Top 5: Get It From the Bottom

One of my favorite posts in the history of this blog appeared three years ago this week, about the darkness audible on Top 40 radio in the fall of 1969 via the WLS chart from the week of November 10. There are other ways to look at the same week, of course—how dark could it [...]

I’ll Do It, Maybe

At this blog, I pride myself on offering not merely entertainment, but anything else you, the esteemed blog reader, might need. I have limits, however. Here’s a short list of six things I’ll do, and four things I won’t.
“I’ll Make Love to You Anytime”/Eric Clapton. From Backless, an album that many critics consider lifeless to [...]

And I Can’t Think of a Good Title, Either

You may have noticed a distinct lack of activity in this space this week. My official excuse is that I’ve got actual remunerative labor to do, but not much of that been done either, as I’ve been fighting a cold that’s reduced my enthusiasm for everything apart from huddling under a blanket on the couch. [...]

Avast Me Hearties, There’s Music Afoot

Like 10 million people across the country, I bought Norah Jones’ debut album Come Away With Me in 2002. I wanted to like it more than I do. It’s pleasant enough, but every song sounds like every other song. (That wasn’t a problem on her 2003 alt-country project, the Little Willies, which I’ve listened to [...]

Top 5: Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me?

I haven’t got a good opening paragraph for this post, so let’s just go with some Top Fives, from 16, 24, 32, 40, and 48 years ago this week.
Cash Box, week of October 30, 1993:
1. “Just Kickin’ It”/XScape
2. “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”/Meat Loaf
3. “Dreamlover”/Mariah Carey
4. “All That She Wants”/Ace [...]

Three Minutes

The standard length of a pop song has long been considered three minutes, even though pop songs haven’t consistently been three minutes long for a generation or more. The creep began in the 70s—American Top 40 went from a three-hour show to a four-hour show in October 1978 because the records were getting so long—and [...]