Late again, but a few stories of note, so let's get right into it.
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| Pop legend and former teen idol Bobby Rydell passed away last week. He was 79. |
We lost another legend last week, when Robert Ridarelli, better known as Bobby Rydell, passed away at the age of 79. While he was a bit before my time, he made an impact and was the perfect definition of "teen idol" at a time when the term was respected and drove the record industry in the wake of Elvis Presley. Being from Philadelphia he had perfect exposure on the legendary music show American Bandstand, which was taped in his hometown, five days a week, during his heyday in the late 1950's and early 1960's. From his first hit, 1959's "Kissin' Time) (#11) right onwards to "Forget Him", a #4 song from 1964 that peaked right before Beatlemania), he ruled the charts, along with many other hits. Along with Fabian, Frankie Avalon and Ricky Nelson, that time period appeal to many young people at a time that rock 'n' roll went through a rough period following the plane crash that killed Boddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. Not surprisingly, the arrival of The Beatles, pretty much killed most of their careers, but, thanks to oldies and nostalgia shows, Rydell lived on. Rydell tried changing with the times, covering the Lennon-McCartney song "A World Without Love", a hit for Peter & Gordon, in mid-1964 but only reached #80 with it. His last chart hit was another cover, by another teen idol of that era, Paul Anka's "Diana", but only reached #98 in 1965. He continued recording into the 1970's, but couldn't hit the Hot 100 at all, but did have a minor Adult Contemporary hit with a disco reading of "Sway". His finally recording was in 1977, covering the Mama Cass Elliot 1969 song "It's Getting Better". Still, he had a wealth of material in that he had toured almost up to the present day.
But his talents weren't confined to singing. He was also an actor, appearing in the likes of Bye Bye Birdie, and That Lady from Peking. "Rydell High" the fictional high school featured in the play and movie Grease, was a tribute to him. But it was his music that people most remember. Other hits included "We Got Love (#6, 1959), "Wild One" (#2, his biggest hit, 1960), 'Swingin' School (#4, 1960, said to be an inspiration for the Beatles' "She Loves You"); "Volare" (#4, 1960); and "The Cha-Cha-Cha", #10, 1962). But my favorite was his ode to one of the hot spots on the Jersey Shore, "Wildwood Days", which hit #17 in 1963, but remains one of many people's favorites, especially those living in Philadelphia (as Wildwood was a common destination for those living in the city of Brotherly Love), as well as Wildwood itself.
As mentioned earlier, he performed in the decades since his heyday, and upon his death, two of my friends and classmates posted pictures of them with Rydell. He died of complications resulting from pneumonia. He would have turned 80 later this month.
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| The Nerds, with Emily MacMahon at Right. Emily performed Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" at Asbury Park's legendary Stone Pony in March. |
EMILY WOWS 'EM: A very happy birthday to Emily MacMahon who recently turned 21. The former lead singer of ScreenAge appeared last month at the legendary Stone Pony (a venue that her band had played a few years back), joining the long-time popular Jersey cover band The Nerds, and Stephen DeAcutis on stage for a rockin' tour de force of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll". The Nerds have been around since the 1980's and have played all over Jersey and well beyond, and are veterans deluxe. And to have Emily come up and belt out that song only proves she can sing with the big boys; her vocal range in that performance is top-notch, even transcending what she did with ScreenAge. This young woman is definitely going places. Here's a video of that performance.
"Rock and Roll" by The Nerds with Emily MacMahon
THE SNS 100: Einstein's Dad dethrones Tim Izzard as "Here to Home" ascends to the top spot, becoming the SoundBlend contingent's first blog topper, after churning out three previous top tens. It becomes the fourth instrumental to hit the top spot on my playlist, following Dirty Beaches' "Elizabeth's Theme" (2012), and a pair of David F. Porfirio pieces: "Driving At Dusk" (2020), and "That Night On Bergenline Avenue" (2021). "Here to Home" is a departure in that it doesn't feature any vocals, which are usually handled by Steven Roman. Appearing on the track is project leaders Steven Shouse and Richard Bradley, who are joined by Tom Corea and Mario Licata. Thus, it puts Corea and Licata in elite company: They become only the third and fourth musicians to hit #1 on my blog with two different bands. Their primary studio outfit, The Hounds of Winter, reached the top in 2016 with "Oh Paige". Thus, they join another pair, Rebecca Coleman and Devin O'Brien, as the only others to accomplish that feat. Ms. Coleman and O'Brien hit #1 in 2010 as part of Avi Buffalo, with "What's In It For?", and then twice with Pageants: "Musings of the Tide" (2013)", and "Just Tell Me" (2021). And speaking of Emily MacMahon, her and Sam Novotny could do the trick also. The former ScreenAgers have formed Colorjoy and are set to release an album this summer.
Tom Corea actually just missed doing it a third time: "Merry Christmas Anyway", recorded with his bar band Bad Attitude, reached #2 in December, 2013.
Meanwhile, Portugal. The Man are one notch away from its third blog #1, as "What, Me Worry?" jumps 4-2; the song recent topped Billboard's Triple-A listing. The top 20 is very competitive, as many songs are making big gains, but only moving up a couple notches or so. Anna Lavigne holds at #3 for a fifth straight week with "Mindblown". Tim Izzard's "Empty My Head" drops to #4 after a three-week reign at the top, and LP is a strong mover with "Angels" moving 8-5. Papercuts, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Black Keys are strong in the top 10.
The second ten is even stronger as Mitski, David F. Porfirio and Band of Horses make significant gains in points but can only move up one notch each; Joy Again is also strong but holds its #17 position. Three big movers into the top 20 this week include Deb Browning and Six Piece Suits' "Take Me By the Hand" (23-18, Impact); Train's "Am Gold" (29-19, Mover of the Week) and Florence + the Machine's "My Love" (28-20). It's Train's first top 20 blog hit since "Bruises" in 2013 which was a duet with Ashley Monroe. It's also Florence's first since 2019's "Moderation".
NEWBIES: Eight new adds to the playlist this week, topped by the new one from the hottest artist on my blog right now, Anna Lavigne, "Lavender Days", her third from her sophomore effort Roses for the Ride. After two psychedelic-influenced songs, she delivers a more mellow, traditional ballad with Scottish-Irish overtones, and her unmistakable vocal comes through. It's still contemporary in nature, and with many listens should put her back in the upper regions yet again.
Milky Chance had a blog and alternative hit with "Colorado", and they return with "Synchronize". The German quartet's latest is in the same vein, with a pronounce beat alternating with a guitar driven passage, accompanying strong vocals. Commerical, similar to the prior hit, should put them back in the top 10 both here and on alternative radio.
I'm not sure what the next Adele single will be. To be honest, the artist, who my wife still loves, has become too mainstream for me, and with it, songs that really don't grab me and take hold, like her first two albums did. That having been said, I listened to her 30 album in my wife's car recently and there were a few really good tracks. Thus, I am adding "Cry Your Heart Out", which has that bouncy beat that screams "Carolina Beach Music" to it. With my current interest in the genre, I add this, although it's not on any beach music list thus far. But if artists like Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Zac Brown Band, Bob Dylan and Rod Stewart are currently on it (not to mention acts like The O'Jays, Temptations, Spinners and Al Green), then Adele deserves a run. The song should get higher than her disappointing "Oh My God", which was her first to miss my top 20, peaking at #32.
Babeheaven is back with the official third single from Sink Into Me, with "Heartbeat". Still in the top 10 with "Don't Wake Me", and ascending with "Make Me Wanna", the duo go into a more hypnotic, mid tempo excursion. Unlike their recent stuff, this might take a few more listens to get into, but their palatable sound will capture listeners quickly and should again propel them into the upper regions.
Folksters Caamp had a blog top 10 (and Triple-A number one) a little over a year ago with "Officer of Love" and they return with "Believe", which is right in that Wallflowers (the band with Jakob Dylan) alley; and Culture Wars make their blog debut with "Faith", with a vibrating, rhythmic, rather synth-driven rock song. Repeated listens could make this a big hit.
The current #1 on Triple-A is "Virginia (Wind in the Night")", by The Head and the Heart, and it's added here this week. It's a mid-tempo, strong song with quiet verses and fully produced choruses. The band has had several mid-charting blog songs, and thus deserves a shot.
I have to admit Billie Eilish is an acquired taste. She is renowned and with talent, but I've had trouble getting into her music. However, with her recent Grammy win in 2021 for "Everyting I Wanted" for Record of the Year, I visit her James Bond theme for "No Time to Die". I've always been a fan of Bond themes, thus am giving this one a chance. It's in her usual style, but with the movie's influences, it's worth several listens.
HOT 100 Briefly: Glass Animals' "Heat Waves' is still #1 in its fifth week, and 63rd on the chart, while "Stay" by The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber just won't go away, at #2. This, my friends is what is wrong with pop music these days and with the kids streaming this stuff. "Stay" was #1 for weeks in late summer. Aren't these people tired of these songs yet? There are tens of thousands of artists waiting to be heard, not to mention follow-ups by these artists that are just as good, if not better than these songs. If there's any decent news is "Enemy" by Imagine Dragons is #5...giving two alternative-based bands in the top 5. Of course "Heat Waves" is hip-hop in nature, while "Enemy" features rapper J.I.D. who is obviously the reason why this song is a hit. It was on the alternative chart, but I will not add the song. Back in the day, this was known as "selling out". Sorry.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
April 3, 2022 (Week ending April 9)
|
This Week |
Last
Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
|
1 |
2 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Here to Home |
10 |
|
2 |
4 |
6 |
|
|
3 |
3 |
9 |
|
|
4 |
1 |
9 |
|
|
5 |
8 |
10 |
|
|
6 |
7 |
10 |
|
|
7 |
9 |
7 |
|
|
8 |
11 |
7 |
|
|
9 |
6 |
9 |
|
|
10 |
12 |
4 |
|
|
11 |
5 |
8 |
|
|
12 |
13 |
5 |
|
|
13 |
14 |
5 |
|
|
14 |
10 |
17 |
|
|
15 |
16 |
5 |
|
|
16 |
15 |
16 |
|
|
17 |
17 |
5 |
|
|
18 |
23 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  DEB BROWNING and SIX PIECE SUITS (Single Only) |
3 |
|
19 |
29 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  "AM Gold" Album: AM Gold |
3 |
|
20 |
28 |
3 |
|
|
21 |
18 |
12 |
|
|
22 |
19 |
10 |
|
|
23 |
20 |
8 |
|
|
24 |
26 |
6 |
|
|
25 |
37 |
3 |
|
|
26 |
34 |
5 |
|
|
27 |
27 |
8 |
|
|
28 |
40 |
4 |
|
|
29 |
25 |
14 |
|
|
30 |
22 |
20 |
|
|
31 |
24 |
16 |
|
|
32 |
31 |
24 |
|
|
33 |
45 |
3 |
|
|
34 |
21 |
17 |
|
|
35 |
44 |
4 |
|
|
36 |
32 |
22 |
|
|
37 |
39 |
6 |
|
|
38 |
47 |
6 |
|
|
39 |
30 |
10 |
|
|
40 |
74 |
2 |
|
|
41 |
43 |
9 |
|
|
42 |
53 |
4 |
|
|
43 |
38 |
9 |
|
|
44 |
50 |
7 |
|
|
45 |
33 |
17 |
|
|
46 |
51 |
30 |
|
|
47 |
52 |
6 |
|
|
48 |
42 |
18 |
|
|
49 |
35 |
8 |
|
|
50 |
41 |
16 |
|
|
51 |
49 |
8 |
|
|
52 |
60 |
5 |
|
|
53 |
56 |
7 |
|
|
54 |
68 |
4 |
|
|
55 |
65 |
4 |
|
|
56 |
69 |
13 |
|
|
57 |
36 |
25 |
|
|
58 |
76 |
2 |
|
|
59 |
64 |
6 |
|
|
60 |
48 |
16 |
|
|
61 |
54 |
7 |
|
|
62 |
71 |
4 |
|
|
63 |
72 |
3 |
|
|
64 |
67 |
4 |
|
|
65 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  Album: Roses for the Ride |
1 |
|
66 |
46 |
16 |
|
|
67 |
55 |
18 |
|
|
68 |
63 |
35 |
|
|
69 |
80 |
2 |
|
|
70 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
71 |
59 |
25 |
|
|
72 |
58 |
22 |
|
|
73 |
84 |
2 |
|
|
74 |
85 |
2 |
|
|
75 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
76 |
57 |
8 |
|
|
77 |
62 |
17 |
|
|
78 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
79 |
89 |
2 |
|
|
80 |
79 |
3 |
|
|
81 |
92 |
2 |
|
|
82 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
83 |
70 |
24 |
|
|
84 |
73 |
7 |
|
|
85 |
75 |
14 |
|
|
86 |
88 |
3 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
61 |
Courtney Barnett - Write A Listing of Things to Look Forward To |
14 |
|
89 |
66 |
15 |
|
|
90 |
91 |
4 |
|
|
91 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
92 |
78 |
7 |
|
|
93 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
94 |
82 |
32 |
|
|
95 |
83 |
42 |
|
|
96 |
90 |
7 |
|
|
97 |
77 |
12 |
|
|
98 |
81 |
8 |
|
|
99 |
87 |
17 |
|
|
100 |
86 |
23 |
|
|
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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