Throwback Tracks -- December 14, 2017
David R. Smith
I started a draft of this preamble very negatively. I blame the fact that I'm sick and everything seems like a chore at the moment. But I should be happy! Classes are over, I'm onto the grading process now, all is well. Aside from me being sick. But there's even a silver lining there: I got sick a year ago but was sick on Christmas. I'd rather be over it by that time so I can really enjoy it this year. So I'm trying to be optimistic. And nothing helps that like a bunch of happy songs. So here we go!
The Guys From do not hold the rights to any of these songs, it is more our hope to expose our readers to new (*cough*) and different retro music, or re-expose them to things they may have forgotten about.
At the top of each section, will be the song name, followed by the artists' name linked to their website (if possible...which is totally hit and miss with oldies), so you can fall down the rabbit hole, finding and supporting what you dig.
Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac
Rumors is one of the greatest albums ever made. Period. End sentence. Full stop.
At some point or another, I pretty much guarantee every song from that album will make its way onto a Throwback Tracks list. It's just too good.
One of the most notable songs from the album is Don't Stop and, one could argue, it's one of their worst ones from the Album. And that's not meant as any sort of disparaging remark. Don't Stop is still great. It's just not as good as the songs on the rest of the album. But it's on here today because it gives a person hope and optimism. Tomorrow will soon be here, and yesterday is gone. Keep your chin up, keep looking forward, not backward and all will be well. It's a good anthem for the pessimist to listen to. And on days where I'm sick, it's almost as comforting as a warm blanket!
Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard - Paul Simon
This song doesn't really have a happy message, per se. It's just really, really fun. It's got a great feel to it.
Paul Simon is truly a master of his craft. While I prefer his stuff with Mr. Garfunkel, I do still like his solo work too. It just means there's more Paul Simon to go around.
Appearing on his self-titled album as the first track of side B, it found a nice spot in his roster. While likely over-shadowed by songs like Graceland and You Can Call Me Al, it still has some esteem in the world of music.
What I really like about (besides the fact that it makes me want to boogie) is that it has a somewhat unconventional sound to it, insofar as it features mostly guitar with the bare minimum amount of other instruments; a smattering of bass and a bit of percussion. The rest is done with guitars. And whistle solos. Who doesn't love a good whistle solo??
Hold On - Wilson Phillips
My sister was big into these guys when we were growing up. Daughters of both the Beach Boys as well as the Mamas and the Papas, there's some real talent in this group. And this song was a smash hit. It sort of had a resurgence when they featured it on Bridesmaids. Not that the song needed it, but it sort of made the song popular to a new generation of people who might not have known about it otherwise.
This is a song that just makes you feel powerful. I don't know why, exactly. Could be the slow build it has. It's a nice subtle start until the drums kick in. Gives an almost Phil Collins-like drum lick and then into the bridge, which segues nicely into the chorus. After that comes in, you can't help but feel awesome about your life!
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
I remember the first time I heard this song was at the end of There's Something About Mary when the cast sang it as part of the closing credits. I liked it then and I like it almost as much as I like it now.
It's a tough song to sing, because the chorus starts on such a high note that it's hard to hit and not sound bad. But the rest of the song is so good to sing. The callbacks, the ba-da-daaas makes for a song that's fun to sing in a group of people, and everybody loves this song (and most people who appreciate music from the was-before tend to know it.)
In My Tree - Pearl Jam
People often tell me that they don't like Pearl Jam because they don't care for Alive, Even Flow, Jeremy, etc. To them I say, "that's fine, but have you listened to stuff that aren't radio singles?" Now that is not necessarily going to sway them, but I find most of the songs I love by this band are songs that nobody often knows because they get no radio play.
This is one of those songs. This is one of my favourite Pearl Jam songs for many reasons. But one of the biggest ones is because it makes me feel like I'm able to do anything.
I love this song because tempo-wise, it's very similar on the CD as it is Live. Sometimes they'll increase tempos of songs live to get more songs in, or just keep the energy up. Which is fine. But this one they don't need to. And hearing it live is a life changing event. For me, anyway. When McCready gets his guitar to whine out that solo at the end, and the drums, bass and everything is all hauling off together... it gives me shivers just thinking about it. Man I need another tour.
Well I made it through. I'm still sick, but the list is done for the week. So there's that! Anyway, the playlists are ready for you for anything previous to now so go indulge. Call it a Christmas gift to yourself. Or something.
2017
November 2017 TBT Playlist (and the November 2017 Spotify), October 2017 TBT Playlist (and the October 2017 Spotify), September 2017 TBT Playlist (and the September 2017 Spotify), August 2017 TBT Playlist (and the August Spotify list), July 2017 TBT Playlist (and the July Spotify List), June 2017 TBT Playlist (and the June Spotify List), May 2017 TBT Playlist, April 2017 TBT Playlist, March 2017 TBT Playlist , February 2017 TBT Playlist
2016
Throwback Playlist for Dec 16/Jan 17, October 2016 Throwback Playlist, September 2016 Throwback Playlist, August 2016 Throwback Playlist, July 2016 Throwback Playlist, June 2016 Throwback Playlist, May 2016 Throwback Playlist, April 2016 Throwback Playlist
-D (@davidronn)