The College Crowd Digs Me

"Sammy was a short order cook... in a short order black and blue collar town. " ~ Lou Reed ~ Sometimes rock and roll is not pretty. Exposing the underbelly of urban streets and the dingy rainbow emotions of the people who live them... never is. But when expressed and described with brutally honest eyes... a ragged and weary beauty can still fight for its moments. Lou Reed is a fighter. Lou Reed gives us a dose of rock and roll reality. Never flashy or dripping with sickly self-importance like a Bono or Mellencamp... Lou Reed walks his own path...at his own pace. When turning newbies on to the jagged mind of Lou Reed ...I like to set the groundwork by recommending a variety of songs. Here is a list of 12 fantastic Lou Reed songs to seek out and add to your ever-growing musical crayon box. 1) "Xmas In February" ------------------------------ New York (1989) "Sam was lyin' in the jungle... agent orange spread against the sky l...

"I remember rainy nights I thought I'd drown. Was it London, New York, Paris or Amsterdam? I forget the details now, I must admit. But you were there through all of it. And it shook me, and I'm still shaking now." Graham Parker Although never quite reaching the same commercial level of success as some of his peers... Graham Parker has been writing and performing incredible songs for over 30 years. Often compared to Elvis Costello (who I like as well)...I find Graham Parker's songwriting and his "on the sleeve" vocals much more varied and interesting . In fact, in making my top 50 living songwriters list...I have Parker easily making the cut. (an artist Paste magazine ignored on their list..oops!). Parker's clever turn of a phrase and honest observations will make any "wordsmiths of song" smile in understanding. Sadly, hearing any songs from this legitimate RnR HOF candidate on the radio is nye on impossible. This underrated singer...

"Now I have seen that sad surrender in my lover's eyes. And I can only stand apart and sympathize. For we are always what our situations hand us. It's either sadness or euphoria." Billy Joel I sorta dig Billy Joel ...especially his earlier work...and am always dismayed when some of my favorite songs never reach the airwaves. Or seldom, anyway. And most greatest hits or best of collections usually get it wrong, too. But that 's another sore subject. So with that in mind...here are my top twelve early Billy Joel songs that rarely, if ever, receive radio airplay...from 1971 to 1980. Check it out. 1) "Summer, Highland Falls" ---------------- Turnstiles (1976) "They say that these are not the best of times But they're the only times I've ever known. And I believe there is a time for meditation In cathedrals of our own." 2) "Vienna" -------------------------------- The Stranger (1977) ...

"There's a Greyhound outside in the lane... it's waiting for us. So tell him goodbye, we gotta go west on that bus." Elton John As with most "Greatest Hits and Best Of" music collections...they just never seem to get it right . Often catering to the mainstream listener...while leaving the knowledgeable fans more frustrated than "Sipowicz" on a NY stakeout. Elton John on RS 1973 So, in no particular order...ten of my favorite lost gems from Elton John . 1. "Blues For Baby And Me" ----- Don't Shoot Me... (1973) (" Your old man got mad when I told him we were leaving. He cursed and he raged and he swore at the ceiling .") 2. "Street Kids" ------- Rock Of The Westies (1975) (" And if you think you've seen gasoline burning in my eyes... Don't be alarmed. Tell yourself it's good to be, its good to be alive ." ) 3. "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" ----- Honky Chateau (1972)...

"Early today as I watched while the skyline was shaking I heard a rumbling. Early today the mechanical city was waking. And I ran out stumbling, mumbling... Out through the laughter of children and dogs." Jackson Browne There have only been a few artists I gravitate to...when in need of re-discovering my .."hurts". But only one artist, for me, has explored...and expressed...the infinite daggers of love...that lead to so many varieties of joy...and pain...with such dead-on accuracy...as Jackson Browne . Many different pages of emotions...that occur within the duration of any important relationship have been captured...for a short moment...by the razor sharp honesty of Browne's pen...and fragile vocals. And though Jackson Browne , like every artist, has a few "best of" collections available for the consumer...The record company seldom gets it right...when it comes to..what songs to include...and what to leave out. And it bothers me t...

"Got a gun in my holster. Got a horse between my knees. And I'm goin' to Arizona. Pardon me boys if you please. I have been a desperado Raped and pillaged 'cross the plain Now I'm goin' to Arizona Just a Rider In The Rain." Randy Newman Sometimes we unfairly dismiss an artist simply by how we were introduced to their music. In Randy Newman' s case...perhaps all you know about him...is that he's been nominated for a lame..."Best Song" Oscar nearly every year. And that he finally won. Or maybe the only song you know by him is "Short People " ...which got a little radio airplay. Or maybe...you simply weren't in the right frame of mind to hear some of the songs Randy Newman was throwing down. In any case..I think I've listed a good choice of songs to help the newbie...get reacquainted with this "radio forgotten" genius. I admit...when turning someone on to Randy Newman music...I almost fe...

"So what becomes of all the little boys, who run away from home? Well the world just keeps gettin' bigger, once you get out on your own". Tom Waits The word “cool” is often hard to define, but you easily know it when you see it. Tom Waits , the beatnik troubadour is the epitome of cool. Natural, unfeigned cool. Not the posturing and glamming that so often is passed off to the consumer as being cool. And he is one of the most unappreciated musical legends working in the business today. Critically acclaimed and commercially ignored, Tom has been writing and performing atmospheric songs about the less than glamorous side of life for the last four decades. In his rough 3 pack-a-day throaty voice, Tom delivers lines in a singing, sometimes talking manner, easily convincing listeners that his characters are real. However, being a fan of Waits , I have learned that turning my ...