Persistent earworm alert LXXXII

Although I enjoy many of Billy Joel's songs, "Pressure" is one that I respect but don't like all that much.  During the largely bleak month of January, its appropriately ominous, pounding keyboard refrain is one of my most frequent, recurring earworms.  Usually, it subsides by March.

A noncommittal response

Another noncommittal variation of the "I'll see what I can do" response DJs often gave when I requested songs as a kid: "We're working on it."

As a kid, I didn't question that response, but I still thought, "Working on it?  Is heavy machinery involved?  Why doesn't the DJ just get the song out of the station's library and play it when there's a spot available on the playlist?"

The usual answer: There were no available spots on the playlist, as that day's music had already been predetermined.

SiriusXM highlights LXXXI

Standout selections heard this afternoon:

'40s Junction

• Flying Home-Benny Goodman Sextet (Goodman's clarinet serves the tune as compellingly as Lionel Hampton's vibraphone.)
• Love Is Here To Stay-Larry Clinton featuring Bea Wain (I wish I'd played this on WEW, as Wain's vocals would flow smoothly into just about any version of "Cheek To Cheek.")
  

Eagles Channel

• Meet On The Ledge-Fairport Convention (Lyrically and vocally moving, even after 100 listens.  Sandy Denny and company sing about seeing all of one's friends "when the time is up."  I really hope Heaven is like that.)

Escape

• Tangerine-Beegie Adair (Straight ahead piano jazz with an appealing bounce; this is another tune that segues well with "Cheek To Cheek.") 

No Shoes Radio

• Fooling Myself-Grace Potter & The Nocturnals (I'd be curious to hear how Sarah Jarosz would cover this.)

Real Jazz

• Night Train-Wes Montgomery & Jimmy Smith (A fine propulsive reading of the Duke Ellington classic.)

Soul Town

• Joy (Part 1)-Isaac Hayes (The string accompaniment, which brings Love Unlimited Orchestra to mind, would segue smoothly with "Love Song" by Ramsey Lewis.)

FM dial scan highlights XCIV

Five noteworthy tunes heard today:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• (They Long To Be) Close To You-The Cranberries (Dolores O'Riordan's breathy, sincere vocals make this a highlight of the various artists Carpenters compilation tribute CD, "If I Were A Carpenter."  Also recommended: Matthew Sweet's cover of "Let Me Be The One.")
• Barterers And Their Wives-The Left Banke (Any tune that can evoke a Bach harpsichord concerto and Every Mother's Son's "Come On Down To My Boat" this artfully deserves the respect of its listeners.  I was listening to the band's compilation, "There's Gonna Be A Storm: The Complete Recordings, 1966-1969," two days ago, and was struck by how many concise, tuneful gems they recorded.  Perhaps the best of the bunch: "She May Call You Up Tonight.")

WSIE 88.7 FM

• I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me-Charlie Parker (Parker's saxophone guides a rhythm section that sizzles.  I'd be curious to hear a violin carry this melody.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• Happier-A Fine Frenzy (Alison Sudol sings a sad, realistic appraisal of a relationship that's falling apart.)

WFUN 95.5 FM

• A House Is Not A Home-Luther Vandross (A soaring, emotive rendition.  Dionne Warwick and Vandross sing two of the best versions, in my opinion.)

Online radio sampler highlights LXX

Five standouts heard today:

KBXR (Columbia, MO)

• It's A Shame-First Aid Kit (A strongly sung, unflinching look appreciating a relationship you have, before its expiration date.  I'm curious to hear the rest of the new release, "Ruins," due Friday.)

KVRX (Austin, TX)

• Walkman-Kasso (A cool funk instrumental that reminds me of Ray Parker, Jr.'s "For Those Who Like To Groove.")

WAER-HD2 (Syracuse, NY)

• Marseille-Ahmad Jamal (A beguiling, winding, mysterious piano-and-percussion piece.)

WXPN (Philadelphia, PA)

• Up All Night-Beck (I hear elements of Kam Franklin's "(No Place I'd) Rather Be" here, which strengthens my already favorable impression of this upbeat melody.)
• Tightrope-Janelle Monae (Whether you're tough, determined, both, or neither, this is good life advice.  Hearing Sarah Jarosz sing this with aplomb on NPR's "Live From Here With Chris Thile" made me hear it in a new light and appreciate it all the more.)

Dial back the rage!

In a radio station's 1994 poll of its listeners, one of the categories was "band that should die a horrible death."  Although I'm not a fan of the band the listeners chose, why was it necessary to phrase the category that way?  Why not phrase it as "most overrated band" or "least talented band?" Why the excessive venom?

In memory of Dolores O'Riordan

One of the musical highlights of my last semester at KCOU was playing multiple tracks from the debut CD by The Cranberries, "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?"  In memory of the band's lead singer, Dolores O'Riordan, who passed away today, I consider these five of the group's most memorable songs:

• Dreams (O'Riordan's lyrics and vocals from 1993 still hold up.  This is still a great song for driving.)
• Just My Imagination-The Cranberries (One of the band's sunnier efforts, at least on the surface.)
• Linger (Still one of the band's most melodic songs, thanks to a delicate arrangement for strings and O'Riordan's vocals floating above it all.)
• Waltzing Back (When choosing music for a 2-6 a.m. shift on KCOU, I played this before a listener's request, Elvis Costello's "Alison."  I still like the way the haunting last note of "Waltzing Back" flows into the plaintive first note of "Alison.")
• Wanted (A brisk, honest look at the end of a relationship.)