AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Clean Bandit

Artist:Clean Bandit f/Demi Lovato

Song:Solo

Album:What Is Love?

Clean Bandit is an EDM trio that mixes dance and pop with chamber music. They have had success mostly at home in England. None of them sing so they bring in big name vocalists. The 2018 single Solo features Demi Lovato and it topped the British charts. They have recently switched record labels and have a new album on the way. Jack Patterson writes and produces the music. His brother Luke plays drums. While attending Jesus College at the University of Cambridge in 2012, Patterson met cellist Grace Chatto who was in a string quartet. He told her he was interested in recording them and incorporating it into his own music. He recorded with his brother Jack and singer Love Ssega. Grace and violinist Neil Armin-Smith from the quartet joined the band known as Clean Bandit. Patterson says it's a rough translation of a Russian phrase meaning "complete bastard". Love Ssega soon left to return to school. Clean Bandit released a few singles and an EP on their own label. They did well enough to get them a record deal with Atlantic Records. The album New Eyes was released in 2014. The single Rather Be topped the British charts, was top ten in the US and charted worldwide. After Ssega left, Clean Bandit started using guest singers. The singer on Rather Be was Jess Glynne who soon signed a record deal with Atlantic. Rather Be won a Grammy for Best Dance Record. Clean Bandit should have made Jess permanent lead singer. They may not have offered it but she had solo aspirations anyway. So Clean Bandit continued to use guest singers on the 2018 album What Is Love?. There were several hit singles including Solo featuring Demi Lovato, It topped the British Singles chart. The album was certified Platinum in England. Patterson co-wrote and produced with Grace and various writers and producers. Producer Mark Ralph co-produced most of the album. He is an EDM veteran. Fred Gibson and Kamille also worked on the song. Interestingly, the album didn't do as well in the US. I believe Atlantic in New York pulled back on promotion because they wanted Patterson to make changes in the band. Patterson told the BBC he only dealt with British staff. But I assure you they were under orders from New York. They told them to remove the strings and be more EDM than pop. The reason for this is Clean Bandit does not have a full time lead singer. Atlantic believes, and I agree with them, that the lead singer is the personality of the group. Patterson is the group leader but most listeners don't know who he is. Patterson attempted to make the adjustments Atlantic requested. But Clean Bandit left Atlantic and have a new album coming soon from their new label B1/Ministry of Sound distributed by Sony. In recent interviews, Patterson has joked with media about hiring a permanent lead singer. But that's something he should have done ten years ago. Here's the video for Solo by Clean Bandit featuring Demi Lovato.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Glenn Miller

Artist:Glenn Miller f/Marion Hutton, Tex Beneke and The Modernaires

Song:Jukebox Saturday Night

Album:A Legendary Performer

Jukebox Saturday Night was a top ten hit for Glenn Miller in 1942. Miller had plenty of hits in those days. But the main reason I am writing about this song is there is a great video clip and I want to talk about the singers. Because that's who was featured on the record. Jukebox Saturday Night was written by Al Stillman and Paul McGrane. Stillman was a lyricist whose other big hits were the 1954 Perry Como Christmas perennial Home for the Holidays and the 1957 Johnny Mathis hit Chances Are. Jukebox Saturday Night was McGrane's only big hit. Marion Hutton and Tex Beneke are best known for their days with Miller. They both floundered after his death. Beneke attempted to start his own band but was unsuccessful. Marion was the sister of actress Betty Hutton. The Modernaires started out in their hometown of Buffalo. The three main members were Hal Dickinson, Chuck Goldstein and Bill Conway. Dickinson married Paula Kelly in 1939 and she joined The Modernaires. They split up after Miller's death. This video has different performers on it as it was produced for the Panoram video jukebox manufactured by Mills Novelty. They were commonly called Soundies. Soundies were produced from 1939 to 1947. This Soundie was produced in 1944. The recording is not original. It was by The Soundies Orchestra under the direction of Jack Shandlin. The members of The Modernaires in this video were Tommy Morgan, Hal Dickinson, Harriet Clark, Fran Scott and Ralph Brewster. The most notable feature of Jukebox Saturday Night is The Modernaires imitating The Ink Spots and that is on the video. I may try to feature other Soundies in the future. I think many are lost but one never knows. I am always on the prowl for vintage videos. You can get Jukebox Saturday Night on this Glenn Miller budget comp. Here's the Soundie of The Modernaires performing Jukebox Saturday Night.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Yazoo

Artist:Yazoo

Song:Situation

Album:Only Yazoo The Best of

The British duo Yazoo weren't around very long. But they were very important in the early 80s development of synth pop. They were very successful in England. And Situation was one of two US chart singles. They only recorded two albums. Singer Alison Moyet and former Depeche Mode keyboardist Vince Clarke attended the same Saturday music school in Basildon, Essex, England. After Clarke heard the band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, he formed Depeche Mode and released a 1981 album on Mute Records. Meanwhile, Alison bounced around various bands and she placed a1981 ad in the music magazine Melody Maker looking for musicians to form a band. By that time, Clarke had left Depeche Mode and answered the ad. Despite being from the same home town, they didn't know each other though Alison knew other members of Depeche Mode. Clarke wanted Alison to record a demo for Mute so he could get a solo record deal. Mute agreed to release the demo Only You as a single. They recorded Situation and it was the B side. Alison is a blues fan so the name Yazoo is after the blues label Yazoo Records. They threatened to sue so for the US release, the name was shortened to Yaz. After Only You reached #2 on the British Singles chart. Mute told Clarke to record an album. Meanwhile, the second single Don't Go reached #3 on the British Singles chart. Situation was the B side and it had become a hit in New York City clubs. That got them a US deal with Sire Records The 1982 album Upstairs at Eric's was released. Sire wanted Situation as the first single but it wasn't on the album. It reached #73 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album sold very well in England but not so well in the US. Yazoo wrote and produced. After releasing a stand alone single, they released the 1983 album You and Me Both. By this time, the two weren't getting along and they didn't even want to record another album. Soon after the album release, the split was announced. You can get all their hits on this comp. Of course Alison had a significant solo career in the late 80s. Clarke seemed to bounce around a lot. His most significant band was Erasure, Yazoo reunited for a 2008 tour and a live album was released. But as I said, Yazoo was a synthpop influence in the 80s. Here's Yazoo performing Situation on the German TV show Popcorn 1983.

  

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Bedouin Soundclash

Artist:Bedouin Soundclash

Song:When the Night Feels My Song

Album:Sounding a Mosaic

Bedouin Soundclash is an indie band that have had success mostly in their native Canada. The 2004 single When the Night Feels My Song topped the Canadian singles chart. Their music is a blend of reggae, ska and punk. Band leader Jay Malinowski and bassist Eon Sinclair were attending Queen's University in Kingston, ON when they met and decided to form the band Bedouin Soundclash. The band name is after a dub record by Badawi. They thought it represented a mix of musical styles which is what they aspire to. Malinowski writes everything and sings and plays lead guitar. They usually have a drummer. Pat Pengelly was the original drummer. Bedouin Soundclash released their debut album Root Fire in 2001. Then they signed with the Canadian indie label Stomp Records for the 2004 album Sounding a Mosaic. This got them on the radar of Canadian radio and the music video channel MuchMusic as they are obligated to play Canadian content. Malinowski wrote all the songs. The album was produced by Darryl Jenifer of the punk band Bad Brains. They produced a music video for When the Night Feels My Song which was funded by VideoFACT. And that got them radio and MuchMusic airplay and it topped the Canadian Singles chart. Sounding a Mosaic was released internationally by the indie label SideOneDummy. It is available as a budget CD. When the Night Feels My Song charted in England. I am happy the band had success. But I don't like that they were completely dependent on CRTC CanCon regulations. I don't think Bedouin Soundclash was looking to be world famous. They just wanted to tour and record and make a few bucks. Bedouin Soundclash is still around. They last released an album in 2022 on the Canadian indie label Dine Alone. They have made good use of CRTC regulations. But it doesn't look like they had any illusions about how far they would get. Here's the video for When the Night Feels My Song by Bedouin Soundclash. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Lovemongers

Artist:Lovemongers

Song:Battle of Evermore

Album:Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Most music fans should be familiar with the band Heart led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. After success in the 70s, they made a big comeback in the late 80s. After the 1990 album Brigade and the subsequent tour, Heart decided to take a break. Ann and Nancy were approached to play a Red Cross benefit for the troops during The Gulf War. The problem was the members of Heart were scattered. So they decided to put together a new band to play one time only. They convinced their long time friend and songwriting partner Sue Ennis to play keyboards and former Heart guitarist Frank Cox to join the band. They called themselves Lovemongers as opposed to warmongers. Lovemongers played a wrap party for the film Singles which was directed by Nancy's husband Cameron Crowe. They were backed up by the band soon to be known as Pearl Jam. It went so well that they decided to record an EP produced by former Heart guitarist Scott Olson. This cover of the Led Zeppelin song Battle of Evermore appeared on the Singles soundtrack. The album is available on CD. After the 1993 Heart album Desire Walks On didn't do that well, it was clear that the grunge movement had taken hold and maybe it was time for Heart to take a break. They owed Capitol one more album and Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones was brought in to produce the album The Road Home. The Lovemongers released the 1997 album Whirlygig on a small label. And after Nancy composed the music for Crowe's 2000 film Almost Famous, Heart returned to touring and eventually recording with the 2004 album Jupiters Darling. Here's the video for Battle of Evermore by Lovemongers.

 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Laufey

Artist:Laufey

Song:I Wish You Love

Album:A Night at the Symphony

Laufey is an Icelandic singer songwriter who is having success today as a 40s style pop singer. She's had success mostly in Europe. But she's making inroads in the US. She is on tour now. She has had success on the Jazz chart but her music is not jazz. Her music is aimed at an older audience who don't listen to current music. She was born Laufey Lin Bing Jonsdottir Apr. 23, 1989 in Reykjavik, Iceland. Her father is from Iceland and her mother is Chinese and comes from a musical family. Her twin sister is her creative director. Laufey learned piano and cello as a child. She graduated from the Reykjavik College of Music in 2018. She was playing cello for the Iceland Symphony Orchestra when she participated in the 2014 edition of what we will call Iceland's Got Talent and she was a semi finalist on the 2015 edition of The Voice Iceland. You guys know how much I love those shows. Excuse the sarcasm. Laufey was supposed to study economics. But instead she studied at Berklee School of Music in Boston with cellist Mike Block. She graduated in 2021 and now lives in Los Angeles. Laufey released a single in 2020 and then an EP in 2021. That's when she first recorded the song I Wish You Love written and originally performed by French singer Charles Trenet. That EP Typical of Me was listed as an album of the year by American Songwriter magazine. Posting jazz standards on TikTok got her more attention and a record deal from AWAL which stands for Artists Without A Label. Kobalt Music founded AWAL and it's supposed to be like Shanachie and similar labels where the artist owns the recordings. The tradeoff is those labels don't spend money on promotion. The problem is Kobalt sold AWAL to Sony. Supposedly AWAL still operates the same way. The difference is the artist has access to the Sony machine. This deal likely would not have gone through if Sony tried to change too much. Then Laufey signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music. A good introduction to Laufey's music is this 2023 live album A Night at the Symphony with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. It's kind of a greatest hits album available as a digital download. Laufey has done well on Jazz and Classical charts. Her 2025 album A Matter of Time reached #4 on the Billboard 200. Producers Spencer Stewart and Aaron Dessner of The National moved the emphasis from jazz to singer songwriter. There were no hit singles so some adjustments may be necessary. It remains to be seen how far Laufey will go to be a mainstream success. Here's Laufey performing I Wish You Love with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra 2023.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Wisin & Yandel

Artist:Wisin & Yandel f/Romeo Santos

Song:Aullando

Album:Los Campeones Del Pueblo-The Big Leagues

Wisin & Yandel are probably the most popular Reggaeton act over the last twenty years. After going on hiatus in 2013, they returned with the 2018 album Los Campeones Del Pueblo and the hit single Aullando. It sold over 15 million records. Then they split up after a final 2023 tour. Wisin & Yandel are from the same hometown in Puerto Rico. They started working together in 1998 after both appeared on the albums No Fear 3 and La Mision Vol. 1. The record label Fresh Productions thought they should record together and produced their 2000 debut album Los Reyes del Nuevo Milenio. After the success of a couple of albums, they started their own label with Universal distribution. The success continued until they went on hiatus in 2013. They said at the time they were not disbanding. After each recorded a couple of solo albums, they reunited for the 2018 album Los Campeones Del Pueblo. The album was a big success. It was certified 4xPlatinum. The single Aullando was certified 22xPlatinum but it only reached #10 on the Latin chart. There was likely a viral element as at the time, Billboard did not count anything viral. Romeo Santos was one of several guest singers on the album. Wisin & Yandel wrote and produced everything with several producers. Aullando was written and produced with Chris Jedi who has worked with several Reggaeton artists. Much of the album was produced by the team known as Los Legendarios. This album was only released as a digital download. After they toured, they announced in 2022 that after a final album and tour, Wisin & Yandel would disband permanently. And that's what they did. They said the split was amicable. They just wanted to work on different projects. We'll see how long that lasts. Here's the video for aullando by Wisin & Yandel featuring Romeo Santos.