DISQUS

jasonhare · 1 year ago

Great story about your drive, Dave. A friend and I once passionately duetted on "She's Gone" in the car and realized we were being stared at by everyone hanging outside the local bar. But your situation is way more dangerous. Next time, actually get out of the car and do the "Electric Youth" dance. That should go over well.

Jeff LOVES "Niagara Falls."

Jeff · 1 year ago

I was all set to say that this entry was worth reading just for that opening story.

I had a similar experience last year when I was driving and The Waitresses 'I Know What Boys Like' was blasting on my MP3 player. The rednecks in the truck next to me were giving me the evil eye for that one.

Still, it's a great song.

steed · 1 year ago

See, and I'd probably turn down my own radio just to enjoy The Waitresses. To each his own I suppose...

JonCummings · 1 year ago

I find this happens more frequently at the holidays--there's an AC station in LA that turns itself over completely to Christmas music from Thanksgiving to New Year's. There's nothing like "Christmas Wrapping" or "Step into Christmas" (or my wife's favorite, the Carpenters' "Merry Christmas Darling," for which she always puts on her Barry Manilow crooning face) to embarrass yourself to in the car...

...especially when it's Christmas and 80 degrees outside and you're singing at the top of your lungs about walking in a winter wonderland. I still haven't adjusted to California holidays.

Unbelievably, as I was writing that last sentence my daughter came up to me and started waving her stuffed Frosty the Snowman from Build-a-Bear Workshop in my face. Swear to God.

GiddyForGeddy · 1 year ago

Is it too late to show some love for Chilliwack's goosebump-inducing vocals in one of my all-time faves, "My Girl (Gone Gone Gone)"? I looked for that song for years, and now that I've finally heard their other stuff, I am even more impressed.

Rebecca · 1 year ago

Hope you've seen the SCTV version of My Girl -- it's worth looking up! That whole Chilliwack album is great, even though it's a concept album...

steed · 1 year ago

Thanks man. These moments don't happen all that often anymore, but I really get a kick out of look on people's faces when they do.

Jeff · 1 year ago

While I've never been a huge Clapton fan, I do understand his overall importance to music. That said, however, I find it hard to believe that 'Pretending' charted so low, and 'It's in the Way That You Use It' didn't chart at all. Especially considering that I hear these songs on almost every 80's retro show that I come across. These are two of my favorite songs by one of my least favorite artists.

JonCummings · 1 year ago

I'm guessing "It's in the Way" was sent to radio but wasn't actually released as a single, in anticipation of the widespread '90s practice with rock artists. I wonder, then, how many copies the "Color of Money" soundtrack sold.

luffy66 · 1 year ago

wow this really floors me that "it's in the way" did not chart. Back when
MTV played videos it seemed like this song was on every 1/2 hour.

steed · 1 year ago

I know, it's crazy isn't it? I really enjoy his 80s output, but if someone came up to me and said "hey, what songs did Eric Clapton have in the 80s" the first thing I'd answer is "It's In the Way That You Use It".

bama · 1 year ago

Now that you've gotten deep into the "C"'s, I'm curious which songs have been the most downloaded by readers from your series.
You've done an excellent job with this project. A real highlight in the blogosphere.

steed · 1 year ago

Tears of joy....

Thanks Bama, I appreciate the love. You know, I'd be curious to see that as well. I would anticipate that it's not the common artists with the better songs - rather those little crappy artists with songs you can't find anywhere. Could be wrong though.

drcastrato · 1 year ago

I don't know how everyone else does it, but I download every song into a folder, and when I have time, I go through and listen to each one to decide if its anything worth keeping. Originally, I was looking for songs I might have known at the time but have forgotten about. But mostly I'm finding some songs that are completely new to me that are really cool (amid LOTS of crap, no offense, Dave).

oh, and by the way,
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA BEARSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

steed · 1 year ago

Haha! No offense taken!

MatthewBolin · 1 year ago

Dave, speaking as a white man living in Washington Heights, I don't think there's such a thing as an "appropriate" ghetto moment. You were apt to get as many looks blasting 2Pac as you were Debbie Gibson.

steed · 1 year ago

Yeah, I mean I didn't look at it that way - but you make a great point here. There has to be a semi-middle ground though - some song that everyone will just ignore. Something from Will Smith?

hagen · 1 year ago

Careful about the Chicago / David Foster comments... Terje might hear you...

steed · 1 year ago

I know, I know - I was thinking about Terje as I wrote it...

Ted · 1 year ago

Here's one of those "You broke it, you bought it" moments: I was working at a radio station doing weekends, and the program director (who was also a Chicago fan) called me into his office as he was taking the plastic wrap off the Chicago's revamped version of "25 or 6 to 4." He popped the disc into the CD player and as the over processed drums started out, it looked like the guy was going to have an orgasm. He turned to me and said, "This is going straight to #1! This song is going to introduce Chicago to your generation in a way that really speaks to them. Oh man, I love this! It's going into high rotation ASAP!" After one week on the air, and a ton of complaints from listeners, the song disappeared from the airwaves. Sadly, this was the same PD who, years earlier, thought Asia was going to be THE supergroup of the '80s, and predicted U2's popularity would quickly fade.

jefito · 1 year ago

I have never been prouder of this site than I am today. Where else can you find an analysis of the 1985 Chicago Bears' rapping skills? You are a god among men, Mr. Steed.

steed · 1 year ago

Ha! One day I might have to break it down verse for verse.

mojo · 1 year ago

Yah, just continuing an earlier thread, this page finally put me over the top: I am about to embark on a "Popdose" smart playlist on my Pod. Where else do you stash some of the putrid stench emitting yet awesomely beautiful stuff found all over this site? It needs its own list for Easy Access, baby.

Broad · 1 year ago

Toni Childs! Union was amazing. Produced by another favorite of mine, one of the Davids from David & David (believe it was Baerwald, but I might be wrong on that one).

Can't wait until we get to David & David!

Joe · 1 year ago

It was the other one, David Ricketts. Toni was the reason for the breakup of David & David. From Amazon:
It's thought their partnership came to grief after Ricketts' then-girlfriend Toni Childs, who had been working on her song "Where's the Ocean" for a year and kept singing the title over and over, got ticked off after Baerwald finally shouted from another room, "Take a right on Sunset."

Broad · 1 year ago

Heeee! That's awesome.

Broad · 1 year ago

Also, if I'm not mistaken, horse was a big deal in that trio for awhile. Toni I know was a recovering junkie.

jefito · 1 year ago

That was Ricketts -- and I think he even married her. Not sure if they're still married, but if you're a D&D fan, you'll be happy to know they're working on a new record. (For reals -- I've heard some of the demos and everything.)

Broad · 1 year ago

Ooooooooh, that makes my heart sing! "Boomtown" is in my top 3 albums of all time.

Is the new stuff good?

jefito · 1 year ago

But of course! One track actually got me a little choked up. God only knows when it's coming out, but it needs to...

Broad · 1 year ago

Awww, man! You can't dangle something like that in front of a sister and not share!

jefito · 1 year ago

I would if I'd gotten them off some P2P network, but they were sent to me by Mr. Baerwald himself -- so I've gotta keep 'em to myself.

Broad · 1 year ago

And I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you shared it with me one bit. C'mon, I won't tell! ;)

steed · 1 year ago

"Welcome to the Boomtown" is an awesome song! Only one track to appear for David & David - but I'm glad to hear you'll be around for it.

Broad · 1 year ago

Definitely. "Swallowed by the Tracks" and "It's So Easy" get minor play on 'XRT up here, but you're right, they never got the play they deserved.

jefito · 1 year ago

"It's So Easy" is a stone classic. I never get tired of listening to that song. Also, it's creepy as fuck.

Broad · 1 year ago

You mean the way Ricketts actually sounds like a woman-beater? Yes, please. The two of them weave a story through music like few I've EVER heard. I could go on and on ...

forwardgirl · 1 year ago

After reading these comments, I put on Boomtown since I haven't heard it in a while. As the song started, sirens screamed down the main drag outside my window. Fit in perfectly...

DavidMedsker · 1 year ago

Shep Pettibone's house mixes of "Electric Youth" were amazing. I couldn't believe my ears when I first heard them. Was that what you were blasting? If so, I have your back.

steed · 1 year ago

Yep, one of them at least. Good to know someone is on my side!

stewart · 1 year ago

Nice to hear Toni Childs, her 1st album was really good

wags · 1 year ago

two words. bionic. penis.

Stephen · 1 year ago

Don't knock Chilliwack; they may be underated in the US, but here in Canada they still get decent airplay on adult variety and classic rock stations, and are one of many classic rock bands we hold in high regard here. "Crazy Talk", "I Believe", "Fly At Night", and of course the great "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)" are all hits here.