A Beautiful Morning

Songs have been coming and going so frequently in my head that I can't remember them all to put them on the blog. I think I must have a case of irony. It's grey and drizzly today, but the song stuck in my head is A Beautiful Morning recorded by the Rascals in 1968. The single reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over a million copies that year. Personally, it sounds like what my mom always preaches: get up and move. Of course, she thinks that even when it's not nice outside.

Whenever I Call You Friend

Kenny Loggins released this hit on his 2nd solo album Nightwatch in 1978. Stevie Nicks joins him on the vocals in the original recording. Unfortunately, I couldn't find an intact recording of it for the playlist. Instead you get Michael Johnson & Allison Krauss. Which is a pretty good version, with an acoustic sound.

Don't Sleep in the Subway

I really like Petula (Pet) Clark. Her 1965 Downtown is one of my all-time favorites. Don't Sleep in the Subway is just so logical, and very British. It's awesome. She has recorded hit music in multiple languages including French and Italian. As a side note, Pet was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1998 by Queen Elizabeth II. That's one level below getting to be called "Dame".

Reelin' in the Years

Steely Dan released this 1972 hit on their album Can't Buy a Thrill. Elliot Randall's guitar solo was ranked by Guitar World as the 40th best of the top 100. Take that Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Scar Tissue

The Red Hot Chili Peppers released this song in 1999. According to Guitar World, the hit placed 63rd out of the top 100 guitar solos. Scar Tissue's lyrics cover modern music's trinity: drugs, sex, & rock'n'roll.

One Last Hope

To my knowledge, this is the only piece of music that Danny DeVito has recorded. After a day of this song from Disney's Hercules (1997) running through my head, I had to break out the DVD and watch it. Of course, I always think that they get the ending wrong. Hercules has been trying to prove himself a true hero so that he can rejoin his family on Mt. Olympus. When he finally does, he gives it up to stay with Megara, his true love. That's all well and good, the flaw, however, is this: Hercules becomes a true hero by giving up his life for Meg (until he becomes immortal), but Meg has already given her life to save him. Now don't you think that she has proven herself a true hero? She ought to have been made immortal too. Then everyone could have been together as a great big forever family on Mt. Olympus. Just saying.

(and sorry, I couldn't find the song for my playlist)