I was running very late with this blog, and by the end of writing this, I will decide whether this will be a double issue, as I have done many times in the past, although only once this year. I've been keeping pretty busy lately with outdoor hiking and geocaching. I was going to write this Labor Day weekend, except I went on a day trip to Vermont on Saturday, then back home, our power went out Sunday evening and didn't come back on until Monday afternoon. Well, as I am completing this, it's now Friday and thus it is, indeed a double issue.
The week that this is dated, August 28, marks the twelveth anniversary of starting my music blog. It was written on that date, August 28, 2010, but was dated August 23. Back then it was just a Facebook note; I didn't move it to the current Blogspot platform until April 2011. Looking back then, I wondered what kind of music I was listening to, as opposed to what I'm listening to now. Of course, I was always into alternative rock (as I've been since the late 1980's), but my interest encompassed many other genres. I decided to go back and look at my initial top 20 listing for August 23, 2010 and compare it to the type of music that I am currently listening to. Upon looking at the list, I was pretty surprised, that not that much has changed. The one big difference is that there was no Carolina beach music listened to back then; compared to how it has invaded my list over the last several months. But to be honest, that's pretty much the only difference: new music by classic rock bands, 80's synth-pop throwbacks, and pop divas were on the list just as they are now. In fact, of the 20 acts on my initial list, five are either currently on the list or were on it recently. Conversely, some of these artists made their only appearance on my blog with their songs.
Akron-based duo The Black Keys had the first blog number one with "Tighten Up" and they remain a fixture on my blog, twelve years later. |
Here were my initial top 20 songs on my first blog, and a blurb about that, and comparing it to what I am listening to now.
1. The Black Keys, "Tighten Up"
I guess the one thing that hasn't changed is that I am still a fan of this Akron duo as their current "It Ain't Over" is in my current top three, and "Tighten Up" was the duo's breakthrough. It was well-deserved, as I did like several of their earlier songs in the 2000's, so "Tighten Up", from their album Brothers really put them on the map. Since then, they have had seven blog number one songs, and 13 top 10's. In fact, they've only missed the top 20 three times: "Next Girl", which preceded "Tighten Up", and was descending when my first list was made, "Keep My Name Outta Your Mouth", a 2021 release from that same album, and "Poor Boy a Long Way From Home", from their experimental 2021 project Delta Kream. Their songs continue to be catchy, without sounding overtly poppy. Twelve years later, I still haven't tired of them.
2. Jack Penate, "Be the One"
To be honest, I'm not sure how I discovered this British artist from London. I think it was played on Manchester VT alternative station WEQX, but regardless, this is very catchy pop-oriented rock. The song only reached #35 on the UK charts but went to #3 on the indie chart over there. Of course, I have an extensive list of artists from across the pond since, most recently Ian Roberts and his band Tinkers Lane, and solo artists like Tim Izzard and Anna Lavigne. British music, almost sixty years removed from the original invasion, is still pertinent to rock history. As for Penate, I had added only two songs of his since, the follow-up "Pulling My Heart Away" which went to #11, and last year, "Murder" from a 2019 album, which reached #28.
3. Bachman & Turner, "Rolling Along"
This duo, comprising Randy Bachman and Fred Turner, were one half of the classic 70's band Bachman-Turner Overdrive, who had hits like "Takin' Care of Business", "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet", and my #1 song of 1975, "Roll on Down the Highway", in which "Rolling Along" is sort of a sequel to. Randy, who was also with The Guess Who, was doing mostly solo projects, and was about to do an album with various guests on each song, including the likes of Neil Young, and Jeff Healey and he wanted to do one with Turner. Fred submitted a song "Rock and Roll is the Only Way Out". Randy loved what he heard and decided to do an entire album with just Turner. They released an album Bachman & Turner. "Rolling Along" the first single would peak here at #2, and the follow-up, "Slave To the Rhythm", got to #7. The duo, accompanied by Randy's back-up band, would tour for several years, and they recorded a live album in 2011 at New York's Roseland Ballroom. However, they didn't release any subsequent new material, and Turner retired in 2018. Randy still performs solo, or with his Guess Who bandmate Burton Cummings.
While this blog accentuates newer acts, classic rock bands from the seventies are not uncommon. Aside from Bachman and Turner, Heart, Foreigner, Santana (which hit #1 on my blog a few years ago), Jeff Lynne's ELO, The Cars and just recently, The Doobie Brothers and Chicago all had major blog chart entries here.
4. Metric, "Eclipse (All Yours)"
Metric, like Bachman & Turner, is from Canada, and like The Black Keys, have been a consistent presence on my blog chart all these years. In fact, in 2009, one year before this blog started, they had my #1 song of 2009 with "Help I'm Alive". "Eclipse" is from the movie of the same name, the second in The Twilight Saga series. While "Eclipse", peaking at #2 was the only blog top 10, they've had a steady release of songs throughout the 2010's. They are currently moving up with "All Comes Crashing".
5. Rachel Allyn, "Stand Still"
My blog playlist has always encompassed a mix of name acts and obscure up-and-coming indie acts, and Rachel, who was from Ogdensburg, NJ was a perfect example of this. Rachel was an aspiring country-rock singer who had gone to school in Nashville, then spent her summers playing local gigs around the Lake Hopatcong area. She had plenty of talent, and I really thought she was going somewhere. "Stand Still" which eventually would hit #1 here, was from her debut album Late Nights and Early Mornings. She would release two more albums, and would amass three additional blog #1's. Her cover of Shontelle's "Say Hello to Goodbye" was my song of the summer for 2011. She accumulated 13 top 20 songs out of 13 tries; 10 of them went top ten. She played at area festivals and opened for the likes of Kenny Rogers and others. She won the "house band" contest at Jersey Shore station Thunder 106, and played Shore clubs like Bar A, Jenks, and Martell's Tiki Bar. She also got noticed by New York country radio as well as Internet stations. Unfortunately, by 2017, some possibilities for her dried up and fell through, and has been inactive since. She got married in 2018 and has pretty much lived privately since.
Rachel was the impetus of myself exploring new, local music. My wife and I had met her parents and followed her at her many area gigs. My coverage of local music continues, though, especially with alt-pop singer Emily MacMahon, who has had quite a run for herself, with six number ones with her former band ScreenAge, and one solo chart topper. She is currently performing with her former ScreenAge drummer Sam Novotny as Colorjoy, as well as with cover band August Rage which includes veteran musician Steven DeAcutis. Like Rachel, I also got to meet Emily's parents and have caught many of her performances. Emily has much talent, and hopefully she will find major success; something that Rachel Allyn couldn't quite do.
6. La Roux, "Bulletproof"
"Bulletproof" was one of two songs in my first top 10 that also went top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, as I always kept an eye on the pop charts, mixing it with local and rock acts as well. La Roux was a duo at the time, headed by Elly Jackson, but she currently records solo under the La Roux name. It is not to be confused with late 1970's-early 1980's band LeRoux (also known as Louisiana's LeRoux). Jackson has released two albums since, but "Bulletproof" remains the only hit and chart entry both on Billboard and my blog, at its #6 peak here and #8 on Billboard.
The song, with its synth-pop sound could have come out directly from the 1980's. Apparently, that era has been well-preserved, as many current acts have used that influence. For example, Harry Styles' "As it Was" was 80''s influenced, and Kate Bush's current hit "Running Up That Hill" IS from the 80's.
7. Lady Gaga, "Alejandro"
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, was on top of her game back in 2010 as one of the hottest pop acts at the time. "Alejandro" was her seventh straight top 10 on Billboard, peaking at #5. She would string four more after that. These days, pop-wise, she has cooled off, but is still a major presence on Hot AC stations. While back then, she was always encased in face paint and fancy costumes with visual performance dwarfing her singing talents; in later years, she was just herself and her talent for singing was uncovered as well. While "Alejando", which peaked at that #7 position on my blog, was her only blog solo top 10, she had consistently made my top 40. She returned to my top 10 in a duet Bradley Cooper, with "Shallow" which hit the #6 position; the song was from the movie she and Cooper starred in; A Star is Born. Gaga is currently on my blog list with "Hold My Hand" from this summer's blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick.
Aside from Lady Gaga (whose father Joe Germanotta once played in a band with Tom Corea of Hounds of Winter, Einstein's Dad and Bad Attitude fame), I have embraced many other female pop singers including Katy Perry, Ellie Goulding, P!nk, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Lana Del Ray, Dua Lipa, and most recently, Sia, Lizzo and even Beyonce. Most of these artists have had at least a #1 here. And that's not to mention Adele, who has had five blog toppers here.
8. 22-20's, "Latest Heartbreak"
I've had my share of "one-hit wonders" on my blog chart. This is one of two of note that topped my list, but never had another entry, the other being The Rapture in early 2012 with "How Deep is Your Love". The 22-20's were an English band that had charted in the UK several times in the 2000's, and it was their 2010 Shake/Shiver/Moan that yielded their only blog hit; it was the most recent single though they released an album in 2012 (available only in Japan), broke up twice and reformed in 2019. The band encompassed blues and rock and hit #1 here in the fall of 2010.
9. V V Brown, "Shark in the Water"
This is another one hit wonder, which got to #8. It was her only Billboard hit, going to #67 on the Hot 100 and #26 on the Dance chart. Another from England, her first single came out in 2006 and most recent album in 2015. Another throwback of sorts to the eighties, as it has that early 80's new wave/punk influence as well as an indie-pop presence. Another style of music that repeatedly pops up on my blog list.
10. Gin Wigmore, "Oh My".
This singer, born Virginia Clare Wigmore, had recorded since 2008, scoring in her native New Zealand. She never charted on the Billboard Hot 100, but this song was her biggest in her homeland, going to #4 there. Here, it was one of three songs that made my list, and peaked at this number ten position. There was one other New Zealand songstress that would score stateside and, on my blog, and that would be Lorde, whose "Royals" topped both the Hot 100 and my blog. Ms. Wigmore still records, with her blues rock sound, most recently in 2020.
In the second ten on that initial list, were
11. Neko Case, "People Got a Lot of Nerve"
This song was from the singer-songwriter's hit album Middle Cyclone, which came out in 2009. It reached #8 here. She did have a number one blog song in 2018 with "Bad Luck" from that year's Hell-On set.
12. Stone Temple Pilots, "Between the Lines"
This was a comeback single for STP, which ruled the 1990's and early 2000's. Front man Scott Weiland had overcome his drug problems (albeit temporarily) and left subsequent band Velvet Revolver to reform STP; the self-titled album was a hit and produced this #1 alternative song (something they weren't able to do in their heyday). It peaked here at #12 as it was descending elsewhere. Unfortunately, Weiland was fired again by the band, and eventually died from an overdose. Chester Bennington took over for an album, but returned to his band Linkin Park, before HE took his own life. STP is still around, with Jeff Gutt the new lead singer, but pretty much have faded into obscurity; their 2020 album Perdida, didn't chart.
13. Hockey, "Song Away"
Hockey was a Portland Oregon band whose only blog song was this one, peaking at that #13 position. The band only released one album since, 2018's Roller Coaster Sounds.
14. Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros, "Home"
This was probably one of the most popular songs on my first blog. "Home" features leader Alex Ebert and then-co-singer Jade Castrinos. Ebert also fronted Ima Robot and recorded solo. Castrinos would leave the band, but the contingent continued on, last releasing an album in 2016. 'Home" made it to #12 here but was superseded by two others: 2016' "No Love Like Yours" (#11) and 2012's "That's What's Up" (#4).
15. Fleet Foxes, "Your Protector"
One of my favorite current bands, this Seattle band was formed in 2006. "Mykonos" was #3 on my year-end list in 2009, a year before my blog started. In the blog era, they consistently put out great material, albeit spanning several years between releases. While "Your Protector" got up to #12, the band had several blog hits like "Grown Ocean" (#5), "Can I Believe You" (#8), "Featherweight" (#2) and their #1 blog hit "Sunblind" which ruled for five weeks last year and landed at #5 on my year end list for 2021. They were recently on my list featured on Post Malone's "Love/Hate Letter to Alcohol", which spent one week on the Hot 100; the first time the band made that chart.
16. Train, "Hey Soul Sister"
A monster hit for Pat Monahan's band which essentially marked a comeback and a more pop-oriented phase for the band. It reached #3 on the Hot 100. Like Stone Temple Pilots which also made a comeback, this one peaked at this position on my blog but other hits made the upper reaches of my blog, such as their number 1, "Save Me San Francisco" from 2011 and the top tens "Mermaid" and "Bruises", both from 2013. They made another "comeback" of sorts when their current "AM Gold" reached #2 here just a few weeks ago.
17. Locksley, "The Whip"
This band, still together, hails from Wisconsin and have been together since 2003. They have released 10 EPs and numerous singles, recently as 2020. "The Whip" would inch up a notch to #16, and their only other blog entry also hit the top 20, that being "Let It Ride" in 2015.
18. Cascada, "Evacuate the Dance Floor"
Cascada is a three-piece Eurodance act from Germany. They recorded albums between 2004 and 2011. They had a top 10 Billboard hit in 2005 with "Everytime We Touch". 2007's "What Hurts the Most" reached #52 in 2007. "Evacuate the Dance Floor" was their third and final Hot 100 entry in the states, going to #25 in 2009 and a U.K. #1 hit. That song peaked at this #18 position here and was the only blog entry from the group.
19. The Constellations, "Felicia"
This group from Atlanta melded hip-hop, rock and psychedelic soul and originally were together from 2008 to 2013. They reformed in 2018 and released a single that year, but to date, their only charted song was "Felicia", which got to #34 on the alternative chart, and #11 here, their only blog entry.
20. Sheryl Crow, "Summer Day"
With the exception of Bachman and Turner, Ms. Crow has been around the longest of my initial top 20 acts, dating back to the 1990's, with her landmark Tuesday Night Music Club set. This song was from her 2010 album 100 Miles from Memphis and featured that soulful, laid-back sound associated with that city. It would peak at #17 here. Sheryl's most recent album was 2019's Threads.
TOP 100's: HOT AND SNS: Turning to the current action, the Carolina Coast Band featuring Rhonda McDaniel 's "The Thing About You" holds at the top spot for a third week, holding off a big charge by another band with "Carolina" in its name, the Carolina Blue Dots, with a big 15-2 surge to grab Mover of the Week honors. It's the second week in a row that beach music bands have had the top two songs. "Cruzin' Down the Boulevard", in its third week on my chart, becomes the fastest song to the number two position since ScreenAge's "Think Again" also hit #2 in its third week, in May of last year. That song would go on to take 2021 "Song of the Summer" honors as well as my year-end #1. "Cruzin' Down the Boulevard" is also the biggest jump to the #2 position since Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road", featuring Billy Ray Cyrus moved 19-2 three years ago.
With The Tonez's "Me and My Music" grabbing Top 20 Impact of the Week, and Doyle Wood and Sylvia Johns Ritchie garnering Top Debut honors with "Not Tonight (I Have a Heartache)", beach music has swept all four weekly awards. If "Cruzin' Down the Boulevard" hits #1 new week--and it's a good chance it will, it will be the first time a song has garnered four weekly awards in successive weeks: It was the Top Debut two weeks ago, last week the Impact Award, and this week with Mover honors.
FInally, "Cruzin' Down the Boulevard" had already peaked on beach music charts a while back; the Blue Dots' current song is "New Shoes (Let's Go Dancing)", although "Cruzin'" is still on Mitch Harb's list at #12. For me, the song is a perfect end-of-summer song. Now, if I can only get down to the Carolinas!
There were no other bullets in the top 10, with just some jostling for position. Harry Styles' former blog #1 "As It Was", inches back to #10, as it returns to the Hot 100's top position for a fifth time, accumulating an 11th and 12th week at the top: it's just seven weeks short of "Old Town Road". Deb Browning holds at #8 as "3 More Minutes" is still rising on beach music charts. The former blog #1 song has topped a couple other charts in its slow ascent to the top. The only other entry into the top 20 this week is King Tappa's reggae romp "Are You Feeling It?"; his third in that echelon.
Meanwhile, on the Hot 100, aside from "As It Was" returning (after rounds with Beyonce's "Break My Soul" for two weeks (now #9), and the #1 debut from Nicki Minaj (#7), three of the top four on Billboard are all too familiar: Lizzo's "About Damn Time" is #3, and Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" is #4. On my list, they are #16 and 7, respectively.
So, what's number two? That would be Steve Lacy's "Bad Habit" which has been in the area for several weeks as well, and it's my second highest debut this week at #67, just a notch behind "Not Tonight". Thus, half the Billboard Top 10; including the top four, are on my playlist this week.
NEWBIES: As mentioned above, the Top Debut is "Not Tonight (I Have a Heartache)". While I had just added the duo's prior song "Days of Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses"last week, as seems to be commonplace, a new song gets released just as I added the last one. And to be honest, I like "Not Tonight" better. The song starts like any other beach music song, but the song grabs onto you as you get deeper into it. The emotion and soul increase gradually until halfway through, when it goes you the chills. Beach music is still hot on the SNS 100 and this should keep the momentum going.
Just behind as mentioned earlier is Steve Lacy's "Bad Habit". No relation to Ed Sheeran's song of almost the same name, this was an unexpected treat. It's a nice, soulful chugger and very catchy as well. I'm glad to see this song in the Billboard top 5, it combines elements of different eras of pop, soul and even alternative. While I lament that artists like Curtis Harding and Michael Kiwanuka can't even make the Hot 100, I'm happy that Lacy has. He is an artist who combines alternative with R&B and was once with the band The Internet. The song is from his second album Gemini Rights. Expect a quick rise into the top 10.
Also added is Lizzo's follow-up to "About Damn Time", "2 Be Loved", generally in the same bag as the prior song; Canadian (from Toronto) all-female rockers Beaches, with "Grow Up Tomorrow", a nice rhythmic rocker similar to the Go Go's; Santigold's "High Priestess", a rather eclectic alternative/hip-hop/rhythmic hybrid that works; she last hit my chart in 2018 with the #24 "Run the Road". Joywave, which had a blog hit several years back with "It's A Trip", returns with "We Are All We Need"; Marcus Mumford, who fronts indie folk-rockers Mumford and Sons, going solo with "Grace", and last week's Tremors, "Spitting Off the Edge" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and 90's pop/alternativers Goo Goo Dolls, "You Are the Answer".
SOUNDWAVE RUMBLINGS: Colorjoy, the duo comprised of former ScreenAge members Emily MacMahon and Sam Novotny, has been performing gigs in central Jersey, with new songs from their forthcoming album. Later this month, on September 23, they will be at Corgi Spirits in Jersey City, then a return to Roselle Park's arts festival the following day, leading off that festival's lineup. It was in Roselle Park that ScreenAge made their mark, at both the 2019 and '21 events.......Deb Browning, in the midst of a hot year already which included two #1 songs, flew back to Florida to record a new song with The Six Piece Suits. The combination yielded "Take Me By the Hand" the last time out......Long Island-based Off Guard is expanding their gig areas, having played in Connecticut last month, the trio will take a trip up to Scranton PA to play the Electric City Music Conference festival at The Bog there....singer-songwriter C.Lynne Smith will perform her final show of 2022 at the End of the Road Theatre in North Cape May NJ on September 10.....Fitz and the Tantrums, which went to the top 10 recently with the summer-themed, good timey "Sway" is hinting at a new single, supposedly titled "Money Maker". Hmm....I wonder if it's an answer to "MoneyGrabber"? We shall see....
NEXT WEEK, I will announce the 2022 SNS "Song of the Summer". It's been a good summer for music with a wide variety of styles (including Harry) hitting the top echelons of the playlist. What song will take the honor?
ONE FINAL THOUGHT: During this writing, I learned that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away at the age of 96 in a 70-year reign. So many changes have occurred during her reign, especially the impact that British musicians have made during that time. Music from across the pond is so commonplace; a big change from when she ascended the throne back in 1952.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
August 28 / September 4, 2022 (Week ending September 10)
This
Week |
Last
Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE: CAROLINA COAST BAND featuring RHONDA MCDANIEL Album: Happy Go Lucky (Various Artists) (3 weeks at #1) |
11 |
2 |
15 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK: (Single Only) |
3 |
3 |
4 |
10 |
|
4 |
5 |
9 |
|
5 |
2 |
14 |
|
6 |
7 |
13 |
|
7 |
3 |
12 |
|
8 |
8 |
17 |
|
9 |
9 |
8 |
|
10 |
11 |
21 |
|
11 |
13 |
15 |
|
12 |
20 |
9 |
|
13 |
18 |
7 |
|
14 |
12 |
12 |
|
15 |
14 |
8 |
|
16 |
6 |
13 |
|
17 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: (Single Only) |
13 |
18 |
23 |
6 |
|
19 |
10 |
11 |
|
20 |
17 |
17 |
|
21 |
16 |
19 |
|
22 |
25 |
11 |
|
23 |
29 |
10 |
|
24 |
19 |
14 |
|
25 |
28 |
Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets - In My '64 |
10 |
26 |
31 |
17 |
|
27 |
22 |
10 |
|
28 |
30 |
9 |
|
29 |
33 |
7 |
|
30 |
41 |
4 |
|
31 |
27 |
12 |
|
32 |
26 |
24 |
|
33 |
40 |
5 |
|
34 |
34 |
14 |
|
35 |
39 |
6 |
|
36 |
32 |
Jerry Powell and The Carnival Band ft. Dave Sandy - Merry-Go-Round |
16 |
37 |
24 |
11 |
|
38 |
44 |
4 |
|
39 |
42 |
10 |
|
40 |
56 |
3 |
|
41 |
38 |
11 |
|
42 |
36 |
14 |
|
43 |
35 |
14 |
|
44 |
47 |
6 |
|
45 |
49 |
5 |
|
46 |
37 |
20 |
|
47 |
54 |
4 |
|
48 |
43 |
Winnetka Bowling League & The Knocks - I Like
to Hide in the Bathroom at Parties |
13 |
49 |
59 |
3 |
|
50 |
45 |
10 |
|
51 |
51 |
6 |
|
52 |
66 |
3 |
|
53 |
46 |
8 |
|
54 |
48 |
21 |
|
55 |
52 |
9 |
|
56 |
60 |
5 |
|
57 |
55 |
8 |
|
58 |
62 |
4 |
|
59 |
69 |
4 |
|
60 |
64 |
4 |
|
61 |
80 |
2 |
|
62 |
50 |
9 |
|
63 |
58 |
15 |
|
64 |
73 |
3 |
|
65 |
88 |
2 |
|
66 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT: DOYLE WOOD and SYLVIA JOHNS RITCHIE "Not Tonight (I Have a
Heartache)" (Single Only) |
1 |
67 |
--- |
1 |
|
68 |
53 |
15 |
|
69 |
72 |
5 |
|
70 |
57 |
19 |
|
71 |
76 |
4 |
|
72 |
83 |
Doyle Wood and Sylvia Johns Ritchie - Days of Sandy Toes and
Salty Kisses |
2 |
73 |
81 |
3 |
|
74 |
92 |
2 |
|
75 |
61 |
17 |
|
76 |
68 |
16 |
|
77 |
--- |
1 |
|
78 |
70 |
7 |
|
79 |
71 |
15 |
|
80 |
100 |
2 |
|
81 |
101 |
1 |
|
82 |
91 |
3 |
|
83 |
98 |
2 |
|
84 |
--- |
1 |
|
85 |
65 |
12 |
|
86 |
67 |
7 |
|
87 |
79 |
24 |
|
88 |
--- |
1 |
|
89 |
63 |
7 |
|
90 |
82 |
20 |
|
91 |
90 |
16 |
|
92 |
102 |
1 |
|
93 |
97 |
3 |
|
94 |
--- |
1 |
|
95 |
75 |
15 |
|
96 |
86 |
31 |
|
97 |
94 |
8 |
|
98 |
74 |
11 |
|
99 |
103 |
2 |
|
100 |
--- |
1 |
Tremors:
101. Tegan and Sara, "Yellow"
|
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.
Tremors:
Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS
100.
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