18 January 2021 - Pat Benatar - Shadows Of The Night

This song was so huge and so tightly identified with Pat Benatar, you thought it was an original, didn't you?

It isn't, though.  It was originally composed for a movie - Times Square - but was rejected from the movie.  Helen Schneider also released a version of the song, in 1981, before Benatar did.  That version was a hit in Europe.  Rachel Sweet also released a version before this one.

This version, which won the Grammy for Best Female Rock Performance, took a couple of liberties with the original lyrics to make it little less bleak. This version is the one we remember.  Benatar made the song contemporary for 1982, and the song doesn't sound dated today.  

And yes, you're right.  That's Judge Reinhold and Bill Paxton in the video.  

15 January 2021 - The Veronicas - Habits

Three interesting facts about The Veronicas.

1)  Yes, they are twins.  From Brisbane, Australia.

2)  No, neither one of them is named Veronica.  Lisa and Jessica, in fact.  The name is a reference to the movie Heathers, which I recommend wholeheartedly.  

3) They know the words to Tove Lo's first hit song.  

14 January 2021 - The Odds - Cinnamon Girl

Do I post Craig Northey stuff just because he follows me on Twitter?

Not JUST, but it doesn't hurt.  (If you're a musician and want me to post about your stuff, I'm @redargyle and the story behind that name is a doozy)

He's a remarkably nice guy, by the way.  I probably owe him a drink the next time I'm in Canada.

Here he is with his band, The Odds, in 1993 doing a Neil Young cover and enjoying the hell out of themselves while doing it.  

13 January 2021 - The Dirty Nil (ft. Craig Northey) - School

This is The Dirty Nil from Dundas, Ontario, Canada.  They team up with one of my favorite Canadians, Craig Northey (of The Odds), to cover a Nirvana classic from Bleach.... and do an admirable job without doing a Cobain impersonation.  

If you can get past the busy background, you will be rewarded.  

12 January 2021 - SoHo - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)

From the motion picture soundtrack to the 1996 movie Scream, here are SoHo, covering an Icicle Works classic, the original of which was an early favorite song of mine.  If you are in the US, you know the original by the title "Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly)".  

This cover is a lot more uptempo and hits you with an even greater wall of sound than the original - but it still works for the song.  Enjoy. 

11 January 2021 - Black Barn Band - Pachelbel's Hook

A song that brilliantly mashes  Pachelbel's "Canon In D" and Blues Traveler's "Hook" (which famously used the same chord progression), this version by a little band from Michigan features a tubaist/vocalist, which in itself is endearing.  

Enjoy!

8 January 2021 - Cher Lloyd - No Diggity/Shout

By now, you should know that I have a soft spot for Cher Lloyd, who I believe is an underrated artist and who barely lost to One Direction on X Factor.  

Here, she ties together a Tears for Fears classic and yesterday's Wicked Guilty Pleasure, two very different songs from two very different musical eras, and blends them together so well, even Simon Cowell has to take notice.