Throwback Tracks -- February 22, 2018
David R. Smith
So roughly 6 months ago, Throwback Tracks was featured on my birthday. Well as it turns out now it's my brother's turn to have a birthday on a Thursday and so I figure I should do a brother related TBT to celebrate a travel companion, a friend and, well, a brother. So that's what we're going to do this week!
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.
He Ain't Heavy (He's My Brother) - The Hollies
It's funny; before I was even planning on doing this "happy birthday Mikey" theme, I thought about this song coming on this week. I heard it at the end of a movie and thought it should be a good one for Throwback Tracks. And then it turns out I needed all brother related things to happen this week, so it seemed pretty serendipitous!
This song just kills me. It sounds so, so sad. And it is but at the same time, it's so supportive. He's your brother. You do what you have to do; he's family. My brother has helped me out when I've needed it and I've done the same for him. It's what you do. I love this song.
Brother - Alice In Chains
Yeah, this one isn't quite as, well... supportive as the first song. This one just has depressing lyrics. Are we at all surprised? I mean, it's Alice in Chains... They're not known for having the happiest of songs now, are they?
But the title is brother. So I felt like it was kind of fitting. Plus we're both rather large AiC fans, and that definitely helps. Mikey, along with a couple cousins of mine, once travelled to Vancouver to see Alice in Chains open for Velvet Revolver. The latter half of the show was good, but we went for the former. So yeah, Brothers going to see the band who sings Brother. Seemed appropriate.
Hey Mickey - Toni Basil
So one of the names I call my brother is Mickey. How could I not post this song up here?
The first time I heard this song was when it was on Wayne's World and I didn't know that this song was so good. And it almost has my brother's name in it! Although it is a little weird because Toni Basil is singing about how much she has a crush on Mickey and he's, well, my brother. That part is a little weird. So we'll just disregard that part and just focus on the fun part of the song and pretend it's just an anthem for my broski on his birthday.
Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits
This one works well. Partially because the title of the song seems pretty suitable for a couple family members, but also because my brother is a huge Dire Straits fan. When I finally get to writing my month of "best guitar solos" I'll be putting one of the best Dire Straits songs on there. And that just so happens to be Mikey's favourite guitar solo.
Plus, let's be honest; this song is just great, isn't it? Mark Knopfler has some mad song writing skills. I got a chance to see him open for Dylan a few years ago. And man, I would see Mark Knopfler again and again and again.
Bro Hymn - Pennywise
Definitely not a happy song. It's like of like The '59 Sound. It's upbeat and charges you up, but when you listen to the lyrics, you go "Oh. Oh no..." It is not nearly as happy as it should be.
But. The original song was written as a tribute to one of the band members' brothers. So it seems marginally fitting that it's called Bro Hymn, right? If I was a better songwriter, I would probably try to write one in tribute to my siblings. But I'm not that talented. So instead I write dorky musical tributes to my brother on his birthday. Same-same, right??
Okay. Most of these songs aren't exactly of the celebratory nature. Apparently not a lot of songs with "brother" in them are. But they have brother in the title and that's basically enough, right? I'll believe it if you believe it! So yeah, happy birthday brother!
A couple housekeeping things;
1) As per usual, if you want to listen to all the old playlists, have at 'em. You know where to find them:
2018
January 2018 TBT Playlist (or the January 2018 Spotify)
2017
December 2017 TBT Playlist (or the December 2017 Spotify), 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
2) Remember a couple months ago when I did the all punk month? I think April will be my all hip-hop month. It gives a month for all my loyal readers (if there are any) to submit any pre-2000s (ish) hip hop songs that they really want me to add. It also gives me time to compile the songs I know I want to put in. So have a think on it, friends. If you desperately want to hear a song, let me know!
-D (@davidronn)