Finally, a few things to talk about this time, so let's get to it.
As is apt to be common for those who grew up in the 1960's and '70's, we seem to lose important music figures once or a few times a month. Last week was no exception with the passings of Peter Green and Pepe Cardona.
Okay, I know what you might be thinking. While Peter Green is a relatively known figure, especially in British blues circles---he co-founded the then blues band Fleetwood Mac, before moving on to a solo career, participating in many collaborations, including a couple of uncredited tracks on the Fleetwood Mac lineups most people know, and who was 73 years old, you might ask, "who is Pepe Cardona"?
Going back as far an anyone can remember, through the various eras of popular music, there are some singers and bands who have had lifelong success--hit after hit--memorable concert performances, and leaving their mark in the music annals. Some shine for a couple of years, sell out clubs and arenas, before going back into oblivion. And there are the one-hit wonders.
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| Pepe Cardona, the lead singer of one-hit wonder Alive n' Kickin', passed away this past week. He was 72. |
Cardona was the lead singer for a band called Alive N' Kickin', a band that, unless you are from Brooklyn, or an ardent observer of pop music from fifty years ago, you may have never heard of them. And while I have frequently mentioned Brooklyn as a hotbed of alternative and indie music for much of the past decade, this band embraced the Brooklyn scene back then....and really never let it go, in a sense.
Joseph "Pepe" Cardona died of Stage 3 pancreatic cancer last week. He was 72. But he left a legacy that, perhaps may not have been widely known, so those fans who followed his band around for over 50 years, it had a very much a strong effect on them. Not bad for having just one hit. But more on that later.
It was 1968 that a bunch of guys, along with female lead singer Sandy Toder, from Brooklyn got together and formed a band, called "Alive n' Kickin'". Like many fledging bands, they played the clubs in that borough and beyond. Included in the band was Bruce Sudano on keyboards, and John Parisio on guitar.
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| Publicity photo for Alive n' Kickin' circa 1970. |
There's an old adage about "it's not what you know, but who you know", and it was connections that led to Alive n' Kickin's big break. It seems that Toder's brother's wife was good friends with the then-wife of pop/rock legend Tommy James---he of Shondells fame---who was one of the premier acts of the time. Toder's brother's wife Doris arranged to get Tommy to sit in on one of the band's gigs out in a small club in Coney Island. Tommy loved what he heard, and was able to get Alive n' Kickin' signed to his label Roulette Reconds, the one owned by Morris Levy who was a front for the mob, although it wasn't known to the group at the time.
In early 1969, Tommy James wrote a song called "Crystal Blue Persuasion" that he planned to give to Alive n' Kickin' to record. A nice, easy grooving song that could also be a part of 1960's psychedelia, it would have been perfect for the band. But, in a change of heart, James decided instead to record it himself, as part of the Crimson and Clover album. Probably a good move....that album, which enabled Tommy and the Shondells to change their musical direction from a bubblegum-oriented pop band, to an album-driven one, hit the top 10, with the title track hitting the top spot on Billboard. As for "Crystal Blue Persuasion", that song was released as a single in the summer of 1969, and hit #2, and for yours truly, my #1 song for that year.
"Tighter, Tighter", a #7 hit for Brooklyn-based Alive n' Kickin in 1970
But James promised that he would write a song for Alive 'n' Kicking to make up for it. In the meantime, two of Alive n' Kickin's members, Sudano and Woody Wilson collaborated with James for the follow-up to "Crystal", "Ball of Fire". The song hit #19 on Billboard that fall, and #45 on my year-end list. A few months later, James came up with the song that would suit the band very well, and would pretty much define the band: "Tighter, Tighter".
Released in May 1970, "Tighter, Tighter", which was produced by James, (who had just left the Shondells), became a summer hit for Alive n' Kickin', peaking at #7 by the end of August. The band was much in demand during that time, touring with acts such as Eric Burden and War, whos "Spill the Wine" was popular at the same time, Chicago ("25 or 6 to 4" was another summer smash that summer), and appearing on shows such as American Bandstand. The song was perfect for the band, as it offered a male (Cardonia)/ female (Toder) lead. It seems like a promising start for the band. Sadly that was not the case.
Against their better judgement, Levy picked out a song called "Just Let It Come" as the follow-up, from the self-titled debut album. But the song stalled out at #69 in the fall of 1970. Two more singles, "Good Ol' Lovin' Back Home" (with Sandy sharing co-billing with the band), and "London Bridge", the latter written by David Gates of Bread, bombed. By late 1971, Cardonia and Wilson left the band. Sandy Toder continued the band for another three months, but that incarnation was over as well.
In 1976, Cardona decided to reform the group. While success would elude that incarnation, Alive 'n' Kickin' decided to go back to the club circuit,, as well as to tour with the draw, of course, their hit single, and Cardona didn't expect anything more than this being a labor of love. For the next 13 years, they went back to the club circuit, playing not only Brooklyn, but also the Rockaways, Hamptons, and even Hunter Mountain, the latter where I caught them playing a few times, at the now-defunct Tanners Tool & Die. They were pretty much a party band, playing all the appropriate bar music, such as their former mentor James' "Mony Mony" (which had just become a hit all over again via Billy Idol's version). One of the times I was there, I got to hear their hit, "Tighter, Tighter" in all its glory, standing just a few feet from where they were playing at the bar.
The then-current version of Alive 'n' Kickin' at Lido Beach on Long Island, doing their hit, with their guests, original members Bruce Sudano on keyboards, and Sandy Toder on co-lead vocals, joining Cardona and original (and current) guitarist John Parisio.
Cardona and Parisio continued to perform as original members of the band, along with new supporting members almost to this day, until Cardona suffered his illness. They were pretty much a wedding band, not much different from any amateur band doing those types of gigs....of course with the one difference.....their big hit. While one could possibly say that at least the band lived off the royalties from that hit, it wasn't so easy. Morris Levy, the Roulette label head was the front of organized crime and very little proceeds of that record ever got to the band. But eventually they got their share, and their love for playing music for fifty years resulted in happy times for Pepe Cardona.
While Pepe's death isn't going to set the rock world on fire, as a fan of that song (it was my #4 song of 1970, behind "25 or 6 to 4", "I'll Be There" and "Let It Be"), and follower of the band's Facebook page, it evoked memories of that song on the radio (and live at that club).
Bruce Sudano, the original keyboard player who left the band when it split in 1972, found some success later on the 1970's, meeting dance music legend Donna Summer and marrying her. He was also in a band called Brooklyn Dreams, which charted a couple of times, and shared billing with Summer on her "Heaven Knows" hit from early 1979. He also co-wrote her "Bad Girls" hit. They stayed married until her passing in 2012, and had two daughters together. In tribute to Pepe Cardona, here is a video of Sudano acoustically playing their big hit.
Original member Bruce Sudano performing an acoustic version of "Tighter, Tighter" in tribute to Pepe Cardona
May Pepe rest in peace.
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| Bruce "Cousin Brucie" Morrow in his heyday. The legendary 60's jock finished up a 15 years stint on Sirius XM's "6o's on 6" channel, but he's not yet ready to hang it up at age 84. |
LEGENDARY DJ: Bruce Morrow, aka "Cousin Brucie" who has been pretty much the soundtrack of my "contemporaries", mostly due to his evening show on WABC in the 1960's and early '70s, and has been much defined by the music of that era. After leaving 'ABC in 1974 to rival WNBC for three years, he co-owned several AM radio stations, including WRAN here in Randolph, NJ. He was a natural to the format of oldies WCBS-FM, and thus stayed with that station until its unpopular format change to the "Jack" format in 2005. He then hosted a Saturday evening show on the "60's on 6" channel at Sirius XM., "Crusin' With Cousin Brucie". Sirius however, just announced that Bruce is out at that channel, but didn't say if he was fired or not. Still, Morrow, at 84, says he isn't yet done. While his next steps haven't been revealed yet, there was talk or speculation that he may wind up back at WABC. That station, which has been talk since 1982, has had music shows frequently on Saturday nights. It would be full circle if he finished his career at the place he was much known for.
I USED TO WANT MY MTV: August 1 marked the 39'th anniversary of the launch of Music Television, or MTV. Of course, it's a running joke that a channel with the word "music" in it, which essentially hasn't played videos in roughly 20 to 25 years, still be associated with that term. But back in the day, it was a big deal. MTV pretty much revitalized a rather staid popular music industry which had seen record sales decrease each of the three years, aided by a recession, since its peak in 1978. MTV functioned at the time as a combined Album Rock station and a rock and roll magazine, broadcasting rock-oriented video as perhaps a rock station at the time would. It would also feature five "video jocks" (or "VJ's" for short) to announce the videos. News of upcoming concert tours and rock news (hosted by veteran Rolling Stone magazine critic Kurt Loder) would also be featured.
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| MTV, which debuted 39 years ago on August 1, 1981, changed the way we heard (and looked at) music. |
The radio industry had suffered into complacency by August 1981. Much of the top 40 AM sound was pretty much eclipsed by FM rock stations, and those that survived transitioned into more adult-oriented music, such as Air Supply, Christopher Cross and others. While few cable outlets jumped on MTV right from the start, its momentum increased, that by 1983, it was a big sensation. It would turn around the fortunes of the music industry, as it would have a national outlet for music to be heard. It also woke up radio to a new format called "Hot Hits", in its wake, developed by veteran radio consultant Mike Joseph. Top 40 became "Contemporary Hit Radio" and popular music would return to its former glory for much of the 1980's. Thanks to pressure from record labels, most notably MTV's reluctance in playing pop artists, especially black artists, by the middle of the decade, MTV was pretty much a pop station. While the channel started diversifying itself towards the latter half of the decade, with music speciality shows, along with game shows and other programs that featured music, such as Remote Control, Club MTV, and even non music shows like Speed Racer repeats, the channel made a mark for itself, for better or for worse.
While indeed, MTV these days seems to have pandered into sensational nonsense, with reality shows (Jersey Shore, anyone?) and other stuff, we can at least attribute its beginnings to change the course of music back in the day.
PEPPER, 3 AVI's, NEON AND LEON: Turning to the current playlist, it's a sixth week at the top for Pepper's "Change". It's the longest running blog chart topper since Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" also reigned for six weeks in the summer of 2015. The only songs which have ruled longer have been "Fever" by the Black Keys which holds the record with 8 weeks, plus 7-weekers "Out of My League" (Fitz and the Tantrums), Pink's "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)", and Those Darlin's "Screws Get Loose". However, chances are slim that "Change" can move a seventh week; two New Jersey acts, Real Estate and Donna Missal, are poised to take charge next week. For Missal, it would be an act of revenge, as her "How Does It Feel" (10-5) may do the trick; her last, "Let You Let Me Down" was #2 for three weeks, as "Change" held that one back. We shall see.
I add six songs this week, led by Shannon Marsyada's "A Love That Doesn't Hurt", my fifth featured song from her Oceans set. Shannon had posted of the anniversary of that album's release on her page, this past week. At the time, I had written my review of the album and thought this song might make a good single. It's got a great Amy Winehouse vibe to it. With ZZ Ward's "Break Her Heart" holding at #20 this week, it's nice to see artists remembering her retro-yet-trend-setting style, a tribute to an artist that was gone too soon. A nice soulful effort for Shannon.
I also add the third single from the husband-and-wife duo Tennis' latest album, Swimmer, with "How to Forgive" which is a little bit of a change for them. A shuffling beat recalls Madonna's "True Blue" as well as Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", it even has a little Carolina Beach Music vibe as well. Maybe not as immediate as their other songs I've featured, but it gets stronger with each listen. I have no idea why this band hasn't had success even at the Hot AC level, if not alternative, but I've been a fan now for 8 years and counting.
Neon Trees follow up their blog top 5 "Use to Like" with "New Best Friend". An alternating slow and midtempo beat , it is still an indie-pop showcase and is definitely worth a bunch of listens. Should be a staple at alternative radio, except it falls to #38 after only five weeks at that format. So, what else is new?
Also added is "Chill Out" by Iration. Pepper's success on my playlist has gotten me to find out what happened to the other reggae-oriented band from Hawaii. This was a recent song by them, and it's a simple, harmonizing pseudo-reggae effort from the band. While Leon Bridges has retreated from the retro-soul that made me a fan, his latest "Sweeters" featuring Terrace Martin, while a contemporary effort bordering on the hip-hop sound of the day (I still don't understand why artists change their style to the current trends, instead of current music skewing to them, but that's a story for another time), but his voice punctuates this music form to make it very palatable. I would love to see Bridges score pop with this one.
THREE AVI'S: Finally there is Avi Kaplan's "I'll Get By". Kaplan was a former member of the acapella group Pentatonix, famous mostly for their holiday music. Kaplan left that group in 2017. This is the title track from his first true solo EP. The style is definitely in the indie folk mode pioneered by acts such as Phillip Phillips, Bon Iver, The Lumineers, the Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons. Of particular note, this makes three artists named "Avi" on the list this week, following Avi Buffalo and Avi Wisnia. Kaplan's full first name is "Avriel", as opposed to Avi Buffalo's is "Avigdor". I'm not sure what Wisia's full first name is, though. They're all talented, though.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
July 26, 2020
This
Week
|
Last Week
|
ARTIST-Title
|
Weeks on List
|
1
|
1
|
NUMBER ONE:
"Change"
Album: Local Motion
(6 weeks at #1)
|
14
|
2
|
2
|
15
|
|
3
|
5
|
7
|
|
4
|
6
|
12
|
|
5
|
10
|
6
|
|
6
|
3
|
11
|
|
7
|
4
|
12
|
|
8
|
7
|
10
|
|
9
|
8
|
11
|
|
10
|
12
|
9
|
|
11
|
11
|
10
|
|
12
|
13
|
9
|
|
13
|
16
|
5
|
|
14
|
17
|
9
|
|
15
|
9
|
14
|
|
16
|
23
|
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
Album: Mind the Moon
|
6
|
17
|
18
|
8
|
|
18
|
25
|
8
|
|
19
|
22
|
15
|
|
20
|
20
|
8
|
|
21
|
40
|
MOVER OF THE WEEK:
Album: Turn Her Up
|
3
|
22
|
21
|
10
|
|
23
|
32
|
6
|
|
24
|
15
|
13
|
|
25
|
14
|
15
|
|
26
|
33
|
16
|
|
27
|
37
|
5
|
|
28
|
27
|
19
|
|
29
|
30
|
13
|
|
30
|
29
|
13
|
|
31
|
31
|
12
|
|
32
|
24
|
12
|
|
33
|
19
|
15
|
|
34
|
36
|
13
|
|
35
|
28
|
11
|
|
36
|
26
|
16
|
|
37
|
53
|
3
|
|
38
|
47
|
5
|
|
39
|
34
|
14
|
|
40
|
45
|
7
|
|
41
|
41
|
9
|
|
42
|
49
|
7
|
|
43
|
35
|
18
|
|
44
|
38
|
8
|
|
45
|
39
|
17
|
|
46
|
54
|
4
|
|
47
|
57
|
4
|
|
48
|
42
|
9
|
|
49
|
44
|
14
|
|
50
|
51
|
11
|
|
51
|
50
|
9
|
|
52
|
71
|
2
|
|
53
|
43
|
16
|
|
54
|
46
|
15
|
|
55
|
63
|
5
|
|
56
|
59
|
6
|
|
57
|
68
|
4
|
|
58
|
70
|
3
|
|
59
|
56
|
22
|
|
60
|
62
|
10
|
|
61
|
69
|
9
|
|
62
|
48
|
15
|
|
63
|
52
|
16
|
|
64
|
80
|
2
|
|
65
|
65
|
8
|
|
66
|
72
|
4
|
|
67
|
55
|
16
|
|
68
|
---
|
TOP DEBUT:
Album: Oceans
|
1
|
69
|
79
|
2
|
|
70
|
60
|
17
|
|
71
|
61
|
21
|
|
72
|
---
|
1
|
|
73
|
58
|
18
|
|
74
|
75
|
3
|
|
75
|
77
|
3
|
|
76
|
67
|
26
|
|
77
|
---
|
1
|
|
78
|
64
|
17
|
|
79
|
78
|
4
|
|
80
|
84
|
2
|
|
81
|
89
|
3
|
|
82
|
73
|
13
|
|
83
|
86
|
2
|
|
84
|
66
|
15
|
|
85
|
87
|
4
|
|
86
|
---
|
1
|
|
87
|
---
|
1
|
|
88
|
81
|
8
|
|
89
|
91
|
2
|
|
90
|
---
|
1
|
|
91
|
76
|
17
|
|
92
|
74
|
16
|
|
93
|
90
|
4
|
|
94
|
82
|
17
|
|
95
|
88
|
14
|
|
96
|
92
|
19
|
|
97
|
83
|
22
|
|
98
|
85
|
18
|
|
99
|
99
|
12
|
|
100
|
94
|
6
|
Songs with the greatest increase in
favorite points over the prior week. ●
Songs with
25 or more plays on iTunes/iPods ▲ Songs with 50 or more plays.
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