Blog Archives
FlinterFile: Glenn Frey- You Belong To The City
In 1985, Glenn Frey released a song that would be used in Miami Vice. The song was about a city, and how you can be very lonely in a crowded city. Glenn Frey played all instruments, except for the drums and the saxophone (which is played by Bill Bergman). Glenn Frey also acted once in the series, Miami Vice, in an episode that was based on another of his songs, Smuggler’s Blues. The song reached number 2 in the US charts, just under Starship with We Built This City. Enjoy
Glenn Frey- You Belong To The City
R.I.P. Glenn Frey. He died at the age of 67 years old.
FlinterFile: Ian Dury & the Blockheads- Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
In 1978, Ian Dury wrote a song about his disability. At the age of seven, Ian Dury had polio and was disformed for life, which meant he had to use a walking stick. The lyrics had been there for some years, but the music wouldn’t fit. Chas Jankel, his partner in songwriting, was trying a disco-like style. However, it would not work. With a drum part of Dury, he could carry on, and made a good bass riff and an impressive saxophone solo (actually two saxophones being played at the same time by the same person). He then phoned home that he had written his first number 1 hit, which was right: the song hit number 1 in the UK! Enjoy
Ian Dury & the Blockheads- Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
FlinterFile: Van Morrison- Moondance
In 1970, Van Morrison released his new album. Normally, I would talk about the origins of the song, inspiration, etc. One problem: Van Morrison feels songs should speak for themselves, so the only thing we know, is that the song started as a part of a jazz instrumental he played everytime he played the saxophone. The song was a minor hit in the US, reaching number 92. Enjoy
Van Morrison- Moondance
Song of the day: The The- Uncertain Smile
In 1983, The The released the album Soul Mining. The band started with an advertisement that Matt Johnson placed in the NME. When Matt Johnson finally had a band, he recorded a song similar to Uncertain Smile, then named Cold Spell Ahead in 1981. One year later, under contract of Epic, they re-recorded the song. It has a saxophone solo in it, which was replaced by a piano solo on the album Soul Mining, as there was a piano in the studio that had to be used. The result was number 68 in the UK. Enjoy
The The- Uncertain Smile
Song of the day: Tom Browne- Funkin’ For Jamaica
In 1980, Tom Browne brought us a memoir of New York, where he grew up. He thought about writing this song when he visited his parents at their home. The vocals were done by Toni Smith and Tom Browne played the saxophone. It would be a number 1 hit in the US R&B chart and a number 10 hit in the UK. Enjoyn this disco hit
Tom Browne- Funkin’ For Jamaica
Song of the day: James Brown- I Got You (I Feel Good)
Again a sixties song, one which can be danced to (I warn you: I move very strange when I start dancing on this one)! It was released in 1965 and was the biggest hit for James Brown, who also is known by the name of Mister Dynamite, the Godfather of Soul and Soul Brother no. 1. The lyrics are basic: James explains how good he feels since he is in love. And that’s probably all there is to know about the song (apart from the fact that it features a real nice saxophone solo!). Enjoy and dance to
James Brown- I Got You (I Feel Good)
Song of the day: Paul McCartney & Wings- Mrs. Vandebilt
This is a great song by the Wings, the band which worked with Paul McCartney after his Beatles period. The song was a single from the album Band on the Run, however, it was no single in the UK or US… Read the rest of this entry
Song of the day: Lou Reed- Walk On The Wild Side
As I read the paper today, I came across a column about the song Happy, which was in the news because of some people in Iran dancing to the song. The writer of the piece made a reference to several songs which were “happy” or describing the feeling of happiness. One of them was Perfect Day by Lou Reed, which was sung in such a mood that you would like to hang yourself, as the writer stated. The great thing about the song is that it is the B-side of his other big hit, Walk On The Wild Side. And that is an interesting song. David Bowie produced the song and it actually was about all sorts of taboos. Why would I choose this song as song of the day? Because it has a great saxophone solo in the end of the song, which I would have preferred in the middle, but okay. Enjoy
Lou Reed- Walk On The Wild Side
Song of the day: Clarence Clemons & Jackson Browne- You’re A Friend Of Mine
Yeah, a saxophone song! I LOVE saxophone songs. But you know that, don’t you? And you can clearly hear that voice, a black voice versus a white voice. Happy and it makes you want to dance. I know that I’ve said it a lot of times, but everything is right about this song. Enjoy
Clarence Clemons & Jackson Browne- You’re A Friend Of Mine
Song of the day: Al Stewart- Year Of The Cat
My my! More good intro’s, this time with a piano as a solo! I guess the seventies were the time of the good intro’s, since I found so much of them during the last days! Of course the song of Al Stewart is very good, although I still don’t know where it is about… something with a cat and a woman? Never really took time to analyse them, even now I’m just looking quickly into them…
However, it’s a great song you should enjoy! (And with a sax!)
Al Stewart- Year Of The Cat
Song of the day: Gerry Rafferty- Baker Street
Mmm… I love this song! If there’s one song which is good, it’s this one. One of the best songs, instrumentally Brilliant and the text is good, too. Especially the saxophone is lovely, but that’s a strange thing which I have: I love saxophones in songs. And this song has it in the music all the time. If he sings, it is not there, but then it reappears, and again I’m happy! Yeah, this is a favourite song which I can hear a lot! Enjoy:
Gerry Rafferty- Baker Street
Song of the day: Supertramp- It’s Raining Again
Yes! A saxophone song by Supertramp! It’s one of the reasons why I’m a fan of Supertramp. Because almost all their songs feature a saxophone! The text is applicable for the autumn, and especially for these days: rain, rain, nothing like the rain. But that’s another story, probably for some other time. Supertramp had their hits in the eighties, and they made quite a lot. If it would be possible, I would love to see them sometime live! Probably wishful thinking… The nice thing about this song is that it has some sort of lullaby in it, the childrens rhyme: “it’s raining, it’s raining”. I like that twist in the song! So for today, enjoy this rainy song:
Supertramp- It’s Raining Again
Song of the day: Spandau Ballet- True
Talking about the eighties, this was one of the characteristic groups of the eighties, with quite some hits! No wonder of course, because it’s a very good group, with very good songs. One of my favourites is the song of the day, namely Gold. It came from the album True, which itself also was a hit! But why do you like Spandau Ballet, you would ask. Maybe that’s got something to do with the sound of the songs. This one is powerful, has a nice piano piece (around 2:50), it has got nice percussion, and very important: a saxophone. Since I’m a big fan of hearing a sax in a song, songs with a saxophone have an attraction to me. So for today, let’s enjoy:
Spandau Ballet- Gold
Song of the day: Bakermat- Vandaag
Sometimes you hear a song which grabs you: you know that you find it very good, you want to know more! I had that one, two weeks ago when listening to the radio. I heard a (relatively) new song on the radio, it was the first time I heard it, and I thought: wow! This is it. This is going to be a hit, and I want his album. It stopped there, there was no album… not yet.
So you start googling around: more music by this artist, where does he get his inspiration from, etc, etc, etc.
I found his YouTube-channel, listened to the songs that were on there, and decided to buy his album as soon as it was there.
The strange thing about his music is that it is new, but it is familiar, too. It has to do with the influences. Jazz, blues, Nat King Cole, to mention a few.
Those are the things I know. Those are the things I like. And the saxophones in his songs, I like those, too.
To give him an extra impulse (which he maybe doesn’t need), I give the honour of the song of the day to his song Vandaag. Because it was the first thing I heard of him. And because I hope he will make a lot of good music in future. And that he will make a record on CD, since I don’t download…
Song of the day: Glenn Frey- The Heat Is On
Oh yeah! The song of the day is made by a member of the Eagles, when he was on a solotrip. He had a big hit with a song which was the tune of Beverly Hills Cop, too.
So who am I talking about? Yes, about Glenn Frey, the guitar player of the Eagles. He made a song called The Heat Is On, which is a (hot) sunny song! I especially like the saxophone in the song!
And today it is song of the day! Enjoy The Heat Is On!
Vote for the Summer Song of the Day Top 20! >>>>
Song of the day: Madness- Night Boat To Cairo
Hello everyone!
Today it’s a special day! It’s 12-12-12! Isn’t that crazy?
And about being crazy: The group of today has a name which is crazy. It’s Madness, and they are taking the Nightboat to Cairo!!!
Madness is a great group, with a very good saxophone player. I’ve seen their performance on the Queen’s 60th Jubilee, and it was wonderful. (I’m Dutch, just to let you know)
Partly thanks to the technique, but okay…
Tomorrow another song!
“I absolutely adore Madness. They are as mad as a rabbit, selling ice creams on a cold winterday in the Sahara.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? They don’t even look like rabbits!”
The FlinterFiles 