Standout tunes heard today on six radio stations that haven't been featured in Online radio sampler highlights posts before:
KALA (Davenport, IA)
- Butterfly Lullaby-Swing Out Sister (A chill instrumental reprise of "Butterfly," which I'm surprised isn't a smooth jazz radio staple. Its encouraging lyrics and vocal hook should have guaranteed that.)
- Reaching Out-Kim Waters (This uptempo smooth jazz saxophone melody is fit for a brisk run--or possibly a stakeout.)
KNMC (Havre, MT)
- I Want You Back-Hoodoo Gurus (I played a bit of this band on KCOU in the early '90s, but I wish I'd thought to play this 1984 melodic power pop track. It's worth learning to play guitar so one can master this song.)
KSCU (Santa Clara, CA)
- Quand Vas Tu Rentrer?-Melody's Echo Chamber (The vocals float compellingly over a hypnotic, festive-sounding keyboard hook.)
WJCT-HD4 (Jacksonville, FL)
- Pick Yourself Up-Oscar Peterson (Wow...I thought the Carolbeth True Trio zipped through "The Way You Look Tonight" at a breakneck pace. This, hands down, is the fastest version I've ever heard of this standard. Peterson zooms through it adroitly on the piano.)
- I've Got You Under My Skin-Charlie Parker Quintet (Parker carries the melody of this standard prominently on the saxophone.)
WSPJ (Syracuse, NY)
- Caught In A Dream-Alice Cooper (I haven't listened to Alice Cooper's music that often, so I forget sometimes that it goes beyond "School's Out." This is pretty accessible, actually, and fit for a road trip playlist. Rhythmically, it could segue with Lynyrd Skynyrd's "What's Your Name?")
WTTH (Atlantic City, NJ)
- Tell Me If You Still Care-The S.O.S. Band (This is how to stay on point when requesting a relationship status update.)
- Sir Duke-Stevie Wonder (Whose day doesn't "Sir Duke" brighten, considering its appreciation for how music appeals to our common humanity?)
