Returning after a brief hiatus, fueled by Tropical Storm Isaias, which came up the coast, and in just a few hours, knocked out power to Northern New Jersey---and elsewhere around the state and mid Atlantic, for two and a half days. Many suffered outages for several days thereafter. Unlike Superstorm Sandy, however, our property, except for a few twigs and small branches, escaped unscathed; that prior storm which struck in 2012 caused a tree to fall on our house. A few houses from us there was a tree down that crushed a car. Wishing that all of you were safe and escaped unharmed.
While we were without power for three days and were back on by the end of that week (Thursday evening, August 6), rending it possible to publish a blog for that week, I just thought I was due a little break. I've been so much into listening to current music that I've put an ongoing music project aside....that is, uploading and downloading songs from the past to make a "Top 100 of the Year" playlist. I pretty much worked on my top songs of 1984, and started uploading 1985 songs from my cassettes. I also relaxed and listened to my 1978 countdown as well.. While I am really into my music of now (despite ignoring the banal pop scene and having to dig deep to listening to worthwhile music), I do miss the old songs, and some of them continue to run through my head for these last several days.
Anyway, I am back, in what is the tenth anniversary of me starting this music blog. I will have a special edition later on in the month on the actual anniversary, but for now, I will keep this going, hopefully every week until the end of the year. We're still, or course, dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and while looking at social media, and getting the impression that things are starting to return to normal----some artists are performing again, with concert dates popping up for a few weeks from now, and friends getting out and about once again---there is still an issue, with some states, mostly in the south, showing sharp rises in coronavirus cases again, and there are bans in certain states for those outsiders who want to come in. As for myself, I am still super cautious about any activity which involved people staying close together. I have participated in a couple of events in my other hobby, geocaching. Unfortunately, I had turned down a get-together a couple weeks back, as well as to get together with a couple that I was best man at their wedding 39 years ago; they just recently moved to Florida.
IT'S COUSIN BRUCE ON ABC: In my last blog, I had mentioned that Bruce Morrow, the legendary DJ known as "Cousin Brucie", who recently departed Sirius XM's "60's on 6" channel, might possibly go back to WABC-AM for a Saturday night oldies show. Well, that has, indeed happened. Beginning in early September, Morrow will host a three hour show on the otherwise all-talk station. The program will play music from the 1960's, 70's and 80's, with a "splash of 50's music thrown in.
While Morrow also worked for other New York City stations such as WINS, WNBC, and a 23-year run on WCBS-FM, he is still primary known for his evening shows at WABC. I started listening to that station (and Top 40 music in general), in 1966 and his shows were awesome; not just the music but even the commercials, some of which he would read. He remained with the station through the summer of 1974.
With the range of music to be played, it should be interesting on how he performs. While his Sirius XM show featured requests, which ranged from the late 1950's to the early 1970's, he will have to deal with the proposed music extending into the 80's, an era that he isn't primarily known for. During the last two years at WABC, he seemed "out of place" in announcing then-current songs from 1973 and '74, as the pop landscape had changed dramatically from the sixties. Although WNBC, which he went to doing middays for three years, also played top 40 music, the station was more oldies intensive, thus he was more comfortable. And of course, WCBS-FM with its oldies format, that was right up his alley. Wishing the best of luck for Bruce in his new gig.
JERSEY STRONG: A New Jersey-oriented band has returned to the top of the list. In fact, the top three songs are by artists hailing from the Garden State. Real Estate, originally from Ridgewood, score their first blog number one with "Paper Cup", which features Sylvan Esso. They came close with "Time" and "It's Real" but this song puts them over the top. Next is Donna Missal, who moves 4-2 with "How Does It Feel". That equals the peak position of her previous single, "Let You Let Me Down", which is #7 this week. And in the third position is ScreenAge with "Blue Eyed Addiction". Of course, none of these acts has ever made the Billboard Hot 100, although Real Estate has had success on the alternative chart; "Paper Cup" was a major chart entry there earlier this year. Donna Missal has gotten some airplay on alternative stations, but no chart action as of yet, while ScreenAge is a more obscure local band, but one that warrants watching; "Addiction" is their second song to hit my top 10.
NEWLY ADDED: Seven new songs added, headed by the strong debut of yet another Winnetka Bowling League song, "Come to the Beach", debuting at #49. The song is from their forthcoming, third EP, Congratulations. One thing that we haven't had this season is a legit summer song, thus this will fit the bill. The sound is along the lines of their top five "CVS" song from earlier in the year, with some exotic surf-like guitar sounds punctured in for full effect. While I personally wish they would do more in the style of their "Kombucha" biggie from last year, there is no denying this song, as well as leader Matthew Koma's talent. Should easy make my top ten.
Kathleen Edwards made my top 20 back in 2011 with "Change the Sheets", then pretty much dropped off the face of the earth. That song was from her fourth album, 2012's Voyageur; her first three albums yielded triple-A airplay going back to her 2003 debut her song from that debut. "Six O'Clock news" was in consideration for my year-end list that year.. But, aside from a couple standalone singles in 2012-13 and a holiday entry last year, she's been pretty much quiet. Edwards had all but quit the music industry; in fact she had opened up a coffee shop, appropriately titled "Quitters". Apparently, the suicide of fellow singer songwriter and journeyman Neal Casal (from nearby Denville NJ) caused her to withdraw, but it was a phone call from country singer Maren Morris that got her back into music. Thus, the Canadian singer-songwriter is back with "Options Open", from her just released fifth album Total Freedom. Her new one, "Options Open" from that album is an enjoyable indie folk romp and very appealing with every listen. Definitely recommended and good to see her back.
Also returning is Amy Shark, who twin-hit my top 10 in 2018 with the #2 "Adore' and #7 "I Said Hi", also returns with "Everybody Rise". The Aussie singer-songwriter hasn't been heard that much on these shores apart from those two songs hitting the Triple-A chart. Her latest is from a yet-to-be-announced third album. It's a rather quirky modern poppish romp with enough emotion to make it listen worthy for alternative listeners.
Any mention of Semisonic will of course refer you to their "Closing Time" hit from 1998. That ode to the bar scene was my #9 song of that year and from their second album Feeling Strangely Fine After one more album, they split in 2001. The band has gotten back together 19 years later for an EP, You're Not Alone, of which the title track has been added. Time pretty much has stood still for this Minneapolis band as the song is pretty much in their classic style. Next is Sea Wolf with "Blood Pact". The LA band has been around since 2003. The song is a slow-but steady mode but the notable fact about the song is its video. With the pandemic forcing a world-wide shutdown in April, the band gathered video footage from fans, with the tag "Where in this together so let's make something together".
I've been purposely avoiding most pop songs, but have added two by worthwhile female singers of the genre. Sia has been one of the better ones, but aside from two Christmas entries, I had never added one of her songs. "Together", while not her best is a decent song with her vocal making up for any sparseness. Dua Lipa's "Break My Heart" gets an added as a follow-up to her very good outing "Don't Start Now" which reached #2 on the Hot 100 and #26 here. Both songs are good for a few listens.
HAMMER TIME: Finally, I acknowledge the passing of pop-folk singer/actor Trini Lopez. He was 83 years old and died from symptoms of COVID-19. He had numerous chart hits in the 1960's including two memorable songs, both in the top 20: 1963's #3 "If I Had a Hammer", the Pete Seeger song also covered by Peter, Paul & Mary (who also hit the top 10 with it the previous year), and "Lemon Tree", #20 in 1965; it was adapted as a commercial for Lemon Pledge shortly thereafter. Most of his chart songs were covers, and one that didn't chart too high, "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" (#93 in the winter of 1967) I remember vividly as it was an MOR hit, it played on my Dad's radio station back then.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
August 2 - 9 , 2020
|
This Week |
July 29 |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
|
1 |
3 |
NUMBER ONE:  REAL ESTATE featuring SYLVAN ESSO Album: The Main Thing |
8 |
|
2 |
5 |
7 |
|
|
3 |
4 |
13 |
|
|
4 |
1 |
15 |
|
|
5 |
2 |
16 |
|
|
6 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
7 |
6 |
12 |
|
|
8 |
8 |
11 |
|
|
9 |
7 |
13 |
|
|
10 |
11 |
11 |
|
|
11 |
13 |
6 |
|
|
12 |
12 |
10 |
|
|
13 |
14 |
10 |
|
|
14 |
9 |
12 |
|
|
15 |
16 |
7 |
|
|
16 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  Album: Turn Her Up |
4 |
|
17 |
18 |
9 |
|
|
18 |
19 |
16 |
|
|
19 |
17 |
9 |
|
|
20 |
15 |
15 |
|
|
21 |
26 |
17 |
|
|
22 |
23 |
7 |
|
|
23 |
20 |
9 |
|
|
24 |
37 |
4 |
|
|
25 |
27 |
6 |
|
|
26 |
22 |
11 |
|
|
27 |
38 |
6 |
|
|
28 |
47 |
5 |
|
|
29 |
25 |
16 |
|
|
30 |
28 |
20 |
|
|
31 |
46 |
5 |
|
|
32 |
24 |
14 |
|
|
33 |
31 |
13 |
|
|
34 |
40 |
8 |
|
|
35 |
52 |
3 |
|
|
36 |
30 |
14 |
|
|
37 |
42 |
8 |
|
|
38 |
41 |
10 |
|
|
39 |
29 |
14 |
|
|
40 |
34 |
14 |
|
|
41 |
39 |
15 |
|
|
42 |
32 |
13 |
|
|
43 |
36 |
17 |
|
|
44 |
68 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  Album: Oceans |
2 |
|
45 |
33 |
16 |
|
|
46 |
35 |
12 |
|
|
47 |
43 |
19 |
|
|
48 |
58 |
4 |
|
|
49 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  Album: Congratulations (EP) |
1 |
|
50 |
57 |
5 |
|
|
51 |
45 |
18 |
|
|
52 |
61 |
10 |
|
|
53 |
60 |
11 |
|
|
54 |
66 |
5 |
|
|
55 |
55 |
6 |
|
|
56 |
64 |
3 |
|
|
57 |
49 |
15 |
|
|
58 |
53 |
17 |
|
|
59 |
69 |
3 |
|
|
60 |
72 |
2 |
|
|
61 |
77 |
2 |
|
|
62 |
44 |
9 |
|
|
63 |
51 |
10 |
|
|
64 |
50 |
12 |
|
|
65 |
59 |
23 |
|
|
66 |
48 |
10 |
|
|
67 |
75 |
4 |
|
|
68 |
54 |
16 |
|
|
69 |
74 |
4 |
|
|
70 |
81 |
4 |
|
|
71 |
79 |
5 |
|
|
72 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
73 |
56 |
7 |
|
|
74 |
86 |
2 |
|
|
75 |
63 |
17 |
|
|
76 |
87 |
2 |
|
|
77 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
78 |
80 |
3 |
|
|
79 |
70 |
18 |
|
|
80 |
62 |
16 |
|
|
81 |
71 |
22 |
|
|
82 |
83 |
3 |
|
|
83 |
76 |
27 |
|
|
84 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
85 |
65 |
9 |
|
|
86 |
90 |
2 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
89 |
67 |
17 |
|
|
90 |
78 |
18 |
|
|
91 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
92 |
73 |
19 |
|
|
93 |
89 |
3 |
|
|
94 |
84 |
16 |
|
|
95 |
85 |
5 |
|
|
96 |
82 |
14 |
|
|
97 |
88 |
9 |
|
|
98 |
91 |
18 |
|
|
99 |
92 |
17 |
|
|
100 |
93 |
5 |
|
|
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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