Standout songs heard today:
'40s Junction
- Let's Take The Long Way Home-Jo Stafford (I'm pretty sure this is one Stafford number I didn't play on WEW, but I would have if I'd known of it. This is a classy, respectful way of saying, "We're a good match, so let's build on that.")
'50s Gold
- Endlessly-Brook Benton (See my review above of Jo Stafford's "Let's Take The Long Way Home.")
Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals
- Ahead-Andrew Gialanella (The optimism of this instrumental would have worked as underscoring in multiple episodes of "This Is Us.")
Bluegrass Junction
- Family Tree-Della Mae (A frank admission that your view of the world won't necessarily match that of all your relatives.)
Escape
- Summer Samba-Richard Clayderman (I always enjoyed playing Walter Wanderley's ballpark organ-style version of this on WEW. The melody works just as well on the piano, as Clayderman demonstrates.)
North Americana
- Robin's Egg-Iron & Wine/I'm With Her (A vocally strong collaboration. Lyrically, this is an appealing way of saying that you know you've found your match when you can be yourself with that person. If I'd known this had been released as a single in 2025, it would have been in my Favorite music of 2025 countdown. Luckily, I'll have a second chance to include it in a countdown, as it'll be on Iron & Wine's new release next month.)
Real Jazz
- Bouncing With Bud-Bud Powell (Cool bouncy piano and call-and-response patterns between brass players.)
SiriusXMU
- Bite The Hand-Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers & Lucy Dacus (A reasonable reminder that just because you're a fan of someone's music doesn't mean you're that artist's close friend.)
Spa
- Reflect-Monster Taxi (One of the more modern-sounding piano-anchored new age instrumentals I've heard; this could fit fairly easily into a smooth jazz playlist.)
The Verge
- Trick To Happy-Bahamas (At first, I thought, "I'm not sure about this song. The vocals are a tad too slick for me." I'm glad I stayed with it, though, because it presents an advisable way to approach life; when you're fully present for life's subtler moments, it makes you more appreciative.)
Watercolors
- Bright-Peter White (Pleasant, upbeat smooth jazz guitar.)
Yacht Rock Radio
- Please Come To Boston-Dave Loggins (A wistful acknowledgment that a long distance relationship can't work when partners can't agree on where to live. The Pacific Pops Orchestra recorded a pleasant easy listening instrumental cover of this.)
