Dave Mason — ‘We Just Disagree”

Again, for those of you new here. This blog isn’t much fun, so… beware.

Warren Zevon — Splendid Isolation

Don’t want to take up with nobody new
Don’t want nobody coming by without calling first
Don’t want nothing to do with you
I’m putting tinfoil up on the windows
Lying down in the dark to dream
I don’t want to see their faces
I don’t want to hear them scream
Splendid Isolation
I don’t need no one

Frank Sinatra — My Way

Jefferson Airplane is cool, right? I mean my mom, who smoked a lot of pot thought they were cool, so they must have been cool. At least they were cool to a teen living in central Michigan like my mom. Although one must consider that in 1967 when Jefferson Airplane released “White Rabbit” she was only 8 years old. Coincidentally when I was 16 years old, in 1996 my highschool marching band played “White Rabbit” during the half-time festivities at every home and away football game. We totally rocked it. Of course that year we also played “Come Out and Play” by the Offspring. Yes, in 1996 my highschool marching band played an Offspring song. We fucking ruled. Thank you.

Anyway, Jefferson Starship is a spin-off band of Jefferson Airplane that began in the mid 70’s, and  later in 1984ish after the dissolve of Jefferson Airplane and the ensuing legal battle over the use of the name “Jefferson Airplane/Starship” the band STARSHIP(caps mine) was born. I can’t really point to any of their work that’s notable, aside from this single and two others. This one, written by Albert Hammond (of “it never rains in southern california” fame, and father of Albert Hammond Jr., guitarist of The Strokes) and Diane Warren (the woman who wrote Milli Vanilli’s “Blame It On The Rain”, ironically) for the soundtrack to the film Mannequin starring a young, (post-St. Elmo’s Fire, pre-Weekend At Bernie’s), Andrew McCarthy and a still beautiful Kim Cattrall pre-plastic-surgery, sex in the city. Ms. Cattrall was also, in Porky’s… Yes!

So this film, Mannequin was a favorite of mine growing up. It touched on all of the things I wanted in my life/didn’t have. A jeep (at the beginning it’s established that Andrew’s character drives a jeep as evidences from the opening scene where he drives his Jeep to work and parks it on the streets of Philly and takes his steering wheel off of the car before work as to avoid having the car stolen), a job where you can work all night alone, meeting a woman who’s imaginary and beautiful and only alive to you, who eventually after enough trials and tribulation becomes a real person. It’s the classic male fantasy. 

So, Starship preforms a song by Hammond/Warren and it totally fucking rocks and it makes me so fucking happy and it makes me dance and I get a chill at the beginning of the guitar solo EVERY TIME I hear it. The song, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” is also SO MUCH better than their previous single “We Built This City”, which is just fucking horrible but also not as good as “Wild Again”—which was featured as the opening track to my favorite film of all-time, 1988’s Cocktail, starring Tom Cruise.  

Yeah, that’s what I think about this song.

She comes back to tell me she’s gone, as if I didn’t know that, as if I didn’t know my own bed—as if I’d never noticed, the way she brushed her hair from her forehead. And she said losing love is like a window in your heart, everybody sees you’re blown apart, everybody sees the wind blow,

yachtrock:

Elton John - “Levon”

When was the last time you listened to how awesome this song is?

Yesterday, in fact. Possibly the greatest song inspired by a member of The Band ever. Close runner up is a Counting Crows song. But yeah, this song is awesome.

Willie Nelson — “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys”

Sadly, in search of, but one step in back of,
Themselves and their slow-movin’ dreams.
Cowboys are special with their own brand of misery,

Bruce Springsteen — Atlantic City

“Nebraska” is my favorite Bruce Springsteen album. This says a lot about me, judge accordingly.

Elton John — Tiny Dancer

I get things stuck in my head. I’ve had this guy in my head for weeks. Lately, and specifically it’s been Cameron Crow. I am constantly reminded of his work. Anyways, point being. Find someone to sing with you today. Just fucking do it. You’ll thank me.

Warren Zevon — Desperados Under the Eaves

And if California slides into the ocean
Like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing until I pay my bill

Jackson Browne — These Days  (live in Holland, 1976) 

What’s unbelievable is that Jackson wrote this song when he was 16. Sixteen. While the song was later made popular by Nico, this version is my favorite. What the hell did I ever do at 16? Jackson Browne is playing in NYC Sept 14&15. Who’s coming?

Jackie Wilson - Higher and Higher

Chet Baker — You Don’t Know What Love Is

Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Learning To Fly

One of my all-time favorite songs/artists. This was recorded live at Bonnaroo in 2006. I think Stevie Nicks can be heard in the background. So far, I can only concretely say that I want 3 songs played at my funeral. Tom Petty’s “Learning To Fly”, and “Wildflowers” and The Rolling Stones “Wild Horses”.

Listen intently towards the ending for the amazing crowd sing-along. This is from Tom Petty’s 2009 quadruple album The Live Anthology. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.