It Make You Want To Go Home – Brook Benton (1970)


 
Joe South (who’s best known for “Games People Play”) wrote this classic, and released it as a single in 1969. Both the South and Benton versions would fall just short of the top 40 nationally, but Benton’s gets the edge based on the soul that Benton brings to the table, plus the great backup vocals (by ???). One of the best songs ever about the yearning to return to your roots, only to find how much has changed when you do.

#122 I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos (1959)


 
The Flamingos are, without a doubt, my favorite doo-wop group of all time, with the most unique vocal harmonies. To be honest, the only reason this one didn’t make it into my original top 100 is that I couldn’t decide on my favorite song of theirs, with “Lovers Never Say Good-bye” and “Time Was” being the other two contenders. This one finally came out on top, as it’s probably the best song of the three, was certainly their only big hit, and epitomizes their perfect-for-late-night-romance sound.

Monday, June 20, 2016

June 19, 2016 – Frederick Keys 12, Lynchburg Hillcats 6 – Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium


 
Umpires: HP: Matt Bates. 1B: Zach Tieche.
Weather: 84 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 12 mph, Out to LF.
T: 3:17.
Att: 6,794.
 
Section 101, Row A, Seat 5 – very front row, directly behind home plate
 
Highlights – Keys scored in each of the first 4 innings, starting with a first-inning HR  by rehabbing Orioles’ catcher Caleb Joseph … after Lynchburg took a brief 5-4 lead with 3 in the top of the 4th, Frederick responded with 3 in the bottom of the frame, with the key hit being a two-out, two-run single by Wynston Sawyer … Trevor Belicek got the win for the Keys with 4 innings of scoreless relief
 
Other – neither starting pitcher survived the fourth, as Lucas Long gave up 9 Lynchburg hits in his 3+ innings of work, while Hillcats starter Mitch Brown had only a nodding acquaintance with the strike zone, walking 4 batters, hitting one, and coughing up 2 wild pitches … missed most of the first inning due to long lines for Will-Call and to actually get into the stadium (took the back way up due to serious slowdowns on northbound 270 and didn’t arrive until 1:50) … traffic back to Rockville on 270 was slow most of the way … Keys led the Carolina League in average attendance even before today’s large Father’s Day crowd

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Hillary Clinton’s victory speech, translated


By the always-entertaining Alexandra Petri
 

Shuffle #88 (June 19, 2016)


Keep Your Distance – Richard Thompson
Workin’ For A Livin’ (Live) – Huey Lewis & The News
Caroline No – The Beach Boys
Rehab – Amy Winehouse
All Alone Am I – Brenda Lee
Another Star – Stevie Wonder
Meet Me On The Equinox – Death Cab for Cutie
Winter – Teenage Fanclub
Kiss Away – Ronnie Dove