THIS WEEK'S BLOG is a little different in that I wanted to give a shoutout to those following and this blog on social media, in particular Facebook. If you scroll down on the chart, you will see that all nine debuts are acts that I am "friends" with on that outlet, or bands that have one (or more) followers in it. And while that is intentional, coincidentally, both the Top 20 Impact of the Week, and Mover of the Week also fit into that category.
I've been doing this for fifteen and a half years, first as a long-forgotten "Facebook Note", then several months later, using the "Blogspot" site, in which this week marks exactly fifteen years on there. Also this was originally an outlet to share new music with friends, and while it worked that way for a while, over the years, those my age, if they hadn't done so decades ago, stopped listening to anything new and just embraced the sounds they experienced growing up.
But the blog's purpose was to feature the current hits of the day (well, the ones I liked) with some emerging, up-and-coming artists who are equally, if not more talented than those making the hits. The first one, that inspired the blog in the first place, and who was the first such performer to friend me on Facebook was Rachel Allyn. She was from Ogdensburg, NJ, and she was going to college at Belmont University in Nashville, and spending summers playing at restaurants and venues along Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey. I followed her up until 2017 when she gave up her career, got married, deleted her account and settled down. Of course, over the years, there were many others.
Fast forward to the present, and, aside from the nine debuts, the Impact and Mover winners, there are fourteen others on the SNS 100 that I am friends with. They are awesome and have done shoutouts to me, provided copies of their music, and promoted my blog, just as much as I try and promote their music.
The nine debuts aren't just of one genre; there are many styles of music going on here. Normally, I recap the debut songs at the end of the week's blog, but this week, it's front and center.
The Top Debut, is beach music artist Jennifer James' "Takin' It Easy" at #59. It's the follow-up to the top 3 "Carolina's Home", and her music is very introspective, but is up-tempo. This one is a shuffler and moves along nicely. She is a relative newcomer to the scene, but with just two releases, she fits right in. And last week, she shared her new song with me. It comes in at #59.
Ruth Morayniss hails from Toronto Canada and is squarely in the singer-songwriter category. For me, she was introduced as a featured vocalist with the Internet collective Einstein's Dad (more on them later) but has definitely made her mark on her own. Her latest is "Come the Light" and it enters at #66. Ruth has had a handful of blog hits like "Any Day Now", "All I Need" and "Black Doves", all hitting top 20. Her new one is sort of a departure; it's very emotional and a bit harder-edged. But it is a song of hope, when everything can feel uncertain. And to be honest, it's her best yet! It enters at #66.
 |
| Karen DeHart Clayton lead The Castaways on their latest single, 'Love Is What I'm Talkin' About', debuting this week on SNS. |
We go back to the beach with the latest from The Castaways, "Love Is What I'm Talkin' About". While this band (not to be confused with the 1960's-era garage band of "Liar Liar"' fame, but around almost as long) actually hit my top 10 a few years back with the 40-plus year old cover of Jerry Butler's "Mr. Dream Merchant", it's the current version with female lead singer Karen DeHart Clayton that debuts with this entry, at #72, with Karen as the Facebook friend. The band, with Ms. Clayton as lead, hit my top 30 in 2024 with a cover of Elton John's "Don't Let the Song Go Down on Me". Fully entrenched in beach music during the band's life, Ms. Clayton leads this sentimental mid-tempo song punctuated by horns. This is already top 10 on many beach music charts. And a big thanks to her for providing me a link to the song.
And while Starbuck has been on a few beach music surveys recently, the band (actually Bruce Blackman these days) is more noted for popularizing the "yacht rock" of the 1970's, most prominently their top 3 national hit "Moonlight Feels Right", but also with several other Billboard Hot 100 hits. Bruce, coming off a #1 SNS hit in "Robusto" (now at #18), his fourth, is back quickly with "Red Cadillac" entering at #79. His songs continue to be true to his original era of the 70's, and this one is no exception. This is another up-tempo good-time feel song, about cruising in a 1964 red Cadillac. Bruce is true to himself, he enjoys making music after all these years. This new one already is getting airplay on an Irish Solid Gold station. So, how did Bruce Blackman become a friend of the blog? Well that goes back a few years when I saw "You're the Reason" on a beach chart, which was by the band Starbuck. A great song that I added but wondered if this was the Starbuck of "Moonlight" fame. It was none other than Bruce himself responding to me that yes, it was him, continuing the legacy of that band. The rest is top 20 history as he's racked up several of these in a row now.
I mentioned Einstein's Dad above, and this Internet contingent enters with "Lonely Girl", which features Tiffany Childers, who has served as the voice of this band on the last several releases. It's sort of an acoustic-folk-rock flavored entry. So, how did this Steve Shouse-led band get on my friend's list? While it's not exactly true, since the members of The Hounds of Winter served as back-ups for Shouse through different situations, the lone remaining member from the Hounds (who also contributed to the next artist I'm featuring, see below), that is with the core of Einstein's Dad, Mario Licata was a friend going back to the Tom Corea-Steven Roman days. Featuring their music also led me to Richard Bradley, who, like Ruth Moranyiss, who was once featured with the Dad, hails from Toronto. "Lonely Girl" enters at #82. Einstein's Dad hit #1 with the instrumental "Here to Home" in 2022.
And that leads us to another of the Hounds, Sarah Teti, who has recorded several songs with that studio group, and put out a couple solo albums (backed by the Hounds) in 2009-2010, resulting in a couple of early blog hits. Her holiday cover of Joni Mitchell's "River" is top-notch and is among my holiday favorites. She has just released two songs, "Borrowed Time" and "You Darlin'", and I add the former this week, coming in at #87. This is country-flavored rock at its best, and shuffles along at a pleasant pace. It was her association with the Hounds that we became friends and provided me with her two albums Sarah Jean and the Hounds of Winter, and Girl Will Run. Last weekend she played the Cape May Singer-Songwriter festival and workshops. My wife and I also had to pleasure to catch a gig at the Gladstone Tavern in Peapack-Gladstone NJ a few years back.
And speaking of Internet collectives, yes, we have another from Orbis Max, "By Degrees", another new song coming on the heels of the still-rising "Don't Lose Me Now". I talked about its lead vocalist, Dw Dunphy last week, and like Einsteins Dad, it has several lineups over the years (the band actually goes back to the early 1970's when it was a gig-touring outfit). So, how did I discover this band? Well, it's sort of in a roundabout way, but I think it also started with The Hounds of Winter. The Hounds did a collaboration with Ian Roberts of the English band Tinkers Lane, and that association was responsible for getting the attention of another Brit, Tim Izzard. Izzard did several collaborations with Orbis Max (and still occasionally does), and when Orbis started doing other songs, I took notice. And along the way, I picked up an association with not only Dunphy, but also Craig Carlstrom. Dw gave me a sneak look last week at the new single, which is another excellent one. A richly textured rock song, (with a few holiday-like bells add for good measure). Daniele Silvestri from Italy is on this one (as well by other bands, he's a part of), and the whole thing is one big jam. The band loves recording, and likes to release new music every few weeks, culminating with an album later in the year. The band has had several big SNS hits, most notably "R U OK" a few years back which was my "Song of the Summer" for 2023. It enters at #89.
Next are The Six Piece Suits, from Florida, in the beach music realm with "Love Felony". While this is a live-performing, active band, this year they've taken a cue from Orbis Max, releasing new songs every few weeks. The first of these, "Love Felony", debuts this week at #90 (They've already put out another, "Piece of Heaven"). "Love Felony" is sort of a change of pace for the band, moving in a sort of R&B direction. Starting and continuing with a sort of irregular beat, the song echoes a bit of Earth, Wind & Fire at times. Great production, and definitely worthy. I'm not sure if beach stations will embrace it (I hope so), but, there will be more releases from the Suits in subsequent weeks. A welcome new sound for this Florida contingent. And I am friends with Nicky Hooks of the band. So how did that happen? Well, you can thank none other than Deb Browning, as she recorded two duets with the group, both hitting #1: "Take Me By the Hand" and "It Don't Get Better Than This". Of course, they have scored on their own with "I Thought You Knew" and the recent "Lovers Into Strangers" both hitting the top 10. And there is a connection with another beach artist: Nicky's brother is none other than Bubba D. Liverance who leads The Cornhole Prophets, currently moving up the list. "Love Felony" debuts at #90.
Finally, we come to David F. Porfirio, a DIY guitar virtuoso from Queens, NY, and his latest, "Oriental Defiance". As you can probably tell from the title, it's another one of his exotic themed pieces, and this one enables him to show his guitar talents within this framework. I'm not really sure how I became his friend on Facebook, but many artists have contacted me to hear a song that I could possibly add to SNS. He hit my top spot twice, with "Driving at Dusk", and "That Night on Bergenline Avenue". This is something that I appreciate so much doing this blog as I am always welcome to accept and promote new music. There's so much out there beyond what is supposedly popular. My only wish is that any of these artists could break through, but if not, making sure their music is much appreciated.
Of course, there are many others out there that I've become friends with on social media and have introduced me to their music over the past decade and a half. After I compiled my chart, I found out there's a new song by Tim Sidden that without a doubt I will review and add next week. But once again, I want to thank everyone who reads my blog each week, not just the performers, but also the fans who I hope to at least introduce them to new music.
GOING BACK to the top of my chart this week, we do have a new #1 song, that being "Sweet Love" by Stephen Sanchez. While it is still stuck in the runner-up spot on Triple-A, it passes his previous #2 peak on SNS with "Until I Found You" a few years back. The top seven songs this week are tightly bunched, so anything can happen next week. Holding at #2 is "I Just Don't Want You To Say Goodbye" by The Womack Sisters. Dropping from the top spot to #3, is Bruno Mars' "I Just Might", which is up to #2 on the Don Mark Surfside beach music chart, and still #4 on the Hot 100. Brooke Combe's "This Town" and The Jay Vons' "It Was Wrong to Love You" hold at 4 and 5 respectively. Both those acts are also at 6 and 7: The Jay Vons' with "Changing Seasons", and Brooke with "A-Game". With Ms. Combe's former #1 "How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More)" hanging in there at #9, she still has three songs in the top 10. By the way, her new single "Tears Won't Lie", due on April 8, is pure dynamite; look for a high debut next week. Moving into the top 10 is Jennifer Licko's beach music "Meet Me at the Shag Pad" (12-8). Bradley Denniston's "Backbone Lover" rounds out the top 10.
The second ten is still very competitive as well, with songs unable to move up with any authority. Still, there are two new entries there: Steve Cheek's "Sugar in My Coffee" (21-19), which has the Impact honor this week, and Phoebe Ryan's "Something to Hope For" (26-20). Further down, the Mover of the Week is "NMB SC (Where I Wanna Be)" by The Tonez (76-58), which features Laura Kepley. Both Ms. Kepley and Steve Cheek are also Facebook friends.
HOT 100, BRIEFLY: We have a #1 debut on the Billboard chart, that being K-Poppers BTS with "Swim", pushing Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas"---which has started picking up some beach airplay, incidentally--down to #2. Olivia Dean's "Man I Need" is #3, the song spending many weeks either in the 2 or 3 position, and "I Just Might" by Bruno Mars is #4.
REMEMBERING: We lose a couple more music legends over the past couple of weeks. David Brigati, from Passaic, NJ was a member of Joey Dee and the Starliters of "Peppermint Twist" fame and also played with The Rascals for a time (his brother Eddie was a member of that quartet), passed away, he was 85. He also played with his brother for a time in the group Brigati in the 1970's. He also participated in a few Rascals reunions over the years as well. He spent his final years living with his brother in Montville, NJ.
Dash Crofts was a member of the duo Seals and Crofts, who had numerous hits in the seventies, including "Summer Breeze", "Diamond Girl", "Hummingbird", "We May Never Pass This Way Again" (a prom favorite), "Get Closer" and "You're the Love". Crofts died from complications of heart surgery on March 25. He was 87.
FINALLY: A local band that I had been following for the past ten years, the Long Island-based Øff Guard, fronted by Matt Weiss, have called it quits. The band is currently on my chart with "Get Out" with New Monarchy. They were making inroads, and traveled the whole country to various sized audiences, but perhaps it was time to call it a day. The band had three top 10's on SNS: "Maybe" (#7), "Strawberry Moon" (#2, both 2017), and "Lights" (#9, 2019). Best of luck to the members on their continued musical journey.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
March 29, 2026
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
3 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE |
10 |
|
2 |
2 |
9 |
|
|
3 |
1 |
11 |
|
|
4 |
4 |
8 |
|
|
5 |
5 |
8 |
|
|
6 |
10 |
8 |
|
|
7 |
9 |
8 |
|
|
8 |
12 |
9 |
|
|
9 |
8 |
11 |
|
|
10 |
7 |
12 |
|
|
11 |
11 |
9 |
|
|
12 |
13 |
11 |
|
|
13 |
16 |
7 |
|
|
14 |
17 |
6 |
|
|
15 |
14 |
9 |
|
|
16 |
15 |
8 |
|
|
17 |
18 |
8 |
|
|
18 |
6 |
12 |
|
|
19 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
7 |
|
20 |
26 |
4 |
|
|
21 |
25 |
6 |
|
|
22 |
22 |
11 |
|
|
23 |
20 |
28 |
|
|
24 |
24 |
8 |
|
|
25 |
19 |
10 |
|
|
26 |
28 |
8 |
|
|
27 |
23 |
11 |
|
|
28 |
29 |
5 |
|
|
29 |
34 |
7 |
|
|
30 |
39 |
4 |
|
|
31 |
37 |
6 |
|
|
32 |
38 |
5 |
|
|
33 |
35 |
9 |
|
|
34 |
43 |
5 |
|
|
35 |
42 |
10 |
|
|
36 |
30 |
13 |
|
|
37 |
32 |
12 |
|
|
38 |
46 |
4 |
|
|
39 |
47 |
4 |
|
|
40 |
48 |
5 |
|
|
41 |
27 |
18 |
|
|
42 |
33 |
10 |
|
|
43 |
45 |
8 |
|
|
44 |
31 |
23 |
|
|
45 |
44 |
12 |
|
|
46 |
41 |
20 |
|
|
47 |
36 |
12 |
|
|
48 |
50 |
Rev. Bubba D.
Liverance and the Cornhole Prophets - Wish You Were Here |
7 |
|
49 |
40 |
18 |
|
|
50 |
54 |
3 |
|
|
51 |
51 |
6 |
|
|
52 |
56 |
5 |
|
|
53 |
57 |
5 |
|
|
54 |
52 |
7 |
|
|
55 |
61 |
4 |
|
|
56 |
63 |
4 |
|
|
57 |
65 |
3 |
|
|
58 |
76 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  "NMB
SC (That's Where I Wanna Be)" (Single Release) |
2 |
|
59 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Release) |
1 |
|
60 |
77 |
2 |
|
|
61 |
60 |
6 |
|
|
62 |
67 |
3 |
|
|
63 |
68 |
3 |
|
|
64 |
64 |
13 |
|
|
65 |
70 |
4 |
|
|
66 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
67 |
71 |
4 |
|
|
68 |
75 |
3 |
|
|
69 |
49 |
9 |
|
|
70 |
69 |
10 |
|
|
71 |
78 |
2 |
|
|
72 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
73 |
55 |
9 |
|
|
74 |
59 |
7 |
|
|
75 |
80 |
3 |
|
|
76 |
83 |
3 |
|
|
77 |
53 |
13 |
|
|
78 |
74 |
32 |
|
|
79 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
80 |
62 |
11 |
|
|
81 |
90 |
2 |
|
|
82 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
83 |
58 |
16 |
|
|
84 |
88 |
3 |
|
|
85 |
85 |
8 |
|
|
86 |
92 |
2 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
95 |
2 |
|
|
89 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
90 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
91 |
91 |
3 |
|
|
92 |
93 |
6 |
|
|
93 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
94 |
99 |
2 |
|
|
95 |
66 |
7 |
|
|
96 |
89 |
23 |
|
|
97 |
94 |
2 |
|
|
98 |
97 |
8 |
|
|
99 |
73 |
7 |
|
|
100 |
72 |
5 |
Murmurs:
Courtney Barnett - Lotta Love
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
●Songs garnering 25 plays
on Spotify (“Scrobbles”) according to Last.Fm (effective October 2024) ▲ Songs garnering 50 plays.
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
41-100 and Newbies Songs in Positions 41-100 on the SNS 100 plus
new additions
Scenes
Recurrents: Songs which had been in
the top 20 and/or songs on the chart 25 weeks or more, that have dropped off
the SNS 100.
(Rob Sheldon
is a music fan who has followed music trends the past 60 years, and covers new
and classic music, specializing in pop, rock, alternative, beach, soul and
country genres). He can be contacted
at rsheldonx4804@gmail.com
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