STILL A BIT BEHIND, thus it will be brief but a few topics to cover.
First and foremost, we lost Eric Carmen, the singer who started with power pop pioneers The Raspberries, and then went on with a solo career both as a performer and songwriter. He was 74.
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| Eric Carmen who had hits with the Raspberries and as a solo artist, passed away last week at the age of 74. |
He was born in Cleveland and raised in its suburb of Cleveland. His music career began in the 1960's with a band called Cyrus Erie, which, despite being signed to a major record label (Epic) didn't crack the pop charts with any of their songs. But a break came when their guitarist Wally Bryson, started playing with a band called The Choir, which contained Jim Bonfante and Dave Smalley. The Choir did have a minor chart hit, "It's Cold Outside". That garage band reached #68 in early 1967 with that song.
The four of them then decided to form one band, the Raspberries after both The Choir and Cyrus Erie disbanded at the end of the 1960's. The Raspberries combined that 60's pop sensibility with 1970's-style thunder and concocted what was to be known as power-pop.
I first heard of the Raspberries in early 1972 when there was a contest for a product I don't recall, but which required high schools to submit or vote, sending in ballots. The winning school would win a concert by The Grass Roots, with the Raspberries as the opening act. Shortly after, they released their first, self-titled album. While the first single "Don't Want to Say Goodbye", an uncharacteristic ballad that for the most part wasn't representative of their style, only peaked at #86, it was the follow-up, "Go All The Way" that established the band, going all the way to #5, and brought back many memories of late summer 1972 and going back to school for my junior year. The song made my year-end 1972 list at #7.
They quickly followed it up with a similar hard rock, but with emotional pop styled "I Wanna Be With You" which peaked at #16 and finished at #77 on the same year-end list. That song was from their second album Fresh. Another song, the more subdued "Let's Pretend" hit the top 40 but should have performed better. The song did finish at #16 on my 1973 year-end listing.
While the Raspberries were regulars on the Hot 100, they didn't seem to get respect in the rock world; particularly FM radio which preferred bands like Pink Floyd, The Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and the like. The band, perhaps because of their sixties sensibilities and their clean-cut image, were considered "uncool" by some, including some from my high school. Yes, the band was a bit commercial, but the guitars kicked in on par with some of those other bands. Said Carmen, "16 year old girls got it and rock critics got it".
The harder edged third album, Side 3 came out in the autumn of 1973, but the singles "Tonight" and "I'm A Rocker" only peaked in the lower reaches of the Billboard chart, #69 and #84, respectively, "Tonight" did land at #39 on my 1973 year-end list. The third single, "Ecstasy" only "bubbled under" on the Cashbox and Record World charts but was a worthy song as well. My friend Alan Corso, who was the deejay at the New York Jets tailgate parties that we used to go to, frequently played that song.
Their label Capitol Records then went back to their Fresh set, for the next single, "Drivin' Around", which would be a perfect summer song (it was supposed to be released for summer of '73, but "Let's Pretend" had a lengthy chart climb that reached into that summer.) However, it didn't chart. By then Bonfanti and Smalley departed the band (they formed the band Dynamite) and were replaced by Scott McCarl as well as Carmen's former Cyrus Erie bandmate Michael McBride. Their fourth album, the appropriately titled Starting Over had more of a Beach Boys-type vibe, thus a new direction, and while their single "Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)" brought them back to the top 20 in late 1974 (and a year-end #56 on my list), no other singles made the chart, and the group disbanded shortly thereafter.
Eric then went solo and had more of a notable career, focusing more on soft rock this time. His first single "All By Myself" landed at #2 on the Hot 100 and was followed by the #11 "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again"; both songs had classical overtones that incorporated pieces by Sergie Rachmaninoff. Both songs made my 1976 year-end list. A third single, "Sunrise", a hopeful, upbeat piece also made the top 40.
In 1977, Carmen released Boats Against the Current. The first single has to be my favorite of his solo songs. "She Did It", again with Beach Boy-style overtones peaked at #23 on the Hot 100 as it ushered in my senior year in college; I played the song ad infinitum, in the game room's jukebox in the Student Center. The song landed at #19 on my 1977 year-end listing. Two other singles released, the title track and "Marathon Man", were less successful.
Meanwhile, the teen idol of 1977 was Shaun Cassidy. He scored top tens with two of Carmen's songs, "That's Rock and Roll", and "Hey Deanie", peaking at #3 and #7, respectively on the Hot 100. In 1978 Eric released "Change of Heart", the title track from his third album, and it made the Billboard top 20. It also landed at #75 on my year-end chart.
After a couple other minor hits in '79 and '80, Eric laid low, not releasing anything for five years. However, he scored another top ten hit as a songwriter in 1984 with "Almost Paradise", the love theme from the movie Footloose, as performed by Mike Reno (of Loverboy) and Ann Wilson (of Heart). Perhaps the success of that song inspired him to record again; thus in 1985 he released his second self-titled album and returned to the top 40 with "I Wanna Hear It From Your Lips" and charted also with "I'm Through with Love".
But it was in 1988 that Carmen returned to the top 10, twice: "Hungry Eyes", from the movie Dirty Dancing, reached #4 on the Hot 100 (and #83 on my year-end list). The song was written by Jerseyan Franke Previte (of Franke and the Knockouts fame), who also wrote that movie's biggest hit "(I've Had) The Time of My Life". Eric's follow-up was even bigger: "Make Me Lose Control", which had nostalgic vibes, reached #3. Finally, "Reason To Try" from a 1988 Olympics compilation, became his final Hot 100 hit.
In the 1990's, Celine Dion covered "All My Myself", and took it to #1 in early 1997. Carmen wouldn't release another album until 2000's I Was Born to Love You. His final recording came in 2013 with "Brand New Year".
Carmen died on March 11 in his sleep, and there was no cause of death mentioned.
WAY DOWN NOW: We also lost Karl Wallinger, who was the face of the group World Party, died on March 10. He was 66. He had joined The Waterboys for a couple of albums in the early 1980's before leaving to form World Party, which was essentially a solo platform for Wallinger. He only made the Hot 100 once, with "Ship of Fools (Save Me From Tomorrow)" which hit #27 in 1987. The song was from the first World Party album Private Revolution. "Ship of Fools" landed at #46 on my '87 listing, and another song from that album, "All Come True", while not charting elsewhere, reached #53.
World Party's second album Goodbye Jumbo was released in 1990, and while the first single, "Way Down Now" didn't hit the Hot 100, it did top the Modern Rock chart. It was my favorite by Wallinger, landing at #3 on my year-end 1990 list (behind The B-52's and Madonna). I almost got to see World Party as they were supposed to open for labelmate Sinead O'Connor at a PNC Arts Center concert, but bowed out in the last minute (this was the gig that the National Anthem wasn't played due to Ms. O'Connor's request). "Put the Message in the Box" was another Modern Rock hit from the album. Karl and World Party released three more albums between 1993 and 2000, all well-received. Since then, the Welsh singer-songwriter has occasionally collaborated with other musicians on projects. In 2001 he suffered a brain aneurysm and didn't perform again until 2006.
SNS 100: Meanwhile on my blog chart, Charlotte Sessions claims a second week at #1 with "I've Fallen For a Dragon", staving off Teddy Swims' "Lost Control". The former blog #1 has been bouncing like a yo-yo on the Billboard Hot 100, this time moving back up to #2. Also strong at #3 and #4 are The Black Keys and Black Pumas; although well behind the top two, they are still very strong and could still challenge.
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| Colorjoy's "Cigarettes and Vanilla", is the seventh song from their debut album Beautiful People to hit the top 10, a blog record. |
But a blog record is set with the #5 song: "Cigarettes and Vanilla" by Colorjoy. The song, up from #11 last week becomes the seventh song from their album to reach the top ten, thus being the first album to yield that many blog top tens.
It was a year ago that Colorjoy, the duo comprised of former ScreenAge members Emily MacMahon and Sam Novotny released their first single, the title off their debut album Golden Age. It went to #1, and that was followed by "Beautiful People" (also #1), "Drops of Honey" (#10), "Vacant Side" (#6), "Blue Eyed Addiction (Renewed Version)" (#2), "Apathy" (#7) and now the #5 "Cigarettes and Vanilla".
Colorjoy after a brief hiatus (in which Ms. MacMahon played with Mirrors on the Moon), has taken to the road once again with gigs in New York City recently. Hopefully we will get some new music from the duo soon.
There are four other new entries in the Top 10; three of them by beach music acts. Rick Strickland returns to the elite circle with "Joined at the Heart" (13-7). Actually, the album from which this song was taken, Power of Two, which also features Lesa Hudson, has EIGHT top 20 songs, and "Joined At the Heart" would make it seven top 10's tying Colorjoy's feat. However, several of the songs were released up to a couple years before the album was released, so it wouldn't be fair to count it as tying the record. (Similarly, Paul Czekaj's Gallimaufry set from 2016 has six top 10's, but most were released years before the album came out).
Rev. Bubba D. Liverance, Karen Clayton & Mike Taylor, and Cage the Elephant are the other new top ten entries with Juliet Callahan knocking on the door with "She Was Me" (18-11). Meanwhile, Starbuck's "Spring Break Shade" advances 27-16, to grab Impact honors, joining "Coldest Night of the Year" (#12) in the Top 20. Suki Waterhouse's "OMG" (24-20) is the only other new entry in that section of the blog chart.
Further down, Sadie Leigh's "Finger Wave" is the Mover of the Week (48-32), but other prime movers included Six Piece Suits' "I Thought You Knew" (40-31), Jalen Ngonda's "If You Don't Want My Love", and last week's Top Debut, SZA's "Saturn" (55-43).
Meanwhile, Deb Browning is still a big presence on the SNS 100. Her spiritual album Give Me Gospel was released this week, and although the lead single, "Chain Breaker" moves into the Top 40 this week, she was live with radio station WTOB DJ Don Mark a few days ago, to discuss the album as well as to preview a key song from the set; her take on "Put Your Hand in the Hand", which is a vastly different read from the 1971 hit version of the group Ocean. Look for a debut next week for the song here. In addition, her #1 song of 2023, "Think I Found Forever" logs a sixth week at #1 on Mitch Harb's chart. On the SNS 100, that song is at #76, after 48 weeks on the chart, which ranks as the tenth longest run on the blog chart. Deb now has three songs among the long runners; 2022's "3 More Minutes' racked up 51 weeks, and her 2021 single "Stop Messing With My Man" logged 49.
And let's not forget her upcoming duet with Marlisa Kay Small, due next month. It looks like 2024 will be the year of Deb Browning just like 2023 and 2022 were.
DEBUTS: I'm going to only briefly comment on the new adds this week, but they are led by Royel Otis' "Murder on the Dance Floor", the Top Debut this week. While "Sofa King" was a great song, it really couldn't catch on; but this one has already topped it. It's an exciting, cheery, upbeat pop-rock confection that should be an immediate hit.
Anna Lavigne follows her latest #1 "Edge of the World" with another from Guillemot Days , "Butterfly". This easy-going song is one that she does best; emotional and I absolutely love her voice. Her style is unique; you feel like you're over in her native Scotland. Another winner.
Rivermist follows its top five "Everything's Changed" with "Don't Walk Away". The song has some of the same elements as the prior song, and is a worthy follow-up. X Ambassadors return with "No String", sort of a dreamy pop/indie folk confection, perhaps a bit reminiscent of Fleet Foxes. It's been a while since we heard from Vampire Weekend, but "Capricorn" is a indie ballad that could work with many listens. Lucius' "Stranger Danger" is a bit of a departure for them, a bit of alt-country here; Girls Who Care is not a girl group; instead, it's a vehicle for a singer called Hot Dad, but it's a cool alt-rock-indie thing that you can jam to all day. I like its chances. Pop star Dua Lipa follows her top 20 "Houdini" with "Training Season", a pop/techno piece that keeps you moving.
TEXAS FOLD 'EM: I haven't mentioned the Hot 100 except for Teddy Swims' "Lose Control", but the #1 song is a surprise: "Carnival" by Kanye West and Ty Dollar $ign. While it debuted at #3 three weeks ago, I just figured it would be one of those songs that would quickly drop off, since Ye's fans probably brought or streamed in and moved on. But it advanced to #2 two weeks ago and stayed there last week, before assuming the top spot. What was surprising is that not only it knocked out Beyonce's "Texas Hold 'Em" after two weeks at the top (ironic, since it was Kanye who interrupted both Taylor Swift and Beck at awards shows, saying that Beyonce should have won and the artists should respect her artistry), but "Texas Hold 'Em" which I thought would have a long stay at the top, dropped all the way to #5. It also dropped on both Country airplay and Triple-A. On the SNS 100, the song, which garnered Mover honors last week, still moves 20-18 but loses its bullet. In addition, I saw some anti-song memes on social media about the song last week. Could there be a backlash?
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
March 10, 2024
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  (Single Release) (2 Weeks at #1) |
7 |
|
2 |
2 |
9 |
|
|
3 |
3 |
8 |
|
|
4 |
4 |
12 |
|
|
5 |
11 |
10 |
|
|
6 |
6 |
15 |
|
|
7 |
13 |
8 |
|
|
8 |
14 |
Rev. Bubba D. Liverance and the
Cornhole Prophets - Something In the Water |
9 |
|
9 |
15 |
7 |
|
|
10 |
17 |
7 |
|
|
11 |
18 |
6 |
|
|
12 |
12 |
9 |
|
|
13 |
8 |
13 |
|
|
14 |
10 |
18 |
|
|
15 |
9 |
15 |
|
|
16 |
27 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
3 |
|
17 |
5 |
11 |
|
|
18 |
20 |
4 |
|
|
19 |
7 |
9 |
|
|
20 |
24 |
5 |
|
|
21 |
21 |
6 |
|
|
22 |
23 |
6 |
|
|
23 |
16 |
16 |
|
|
24 |
19 |
15 |
|
|
25 |
28 |
5 |
|
|
26 |
22 |
8 |
|
|
27 |
29 |
5 |
|
|
28 |
33 |
6 |
|
|
29 |
31 |
6 |
|
|
30 |
26 |
10 |
|
|
31 |
40 |
4 |
|
|
32 |
48 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  Album: Skin (EP) |
4 |
|
33 |
45 |
3 |
|
|
34 |
32 |
19 |
|
|
35 |
35 |
6 |
|
|
36 |
42 |
4 |
|
|
37 |
38 |
9 |
|
|
38 |
39 |
6 |
|
|
39 |
37 |
8 |
|
|
40 |
46 |
3 |
|
|
41 |
30 |
15 |
|
|
42 |
25 |
14 |
|
|
43 |
55 |
2 |
|
|
44 |
44 |
10 |
|
|
45 |
34 |
24 |
|
|
46 |
41 |
6 |
|
|
47 |
54 |
3 |
|
|
48 |
43 |
15 |
|
|
49 |
52 |
5 |
|
|
50 |
60 |
3 |
|
|
51 |
36 |
14 |
|
|
52 |
53 |
5 |
|
|
53 |
61 |
3 |
|
|
54 |
67 |
3 |
|
|
55 |
49 |
16 |
|
|
56 |
70 |
2 |
|
|
57 |
50 |
20 |
|
|
58 |
62 |
6 |
|
|
59 |
65 |
3 |
|
|
60 |
64 |
4 |
|
|
61 |
47 |
6 |
|
|
62 |
72 |
2 |
|
|
63 |
75 |
2 |
|
|
64 |
51 |
16 |
|
|
65 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Release) |
1 |
|
66 |
71 |
3 |
|
|
67 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
68 |
59 |
20 |
|
|
69 |
77 |
2 |
|
|
70 |
79 |
2 |
|
|
71 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
72 |
74 |
3 |
|
|
73 |
80 |
2 |
|
|
74 |
85 |
2 |
|
|
75 |
57 |
17 |
|
|
76 |
73 |
48 |
|
|
77 |
66 |
17 |
|
|
78 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
79 |
63 |
17 |
|
|
80 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
81 |
83 |
2 |
|
|
82 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
83 |
56 |
17 |
|
|
84 |
58 |
5 |
|
|
85 |
88 |
4 |
|
|
86 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
87 |
68 |
6 |
|
|
88 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
89 |
91 |
2 |
|
|
90 |
69 |
19 |
|
|
91 |
89 |
3 |
|
|
92 |
76 |
31 |
|
|
93 |
82 |
21 |
|
|
94 |
78 |
9 |
|
|
95 |
81 |
16 |
|
|
96 |
87 |
4 |
|
|
97 |
84 |
7 |
|
|
98 |
86 |
7 |
|
|
99 |
90 |
16 |
|
|
100 |
92 |
6 |
Murmurs:
Hot Wax, "Phone Machine"
Deb Browning, "Put Your Hand in the Hand"
Bleachers, "Tiny Moves"
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, "Purple Irises"
Yune, "Cake"
Debbie Gibson, "Love Don't Care"
The Tams, "Our Love Will Grow"
Orbis Max, "Not This Time"
Kasey Musgraves - Deeper Well
Lainey Wilson - Country's Cool Again
Cigarettes After Sex - Tejano Blue
Sylvia Johns Ritchie - Good Love Don't Come Easy
Randy Clay Band - Party Street
Leslie Chapman - Every Time I Roll the Dice
K.Flay - Carsick
The Rolling Stones - Mess It Up
Murmurs: Songs which are in the queue for future adds onto the Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist.
|
|
Songs
with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week
▲Song
garnered most plays on Spotify, for the
month, with a superscript following the symbol if most played for multiple
months; or if a song was among the top 5 most plays for two 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
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