And in the middle of the week, I got word that a rock legend passed away. Joe Cocker, the prominent British performer, passed away from small cell lung cancer at the age of 70. People can be forgiven if Cocker "fell through the cracks" when it comes to rock history. When you think of the late 60's. you think of artists like Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Crosby Stills & Nash, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and the like. Joe Cocker was like an afterthought. But he really shouldn't be.
Although Cocker wrote some songs on his albums, is was his song styling that brought him to prominence. In the lineage of rock history, 1968 was a very important year. The Vietnam War was at its height, as well as the hippie counter-culture, but in a way it was a transition year. From 1967 we had the end of garage rock and its psychedelic cousin, the Summer of Love and the Monterey Pop Festival. Two years later, rock came of age, was more sophisticated and serious and full albums ruled over single records. It was the year of Woodstock and Altamont as well. Jam bands like the Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead started to rule.
This change was noted throughout 1968, a year plagued by turmoil, including two assassinations. Social conscience started to rule. The year ended much different than it began. Cocker was one of the main reasons. He took a Beatles classic, "I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends", a big track from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and made it his own; it became a drawn-out bluesy number which would echo the coming music of the day. It sounded very different from the original. The following summer, his performance was legendary at Woodstock, thus staking his claim in rock history.
His performances were unique. He appeared on the variety shows Ed Sullivan and Tom Jones, the latter rather frequently. As my Mom was a big fan of Jones, I got to watch him with his rather spastic, awkward movements but he certainly had a soulful voice. By 1970, he was a force to be reckoned with. Another unique cover, The Box Tops' "The Letter" was his biggest hit to date, and again, was quite different from the original. Later that year, he took the torch song "Cry Me A River", brought it uptempo and had yet another hit.
All of the above, from his first three albums are what people will remember about Joe Cocker. But he wasn't finished. In 1975 he had his first top five hit with his cover of Billy Preston's "You Are So Beautiful". He continued to release albums in the rest of the 1970's and all during the 80's. He finally hit pay dirt with his only #1 song, "Up Where We Belong", a duet with Jennifer Warnes from the movie An Offer and A Gentleman. Finally, in 1989 he had his final hit, "When the Night Comes" (which, despite eighties "dressing" still showcased his soulfulness), but he continued to release albums right up to this decade, most recently 2012's "Fire It Up".
He will be missed.
SING ALONG: Last weekend it seemed music played a part. Friday night I wound up at the local Bells Mansion pub where I caught SNS regular and local talent Paul Czekaj, playing mostly vintage songs as well as some sing-a-long Christmas numbers including his "Christmas Is Forever" which made my top 100 holiday countdown this year. The next night, it was on to some other friends' in Clintondale, NY for a Christmas Party where much of the night was spent doing karaoke (and it took a toll on my voice!). Holiday songs, of course abounded, but...and further proving the reason why I add pop songs to my blog list--everyone joined into "Shake It Off" and "All About the Bass". We also got a kick out of watching some of "Weird Al" Yankovic's videos from his most recent album, including "Word Crimes". Finally, Sunday was the final tailgate party of the Jets' woeful season; but my friend Alan Corso still plays come great music, and featured "Take It As It Comes" by Vivian Girls' and "Heart of Steel" by Yast, no surprise given that's how I got familiar with them. It's events like this cement my love for music, even in this day and age.
THE FINAL: This is my final blog of the year and Foxygen heads the list for a third week with "How Can You Really", with Fitz & the Tantrums' "Fool's Gold" moving into the #2 slot. Hozier again drops to #3. As suspected last week, no holiday songs made the top 20 this year, with Kelly Clarkson's "Wrapped in Red" the big winner with a #25 ranking. The Killers' are at #28, with The Wizards of Winter, the Frenchtown NJ ensemble produced by friend Tom Corea taking a huge jump from #89 to #29. And a big "thank you" to Tom for mailing me the CD. I may listen to this one well after the holiday season; so don't expect a big descent on this one. Two more holiday entries enter this week: Band Aid 30's "Do They Know It's Christmas" which I talked about last week, enters the main chart at #71, and how can you ignore Straight No Chaser? They released a new single, the timely "Text Me Merry Christmas". Although it seems they have been overshadowed the last couple of years by Pentatonix in the a capella department, SNC still have an edginess to them, as shown in the new song; definitely an anthem for the 2010's for sure.
AND LASTLY: As I mentioned this is my last regular blog of 2014. As many of you might know, it has been a rough year all around, for various reasons. As a result, the blog had suffered from the beginning; often falling behind by several weeks, then during the spring, not evening doing one for almost two months. The summer was one to have caught up, doing two weeks' worth at a time and almost made it back, only to stop for another two and a half months. Finally, last month, I did a "time warp" to the present day and I am happy to say that the last couple months were timely (although many of the added songs, like the two pop gems mentioned above, are "late to the party").
As for continuing this next year, I am still not sure. Hits on the blog have dipped since I re-introduced this; I need to decide whether to invest the time. It is my way of keeping up with the current music and I have much to say in the coming weeks as I have read interesting accounts on why quality music is being ignored in favor of bland, soulless pop. But that'll be a story for another time.
I will be, once again, compiling my Top 100 of the year although I'm not sure if I'll be counting them down--- I could use a break not only here but on Facebook as well. Stay tuned.
Finally, for those who celebrate, Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy New Year.
Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100
December 21, 2014
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This Week
|
Last Week
|
ARTIST-Title
|
Weeks on List
|
1
|
1
|
NUMBER ONE:
FOXYGEN
"How Can You Really"
Album: ...And Star Power
(3 weeks at #1)
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
Fitz and the Tantrums - Fools Gold
|
7
|
3
|
2
|
Hozier - Take Me To Church
|
18
|
4
|
6
|
Meghan Trainor - All About that Bass
|
7
|
5
|
4
|
Vivian Girls - Take It As It Comes
|
16
|
6
|
5
|
The Big Takeover - Children of the Rhythm
|
10
|
7
|
8
|
White Fence - Like That
|
8
|
8
|
7
|
The Black Keys - Turn Blue
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
The Fresh & Onlys - Animal of One
|
14
|
10
|
14
|
St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Call Me
|
6
|
11
|
12
|
Ty Segall - Tall Man Skinny Lady
|
5
|
12
|
9
|
Fitz and the Tantrums - 6AM
|
16
|
13
|
18
|
Foster the People - Are You What You Want To Be
|
4
|
14
|
21
|
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
"Cigarette Daydreams"
Album: Melophobia
|
4
|
15
|
20
|
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
|
5
|
16
|
17
|
Yast - Heart of Steel
|
5
|
17
|
11
|
Strand of Oaks - Goshen '97
|
12
|
18
|
15
|
Jessica Lea Mayfield - I Wanna Love You
|
14
|
19
|
16
|
Alabama Shakes - Heartbreaker
|
8
|
20
|
13
|
SomeKindaWonderful - Reverse
|
22
|
.
.
21
|
19
|
Interpol - All the Rage Back Home
|
6
|
22
|
22
|
The Gaslight Anthem - Get Hurt
|
10
|
23
|
28
|
SomeKindaWonderful - California Love
|
4
|
24
|
24
|
The Satelliters - I Said Yeah Yeah Yeah
|
8
|
25
|
34
|
Kelly Clarkson - Wrapped in Red
|
3
|
26
|
25
|
Phantogram - Black Out Days
|
10
|
27
|
23
|
Brick + Mortar - Locked In A Cage
|
35
|
28
|
30
|
The Killers - Joel the Lump of Coal
|
4
|
29
|
89
|
MOVER OF THE WEEK:
THE WIZARDS OF WINTER
"Gales of December"
Album: The Wizards of Winter
|
2
|
30
|
27
|
Train - Angel In Blue Jeans
|
10
|
31
|
32
|
Foo Fighters - Something From Nothing
|
4
|
32
|
29
|
Grouplove - I'm With You
|
8
|
33
|
26
|
Sam Roberts Band - Shapesifters
|
12
|
34
|
35
|
The Black Keys - Gotta Get Away
|
3
|
35
|
40
|
Cold War Kids - All This Could Be Yours
|
3
|
36
|
36
|
You+Me - You and Me
|
5
|
37
|
37
|
Colony House - Silhouettes
|
6
|
38
|
31
|
Dum Dum Girls - Rimbaud Eyes
|
12
|
39
|
38
|
The Decemberists - Make You Better
|
6
|
40
|
41
|
Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine
|
15
|
41
|
42
|
Pentatonix - Mary Did You Know
|
5
|
42
|
66
|
Lucius - Hey, Doreen
|
2
|
43
|
39
|
The Drums - Magic Mountain
|
8
|
44
|
46
|
A Day to Remember - End of Me
|
5
|
45
|
33
|
The Hounds of Winter - Amy's World
|
26
|
46
|
52
|
Idina Menzel (duet with Michale Buble) - Baby It's Cold Outside
|
4
|
47
|
55
|
The Orwells - The Righteous One
|
3
|
48
|
59
|
Lana Del Rey - Shades of Cool
|
4
|
49
|
51
|
Lykke Li - I Never Learn
|
4
|
50
|
44
|
The Eeries - Cool Kid
|
8
|
51
|
50
|
Idina Menzel - Let It Go
|
22
|
52
|
54
|
Valerie June - You Can't Be Told
|
23
|
53
|
64
|
Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me
|
4
|
54
|
45
|
Alt J - Left Hand Free
|
7
|
55
|
58
|
Jungle - Time
|
14
|
56
|
72
|
Bush - The Only Way Out
|
2
|
57
|
74
|
Meghan Trainor - I'll Be Home
|
2
|
58
|
78
|
Pentatonix - That's Christmas To Me
|
2
|
59
|
61
|
Broken Bells - After the Disco
|
4
|
60
|
68
|
Maroon 5 - Animals
|
3
|
61
|
47
|
Meg Myers - Desire
|
14
|
62
|
43
|
Foster the People - Best Friend
|
20
|
63
|
69
|
Guster - Simple Machine
|
3
|
64
|
48
|
Avi Buffalo - So What
|
16
|
65
|
49
|
The Orwells - Who Needs You
|
20
|
66
|
65
|
Kongos - Come With Me Now
|
35
|
67
|
83
|
Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life
|
2
|
68
|
86
|
Lorde - Yellow Flicker Beat
|
2
|
69
|
63
|
Royal Bangs - Better Run
|
12
|
70
|
71
|
Anna Calvi - Suddenly
|
4
|
71
|
----
|
TOP DEBUT:
BAND AID 30
"Do That Know It's Christmas (2014)"
(Single only)
|
1
|
72
|
57
|
MS MR - No Trace
|
8
|
73
|
80
|
Bear Hands - Agora
|
7
|
74
|
79
|
American Authors - Believer
|
5
|
75
|
56
|
Damien Jurado - Silver Timothy
|
26
|
76
|
60
|
MS MR - Think of You
|
26
|
77
|
82
|
Knox Hamilton - Work It Out
|
5
|
78
|
----
|
Straight No Chaser - Text Me Merry Christmas
|
1
|
79
|
77
|
The Griswolds - Beware the Dog
|
8
|
80
|
88
|
Jack White - Would You Fight For My Love?
|
3
|
81
|
----
|
Waters - I Feel Everything
|
1
|
82
|
53
|
Afghan Whigs - Algiers
|
28
|
83
|
62
|
Rachel Allyn - Restless Times Call for Reckless Measures
|
16
|
84
|
----
|
Misterwives - Reflections
|
1
|
85
|
67
|
The Kooks - Around Town
|
12
|
86
|
87
|
OneRepublic - Love Runs Out
|
5
|
87
|
70
|
The Black Keys - Fever
|
26
|
88
|
73
|
Kings of Leon - Family Tree
|
6
|
89
|
76
|
Milky Chance - Stolen Dance
|
14
|
90
|
91
|
Airborne Toxic Event - Wrong
|
4
|
91
|
94
|
Weezer - Back to the Shack
|
7
|
92
|
81
|
The Shins - So Now What
|
12
|
93
|
99
|
Digitalism f. Youngblood Hawke - Wolves
|
6
|
94
|
100
|
Lily Allen - Air Balloon
|
3
|
95
|
98
|
My Brightest Diamond - Pressure
|
6
|
96
|
----
|
Shakey Graves - Dearly Departed
|
1
|
97
|
----
|
Stater-Kinney - Bury Our Friends
|
1
|
98
|
90
|
Horse Thief - Devil
|
12
|
99
|
97
|
Benjaman Booker - Valent Shiver
|
7
|
100
|
75
|
Tacocat - Bridge to Hawaii
|
18
|
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