AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Crooked Still

Artist:Crooked Still
Song:Ain't No Grave
Album:Shaken By A Low Sound





Crooked Still is classified as a bluegrass group though they're more of a folk music group that uses bluegrass elements. You may have heard their recording of Ain't No Grave on the HBO series True Blood. Crooked Still are from Boston. Lead singer Aiofe O'Donovan was a student at the New England Conservatory of Music in 2001. She was in the folk group The Wayfaring Strangers and so was bassist Corey DeMario. They met cellist Rushad Eggleston and and banjo player Gregory Liszt and formed Crooked Still. Eggleston was studying at Berklee. They started playing local clubs. The CD Hop High was released in 2004 after adding violinist Brittany Haas. For the 2006 CD Shaken By A Low Sound, they signed with Signature Sounds to get better distribution. They perform mostly traditional music. Ain't No Grave appeared on the HBO series True Blood. Bluegrass traditionalists might not appreciate the use of the cello. But I think it works well within the context of the group. Eggleston left and was replaced by Tristan Claridge in 2008. Eggleston moved back to California and formed Tornado Rider. Crooked Still recorded three more albums and then went on hiatus after a 2011 tour. That hiatus became more permanent after Aiofe O'Donovan signed with Yep Roc. She has released three albums. Last year she toured with Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz. Brittany Haas is a member of the Dave Rawlings Machine. So though it doesn't look like Crooked Still will reform, their music should be of interest to folk and bluegrass fans. Here's Crooked Still performing Ain't No Grave at the Greenhoe Theater in Landmark College in Putney, VT Apr. 4, 2009.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Glynis Johns

Artist:Glynis Johns
Song:Sister Suffragette
Album:Mary Poppins: Special Edition





Actress Glynis Johns is not a musical performer. But her two best known performances happen to be in musicals. She won a Tony For her performance in the 1973 Broadway musical A Little Night Music. And she appeared in the 1964 film Mary Poppins. She was born Oct. 5, 1923 in Pretoria, South Africa but she grew up in Wales. Her father was actor Mervyn Johns and her mother was concert pianist Alys Steele. Glynis first appeared on stage in 1935 and her film debut was in 1938. She moved to the US in the 50s and she got a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for the 1960 film The Sundowners. That got Walt Disney's attention at a time when he was working on turning the Mary Poppins books into a film. Meanwhile Glynis appeared in the ABC TV series The Roaring 20s and the CBS series Glynis. When Disney was casting Mary Poppins, there was concern that Julie Andrews would be unable to star due to pregnancy. So he brought in Glynis as a backup. But she didn't know that. She thought she was playing Mary Poppins. The way Disney and songwriters The Sherman Brothers got around that is they told her that Sister Suffragette was written for her. It was Glynis' big song in the movie. The soundtrack is available in a Special Edition with a second CD of bonus tracks. Glynis other big musical role was in the 1973 Broadway production of A Little Night Music for which she was nominated for a Tony award. Glynis continued to work in films and on stage. Among other things, she played Shelley Long's mother in Cheers. She seems to be retired. Her last film was in 1999. here's Glynis Johns performing Sister Suffragette in the 1964 film Mary Poppins.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Rick Wakeman

Artist:Rick Wakeman
Song:Catherine Howard
Album:After The Ball: The Collection





I guess Rick Wakeman is best known as the keyboard player for Yes. But he has been in plenty of other bands and he has also released many solo albums. The Six Wives If Henry VIII was his first solo album and it was recorded while Wakeman was touring with Yes in 1973. He was born May 18, 1949 in Perivale, London, England. His father played piano in the army. As Wakeman took piano lessons as a child, it became clear he had the talent to be a concert pianist. As a teen he played in local bands. In 1968 he began studies at the Royal College of Music with the intention of becoming a concert pianist. What he found was everyone there was as good as him or better. Hanging around a local music store got him his first job as a session musician. And by 1969, he left school to become a session musician. His best known early job was playing mellotron in the David Bowie classic Space Oddity. He played on a bunch of sessions but then he decided to be part of a band so he could be part of the creative process. So he joined The Strawbs and continued to work sessions. Though he wasn't credited, that was Wakeman on piano on Cat Stevens' Morning Has Broken. Wakeman was getting restless with The Strawbs. He heard that Yes needed a replacement for Tony Kaye. Wakeman was a big part of the landmark progressive rock album Fragile. While touring with Yes, Wakeman signed with A&M Records as a solo artist. The idea was to record music he couldn't do with Yes. His first album was The Six Wives of Henry VII. It's an all instrumental album with Wakeman's interpretation of those wives. Musicians from Yes and The Strawbs played on the album. It was very successful and today it is still considered to be a landmark of progressive rock. The album is available as a budget CD. But this budget comp is a great intro to Wakeman's music. Wakeman left Yes in 1974 though he returned several times over the years. He has recorded with other bands and continues to record solo. This year he toured with former Yes members Jon Anderson and Trevor Rabin as Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman. Here's Rick Wakeman performing Catherine Howard on The Old Grey Whistle Test Jan. 16, 1973.

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Charlotte vs Sasha Banks

Here's the match video of Charlotte vs Sasha Banks from Hell In A Cell. This was the first time women would be in a HIAC match. This show was promoted as a triple main event. HHH wanted the women's match to close the show. Of course Vince McMahon resisted this but eventually agreed to it. So this was the first time ever that women headlined a PPV. Of course there are still double standards. For example, most fans look at a high flyer like Sin Cara and think nothing of his flying stunts. But when Sasha performs similar stunts, these same fans think she will kill herself. It's nonsense. Of course the WWE is aware of this fan perception. And Sasha sure likes to take bumps. So that's how this match started with Sasha going through the announce table. They put her on a stretcher to take her away when she predictably rises from the dead, so to speak. And then the match really gets going. And it's pretty good for the most part. You can watch the match for yourself. They both performed great. Unfortunately, the ending was screwed up. They tried some things with tables that didn't work and then went straight to Charlotte's finisher for the win. It was very flat. So what happened? It turns out the ending was changed on the fly. Sasha was supposed to win and the ref was told that Charlotte would win instead. Why did they do this? You may recall Michael Cole mentioning that Charlotte has never lost a PPV match. The WWE loves pointless winning streaks. UGH! BTW, Sasha was fine afterwards. She didn't kill herself. She's really good at taking bumps. Enjoy the video!
Sasha Banks vs Charlotte - Hell In A Cell Title... by divasfanwwe

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Puff Daddy & The Family

Artist:Puff Daddy & The Family f/Faith Evans and 112
Song:I'll Be Missing You
Album:No Way Out




Sean Combs is a record producer who has occasionally recorded as a rapper. The 1997 chart topper I'll Be Missing you was his biggest hit. He was born Nov. 4, 1969 on Harlem, NY. and he grew up in Mount Vernon. His father was a drug dealer who was murdered when Combs was a child. Combs' childhood nickname was Puff because that's what he would so when he got angry. In 1990 he became an intern at Uptown Records and he produced Mary J. Blige's early records. He started his own label Bad Boy Entertainment with Arista Records in 1993. His most successful artist was rapper The Notorious B.I.G. He had success with other artists like Faith Evans, Carl Thomas, 112 and Total. Then Combs starts thinking about recording as Puff Daddy. After the single Can't Nobody Hold Me Down tops the Billboard Hot 100, Combs recorded the album No Way Out. It was before the album's release that the Notorious B.I.G. was murdered. So Combs decided to turn No Way Out into a tribute. That's when I'll Be Missing You was recorded. It's obviously based on The Police hit Every Breath You Take and Sting got all the songwriting royalties. The song features Faith Evans who was married to B.I.G. and the vocal group 112. Faith's ad libbed bridge of the spiritual I'll Fly Away cost Combs money as the publisher sued him for royalties. Combs may have thought the song was public domain. The single was one of 1997's biggest hits and the album No Way Out was certified 7XPlatinum. Combs has had a few other hit singles. But he doesn't record enough under his own name for Sony to release a comp. No Way out is available on CD. Of course Combs does all kinds of things including acting. He has been working on an album titled No Way Out 2. He says that after that is released, he will quit the music business and concentrate on acting. We'll see what he actually does as he can be flaky. Here's the video for I'll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy & The Family featuring Faith Evans and 112.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Maroon 5

Artist:Maroon 5 f/Wiz Khalifa
Song:Payphone
Album:Singles





Maroon 5 is one of today's most successful pop groups. They have scored 11 top ten hits including Payphone in 2012. The band has become more popular since Adam Levine's participation in the TV talent show The Voice. They were in high school in Los Angeles when they formed as Kara's Flowers in 1994. The band was Adam Levine on lead vocals and guitar, Jesse Carmichael on guitar, Mickey Madden on bass and Ryan Dusick on drums. Kara's Flowers recorded an album for Reprise in 1997 but it went nowhere and the band split up. They reformed in 2000. MCA signed them to a demo deal but decided not to pick them up. But the new label Octone Records liked the demo. Octone was a joint venture of A&M and Interscope. Octone exec Ben Berkman thought Levine could be a star. But he needed to concentrate on singing. Guitarist James Valentine was brought in to free Levine up. Octone also changed the band name to Maroon 5. The album Songs About Jane was released in 2002. It was slow at first but things picked up with the hits This Love and She Will Be Loved and the album was certified 5XPlatinum. They toured constantly and this led to physical issues for Dusick. He left and was replaced by Matt Flynn. For their 2007 album It Won't Be Soon Before Long, Makes Me Wonder was their first number one hit. They were doing OK but Levine thought that Maroon 5 had maybe one album left. But that all changed when Levine joined The Voice which gave him more visibility and led to the monster hits Moves Like Jagger, Payphone and One More Night. Producer Benny Blanco brought in rapper Wiz Khalifa as a change of pace. Payphone reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. But all three of those songs made the 2012 album Overexposed Maroon 5's most successful album to date. Maroon 5 has been recording a new CD which should be out shortly. You can get all their hits on this comp. Here's the video for Payphone by Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Frankie Avalon

Artist:Frankie Avalon
Song:Venus
Album:25 All-Time Greatest Hits





Sometimes in the music business it helps to be in the right place at the right time. One fateful day turned Frankie Avalon from journeyman trumpeter to teen idol. Venus was his biggest hit. He was born Francis Avallone Sept. 18, 1939 in Philadelphia. He was a child prodigy trumpeter. He won talent contests and he appeared on The Jackie Gleason Show. He even released a couple of singles on RCA. But that didn't make him a star and he returned to Philadelphia to play in various bands. So one day he's playing in one of those bands when Chancellor Records owner Bob Marcucci walks in and says he's looking for a star. He looked at one kid he didn't like. But when Avalon belted out a couple of songs, Marcucci snapped him up. DeDe Dinah was Avalon's first top ten hit in 1957. Then he scored another hit with Ginger Bread. But Venus was the song that launched Avalon to the top of the charts and set him up for a long career. Venus was written by Ed Marshall and the record was produced and arranged by Lee DeAngelis. Both guys were Marcucci employees. Avalon had a few more hits but by the mid-60s he transitioned to starring in those Beach Party movies with Annette Funicello. This Varese comp has all of Avalon's hits. In the 70s, Avalon did a lot of guest shots on TV. And he recorded occasionally including a disco version of Venus. Avalon still tours and he also sells a line of health products on the Home Shopping Network. Last year he published a cookbook. And this all came from one fateful day. Here's Frankie Avalon performing Venus on the Dick Clark Saturday Night Beech Nut Show Feb. 14, 1959.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Go-Go's

Artist:The Go-Go's
Song:We Got The Beat
Album:Beauty and the Beat





The all girl rock group The Go-Go's scored their biggest hit with We Got The Beat in 1981. They were formed in 1978 in Los Angeles as The Misfits. Guitarist Jane Weidlin was already a big part of the LA punk music scene. Lead singer Belinda Carlisle was a member of The Germs. The other two members were Margot Olavarria on bass and Elissa Bello on drums. Elissa was soon replaced by Gina Schock. And Charlotte Caffey was added on keyboards. Charlotte and Jane wrote most of the band's songs. The Go-Go's big break came when they opened a British tour for the ska revival band Madness and Stiff Records released We Got The Beat as a single. Olavarria was replaced by Kathy Valentine. Olavarria was unhappy with the band's move to a more pop sound. The Go-Go's signed with I.R.S. Records in 1981. Their 1981 debut album Beauty and the Beat was produced by punk music veteran Richard Gottehrer. We Got The Beat was the second single. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album Beauty and the Beat was certified 2XPlatinum. The Go-Go's released three albums. Other hits included Vacation and Head over Heels. We Got The Beat was their biggest hit and signature song. There is no comp in print right now. But Beauty and the Beat is available as a budget CD. There is also a Deluxe Edition with a second live CD. The Go-Go's began to fall apart after Jane Weidlin left in 1984 to go solo. After a brief attempt to tour, The Go-Go's split up in 1985. Of course Belinda Carlisle had a significant solo career. Caffey continued to work with her. Gina Schock released a solo album in 1988. Kathy Valentine went in a blues direction and eventually moved to Austin, TX. The Go-Go's reunited several times. It became more permanent in 1999. They just finished what was called their farewell tour. But you know how the music business is. Never say never. here's the video for We Got The Beat by The Go-Go's.

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Asuka vs Thea Trinidad

Here's the match video of Asuka vs Thea Trinidad from last night's episode of NXT. I am posting all of Asuka's matches for those who don't have the WWE Network. Thea was known as Rosita in TNA. Her former tag team partner Sarah Stock is a trainer at NXT. The match is nothing special except for Asuka's transition from an ankle lock to a German suplex to an armbar for the finish. I don't know of anyone else who can do that kind of transition. It confuses the opponent and the only thing Thea can do is tap out. It was all a preamble to the announcement that Mickie James will be Asuka's opponent at NXT Takeover Toronto. Asuka was very excited. My guess is this is a one shot appearance for Mickie. With a son at home and her singing career, I doubt she would want to work a full time schedule. A lot of fans don't know about this but in 2011, Mickie was booked to work for SMASH in Japan probably to work a program with SMASH's top heel Kana. But Mickie pulled out and Serena Deeb replaced her. This may explain Asuka's excitement. In other news, it has come to my attention that the WWE has made contract offers to STARDOM's Io Shirai and Kairi Hojo after their contracts run out in January. Apparently Io has already given her notice to STARDOM owner Rossy Ogawa. Kairi's status is more complicated because it's my understanding that her STARDOM contract is with her modelling agency. So I'm not sure how that would work. And she has suffered two concussions this year. Maybe she won't pass the physical. I expect to hear more about this in the new year. Enjoy the video!
Thea Trinidad vs. Asuka by therackattackvideos

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Sparkle

Artist:Sparkle f/R. Kelly
Song:Be Careful
Album:Sparkle





Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards topped the R&B charts with Be Careful. She was an R. Kelly protege. She was born May 13, 1975 in Chicago. She grew up singing in church and in her family gospel group. Stephanie first met R. Kelly in 1989 and then she sang backup vocals for Aaliyah. In 1998, Kelly started Rockland Records with Interscope. Stephanie was the first artist signed to the label. He decided to call her Sparkle. Kelly wrote and produced her 1998 album Sparkle. And he also appears on the single Be Careful. It topped the R&B Singles chart and it was a top 40 pop hit. The album was certified Platinum. It is available as a budget CD. For her second album, Sparkle wanted to work with her producer boyfriend Steve "Stone" Huff. Kelly said no and Sparkle asked for her release. She signed with Motown and Huff produced her 2000 CD Told You So. It didn't sell and that was Sparkle's final album. Sparkle testified at Kelly's 2008 child pornography trial as the girl in the video was her niece. The jury found Kelly not guilty. Sparkle still does occasional backup vocals. She was in Toni Braxton's Las Vegas show Toni Braxton Revealed. She's probably a good subject for a Where Is She Now feature. Here's the video for Be Careful by Sparkle featuring R. Kelly.

Viviane Pereira in for Poliana Botelho on Dec. 10 UFC show

Valerie Letourneau, Viviane Pereira

TSN and RDS reported this afternoon that Poliana Botelho is injured and has pulled out of her fight with Valerie Letorneau on UFC 206 Dec. 10 at Air Canada Center in Toronto. Her replacement is another Brazilian Viviane Pereira. At 5 feet tall, Viviane is a lot shorter than Poliana. I'm not sure if that matters or not. Her record is 11-0 and she won over Poliana in 2014. She's fought quite a bit for XFC in Brazil. She's 23 years old. I watched one of her fights and she swarmed her opponent with strikes to get a TKO. Valerie is a lot more experienced so I don't see Viviane doing anything like that. But you never know.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Terry Jacks

Artist:Terry Jacks
Song:Seasons In the Sun
Album:Seasons In The Sun





Seasons In The Sun was a worldwide chart topper in 1974. It was the only big hit for Canadian singer songwriter Terry Jacks. He was born Mar. 29, 1944 in Winnipeg. He moved to Vancouver in the 60s. He had some success in the mid-60s with his group The Chessman. Then he met Susan Pesklevits. They married and formed The Poppy Family. After several hits including the worldwide smash hit Which Way You Goin', Billy?, they divorced and The Poppy Family ended. Seasons In The Sun was written by legendary French songwriter Jacques Brel. Poet Rod McKuen wrote the English lyrics as he did for many of Brel's songs. It had been recorded in the 60s by The Kingston Trio and The Fortunes. Jacks recorded Seasons in the Sun in his Vancouver studio. He pitched it to The Beach Boys. He was good friends with Al Jardine. They recorded it with Jacks producing. They decided not to release it. So Jacks decided to release it on his own label Goldfish Records. Bell Records picked it up for the US. Like most of Brel's songs, Seasons in the sun is supposed to be sardonic. But Jacks decided to give the song a more sentimental tone. He was criticized for that. But it didn't matter as Seasons in the Sun was a worldwide chart topper. Otherwise Jacks had modest success at the time. He recorded two albums and the produced Chilliwack, Nana Mouskouri and later on The Beach Boys. Seasons In The Sun was released on CD with bonus tracks in 2008. After recording a couple of albums in the 80s, Jacks left the music business to concentrate on producing films about the environment. This mostly has to do with pulp mill pollution in BC. He has won awards for his work. He continues to do that today. Here's Terry Jacks performing Seasons in the Sun on Beat Club in Germany 1974. This video is not on Youtube.
Terry Jacks | Seasons In The Sun by phatt

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Mickey & Sylvia

Artist:Mickey & Sylvia
Song:Love Is Strange
Album:Love Is Strange





The 1956 classic Love Is Strange was the biggest hit for Mickey & Sylvia. Guitarist Mickey Baker was a very busy session musician in the early 50s. He worked with Atlantic Records artists like Ray Charles, Ruth Brown and Big Joe Turner. He also taught guitar to make extra money. Inspired by Les Paul & Mary Ford, he decided to form a duo with one of his students Sylvia Vanderpool. Mickey & Sylvia signed with RCA distributed Groove Records. The story goes that Mickey & Sylvia were opening for Bo Diddley in Washington, DC. Baker heard a guitar riff by Diddley's guitarist Jody Williams and Baker wrote Love Is Strange around that guitar riff. So the songwriting credit is Mickey & Sylvia and Ethel Smith who was Diddley's wife. Diddley recorded Love is Strange first but it was never released. Love Is Strange was the duo's third single. It topped the R&B charts and reached #11 on the pop charts in 1956. It's an all time classic record. They also charted with There Ought To Be A Law. But they only really had the one big hit. This CD covers Mickey & Sylvia's entire late 50s run. They split up in 1959 though they would reunite a couple of times. Sylvia married Joe Robinson and she became a hop hop pioneer as owner of Sugar Hill Records. As a recording artist, Baker went in a jazz direction. Then he moved to France in the early 60s and remained there until his 2012 death. He produced all kinds of French artists including Sylvie Vartan and Ronnie Bird. So Baker was a big part of the 60s French sound that is highly acclaimed today. Here's Mickey & Sylvia performing Love Is Strange on The Steve Allen Show 1956.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Monica

Artist:Monica
Song:Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days)
Album:Miss Thang




R&B singer Monica Arnold was 15 years old when her debut single Don't Take it Personal was a top five pop hit. She became one of the best selling recording artists of the late 90s. She's still around but things ain't what they used to be. She was born Oct. 24, 1980 in College Park, GA. Her mom sang in church so of course Monica picked up that habit. She also entered a lot of talent contests. She sang with the gospel choir Charles Thompson and the Majestics. Monica was 11 when producer Dallas Austin saw her and signed her to his new label Rowdy Records. Austin was known for his success with TLC and Rowdy was distributed by Arista. He also asked Queen Latifah to be Monica's manager. Most of Monica's 1995 debut album Miss Thang was produced by Austin and the team of Tim & Bob. They took their time with it. Monica insisted on songs that were appropriate for teenagers. Don't Take It Personal was the debut single and it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Austin wrote and produced it. There are samples from LL Cool J's Back Seat of my Jeep and Public Enemy's Bring The Noise. Miss Thang was certified 3XPlatinum. But creative differences between Austin and Arista owner Clive Davis forced Davis to pull the plug on Rowdy. Monica moved to Arista. Austin still produced a lot of Monica's second CD This Boy Is Mine but Davis was running the show. Of course that album had Monica's biggest hit to date This Boy Is Mine, a duet with Brandy. That was a worldwide chart topper. Sony has released two Monica comps But neither one is any good. Miss Thang is available as a budget CD. Subsequent albums weren't as successful. Monica also dabbled in acting and reality TV. She still records for Sony. Her 2015 CD Code Red was on RCA. I just don't see her returning to her success of the 90s. She has had some success recording with gospel artists like James Fortune & FIYA. Monica is married to former NBA player Shannon Brown and they have three kids. Here's the video for Don't Take It Personal (Just One Of Dem Days) by Monica.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Avril Lavigne

Artist:Avril Lavigne
Song:Complicated
Album:Let Go





For a few years, Canadian singer songwriter Avril Lavigne was one of the biggest stars in music. Now she's on the comeback trail after health problems. Complicated was her first big hit in 2002 and it really paved the way for her success. She was born Sept. 26, 1984 in Belleville, ON and she grew up in Napanee. Her dad played bass in the local church choir. He saw that Avril had talent so he brought her to sing in church. She performed country music covers at local fairs. In 1999, Avril won a radio contest to appear on stage with Shania Twain in Ottawa. She then worked with local singer Stephen Medd. She was spotted by a local manager and that led to Avril going to New York to audition for Arista Records president LA Reid. He signed her immediately. Then they had to figure out what to do with her. She worked with several different producers and Arista wasn't happy with the results. They brought in Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards and Scott Spock AKA The Matrix. After a modest singing career, Lauren formed The Matrix with ex-husband and session musician Edwards and recording engineer Spock. They had worked with Cristina Aguilera and O-Town. But Avril was their first big project. They wrote and produced six of the songs on Let Go including Complicated. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified 6XPlatinum. Complicated had the skater punk edge that allowed Arista to sell Avril as the "anti-Britney", the opposite of processed pop music. Of course this was nonsense but music fans bought it at the time. Avril blamed the media for the false impression but Arista was behind it. For her 2004 album Under My Skin, Avril worked with singer songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk and husband Raine Maida from Our Lady Peace. They produced a mature harder sound. Don't Tell Me and Nobody's Home were hits but the album wasn't as successful as Let Go. By the time Avril recorded her 2007 album The Best Damn Thing, she was married to Sum 41 lead singer Deryck Whibley. So his influence was felt. The single Girlfriend was Avril's only number one hit and the album was successful. It took her three years to record her next album. And she also divorced Whibley. So by the time Goodbye Lullaby was released in 2011, fans forgot about Avril. And that's where she's at today. She married Nickelback leader Chad Kroeger and they are now divorcing. Avril suffers from Lyme's Disease but she is recovering. Last year she announced plans to record a Christmas album but there has been no release date set. Sony hasn't released an Avril Lavigne comp but Let Go is available as a budget CD. Here's the video for Complicated by Avril Lavigne.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Marcy Playground

Artist:Marcy Playground
Song:Sex and Candy
Album:Marcy Playground





Marcy Playground scored a top ten hit with Sex and Candy in 1997. Their debut CD was certified Platinum. But they never charted again. So Marcy Playground turned out to be a one hit wonder. The leader of Marcy Playground was lead singer, guitarist and songwriter John Wozniak. He grew up in Minneapolis and Marcy Playground is named after his grade school. Wozniak started out recording in  his bedroom studio with his girlfriend Sherry Fraser and her brother. The music was good enough that Wozniak decided he needed to move to New York to make it in the music business. So he moved to Long Island with his friend Jared Kotler. They recorded and played New York clubs. Capitol Records was interested in the demos and eventually signed Marcy Playground. But Wozniak found that he didn't get along with Kotler on the road. He brought in Dylan Keefe to play bass. Kotler played drums on Marcy Playground's debut album. But then he was replaced by Dan Rieser. I guess Wozniak didn't want Kotler on tour. But he continued to work with the band. Meanwhile Sex and Candy reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it was a worldwide hit. They released their second album Shapeshifter in 1999. By this time Kotler left Marcy Playground. The album didn't do well and there were no hit singles. So Capitol dropped them. Marcy Playground is available as a budget CD. Wozniak continued Marcy Playground. They toured as recently as 2012. But it looks like the band is defunct. And that means they are officially a one hit wonder. Here's the video for Sex and Candy by Marcy Playground.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Lee Wilkof and Michael Mulheren

Artist:Lee Wilkof and Michael Mulheren
Song:Brush Up Your Shakespeare
Album:Kiss Me, Kate: The New Broadway Cast Recording




Brush Up Your Shakespeare is a song from the musical Kiss Me, Kate that is used as comedy relief to set you up for the ending. Character actors not known for singing usually perform it. In the 1953 film, Brush Up Your Shakespeare is performed by Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore. In this 1999 Broadway revival, it's performed by Lee Wilkof and Michael Mulheren. This successful revival won several Tony Awards and Wilkof and Mulheren were among those who got nominations. I would describe them as very versatile character actors. Wilkof was born June 25, 1951 in Canton, OH. His first big role was as Seymour in the 1982 off-Broadway musical Little Shop Of Horrors. Since then he has appeared in all kinds of Broadway revivals like Sweet Charity, Kiss Me, Kate and most recently Breakfast At Tiffany's. He has done film and TV. His best known role was as DA Nixon in the TV series Ally McBeal. Mulheren is from Middletown, NJ. He started out off-Broadway in the 80s in The Fantasticks. He made his Broadway debut in On The Waterfront in 1995. He also appeared in  Kiss Me, Kate, The Boy From Oz, La Cage Aux Folles and Spiderman: Turn Out The Dark. Most of his TV work has been guest shots though he is a regular on the WGN America series Salem. Neither guys would normally seek the spotlight. But those are the kind of actors who perform Brush Up Your Shaekespeare. And they got Tony nominations. Now get back to work. Here's Lee Wilkof and Michael Mulheren performing Brush Up Your Shakespeare on the 2000 Tony Awards broadcast.

Alexis Davis vs Sara McMann added to Dec. 3 UFC show

Sara McMann, Alexis Davis

Yesterday Brett Okomoto of ESPN reported that Alexis Davis vs Sara McMann has been added to The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale Dec. 3 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas. This will air on Fox Sports 1 in the US and TSN in Canada. Alexis is coming off of a pregnancy layoff. The last time we saw her she won over Sarah Kaufman by armbar in Apr. 2015. Alexis is from Port Colborne, ON but she trains at Gracie in Lodi, CA which means she's a Diaz sister. Her record is 17-6. She is most effective when she takes the fight to the ground and uses her jiu jitsu to get a submission. She has problems when she deviates from that. As a 2004 Olympic Silver medallist, Sara was highly touted. But she has been disappointing as an MMA fighter. She just doesn't seem to have the proper mentality for MMA to the point where she saw a sports psychologist before her last fight against Jessica Eye in May. It didn't seem to help much as both of them did so little in the first round that ref Big John McCarthy warned them at the beginning of round two. Sara won the fight but she didn't look good. She will need to be more aggressive to beat Alexis. BTW, Jessica said afterwards she let her friendship with Sara affect her performance in that fight. Now Jessica has announced she is taking a year off of MMA. I hear she might try acting. We'll see how this goes. You never know what a fighter will be like post pregnancy.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-A Flock Of Seagulls

Artist:A Flock Of Seagulls
Song:I Ran (So Far Away)
Album:The Best Of A Flock Of Seagulls





I guess it could be said that the Synth Pop of A Flock Of Seagulls typifies the music of the early 80s. I Ran was their only big hit in the US but a couple of their other songs charted so they aren't a one hit wonder. Don't forget the goofy haircuts. A Flock Of Seagulls were from Liverpool, England. The group leader was lead singer and keyboard player Mike Score. He was a hairdresser which explains their haircuts. He says the name A Flock Of Seagulls comes from The Stranglers song Toiler of the Sea. Other members were Mike's brother Ali Score on drums and Frank Maudsley on bass. Guitarist Willie Woo was soon added and then replaced by Mark Reynolds. They practiced above Score's hair salon. They got a record deal with Cocteau Records owned by Be Bop Deluxe guitarist Bill Nelson and he sold their contract to Jive Records. After a couple of singles, they recorded the 1982 album A Flock Of Seagulls with producer Mike Howlett, bassist for the group Gong. The single I Ran (So Far Away) did OK in England. But it reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was an international hit. This was probably because MTV played it to death which was not unusual in those days. The album A Flock Of Seagulls was certified Gold. Follow up singles Space Age Love Songs and Wishing charted. But they faded after that. You can get their hits on this budget comp. A Flock Of Seagulls recorded four albums. After personnel changes, they decided to move to Philadelphia in 1985. But Maudsley got homesick and the Score brothers were bickering. A Flock Of Seagulls split up in 1986. Mike Score formed a new version of A Flock Of Seagulls in 1989. And they've been around ever since. They last recorded in 1995 but they still tour. Here's the video of I Ran (So Far Away) by A Flock Of Seagulls.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Idris Muhammad

Artist:Idris Muhammad
Song:Power Of Soul
Album:Power Of Soul





Drummer Idris Muhammad was known as The King Of Groove. For most of his career, he was a sideman. But in the 70s, he recorded a series of albums for CTI's Kudu label that are greatly admired by hip hop guys. He was born Leo Morris Nov. 13, 1939 in New Orleans. As a teen, he played with Art Neville and Fats Domino, Sam Cooke, Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield. Then he moved to New York and married The Crystals lead singer Dolores Brooks. They converted to Islam and Leo Brooks became Idris Muhammad. In the late 60s, Muhammad was in Leo Donaldson's band and he also played with George Benson and Pharoah Sanders. And he was the drummer for the Broadway musical Hair. Then he signed with Prestige Records and made his recording debut as a leader in 1970. And he recorded with Gene Ammons, Charles Earland, Melvin Sparks, Leon Spencer and Sonny Stitt. Then he moved to CTI Records and he recorded with Grover Washington Jr. and Hank Crawford. He also went on the road with Roberta Flack. The 1974 album Power Of Soul was Muhammad's first album on Kudu. Today his albums for Kudu are considered very influential on funk and Muhammad is frequently sampled by hip hop guys. Musicians on Power Of Soul are Grover Washington Jr. on sax, Randy Brecker on trumpet, Bob James on piano, Joe Beck on guitar, Gary King on bass and Ralph McDonald on percussion. This classic album is available as a budget CD. Muhammad left Kudu in 1978. After a couple of albums for Fantasy, Muhammad rarely recorded as a leader. He recorded with Pharoah Sanders and then he toured and recorded with pianist Ahmad Jamal for many years. Muhammad retired and moved to Florida. He died on July 29, 2014 at age 74. Here's a video for Power Of Soul by Idris Muhammad.