Seven standout tunes heard today:
KBZR (Baker City, OR)
- Luna's Gone-Mary Chapin Carpenter (As with Alison Krauss, there's a dependable consistency to Chapin Carpenter's singing and playing that falls somewhere between folk and country styles. The lyrics of "Luna's Gone," however, remind me of why I could only have indoor pets. I couldn't bear the thought of knowing that a cat of mine had wandered off and that I might not know where she is or ever see her again.)
- Dandelion-Charlotte Gainsbourg (Gainsbourg's quiet vocals contrast effectively with the loping, rhythmic gait of the instrumental backdrop, which falls somewhere between the blues and Donovan's "Mellow Yellow.")
KRWV (Phoenix, AZ)
- Route 101-Herb Alpert (Alpert's best instrumental single, in my opinion; this energetic trumpet melody should have been a bigger hit in 1982. It remains one of my most-played 45s.)
KTBG (Kansas City, MO)
- Dragonfly-Samantha Crain (This track is from 2024 but could have fit in easily on college alt rock stations in the early '90s. The lyrics express a yearning to be free and adaptable at the same time.)
WESM (Princess Anne, MD)
- Vibrations-Warren Wolf (Essentially, this is "I Can See Clearly Now," recast as a stroll for vibraphone.)
WILL-HD2 (Champaign, IL)
- I Shoulda Loved Ya-Narada Michael Walden (I'm surprised that this catchy 1979 dance groove wasn't a top 40 hit.)
WRDV (Warminster, PA)
- Wake Up And Live-Ella Fitzgerald (The attitude of these lyrics could segue well with multiple versions of "Blue Skies.")
