I’ve been watching Gene Simmons Family Jewels on and off since the series began, and for some reason, there was a bit of a marathon session last week. All the KISS merchandise shown in Simmons’s office on the show got me thinking about the amount of cash I laid down at the register for KISS stuff when I was but a boy. In sixth grade, KISS was a band that I worshipped, and my friends worshipped them too. We used to paint our faces (probably like millions of KISS fans), play air guitar to KISS records, and generally act like idiotic fanboys. And when not doing these things, it seemed like all we talked about was KISS. I wanted to play bass because of Gene Simmons, but my parents didn’t have enough money to pay for lessons. I used to mow lawns in my neighborhood to get money to buy the occasional KISS LP (Alive!, Destroyer, and Rock and Roll Over), posters of the band, Creem and Circus magazine (always great sources for KISS pics), and I even wanted to see them when they toured in support of the album Love Gun. Alas, my parents wouldn’t let me go.
The only one who’s more disappointed
that I couldn’t go see the Love Gun tour
in this pic was my dog. (c. 1977)
I bring all this up because even though KISS went from a rock band to a cartoonish joke to a moneymaking machine, they were, for many boys and girls growing up in the mid-’70s, the “hottest band in the land.” KISS was no joke to those of us who loved them for the makeup and the amazing stage shows. However, despite all the antics, it really was the music they made in their heyday (1974-1977) that fired up our young imaginations and fueled my preteen entry into rock music. What’s fascinating is that after all these years KISS still has the power to grab the spotlight and take us back to a time when we wanted to rock and roll all night and party ev-uh-ree day! (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself there.)
For this mix, I contacted a couple of my friends who are huge KISS fans, and together we cobbled together our top six KISS songs of all time. (more…)
Bonjour amis, bloggy! Lately, I’ve been feeling a little too structured in my mixes, so I just ventured into the CD vault/closet and picked six random CDs, put them on the kitchen table, and looked to see if these artists could make a good mix. Have a listen and let me know if this random grouping actually worked!
Sometimes called “U1″ for their suspiciously similar sound to Bono’s band. But I think despite the comparison to U2, the fact of the matter is that Simple Minds have been recording some solid albums before and after their Breakfast Club soundtrack contribution. I bought this one on a whim in 1995 and wasn’t sorry by what I heard on this recording. “She’s a River” was the single that some radio stations were playing at the time, but this track stood out due in large part to Charlie Burchill’s soaring guitar work.
I have to thank Melissa at work for this mix. The two of us were talking about songs featuring female names and she said something like: “Sounds like a Mix Six to me.” Well, I knew I had one song locked in because of Melissa’s suggestion. After that, things started to fall into place very quickly. But it wasn’t until I finished the mix that I realized I happen to know women with all of these names.
“Julie”(Live), Marshall Crenshaw
This song is for my wife. I don’t know if you’ve ever done a song search for “Julie,” but most of the choices are pretty lame. Back in the day when there was a Jefitoblog, he posted this song on one of his Mixtapes (I believe). I had never heard Marshall’s song before, but was surprised to hear that it didn’t suck — you know, given the track record of songs entitled “Julie.” (”Julie” was, of course, originally performed by Bobby Fuller — referred to here by Crenshaw as “my favorite singer ever to have been murdered by gangsters.” –Ed.) (more…)
As Prince said, “I think I wanna dance!” Sometimes in the weekly Mix Six shuffle it’s easy to forget the lasting impact of disco on the culture at large. Go to any wedding reception where there’s a DJ who can read the crowd, and soon enough you’ll be hearing some of the tunes featured here.
Disco was certainly loved — but also hated — when it originally surfaced in the popular culture of the ’70s. Many were praying that disco would ultimately implode and go away … forever!
Wrong! Hahaha.
“Jupiter,” Earth, Wind & Fire
The horns, the harmony, and the badass funk of it all. There’s just something about these EWF albums of the mid- to late ’70s that’s pure funk gold. Can I get a “Hell, yeah?” (more…)
Cheers to you, you scurvy knaves! That’s my belated St. Patty’s Day toast to you — and I’m well aware that saying “scurvy knaves” is more English than Irish, but maybe I’m ready for a bare-knuckle brawl. No, really.
Actually, I’m ready to mix some musical goodness for your ears!
“Beat It,” Fall Out Boy featuring John Mayer
The fact that there’s seemingly a lack of humor in this version made me believe that Time magazine was right when they declared irony was dead. Then I saw a pic of John Mayer’s alter ego “Johnny Ballsac” in Rolling Stone and I realized Time was wrong. (more…)
Life is full of contradictions, isn’t it? For example, I’m not a fan of country music, yet I like songs and artists who fuse country elements into their songs. Go figure. Lately, those country sounds have been popping up on my iPod when I’m driving to work. So I decided to grab some of those songs and add a few others and throw them into the musical blender and see how it all mixes.
“33 RPM Soul,” Michelle Shocked
Back in the days when I had more disposable income, when it came to artists I really liked, I would buy almost every recording they produced. Michelle Shocked was one of those “gotta buy everything” artists. I instantly liked her after seeing the video to “When I Grow Up” on MTV. By the time she released Arkansas Traveler, however, I was starting to fall out of love with her — but not completely! I still love the pop goodness of this track, even though the rest of the CD is kind of uneven. (more…)
Sorry for the long delay between mixes, kids. Some real-life issues took over for the past few weeks and I had to take a break from Popdose. But things are settling down and I’m back for more fun! This week’s mix is the result of me going through some old 45s from both my mobile DJ days and when my brother and I had a ten-watt pirate radio station broadcasting out of his bedroom. Almost all the 45s in our collection are pretty much Top 40 pop, but one of the great things about 45s was the B side that most ignored — and sometimes for good reason! But sometimes there were good songs on the flip side that were only available “for a limited time.” Translation: “We’re saving them for rereleases or box sets.” Okay, on with it! (Before we get going, my apologies for the crappy pics. I snapped photos of the 45s in my backyard, and from the way I framed them, it’s clear I’m not a photographer. )
“Another Day,” Sting
This is the flip side of “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free,” and it’s really not a throwaway from Sting. It’s not one of his strongest tunes, either, but for a flip side to the lead single from his first solo album, I would say that he gave people a lot of value for $1.49. (more…)
Looking through my soon-to-be-a-dead-format CD collection, I noticed a few discs that could be labeled arty-farty — or artsy-fartsy, if you like the letter S. Why not throw them into the blender and see what kind of mix pours out …
Bonjour mes amis! This week’s mix is brought to you by the letter “L” — which is the first letter in leukemia and lymphoma. I know, blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma are real Debbie Downer things, but the good news is that every year the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society raises a large amount of cash to continue research in fighting blood cancers. One way they do it is through Team in Training, where people train with coaches to do crazy things like, oh, ride 100 miles around Lake Tahoe in June. If you couldn’t guess by now, I’m training to do “America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride” in June, and that means I’m spending a lot of time in the saddle trying to build up my endurance. Because I get bored just listening to myself breathe heavy and periodically swear while riding down the road, I load my iPod with a “bike mix” to help me stay motivated — so this week’s mix is culled from that bike playlist to help you (if you like working out) move a little faster than you’re used to.
Just so you know, it’s been raining like a mofo in the Bay Area (which is where yours truly resides). And in between driving to work, or taking BART into San Francisco a couple of times in the past week, I’ve been spending more time with my iPod than I usually do. Through the good fortune of “shuffle mode” luck, I was treated to a triple play of songs that reflect those rainy days where introspection and undefined longing dominate one’s thoughts. So, this week’s mix is dedicated to the rain and all the emotional baggage that comes with it.
Popdose represents the coming together of a veritable who's who of music bloggers and an ever-expanding roster of writers who've made it their mission to experience the best and worst in pop culture — from music to movies, TV, and books, with a dash of current events thrown in for good measure — so you don't have to. Popdose delivers coverage both in-depth (the all-encompassing Popdose Guides) and snarkily brief (the weekly Captain Video!), surveying releases both old and new. Visit often: the site publishes a minimum of twice a day.
Popdose represents the coming together of a veritable who's who of music bloggers and an ever-expanding roster of writers who've made it their mission to experience the best and worst in pop culture — from music to movies, TV, and books, with a dash of current events thrown in for good measure — so you don't have to. Popdose delivers coverage both in-depth (the all-encompassing 
