Shameful, shameless, or neither?

In Sunday's SiriusXM highlights post, I considered writing this entry--just for a moment:

Happy Oldies 

• Play That Funky Music-Wild Cherry (Does this tune move me the way heartfelt lyrics about social justice do?  Is it thought-provoking and deeply contemplative?  If I could only hear one song for the rest of my life, would it be this one?  No, in all three cases.  For what it is, though, it's catchy--and that's all that's really required of it.)

I chose to leave it out.  This morning, however, I heard an AM talk station use KC & The Sunshine Band's "Boogie Shoes" as bumper music.  As I listened, I thought, "After hearing 'Boogie Shoes,' which I would never seek out, any shame I have about including 'Play That Funky Music' as a highlight has vanished."

So be it.  Not every song I recommend has to be cerebral.  Sometimes, an ear-catching hook is enough. 

Didn't seek this out, but...

To my surprise, an out-of-town radio station recently played "Don't Say You Don't Remember" by Beverly Bremers.  Upon hearing it, I thought, "That's interesting.  Aside from replays of 1972 'American Top 40' shows, I've never heard any radio station play that song.  Granted, I'm largely indifferent to the tune and wasn't clamoring to hear it, but since this station plays that, they must play other forgotten songs that appeal to me more."

That's one benefit of a station with an expansive playlist.  You won't love every song you hear, but if you listen long enough, you'll likely hear gems that have been largely lost to time. 

SiriusXM highlights CLXXVI

Sunday morning standouts:

1st Wave

• Middle Of The Road-The Pretenders (Starting a road trip or leaping into some other unpredictable adventure?  Let this be your leadoff track.) 

Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals

• Tree Circle-Isato Nakagawa (A bittersweet, contemplative melody.)

The Blend

• Shining Star-The Manhattans (I'm glad this 1980 hit still gets airplay today.  Lyrically, it's a thoughtful without being overblown way of saying, "I'm glad we're together."  Rhythmically, it's a comfortable midtempo groove.  Also recommended: "Crazy.") 

Carolina Shag Radio

• You Keep Telling Me Yes-Cannonball (Musically, this has a "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" feel, but lyrically, its outlook is much more tempered.)

The Coffee House

• Galileo-Indigo Girls (A well-written acknowledgment of delayed justice, with a strong chorus.)   

Deep Tracks Just Music

• 5D (Fifth Dimension)-The Byrds (Rhythmically, this segues well with Donovan's "Catch The Wind.")

Indie 1.0

• I Am A Scientist-Guided By Voices (What better way is there to find out who you really are than trying on different personalities?) 

Indie Sleep

• No One Noticed-The Marias (A quiet, subtle way of admitting that a relationship isn't meant to last.)
• Sonora-Hermanos Gutierrez (This short, downcast guitar interlude would work as a prelude to "Because It's There" by Michael Hedges.)

Lo-Fi Cafe

• Tropical-jjobenn (An aptly titled lighthearted instrumental.) 

Siriusly Sinatra

• A Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square-Nat King Cole (With Cole's elegant vocals and strings for added gravitas, how could there be a batter version of this tune?) 

Smokey's Soul Town

• Flowers-The Emotions (How was this inviting groove not a top 40 pop hit in 1976?) 

Dibs II

Feel like hearing an LP, 45, or CD in Watchcat Collette's assigned sector?  Watchcat and music coordinator Collette will play it for you--as long as it's a selection she also wants to hear:

Watchcat Collette, guarding the music library on February 20, 2026.

Only so much space II

Due to the limited number of characters permitted in a playlist's song title column, Vince Guaraldi's "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" became "Cast Your Fate To The Win" on one radio stations's website recently.

The loss of one letter changes the song title's implied attitude considerably.  To me, "Cast Your Fate To Win" suggests, "Be prepared to cope with the loss of anonymity if you win the lottery." 

Online radio sampler highlights CCCV

Thursday morning highlights:

KDVS (Davis, CA)

• How It Started-Holly Palmer (Interesting, spacey vocal wizardry and a solemn piano backdrop.)
• Jardim-The Echocentrics (A captivating echo obscures the vocals against a turbulent beat.) 

KONA (Kailua-Kona, HI)

• King's Serenade-Keola Beamer (This pleasant guitar instrumental could segue with Nashville Mandolin Ensemble's "Frangenti" or Ken Bonfield's "The Passing.") 

KOTO (Telluride, CO)

• Rainy Day-America (The melancholy feel of this early vocals-and-acoustic-guitar America track would make it flow well into Bernie Leadon's "Glass Off.")

KRTU (San Antonio, TX)

• Sugar-Stanley Turrentine (Ron Carter's cool walking bass line underscores this expansive groove.  Freddie Hubbard has ample room to soar on trumpet, George Benson has plenty of space to stretch out on guitar, and Turrentine has 10 minutes to do the same on tenor sax.)

WMST (Mount Sterling, KY)

• Perfidia-Linda Ronstadt (What listener of taste could resist this emotive, skillfully played and sung middle-of-the-night bolero?)

WZLY (Wellesley, MA)

• Lagoon-Dora Jar (An admirably frank way of being at peace with knowing that no one understands you completely.)

An atypical standout XVI

When I think of the classic Beatles album, "Rubber Soul," I usually think first of my three favorite songs from it that fall right in a row--"I'm Looking Through You," "In My Life," and "Wait."  In recent years, however, I've gained more of an appreciation for "What Goes On."  While Lennon & McCartney compositions were the group's default setting, "What Goes On" is a Lennon, McCartney & Starr-composed tune with Ringo Starr singing lead.  Starr's influence gives the tune a lighthearted bounce despite the lyrics accusing a woman of telling lies.  My favorite part of the song is during the last chorus, however, when Paul McCartney underscores the lyrics assertively on the bass, making me want to have that portion on a loop.  I nearly always turn that final chorus up and think, "That's how you finish strong--and walk the line of being assertive without being aggressive."