'40s Junction
- Don't Get Around Much Anymore-The Ink Spots (A classy vocal take on this Duke Ellington tune; it could segue with most versions of "They Can't Take That Away From Me.")
- If The Love Fits, Wear It-Leslie Pearl (When this was a hit in 1982, I would only hear it on "American Top 40." Lyrically, it's a good way of saying, "If a relationship works, pursue it. If it doesn't, don't.")
- Kids In America-Kim Wilde (The synthesized backdrop and Wilde's vocals have 1982 stamped all over them, and, in this case, that's a plus. Decades later, the hook still gets into the listener's mind and doesn't let up easily.)
- American Music-The Pointer Sisters (Enjoying the music you like by the stereo...What's not to like here? It's a shame this song hasn't gotten regular radio airplay here since it was a hit.)
- Everybody Everybody-Black Box (One of the most memorable pop keyboard melodies of the decade, fit for a hockey game.)
- Wild Horses-The Sundays (Harriet Wheeler's vocals float over the instrumentation in this cover of a Rolling Stones tune.)
- In The Chapel In The Moonlight-Chet Atkins (Two prepositions this close together in a song title? In this case, it's necessary to set the scene. Atkins plays this on guitar at the perfect tempo, and the throwback purity of the melody is endearing. Hot Club Of Detroit's "Patio Swing" would sound right after it.)
- Show And Tell-Al Wilson (In 1985, KYKY asked listeners to mail in a list of their favorite songs; the songs were then used not only for countdown rankings but as a barometer of what to add to the station's soft rock playlist. The station played this oldie a lot after the survey results were in. Smart move; it's a well-sung, emotive ballad. I wonder how Brook Benton might have sung it.)
- Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing-Carmen McRae & Cal Tjader (No cover could top Stevie Wonder's original version for me, but this is an appealing blend of vocals and vibraphone.)
- I Can't Get Started-Sonny Rollins/Roy Hargrove (Rollins and Hargrove show that this often-sung standard works just as well instrumentally. The tune's heart shines through in any context.)
- Sixty-Six-Pat Metheny (This February release gathers momentum as it goes. The tune brings out the elegance and thoughtfulness of Metheny's guitar playing, and the Hollywood Studio Symphony provides additional gravity.)
- Come Rain Or Come Shine-Ray Charles (Anyone who can sing these lyrics with this much conviction must really believe in the enduring quality of a relationship.)
- Nos Voamos-Gato Blanco (This spacey, uptempo June release blends chill, international, and smooth jazz genres, with appealing guitar, keyboard, and vocal punctuation.)
- Any World (That I'm Welcome To)-Steely Dan (During this pandemic, a lot of listeners likely share this escapist sentiment. Listening to it again, I'm struck but not surprised by the consistency of Steely Dan's "Katy Lied" album. The sobering realization that the album is 45 years old is also sinking in; I'm not sure where all that time went.)
- You're The Only Woman-Ambrosia (The vocals on this hit are top-notch. David Pack and company let loose impressively in the third verse, starting with the lyric, "When the pain of love surrounds you...")
