A FEW THINGS TO COVER this week, with the passing of a record executive icon who is responsible for signing and cultivating many key artists over the decades, as well as the lead singer of one of those bands he signed and brought to prominence.
But first, I just wanted to say a few works about my "Surfside Stories" podcast interview with Wayne Troutman, of Ocean Drive Productions, the group responsible for several beach music successes over the years. A few weeks ago, Wayne contacted me and wanted to know if I was interested in doing an episode of his weekly podcast. To be honest, I wasn't really sure why he wanted me; after all, he's interviewed the many stars of the Carolina beach music genre, much of them based right here in Horry County, and specifically, North Myrtle Beach. Wayne's studio was in a high rise right on the beach, just a block from the heart of the genre, the OD Pavilion, which I explored right after the interview. He's interviewed over forty people thus far, and recent subjects included Christina Cooper Black, Jennifer James, Vaughan Penn and this week, Tim Sidden; all four have songs in the SNS Top 10 this week.
So, how the heck did I wind up there?
Well, readers of this blog know that beach music has made big inroads on my chart the last several years, and apparently, many of the artists and those behind the scenes have noticed. So I pretty much feel honored to be included, especially since less than a year ago, I lived in New Jersey!
I pretty much talked about how I got into music, first taking piano lessons, playing the popular songs of the day, my short stint singing in the boys' choir in my elementary school, and taking up the trumpet in middle and high school. Talented I wasn't, so I put all of that in the rear view mirror and got more interested in the regional and national music scene, listening to top 40 stations like WABC and others; as well as FM radio and making my own year-end lists of my favorite songs each year.
I mentioned how I got into beach music, hearing it on the radio during a long road trip to and from Florida, passing the Carolinas, and hearing familiar songs, but not realizing it was beach music. And finally, the start to Scenes 'n' Soundwaves and slowing taking note of current beach music.. Back in 2017, I had written a blog entry "I Love Beach Music" (which you can read here): Scenes 'n' Soundwaves: I Love Beach Music! (SNS weeks of 7/9 and 7/16/2017)
You can check out the podcast video right here:
A big thanks to Wayne Troutman for inviting me to do his podcast; it was a great honor!
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| Record company impresario, Clive Davis, who signed and guided many stars' careers, died last week at age 94. |
REMEMBERING A TITAN: Last week, the record industry lost a heavyweight star of its own, Clive Davis. He helmed three labels during his many decades in the business. He was president of Columbia, Arista, and J records, and was responsible for signing a "who's who" of popular music. You can thank Clive for much of the music we've heard over the years. Here is just a sample of his signings:
Aretha Franklin
Bruce Springsteen
Donovan
Sly & the Family Stone
Chicago
Janis Joplin
Santana
Billy Joel
Whitney Houston
Barry Manilow
Earth Wind and Fire
Aerosmith
Blood, Sweat and Tears
Luther Vandross
Loggins and Messina
...and many others..
In addition to these artists, Clive had a hand in maximizing the marketable potential of these artists, suggesting songs with commercial appeal in order to make an impact on the charts. While not all of them panned out, they did plant a seed for future successes.
Bruce Springsteen is a primary example. While in the early 1970's, he was getting well known along the Jersey Shore scene, it was 1972 when John Hammond, a talent scout for Davis' Columbia Records signed him (he had also signed Bob Dylan to the label a decade before that). Bruce released his debut album Greetings From Asbury Park NJ in early 1973. And while the songs have made a lasting impact over the ages, Davis didn't feel any "magic" on the existing songs that Springsteen submitted for the album. It was Clive who suggested he add two more tracks to the album: "Blinded By the Light" and "Spirit in the Night". While those two songs weren't hits for Bruce (although the former would hit #1 nearly four years later by Manfred Mann's Earth Band), those songs became classics during his live performances. It took his third album, Born to Run to expose him to the masses,, and since then, Springsteen has never looked back.
Davis was axed by Columbia in 1973, but one of his last signings was Billy Joel, who, while he had been part of a band called The Hassles in the late 1960's and the duo, Atilla in the early 1970's, his lone solo output was 1971's Cold Spring Harbor on the Family Records label. Columbia brought out his contract and released Piano Man in late 1973. Clive Davis predicated stardom for Joel, and needless to say, he was right on the money.
An arm of CBS, Screen-Gems Columbia was Davis' next stop. Its record division, Bell Records had produced hits for the likes of The Partridge Family, 5th Dimension, Tony Orlando & Dawn, and others, but Davis brought out the label and created Arista Records. Once again, he worked his magic. Barry Manilow was a fledging singer-songwriter, background singer and ad jingle creator, but Davis pressed all the buttons, and starting with his second album, Manilow scored with numerous hits. He also resuscitated Dionne Warwick's career starting in 1979 with "I Know I'll Never Love This Way Again" and into the 80's with songs like "That's What Friends Are For". And then there's Dionne's cousin, Whitney Houston, in which Davis saw potential in, during his performance with Whitney's mom, legendary gospel sister Cissy Houston. The rest there is history.
Davis even helped a band that probably would have never charted at all otherwise. In 1976, a country-rock band called Silver released its eponymous album. Clive didn't hear anything in the set and recommended (and co-produced) a more commercial song, "Wham Bam (Shang-a-lang)". It got to #16, and it got the album onto the Billboard 200. Unfortunately, the band called it quits after the one album.
Other key signings for Arista (which he led until 2000), included Expose, Patti Smith, The Bay City Rollers, Taylor Dayne, Air Supply, Ace of Base, Eric Carmen, The Outlaws, Melissa Manchester, Alicia Keys, and many, many others. Santana, who originally signed with Columbia in the 1960's, had a massive comeback on Arista with 2000's Supernatural, sort of a full circle with Davis. He then founded J Records which eventually was absorbed, along with Arista and other labels into the RCA records group.
Clive Davis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a "non-performing" member in 2000. He has written two books, 1975's Clive: Inside the Record Business, and 2013's Memoir, The Soundtrack of My Life. Clive passed away on June 22 at the age of 94.
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| David Clayton-Thomas, lead singer for Blood Sweat & Tears during its most successful area, passed away last week at age 84. |
AND WHEN HE DIED: Another band that signed with Columbia under Davis was Blood, Sweat & Tears, one of the "jazz-rock" bands to emerge in the 1960's. While the band was more of an "institution" band that tours with an ever-changing lineup over the years, they had their glory years in the late 60's and early 70's. Over the years, the band's debut, Child is Father to the Man, has been critically acclaimed. It was headed by Al Kooper and is considered a classic. However, Kooper (and others) left after that one album. The band's second album, self-titled was their commercial breakthrough, thanks to the addition of Canadian lead singer David Clayton-Thomas. He became the voice of the band and scored with three #2 singles in 1969: "You've Made Me So Very Happy", "Spinning Wheel" (an original, penned by him), and "And When I Die" (written by another Columbia signing Laura Nyro). Clayton-Thomas was on board for the next two albums before leaving in late 1971. After two solo albums (and two from BS&T with another lead singer), Clayton-Thomas returned for 1975's New City and two subsequent albums, while also releasing solo material. Sporadically, he would tour as BS&T with some of his friends, although none were original members of the band. This lasted for about 20 years. From 1996 until 2019, he released several solo albums. He spent his final years in Toronto and passed away on June 24. He was 84.
BRIEFLY, HOT 100: Turning to the current chart, it was Olivia Rodrigo's turn for a chart bomb, with her new album You Seem Really Sad For a Girl in Love spawning a good part of the Hot 100 this week. She debuts with two songs in the top ten, six more in the top 20, and three more in the twenties for a total 11 entries, to go with her existing "Drop Dead" and "The Cure", still in the top 10, thus owning four songs in that region. However, the top spot still belongs to Taylor Swift's "I Knew It, I Knew You" for a second week as women hold 9 of the top ten spots, with Drake's former #1 "STFU Janice" (#7) the only male entry. Ella Langley has two songs, Olivia Dean and Ariana Grande one each along with Ms. Rodrigo's four.
SNS 100: And make it a fifth week for Vaughan Penn's "Bands on the Beach" at the top, holding off a charging Deb Browning and Townsend Link's "The Sea, Sand and You" (4-2). That song was featured in a video release party on Monday at the OD Pavilion hosted by Deb, and I've changed the link on the chart to that video which is very well done! Eight of the top ten are either by women, or male-female duets with only Tim Sidden's "Don't Let Us Fade Away" (#7) and The Tams ' "I Tried" (#5) representing the men. Ella Langley also has two songs here (#3 and #6), Brooke Combe's "Tears Won't Lie" (#4), with Christina Cooper Black's "A New Lease on Love" (11-10) the only new entry in the top 10. Three male-female duets are in that portion of the chart, the aforementioned Deb/Townsend song, plus Rick Strickland & Lesa Hudson (#8) and Jennifer James & Brad Cox at #9.
Three new songs in the top 20, headed by The Rolling Stones' "In the Stars" with the Impact honor (21-17), Devon Gilfillian's "Hold On (Hourglass)" (23-18) and Ruth Morayniss' "Another Tragic Love Story" (28-20) which replaces her departing "Come the Light". And while the Stones have the Impact award this week, the Mover honors go to another 1960's British invasion act, none other than Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr's (the two surviving members of The Beatles), "Home to Us" (66-47).
DEBUTS: Rivermist heads the new entries, with their latest "Heaven's Not That Far Away" a sort of country-flavored trek this time around. Some nice harmonies to this one, and it enters at #75, and should be yet another top ten. Charlie Sattenfield, who as a songwriter has two songs in my top ten (The Tams and Christina Cooper Black) penned this one.......Retro soul artist Jalen Ngonda is back again to follow his top 20 "Doctrine of Love" with "Burning Temptation", and this is another winner, with a Motown-ish feel to it. Entering at #87, he is in rare form, very soulful, and should be another blog hit for him. He will be touring with Brooke Combe here in the states this summer and fall.......
A favorite band from the 2000's Interpol, returns with "See Out Loud" at #88. It looks like the band hasn't missed a beat from back in the day. Paul Banks distinctive vocals are here, albeit understated, but that's what makes this band awesome. "C'mere" was one of my favorites from that decade, and this one approaches it rather well. The last part of the song is one big jam. Several listens will do it.....Another band that goes back to the nineties, but has been omni present since, is Weezer, and that quartet enters with "Go Away". They are aided by Best Coast, and that outfit's singer Bethany Cosentino, does a great team-up with Rivers Cuomo on this one. Very tasty, and somewhat retro, it's already at the top of several alternative lists. It enters at #93.
Another in a retro-mode is the latest from Jersey artists Bleachers, "The Van". It's sort of a reworking of the 1970's R&B/pop song "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely", which charted for both Ronnie Dyson and The Main Ingredient. The presentation is in a hip-hop mode; the rap is interwoven into the song. Love the harmonica in there as well and even a little organ action as well as it enters at #94.....Ariana Grande's recent national #1, "Hate That I Made You Love Me" enters at #96, this is a mid-tempo beat-driven song with Ms. Grande's sort of dreamy vocal fitting in rather well. ...Finally, we head back to the beach for The Holiday Band's latest, "Music Makes the World Go Round". Complete with horns, the song is basically listing many legendary artists and suggesting what would happen if they never recorded their classic songs. An example: "What if James Brown didn't Feel Good/ What if Eddie Floyd didn't 'Knock on Wood', and it mentioned many other pop, country and soul artists through the song. It enters at #100.
Two songs bubble under, Cigarettes After Sex's "Twizzler", an easy-going groove here, and Death Cab for Cutie's "Riptides" a chugging romp.
AND FINALLY: She put up a very tough fight, but sadly, Karen Wallo finished at #2 in the quarterfinals of The People's Artist competition. She had been running a close second and would have overtaken the leader except for a last-minute push from the #5 artist (obviously donating a lot of money) to jump over everyone to finish first and advance. But Karen is definitely OUR people's artist. And some good news, it appears she is recording a new single. Ms. Wallo hit #10 six years ago with "Rain Away My Sorry", so it'll be great to hear her new one when it comes out. In the meantime, she's still heading her band Rendezvous and you can catch them all around the Strand area.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
June 21, 2026
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  (Single Release) (5 Weeks at #1) |
12 |
|
2 |
4 |
8 |
|
|
3 |
2 |
17 |
|
|
4 |
3 |
12 |
|
|
5 |
5 |
11 |
|
|
6 |
7 |
23 |
|
|
7 |
6 |
12 |
|
|
8 |
8 |
10 |
|
|
9 |
10 |
6 |
|
|
10 |
11 |
9 |
|
|
11 |
9 |
19 |
|
|
12 |
13 |
8 |
|
|
13 |
16 |
5 |
|
|
14 |
15 |
7 |
|
|
15 |
18 |
5 |
|
|
16 |
19 |
13 |
|
|
17 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  Album: Foreign Tongues |
6 |
|
18 |
12 |
15 |
|
|
19 |
23 |
8 |
|
|
20 |
28 |
6 |
|
|
21 |
25 |
9 |
|
|
22 |
14 |
13 |
|
|
23 |
22 |
9 |
|
|
24 |
17 |
13 |
|
|
25 |
27 |
10 |
|
|
26 |
32 |
6 |
|
|
27 |
26 |
10 |
|
|
28 |
30 |
8 |
|
|
29 |
31 |
9 |
|
|
30 |
40 |
4 |
|
|
31 |
36 |
6 |
|
|
32 |
35 |
7 |
|
|
33 |
20 |
13 |
|
|
34 |
44 |
5 |
|
|
35 |
41 |
5 |
|
|
36 |
38 |
10 |
|
|
37 |
29 |
15 |
|
|
38 |
39 |
8 |
|
|
39 |
43 |
4 |
|
|
40 |
24 |
17 |
|
|
41 |
46 |
4 |
|
|
42 |
45 |
5 |
|
|
43 |
47 |
7 |
|
|
44 |
48 |
6 |
|
|
45 |
33 |
11 |
|
|
46 |
34 |
14 |
|
|
47 |
66 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  PAUL MCCARTNEY and RINGO STARR Album: The Boys of Dungeon Lane |
3 |
|
48 |
37 |
40 |
|
|
49 |
54 |
3 |
|
|
50 |
53 |
7 |
|
|
51 |
55 |
5 |
|
|
52 |
63 |
4 |
|
|
53 |
71 |
3 |
|
|
54 |
50 |
9 |
|
|
55 |
65 |
4 |
|
|
56 |
75 |
2 |
|
|
57 |
62 |
5 |
|
|
58 |
57 |
15 |
|
|
59 |
64 |
5 |
|
|
60 |
42 |
16 |
|
|
61 |
68 |
4 |
|
|
62 |
69 |
4 |
|
|
63 |
49 |
21 |
|
|
64 |
52 |
18 |
|
|
65 |
70 |
5 |
|
|
66 |
58 |
6 |
|
|
67 |
90 |
2 |
|
|
68 |
80 |
3 |
|
|
69 |
81 |
2 |
|
|
70 |
92 |
2 |
|
|
71 |
51 |
13 |
|
|
72 |
74 |
4 |
|
|
73 |
78 |
4 |
|
|
74 |
96 |
2 |
|
|
75 |
60 |
20 |
|
|
76 |
79 |
4 |
|
|
77 |
56 |
8 |
|
|
78 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Release) |
1 |
|
79 |
59 |
10 |
|
|
80 |
77 |
8 |
|
|
81 |
89 |
2 |
|
|
82 |
84 |
3 |
|
|
83 |
95 |
2 |
|
|
84 |
101 |
1 |
|
|
85 |
73 |
23 |
|
|
86 |
91 |
2 |
|
|
87 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
88 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
89 |
61 |
18 |
|
|
90 |
67 |
22 |
|
|
91 |
76 |
5 |
|
|
92 |
99 |
2 |
|
|
93 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
94 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
95 |
102 |
1 |
|
|
96 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
97 |
72 |
19 |
|
|
98 |
88 |
20 |
|
|
99 |
103 |
1 |
|
|
100 |
--- |
1 |
Tremors:
101. The Avalanches - Together
102. Cigarettes After Sex - Twizzlers
103. Death Cab For Cutie - Riptides
104. Modest Mouse, Picking Dragons Pockets
Tremors: Songs which have steady or increasing points but not enough to chart on the SNS 100.
Murmurs:
sombr - Potential/My Body Isn't Ready
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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