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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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

This past week we lost grammy award winning musician, composer, and Rochester legend Charles Frank Mangione. He was also a friend of my parents and our neighbor when I was a kid.

“Something Different” was the first song from the album that helped launch his brilliant career. It would be rerecorded a year later by Cannonball Adderley on his 1961 album African Waltz. Composed by Mangione at only 20 years old, this original version showcases his talents as a writer, as well as outstanding performances by both him and his brother Gap and their band. 
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From his days teaching music or playing with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, to composing an Olympic theme song, or his television cameos on King of the Hill, Mangione’s magical career should be remembered fondly.  

Arkland Parkes, aka Drumbago, was an acclaimed drummer and bandleader in Jamaica from the late 1940’s until his untimely death in 1969. He was behind many recordings, performing with the Skatalites to Derrick Morgan and Justin Hinds & The Dominoes.

“The Game Song” was released on Blue Cat Records in 1968 and was the B side to Dennis Walks’ “Belly Lick”. It was produced by the legendary Joe Gibbs and is a bombastic number, incorporating a wide breadth of musical genres and joyous energy.  

Happy summer everyone! 

1983 is often considered one of the greatest years in popular music history. There were landmark albums from Michael Jackson, The Police, Men at Work and ZZ Top, as well as notable debut releases from Metallica, Whodini, and REM. The year’s singles also showcased a vibrant mix of genres including synth-pop, reggae, country, and funk, which is especially notable when compared to what is on the radio today.

One of my favorite singles from that year was “In a Big Country” by the Scottish band Big Country. Released forty-two years ago this month, it was the 3rd single from their debut album The Crossing, and was produced by the legendary Steve Lillywhite. It had blaring bagpipe-like guitars and a catchy chorus, and the newly formed MTV network also featured a great music video where the band three-wheeled across the Scottish Highlands in search of... something?
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I love this song, it was always stuck in my head and I would sit by the radio waiting to hear Casey Kasem call it on American Top 40.

It’s only a matter of time before this talented young singer songwriter from Halifax, Nova Scotia becomes a household name. 

https://soundcloud.com/callmebabynova 
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dvThKiNFqpd5CVFCtJuFf