For many people, when they think of the 80’s they think of the early to mid-80’s and the New Wave/ New Romantic movement where quirky pop and dystopian love songs “defected” to airwaves. For others, it’s the mid to late 80’s and the Glam-Metal, big hair crusade.

The Cult rose from the ashes of the Manchester Punk scene (as did Morrissey and The Smiths), and stood somewhere between the old and new ways to rock.  They were quickly signed by Beggars Banquet, and by 1985 they were ready to help create Modern Rock radio.

“She Sells Sanctuary” was the 1st single off their second album Love.  Released 34 years ago this month, it was the perfect rock song. It had great guitar hooks, a snappy rhythm section, and a guy that could yell in key. You could even dance to it. I love this track, it’s a classic 80’s rock song and although they would go on to have bigger hits, I think this was their best single.

By the time “Indie” bands transition from the club to the stadium, the journey can often distort the magic and sparkle that once kept early fans longing for more. In the age of social media and “ala carte” entertainment this is especially true, since now it's easier to follow, miss or become distracted from your “new” favorite artists.

Over the last 11 years, it’s been a genuine pleasure to watch the career of Kevin Parker and his Tame Impala project. I hoped - though never thought -that his work would not only become as popular as it has, but influence as many of the newer independent musicians of today. More importantly, he has achieved this success and critical acclaim while sticking to his retrospective creative guns and releasing music without much, if any, compromise.
​
“Patience” is a single released this past March and continues with the psychedelic post disco sound we started hearing from him with Currents. It’s a shout out to Andrea True, Mickie Most, star bursts, and that lovely saturated soft knee trippy compression I adore. Keep it up mate, you haven’t lost this longtime fan. 

At 1619 Broadway street near 49th in Midtown Manhattan, sits the Brill Building and with it, pop music history spanning from the Big Band Era of the 40’s through the “singer-songwriter” movement of the early 70’s. Two songwriter/producers that found success under that roof were Italian American cousins Hugo & Luigi. They penned and produced a string of hits from the likes of Perry Como, The Isley Brothers, and Elvis Presley. One of their most prolific artists who didn’t need any help writing songs was Sam Cooke. 
​
“Cupid” was written by Cooke and produced by Luigi for RCA Victor in 1961. Luigi allegedly asked Cooke to write the song for a girl he had seen on the Perry Como TV show, but once Luigi heard her sing, he had second thoughts. During the session it was Cooke’s idea to mimic the sound of an arrow being fired on the line “straight to my lover's heart.”

I adore this song. It flawlessly encapsulates various musical elements while showcasing the timeless songwriting of Cooke. His brilliance and talent are greatly missed.  

“Go-go” music originated in the Washington DC are during mid 60’s. Artists like Black Heat, Experience United (E.U.), and Chuck Brown combined traditional horned R&B arrangements with various percussion instruments, like the rototoms, congas, and hand-held cowbells. In 1988 “Da Butt” was released by E.U. and stormed the Billboard charts. It was the first major hit for the group and helped expose Go-go to the rest of the country.

One group at the forefront of that musical movement was Trouble Funk. Formed in 1978 from the ashes of a top 40 cover band, they created an even more percussive sound and pushed the genre to its limit. They never had much Billboard success but were always the hottest ticket in the club.
​
“Pump Me Up” was originally recorded by the group in 1980 and became a regional sensation. It was re-released two years later on the legendary Sugar Hill (Hip Hop) Record label and helped shape and influence the burgeoning Hip-Hop scenes in Philadelphia and NYC. I hope you all enjoy this track as much as I have over the years.