IT COULDN'T BE FOREVER: I'm sure more people would be paying attention to a singer and actor that was very present during our childhood, so that's where I will start. As I hinted last week, David Cassidy, who rose to fame as a star of The Partridge Family and was the lead vocalist on many hit records and albums under that name, lost his battle with kidney and liver failure late on Tuesday night. He was 67 years old.
Like The Monkees and Bobby Sherman before him, my female classmates were swept off their feet and constantly talked about him. Cassidy had some guest starring roles in the late 1960's on shows like Adam-12, and even had a brief run on Broadway. He auditioned for, and won the part as Keith Partridge, the oldest son of a musical family, on "The Partridge Family".
The sitcom, which debuted in September, 1970, was sort of a cross between The Monkees, another sitcom featuring a musical group, and The Cowsills, a real-life family band that had success in the late 1960's, which the new show would loosely be based on. The Cowsill children were briefly considered to play the Partridge children of legendary actress Shirley Jones ("Oklahoma", "The Music Man", etc), who was already cast as the mother.
Cassidy was eventually cast as the oldest son and the "lead singer" of the fictional group. And while the Monkees originally just provided the voices while studio musicians played on their accompanying records, it was just going to be all session singers and musicians on the Partridge Family records that would be released to promote new show. That would mean that Cassidy would just act and not sing.
However, Cassidy was a budding musician in his own right; he could sing and play guitar, and often during rehearsals for the show, he was jamming on his guitar, even emulating Jimi Hendrix and guitar heroes of the day. He pleaded to the producers to let him sing on these records, and on the show, and they granted him that wish. Aside from Shirley Jones joining in on background vocals, the other actors portraying the children, including Susan Dey and Danny Bonaduce, did not contribute to the recordings.
Just two months after The Partridge Family debuted, the first single, "I Think I Love You" hit #1 on the charts and stayed there for three weeks. And the album, The Partridge Family Album, released at a time when progressive rock, singer-songwriters and hard rock jam bands were dominating the album chart, hit the top five.
Obviously Cassidy was the breakout star, and became the latest teen idol, eclipsing Bobby Sherman whose song "Julie, Do Ya Love Me", peaking just weeks before The Partridge Family debut, would become his final top ten hit. Sherman, incidentally, appeared in the final episode of season one, in a show that would be a spin off, called Getting Together, in an attempt to launch his own promotional series. However, it was canceled quickly.
I was in seventh grade during all this, and of course, the girls in my classes were swooning. Even more so, my brother, who was in the fifth grade was even more susceptible, with all the teeny boppers girls in his class being fans. In the apartment complex where I lived, I vividly remember, in chalk written on a sidewalk, "David Cassidy is a doll".
Several other Partridge Family hits continued into 1972, including "Doesn't Somebody Want to be Wanted", "I'll Meet You Halfway", "I Woke Up in Love This Morning" (a song which has been a staple at our Jets football tailgate parties, incidentally), "It's One of Those Nights", and even a remake of Neil Sedaka's "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do". David Cassidy also recorded solo material, including remakes of the Association's "Cherish" and, The Rascals' "How Can I Be Sure", plus other songs like "Could It Be Forever", and several others.
During this period, he "competed" with other teen idols such as Donny Osmond, and Michael Jackson, who like Cassidy, recorded both solo, and with a group (siblings in their cases). And while all of them started to cool off by 1973 (Jackson would take off as a serious respected artist in the eighties), he was still considered a superstar across the pond. "Cassidymania" was rampant in the U.K. in the mid 1970's, playing to sellouts in Wembley Stadium.
One thing that plagued Cassidy, however, was being saddled with a bubblegum teen idol image, something he wanted to break out of. He even appeared nude in a magazine in an attempt to shatter that image, as well as recording "suggestive" songs like "Get It Up for Love", and teaming up with respected musicians such as Mick Ronson (of Mott the Hoople, and David Bowie's Spiders from Mars fame).
He also starred in a brief series, David Cassidy: Man Undercover, which was a spinoff of the crime anthology series, Police Story. He appeared on Broadway in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as well as in Blood Brothers (alongside his half-brother Shaun Cassidy, himself a teen idol later in the 70's).
Cassidy had one last surprise hit in late 1990, "Lying to Myself", and developed a nightclub act which employed his TV brother, Danny Bonaduce, as an opening standup comedy act. Much of their humor was often at the expense of their Partridge co-star Susan Dey and others.
Like many celebrities, Cassidy was in trouble with the law, arrested for DUI on a few occasions, and drug abuse, but he kept performing. But earlier this year, he fell from the stage, and also couldn't remember the lyrics to some of his songs. He had family history of dementia, and realized he was at the beginning stages of his own, and he retired from performing to "enjoy life". Last week, he suffered kidney and liver failure was in a medically-induced coma, kept alive precariously while searching for a donor. Unfortunately it was too late.
ALTERNATIVE COMEBACK?: While on my computer this week, a friend, Anthony Josephs, posted that there is a new commercial Alternative Rock station in New York City. Dubbed "Alt-92.3" it sits at that position on the FM dial, just about five years to the month that the last radio station of that format, WRXP, flipped to sports talk as the FM simulcast of legendary AM station WFAN.
While this, of course is good news, and something that I always thought could happen, I'm not really jumping for joy at the prospect of this, as of yet. It's not that I am tired of alternative rock, mind you; one just has to look at my SNS 100 list to know that this is still the dominate music genre that I am featuring and listening to. But it's because I had given up on terrestrial radio for a long time now (probably since WRXP had flipped in 2012) that I'm pretty much numb to it, and it would take an awful lot to convince me to listen to the FM dial again.
But, stranger things have happened.
I was just reading a Wikipedia article on the history of the 92.3 FM frequency, which, of course has a myriad of history to it. Originally the FM simulcast of WMCA, it's most noted for WKTU "Disco 92", which in the late 1970's, wrestled the music crown from long-standing Top 40 powerhouse, WABC. Then, it mixed dance music (less disco, but more "urban-sounding" records and danceable new wave) before eventually becoming mainstream rock station WXRK (K-Rock).
As K-Rock, it became the home of shock jock Howard Stern, following his 1985 firing from WNBC-AM, first in the afternoon, then as the morning host, which wound up being syndicated all over the country and making Stern a household name. Although Stern stopped playing music on his show, the rest of the station continued to play current and classic rock, with the latter winding up taking charge.
But, in 1996, with Alternative rock dominating much of the music scene in the wake of the grunge and post-grunge invasion, the station flipped to Alternative, although with a much different presentation than traditional alt-rock stations have in the past. That incarnation was more alternative on paper than in reality, as many "nu-metal" acts like Limp Bizkit, Korn, and even metal acts like Metallica eclipsed many of the alternative bands of the day, and even classic rock like Led Zeppelin was getting airplay. In other words, the music that Alt-rock fans tried to get away from, invaded the station. Then again, as the only rock station out there at this time, (Q-104.3 was classic rock), K-Rock was the only outlet to get new rock of any kind.
But after Stern, the ratings for the station vastly decreased, and when Stern left for Satellite Radio, the station pretty much tanked. Extreme talk was the new format of the station, with rock played only on weekends (similar to what legendary WNEW-FM was doing in the late 90's, when it had flipped to extreme talk), and the morning show for a time was hosted by shock jocks Opie and Anthony. But the ratings didn't improve, and, after returning to rock (mostly classic or mainstream hard rock) by 2009, the station flipped to top 40, and eventually renamed WNOW, as a competitor to perennial format leader Z-100.
Meanwhile, In late 2010, New York finally got a pure alternative rock station in WRXP, which resided at 101.9 FM. I listened to the station very frequently, especially since it coincided with the start of my blog. It was a nicely run radio station and the ratings were surprisingly well for a station with that format. But by summer 2011, Emmis, the owner, pulled the plug and changed into an all news station, which tanked.
After a year of horrible ratings with news, that station flipped back to Alternative Rock. In spite of increased ratings, the revived format was short-lived. CBS had acquired the station from Emmis, and shortly thereafter, flipped the station to a simulcast of sports talk WFAN. And that was the end of alternative--or any kind of new rock---until now. Back at 92.3, with WNOW limping along, being trounced by Z-100, that station's owners, changed the calls to WBMP ("AMP-radio"). and although still a top 40, changed the focus of the music being played. But this year, the owner (CBS, ironically), merged with Entercom and when the deal was finalized, New York had, once again gotten an alt-rock outlet.
Since WRXP's demise, I have had an ample source of new alternative rock, thanks to Sirius XM Satellite's "Alt-Nation" channel (which I subscribed to when I bought my new car in 2014); as well as the playlist for alternative station WEQX in Manchester Vermont, which streams. WFUV had "The Alternate Side", a major daily portion of that Fordham University station, which unfortunately became relegated to just one show a week. But thanks to YouTube and other outlets, I was able to get the skinny on new rock that listening to a regular radio station wasn't a priority any longer.
So, the question is, "why now?". Rock, or at least new rock, has taken a back seat to hip-hop and the sparse-laden pop music of the day. When people talk about rock music, it's invariably about classic rock, and very little discussion past the music of the 1990's. And there was talk that even in the genre's heyday, in spite of the Punk and New Wave scene here, that New York City wasn't a "rock town", that it couldn't support more than one or two active rock stations. In fact, classic Q-104.1, criticized for playing the "same 500 songs" over and over and overplaying the core bands most popular songs, has been the only game in town. Of course there's New Jersey's WDHA, 105.5, which has billboards saying "Always rocked. Always will", but how much new rock do they play these days?
When WRXP was on the air, it seemed that rock had some sort of resurgence, with acts like Gotye, fun. and others invading the pop charts. And although acts like Portugal. The Man---a staple on alternative rock stations---had a very successful crossover pop hit with "Feel It Still", is that a trend or just an aberration? As I discussed last week, "Feel It Still" was the first big rock hit since Gotye's "Someone That I Used to Know" five years earlier. But, would the next such song be like, seven years down the road? Or will the tide finally turn where the door would be open for more rock hits? And yes, Imagine Dragons are currently in the Billboard top 10, but for some reason, I have a hard time getting into them). And beyond those two, what else is out there?
I will give WBMP (the current call letters of Alt-92.3) a listen and a chance. First indications are that it does play current alternative as well as key songs in its past, i.e. "Smells Like Teen Spirit". With terrestrial radio as a whole struggling with competition from other sources, it's worth a try. The Top 40 scene has been bland for a long time now, and no one will unseat Z-100. And there are just too many "Adult Top 40", soft rock, or classic hits stations out there too. On my way to work on Tuesday evening, my ten minute commute, I had heard "Scar Tissue" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, and current song, "Lay It On Me", by Vance Joy, so far so good. Then next song was, oddly enough, "She's So High", a 1999 top 20 pop hit by Tal Bachman, that although by a stretch it could be alternative, didn't get much airplay in that format during that year. But we'll let that one go for now.
Several days later, as I am completing this, alt-rock impresario and friend Brian Sniatkowski had given the station a listen. It left a lot to be desired:
"I've been listening parts of the past three days including a long drive. Very disappointed in this so called alternative station. It's basically re-warmed 90's rock with an occasional rock act from the 2000's.thrown into the mix. Oh and MGMT Kids twice in three days, perhaps to give them some slight alt creds.
Largely bands that hit it pretty big and hardly could be called alternative these days. Chili Peppers, Marcy Playground, Nirvana (already heard their cover of Man Who Sold the World three times). Sounds more like an oldies station to me. I'm back to streaming KEPX at home and in work, a true alternative station, and WFUV in the car, which though relatively staid, mixes in more real alternative music in an hour than this Alt 92.3 does all day."
Perhaps it's time to at least give this station a chance to establish itself. After all, any station in 2017 that can play alternative---or any new---rock, can be given another chance. If anything, it'll perhaps change peoples minds about new music being "crap". Stay tuned.
BRIEFLY TO THE CHARTS: Cold War Kids featuring Bishop Briggs spends a second week at the top of my SNS 100 playlist, with The Palms taking the runner-up spot with "Levitate". Offguard, the band from Long Island drops a notch to #3, with Portugal. The Man's latest, "Live in the Moment" bulleting at #4. Rounding out the top five, only in its third week, is "Alive" by Hegazy. I'm not going to make any prediction as to who will be #1 next week, but it could be any of these five songs. We shall see.
Ed Sheeran gets his fourth top 20 as "Perfect" takes the Impact award., moving 26-15 in its fourth week. "Shape of You", the first hit from his latest album, Divide, holds at #69 in its 34th week. With just a few more blogs to go this year, he has a good chance of grabbing the year-end #1 spot for the second time in three years, following "Thinking Out Loud" in 2015 but there is competition. More on that in a future blog.
Of particular note is "Angela", by The Lumineers, which has spent almost half a chart year wandering around in the middle of the pack each week, suddenly moves up from 72-59 in its 24th week. The song is still advancing on some radio format charts, and has been talked about in a few sources. The song has been going through my head recently. The song originally peaked at #46 a while back, and it reminds me of "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons, which only reached #42 but spent 49 weeks on my list. Speaking of the Dragons, a band that has had "crossover" success but to be honest, has never made a big impact with me--seven of their songs have graced my chart, but none have exceeded my top 50 with the exception of "Radioactive", their latest, "Thunder", top five on the Billboard Hot 100, and unseating "Feel It Still" on the radio airplay charts, moves up to #36 here, which is a record for them.
Not a great week for debuts, as the Top Debut honor goes to "Day I Die" by The National, moving from a Tremor to #86. Country acts enter the list this week, as Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett and Zac Brown Band's latest debut.
The first holiday song, Sia's "Santa's Coming For Us" hits the list this week at #89. Sia is one of the more talented pop stars out there today, but to be honest, I haven't really given her the time of day. Her only prior entry on SNS, "Cheap Thrills", featuring Sean Paul, peaked at #61 last year. But perhaps, this will be a catalyst to check more of her work out.
SPOILED: Also added, as a Tremor, is Taylor Swift's "Ready for It". Her new album, Reputation, debuted at #1 with over a million units sold, which easily becomes the biggest album of the year. To be honest, however, both "Ready for It" (at least on first listen), and the first single off of it, "Look What You Made Me Do" are horrible and are examples of what's wrong with pop music these days. Hasn't this sparse hip-hop oriented pop run its course yet? What's worse is that Swift made some great pop music over the years before "selling out" to pop. It's a shame that talented artists who have debuted with some great material, have to dumb down their talents to make it onto pop radio. I have much more respect for artists who can influence what is out there, not be influenced. What did Kanye West do to her?
I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving!
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100
November 19,
2017
| This Week | Last Week | ARTIST-Title | Weeks on List |
| 1 | 1 | NUMBER ONE:
"So Tied Up"
Album: L.A. Divine
(2 weeks at #1)
|
10 |
| 2 | 3 | The Palms - Levitate | 7 |
| 3 | 2 | Øffguard - Strawberry Moon | 7 |
| 4 | 6 | Portugal. The Man - Live In the Moment | 5 |
| 5 | 14 | Hegazy - Alive | 3 |
| 6 | 4 | Cold War Kids - Invincible | 12 |
| 7 | 8 | Pink - What About Us | 11 |
| 8 | 10 | Pageants - Chai ('n) | 7 |
| 9 | 13 | The War on Drugs - Holding On | 10 |
| 10 | 5 | Beck - Up All Night | 10 |
| 11 | 7 | The National - The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness | 16 |
| 12 | 12 | George Ezra - Don't Matter Now | 13 |
| 13 | 20 | Weezer - Happy Hour | 6 |
| 14 | 11 | Portugal. The Man - Feel It Still● | 29 |
| 15 | 26 | TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
"Perfect"
Album: Divide
|
4 |
| 16 | 15 | BØRNS - Faded Heart | 10 |
| 17 | 19 | St. Vincent - New York | 12 |
| 18 | 9 | Beth Ditto - I Wrote the Book | 13 |
| 19 | 22 | Lord Huron - The Night We Met | 11 |
| 20 | 33 | Phillip Phillips - Miles | 4 |
Tremors:
101. Taylor Swift, "Ready For It"
|
|
Songs
with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week.
● Songs
with 25 or more plays on my iPod.
▲ Songs with 50 or more
plays on my iPod.
The “Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100” is a list
of current and recent song playlist which I am listening to.
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