Thursday, January 28, 2016

Runt

Runt is the 1970 debut album of Todd Rundgren.  Originally a three-piece band, over the years the album has become known as Todd's work and he is credited now almost completely.  The only single from the album was "We Gotta Get You a Woman" which was a top twenty hit, but today is almost totally forgotten.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

The Buoys

In 1970 Rupert Holmes was trying to get a band he had discovered noticed by radio stations. To accomplish this, he wrote a song for the band about cannibalism.  "Timothy" by the Buoys climbed into the top twenty in 1970, #13 on Cashbox, #17 on the Hot 100. Unfortunately, a follow-up was difficult for the band and they broke up.  But the song is truly unique, and mostly forgotten today.
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Thursday, January 21, 2016

Colour My World

Chicago released the song "Colour My World" on their second album, Chicago II.  They also released it as the B side to "Make Me Smile" in 1970, AND as the B side to "Beginnings" in 1971.  What?  A B-side twice??  Yep.  The song was a major player at proms throughout the 70's and has been covered by dozens of artists.  Today it's mostly a forgotten oldie, unless you go to a Chicago concert.
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Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Witchy Woman

There aren't many Eagles songs that qualify as forgotten oldies.  The second single from their first album was "Witchy Woman", which reached #9 on the hot 100.  My feeling is that the song gets ignored because "Take It Easy" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling" were on the same album and were bigger hits.  Regardless, the song is great and notably shows Glenn Frey's lead guitar skills.  In honor of Glenn Frey, today's forgotten oldie... Witchy Woman.
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Thursday, January 14, 2016

America's little sweethearts...

It took me a looooong time to appreciate the Osmonds.  The brothers had been regulars on TV starting when they were little, singing barbershop songs on the Andy Williams' show, and when they started playing rock and roll, I wasn't impressed. After all, weren't they kind of a caucasian Jackson 5?  But then in 1972 The Osmonds had a real, genuine rock and roll record.  "Down by the Lazy River" went all the way to #4 on the Hot 100, and was a big change from what had come before.  I was impressed.  Sadly, today it's another forgotten oldie...
watch and listen here

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Changes

David Bowie died Sunday night of liver cancer, just two days after his 69th birthday.  Today it seems like a forgotten oldie from Bowie is in order.  In 1972 David Bowie released the song that's become known as his first hit single, "Changes"  The song seems to be about Bowie, recounting the various chameleon-like phases of his career.  It was the last song he performed live in concert, and the song that most Bowie fans will say identifies with Bowie... and yet today it's a forgotten oldie.
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Thursday, January 7, 2016

Lighthouse

An amazing Canadian rock band, Lighthouse won jazz awards and tributes galore in the late 60's and 70's. They scored an international hit with "One Fine Morning" in 1971.  The song was #2 in Canada and #24 in the USA on the hot 100. A great song, forgotten today!
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Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Who's next?

In 1965 the Kinks struggled to match the amazing successes they'd had a year earlier with You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night.  They released new songs regularly, sold a lot of albums, and carried on.  They broke the Top 40 in July with "Who'll Be The Next In Line".  I think it's one of their best songs ever, today just forgotten...
listen here