The Moonlight Still Feels Right for Starbuck, Deb Browning Heads CBMA Winners; Swift Dominates Hot 100...Again; Beatles and Stones in SNS Top Ten (SNS Week of 11/5/2023)

 This is another late blog, but it enables me to congratulate Deb Browning on winning the Carolina Beach Music Award for Best Female Artist.   It was very well deserved, and her year was highlighted by her #1 blog hit "Think I Found Forever".    Other CBMA winners who have graced the Scenes 'n' Soundwaves chart this year include Rivermist for Rising Star, whose "Right Place Right Time" scaled my top 20, peaking at #16.   Another blog top 20 hit, "Eight Four Three" by Jim Quick and Coastline, peaking here at #17, nabbed Best New Song, while Quick himself won Best DJ.   Rick Lee copped the songwriter award for Too Much Sylvia's "It Still Is", yet another blog top 20 (peaking at #13), that also featured the Best Male Vocalist, Steve Long.  Harold Smith, keyboardist of yet another top 20 outfit, Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot ("Don't Let Her Go, #13), wins Best Instrumentalist.

Disappointments?  Yes, while I like Rivermist, I thought Marlisa Kay Small should have won for Rising Star, and how could Deb Browning not win for her amazing "Think I Found Forever" video? That award went to Too Much Sylvia's "It Still Is". Both of them are well done, but I think Deb should have won.

A big "Congratulations" to all the CBMA winners this year!

Another disappointment for me was the National Dance/Shag Song, going to Keith Urban's "Texas Time" over Starbuck's "You're the Reason", a #3 blog hit and #1 on the John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 chart.   

Which leads us to.......

Starbuck, which is original lead singer Bruce Blackman these days, nabs the #1 spot this week with "On The Sand".    In a way, it completes a journey back into popular consciousness, if only in a regional way.

Starbuck's Bruce Blackman, with "On the Sand", moves into the #1 position on the SNS 100 this week.

Starbuck, of course, made its mark back in 1976 with the #3 hit, "Moonlight Feels Right".  That song brought back many memories for me, hearing it for the first time in April of that year during Spring Break in Daytona Beach.   The mood of the song was perfect for that area that time of year, experiencing palm trees and warm weather.     The song became a summer staple, when it had peaked on the charts, and to this day still gets much airplay and is referred to in many YouTube and other Internet videos.    It was also played at a Tavares, FL tap house by a DJ friend of our hosts for the week we were down.

While Starbuck was often referred to as a "one hit wonder", they actually hit the charts several times.   A favorite of mine was the follow-up, "I Got to Know", part of the soundtrack to the autumn of '76.    While only peaking at #43, it was an Adult Contemporary hit, and the song captured the feel of "Moonlight...".   A third single from their debut album, named after their big hit, "Lucky Man", also charted.

In 1977, Starbuck had its second and final top 40 hit, "Everybody Be Dancing", peaking at #38.  Changing their name briefly to Korona, they made the Hot 100 one last time in 1980 with "Let Me Be" (#43), before calling it quits.  The band reunited with several original and former members between 2013 and 2016 for several shows.

With much of the original lineup gone, leader and vocalist Bruce Blackman recorded a new album last year, appropriately titled Starbuck 2022, with Blackman playing all the instruments and handling production.   The first single was "You're The Reason", which captured the essence of the beach music experience.    Peaking here at #3, it was accepted by the beach music community, going to #1, as mentioned earlier on John Hook's National chart, but also landed on a few regional Carolina radio station lists as well.  

The follow-up was "I Love Doing Nothing".  While it stalled here only at #41, it did have a 15-week run, but more importantly, once again hit the top spot on the John Hook chart, making it two in a row.     

But it was "On the Sand" that hits SNS 100 paydirt for Blackman's project, knocking out Fall Out Boy's "We Didn't Start the Fire" after a five-week run.    Oddly enough, the song has yet to crack the John Hook chart, but it does move 27-17 on the current monthly Beach Music Smokin' 45 listing.  "On The Sand" becomes the eighth beach music song to top the blog chart in 2023.  That's one more than all of 2022.

Bruce has had quite the career, spanning fifty years.   He still performs, and while he had to cancel a performance at the CBMA awards, he still gets out where when he can.   He was inducted into the Mississippi Writers Garden in 2014, and his 2018 book, Moonlight Feels Right---the story behind one of the most popular songs of the 1970's, is about the story of Starbuck.    

Here is wishing Bruce Blackman continued success in his rejuvenated career.

HOT 100:   Here we go again.    Taylor Swift once again dominated the big chart, thanks to the release of the re-recorded 1989 (Taylor's Version) set.    She scores the top 3, as well as six of the top 10 with songs from the album, plus "Cruel Summer" from her Lover set, which falls from the top spot.   Headed by her #1 "Is It Over Yet (Taylor's Version) [From the Vault]", which many of my friends are indeed wishing it WAS over for her, she has half of the top 40 this week.    

SNS 100: It is Monday as I am writing this and am wondering if "Now and Then" the "new" and final song by The Beatles will debut at #1 on the Hot 100.    On the chart dated November 11, it "bubbled under" at #105.   Normally on Mondays they announce the new chart (which will be dated November 18).   At the end of this blog, I will check (scroll down below).   But....

"Now and Then" makes a big jump on the blog chart going from #39 to #2, just narrowly missing the #1 spot, which would have set a record for the quickest rise to #1 on the SNS 100.    With "Angry" by The Rolling Stones bulleted here at #9, the two classic bands of the original British Invasion are in my top 10.    The two songs are also in the Top 10 of Billboard's Triple-A chart, the first time in ages that both bands are in the upper echelon on any Billboard chart.    The Beatles and Stones first hit the top 10 on the Hot 100 59 years ago, when "I Feel Fine" was #5, and "Time Is On My Side" sat at #6.  While I am not 100% sure, some chart research shows the last time both groups were in the Top 10 simultaneously on the Hot 100, was March 25, 1967, when "Penny Lane" was #3, and "Ruby Tuesday" was #10---both having hit the top spot earlier.   Both bands continued having hits, but at different times.

 There are other big movers on the SNS 100.   Charlotte Sessions' "Should I Be the Man" moves 7-5, and the Mover of the Week is "I See Red" by Everyone Loves An Outlaw jumps 22-7.

DEBUTS:  After scoring two top tens here and on Triple-A lists, I go back to Thee Sacred Souls' first single "Easier Said Than Done", from their self-titled debut.   This one is a cool sentimental ballad along the lines of Carolina Blue Dots' "Under the Moonlight".   Sadly, the band isn't on beach music lists, but should be.   Any song that gives me goosebumps--which this one does, should score well.    While I'm not sure if it's re-released as a single (it originally came out a year ago), it doesn't matter.   This will be three in a row for one of the big breakout bands this year on my blog.  It enters at #57.

Juliet Callahan debuts with "Beacon".   The transplanted New York singer-songwriter has a strong song here.    While the beat is kind of hip-hoppish along the lines of recent outings, it does have a full instrumental arrangement, and Juliet's vocals are very heartfelt, and has some rock sensibilities.  This is her best since her blog #1 "Burning" a year ago.

Sia had a sizable hit with the years-old "Unstoppable", but her latest entry "Gimme Love" is a brand-new release, and it's another awesome vocal performance amidst a contemporary beat like Ms. Callahan's song is.  I haven't been going on Sia songs that much, and I really should be.   She has good vocal range here and while the pop world is affixiated with Taylor Swift, this is climbing the Adult Contemporary charts, and should equal the top 20 blog success of "Unstoppable".      

Jenny Lewis enters with "Cherry Baby".  The former Rilo Kiley singer had a lengthy blog chart run with "Psychos", and this one is  mid-tempo where the singer really gets into things.    While the chorus sounds a bit like the Four Seasons' "Sherry" or even Starz' song of the same name, the verses couldn't be further apart.  It's a steady chugger that should top "Psychos".    

Freecloud makes its blog debut with the bouncy "Suit Still Fits".   If the vocal sounds familiar, it's none other than Tim Izzard, who has to be the "king of collaborations" of sorts.    This project features Izzard and David Whitehead, and the song is featured on the duo's new EP.   The project came about thanks to Whitehead's book I Played Ziggy's Guitar, which was in turn the inspiration for Izzard's blog hit "The Night I Played Ziggy's Guitar".   "Suit Still Fits", rhythmically is sort of a change of pace beat for Izzard, but it also has some Kinks vibes to it.   The EP, entitled Electric Eccentric has a variety of styles and genres, and has already made some noise on some Internet and radio stations.  

Blur enters with "Barbaric".  The band, one of the Britpop outfits of the 90's made a comeback onto alternative and Triple-A playlists with "Narcissist", follow it up with a cool, driving beat song with great vocals that are moving.   "Narcissist" barely dented my chart, but "Barbaric" should definitely outdistance it, and it is on a par with some of the bands 1990's classics.

David F. Porfirio's "The Morning After" was released about a year ago, but somehow fell through the cracks.   With an apparent hiatus, it was time to revisit this one.   Starting off with an intro similar to the that of Grand Funk Railroad's version of "Some Kind of Wonderful", Porfirio keeps the beat going.   It's a slightly different sound for him, as his guitar resembles a touch of Eric Johnson.    Unlike many of Porfirio's past songs, it's a steady instrumental throughout with no changes in beats or interruptions.  It's a quick three-minute jam but should be his best in a while.

Finally, in the Tremors list is "Call Me" by Latewaves and Pollyanna.  These two Jersey bands have charted separately this year, and this collaboration, a cover of Blondie's 1980 #1 song, is a hard rocking version of the song, with some punk and even some metal influences.   

AND FINALLY:  Okay, I got a sneak peek at the new Hot 100 chart dated November 18, and......Taylor Swift is still #1, although with "Cruel Summer" which moves back there.    "Is It Over Yet (Taylor's Version) [From the Vault]", drops to #3.

The Beatles' "Now and Then"?  It debuts at #7.  While I'm disappointed that it didn't debut at the top, the band's 35th top 10 will have to suffice.    It had 11 million streams, and 89,000 digital downloads, including 73,000 in the tracking period (16,000 were sold last week, in one day, to land it on the Bubbling Under chart initially).     

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

November 5, 2023

 

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	2	NUMBER ONE: STARBUCK "On the Sand" (Single Only)	10
2	39	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK: THE BEATLES "Now and Then" Album: 1967-1970 (2023 Edition)	2
3	3	SZA - Snooze	16
4	4	Black Pumas - More Than A Love Song	9
5	7	Charlotte Sessions - Should I Be The Man	9
6	5	Pepper - Get Me Ready	11
7	22	MOVER OF THE WEEK: EVERYBODY LOVES AN OUTLAW "I See Red" (Single Only)	4
8	1	Fall Out Boy - We Didn't Start The Fire▲	11
9	8	The Rolling Stones - Angry	7
10	10	Cannons - Desire	9
11	9	Deer Tick - Forgiving Ties●	10
12	16	Orbis Max - I Think It Was Over	4
13	6	The Record Company - Talk To Me●	15
14	14	The National - Eucalyptus	10
15	15	Carolina Blue Dots - Under The Moonlight▲	5
16	18	Christina Cooper Black - I Miss You Babe	6
17	19	Beabadoobee - The Way Things Go	7
18	17	The Revivalists - Good Old Days	12
19	20	Doja Cat - Paint the Town Red	8
20	24	The Beaches - Blame Brett	7
21	32	Maneskin - Honey (Are U Coming?)	7
22	21	Phillip Phillips -- Dancing With Your Shadows	13
23	12	Michael McMeel with Marlisa Kay Small- I'll Be Around	12
24	11	Thee Sacred Souls - Running Away	14
25	13	Iration - Daytrippin'●	19
26	31	Momma - Bang Bang	9
27	29	The Tonez - Caught Up	24
28	37	Blonde Redhead - Snowman	5
29	30	Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer●	18
30	25	Say She She - Astral Plane●	14
31	40	The Killers - Your Side of Town	6
32	35	Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets - Edisto	11
33	27	Rivermist - Right Place Right Time	11
34	33	Cold War Kids - Run Away With Me	10
35	34	Loverboy - Release	17
36	46	Winnetka Bowling League - Breakfast For Dinner	3
37	23	Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot ft. Bridger Warlick - Picture of You	14
38	26	Lainey Wilson - Watermelon Moonshine	15
39	28	Jim Quick and Coastline - Eight Four Three●	13
40	53	The Front Bottoms - Emotional	4
41	48	Olivia Rodrigo - Bad Idea Right?	5
42	38	James Hunter Six - Heartbreak	8
43	43	Daisy Jones and the Six - Look At Us Now (Honeycomb)	8
44	36	Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire	17
45	42	Orbis Max with Lisa Mychols ft. Ed Ryan - R U OK	31
46	47	Wilco - Evicted	8
47	49	The Wheelgunners - Girls Alright	8
48	50	Local Natives ft. Suki Waterhouse -NYE	8
49	58	Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz - Arthurian Rhapsody	4
50	41	King Tappa - One Day	11
51	64	The Joy Formidable - Cut Your Face	6
52	54	Deb Browning - Think I Found Forever▲	33
53	63	Colony House - Cannonballers	5
54	65	The Holiday Band - Drowning In the Sea of Love	4
55	74	Einsteins Dad - Rolling Indie	2
56	88	U2 - Atomic City	2
57	---	TOP DEBUT: THEE SACRED SOULS "Easier Said Than Done" Album:Thee Sacred Souls	1
58	52	Marlisa Kay Small and Jerry Thomas West - Love Really Hurts Without You●	26
59	60	The Sand Band - I'll Come Running Back To You	7
60	73	Iration ft. Maxi Priest - Last Night	2
61	44	Lesa Hudson - Count On Me	21
62	69	Grace Potter - Good Time	17
63	45	Queens of the Stone Age - Paper Machete	12
64	51	Middle Kids - Highlands	10
65	66	Noah Kahan - Dial Drunk	9
66	78	Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot - Sitting In the Park	3
67	57	Say She She - Reeling	23
68	59	Zach Bryan ft. Kasey Musgraves - I Remember Everything	9
69	90	Mitski - My Love Mine All Mine	2
70	56	Kesha - Only Love Can Save Us Now▲²	20
71	70	City and Colour - Underground	4
72	79	Sylvia Johns Ritchie and Mike Taylor - Goin' Down Swingin'	3
73	55	Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz - Automatic Satin Circus	18
74	61	Jason Aldean - Try That In A Small Town●	15
75	67	Devon Gilfillian - Love You Anyway	6
76	71	Barns Courtney - Young In America	3
77	83	The High Frequencies - Eleven	2
78	77	Grouplove - Cheese	3
79	80	Gus Dapperton - Horizons	4
80	---	Juliet Callahan - Beacon	1
81	68	Jerry Powell - One More Summer Night	27
82	62	Colorjoy - Apathy▲	14
83	87	Blink-182 - One More Time	4
84	81	Bakar - Alive	3
85	---	Sia - Gimme Love	1
86	76	Bleachers - Modern Girl	5
87	---	Jenny Lewis - Cherry Baby	1
88	72	Miley Cyrus - Used To Be Young	9
89	98	Royel Otis - Sofa King	3
90	101	David Kushner - Daylight	1
91	84	Latewaves - Italian Smokes	5
92	86	Selena Gomez - Single Soon	5
93	96	Royal Blood - Pull Me Through	3
94	---	Freecloud - Suit Still Fits	1
95	75	Luke Combs - Fast Car	19
96	82	Say She She - Don't You Dare Stop▲	23
97	---	Blur - Barbaric	1
98	---	David F. Porfirio - The Morning After	1
99	91	Orbis Max - Selling The Van	8
100	92	Chris Stapleton - White Horse	8

Tremors:

101. Brittany Howard, "What Now"

102. Latewaves ad Pollyanna, "Call Me"

103. The Maine, "Blame"

104. Thundercat and Tame Impala, "No More Lies"

 

Tremors: Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.

▲Song garnered most plays on Spotify, for the  month, with a superscript following the symbol if most played for multiple months ● Song among top 5 most plays on Spotify.  Awards given during the last blog of each month.  To qualify, the song must be currently or have peaked in the top 40.

Songs on the SNS 100 are included on the following public Spotify playlists

 

Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves Top 40:  Contains songs in positions 1-40 on the SNS 100

Scenes Up and Coming:  Songs below #40 that are moving up the chart.

Scenes Recurrents: Songs which have dropped below the top 40 but are still on the SNS 100