Happy New Year!
Yes, I am still here. A little late start for me, but then again, I usually take a little hiatus after the holiday season and decide whether I want to continue this blog. I had decided to go on with it, at least for the time being, and perhaps write less and just publish my Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100 Playlist.
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| Meat Loaf passed away this week at the age of 74. |
So, what happens? We lose two music icons in the last couple weeks, including a "larger than life" rock singer that released a landmark album 45 years ago, and the leader of one of the successful "girl groups" of the early 1960's. Add to that, the passing of one of the architects of the most famous rock festival of all time, and the break-up of my most successful blog band of just the past year, and well, suddenly I have things to write about. Add to that, five of Billboard's Top 10 songs are on my playlist this week, something that probably hasn't happened in a long while, so....here I go again!
Let's start with Meat Loaf, whose passing on January 20th has many of my friends posting and talking about, remembering both his music, and for many, seeing him live. I never got the opportunity to catch a concert of his, but I came close twice. Sadly, the singer, born Marvin Lee Aday, died at the age of 74, and while no cause of death had been disclosed, he had been suffering from complications due to COVID-19.
For many music fans, Meat Loaf came into prominence in late 1977 when he released Bat Out of Hell, he had been around years before. He was also an actor, both on stage and screen, most notably in the cast of Hair and then The Rocky Horror Show (and its film incarnation, The Rocky Horror Picture Show). But he also recorded music, initially for Motown back in 1971. In fact, that was the year he first made the Billboard charts, peaking at #71 with "What You See is What You Get", billed as "Stoney and Meatloaf". The song had a vibe similar to what The Temptations were doing at the time. "Stoney" was singer Shaun Murphy, who was also an actress, alongside Meat Loaf in a Detroit production of Hair. The duo was short-lived, however, and Meat Loaf went the solo trail soon after, while Ms. Murphy would join Bob Seger, and later, Eric Clapton's bands in the 1980's. For Meat Loaf, a few years later came the Rocky Horror shows, and he had met up with composer/songwriter Jim Steinman, who would provide many of the songs that would later mark Meat's career. Members of Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band, also provided much of the instrumental arrangements.
Bat Out of Hell was produced by Todd Rundgren and was recorded in Woodstock, NY, New York City and West Orange, NJ. Steinman provided the songs and accompanied Meat on the vocals as well. It took a while for the set to get off the ground, and a record label, but they soon were signed on Cleveland International Records, distributed by Epic. The first single "You Took the Words Right out of my Mouth (Hot Summer Night)" dented the charts in late 1977. Meat started playing small venues, my brother caught one of his shows late that year.
The tour hit many of the local college campuses, including mine at Montclair State University. Unfortunately, the gig was postponed due to one of Meat's frequent health issues, which plagued him much of his career, as he often carried an oxygen tank which he needed even during a show. Meanwhile his album took off, and the second single, "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad", became a huge hit, peaking at #11 on Billboard. Thus, when he played Montclair, he was red hot as an artist, but for some reason I didn't go to the show, I'd come to regret that. My friend (and musician) Tom Corea was working behind the scenes for another show, at Kean College, where he was asked to provide "security" for Meat. He was a big guy but down-to-earth, and when he asked Tom what his job was, Meat replied "I feel fuckin' safe!". We went on to autograph Tom's album. That's how Meat Loaf was, a nice guy.
While Bat Out of Hell didn't go higher than #14, it remained a steady seller throughout 1978. The follow-up single, "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", also hit the top 40, but probably was more well-known, especially on the party circuit. The song featured Ellen Foley trading vocals with Meat, about "going all the way", and legendary Yankees broadcaster, Phil Rizzuto midway through the song calling "play-by-play" (although when Meat asked him to do this, Rizzuto had no idea of the double-entendre meaning of the song). The song hit the top 40 on Billboard. A re-issue of "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth" was then released, and again, hit the lower portions of the Billboard chart. On my year-end survey, "Two out of Three..." was #9 (and was part of a running joke with my Mom. Whenever I asked her what's for dinner, and the answer was "Meatloaf....Two out of Three Ain't Bad!"). "Paradise" was #41 on my list that year and would be a big shore party song during my beach house era, often trading verses with friends whenever the deejay would play it.
More health issues delayed Loaf's next album until late 1981 (Jim Steinman had written an album for him, but because Meat lost his voice, Steinman sang and released the album himself, Bad for Good, a single, "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" (later sung by Meat Loaf during his 1990's comeback), hit the top 40, but Dead Ringer, was a sales disappointment compared to Bat, although his duet with Cher, "Dead Ringer for Love" made some noise. A falling out with Steinman (they sued one another) caused Meat Loaf to go solo with his next album, Midnight at the Lost and Found, which missed the charts altogether. However, 1984's Bad Attitude brought him back on the album chart.
After a few more albums that didn't make the charts, perhaps Meat Loaf was a thing of the past, and when that happens to many artists, they go back to playing the small clubs. It was then that I got a chance to hear Meat Loaf---sort of. In late 1989, he was playing at The Nook, which was a club attached to the Hidden Hills Golf Course in Hackettstown. Two of my friends, Sharon Wojtaszek and Barb Pressman had tickets to go (Barb lived just down the street). The rest of us thought that perhaps we could get in, but unfortunately it was packed, and we were turned away. But that didn't stop us from hearing him from the parking lot of the club.
Probably one of the biggest "comebacks" in rock music came in 1993 when Meat Loaf reunited with Jim Steinman for Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell. The album hit #1 on Billboard, as well as the first single, "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)", far and away his biggest single hit. The follow-up, "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" reached #13, exceeding the peak of Steiman's version 12 years earlier. A third single, "Objects in the Rear View Mirror Appear Closer Than They Are", also made the top 40. Next came 1995's Welcome to the Neighbourhood, with another hit, "I'd Lie for You (And That's the Truth)" (#13).
Meat Loaf would release the third album of the Bat trilogy in 2006, Back Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose, which became his third---and final---top ten album, although he continued to record and tour well into the 2010's. His most recent album was 2016's Braver Than We Are. Always beset with some health issues, they because more frequent the last several years, collapsing on stage at gigs in Pittsburgh in 2011 and Edmonton in 2016, and breaking a collarbone falling off the stage in 2019 during a Texas Fightmare interview.
Meat Loaf, who was an "anti-vaxxer" had suffered from COVID-19, and although the cause of death hasn't been determined as of yet, it is believed COVID had something to do with his passing.
Meat Loaf was definitely a rock icon who will be missed.
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| Ronnie Spector, leader of 60's girl group The Ronettes, passed away on January 12 at the age of 78 |
BE OUR BABY: On January 12, the rock n' roll world lost another icon, Ronnie Spector, who was part of the legendary girl group The Ronettes. Born Veronica Bennett, she grew up in East Harlem New York, and formed the group with her sister and cousin. Produced by Phil Spector as part of his famed "wall of sound", the group recorded many notable songs, with "Be My Baby" their biggest hit, going to #2 in 1963. While their other songs didn't do quite as well, they were and are still very popular and many of them were covered by other artists. Songs like "Baby I Love You", "Walking in the Rain", "I Can Hear Music", and "Do I Love You?" were covered by the likes of Andy Kim, Jay & the Americans, The Beach Boys and others. But, by 1966, the hits stopped coming, although Ronnie often performed solo. She would marry Spector in 1968; the marriage was a nightmare; the abusive Phil Spector would often treat Ronnie like a prisoner and do physical and emotion harm to her; the marriage mercifully ended in 1974. She would resume performing again, going the solo route in the 1980's. While none of her releases made any noise, she was apparent on two singles by prominent artists: Billy Joel on "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" (1981), and most notably duetting with Eddie Money on his 1986 hit "Take Me Home Tonight".
The Ronettes also recorded in their heyday, Christmas songs, three which placed on the classic A Christmas Gift For You set in 1963. One of these, "Sleigh Ride" still makes the charts; it had recently peaked at #10 a few years back and still made the top 20 this past holiday season. It has also been on my Top 100 Christmas list at #35 on my latest tally. "Frosty the Snowman", also from that album, was #69 on my 2021 listing. Their version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" had also appeared by my listing in years past. Ronnie Spector died from cancer. She was 78.
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| Michael Lang was one of the organizers of 1969's Woodstock festival. He passed away on January 8 at age 77. |
GARDEN IN THE SKY: Finally, we lost Michael Lang, who was one of the promoters of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, held at Bethel, NY in August 1969. He also was a producer and artist manager, most notably for Joe Cocker, as well as other functions within the music industry. Aside from the classic festival in 1969, he also helped in organizing Woodstock '94 and '99 and attempted to produce a 50th anniversary festival in 2019 but was rebuffed when sponsors and venue operators backed out. Lang died on January 8 from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. He was 77.
HOT 100: Since I last blogged, Mariah Carey did her usual thing of having her "All I Want For Christmas Is You", stay at #1 for 3 weeks this holiday season before exiting the charts, along with all the other holiday entries. Adele, who had a seven-week run before that with "Easy On Me", has returned to the top spot for two more weeks, giving the song nine weeks total. The ever pesky "Stay" by The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber is back up to #2. And Glass Animals' "Heat Waves", a former alternative #1, moved to #3. All three songs are on my playlist this week, and I can't remember the last time that's happened. Adele, who had a three-week number one stint on my blog, moves back up from 15 to 12; "Stay" moves from 86-83; and "Heat Waves" which was re-added to my list a few weeks back, moves 70-67; it had peaked here at #32 last spring. Elton John and Dua Lipa's "Cold Heart" also entered Billboard's top 10, Elton's first foray in that echelon since 1998; and Ed Sheeran's "Shivers" is there as well. "Cold Heart" peaked here at #7 and is now #19; "Shivers" peaked at #11 here and now sits at #22 blog.
FINALLY, MY BLOG PLAYLIST: The New Year starts pretty much the way the last one ended, with Anna Lavigne's "Dance the Last Goodbye" at #1. ScreenAge's now-ultimate (more on that below) "Like Fine Wine", a former #1, inches back to #2, and Ms. Lavigne's "This Time" advances from 4-3. Actually, "Wine" and "Time" are in a virtual tie; the ScreenAge song gets the nod as it had more points last week. By a whisper, it prevented Anna from being the third artists to have both #1 and #2 in the same week.
There is a possibility that it could happen next week, unless Babeheaven's "The Hours" or Kacey Musgraves' "Justified", bulleted at #5 and #6, respectively make a run. Kristin Chenoweth's Christmas song drops slightly from 5 to 7, Zac Brown holds at 8, while Glass Animals follow-up to "Heat Waves", "I Don't Wanna Talk" moves 11-9. Rounding out the top 10 is Tim Izzard's "Life in a Day" (16-10), giving him his 3rd straight top 10 from his David Bowie-inspired Starlight Rendezvous set.
Beach House's "Once Twice Melody" grabs Impact honors in a 22-11 move. Eavesdrop, Heartless Bastards, Donna Missal and Avril Lavigne debut in the top 20.
NEWBIES: Eight new adds to start the year, as I usually take a look at artists who had scored over the past year to see what new songs were released that I was unaware of. They are led by A Place to Bury Strangers' "Let's See Each Other". The Brooklyn noise-rockers scored here with the #4 "I Might Have". The new one is a bit slower in presentation, but still has that garage sound, a la early Black Keys, combined with that loud, raw alt-rock sound down pat. Should score with repeated listens.
Next is Einstein's Dad, the outfit borne from New Jersey studio outfit, The Hounds of Winter. However, during the course of the year, the international contingent expanded around Steve Shouse and the band released five albums in 2021, some without input from the original Hounds. The new one, "Here to Home" is the title track from one of the albums that do involve the Hounds; it is a departure in that this is a pure instrumental. While that would preclude Steve Roman's vocals, the song does include input from Tom Corea and Mario Licata, along with Richard Bradley. Refreshing blend of instruments breathes more life into this Sound Blend project and should net them a fourth straight top 10.
As I have done in the past, whenever I hear a song from any source that I love, that might be a few years old, I check it out and perhaps add it. Recently, my wife and I watched the eleventh and final season of Shameless, which has, among other things, an awesome soundtrack. "Never Gonna Be Enough" by Pickwick, featured in an earlier season of the show, peaked at #11 here in 2020; the song came out in 2016. In a similar vein, "Little Queenie" by Sad Girl, released in 2019, gets an add here. It is in a somber mood, like the prior song. The lead singer sounds a bit like John Lennon. This has a good chance to move up my list.
Delacey, who scored with "My Man", "Chapel" and "Unlovable", all hitting my top 20, returns with "Boy with the Blues". Less loungy than previous outings, it is still firmly in the singer-songwriter mode, with her vocal accompanied by guitar and lush background. LP, aka Laura Pergolizzi, returns with "Angels". She sings with raw emotion on this one and should follow "Lost on You" and "How Low Can You Go" to blog chart success.
Next is "Strangers" by Black Pumas featuring Lucius. This is a remake of a 1970 song by The Kinks; recorded last year, but it is starting to get some airplay on some alternative outlets. A bit of a change of pace, it is a very bluesy rendition. Eric Burton's vocals are in fine form. Lucius, who lately has been noted for being featured on other's recordings, has a bigger role in this one, in fact, the harmonies between Burton and the femme duo are magnificent.
Middle Kids, who had one of my biggest songs of last year with "Questions", are back with the title track from "Today We're the Greatest". More subtle than in past outings, at times sounding like Pageants, this is a steady, soulful song that should continue their hit streak. Hannah Joy is in fine form here.
Finally, we have Collective Soul's "Right As Rain". I recently saw this band play at Morristown's Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, and they put on a great show. They had included this song, which, at the time, I didn't recognize it. The song comes from their 2019 album, Blood, but is just now being released as a single. Unable to tour the past two years because of COVID, they finally got some dates in before Omicron's arrival, thus they are promoting the album like it's new. The Atlanta-based band has hit paydirt on my blog before; "Contagious" from the prior album, 2015's See What You Started By Continuing, hit #17 here. In the classic CS style, although more of a fuller production than their classic nineties hits.
GOING OUT ON TOP? This past week, I got the news that ScreenAge, without a doubt my top band of 2021, and coming off the #1 songs the prior two years and three of the top four, have called it quits. The band had been together for six years and had definitely made an impact on the New Jersey scene, playing popular venues as The Stone Pony, garnering notice across the pond in the UK, and even doing a talk show in Brazil. And, of course, seven blog top 10's, with six of them hitting the top spot.
But don't despair! ScreenAge isn't exactly going away, in fact two of the members are still together and they have some great plans for 2022. I am going to stop right there as it will be the focus of a blog in the near future! And to be honest, I am excited!
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
January 16, 2022
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This Week |
Dec 19 |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
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1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Angels in Sandshoes (2 weeks at #1) |
11 |
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2 |
3 |
9 |
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3 |
4 |
8 |
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4 |
2 |
13 |
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|
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
|
6 |
7 |
8 |
|
|
7 |
5 |
5 |
|
|
8 |
8 |
24 |
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|
9 |
11 |
13 |
|
|
10 |
16 |
8 |
|
|
11 |
22 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  Album: Once Twice Melody |
6 |
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12 |
15 |
11 |
|
|
13 |
21 |
9 |
|
|
14 |
20 |
11 |
|
|
15 |
24 |
8 |
|
|
16 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
17 |
13 |
14 |
|
|
18 |
28 |
5 |
|
|
19 |
19 |
16 |
|
|
20 |
25 |
7 |
|
|
21 |
9 |
Christina Taylor, Haley Mae Campbell and Brenna Bone ft. Kaylee
Rose - Jingle Bell Rock |
5 |
|
22 |
14 |
14 |
|
|
23 |
10 |
6 |
|
|
24 |
26 |
9 |
|
|
25 |
27 |
8 |
|
|
26 |
17 |
16 |
|
|
27 |
32 |
7 |
|
|
28 |
33 |
7 |
|
|
29 |
18 |
11 |
|
|
30 |
36 |
7 |
|
|
31 |
35 |
23 |
|
|
32 |
31 |
12 |
|
|
33 |
29 |
10 |
|
|
34 |
23 |
5 |
|
|
35 |
44 |
Courtney Barnett - Write A Listing of Things to Look Forward To |
5 |
|
36 |
38 |
22 |
|
|
37 |
49 |
33 |
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|
38 |
47 |
5 |
|
|
39 |
39 |
12 |
|
|
40 |
30 |
6 |
|
|
41 |
40 |
24 |
|
|
42 |
45 |
7 |
|
|
43 |
46 |
6 |
|
|
44 |
37 |
13 |
|
|
45 |
43 |
11 |
|
|
46 |
60 |
5 |
|
|
47 |
34 |
4 |
|
|
48 |
41 |
12 |
|
|
49 |
56 |
5 |
|
|
50 |
51 |
18 |
|
|
51 |
54 |
3 |
|
|
52 |
65 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  "Bonnie" Album: Asymmetry |
3 |
|
53 |
57 |
6 |
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|
54 |
42 |
13 |
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|
55 |
61 |
10 |
|
|
56 |
62 |
29 |
|
|
57 |
53 |
9 |
|
|
58 |
64 |
4 |
|
|
59 |
52 |
8 |
|
|
60 |
69 |
2 |
|
|
61 |
71 |
3 |
|
|
62 |
48 |
7 |
|
|
63 |
59 |
17 |
|
|
64 |
66 |
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats - Face Down in the Moment |
4 |
|
65 |
55 |
13 |
|
|
66 |
58 |
10 |
|
|
67 |
70 |
26 |
|
|
68 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  Album: See Through You |
1 |
|
69 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
70 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
71 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
72 |
76 |
29 |
|
|
73 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
74 |
63 |
9 |
|
|
75 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
76 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
77 |
81 |
4 |
|
|
78 |
50 |
6 |
|
|
79 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
80 |
78 |
28 |
|
|
81 |
67 |
19 |
|
|
82 |
77 |
31 |
|
|
83 |
86 |
3 |
|
|
84 |
80 |
20 |
|
|
85 |
85 |
15 |
|
|
86 |
74 |
23 |
|
|
87 |
68 |
6 |
|
|
88 |
72 |
2 |
|
|
89 |
73 |
20 |
|
|
90 |
75 |
17 |
|
|
91 |
79 |
19 |
|
|
92 |
94 |
5 |
|
|
93 |
82 |
20 |
|
|
94 |
83 |
12 |
|
|
95 |
84 |
11 |
|
|
96 |
87 |
20 |
|
|
97 |
88 |
5 |
|
|
98 |
89 |
18 |
|
|
99 |
90 |
15 |
|
|
100 |
91 |
13 |
|
|
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.
|
|
Holiday Songs
As interesting as ever Robert 👍
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteThank you Rob - an absolute honour.
ReplyDeleteGreat songs all round as always X
Thanks, Anna!
Delete