Persistent earworm alert XC (Easter edition)

While watching Saturday morning cartoons during the late '70s or early '80s, a Junior Achievement PSA used to air fairly often.  I still remember such lyrics as, "Don't forget to pay the rent!" and "You'll be proud to do it with JA!  Hooray!"  Thinking of that PSA now, I suspect that its composer might have been aiming for a "Light Of The World" from "Godspell" feel.  If that was the intent, it was successful.  If not, my recollection of the PSA's tune, despite not having seen it in nearly four decades, still shows how strong its hook is.

Stingray Music highlights LIII

Ear-catching selections heard yesterday and today:

Classic R&B

• Here I Am (Come And Take Me)-Al Green (An effective way-you-make-me-feel tune that oldies stations should play regularly.  UB40 covered it, but Green's version is stronger.)

Cocktail Lounge

• A Leaf Has Veins-The Free Design (The tune's upbeat feel falls somewhere between Spanky And Our Gang's "Lazy Day" and Simon & Garfunkel's "Feelin' Groovy.")

Folk Roots

• Can't Stop The Waves-Caroline Cotter (Cotter's vocals on this new track evoke a feeling similar to that of Sierra Hull's "Black River.")
• Whistle On Occasion-Kim Richey featuring Chuck Prophet (Just released today, this is a highlight of Richey's new release, "Edgeland."  Two voices and a guitar illustrate how  satisfying it is to savor life's pleasant, so-called minor moments.  This could segue with Shawn Colvin's version of Bob Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go.")

Jazz Masters

• Imagination-Art Pepper (A smooth, warm piece for alto sax.) 

Retro R&B

• Harlem Shuffle-Bob & Earl (Songs about movin' it to the left and right aren't often catchier than this.  The Rolling Stones covered it, but it's best heard in this original version.)
• Tighten Up-Archie Bell & The Drells (A justifiably enduring dance tune, with perfect vocal/instrumental synergy.  I'm not surprised that oldies stations still play this.)

SiriusXM highlights LXXXV

Standouts heard this morning:

'40s Junction

• St. Louis Blues March-Glenn Miller AAF Band (Grand, stately, and not just for hockey games.)

'50s On 5

• Manhattan Spiritual-Reg Owen (This recording is from 1959, but if I didn't know that, I would have thought it was from the '40s.  This is a memorable dance hook, carried off impressively in big band style.) 

The Beatles Channel

• I'm Looking Through You-The Beatles (One of the catchiest tracks from the "Rubber Soul" album, in my opinion.  Lyrically, it's one of the best, most concise ways I've heard of conveying that you're disenchanted with someone.)  

Bluegrass Junction

• Goodbye, Lianne-Gina Clowes (Fine fiddling and banjo picking in this tune that could segue with "Jefferson" by Sara Watkins.) 
• Rattlesnake-Tony Rice (Seemingly, part Bela Fleck, part Cetlic waltz.)

Deep Tracks

• Squonk-Genesis (If there were any doubts that Phil Collins could handle lead vocals after Peter Gabriel's departure, this track, along with the rest of the album, "A Trick Of The Tail," should have put those concerns to rest.)
• Strawberry Letter 23-Shuggie Otis (The original version of the song most listeners know as a hit for The Brothers Johnson; a slightly subtler but no less effective take on an unusually structured set of lyrics.)

Real Jazz

• Pasando El Tiempo-Wayne Wallace (Appealing Latin jazz that simmers; a well-blended combination of trombone, flute, keyboard, and percussion.)

The Spectrum

• Fade Into You-Mazzy Star (Subtle indie rock with a waltz-like tempo and a fuzzy guitar sound that holds up.)

Symphony Hall

• Felix Mendelssohn: Overture For Wind Instruments in C major, Op. 24 (London Symphony Orchestra/Claudio Abbado, conductor) (A subtle opening transitions gracefully into an energetic steeplechase.)

Hit-and-miss categorization

Just when you think you've heard everything, iTunes, for the first time, auto-classifies a song you've purchased as honky tonk.  After hearing Dan Whitaker & The Shinebenders perform "Cole's Boogie" live on KDHX, I thought, "That's a good guitar riff, and it would segue well with R.E.M.'s instrumental, 'Rotary Ten.'"  It hadn't occurred to me that Whitaker's instrumental would register as honky tonk in iTunes, but I suppose it's at least partially accurate...

...More accurate, at least, than SiriusXM classifying Donovan's "Colours" and Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound Of Silence" as Outlaw Country last month.

Only in college XLIII

It was a misnomer for the band members to call themselves The Elvis Brothers, as their music had more of a Beatles or Squeeze feel.  Nevertheless, their CD, "Now Dig This," ended up in KCOU's library.  When a new LP, 45, or CD was in KCOU's studio for its first eight weeks, DJs were required to write their initials and number of the track they'd played on the accompanying review sheet.  The first DJ to play a track from "Now Dig This," true to her personality, wrote in the review sheet's margin, "I'm first!  Say, this is keen..."

...And it was.  With tracks like "Strangelove," "Valentine," and "It Coulda Been Me," The Elvis Brothers should have had commercial success.  Within the confines of KCOU, however, I'd like to think that the first DJ's enthusiastic nudge prompted those who might have overlooked the CD to play it on the air.

Rain: Contrasting perspectives

If there was any sarcasm in the radio announcer's voice, I didn't hear it.  Tonight, I heard an announcer say, "It'll be a beautiful week," then realize that the forecast called for day-after-day rain.  He said, in addition to today's rain, "there's also rain predicted for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday."  A minute or so later, I heard a DJ on another station give the weather forecast and say, "I don't know if March came in like a lion, but it sure as Hell is going out like a shower."

I appreciate both perspectives.  While the second announcer told it like it is, I liked hearing the first announcer show positivity as a default mode, even when it meant contradicting himself.  More of that positivity awaits us; baseball season starts soon, and St. Louis fans will hear Mike Shannon say routinely during home games that it's "a beautiful day (or night) for baseball."  And, why not?  Some people find poetry and beauty in the rain--and baseball.

Tuneful music for turbulent times

If the demands of aging are irking you, take three minutes and three seconds to acknowledge that.  "Where Do You Go (When You Need A Hole To Crawl In)" by Strawbs details the differences between having your basic needs covered as a child and the on-your-own aspects of adulthood effectively.  Vocally, the tune presents an interesting blend of Cat Stevens and Steve Winwood influences.  The percolating guitar and keyboard intro should draw most prog rock listeners right in and keep them hooked.  When you're going through vexing times, it's sometimes good to know that the angst you're feeling can be expressed so tunefully.

Sensitive music for sensitive times

If you're thinking about someone who has passed away and desire respectful, contemplative underscoring, I recommend Bobby McFerrin's "Common Thread."  There's a sensitive, dreamlike, new age feel to the instrumentation, which McFerrin's vocals complement.  Somehow, the fact that McFerrin isn't singing actual lyrics makes the song feel all the more heartfelt.

Placating a sponsor

Once, on an AM radio talk show, I heard a host forget the name of the skating performance and venue to which the station was sending contest winners.  He jokingly referred to it as "the thing at the place," as did his co-host, for several breaks.  Then, he read an email from the sponsor of the performance, asking the hosts to stop referring to the event as "the thing at the place, or we will be forced to pull our advertising."

From then on, both hosts called the performance and venue by their proper names.  You just never know when a sponsor will listen to your broadcast and hold your station to its promises.

Online radio sampler highlights LXXIII

Six of the more intriguing tunes I've heard tonight:

KGNU (Boulder, CO)

• Swing Angel-Benny Goodman (Goodman and company swing and sway.  Goodman sets the tone on clarinet, and his band wails within the confines of good taste, as usual.)

WBOM (Rockford, IL)

• The Deep Horizon-3@Sea (Exploring the realm of a distant galaxy with a bit of trepidation?  Here's your underscoring.)
• The Message-Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas & Rob Ickes (How often do you hear a trio of dobros?  A fine instrumental for fans of Bela Fleck's style of playing.)

WFMU (Jersey City, NJ)

• The Panther-East Bay Soul Brass (If the vibe of Cliff Nobles & Co.'s "The Horse" appeals to you, this instrumental likely will, too.  The Electric Flag's "Soul Searchin'" also came to mind as I listened.  If ever there were a tune that was meant to be a theme song...)
• Need All The Help I Can Get-Suzi Jane Hokom (I've cited the cover by The Cleopatras previously, so it was fun to hear the garage band ethos of the original version from 1966.)

WTMD (Towson, MD)

• Trials And Tribulations-Walter "Wolfman" Washington (Brassy instrumentation and forthright vocals serve the tune well.  I'd be curious to hear Tower Of Power cover it.)

Mission accomplished?

I don't care for the taste of alcohol, but the joy with which Mike Plume sings about drinking at a bar in "Coming Home Again (Hey Hey What D'Ya Say)" makes me want to have a drink...

...Well, almost.  The fact that I'd even consider that for a tenth of a second demonstrates Plume's ability to draw listeners into his orbit.  Isn't that what every musician wants?

An overlooked cover tune XLIV

Here's how you cover a pop hit to make it just as appealing decades later:  Speed up its tempo, jazz up its melody on the piano, and have vocalists sing the chorus with genuine enthusiasm.  The end result: "Hang On, Sloopy," as performed by The Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1965.  I haven't sought out the original hit by The McCoys often, but I could listen to the 1965 Lewis cover, which has a bit of a Neil Diamond, "Cherry, Cherry" feel to it, repeatedly.  It's a shame there isn't much of a place for it in today's radio climate.

Wishing great people well

I was playing a Ramsey Lewis CD when the moving van pulled up today.  I wanted to make sure my neighbors, who have been consistently considerate and courteous, had my contact information before they moved.  I hadn't planned it this way, but the song playing when I ran outside was the Doc Pomus tune, "Lonely Avenue."  Ray Charles recorded the most well-known version, but Lewis's version is strong in its own right.

One family's absence makes a difference in a building's dynamic.  Although I will miss my neighbors, I wish them well.  They've done an excellent job of keeping this street from feeling as though it's a lonely avenue, and I'm sure they'll do the same on their new street.

Persistent earworm alert LXXXIX

Sometimes, you can ride one guitar riff through an entire song and make it stick.  Paul Gilbert did this in "I Understand Completely," a tune I used to play on KCOU.  That instrumental is running through my mind tonight, 25 years later, although I haven't played or heard it on the air since then.

For the waning hours of St. Patrick's Day...

...Before St. Patrick's Day draws to a close, I recommend the following versions of "Danny Boy:"

• Charlie Haden & Hank Jones (A respectful, jazzy bass-and-piano rendition.)
• Papa John Creach (A resonant, piercing reading on violin.)
• St. Louis Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin, conductor (The most reverential interpretation of these three versions.)

I also recommend the versions by Eva Cassidy and Glenn Miller that I've cited previously.

Or, if you're in the mood for some plaintive, reflective vocals, I recommend Karan Casey's "Ships In The Forest" CD.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone who celebrates it.

"Your not-so-local weather..."

Years ago, my brother and I were going to work when an FM weather forecaster mentioned the "chance of rain today."  We were in the middle of a downpour at the time.  That's why you don't outsource your weather reports to a service in another state.

Only in college XLII

My college orchestra director was standing next to a conducting student, supervising his progress. There was a bit of stifled giggling in the room over their contrasting heights.  To his credit, the director didn't get angry and admonish the gigglers.  Instead, he said to the orchestra, with genuine sincerity, "Isn't this great?  I'd love to be this tall."

I thought that was an impressive, kind reaction.

FM dial scan highlights XCVI

Seven noteworthy tracks heard in recent weeks:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• I Don't Wanna Be Without You-The James Hunter Six (If I hadn't known otherwise, I wouldn't have guessed this was from a 2018 release.  Hunter and company capture the spirit of Sam Cooke impressively.  Also recommended: "Whatever It Takes," the new release's title track, which sounds even more like Cooke.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• A Song For You-Donny Hathaway (Ray Charles sang the most captivating rendition, in my opinion, but Hathaway's take deserves more radio airplay than it usually gets.) 
• 'Round Midnight-Red Holloway & Clark Terry Sextet (Until hearing this version, it was difficult for me to imagine any cover coming close to the Miles Davis Quintet's sublime rendition.  This version does, however.  When I heard it over the weekend, I half-expected the landscape in front of me to suddenly develop a moonlit glow or a sepia tint.  The melody, especially as it's played here, sets the scene for warm nostalgia or gentler-than-usual film noir narration.) 
• Skeeter Blues-Regina Carter (Carter's consistently dazzling violin playing leads this excellent closing track on her "Rhythms Of The Heart" CD, while allowing the rhythm section plenty of room in which to sizzle.  Also recommended: "Our Delight," "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most," and "By The Brook.")
• Little Paradise-Eliane Elias (Elias's sultry voice is ideally suited for these lyrics.)

K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. KNOU-HD2 

• Seven Days In Sunny June-Jamiroquai (This is one of the more enjoyable vocal dance tracks I've heard on "The Jazz Collective."  It's similar in feel to one of Jamiroquai's strongest tracks, "When You Gonna Learn?")
• Affirmation-George Benson (This upbeat guitar melody never wears out its welcome for me.  The central theme's resemblance to the "You're gonna miss my lovin'" chorus of the Lou Rawls hit, "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine," serves the tune exceptionally well.  I was always pleased when this came up in KNJZ's rotation.)

Persistent earworm alert LXXXVIII

For at least the last two months, I've been having sobering thoughts about the passage of time and how, at my age, life is probably more than half over for me.  It'll hit home that I'm much closer to being 50 years old than 20 years old.  I'll think about people and pets who are no longer in my life and how there's no way to make them appear on command.  Then, in the middle of these melancholy thoughts, the "Chili's is back, baby back, baby back..." jingle will run through my mind for several minutes.  I don't know if I should be irritated with Chili's for compromising such poignant thoughts or thankful that its jingle reminds me of how silly life sometimes is--and how it's possible to make a memorable jingle by twisting around the melody of "Draggin' The Line" by Tommy James.

Tackling those pesky sharps

For most of one semester in an orchestra, I couldn't figure out why the bass section wasn't quite in tune.  I learned why when a fellow bassist pointed to a note with a sharp in front of it and asked another bassist, "Does this mean we sharp the note?"

I thought, "Leaving aside that sharp isn't used as a verb, how in the world did this person get this far?  I know we all have gaps in our knowledge banks, but..."

A voice-replicating sax player

Shortly after putting on a Ben Webster CD this morning, I walked into the kitchen.  Even though I knew better, I asked, "Are there vocals on this version of 'Stardust?'"  That's how lyrical Webster's tone on the tenor saxophone was.  From another room, it sounded like someone was singing.  You can't ask for a better tone than that.

Past the bumper sticker era, mostly

One sign of terrestrial radio's decline: I can't remember the last time I saw a bumper sticker for a rock station on any car here. One contemporary Christian station is well-represented with bumper stickers here, but it's the only station I've seen advertised that way recently.

In the early '80s, I remember seeing a fair number of KSHE and KWK bumper stickers.  It was a mark of a listener's loyalty to a particular album rock station.  Somehow, I don't see bumper stickers for music streaming services taking off in the same way.

To sneeze or not to sneeze?

Years ago, I was in the audience at one of my brother's orchestra concerts.  A violinist was playing a moving solo at the same time I had to sneeze.  Fortunately, I managed to hold it in, but it must have looked as though the solo had gotten to me emotionally.  Tears streamed down my face as I struggled not to sneeze.  Alas, being in the audience when someone is playing an emotionally wrenching solo sometimes means making a judgment call.  Do you sneeze and give yourself some relief, or do you stifle it and let the musicians have their moments in the sun?

I still think I made the right call.

Ideal radio talk show music IV

I've never heard "Pipeline," an Alan Parsons Project instrumental, used as talk show music, but I'm convinced that it works as a theme and as bumper music.  The downcast blend of synthesizer and saxophone would work particularly well for breaks during discussions about serious issues.  "Pipeline" was released in 1984 and sounds of its time, but its sound still fits today's talk shows.

Persistent earworm alert LXXXVII

After being reminded of it tonight, it has been impossible to erase a New York Dolls cover of a '50s song known in its incarnations by The Jay Hawks and The Cadets, "Stranded In The Jungle," from my mind.  I remember playing it at least three times on KCOU and was amused each time by the lead singer's ability to conjure up a jungle-like atmosphere and then segue into a '50s pastiche with the transition line, "Meanwhile, back in the states..."

I wonder if the tune was ever performed on the "Sha Na Na" show in the late '70s or early '80s.  If not, it should have been.

An at-odds-with-the-music reaction

When you're in a condo, and you're playing a Classical piece with wide dynamic variances, adjusting the volume without disturbing the whole building is tricky.  Today, there were two occasions when the vocalists suddenly sang out with such gusto that I had to race over and lower the volume.  I then brought it up gradually during a soft passage.  During one hasty volume-lowering incident, I said, "Damn, it's difficult to gauge the @#&*ing volume when a choir shifts from soft to loud to soft so damned suddenly!"

My ire was ironic, considering I was listening to Randall Thompson's "The Peaceable Kingdom," performed by Schola Cantorum Of Oxford, under the direction of James Burton.  Despite my not-so-peaceable reaction, I enjoyed the rest of the piece at one consistent volume.

Persistent earworm alert LXXXVI

You're trying to concentrate on a somber article.  Suddenly, "Dinner Bell" by They Might Be Giants, a song you haven't heard or thought about in many years, enters your mind and overpowers all other thoughts.  Do you keep reading, or do you save the rest of the article for later?

I've opted for later.

Online radio sampler highlights LXXII

Five compelling tunes heard today:

KUCI (Irvine, CA)

• It's Still Raining/Carlisle Street Reels-Solas (A contemplative, midtempo instrumental segues gracefully with an uptempo one.  Solas is one of the most consistently reliable Celtic ensembles.)
• Bright Lights-Rackhouse Pilfer (Good lyrics about resolve and staying strong when life gets in the way.)

WCBG (Staten Island, NY)

• Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)-Squeeze (Not every song makes you pay attention from the first note, as this one does.  A strong melody, memorable hook, and great keyboard solo are why this has gotten airplay since the '80s.)

WRCT (Pittsburgh, PA)

• Vanille Fraise-L'Imperatrice (A laid-back instrumental groove from last year that could segue with "Walking In Rhythm" by Blackbyrds.)
• Love Me Right-Amber Mark (Hard questions and discussions in relationships are rarely this tuneful.  This new R&B release would fit into a smooth jazz format.)

An atypical pop hit feature

In my positive review of Chicago's "Colour My World" February 25, I neglected to mention one of its attributes.  It's the ticking metronome, which you don't hear often in most pop hits.  The decision to use a metronome and feature it so prominently in the song makes it even more moving, I think.  The determination to have rhythmic precision while while playing the piano suggests that the band wanted to get the tune just right, and it underscores Terry Kath's vocals appropriately.  It's a smart quality to have when playing and singing about how much someone means to you.

What's in a number?

The director of a national high school ensemble in which I participated during my junior year told the players not to fixate on their chair placements.

"The time we had to assess that was minimal," he told us.

Even though I'd placed in the upper echelon of my section, I still thought, "Why rank us, then, if our audition performances don't matter?"

Although it's reassuring to hear a conductor say that music-making, not rankings, is what an ensemble is about, that disingenuous approach to chair placements reminded me of teachers who say, "It's not the grade that's important; what's important is what you learn from this class."  I always wanted to respond, "That might be true in the long term, but right now, we have to live with the grades we're given."

KCOU playlist flashback: 4-7 p.m., 3/1/92

Overall, this was one of the most accessible multi-genre shifts I ever did for KCOU.  In part, this was because I played nine requests from listeners.  I'm also guessing that I must have been in a more mainstream mood on this day 26 years ago.  Here was my playlist:

   1.  Stone Cold-Rainbow
(This album rock track that still gets radio airplay every now and then got things off to a dark start.  The song's haunting keyboard and guitar intro sets the scene effectively; sometimes, a dream is utter nonsense.  Other times, however, it tells you what you're really thinking and foreshadows an inevitable parting.)
   2.  City Screaming-Concrete Blonde
   3.  D.C.-Died Pretty
   4.  The Game-Lemon Grass
(What do you do when you're faced with a no-win situation?  This tune poses that dilemma convincingly, through angst-driven vocals and a forceful guitar part.  "The Game," backed with "Cathy's Song," was, in my opinion, one of the strongest indie rock 45s I ever played.)
   5.  With Every Step You Take-Crickle
   6.  Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)-The Reivers
(This cover of the Looking Glass oldie has a cartoonish feel that the original version doesn't.  It's a testament to the original's staying power that oldies stations still play it so many decades later.)
   7.  When The Circus Comes To Town-Cliff Eberhardt
(Even without having heard this song for many years, I still recall the conviction of its recurring guitar lick.)
   8.  Bright Side Of The Road-Van Morrison
(One of Morrison's more optimistic melodies; lyrically, it's an appealing way of asking someone special to share life's burdens with you.)
   9.  Southern Rain-Cowboy Junkies (*)
(It was a pleasure to play this for a listener.  Margo Timmins has an appealingly soft, thoughtful voice that serves her narratives well.  Instrumentally, this tune has an appealing bite to it, as well.  I also strongly recommend the group's excellent cover of Townes Van Zandt's "To Live Is To Fly." I wish KCOU had had more female-fronted bands and singer-songwriters in its library.)
 10.  Dare-The Wedding Present (*)
 11.  No Resistin' A Christian-Brian Ritchie (*)
(At one time, this tune poking gentle fun at overzealous proselytizers was one of the most-played tunes on KCOU.)
 12.  Under Easy-The Posies
(My favorite early tune by one of the best power pop bands.  I appreciated co-lead singer Jon Auer thanking me after KCOU's Big Star reunion concert in '93 for liking it.)
 13.  Our Lips Are Sealed-The Go-Gos (*)
(As you'll see, some of the listeners' requests and my own picks were in the "Retro 88" show mode.  Although "Head Over Heels" and "Turn To You" are the band's catchiest tracks, in my opinion, I was willing to play this whenever a listener requested it.)
 14.  Come On, Eileen-Dexy's Midnight Runners
(Got to have the full version with the violin prelude for the tune to feel complete...)
 15.  In The Move-Factor One
 16.  Quick As Rainbows-Kitchens Of Distinction (*)
 17.  Nullify-Clockhammer
 18.  World Without End-Eye & I
 19.  White Horse-Laid Back
(This tune's robotic, deadly serious nature still amuses me...)
 20.  Let's Go Crazy-Prince (*)
(...and may have triggered a retro '80s vibe in at least one listener.)
 21.  Blaze Of Glory-The Alarm (*)
 22.  Stand And Deliver-Adam And The Ants (*)
 23.  (I'll Love You) Till The End Of The World-Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds (*)
 24.  The Midnight Special-Buckwheat Zydeco
(This Creedence Clearwater Revival tune lends itself easily to a zydeco rendition.)
 25.  Down On The Corner-Creedence Clearwater Revival
 26.  Tomorrow's Tears-The Cranes
(The downcast piano underscoring, especially in the first 37 seconds, strikes me as the tune's most gripping element.)
 27.  I Just Want To Celebrate-Rare Earth
 28.  Feelin' Alright-Joe Cocker
(One of the best songs Cocker ever recorded; an infectious mix of piano and raw, honest vocals.)
 29.  Hittin' The Bottle Stomp-Mississippi Jook Band
(Admittedly, we didn't play a lot of guitar-driven instrumentals from 1936 on KCOU, but this progressive-for-its-time melody somehow fit into the mix for me.)
 30.  C-Jam Blues-Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
 31.  Night Train-Kenny Blake
(If you're going to play a smooth jazz cover of a traditional jazz classic on the saxophone, this is the way to do it.)
 32.  Teacher-Jethro Tull
(For the hidden wanderer/adventurer in some of us...)
 33.  Wild Thing-The Troggs
(I actually played this of my own free will, without a listener requesting it?  That surprises me, as I've thought this was one of the more tedious, overplayed tunes of its kind.)
 34.  Trail Of Love-The Snapdragons
 35.  Comic Book Hero-Kissus Interruptus
 36.  Believe Me-Atomic Shelter
 37.  Movin' To The Country-The Bags
 38.  So Desperately-Henry Lee Summer
 39.  Lone Star-Stuart Hamm
(I decided to wrap things up with a driving guitar instrumental.  I imagine that most listeners who like Eric Johnson's electric guitar numbers will like this, as well.)

(*) indicates a listener's request.