#14 Am I The Same Girl -- Swing Out Sister (1992)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3dkLr1yFps

This one has an interesting history. It was first recorded in 1968 by R&B singer Barbara Acklin, but became a big hit as the instrumental “Soulful Strut” (credited to Young-Holt Unlimited) when a revised version was released later that year with Acklin’s vocals removed. Both Acklin and Dusty Springfield released the vocal version of the song in 1969, neither with much chart success.

Swing Out Sister finally rescued the song in its full glory from obscurity in 1992. The Acklin and Springfield versions aren’t bad, but Corinne Drewery and crew really make it their own.

Incidentally, one of the best CD bargains I ever picked up was in the mid-1990s in Clearwater FL (down mainly for spring training, naturally), where I found a Swing Out Sister “In-Store Play Sampler” for a mere $1.99. I don’t think I gained a lot of cred from the clerk with my purchase, but the 7 tracks proved that SOS did some great stuff beyond their few hit singles.

Shuffle #34 (October 26, 2014)

Speed Of Sound – Coldplay

The Twelfth Of Never – Johnny Mathis

Ready To Take A Chance Again – Barry Manilow

Am I The Same Girl – Swing Out Sister

Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith

Rock Skippin’ – Jim Hall

Solitary Man – Neil Diamond

The Edge Of The World – Sonia Dada

You’ll Never Get To Heaven – Dionne Warwick

Shuffle #33 (October 25, 2014)

Love Sneakin’ Up On You – Bonnie Raitt

You’re The One – The Vogues

War – Edwin Starr

F.M. – Steely Dan

Give Him A Great Big Kiss – The Shangri-Las

Not Where It’s At – Del Amitri

Riders On The Storm – The Doors

I Want A New Drug – Huey Lewis & The News

Serendipity #23

Second Chance – 38 Special

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flIPKGbj9-0

Heard 10/24/2014 around 12:30, at Wegman’s (Germantown)

Serendipity #22

Trust In Me – Etta James

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwWJgHEcMrs

Heard 10/20/2014 around noon, at Thai Express (Kentlands)

Shuffle #32 (October 18, 2014)

All I See Is You – Dusty Springfield

Losing My Religion – R.E.M.

Happy Hour – The Housemartins

There She Goes Again – The Beat Farmers

Violet Hill – Coldplay

Money’s Too Tight To Mention – Simply Red

Fire On The Bayou – Neville Brothers

Shining Star – Earth, Wind And Fire

If You Could Read My Mind – Gordon Lightfoot

#15 Going In Circles -- The Friends Of Distinction (1969)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBkYN7wYQFk

My most vivid memory associated with this song happened about ten years after its release. I was living in an apartment in Rockville, lying awake in bed with the window open, while somebody either outside or in a nearby unit had tuned in legendary area DJ Melvin Lindsey on WHUR. Lindsey was just finishing off a countdown of listener favorites, and “Going In Circles” was #2 on the list. (Oddly enough, the #1 song is also my all-time favorite.)

#16 Hello Stranger -- Barbara Lewis (1963)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-VDbbjIto4

I actually never heard this song until I got to Lebanon Valley College in 1971. The freshman class decided to have a dance marathon, and since I had been elected President of the class (a long story ...) I certainly wasn’t going to miss it. Most of the live entertainment was provided by a freshman-based “grease band”, which played 50s and early 60s rock songs (“Teen Angel”, etc.) along the lines of Sha Na Na. At one point, however, Jane Garlock (a junior) went to the piano and did a version of “Hello Stranger” – I fell in love with the song immediately. Yvonne Elliman and Queen Latifah have both done nice cover versions, but Lewis’s original (she also wrote the song) remains definitive.

#17 Ridin' In My Car – NRBQ (1977)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRK2o3EkOUw

NRBQ never had much commercial success in terms of selling either singles or albums, but in their heyday they had a well-earned reputation as a great live band. I saw them once, at Wolf Trap on a double bill with Los Lobos. I was surprised when Los Lobos came out first, since they were certainly the more famous of the two, but after NRBQ’s set I understood the reasoning; you really wouldn’t want to have to follow these guys on stage. “Ridin’ In My Car” may be the greatest road song of all time – if you have a convertible, be sure to listen on a gorgeous summer day with the top down.

#18 Someday Soon -- Judy Collins (1969)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jn90y9H9S4

In late 1968, folk singer Judy Collins (to whom Stephen Stills paid tribute in “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”) had her only top 10 hit with Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.” In August of 1969, she released “Chelsea Morning” (another Mitchell song) as a single; it didn’t do much on the charts, but is well-known for inspiring the name of Bill and Hillary Clinton’s daughter.

In between these two, Collins put out “Someday Soon” as a single. This one didn’t have much commercial success either, peaking at #55, but this poignant ballad written by Ian Tyson (of Ian and Sylvia fame) is my favorite Judy Collins recording (although her version of “Amazing Grace” comes close).