It cracks me up when I stumble on discussions that consider the 1990’s to be the worst decade in music history. It’s a uniformed and lazy opinion that focuses in on the latter end of the decade, after the 1996 US Telecommunications Act was passed. This act caused thousands of local, independent radio stations to get gobbled up by major corporations. In turn, this paved the way for major labels to flood the now homogenized airwaves with their data driven “safe” signings, releasing mediocre songs, none of which were cutting edge, important, or ground breaking. But this process took a while and wasn’t complete until the 2000’s.

If you look closely at the first half of the 90’s you find some of the most “original” music ever recorded. Artists like Primus, Wu- Tang Clan, Morphine, The Prodigy, and My Bloody Valentine each broke new ground musically and had landmark releases while new genres like Big Beat / Drum and Bass, Acid Jazz, Grunge, Grindcore, and Death Metal were finding their audiences and forcing record stores to assign new labels to their shelves. College radio was still king and music magazines were still read. This was long before apps like Spotify advised people, and bands were outdoing each other to create the most original sounds and not just strum the same three cords like Nickelback, Creed, or 3 Doors Down.   

“Sunshine Smile” was released on April 20th of 1992. It was the debut single from Adorable, one of the next wave of “Britpop” bands trying to break in the states. No, it wasn’t genre bending or the next “new” sound, but it was my favorite song that spring and into the summer, while the music industry was still trying to figure out how to market grunge, and long before the corporations and legislators controlled what was played on the radio. 

Check out singer  Pete Fijalkowski's latest project: https://tiptop.ochre.store/release/560160-pete-fij-loves-coming-back

This month’s song is one of my all-time favorites and helped define the psychedelic rock subgenre. It features a near-mythic roster of musicians and producers attached to it: Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Allan Holdsworth, John Bonham, Mickie Most, and Eddie Kramer, to name a few. Donovan even hoped to bring Jimi Hendrix into the session, but scheduling was allegedly an issue.

Recorded on April 3rd, 1968, and released on Pye Records a month later, “Hurdy Gurdy Man” is a brooding, melodic number built around a four-string tambura gifted by George Harrison. The track’s hypnotic atmosphere was influenced by their shared practice of Transcendental Meditation.
​
Donovan is a musician who redefined the boundaries of folk and rock, and his songs continue to stand the test of time. “Hurdy Gurdy Man” still feels both ancient and experimental, while anchored in world-class talent.

Orchestra Maquis Original, then known as Rochen Succès, was originally founded in 1963 in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).  After six years of performing around the region, some of the members changed their name and moved to Tanzania, where they created a hybrid of Congolese soukous with other musical styles found in nearby Kenya and Uganda.

“Wakati Nilikuwa Mdogo” is from their 1986 album Karubandika. It’s a slower, melodic number that showcases some wonderful interweaving guitar solos, and saxophone work towards the end of song.
​
Orchestra Maquis Original are still around today, and although they were never popular in the states, their music should have much more attention and never be forgotten. 

One of my favorite sporting memories was watching both the USA vs. Soviet Union, and USA vs. Finland Olympic hockey games on my parents’ “second” 10 inch black and white TV. Little did I know the games were tape delayed, or the role the United States played in the world, or the significance of these wins. I was seven.

With today’s upset victory over an incredible Canadian team, I thought I’d go back and look up some of my favorite songs from 1980, and there were a bunch. But one that clearly stood out was Chic’s “Good Times.” It was hard to go anywhere without hearing it and it was one of my favorite songs that fall and winter.

Recorded in 1978 at the legendary Power Station and released in June of 1979, “Good Times” was the first single from their third album Risqué. It’s their second most successful single behind “Le Freak”, and a classic dance number that was influential for not just the Sugar Hill Gang, but Queen.
​
We lost co-founding bassist Bernard Edwards in 1996, drummer Tony Thompson in 2003, and vocalist Alfa Anderson in 2024, but this song and the other smash hits they created together with Nile Rodgers and Norma Jean Wright still stand the test of time, and will hopefully never be forgotten. 

Harvey Scales came out of the Milwaukee music scene in the early 60’s as an up-and-coming singer. He eventually gainee national acclaim as a songwriter, helping to pen what is now considered the first RIAA certified platinum single in history, Johnnie Taylor’s “Disco Lady” in 1976.

Prior to that success, Scales toiled in anonymity, performing as Harvey Scales & The 7 Sounds, and released a series of unsuccessful singles for Cuca, Magic Touch, and Chess Records.

“Sun Won't Come Out” was released in 1969 on Mercury Records, and was produced by fellow Milwaukee musician and Steve Miller’s former drummer Tim Davis. It’s a funky hidden gem that was sinfully overlooked.
​
We lost Harvey Scales seven years ago this month. He was an extremely talented and accomplished singer, songwriter, and producer, and one who should not be forgotten.  

As we close out 2025, one of my favorite songs this year was from the musical project Soft Porn. Yes, this moniker can be a little tricky to search on the internet, but Jye Geltch who is behind Soft Porn is an artist to keep an eye on.

“In Too Deep” (again, a little tricky to search…) was released in March, and is his 3rd single. It’s a great introduction to his work that walks a fine line between triphop and chillwave, and is a perfect fit for long drives.

Keep an eye out for this Naarm, Australia based musician and producer, as his first full length album Onwards was pretty outstanding as well.
​
https://softestporn.bandcamp.com/
https://softestporn.bandcamp.com/album/onwards

Francisco Buckley was born on March 17, 1940 in Panama City, Panama. He grew up listening to Cuban music and the great Benny Moré, Celia Cruz, and Rolando Laserie. After spending some time learning the cornet and trumpet, “Bush” as he was known, took up the congas, timbales, and various other percussion instruments. He formed his first band in 1962 and played Club Tropicana and other clubs around Panama City.

“Nananina” or “Nana Nina” was released in 1970 on Sol Records. It was written by bassist Luis “Freddy” Anglin and is a fantastic Guaguancó and Panamanian take on Cuban Rumba. Buckley is playing the timbales on this track, and I love the frenetic pace and musicianship throughout.
​
We lost Francisco in 2018, but his influence on Panamanian music should never be forgotten.

​Happy Halloween Everyone! 

When most folks think of Winnipeg Canada, they think of snow, maybe even hockey, but not the home of two of the most talented rock musicians to ever record.

From their early recordings with Chad Allan and the Reflections, to their work with The Guess Who, or BTO and solo projects, guitarist Randy Bachman and singer Burton Cummings created some of the most memorable songs in rock history.
“Undun” is the fourth track from The Guess Who’s fifth studio album Canned Wheat. It’s a heavily jazz influenced number that tells the tale of a young woman who slips into a coma after consuming LSD.
​
I’ve always loved this song, and not just for the production, performances, writing, or structure, but because it was such a musical anomaly for rock radio stations.

It’s been seven-ish years since BRONCHO released an album, and like their previous work, it’s another solid effort with some fantastic gems.

“Funny” is the second track from Natural Pleasure. It’s a chill tune that groves away and just won’t get out of my head.
​
If you haven’t heard of these folks, give them a listen and you’ll discover some great songwriting and varied music hidden within each record.
 
https://broncho.tv/
https://www.instagram.com/bronchoworldwide/?hl=en
https://broncho.bandcamp.com/music