Wednesday highlights:
KALH (Alamogordo, NM)
- You-Rita Coolidge (I was glad to be reminded of this 1978 hit I hadn't heard in ages. It doesn't break new ground lyrically, but it doesn't need to. Coolidge's vocals sell a solid hook and catchy, of-its-time rhythm effectively. Frankie Valli's "Swearin' To God" would sound right to me after this.)
KGKG (Salida, CO)
- St. Elmo's Fire-John Parr (The emotive vocals of this 1985 hit still hold up. With this level of confidence, it's easy to feel like you've won a marathon without even entering the race.)
KVSC (St. Cloud, MN)
- Matter Of Time-Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (A perfectly reasonable demand for fairness, set to the tempo of a waltz.)
- La Rue-Cortex (This medley of French jazz vocals and characteristically '70s instrumentation features something interesting, abrupt tempo shifts. Charles Stepney's "Look B4u Leap" would sound smooth before this.)
WAER-HD2 (Syracuse, NY)
- Yardbird Suite-Herbie Mann (Tal Farlow's guitar rendition is my default version of this, but Mann shows how well the melody works on the flute.)
- Prelude in E minor-Gerry Mulligan (Proof that a saxophone-centered melody can be simultaneously sorrowful and uptempo.)
WPVM (Asheville, NC)
- See You On The Moon-Tift Merritt (Sadly, people don't always stay in your life as long as you wish. These endearingly thoughtful lyrics and vocals deserve a wider audience.)
