Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Smashing Pumpkins: Cherub Rock - Song of the Day for February 28, 2013

The Song: 'Cherub Rock'

The Artist: The Smashing Pumpkins

Song Info: 'Cherub Rock' is the first track on The Smashing Pumpkins 1993 album Siamese Dream.

Artist History: The Smashing Pumpkins were formed in Chicago, IL in 1988, and earned mainstream success in 1993 due to the success of the album Siamese Dream.They disbanded in 2000, but over the past decade The Smashing Pumpkins have reunited and been reformed under the direction of lead singer Billy Corgan.

Why I Picked This Song: I was waiting at the bus stop this morning listening to my mp3 player when 'Cherub Rock' started playing. The song took me back to 1993 when I was hanging out at the mall in Springfield, Ohio. Casanova Manilla, a friend from high school, was working at a mall department store as a warehouse clerk, so I decided to stop by and say hello. He had a cool warehouse job that allowed him to listen to music while working. There was a stack of CDs by his stereo and he had a copy of Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins. I knew the band by name only because another friend, Ryan Dellwood, was a major fan of their debut album, Gish.Casanova Manilla said the album was awesome and played 'Cherub Rock' for me. I was very impressed and purchased the album. 'Cherub Rock' is my favorite song from The Smashing Pumpkins, so I hope you enjoy the song of the day.

Download the Song: Click here to get the song from Amazon.com.


TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Mogwai: I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead - Song of the Day for February 27, 2013

The Song: 'I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead'

The Artist: Mogwai

Song Info: 'I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead' is featured on the 2008 album The Hawk is Howling.

Artist History: This Glasgow band has been stamped with various tags like math rock, post-rock, and instrumental rock, but Mogwai has been producing some fantastic music during their 18 year career.

Why I Picked This Song: There were four or five song of the day candidates in my head this morning as I was shoveling the snow. Then I went to work and all of those song choices got deleted. I couldn't decide on a song of the day, so I went over to YouTube to find something cool to post to The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. For some reason I did a search for Mogwai and found the song 'I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead'. This is a really nice instrumental and Mogwai is the right kind of music for me when I'm doing work at the computer. Mogwai is a band that I first heard back in '98 or '99 and I thought they were terrible. Don't ask me why. I've grown to like Mogwai and I hope you enjoy today's song.

Download The Song: Click here to download the song from Amazon.com!



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Fugazi: Waiting Room - Song of the Day for February 26, 2013

The Song: Waiting Room

The Artist: Fugazi

Song Info: 'Waiting Room'is featured on the 1989 album 13 Songs.

Artist History: Ian MacKaye, Guy Picciotto, Joe Lally, and Brendan Canty are Fugazi. This Washington DC based band formed in 1987 and have released seven studio albums. Fugazi is currently on hiatus, but this do-it-yourself quartet is the finest example of a band that gained success without any assistance from major record labels, MTV, major music magazines, and corporate radio. The success of Fugazi has been based on an extensive touring schedule and a word of mouth reputation. Fugazi has been labeled punk, but they are a rock band with what I describe as a funky punk sound filled with an intensity equal to a hurricane. If you want to know more about Fugazi then click here and get educated.

Why I Picked This Song: 'Waiting Room' is in my opinion the gateway song for Fugazi. It's one of their best songs, but please note that Fugazi never releases weak material. The driving bass and the wonderful blend of vocals from Ian MacKaye and Guy Piccotto makes 'Waiting Room' one of the best rock songs of all time. That's right, I said all time. I'm like Kanye jumping on stage at the VMAs and interrupting Taylor Swift. "I'm gonna let you finish, Taylor, but Fugazi had one of the greatest songs of all time" I really needed a musical kick of motivation this morning because I tweaked a muscle in my shoulder yesterday, which led to an evening of major pain. My wife decided to take me to the ER where we faced a two to three hour wait in a waiting room full of characters. There was a guy with a bandaged finger with blood all over his shirt. His wife or girlfriend was holding something in a plastic bag, so if that dude was waiting then there was no way in hell I was getting in to see anyone. Click on the video below and enjoy the music.

Download The Song: Get your Fugazi fix from Dischord Records, so click here for some great music.



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Grant Hart: 2541 - Song of the Day for February 25, 2013

 Then I put down the money
And I picked up the keys
We had to keep the stove on all night long
So the mice wouldn't freeze


The Song: '2541'

The Artist: Grant Hart

Song Info: '2541' was featured on Grant Hart's 2541 EP which was released in 1988 on SST Records.The song is also featured on Hart's 1989 solo album debut, Intolerance.

Artist History: Grant Hart was the drummer for Hüsker Dü, a Minneapolis trio that started off as a hardcore punk band but blossomed into a fantastic rock band. Hüsker Dü was a college rock darling that did not gain major fame during their nine year career (1979 - 1988), but they did influence many alternative rock bands like Green Day. Hart was the drummer and shared songwriting and singing duties with guitar player Bob Mould. Tensions and drug use broke up the band, so Hart and Mould went their separate ways. Mould went on to a great solo career that included the formation of a new band called Sugar. Hart has been in Mould's shadow since the break up of Hüsker Dü, but Hart has had produced some incredible music as a solo artist.

Why I Picked This Song:There are times when songs pop into my head and they stay there for an entire weekend. '2541' popped into my head on Saturday morning and it was refreshing to have a great song stuck in my head instead of some god awful racket from Barney and Friends. I have kids. I'm a fan of Hart and Mould's solo efforts, and one of my favorite songs by Hart is '2541', a tale of a struggling rock band living in a crummy house. This is a really catchy acoustic rock song that will get you singing "2541, big windows to let in the sun". Enjoy.

Download The Song: Click here to get the song from Amazon.com.



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Friday, February 22, 2013

60's Live: Hold On, I'm Comin' - Sam and Dave

I saved the best for last for 60's Live. Hendrix setting his guitar on fire at Monterey Pop was cool, The Who blowing up their drum kit (note: start that link from the 3:18 mark) while on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was wild, and Hendrix playing the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock is pretty damn awesome. Today I'd like to share something that I feel is criminally overlooked and that was Sam and Dave's killer performance of 'Hold On, I'm Comin' during the 1967 Stax European Tour.It is important to note that the backing band was none other than Booker T and The M.G.'s.

The reason I picked this performance is simply due to the fact that it is absolutely amazing to watch. Sam and Dave end their set brilliantly by delivering a hot rendition of 'Hold On, I'm Comin' and add some audience participation which leaves the crowd in a frenzy. This is how it's done, so all of you wanna be rockers take a cue from Sam and Dave. Enjoy.




TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

60's Live: I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) - Otis Redding

The 60's live series continues at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. My song selection for today is Otis Redding's live performance of 'I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)'. If you follow the site then you know I used this song last year, but I made an executive decision to post it again because it is one of the best live performances of the 1960's.

People talk about the greatness of Woodstock, and while I agree it was an important cultural experience, it doesn't compare musically to the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. One of the biggest highlights of Redding's career was his performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. This is the event where the world discovered Janis Joplin, where The Who smashed their equipment for an American audience, and where Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire. Backed by Booker T. and The M.G.'s, Redding made a splash on a predominately white audience, which made him a bigger star. He died six months later and the video below shows a one-of-a-kind artist that left us too soon.  



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

60's Live: Dazed and Confused by Led Zeppelin

It's time to get the Led out, boys and girls. Led Zeppelin's live version of 'Dazed and Confused' is today's selection for 60's live. This song was part of their 1969 in-studio concert for Danish TV.

Zeppelin's released two amazing albums in 1969, Led Zeppelin and Led Zeppelin II. 'Dazed and Confused' is featured on the first album and the band really knocks it out of the park with their 1969 Danish TV performance. John Paul Jones is cool as ever on the bass, Jimmy Page pulls off using the violin bow, and John Bonham is a beast on the drums.

I recall that there is a rather interesting story with this appearance on Danish TV. The history hounds of the internet will need to find the supporting documentation. However, I do recall watching an interview with Robert Plant back in the late 80's or early 90's and he said that backstage there was a woman who screamed loudly when shown the cover for the first Led Zeppelin album. Apparently, she had a relative die in the infamous 1937 Hindenburg accident. Help me out here, kids. Am I the only one who remembers this interview?

I don't know what else to say, so watch Zeppelin rock for the next nine minutes.



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

60's Live: Please, Please, Please by James Brown and The Famous Flames

James Brown, Soul Brother Number One, is the featured artist for today's edition of 60's Live. Choosing a great live performance by Brown was not easy because the man ALWAYS put on a great show. I've decided to share with you James Brown and The Famous Flames' 1964 live performance of 'Please, Please, Please' at the Teenage Awards Music International/Teen Age Music International a.k.a. The T.A.M.I. Show.

James Brown was The Hardest Working Man in Show Business and his catalog was a powerhouse of soul and R&B music. Brown helped develop funk and was an inspiration for hip-hop music. To learn more about his amazing career then check out his bio at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Why did I choose 'Please, Please, Please'? I wanted a James Brown performance that could be seen and heard. Live at The Apollo which was recorded in 1962 is a fantastic album, but I wanted the readers to see how James Brown commanded the stage with his Famous Flames. In my opinion, one of his best live moments was in 1964 when he gave an amazing performance at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium for the T.A.M.I. Show.

The T.A.M.I. Show was a popular music event that featured the best acts in rock and roll and R&B. James Brown, The Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, Smoky Robinson, and The Supremes were a few of the artists that rocked the house for the T.A.M.I. Show. James Brown and The Famous Flames gave the performance of a lifetime and the poor Rolling Stones, the show's closing act, had to go onstage following Brown's performance. Keith Richards would later say that closing the show ahead of Brown was a major mistake.



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Monday, February 18, 2013

60's Live: A Quick One While He's Away by The Who

The 1960's was a fantastic time for rock and roll music and this week I am selecting some of the best live performances from this amazing decade. I'm going to start this week off right with The Who's 1968 live version of 'A Quick One While He's Away' from The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.  The Who's show stealing live performance was rumored to be the reason why the event, which was recorded in 1968, wasn't released until the late 1990's.

The Rock and Roll Circus was a 1968 show created by The Rolling Stones for the BBC. The Stones invited John Lennon, The Who, Jethro Tull, Taj Mahal, and Marianne Faithfull, and recording started on the afternoon of December 11, 1968. A series of technical delays caused the filming of The Rock and Roll Circus to be a ten to twelve hour ordeal. When The Stones closed the show, they were exhausted and Mick Jagger decided to shelve the entire project due to their poor performance. The film was not seen again until 1989 when someone found it in a cellar.

There are a few instances in rock and roll where a live performance of a song is light years better than the studio version. Cheap Trick's Live at Budokan version of 'I Want You To Want Me' is much better than the slower and less memorable version on In Color. Have you listened to a Peter Frampton song from any album other than Frampton Comes Alive?

'A Quick One While He's Away' is another example of a song where the live version is far superior. The studio version first appeared on the 1966 album A Quick One. Guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend created a nine minute rock opera which is one of their best tunes. I've embedded the album version below. Just listen to two or three minutes of the original so you can compare it to the Rock and Roll Circus version.



 Here is a clip of The Who's performance of 'A Quick One for The Rock and Roll Circus. The audio is not great, but you do have the opportunity to see The Who show the rest of the bands who was the best. In my opinion, this is an amazing liver performance and it is hands down the best live performance from The Who. The energy and power from the four lads is second to none and the video below will show you why The Who is better than The Beatles and The Stones when it comes to live shows. 


For those of you looking for a better Rock and Roll Circus audio quality then I've embedded a clip below for you to enjoy.



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Friday, February 15, 2013

My Super 70's: Roadrunner by The Modern Lovers

My Super 70's has come to an end and there is no better act to close this week than The Modern Lovers. This Boston, Massachusetts band was led by the eccentric Jonathan Richman and were active during the 1970's and 1980's. 'Roadrunner' is the opening track to their 1976 classic pre-punk masterpiece The Modern Lovers.

Simplicity in rock and roll should be appreciated. Some bands can create complex masterpieces, and I truly appreciate those works, but a teenage Jonathan Richman took three chords and created a punk anthem about the joys of driving in your car and listening to some great rock music. 'Roadrunner' is in my opinion one of the greatest songs in the history of rock and roll.

Released in 1976, The Modern Lovers debut was an influential rock and roll album that spent some four or five years in development hell. The Modern Lovers were pursued by various record companies in the early 70's, but tensions in the band and some other issues delayed the release. By 1976, Richman was essentially a solo artist that used a variety of backing musicians that were labeled 'The Modern Lovers'.

I don't think there is a better song to open an album than 'Roadrunner'. Richman's count to six leads into a true rock and roll experience that is second to none. It might not hit you at first, but 'Roadrunner' takes the listener to a time when rock and roll was fun and kids could jump on the stage with a band that had a handful of songs that used a couple of chords.

On a side note, a lawmaker in Massachusetts is trying to make 'Roadrunner' the official state song. Enjoy!





TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

My Super 70's: I'd Really Love To See You Tonight by England Dan and John Ford Coley

Happy Valentine's Day. The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll has a special treat for you today because I'm giving you some England Dan and John Ford Coley. They had a hit in 1976 with 'I'd Really Love To See You Tonight', which is quite possibly the most polite booty call song in the history of rock and roll.

Take a listen to the song and then join me for some deep thoughts:



Are you with me on that being the most polite booty call song? England Dan and John Ford Coley are struggling to get a lady to stop by for the evening. If you break down the lyrics you have something that goes like this, "Excuse me, I'm having strong feelings for you and I would be most pleased if you joined me for an evening of coitus. It's completely up to you, my dear. I apologize for being very forward." My friend described this as "Booty calling a 1970's feminist". Don't get all uptight with me because the 70's was by no means a conservative decade. Studio 54 anyone?

The 70's had plenty of sexy jams, and they were more direct than 'I'd Love To See You Tonight'. For example, the master himself, Marvin Gaye, sent millions of women into a sexual frenzy with his 1973 hit 'Let's Get It On'. When this song played on the radio, some women underwent a miraculous moment where they instantly became pregnant. Marvin had magic powers.I'm going to test my Marvin theory out and embed his hit below. WARNING: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY IMMACULATE CONCEPTIONS.


Happy Valentine's Day and stay sexy.

TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

My Super 70's: Hard Times by Baby Huey

My Super 70's week is going strong. The song that I have selected for today is 'Hard Times' by Baby Huey. This song was featured on Baby Huey's 1971 cult classic album The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend.

Baby Huey was a 400 pound mountain of soul music that died before his first album was released. Born James Ramey, he was given the nickname Baby Huey due to his resemblance to the cartoon character. He helped form Baby Huey and The Babysitters, a R&B group that gained a reputation as an exciting act. By the late 1960's Baby Huey and The Babysitters caught the eye of Curtis Mayfield who wanted to sign Huey, sans the band, to his label Curtom Records. However, members of The Babysitters were asked to help record Baby Huey's debut album in 1970, which led to a tense recording session.

Baby Huey never saw the release of his debut. An addiction to heroin and a drinking problem led to his death at the age of twenty-six. The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend is something of a Velvet Underground and Nico album for the hip-hop world. The album sold poorly, but inspired a hip-hop generation.

I discovered this album last year during one of my various internet searches for long lost albums. The first song I heard was 'Hard Times' and it was a pretty catchy tune despite the fact that it dealt with inner city misery. I've checked out the entire album The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend online and it was a great debut that showed a great deal of promise for the young singer. We'll never know what could have been but enjoy the song below.




TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

My Super 70's: Queen Bitch by David Bowie

Welcome to my super 70's week. David Bowie's 'Queen Bitch' is the song of the day at the Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. This song was released in 1971 and is featured on the brilliant album Hunky Dory.

I first heard 'Queen Bitch' during the Rock and Roll documentary that aired on PBS during the mid 90's. Bowie was featured on the Wild Side series, and they played the first twenty seconds of 'Queen Bitch'. That song grabbed my attention and I had to find out the title to the song. I remember finding out that the title was 'Queen Bitch', and I thought that was perfect. Bowie was on fire during the 70's and his material from that decade is amazing. Enjoy.




TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Monday, February 11, 2013

My Super 70's: Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty

I say goodbye to the 80's and say hello to my super 70's selections. My first pick is Gerry Rafferty's 1978 #1 hit 'Baker Street'. This song is about a street in London and was featured on Rafferty's solo album City to City.

Gerry Rafferty earned fame in the early 70's as a member of Stealers Wheel. Their most memorable hit was 1972's 'Stuck in the Middle with You', which is the tune that's played during the infamous ear scene in Reservoir Dogs. Rafferty tried to break away from his management during the mid-70's, and that led to legal issues, which led to a three year period where he could not release any music. When the legal issues came to an end, Rafferty was able to release new material that included 'Baker Street'.

What's not to like about 'Baker Street'? Rafferty has a cool vocal delivery but Raphael Ravenscroft's saxophone riff is definitely the icing on the cake.Take a listen to the AM radio gold below and enjoy.


Sometimes a song is covered and a band absolutely nails it. The Foo Fighter's featured a cover of 'Baker Street' on their 1997 CD single for 'My Hero'. I've included it below as an added bonus.



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Friday, February 8, 2013

My 80's Jams: Push It by Salt-N-Pepa

A week full of my 80's jams has come to a close, and my last selection is 'Push It' by Salt-N-Pepa. This was a top twenty Billboard hit in 1987 for the New York City hip-hop group. In case in hasn't sunk in, this was a hit twenty-six years ago.

Salt, Pepa, and DJ Spinderella have cranked out some jams like 'Shoop' and 'Whatta Man', but my favorite is 'Push It'. I remember when this song was popular and this kid I used to ride the bus with was not allowed to listen to the song because his grandma thought they were saying "ah, bullshit" instead of "ah, push it". Grandma must have thought Salt-N-Pepa was personally responsible for the decline of Western Civilization. Grandma was nuthin' but a hater and click the video below so you can enjoy some of the old school.




TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

My 80's Jams: Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant

The 80's jams are still going strong at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. Today's selection is 'Electric Avenue' by Eddy Grant. This song peaked at #2 on the US Billboard charts in 1982, but Grant had been a hit maker in England since the late 60's as a reggae/pop artist.

I've taught two classes on the history of rock and roll at a community college and I used to assign my students ten songs to review every week. 'Electric Avenue' was assigned one week and 90% of the reviews mentioned the movie Pineapple Express. It's good to know that the kids know 'Electric Avenue'. Thank you, Seth Rogen.

'Electric Avenue' is an 80's jam for me because it's new wave mixed with reggae. However, you really should listen to the lyrics because Eddy's not singing about peace and love. 'Electric Avenue' is about the 1981 Brixton Riot when British Afro-Caribbean residents took their frustrations with the economy and local police to the streets. There is an Electric Avenue in Brixton because it was the first street in the area with electric lights. Now you know and knowing is half the battle. Enjoy.  



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

My 80's Jams: I Feel For You by Chaka Khan

The jams from the 80's are getting some major love this week at The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll. Today's selection is 'I Feel For You', a 1984 hit for Chaka Khan. Anytime we mention Khan at the Lost Soul then it is mandatory to include this clip.

'I Feel For You' is an absolute jam of funk and hip hop. Did you know this was a cover? This song was originally written and recorded by Prince, and is featured on his 1979 debut album. What happened to the days where you can be shirtless on an album cover? Khan's version was recorded in 1984 and features a sample of Stevie Wonder's 'Fingertips' and the rapping is courtesy of Melle Mel from Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five.

Chaka Khan is no one hit wonder. Born Yvette Stevens, she changed her name to Chaka in the late 60's while a member of the Black Panther Party. She married musician Hassan Khan in 1970 and entered the music industry. Khan's career took off and during the 70's and her hits include 1974's 'Tell Me Something Good' with Rufus and 1978's 'I'm Every Woman' as a solo artist. The video for 'I Feel For You' is below and enjoy the jam.


I learned today that Chaka Khan was not the first to cover this song. The Pointer Sisters covered it in 1982, and I've included a the song below.



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

My 80's Jams: Party All The Time by Eddie Murphy

Charlie Murphy! My 80's jams are still the hotness and the song I have selected for today is Eddie Murphy's 'Party All The Time'. This song was released in 1985 and was a top ten hit for Eddie. In case you didn't know, this song was written and produced by Rick James.

Some people believe that this song falls under the "awesomely bad" category, but I'll give Eddie some respect and say this song is a jam. Rick James does a good job of adding his funky magic to this song, which is the reason why 'Party All The Time' is great. When it comes to celebrities bringing the hotness to pop music, I'll give my respect to Eddit for this jam, but let me add Jamie Foxx to the list for what he did on Kanye's 'Gold Digger'. I've embedded the official music video for 'Party All The Time' below, so enjoy my 80's jam!



TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Monday, February 4, 2013

My 80's Jams: Word Up by Cameo

Last week was a trip to the 90's and this week I am featuring my 80's jams. I'm not afraid to share my guilty pleasure jams with my faithful followers. The first selection is Cameo's 1986 hit, 'Word Up!'.

Cameo is a NYC band that has been active for four decades. Remember, Cameo is the name of the band and the lead singer is Larry Blackmon, not Cameo. They were originally known as the New York City Players, but changed their name to Cameo. It is rumored they changed their name in the 70's due to a lawsuit from the Ohio Players. Cameo had some R&B hits in the 70's and 80's, but 'Word Up!' is definitely their most popular song.

'Word Up!' is a funky jam. I've been a fan of this song since it was the hotness on Top 40 radio. You don't need an explanation why this song is awesome, so watch the video below and enjoy. On a side note, the word of the day at The Lost Soul of Rock & Roll is CODPIECE. 




TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.

Friday, February 1, 2013

My 90's Flashback: I Don't Know by Too Much Joy

 My 90's flashback week has come to a close, and I've decided to end it with one of my favorite bands of the 1990's, Too Much Joy. The song selected for today is 'I Don't Know' which is featured on their 1992 album Mutiny.

Too Much Joy was a band from New York that released some great alternative rock in the late 80's to the late 90's. Their sound was influenced by 1970's power pop and punk music, especially The Clash. Too Much Joy's lyrics are filled with the dark and witty kind of humor you would find from the minds of the smart ass kids that sit in the back row of a college classroom.

Wittenberg University's campus radio station is WUSO and I was a volunteer disc jockey there from 1989 to 1991. I didn't attend Wittenberg University, but the station was desperate for volunteers during the summer that they agreed to let me, a high school student, have my own show. My goal was to get a classic rock show. The station manager from 1989 to 1990 said I needed a FCC license and I had to promise not to play any obscene gangsta rap songs.That sounded easy and I was excited that I would have a radio station all to myself for three to four hours to play anything I wanted.

When I stopped by WUSO for my first show, I found out there were more rules. Every hour, I had to play songs from CDs or records that were labeled for heavy, medium, and light rotation. I could play my own songs after I met the hourly rotation requirements. I had to do multiple station identifications and play three to five public service announcements per hour. I had to do one to two campus announcements per hour. I had to keep a log of songs I played, plus I had to track the public service and campus announcements. Talk about bait and switch.

I didn't like the fact that I had to play "weird college music" that was on the rotation list because I wanted to play classic rock like Skynyrd and Bad Company. My goal was to find songs by artists that were under the two and a half minute mark so I could get my music into the rotation. It was devious, but they didn't give me specific songs to play.

A total spaz named Steve was responsible for training me before my first show. He had a saliva problem that led to me dodging bits of spit as he spoke about working at WUSO. Steve asked if I could play a song for him when I opened the show. I agreed and he handed me an album from a band called Too Much Joy. It was a single for their song 'That's A Lie', and someone had written on the album sleeve "THIS IS AWESOME!".

I was pissed that I was going to play some goofy ass college rock song. He showed me how to properly cue a record for radio, and I gave 'That's A Lie' a spin. My dislike of college rock began to slowly melt away as the song played. I had no idea it was a cover of a LL Cool J song, but it was fantastic. I've included the song below. It's awesome and LL Cool J appears in the video.


Thanks for opening my eyes, spittin' Steve. I was still a classic rock disciple, but I was introduced to Too Much Joy and many other cool college rock acts like The Lemonheads and The Church.

After my time at WUSO was up, I enrolled at Wright State University. Their station was WWSU, and I was able to get a show as a freshman. It was a Saturday afternoon show, and it was required that I dedicate ten minutes every hour to two clowns who had to give sports scores. Apparently, those guys were not aware of the fact that everyone in the area turned on the TV or tuned into a major sports radio channel to get college football updates.

WWSU had the rotation rule like WUSO, but I had developed a bigger love for college music. I was beyond thrilled when I saw a new album by Too Much Joy titled Mutiny. I played the hell out of 'Donna Everywhere' and decided to go out and buy the album.

Mutiny is one of those college rock albums that should have been massively popular. From start to finish Mutiny is a solid piece of power pop influenced perfection.'Donna Everywhere' is a fun song and the video has Penn and Teller. Too Much Joy brings a strange kind of beauty to Mutiny with 'Sort of Haunted House', a interesting tale of love and murder. I was amazed to find this cool cover by Brown University's acapella group.

My song selection for today is 'I Don't Know'. I selected this song because it contains one of my favorite lines, "I'm ahead of my time, but only by a week". This is the kind of great rock and roll music you get from Too Much Joy. I hope you enjoy this selection embedded below and have a great weekend.




TonyDoug Wright is The Lost Soul of Rock and Roll and is also the head writer and owner of Champion City Comics. Follow him @TonyDougWright on Twitter.