Eight of the better tunes I've heard today:
KMNO (Wailuku, HI)
- Rhythm Of The Rain (Live)-Dan Fogelberg (Fogelberg was in strong voice when this was recorded, and his slowed down cover of this oldie by The Cascades is appropriate for lamenting a breakup.)
- It's A Lovely Day Today-Jo Stafford (A pleasant, on-the-surface way of encouraging someone to make the most of a positive day. If I'd thought to play it on WEW, I wonder what similarly sunny segue I'd have used. Peggy Lee's "It's A Good Day," perhaps?)
KMRE (Bellingham, WA)
- Blues On A Sunday-Ronnie Earl (A long, unhurried guitar-and-organ blues instrumental--fitting for Sunday contemplation, as its title implies.)
KPUP (Patagonia, AZ)
- Gotta Get Back-Shelby Lynne (Lynne's catchiest track, vocally and rhythmically. It's equally at home in an uptempo adult contemporary playlist or an AAA station's rotation. The opening note grabbed my ears years ago and still does years later.)
- Falling-Mindy Smith (It was a pleasant surprise to hear this after not hearing it on the radio since its year of release, 2004. Smith sings this with endearing sincerity. Lyrically, it's an honest admission that even the best partners drive each other crazy at least occasionally but are always glad they come back to each other.)
WESM (Princess Anne, MD)
- Soul Serenade-King Curtis (Resonant saxophone and a melody that sounds poised to launch into "King Of The Road" at any moment.)
WFIV (Knoxville, TN)
- You Can Do Magic-America (Sometimes, constant radio airplay can prevent listeners from appreciating a well-crafted pop tune. In 1982, I remember hearing "You Can Do Magic" frequently on St. Louis's plethora of soft rock stations. I never disliked it, but I appreciate its sing-along quality more today, now that it isn't played so often. Santana's "Hold On" also falls into this category for me.)
WZBT (Gettysburg, PA)
- Other People's Bands-Kathleen Edwards (A lyrically sound way of nudging someone to show gratitude.)
