More goodies from my holiday music collection
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Tunes Du Jour Presents 1974
The music of 1974 proved that the pop charts could be both wildly fun and profoundly moving. It was a year where novelty songs like Carl Douglas’s “Kung Fu Fighting” and Ray Stevens’ “The Streak” shared space with deeply resonant tracks like Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” and Aretha Franklin’s “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do).” While it’s easy to dismiss the year as a playground for lighthearted hits, a closer listen reveals a wealth of outstanding singles that still resonate today.
Take “Rock Your Baby” by George McCrae, for example. Often credited as one of the earliest disco hits, its smooth groove helped usher in a new musical era. Meanwhile, Paul McCartney & Wings offered rock escapism with “Band on the Run,” a mini-suite that felt cinematic in scope. Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” with its pleading urgency and timeless melody, has become a cultural touchstone, while David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” gave glam rock an anthem for the ages.
It was also a year of musical storytelling. Terry Jacks’ “Seasons in the Sun” might be remembered as saccharine by some, but its tale of farewell struck a chord with listeners. In a completely different vein, Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” painted a vivid picture of systemic inequality, blending sharp social commentary with impeccable musicianship. These songs showcased the versatility of 1974’s music, capable of being both personal and political.
Of course, 1974 also gave us unabashedly joyful hits that simply aimed to make us feel good. The Hues Corporation’s “Rock the Boat” was an irresistible call to the dance floor, while ABBA’s “Waterloo” introduced the Swedish group’s knack for crafting pop perfection. On the romantic front, Barry White’s “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” and The Stylistics’ “You Make Me Feel Brand New” showcased lush, heartfelt soul.
For every “The Streak,” there was a “Help Me” by Joni Mitchell—a song of intricate vulnerability. For every “Kung Fu Fighting,” there was a “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” by Steely Dan—an effortlessly cool fusion of jazz and rock. The pop charts of 1974 reflected a fascinating duality, where silly and sublime coexisted, creating a year of music that remains as memorable as it was diverse.
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Tunes Du Jour Celebrates National Children’s Day
Today is National Children’s Day, the one day a year in which we pay attention to kids. Tomorrow we can go back to ignoring them.
To commemorate this important holiday, I compiled a playlist of songs that feature a children’s chorus.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 8-14-23
The Toot Uncommons, Steve Martin’s backing band on “this song”King Tut,” usually performed under the name The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. That group’s John McEuen taught Martin how to play the banjo. “King Tut” is included on Martin’s album A Wild and Crazy Guy, which won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album of 1979. In 2010 Martin won another Grammy Award, this one in the category Best Bluegrass Album for his album The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, which showcased his banjo-playing skills. The album was produced by John McEuen.
Steve Martin was born on this date in 1945. He inspired today’s playlist.
https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2jtBtUzBuyiiLmEZpEwm9v?utm_source=generator
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Throwback Thursday: 1974
In 1974 Grandpa Abe gave ten-year-old me a radio. Very quickly that radio became shy me’s best friend. I hadn’t paid much attention to music previously, only hearing what played in the family care when we went out to eat or to Sunday school or the orthodontist. With my best friend Radio by my side I was exposed to so much more. Mostly I listened to the top 40 station WABC. By the autumn of 1974 I was making weekly treks on my bicycle to Melody Manor to buy whatever single entered the top 40 that week, unless it was something truly heinous like “Cat’s in the Cradle.” It’s a habit I kept up until the mid to late eighties, when “Lady in Red,” “The Final Countdown,” “Hip To Be Square” and Milli Vanilli convinced me to eschew that habit and only buy records that were tolerable. Today’s playlist celebrates the music of the year I started collecting records.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (12-14-20)
Inspired by the season and the December 14 birthdays of Charlie Rich, Spike Jones, The Searchers’ Frank Allen, The Waterboys’ Mike Scott, Beth Orton, Jane Birkin, The Big Pink’s Robbie Furze and The Beatnuts’ Juju.
Your (Almost) Daily Playlist (11-30-20)
Inspired by the season and the November 30 birthdays of June Pointer, Allan Sherman, Billy Idol, Whodini’s Jalil, Shuggie Otis, Des’ree, Luther Ingram, The Runaways’ Cherie Currie, and Dick Clark.