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Today's Song You Should Know: Alan Jackson - 'Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)'
Music

Today's Song You Should Know: Alan Jackson - 'Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)'

Written by 11 September, 2021
Tagged under

While country music in 2021 might seem like it's more about tight shorts and drinking beer in the bed of your truck than real emotions, the genre has always been much more than that. The best country music not only tells a story but it provides an emotional connection between the music and the listener. And as we remember the events on 9/11, I wanted to highlight the one great song to come out of that event: Alan Jackson's haunting "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)."

In the days following 9/11, Jackson had struggled to process the events and according to an interview he later gave to Christianity Today, he wanted to find the right tone: "I didn't want to write a patriotic song," Jackson said. "And I didn't want it to be vengeful, either. But I didn't want to forget about how I felt and how I knew other people felt that day."

Jackson resisted recording the song because he worried it might seem as if he was somehow trying to capitalize on the tragedy. But everyone he played the song for encouraged him to record and release it. And when he played the song for track for a group of executives at his record label days after recording it, "We just kind of looked at one another," RCA Label Group chairman Joe Galante said later. "Nobody spoke for a full minute."

The song was introduced to the public live at the Country Music Association Awards, which aired on CBS in November, 2001. He had originally planned to perform his then-current #1 Country song "Where I Come From," but the decision was made at the last minute for Jackson to sing "Where Were You" instead. The audience simply knew Jackson was going to sing a new tune, but four CMA executives had previewed the track ahead of time and they were all crying by the end of the song.

The performance was one of those rare television musical moments that everyone was talking about the next day. Within weeks, the song was a #1 hit on the Country charts and it reached #28 on the Pop Top 100 chart. "Where Were You" is one of the few songs inspired by 9/11 that isn't overtly political or patriotic. It's about the struggle to make sense of tragedy and loss and that's why it's easily the song you should know today.

Here are the complete lyrics to the song, with the video below:

Where were you when the world stopped turnin'
That September day?
Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or workin' on some stage in L.A.?
Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Risin' against that blue sky?
Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children, they lost their dear loved ones
Pray for the ones who don't know?
Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below?
Did you burst out with pride for the red, white, and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do?
Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters?

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN, but I'm not sure I can tell you
The diff'rence in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turnin'
That September day?
Teachin' a class full of innocent children
Or drivin' down some cold interstate?
Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor?
In a crowded room did you feel alone?
Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her?
Did you dust off that Bible at home?

Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
Close your eyes and not go to sleep?
Did you notice the sunset for the first time in ages
And speak to some stranger on the street?
Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun?
Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on I Love Lucy reruns?
Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Stand in line to give your own blood?
Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love?

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN, but I'm not sure I can tell you
The diff'rence in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

And the greatest is love

And the greatest is love

And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turnin'

On that September day?

Last modified on Saturday, 11 September 2021 13:11
'Feel Flows' Is The Best Beach Boys Music You've Never Heard
Music

'Feel Flows' Is The Best Beach Boys Music You've Never Heard

Written by 27 August, 2021
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For most people familiar with the music of the Beach Boys, their music falls into three general categories: the early, hit-driven surf-oriented songs, the Pet Sounds album and the later, post Brian Wilson stuff that includes Kokomo, which the band didn't write.

But there is another group of songs you should know about, and they are highlighted in the expansive new 5-CD set from the band entitled Feel Flows. The set highlights the criminally overlooked Sunflower and Surf's Up albums, along with a staggering number of previously unreleased live tracks and studio outtakes. The set will be a revelation to casual fans who see the post Pet Sounds period as a creative wasteland. I'd argue some of these tracks are as good as anything ever produced by the band, although few people are familiar with the music.

When the album Sunflower was released in 1970, the Beach Boys were at a financial and creative low point. It had been four years since the release of Pet Sounds and Brian Wilson was primarily curled up in a fetal position on most days. The band had released several poorly received low-fi albums (Friends, Wild Honey) and the only music fans were buying were the string of Greatest Hits packages being released the band's former label. The band was split into new camps: the Mike Love "let's give the fans the surf music they want" contingent and the Carl & Dennis Wilson-led members who believed they could create new music as a band that fans who learn to appreciate.

Even worse, the band was essentially broke. A 1968 tour had been a financial disaster and Capital Records essentially deleted all of the non-Greatest Hits albums from their catalog, further impacting the band's revenue. And in late 1969, Murray brothers manager and father Murray sold the entire Sea Of Tunes publishing catalog for what is the modern-day equivalent of less than $5 million. 

The "new music" group briefly carried the day and the result was the group's best post-Pet Sounds album. Sunflower (and the follow-up album Surf's Up) were the closest to a group effort the Beach Boys ever managed to release. Sunflower contained a new song from Brian (This Whole World), several tunes from Brian Johnston as well as the best song Dennis Wilson ever contributed to the band (Forever). The band and its new label Reprise had high hopes for the album, but the lead single (Add Some Music To Your Day) topped out at #62 on the singles charts and the album became the band's worst-selling album to date. Which was ironic, given that the album received consistently rave reviews at the time and in the year's since, Rolling Stone listed it on the magazine's "Best 500 Albums Of All Time" list.

The 1971 album Surf's Up sold better, topping out at #29 on the album charts. While it didn't have a hit single, the album's strong environmental focus as well as the addition of the Brain Wilson title track was also very well received by critics. There were also two strong tracks co-written by Carl Wilson (Long Promised Road and Feel Flows), the Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks track 'Til I Die and the Brian Johnston original Disney Girls (1957), which has been covered by a number of musicians in the years since. On the downside, Surf's Up also included one of the band's worst tracks of the period, the Mike Love-led Student Demonstration Time, which was a lame reworking of the track Riot In Cell Block #9.

Unfortunately for the band, these two albums were their mid-career highwater mark. Love and Johnston brought in Jack Rieley was the band's controversial new manager and Brian Wilson retreated back into seclusion. And the music from these two albums has been overlooked by everyone except the die-hard fans in the interim. which is a shame. 

Hopefully that neglect will change with the release of Feel Flows, a massive 5-CD release that features fully remastered versions of the original Sunflower (1970) and Surf’s Up (1971) albums – plus numerous outtakes, live recordings, alternate takes and mixes. Produced by Mark Linett and Alan Boyd, Feel Flows has a 48-page booklet featuring photos, memorabilia images, and a new essay by Howie Edelson incorporating new and archival interviews with the band members. There are also 2-LP, 2-CD, and 4-LP versions of the set.

The first CD includes the entire remastered Sunflower album, plus six live performances of song's from the album (ranging from 1971-1988), a radio spot and eight bonus tracks, including the 1969 Beach Boys single Breakaway, which was the band's final single on Capital.

Disc two includes the entire remastered Surf's Up album, plus five live performances from 1971-1973, a radio spot and eight bonus cuts, including performances of Seasons In The Sun and both sides of Dennis Wilson and Rumbo’s rare 1970 single Sound of Free b/w Lady (Fallin’ in Love).

Disc three is called The Sunflower Sessions and includes 29 cuts of outtakes, extended mixes and a capella tracks. Disc four includes 18 tracks from The Surf's Up Sessions, plus six other bonus tracks. Many of these tracks have never been heard before, including the previously unreleased tracks Awake and Baby, Baby.

Disc five includes 29 tracks, including the previously unreleased songs Before, Behold the Night, Hawaiian Dream, Old Movie (Cuddle Up), and Brian and David Sandler's It’s Natural.

Feel Flows is delight for devotees of The Beach Boys, but it's also going to be a revelation for casual listeners of the group's work, who may be more interested in the two CD version instead of the deep tracks also included in the full five CD set.

Here is the track rundown for each version of the release:

5 CD Version
CD 1:

Sunflower

  1. Slip On Through (2019 master) (2:19)
  2. This Whole World (2019 master) (1:58)
  3. Add Some Music To Your Day (2019 master) (3:36)
  4. Got To Know The Woman (2019 master) (2:43)
  5. Deirdre (2019 master) (3:30)
  6. It’s About Time (2019 master) (2:57)
  7. Tears In The Morning (2019 master) (4:07)
  8. All I Wanna Do (2019 master) (2:36)
  9. Forever (2019 master) (2:42)
  10. Our Sweet Love (2019 master) (2:41)
  11. At My Window (2019 master) (2:32)
  12. Cool, Cool Water (2019 master) (5:03)
  13. Sunflower Promo 1 (previously unreleased) (0:59)

Sunflower Live

  1. This Whole World (Live 1988) (2:10) [Sunflower Live]
  2. Add Some Music To Your Day (Live 1993) (3:23) [Sunflower Live]
  3. Susie Cincinnati (Live 1976) (2 :46) [Sunflower Live]
  4. Back Home (Live 1976) (3:15) [Sunflower Live]
  5. It’s About Time (Live 1971) (3:45) [Sunflower Live]
  6. Riot In Cell Block 9 (Live 1970) (3:34) [Sunflower Live]

Bonus Tracks

  1. Break Away (original 1969 single mix) (2:55)
  2. Celebrate The News (previously unreleased 2020 mix) (2:37)
  3. Loop De Loop (previously unreleased 1969 mix) (2:59)
  4. San Miguel (previously unreleased 2020 mix) (2:33)
  5. Susie Cincinnati (previously unreleased 2020 mix) (3:02)
  6. Good Time (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:56)
  7. Two Can Play (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:06)
  8. Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) (2021 stereo mix – previously unreleased) (3:21)

CD 2:

Surf’s Up

  1. Don’t Go Near The Water (2019 master) (2:41)
  2. Long Promised Road (2019 master) (3:32)
  3. Take A Load Off Your Feet (2019 master) (2:32)
  4. Disney Girls (1957) (2019 master) (4:08)
  5. Student Demonstration Time (2019 master) (3:59)
  6. Feel Flows (2019 master) (4:44)
  7. Lookin’ At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) (2019 master) (1:57)
  8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (2019 master) (3:09)
  9. Til I Die (2019 master) (2:32)
  10. Surf’s Up (2019 master) (4:14)
  11. Surf’s Up Promo (previously unreleased) (1:02)

Surf’s Up Live

  1. Take A Load Off Your Feet (Live 1993) (2:35)
  2. Long Promised Road (Live 1972) (4:14)
  3. Disney Girls (Live 1982) (4:23)
  4. Surf’s Up (Live 1973) (4:58)
  5. Student Demonstration Time (Live 1971) (4:42)

Bonus Tracks

  1. Big Sur (previously unreleased) (2:35)
  2. HELP Is On The Way (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:31)
  3. Sweet And Bitter (previously unreleased) (2:33)
  4. My Solution (previously unreleased) (3:44)
  5. 4th of July (2019 mix – previously unreleased) (3:11)
  6. Sound of Free (1970 single mix, 2019 master) (2:22)
  7. Lady (Fallin’ In Love) (1970 stereo mix – previously unreleased) (2:21)
  8. Seasons In The Sun (previously unreleased) (3:27)

CD 3:

The Sunflower Sessions

  1. Sunflower Promo 2 (previously unreleased) (0:59)
  2. Slip On Through (track and backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:47)
  3. This Whole World (long version track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:10)
  4. Add Some Music To Your Day (track and backing vocals – previously unreleased) (4:35)
  5. Deirdre (track – previously unreleased) (3:34)
  6. It’s About Time (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:53)
  7. Tears In The Morning (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (4:08)
  8. All I Wanna Do (session intro, track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:46)
  9. Forever (session highlights – previously unreleased) (3:36)
  10. Forever (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:01)
  11. Our Sweet Love (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:39)
  12. At My Window (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:50)
  13. Cool Cool Water (alternate 2019 mix – previously unreleased) (6:24)
  14. San Miguel (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:57)
  15. Loop De Loop (track – previously unreleased) (2:49)
  16. Good Time (session intro, track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (4:27)
  17. When Girls Get Together (track – previously unreleased) (1:47)
  18. Slip On Through (alternate 1969 mix with session intro – previously unreleased) (3:25)
  19. Our Sweet Love (string section – previously unreleased) (1:00)
  20. San Miguel (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (1:00)
  21. Break Away (Tag) (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:18)
  22. Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) (a Cappella – previously unreleased) (2:44)
  23. Good Time (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:19)
  24. This Whole World (backing vocals section – previously unreleased) (1:05)
  25. Add Some Music To Your Day (a cappella – previously unreleased) (3:30)
  26. Got To Know The Woman (a cappella – previously unreleased) (2:52)
  27. It’s About Time (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:50)
  28. All I Wanna Do (a cappella – previously unreleased) (2:58)
  29. Forever (previously unreleased 2019 a cappella mix) (2:52)

CD 4:

The Surf’s Up Sessions

  1. Don’t Go Near The Water (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:45)
  2. Long Promised Road (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:38)
  3. Take A Load Off Your Feet (alternate vocal – previously unreleased) (2:28)
  4. Disney Girls (1957) (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (4:17)
  5. Student Demonstration Time (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:46)
  6. Feel Flows (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (5:02)
  7. Lookin’ At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) (session intro and alternate mix – previously unreleased) (2:43)
  8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (2:55)
  9. Til I Die (long version with alternate lyrics – previously unreleased) (4:47)
  10. Surf’s Up (2019 mix – previously unreleased) (4:08)
  11. (Wouldn’t It Be Nice To) Live Again (extended 2019 – previously unreleased) (6:50)
  12. Don’t Go Near The Water (previously unreleased 2020 a cappella mix) (2:36)
  13. Long Promised Road (a cappella – previously unreleased) (4:00)
  14. Feel Flows (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:33)
  15. Disney Girls (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:36)
  16. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:32)
  17. Til I Die (a cappella – previously unreleased) (2:36)
  18. Surf’s Up (a cappella – previously unreleased) (4:04)

Bonus Tracks

  1. I Just Got My Pay (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:43)
  2. Walkin’ (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:44)
  3. When Girls Get Together (previously unreleased 2020 mix) (3:45)
  4. Baby Baby (previously unreleased) (3:13)
  5. Awake (previously unreleased) (3:44)
  6. It’s A New Day (previously unreleased) (2:20)

CD 5:

Bonus Disc

  1. This Whole World (alternate ending – previously unreleased) (1:41)
  2. Add Some Music To Your Day (previously unreleased alternate version) (3:27)
  3. Don’t Go Near The Water (alternate version – previously unreleased) (2:42)
  4. Surf’s Up Part 1 (1971 remake track with 1966 Brian vocal – previously unreleased) (1:41)
  5. Soulful Old Man Sunshine (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (3:14)
  6. I’m Goin’ Your Way (previously unreleased alternate mix) (2:24)
  7. Where Is She (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:22)
  8. Carnival (Over The Waves/Sobra Las Olas) (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (1:34)
  9. It’s Natural (previously unreleased) (2:35)
  10. Medley: All Of My Love / Ecology (previously unreleased) (5:05)
  11. Before (previously unreleased) (2:25)
  12. Behold The Night (previously unreleased) (2:26)
  13. Old Movie (Cuddle Up) (previously unreleased) (3:37)
  14. Hawaiian Dream (previously unreleased) (4:33)
  15. Settle Down / Sound Of Free (basic session outtake – previously unreleased) (2:17)
  16. I’ve Got A Friend (previously unreleased) (2:26)
  17. Til I Die (piano demo – previously unreleased) (1:55)
  18. Back Home (previously unreleased demo) (2:20)
  19. Back Home (alternate version – previously unreleased) (2:34)
  20. Won’t You Tell Me (demo – previously unreleased) (2:01)
  21. Won’t You Tell Me (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:54)
  22. Barbara (previously unreleased 2020 mix) (2:59)
  23. Slip On Through (early version track) (2:48)
  24. Susie Cincinnati (basic session highlights – previously unreleased) (3:05)
  25. My Solution (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:04)
  26. You Never Give Me Your Money (previously unreleased) (0:40)
  27. Medley: Happy Birthday, Brian / God Only Knows (previously unreleased) (2:47)
  28. You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:32)
  29. Marcella (a cappella – previously unreleased) (3:27)

2 CD Version

CD 1: Sunflower

  1. Slip On Through (2019 master) (2:19)
  2. This Whole World (2019 master) (1:58)
  3. Add Some Music To Your Day (2019 master) (3:35)
  4. Got To Know The Woman (2019 master) (2:43)
  5. Deirdre (2019 master) (3:29)
  6. It’s About Time (2019 master) (2:56)
  7. Tears In The Morning (2019 master) (4:11)
  8. All I Wanna Do (2019 master) (2:36)
  9. Forever (2019 master) (2:42)
  10. Our Sweet Love (2019 master) (2:41)
  11. At My Window (2019 master) (2:32)
  12. Cool Cool Water (2019 master) (5:04)

Bonus Tracks

  1. Loop De Loop (previously unreleased 1969 mix) (2:58)
  2. San Miguel (previously unreleased 2020 mix) (2:19)
  3. Susie Cincinnati (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (3:01)
  4. Good Time (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:55)
  5. I Just Got My Pay (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:43)
  6. Two Can Play (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:06)
  7. I’m Goin’ Your Way (previously unreleased alternate mix) (2:10)
  8. Where Is She (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (2:21)
  9. Break Away (Tag) (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:17)
  10. Our Sweet Love (string section – previously unreleased) (1:00)
  11. This Whole World (alternate ending – previously unreleased) (1:41)
  12. Add Some Music To Your Day (previously unreleased alternate version) (3:27)
  13. Soulful Old Man Sunshine (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (3:00)
  14. All I Wanna Do (a Cappella – previously unreleased) (2:41)
  15. Back Home (alternate version – previously unreleased) (2:34)
  16. When Girls Get Together (previously unreleased 2019 mix) (3:45)
  17. This Whole World (Live 1988) (2:01)

CD 2: Surf’s Up

  1. Don’t Go Near The Water (2019 master) (2:41)
  2. Long Promised Road (2019 master) (3:32)
  3. Take A Load Off Your Feet (2019 master) (2:31)
  4. Disney Girls (1957) (2019 master) (4:11)
  5. Student Demonstration Time (2019 master) (3:59)
  6. Feel Flows (2019 master) (4:48)
  7. Lookin’ At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) (2019 master) (1:58)
  8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (2019 master) (3:09)
  9. Til I Die (2019 master) (2:32)
  10. Surf’s Up (2019 master) (4:14)

Bonus Tracks

  1. It’s A New Day (previously unreleased) (2:20)
  2. Big Sur (previously unreleased) (2:35)
  3. (Wouldn’t It Be Nice To) Live Again (extended 2019 – previously unreleased) (4:36)
  4. 4th of July (2019 mix – previously unreleased) (3:09)
  5. Lady (Fallin’ In Love) (1970 stereo mix – previously unreleased) (2:21)
  6. Behold The Night (previously unreleased) (2:23)
  7. Medley: All Of My Love / Ecology (previously unreleased) (4:16)
  8. Sweet And Bitter (previously unreleased) (2:20)
  9. My Solution (previously unreleased) (3:43)
  10. Awake (previously unreleased) (3:17)
  11. Disney Girls (Live 1982) (4:19)
  12. Surf’s Up (Live 1973) (4:55)
  13. You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone (track & backing vocals – previously unreleased) (3:15)
  14. Feel Flows (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:32)
  15. Disney Girls (backing vocals excerpt – previously unreleased) (0:19)

2 LP Version

LP 1, Side A: Sunflower

  1. Slip On Through (2:19)
  2. This Whole World (1:58)
  3. Add Some Music To Your Day (3:36)
  4. Got To Know The Woman (2:43)
  5. Deirdre (3:30)
  6. It’s About Time (2:57)

Bonus Tracks (previously unreleased)

  1. Cotton Fields (2020 stereo mix) (3:16)
  2. San Miguel (backing vocals excerpt) (0:35)
  3. It’s About Time (backing vocals excerpt) (0:50)

Side B (Sunflower continued)

  1. Tears In The Morning (4:11)
  2. All I Wanna Do (2:36)
  3. Forever (2:42)
  4. Our Sweet Love (2:41)
  5. At My Window (2:32)
  6. Cool, Cool Water (5:05)

Bonus Track (previously unreleased)

  1. This Whole World (live 1988) (2:01)

LP 2, Side C: Surf’s Up

  1. Don’t Go Near The Water (2:41)
  2. Long Promised Road (3:32)
  3. Take A Load Off Your Feet (2:32)
  4. Disney Girls (4:11)
  5. Student Demonstration Time (3:59) (based on “Riot In Cell Block 9”)

Bonus Tracks (previously unreleased)

  1. Disney Girls (live 1982) (4:19)
  2. Feel Flows (backing vocals excerpt) (0:33)

Side D (Surf’s Up continued)

  1. Feel Flows (4:48)
  2. Lookin’ At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) (1:59)
  3. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (3:09)
  4. ‘Til I Die (2:33)
  5. Surf’s Up (4:14)

Bonus Tracks (previously unreleased)

  1. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (track & backing vocals) (2:54)
  2. Til I Die (a cappella) (2:11)

4 LP Version – Black Vinyl 

4 LP Version – Translucent Blue & Translucent Gold (exclusive to The Beach Boys online store)

LP 1, Side A: Sunflower

  1. Slip On Through (2:19)
  2. This Whole World (1:58)
  3. Add Some Music To Your Day (3:36)
  4. Got To Know The Woman (2:43)
  5. Deirdre (3:30)
  6. It’s About Time (2:57)

Bonus Tracks (previously unreleased)

  1. Cotton Fields (2020 stereo mix) (3:16)
  2. San Miguel (backing vocals excerpt) (0:35)
  3. It’s About Time (backing vocals excerpt) (0:50)

Side B

  1. Tears In The Morning (4:11)
  2. All I Wanna Do (2:36)
  3. Forever (2:42)
  4. Our Sweet Love (2:41)
  5. At My Window (2:32)
  6. Cool, Cool Water (5:04)

Bonus Track (previously unreleased)

  1. This Whole World (Live 1988) (2:01)

LP 2, Side C: Bonus Tracks (previously unreleased)

  1. Loop De Loop (original 1969 mix) (2:59)
  2. San Miguel (2020 mix) (2:20)
  3. Susie Cincinnati (2020 mix) (3:02)
  4. Good Time (2019 mix) (2:56)
  5. I Just Got My Pay (2019 mix) (2:43)
  6. Two Can Play (2019 mix) (2:06)
  7. I’m Goin’ Your Way (alternate mix) (2:10)
  8. Where Is She (2019 mix) (2:22)
  9. Break Away Tag (backing vocals excerpt) (0:18)
  10. Our Sweet Love (string section) (1:00)

Side D (Bonus Tracks continued)

  1. This Whole World (alternate ending) (1:41)
  2. Add Some Music To Your Day (alternate version) (3:27)
  3. Soulful Old Man Sunshine (2019 mix) (3:00)
  4. All I Wanna Do (a cappella) (2:41)
  5. Back Home (alternate version) (2:34)
  6. When Girls Get Together (2019 mix) (3:45)
  7. It’s About Time (live 1971) (3:55)
  8. This Whole World (backing vocals section) (0:34)

LP 3, Side E: Surf’s Up

  1. Don’t Go Near The Water (2:41)
  2. Long Promised Road (3:32)
  3. Take A Load Off Your Feet (2:32)
  4. Disney Girls (4:11)
  5. Student Demonstration Time (3:59)

Bonus Tracks (previously unreleased)

  1. Disney Girls (live 1982) (4:19)
  2. Feel Flows (backing vocals excerpt) (0:33)

Side F (Surf’s Up, continued)

  1. Feel Flows (4:48)
  2. Lookin’ At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) (1:59)
  3. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (3:09)
  4. ‘Til I Die (2:33)
  5. Surf’s Up (4:14)

Bonus Tracks (previously unreleased)

  1. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (track & backing vocals) (2:54)
  2. ‘Til I Die (a cappella) (2:11)

LP 4 (Bonus Tracks)

Side G (previously unreleased)

  1. It’s A New Day (2:20)
  2. Big Sur (2:35)
  3. (Wouldn’t It Be Nice To) Live Again (2019 mix) (4:35)
  4. E.L.P. Is On The Way (2019 mix) (2:31)
  5. 4th Of July (2019 mix) (3:09)
  6. Lady (Fallin’ In Love) (1970 stereo mix) (2:21)
  7. Behold The Night (2:24)
  8. ‘Til I Die (piano demo) (1:55)

Side H

  1. Medley: All Of My Love / Ecology (4:15)
  2. Sweet And Bitter (2:21)
  3. My Solution (3:43)
  4. Awake (3:17)
  5. Take A Load Off Your Feet (Live 1993) (2:26)
  6. Surf’s Up (Live 1973) (4:56)
  7. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (backing vocals excerpt) (0:32)
  8. Disney Girls (backing vocals excerpt) (0:20)








Last modified on Friday, 27 August 2021 22:21
Kiss Concert Canceled After Paul Stanley Tests Positive For COVID-19
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Kiss Concert Canceled After Paul Stanley Tests Positive For COVID-19

Written by 26 August, 2021
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KISS frontman Paul Stanley has tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the band to scrap a show in The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, PA. 

This statement was released via the band's social media accounts early Thursday evening:


Last modified on Thursday, 26 August 2021 21:03
Today's Song You Should Know: 'Summer Days' By The Wildroots
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Today's Song You Should Know: 'Summer Days' By The Wildroots

Written by 21 July, 2021
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One the heartbreaking things about loving music is that at some point you realize that there are so many great musicians, so many incredible bands who will never get that big break. The history of rock & roll is filled with dreams, but also with even more stories of talented people who were unable to build a commercially successful career.

The same thing is also true for local music scenes. For every success like the Bay Area "Summer of Love" scene in the 60s or Seattle's 90s grunge scene, there are lots of vibrant music scenes that never make it past local fame. Maybe the timing is wrong or there's just too much going on in other hipper parts of the country. But the world of rock music is littered with amazing bands that should have been your next obsession.

Chicago in the late 1970s and 1980s was lousy with great pop rock and roots rock bands. Cheap Trick led the first wave of late 1970s groups to reach national success and while others like Off Broadway and Shoes managed only modest chart success, there was a sense that a real important music scene was building. By the early/mid 1980s, Chicago was lousy with great rock bands. Every club seemed to have another potential star band in the making and the consensus was that once one band broke big, Chicago would have its musical moment in the sun.

And that never quite happened. A lot of bands were signed to major labels, from the staggeringly great root rocks band Insiders (who had a modest hit with "Ghost On The Beach"), to The Elvis Brothers and The Bad Examples. There were at least a dozen bands that were signed to major labels and by the time the 90s rolled around, most of them had lost their deals and none of them had broken big.

But for all of that energy, there were also some great bands that never inexplicably got as far as a major label release. I was living in Chicago back then and The Wildroots were a band you'd always see playing around the local clubs. With incredible hook-filled original tunes and a charismatic lead singer, The Wildroots always felt like they were one break away from making it big.

They didn't. I left Chicago towards the end of the decade and I'm not sure what happened to the band. The only official recording they left is a single track on a local 1987 compilation album entitled "Live From Jay's Garage." Lead singer JD Dragus seems to have worked with local Chicago rocker Hugh Hart on a couple of projects after the Wildroots broke up. But I can't find out much more online. I seem to remember they had recorded some demos for Island Records at one point, but I could be mistaken.

"Summer Days" is a great rocker and when I ran it across it on YouTube while back I was thrilled. It reminded me how great The WildRoots were back then and hearing the song again is more than a little bittersweet. The Wildroots deserve to be remembered and for right now, this is just about all that's left of the band.

The Wildroots were:
JD Dragus: lead vocals & lead guitar
Tom Gerlach: vocals & guitar
Kerry Kelekovich: bass
Dan Massey: drums

Last modified on Wednesday, 21 July 2021 21:31
Today's 70s Song You Should Know: 'Popcorn' By Hot Butter
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Today's 70s Song You Should Know: 'Popcorn' By Hot Butter

Written by 08 January, 2023
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In 1968, Wendy Carlos had a Top 40 hit with a synth-pop instrumental song called "Switched-On Bach" and that success inspired a bunch of other attempts from Moog synthesizer-based bands. But the most of the successful of the bunch was an anonymous band who called themselves Hot Butter. 

"Popcorn" was first recorded by Gershon Kingsley in 1969 and he later re-recorded it with his First Moog Quartet in 1971. But the following year, Stan Free (who was a member of the FMQ) recorded it once again with his cover band Hot Butter and that version became a worldwide hit. It hit #1 in places ranging from Australia to the Netherlands and it hit #9 on the U.S. Billboard Top 40 charts. The single sold more than two million copies worldwide and even though Hot Butter only released two albums and a handful of other singles, "Popcorn" is notable for being one of the most insane instrumentals to ever become a hit single.

Even by 1970s standards, "Popcorn" is simplistic and listening to it in 2019, it sounds like something a kid would create randomly pounding synth track buttons on a $5 keyboard. But it was an actual worldwide hit and as you can see in the video below, people really danced to it. Although whomever was the director of this TV segment was likely yelling "quick, another shot of breasts" to the camera crew during the performance.

Last modified on Sunday, 08 January 2023 15:50
Today's Song You Should Know: 'Blitzkreig Bop' By The Sweet
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Today's Song You Should Know: 'Blitzkreig Bop' By The Sweet

Written by 06 July, 2021
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The Sweet have always been a guilty pleasure of mine. These British glam-rockers had a string of hook-filled hits in the 1970s, after teaming up with songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. But they eventually began writing their own music and the band's last hit single was 1978's "Love Is Like Oxygen." Longtime vocalist Brian Connolly left the band following an increasingly drunken tour opening for Bob Seger the same year and the band has limped along ever since.

While often competing versions of the band have toured regularly over the ensuing years, The Sweet had only released a couple of albums with various lineups before 2012's "New York Connection." That album featured only one original member of the band and was essentially a collection of cover versions, with a few snippets of Sweet hits included for flavor. The album included covers of "You Spin Me Round" and "Join Together," along with this cover of The Ramones song "Blitzkreig Bop." It's a surprisingly lively version of the song and while I'm not sure I can recommend it, it doesn't suck. Which is pretty much the gold standard for any band's attempt to cover The Ramones.

Last modified on Tuesday, 06 July 2021 23:22
Today's Song You Should Know: 'Call Me Anti-Social' By New Found Glory
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Today's Song You Should Know: 'Call Me Anti-Social' By New Found Glory

Written by 05 July, 2021
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When New Found Glory released their album Makes Me Sick in 2017, I immediately fell in love with the track "Call Me Anti-Social," which I spent a lot of time arguing was the hidden "song of the summer." Despite my one-man promotional campaign, the song (and album) never seemed to get the attention it deserved, so I'm glad for an excuse to highlight this song again.

The track is the perfect balance of pop and punk and it has a guitar break that just screams "throw your hands up and dance!" Did I mention I love this song? I do and if I couldn't make this ear candy the summer song for 2017, then maybe I'll be more successful in 2021. 

There aren't many bands that have been around since the late 1990s who can still claim to be performing at the top of their game, but New Found Glory is one of them. Their brand of pop-flavored punk can often seem stale in 2021, but these guys are as vital and inventive as they've ever been. Their moist recent album is 2020's Forever + Ever x Infinity, but I would also recommend the 2019 album From The Screen To Your Stereo 3, where they tackle fun covers of songs ranging from "The Power Of Love" and "Eye Of The Tiger" to "Let It Go" and "Cups."

So why am I featuring this song on the July 4th weekend? Well, it goes out to all of the people out there who struggle to socialize on a day that's all about hanging out and having fun with friends and family.

Last modified on Monday, 05 July 2021 13:38
Today's Song You Should Know: 'Riding With Private Malone' By David Ball
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Today's Song You Should Know: 'Riding With Private Malone' By David Ball

Written by 04 July, 2021
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I've always had a soft spot for old-school country songs that tell a story and on the 4th Of July I'd like to highlight the really distinctive 2001 hit "Riding With Private Malone" by country singer David Ball. Written by Wood Newton and Thom Shepherd, the song tells the story of a man just out of the military who buys an old Corvette and discovers it was previously owned by a "Private Malone," who was killed in Vietnam. Of course there's a twist, but what makes the song special is that unlike a lot of songs about veterans, it's up-tempo with a memorable hook.

The song went to #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, and #36 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Ball's biggest hit since 1994's "Thinkin' Problem" and it was last big single. Ball continues to tour although his last album was 2010's "Sparkle City."


Last modified on Monday, 05 July 2021 13:19
Today's 70s Song You Should Know: 'I Want You Back' By David Ruffin
Music

Today's 70s Song You Should Know: 'I Want You Back' By David Ruffin

Written by 25 September, 2023
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There were a lot of impressive soul and R&B singers in the 1960s and 1970s, but few of them were as talented as the late David Ruffin.  Known for his unique raspy and anguished tenor vocals, you're likely to recognize his singing from his 1964-1968 stint with The Temptations. That period was known as "Classic Five" period of the group and Ruffin sang lead vocals on unforgettable hits like "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" and "My Girl."

Ruffin had always been an impressive performer. As a teenager, he toured with several nationally known gospel groups like The Dixie Hummingbirds and the Soul Stirrers.  At age 16 he moved to Detroit to pursue a secular singing career and soon meet Berry Gordy Jr., a local songwriter who wanted to become a music producer. Ruffin was soon working at Gordy's Anna Records and in 1964, he joined the Temptations after one of the original members was fired. While Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams were the group's lead singers, after the success of "My Girl," Ruffin sang lead on hits like "(I Know) I'm Losing You" and "I Wish It Would Rain." 

By 1967, Ruffin had become addicted to cocaine and was eventually fired by the group. Motown kept on Ruffin as a solo act and his first single in 1969 -  "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)" - became a Top Ten hit. After the release of two solo albums, there was a three-year gap before Motown released the album "David Ruffin" in 1973. But in that period, the troubled singer recorded a number of songs, many of which remained unreleased until they came out on a 2004 compilation 14 years after Ruffin's death.

That 2004 album included a 1970 version of "Rainy Night In Georgia," which singer Brook Benton had a hit with later the same year. As well as a version of "I Want You Back, which was recorded before the Jackson 5 later made it a hit.

Both the Ruffin and Jackson 5 versions of the song were produced by Motown's in-house production group The Corporation and musically they are very similar. And as much I love the Jackson 5 version, Ruffin's has an adult longing and incessant pleading to it that is really special. Hearing Ruffin's version may ruin the Jackson 5 version for you forever.

As for Ruffin, he had a string of modest solo hits in the mid-1970s, most notably the Van McCoy-produced Top Ten hit "Gonna Walk Away From Love." But Ruffin's addiction problems continued. He changed labels in the late 1970s and at one point was hired and then refired by The Temptations after recording the 1982 album "Reunion." In 1985 Ruffin and fellow former Temptation singer Eddie Kendrick teamed up with Hall & Oates to perform and record an album at the re-opening of the Apollo Theatre. The album was successful, but Ruffin's severe addiction problems led to a falling out with Hall & Oates.

Ruffin died in 1991 due to "an adverse reaction to drugs." The death was officially ruled an accident, but some friends and family suspected foul play, since a money belt containing $300,000 from his recent tour was missing when he was dropped off at a Philadelphia hospital.

But what we're left with are some amazing performances, and of "I Want You Back" is one of my favorites.

Last modified on Monday, 25 September 2023 22:19
Foreigner Announces 71 City U.S. Summer Tour
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Foreigner Announces 71 City U.S. Summer Tour

Written by 18 June, 2021
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As the worst of the pandemic seems to be moving past us, lots of bands have announced new summer and fall tours. And one of the ones that I am most excited about is the new tour just announced by classic rock favorites Foreigner.

Now I don't blame you if you're skeptical about seeing any band live that had its first hits back in the 1970s. There are entirely too many classic rock bands cranking out lackluster tours with almost no original members and a live sound that can charitably be described as "workmanlike."

I've seen Foreigner live perhaps a half dozen times since 1976 and one thing I can say is that their live shows might be different now than they were in the original incarnation. But they are just as entertaining now as they were back then. It's just a different lineup and a different era.

Founder and original member Mick Jones is back for this massive 2021-2022 tour, along with Kelly Hansen, who has been the group's lead singer since 2005. That longtime lineup has kept the band's sound quite consistent and if you listen to their underrated 2009 album Can't Slow Down, you'd be hard-pressed to separate that release from those created during the group's commercial heyday.

Other band members for the upcoming tour include bass/vocalist Jeff Pilson (band member since 2004), keyboard/vocalist Michael Blunstein (band member since 2008), guitar/vocalist Bruce Watson (band member since 2011), guitar/vocalist Luis Carlos Maldonado and drummer Chris Frazier (band member 2ince 2011).

In other words, if you enjoy the hit music of Foreigner, you're likely to love them live and based on the just-announced first leg of their tour, they are going to be playing somewhere near you.

Foreigner was originally set to headline a tour called "Juke Box Heroes" last year, with supporting bands Kansas and Europe. As you might expect, the pandemic canceled that tour, and now Foreigner is set to tour by themselves in 2021 and 2022.

The U.S leg of Foreigner's world tour takes the band to 71 cities in 42 states and the remainder of the 121-date tour across 16 countries will be announced in November.

For tickets and more information, visit www.foreigneronline.com. 

Thursday, June 24                     Ottumwa, IA - Bridge View Center
Friday, June 25                          Sioux Falls, SD - Washington Pavilion
Saturday, June 26                      Bismarck, ND - Bismarck Civic Center
Tuesday, June 29                      Casper, WY - Casper Events Center
Wednesday, June 30                  Billings, MT - MetraPark Arena
Friday, July 2                             Welch, MN - Treasure Island Great Lawn 
Sunday, July 4                           Fort Bragg, NC - Pope Army Airfield
Tuesday, July 27                        Fresno, CA - Saroyan Theatre
Wednesday, July 28                   Prescott Valley, AZ - Findlay Toyota Center
Friday, July 30                           West Valley, UT - Maverick Center
Saturday, July 31                       Grand Junction, CO - Los Colonias Park Amphitheater
Sunday, August 1                      Rio Rancho, NM - Rio Rancho Events Center
Wednesday, August 4                Lubbock, TX - Buddy Holly Hall
Thursday, August 5                   Enid, OK - Stride Bank Center
Saturday, August 7                    Park City, KS - Hartman Arena
Sunday, August 8                      North Little Rock, AR - Simmons Bank Arena
Tuesday, August 10                   West Allis, WI - Wisconsin State Fair
Wednesday, August 11              Cedar Rapids, IA - McGrath Amphitheatre
Friday, August 13                      Arcadia, WI - Ashley For The Arts
Saturday, August 14                  Interlochen, MI - Kresge Auditorium
Sunday, August 15                    Peoria, IL - Civic Center Arena
Tuesday, August 17                   Kettering, OH - Fraze Pavilion
Wednesday, August 18              Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
Friday, August 20                      Doswell, VA - AfterHours at Meadow Event Park
Saturday, August 21                  Selbyville, DE - The Freeman Stage at Bayside
Monday, August 23                   Syracuse, NY - New York State Fair
Wednesday, August 25              Bridgeport, CT - Hartford Healthcare Amphitheatre 
Thursday, August 26                  Webster, MA - Indian Ranch
Friday, August 27                      Cohasset, MA - South Shore Music Circus
Saturday, August 28                  Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent
Thursday, September 9             Grand Forks, ND - Alerus Center
Friday, September 10                Rapid City, SD - Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
Saturday, September 11            Butte, MT - Civic Center
Tuesday, September 14             Everett, WA - Angel of the Winds Arena
Wednesday, September 15        Nampa, ID - Ford Idaho Event Center
Thursday, September 16           Airway Heights, WA - Northern Quest Resort & Casino
Saturday, September 18            Fort Hall, ID - Fort Hall Casino
Tuesday, September 21             Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphitheater
Wednesday, September 22        Kennewick, WA - Toyota Center
Sunday, September 26              Reno, NV - Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort
Wednesday, September 29        Saratoga, CA - Mountain Winery (orchestral)
Friday, October 1                      Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre (orchestral)
Saturday, October 2                  Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl (orchestral)
Monday, October 11                 Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre (orchestral)
Tuesday, October 12                 Youngstown, OH - Foundation Amphitheater (orchestral)
Wednesday, October 13            Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena (orchestral)
Friday, October 15                    Johnson City, TN - Freedom Hall Civic Center
Sunday, October 17                   Knoxville, TN - Civic Auditorium
Monday, October 18                 Columbus, OH - Palace Theatre
Tuesday, October 19                 Charleston, WV - Municipal Auditorium
Thursday, October 21                Reading, PA - Santander Performing Arts Center
Friday, October 22                    Wilkes Barre, PA - F.M. Kirby Center
Saturday, October 23                Baltimore, MD - MECU Pavilion
Monday, October 25                 Providence, RI - Performing Arts Center
Wednesday, October 27            Port Chester, NY - Capitol Theatre
Thursday, October 28                Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Friday, October 29                    New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre
Saturday, October 30                Atlantic City, NJ - Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Thursday, November 4              Corbin, KY - Corbin Arena
Friday, November 5                   Springfield, IL - UIS Sangamon Auditorium
Saturday, November 6               Southaven, MS - Landers Center
Monday, November 8               Savannah, GA - John Mercer Theatre
Tuesday, November 9               Augusta, GA - Bell Auditorium
Wednesday, November 10        Greenville, SC - Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Friday, November 12                 Macon, GA - Macon City Auditorium
Saturday, November 13             Tupelo, MS - Bancorp South Arena
Sunday, November 14               Brandon, MS - Brandon Amphitheater
Tuesday, November 16              Huntsville, AL - Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
Wednesday, November 17        Birmingham, AL - BJCC Concert Hall
Friday, November 19                 Biloxi, MS - IP Casino Resort & Spa
Saturday, November 20             Pensacola, FL - Saenger Theater
Last modified on Friday, 18 June 2021 14:46
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