Bloggerhythms

Former Rolling Stone writer Tom Nawrocki, who is also a voting member of The Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame, once posted on his blog, Debris Slide , that it is possible to play your way out of the hall . He was referencing Chicago the band and he used their hit, "Look Away," as evidence. Let it be said that the horn band is not the only artist to release music that is unworthy of their status. While Chicago are included in the list below some other great Hall of Fame members turned out "art" that is just as galling. I was recently told that it is too easy for somebody with access to a keyboard to trash others without regard to their feelings and that is probably true. However, if you don't want to be harshly criticized don't make records as bad as these renowned musicians did. It should be noted that all of the hall inductees mentioned here are artists I have greatly admired for a long time. The Beach Boys - L. A. (Light Album) (1979) After the...

Many revered oldies from the 1960s were quite sexist in nature. Some of the lyrics of the decade's many innocent sounding hit records approached creepiness, especially when it came to men's lust for younger women (I'm talking to you Gary Puckett). Other tracks were outright misogynistic. The Rolling Stones proved this on "Under My Thumb" and it is scary to think what John Lennon wanted to do to his girlfriend on Rubber Soul 's "Run For Your Life." Many of the deeply held, sexist attitudes of the day were never questioned by either gender because they were accepted within the context of their times but, a 45 RPM single by Dusty Springfield, one of the decade's more popular and talented female stars, makes "Wishin' and Hopin'" from her debut LP, A Girl Called Dusty , exceptionally awful by today's standards. During the song's two minutes and fifty-three seconds Springfield gives young women some advice on how to w...

When an artist's songwriting and vocals blend together seamlessly it's easy to fall in love. Such is the case with Portland, Maine's Jenny Van West who possesses both of those assests in abundance on her brand new album, Happiness To Burn . Yes, Americana is a very broad title but it fits performers like Van West whose work can't be pigeonholed into one particular genre. She finds a place for a little old time jazz, mixed with some pure country, a little roots rock, and some singer-songwriter fare. All ten, very good, original songs are topped off with a voice that is both powerful and sweet at the same time. As a singer she could easily succeed at any vocal style she pursued and would destroy (in a good way) the great American Songbook if she chose to. The set list is quite varied. "Twenty-Seven Dollars," the most country influenced track, is about "a boy who loves me a little too much." "Live In A New Way" was inspired by the mur...

The late Bobby Darin's career and short life ended so many years ago that he is often forgotten today. He died at only age 37 in 1973 of a heart condition he developed during his youth. Darin was quite a versatile vocalist. He began his career singing light teen pop tunes like "Queen of the Hop," "Dreamlover," and "Splish Splash" before turning to the more adult fare he was born to sing and really loved. Later, he changed directions again, moved away from the jazz vocals of "Mack The Knife" and "Beyond The Sea," and became a folk singer, taking Tim Hardin's "If I Were A Carpenter" to #8 in 1966. The terrific "Beyond the Sea" was composed in 1945 as a romantic pop tune by American Jack Lawrence. The music came from a French song, "La Mer," ("The Sea" in English) by Charles Trenet who originally wrote the melody and lyrics as a tribute to the sea. The swing era of Benny Goodman, Tommy D...