But to first relate to this story, you need to know about my Mom, still alive and well after eighty-three years. She, like many of my friends' parents, was part of the "greatest generation", having grown up during the Great Depression and experiencing the home front (or overseas fighting) during World War II. Franklin Roosevelt was the only president they knew for most of their childhood. Big-Band music (also known as Swing) was the popular genre; it would morph into the vocal music now known as Standards.
My Mom was definitely with the times, spending her childhood years in a rather cramped house with her brother, parents, and grandparents, during the Great Depression. She loved Seing music, especially artists like Vaughn Monroe and The Dorsey's. When she graduated in the mid-1946 from Roselle Park (a town she's lived in all her life), she worked for Prudential Insurance in Newark. Like many women, she quit when she got married, and it wasn't just an ordinary marriage. Her husband, my Dad, happend to be the Mayor of the town (the first to marry while in office).
If you've seen TV shows like Mad Men, you'll know what society was like in the late 1950's and early 60's. Men were powerful, whether it was in business or politics (Dad only served the two terms as Mayor, and was unsuccessful in running for State Senate, but still often went to Trenton for political and business matters, while maintaining his law practice in town). My Mom, like many, was a "housewife", taking care of two young children, and a dog ("Baxter" a boxer). We had cleaning women to help, but it was mostly her running the show at home, not an easy task.
For those who grew up in my own generation, you will know that the early 60's were much, much different from the later years in that decade...a big difference.... Many events happened around the middle of that decade of change: JFK's assassination and the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and its associated protests, The Beatles revolutionizing the way we listen to music, the so-called "Sexual revolution"...and finally, the women's liberation movement.
And my Mom changed with the times. From a shy, quiet housewife, she had split with my dad, and became very much an outgoing woman, with all the current fashion tastes, dated, and went out with her friends. She was very active. And the woman who grew up with Vaughn Monroe was suddently listening to The Beatles, and all the rock 'n' roll that had came forth. In fact, it was SHE, who got me into listening to top 40 music...when we were down the shore on vacation in 1965, she had WABC on, and the #1 song was "I Got You Babe" by Sonny and Cher. The next summer, I listened to music for good and never really looked back. She'd asked me what the number one song was, and I would keep track of the survey countdown that Cousin Brucie presented each Tuesday night; you can blame that for my SNS 100 chart as well as giving chart positions each time I post a song.
My Mom started working, first at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, but in late 1967 found herself working for Ampeg, a manufacturer of musical amplifiers, based in nearby Linden. That is when her interest in popular music really took off.
One of her jobs that she had at Ampeg was to answer phones and divert them to the proper area. The clients were either professionals...recording artists, disc jockeys, to name a couple...or dealers...those who would sell or distribute this sound equipment in stores, for example. The Rolling Stones were a band, for instance, that did use Ampeg amplifiers at their shows. Mom got to meet some artists in person, like some of The Cowsills, and Four Seasons; or perhaps agents and managers of the performers. Some of the artists of the day that she had brought home signed pictures were, Frankie Valli, The 1910 Fruitgum Company, Tommy James & the Shondells, just to name three. She even heard of several bands that weren't top 40 household names, like Moby Grape. She, for a women in her 30's was very much "with it", in this "hip decade".
Then one morning, a co-worker had asked her to tend to the phones....when she fielded a call, she had to ask whether they were artists/professionals, or a dealer. One time the phone rang and went like this:
Mom: Are you a professional or a dealer?
Caller: This is Jimi Hendrix
Mom: But, are you a professional or a dealer?
She didn't know who was to become what many feel is the best guitar player in rock history. But to her credit, this was early 1968. Hendrix hadn't hit the top 40, he was played on mostly free-form FM stations and only had a couple of modest chart songs then; but still he made his mark at the Monterey Pop Festival that previous summer, had a hit with a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" later in '68, along with a lot of classic album tracks. Then of course, there was Woodstock, and eventually, in 1970 his death.
But my Mom had a fun time with that and she will recall it many times when discuss music.
She would continue working there until 1972 when Magnavox bought out Ampeg and she got downsized; Mom would go back to St. Barnabas and make it her career. She would finally tire of the current music scene in 1975, going back to the Big Band and Standards she grew up with, but would occasionally reference a current pop hit or artist (Meat Loaf..."Two Out of Three Ain't Bad", for example)...and, except, for oddly enough R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People set, which she liked and something like James Blunt's "Your Beautiful", she'll fondly remember the songs from the 40's thru the 70's, the music of her life! Keep at it, Mom.
WAYS AND MEANS: OK, back to the current stuff. "Nunca" by Trails and Ways breaks the 'revolving door' at the top and hangs at #1 for a second week. On their tail is "Reunion" by M83. The Kooks, for the second time, may be denied at #1 as "Is It Me", drops from 2 to 3; their "Junk of the Heart (Happy)", also peaked at that position, though it lasted for 40 weeks.
No pure pop artist has ever hit the top of my chart. The closest to do so was Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)" which landed at #2 a year ago. By "pure pop", I mean someone who hasn't been on a rock/alternative chart. Adele came from the alternative and triple-A format, so she doesn't count. Then there's Ellie Goulding, whose "Lights" hit number one on my list last December and has come back for a second life, buoyed by its top five showing nationally, and finally moving on the Adult top 40 list (#11 this week). When I first heard "Lights" last fall, I thought she had a pop sensibility with a hint of indie rock aspirations as well. But, during more than half a year, it was just the pop charts for her; hence I was about to anoint her, retroactively, the first pop artist to score a #1 on my chart.
But not so fast! Last week, "Lights" debuted, finally, on the Alternative chart at #40, and this week moved up to #33. So the #1 pop distinction continues.....however, again, wait a minute!
Moving up from 16 to 5 is Pink's latest single "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)". It's on a crash course to hit the top, which would give her that distinction. But really, she does have rock leanings, and it would be great if SHE got some rock airplay, too...but, oh well.
One other tidbit in the top 20, fun.'s "Some Nights", the current alternative chart topper (making it two in a row for the New York based indie band), cracks my top 20 in it's 17th week....the same amount of time it took their last biggie "We Are Young". History can repeat itself I guess.
As far as the debuts go, Basement Batman, and its been a while since we featured a Brooklyn band (by way of Washington, DC). They tore up New Work's Webster Hall last night....the guys mix up garage rock and indie sensibilities. Throw in some blues-oriented guitar work and you have a great song. Season 1, their debut, drops on August 7th.
BRIEFLY NEW: The Chromatics have their second single from Kill for Love, the title track; and I also added Aerosmith's current single, "Legendary Child", from their upcoming November release Music From Another Dimension. Maroon 5's new "One More Night" is more pop fare from them (I wish they'd do more stuff like "Come Away To the Water"); One intersting artist to check out, however is Joanna Burns...as soon as I get more info on her I will pass along. "Simply Speak" is from her second album released last year.
Finally, we are still waiting for Rachel Allyn's and Leila's new product...c'mon girls, make it happen!
Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100 for Week of July 30, 2012:
|
This Week
|
Last Week
|
ARTIST-Title
|
Weeks on List
|
|
1
|
1
|
TRAILS AND WAYS
"Nunca"
Album: Birds and Batteries
(2 weeks at #1)
|
10
|
|
2
|
4
|
M83 - Reunion
|
11
|
|
3
|
2
|
The Kooks - Is It Me
|
10
|
|
4
|
5
|
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - That's What's Up
|
14
|
|
5
|
16
|
Pink - Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
|
4
|
|
6
|
10
|
The Heavy - What Makes A Good Man
|
6
|
|
7
|
3
|
Mayer Hawthorne - Henny and Gingerale
|
12
|
|
8
|
8
|
Best Coast - The Only Place
|
11
|
|
9
|
6
|
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Never Go Back
|
16
|
|
10
|
9
|
The Black Keys - Little Black Submarine
|
7
|
|
11
|
11
|
Oberhofer - Away From You
|
15
|
|
12
|
7
|
The Shins- The Rifle's Spiral
|
17
|
|
13
|
18
|
Kelly Clarkson - Dark Side
|
9
|
|
14
|
19
|
Linkin Park - Burn It Down
|
14
|
|
15
|
25
|
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
BEACH HOUSE
"Lazuli"
Album: Bloom
|
8
|
|
16
|
24
|
Phillip Phillips - Home
|
10
|
|
17
|
26
|
Fun. - Some Nights
|
18
|
|
18
|
17
|
Those Darlins - Screws Get Loose
|
21
|
|
19
|
14
|
Metric - Youth Without Youth
|
14
|
|
20
|
21
|
Graffiti6 - Stare Into the Sun
|
12
|
|
21
|
27
|
The Raveonettes - Observations
|
5
|
|
22
|
29
|
Gossip - Move in the Right Direction
|
7
|
|
23
|
12
|
Maroon 5 - Come Away To the Water
|
19
|
|
24
|
22
|
Wolf Gang - The King and All His Men
|
9
|
|
25
|
20
|
Gotye f. Kimbra - Somebody That I Used to Know
|
28
|
|
26
|
30
|
Matchbox Twenty - She's So Mean
|
7
|
|
27
|
13
|
Passion Pit - Take A Walk
|
11
|
|
28
|
15
|
The Wombats - Jump Into the Fog
|
21
|
|
29
|
45
|
Dignan Porch - Picking Up Dust
|
3
|
|
30
|
23
|
The Beach Boys - That's Why God Made the Radio
|
8
|
|
31
|
33
|
Ty Segall - I Brought My Eyes
|
9
|
|
32
|
38
|
Of Monsters and Men - Mountain Sound
|
7
|
|
33
|
32
|
Ty Segall & White Fence - I Am Not A Game
|
19
|
|
34
|
46
|
Grassfight - Look Homeward Heathen
|
4
|
|
35
|
28
|
Eve6 - Victoria
|
20
|
|
36
|
42
|
Emeli Sande - Next To Me
|
6
|
|
37
|
35
|
Dawes - If I Wanted Someone
|
6
|
|
38
|
31
|
Florence + the Machine - No Light, No Light
|
29
|
|
39
|
36
|
Train - 50 Ways to Say Goodbye
|
8
|
|
40
|
44
|
The Royal Concept - Gimme Twice
|
6
|
|
41
|
43
|
Gotye - Eyes Wide Open
|
15
|
|
42
|
54
|
The Avett Brothers - Live and Die
|
3
|
|
43
|
67
|
MOVER OF THE WEEK:
FOXYGEN
"Make It Known"
Album: Take the Kids Off Broadway
|
2
|
|
44
|
37
|
The Gaslight Anthem - 45
|
10
|
|
45
|
34
|
Lost n the Trees - Golden Eyelids
|
17
|
|
46
|
48
|
Public Image Ltd - One Drop
|
6
|
|
47
|
63
|
Two Door Cinema Club - Sleep Alone
|
2
|
|
48
|
41
|
Electric Guest - This Head I Hold
|
22
|
|
49
|
70
|
Green Day - Oh Love
|
2
|
|
50
|
52
|
Grouplove - Tongue Tied
|
33
|
|
51
|
39
|
Lady Antebellum - Dancing Away With My Heart
|
19
|
|
52
|
59
|
Meiko - Leave the Lights On
|
5
|
|
53
|
58
|
The Features - Another One
|
4
|
|
54
|
56
|
The Mungers - B School
|
4
|
|
55
|
57
|
Weeks - The House We Grew Up In
|
5
|
|
56
|
72
|
The Killers - Runaways
|
3
|
|
57
|
73
|
A Place to Bury Strangers - You Are the One
|
3
|
|
58
|
76
|
No Doubt - Settle Down
|
2
|
|
59
|
40
|
Maroon 5- Payphone
|
12
|
|
60
|
61
|
Eric Hutchinson - Watching You Watch Him
|
8
|
|
61
|
69
|
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
|
9
|
|
62
|
65
|
Silent Rider - I Was A Bomb
|
5
|
|
63
|
51
|
The Black Keys - Gold On the Ceiling
|
27
|
|
64
|
62
|
Florence + the Machine - Never Let Me Go
|
21
|
|
65
|
47
|
The Decemberists - One Engine
|
17
|
|
66
|
50
|
Jack White - Sixteen Saltines
|
17
|
|
67
|
79
|
Dr. Dog - Lonesome
|
7
|
|
68
|
49
|
Toby Keith - Red Solo Cup
|
19
|
|
69
|
64
|
Garbage - Blood For Poppies
|
19
|
|
70
|
71
|
The Rapture - How Deep is Your Love
|
29
|
|
71
|
53
|
Marriages - Ride In My Place
|
18
|
|
72
|
60
|
Florence + the Machine - Breath of Life
|
12
|
|
73
|
55
|
Silversun Pickups - Bloody Mary
|
18
|
|
74
|
82
|
Ellie Goulding - Lights
|
28
|
|
75
|
74
|
Fun. f. Janelle Monae - We Are Young
|
35
|
|
76
|
80
|
Rome - Dedication
|
5
|
|
77
|
81
|
Jacuzzi Boys - Automatic Jail
|
5
|
|
78
|
92
|
Christina Perri f. Jason Mraz - Distance
|
2
|
|
79
|
75
|
Dead Sara - Weatherman
|
7
|
|
80
|
84
|
White Violet - Lays Around Lazy
|
9
|
|
81
|
----
|
TOP DEBUT: 
Basement Batman
"On A Streak"
Album: Season 1
|
1
|
|
82
|
66
|
Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
|
15
|
|
83
|
78
|
Dante vs Zombies - Natural Disaster
|
20
|
|
84
|
88
|
Jack White - I'm Shaken
|
4
|
|
85
|
91
|
Daniel Powter - Cupid
|
3
|
|
86
|
68
|
The Offspring - Days Go By
|
12
|
|
87
|
77
|
Fitz and the Tantrums - L.O.V.
|
21
|
|
88
|
----
|
Chromatics - Into the Black
|
1
|
|
89
|
83
|
The Tallest Man on Earth - 1904
|
8
|
|
90
|
93
|
Zac Brown Band - The Wind
|
5
|
|
91
|
----
|
Snow Patrol - In the End
|
1
|
|
92
|
----
|
Aerosmith - Legendary Child
|
1
|
|
93
|
94
|
Hot Chip - Night and Day
|
3
|
|
94
|
----
|
Maroon 5 - One More Night
|
1
|
|
95
|
----
|
Joanna Burns - Simply Speak
|
1
|
|
96
|
95
|
Band of Horses - Knock Knock
|
2
|
|
97
|
98
|
311 - Time Bomb
|
3
|
|
98
|
----
|
Bloc Party - Octopus
|
1
|
|
99
|
90
|
Dirty Heads - Spread Too Thin
|
20
|
|
100
|
RE ENTRY
|
J.D. McPherson - North Side Gal
|
5
|
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