The Big Topic in WMMA

In this special edition, we look at how the UFC's decision to make the interim heavyweight title match the main event of UFC 265 and how that affects WMMA. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Phil Keaggy

Artist:Phil Keaggy

Song:Just A Moment Away

Album:History Makers

Phil Keaggy is a pioneer of CCM as a singer, songwriter and producer. He is also an excellent guitarist so he gets plenty of session work. He was born Mar. 23, 1951 in Youngstown, OH. He formed Glass Harp in 1968 with drummer John Sferra and bassist Steve Markulin. After winning a Battle of the Bands, Glass Harp signed with producer Lewis Merenstein at Decca Records. They recorded three albums. Keaggy was experimenting with LSD. He thought it would make him a better guitarist but it didn't. After his mother died in a 1970 car accident, Keaggy's sister convinced him to become a born again Christian. Keaggy left Glass Harp in 1972 and released his solo debut album in 1973. In those days he recorded for New Song. Keaggy moved his family to California and signed with Sparrow Records for the 1980 album Ph'lip Side. It was called that because one side was acoustic and the other was electric. Just A Moment Away was the most popular song from this album and it's become one of Keaggy's signature songs. Keaggy writes and produces his own music. His co-writer on Just A Moment Away was Doug Pinnock of King's X. Pinnock was in Keaggy's band at the time. Ph'lip Side has never been released on CD. But Just A Moment Away is on this comp which is a good intro to Keaggy's music. He has also produced other artists and done a lot of session guitar work. He released his latest album in 2016. As I said, Keaggy was a big part of establishing CCM. Here's Phil Keaggy performing Just A Moment Away 1980.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Wes Montgomery

Artist:Wes Montgomery

Song:Far Wes

Album:Three Classic albums Plus

Of course Wes Montgomery is one of the all time greats of the jazz guitar. He had great success after he signed with Riverside Records in 1959. And later on with Verve before his premature death. But before he signed with Riverside, he recorded with his brothers for Pacific Jazz. The 1959 album Montgomeryland was the second of two albums by The Montgomery Brothers for Pacific Jazz. Wes is on guitar of course. Buddy Montgomery is on piano. Monk Montgomery is on bass. Other musicians are Pony Poindexter on alto sax and Louis Hayes on drums on side A and Harold Land on tenor sax and Tony Bazley on drums on side B. It was after this album that Cannonball Adderley convinced Riverside Records owner Orrin Keepnews to sign Montgomery. Blue Note rereleased Montgomeryland in 1960. You can get it on this Avid comp of Montgomeryland with three other classic Montgomery albums. The 1960 album The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery is with Tommy Flanagan and Percy and Albert Heath. The 1960 album Movin' Along is with James Clay, Victor Feldman, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes. And the 1959 album The Wes Montgomery Trio is with Melvin Rhyne and Paul Parker. Those were Montgomery's first three Riverside albums. So these are essential recordings especially for jazz guitar fans. Here's a video for Far Wes by Wes Montgomery with The Montgomery Brothers.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Alien Ant Farm

Artist:Alien Ant Farm 

Song:Smooth Criminal

Album:ANThology

Alien Ant Farm (AAF) scored a top 30 pop hit with this cover of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal. The band's success was curtailed by record company problems. AAF's music is a mix of alternative rock and metal sometimes called Alt Metal or Nu Metal. AAF were formed in 1996 in Riverside, CA by lead singer Dryden Mitchell, guitarist Terry Corso, bassist Tye Zamora and drummer Mike Cosgrove. Corso says the band name came from a daydream he had about an alien invasion. They recorded a couple of demos and released an album independently. It got enough buzz in Los Angeles that they became friends with the band Papa Roach and that led to a record deal with Dreamworks SKG. The 2001 album ANThology was their major label debut. The album was produced by Papa Roach producer Jay Baumgardner. The band wrote all the songs with the exception of Smooth Criminal. It looks like Mitchell writes the lyrics but the band splits the royalties evenly. AAF performed riffs from Smooth Criminal just to warm up before shows. When audience members asked them to perform the whole song, it went over so well they included it on the album. Smooth Criminal was the lead single. It topped the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart and reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified Platinum. In May 2002, AAF was in a bus accident while on tour in Spain. The driver was killed and Mitchell was hospitalized with a broken back. By the time AAF released the 2003 album TruANT, Dreamworks closed the record label. Universal bought the Dreamworks contracts and AAF was moved to Geffen Records. Corso left and was replaced by Joe Hill. They recorded an album but Geffen refused to release it. Bootleg copies turned up at AAF live shows. Universal did eventually release it on Universal Music Enterprises, their catalog label. They were trying to bury AAF. The 2006 album Up in the Attic was also released on that label. Zamora left the band to go to school. AAF split up in 2007 but reformed when Corso and Zamora returned. AAF has been touring since then Zamora left in 2014 and was replaced by Tim Peugh. They released an album in 2016 and a new album is coming as a single was recently released. So like I said, the record company problems sunk Alien Ant Farm. They could have been much bigger. Here's the video for Smooth Criminal by Alien Ant Farm. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Kurt Carr

Artist:Kurt Carr f/Special Friends

Song:Bless Somebody Else (Dorothy's Song)

Album:Bless Somebody Else

Kurt Carr is one of today's top gospel artists. He usually records with his group The Kurt Carr Singers. He also produces and writes for other artists. For this 2019 single Bless Somebody Else, he brought in an all star cast of singers. I guess this sort of thing is a crowd pleaser and the single and the album have done well on the gospel charts. So now you want to know who is on this single. They are all identified in the video so I could defer to that. But I will tell you who is on it anyway. First of all is The Kurt Carr Singers. The first soloist is Miles Caton who appears to be a member of The Kurt Carr Singers. He is followed by Wess Morgan who is a white guy who sings black gospel. Then it picks up with Fred Hammond, Faith Evans and Yolanda Adams. Smokie Norful and Erica Campbell of Mary Mary do a little duet followed by Kurt Carr Singers member Roosevelt Griffin. John P. Kee followed by Carr's niece Jekalyn Carr and Bishop Paul Morton. Keke Wyatt is similar to Faith Evans. She had success in R&B but she has worked with Carr in the past. It finishes with a word from Bishop T.D. Jakes. I think gospel fans will dig it and Carr's albums are worth getting anyway. The album is available as a budget CD. Here's the video for Bless Somebody Else (Dorothy's Song) by Kurt Carr and Special Friends.

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Julia Avila vs Julija Stoliarenko

Here's the match video of Julia Avila vs Julija Stoliarenko from yesterday's UFC show in Las Vegas. This fight is at Bantamweight. Julia looked very good until she lost her last fight to Sijara Eubanks. She really messed up. Then she was kicked out of her gym. Obviously she could have gone anywhere. But she's married with two kids and she wanted to remain in Oklahoma City. So she opened a gym with her husband called Outsiders Combat Club. Her husband is not an MMA guy so I think what she will do is go to different coaches. For this camp, she trained with James Krause in Kansas City. Julija is from Lithuania. She was in TUF 28 but didn't make it. The UFC signed her after she beat Lisa Versoza in Invicta. I don't think she is a UFC caliber fighter. Julia was winning the fight when she won with a third round rear naked choke. It looks like she is back on track and I expect her to fight a ranked opponent next. Enjoy the video!

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Gentle People

Artist:The Gentle People 

Song:Journey

Album:Soundtracks for Living

The Gentle People is a mix of ambient electronic instrumental music with lounge music vocals. The music is supposed to be dreamlike. There is a market for this sort of thing in clubs. The guy behind this is British DJ and producer Richard "Aphex Twin" James. He releases plenty of music on his label Rephlex Records. It's mostly instrumental music that I would describe as a contemporary version of 101 Strings. For The Gentle People, he found four singers in Los Angeles who were interested in adding vocals to his electronic music. They were Douglas "Dougee Dimensional" Stoddard, Marcelle "Laurie Lemans" Laurence, Sarah "Honeymink" Simonon and Jeremy "Valentine Carnelian" Leahy. I presume the pseudonyms are to make them seem exotic. Journey was the first single in 1995. It features a guest singer identified as Lady Pleiades. The single was ten minutes long with a vocal and instrumental. The single did well enough that The Gentle People released the 1996 album Soundtracks for Living. The version of Journey on the album is about four minutes long. The Gentle People recorded one more album in 1999. And then they went their separate ways though they have occasionally reunited to record singles. Here's the video for Journey by The Gentle People. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Lil Nas X

Artist:Lil Nas X f/Billy Ray Cyrus

Album:Old Town Road (Remix)

EP:7

Rapper Montero "Lil Nas X" Hill started out as a Twitter personality. Then he scored a big crossover hit with Old Town Road in 2019. His debut album will be out next month. He was born Apr. 9, 1999 in Lithia Springs, GA. He gained notoriety while he was in high school on Twitter. He was even suspended from Twitter due to spamming. By late 2018, Hill figured out that rapping was the pathway to fame. So he took the name Lil Nas X (a tribute to Nas), bought a beat on for $30 on producer YoungKio's online store and sampled the Nine Inch Nails song 34 Ghosts IV. After successfully spamming Old Town Road on TikTok, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 and crossed over to country. Hill signed with Columbia and then the remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus was produced. Both versions are on this EP. Billboard excluded Old Town Road from the Country Singles chart as "not country enough". Otherwise the song would have topped that chart too. After noted music writer Robert Christgau accused Billboard of racism, they tried to defend the decision. It not only made them look bad but it made Hill an even bigger star. After winning two Grammys and a bunch of other awards, Hill started working on his debut album Montero. The first single Montero (Call Me by Your Name) topped the Billboard Hot 100. The album will be released next month. Here's the video for Old Town Road (Remix) by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. Chris Rock also appears in this video.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Dispatch

Artist:Dispatch

Song:Only the Wild Ones

Album:America, Location 12

Dispatch is an indie folk rock band. They had modest success mostly in the Northeast when they started out in the 90s. They disbanded and the 2017 album America, Location 12 was their official return. They are having a little more success now mostly on college radio. The members of Dispatch were all students at Middlebury College in Vermont. Chad Urmston is lead singer and I think he writes all the songs. The songs are credited to the band and they split the royalties. The other members are Pete Francis Heimbold on bass and Brad Corrigan on drums. At first they were called One Fell Swoop but there was already a band with that name so it was changed to Dispatch. After graduating, Dispatch moved to Boston. They gained a following mostly through touring. They were popular on the file sharing site Napster. They released four albums on their own Bomber label with Universal distribution. After touring to support the 2000 album What Are We Living For?, they weren't getting along. So they disbanded after a 2002 appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. This was after a final 2004 show and a 2005 documentary. After the split, Urmston started a new band State Radio. Heimbold and Corrigan went solo. Dispatch did some charity shows for Zimbabwe. Then they reunited to tour in 2011. They released an EP and a live album. The album America, Location 12 was released in 2017. Only the Wild Ones got a lot of college radio play. Urmston wrote all the songs and the album was recorded in California with John Dragonetti of The Submarines and Mike Sawitzke of The Eels producing. Dispatch has released two more albums. Heimbold left Dispatch in 2018. It looks like they are hiring musicians to replace him for now. Fans of folk rock will want to check out Dispatch. Here's the video for Only the Wild Ones by Dispatch.

The Big Topic in WMMA

 UFC review and PFL, Bellator and UFC preview.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Sheila E. Pete Escovedo Tito Puente

Artist:Sheila E. Pete Escovedo Tito Puente

Song:Suenos de los Toreros

Album:Jazzvisions: Latina Familia

Of course percussionist Pete Escovedo is the father of Sheila E. But he and his brothers have been a big part of the San Francisco/Oakland music scene since the 60s. Who do you think taught Sheila all that stuff? They have recorded together since she was a teen. This is a 1989 live album that also features legendary percussionist Tito Puente. Pete Escovedo was born July 13, 1935 in Pittsburgh, CA. His father was a big band singer. Pete played sax and then the vibraphone. One night pianist Ed Kelly needed a percussionist. Pete tried it out and it just went from there. Pete and percussionist brother Coke Escovedo became in demand for gigs in Northern California. They formed The Escovedo Brothers with younger brother Phil Escovedo on bass. When Carlos Santana was starting Santana in 1967, he wanted Pete and Coke in the band. After touring with him for three years, they formed Azteca. They recorded two albums for Columbia. The music was great but the band was so big they couldn't make any money. Since then Pete has led his own bands and of course he gave us Sheila. They recorded together after Billy Cobham saw her in a club and insisted on producing the two Pete and Sheila Escovedo albums. Sheila was 15 years old. The 1989 album Latina Familia was recorded live at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles for Verve Records. Along with Pete, Sheila and Puente, musicians include Wayne Wallace on trombone, Rebecca Mauleon on piano, Pete's other son Juan Escovedo on percussion along with John Santos. Trombonist and former Azteca member Al Bent wrote Suenos de los Toreros In recent years, Pete Escovedo has recorded for Concord Picante. Suenos de los Toreros also appears on the 2016 album Live from Stern Grove. That is not available on CD but Latina Familia is available on CD. Here's Sheila E. Pete Escovedo Tito Puente featuring Wayne Wallace and Rebecca Mauleon performing Suenos de los Toreros. I guess it's the same concert that is on this CD. The entire concert can be streamed on YouTube.

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Io Shirai and Zoey Stark vs Aliyah and Jessi Kamea

Here's the match video of Io Shirai and Zoey Stark vs Aliyah and Jessi Kamea from last night's episode of NXT. This was Io's first in ring appearance since she lost the title. For those wondering, the WWE sent her on a Hawaiian holiday. This match is about setting up a future tag team title match. Io and Zoey win the match as one might expect. The current NXT Women's Tag Team Champions Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell came out to watch the match. Afterwards, Raquel Gonzalez and Dakota Kai come out followed by Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart. It turns into a big brawl. Assistant GM Samoa Joe calls security. Once things calm down, it is announced that there will be a three way #1 contender match and the winner gets a title shot. We'll see how that goes. Enjoy the video! 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Rockin' Sidney

Artist:Rockin' Sidney

Song:Jalapeno Lena

Album:My Toot Toot

Zydeco musician Sidney "Rockin' Sidney" Simien made history when in 1985 he became the first zydeco musician to score a hit single with My Toot Toot. Jalapeno Lena was on the B side. He rode that success train until his 1998 death. He was born Apr. 9, 1938 in Lebeau, LA. As a teen he played in his uncle's band. Then he started Sidney Simien and His All Stars. He released a few singles on small labels in the 60s. These were all R&B. When zydeco made a big comeback in the late 70s, it was suggested to Simien that he should pick up the accordion and try zydeco. The big zydeco acts at the time were Clifton Chenier and Buckwheat Zydeco. Simien's act was to parody Chenier complete with crown, cape and gold tooth. Simien started writing his own songs and he released a couple of albums on Floyd Soileau's Maison de Soul label. It was Soileau who suggested Simien try zydeco in the first place. My Toot Toot first appeared on Simien's 1983 album My Zydeco Shoes Got the Zydeco Blues. Simien recorded the album at his home studio in Lake Charles and he played all the instruments. My Toot Toot became a regional hit early in 1985. Legendary producer Huey P. Meaux licensed it to Epic Records and the single reached #19 on the Country Singles chart. Jalapeno Lena was the B side. Epic never released a Rockin' Sidney album. They released an EP. Afterwards, Simien returned to Maison de Soul and this album was released in 1987. It's available as a budget CD. The success of My Toot Toot allowed Simien to tour the world, start his own record label and buy a radio station. Simien died of throat cancer on Feb. 5, 1998 at age 59. Here's Rockin' Sidney performing Jalapeno Lena and My Toot Toot on the 80s TV show Church Street Station.

Frank Pozen's Big Bad Podcast

Charlie Jewett is my special guest from Japan. We talk about Sunday's Deep Jewels show. 

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Naomi and Asuka vs Doudrop and Eva Marie

Here's the match video of Naomi and Asuka vs Doudrop and Eva Marie. The winners of this match will qualify for Money In The Bank. This is more angle than match. Eva Marie is doing the same angle she did on her first WWE run. Except this time she is having a surrogate wrestle for her. It is Piper Niven from NXT UK. She has been renamed Doudrop. Of course it's a terrible name. It's supposed to be terrible. Check out Piper's reaction in the pre-match interview. Then when it looks like Doudrop is going to finish Naomi, Eva Marie tags herself in to get the easy pin. When Naomi kicks out, Eva Marie tries to tag Doudrop. She takes a hike and Naomi rolls up Eva Marie for the win. Well, that didn't last very long. But I would not be surprised to see another surrogate brought in to feud with Doudrop. Can you say Mercedes Martinez? Check out the video. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Ella Fitzgerald

Artist:Ella Fitzgerald w/Joe Pass

Song:Cry Me a River

Video:Duets in Hannover 1975

In the 1970s, Verve Records founder Norman Granz started a new label Pablo Records. And not surprisingly he signed some of his favorites from the old days like legendary singer Ella Fitzgerald. Obviously by this time Ella is older so she's not the same. But she was still recording and touring regularly with her own band led by Tommy Flanagan or with Duke Ellington. Granz decided to pair her with guitarist Joe Pass. I don't know if Ella was familiar with him but they recorded four albums and they toured to support the albums. So she must have enjoyed working with him. Ella first recorded Cry Me a River on the 1961 album Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie with Lou Levy on piano and Herb Ellis on guitar. Arthur Hamilton wrote Cry Me a River for the 1955 film Pete Kelly's Blues. Ella was in that film and was supposed to sing that song. But film producer, director and star Jack Webb dropped it from the film and gave it to his ex-wife Julie London. She scored a top ten pop hit and Cry Me a River became a jazz standard. Hamilton knew Julie from high school and she gave the song to Webb. Ella never recorded Cry Me a River with Pass. But they did perform it live on this 1975 concert in Hannover, Germany. Ella even mentioned that she had the lyrics handy in case she forgot the words. This concert was released on DVD in 2008. It's out of print but you can stream the entire concert for free on YouTube. Here's Ella Fitzgerald with Joe Pass performing Cry Me a River in Hannover, Germany 1975.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Jameson Rodgers

Artist:Jameson Rodgers

Song:Some Girls

EP:In It for the Money

Jameson Rodgers had success as a songwriter before his 2018 debut single Some Girls was a top five country hit. He has yet to release his debut album. He was born Oct. 17, 1987 in Batesville, AR. Rodgers loved baseball and music. While playing baseball at University of Southern Mississippi, Rodgers started writing songs and after graduating, he moved to Nashville in 2010. He signed a publishing deal with Chris Farren's Combustion Music in 2014. After writing hits for Florida Georgia Line, Chris Lane, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, Rodgers released an EP in 2016. Farren started a new label Black River Entertainment and signed with Columbia. Columbia re-released the EP and the single Some Girls reached #5 on the Country Singles chart. Some Girls was written by Hardy, Jake Mitchell and C.J. Solar. These guys write with Rodgers. Rodgers listened to a demo and he decided to record it. Farren produced with veteran producer Mickey Jack Cones. Rodgers won the 2020 MusicRow Discovery Artist of the Year. He toured with Luke Combs. Rodgers released the 2020 single Cold Beer Calling My Name with Combs. In April Columbia added that song to the previous EP including Some Girls and released it as In It for the Money. This seven song EP is available as a digital download. It looks like Columbia is buying time waiting for Farren to finish Rodgers' debut album. Or they could be waiting until Rodgers goes on tour. We'll see. Here's the video for Some Girls by Jameson Rodgers. 

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Casey O'Neill vs Lara Procopio

Here's the match video of Casey O'Neill vs Lara Procopio from last night's UFC show in Las Vegas. This fight is at Flyweight. Casey is 23 years old. She was born in Scotland but she lives in Gold Coast, Australia. Her father is her coach. He wasn't in her corner for her UFC debut due to COVID-19. So Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture filled in. Dad was back for this fight. Lara trains at Nova Uniao in Brazil. She is 1-1 in the UFC. Casey said in interviews that she wanted to showcase her striking in this fight. But Lara won round one not decisively. But I thought she won the round. Casey changed her strategy in round two. She took Lara down and got her in a crucifix hold. Then she took her back and put her to sleep with a rear naked choke. Lara looked tired in round two. So maybe like other Nova Uniao fighters, she lacks endurance. I thought Casey's strategy change was great. It's a good sign as many fighters won't do that. I'd like to see her against a ranked fighter next time. Enjoy the video! 

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Virna Jandiroba vs Kanako Murata

Here's the match video of Virna Jandiroba vs Kanako Murata from last night's UFC show in Las Vegas. This fight is at Strawweight. Both fighters are former Invicta Strawweight Champions. Virna is from Bahia, Brazil. She trains at Academia fight House. She is 2-2 in the UFC. She says she was embarrassed by her latest loss to Mackenzie Dern. Kanako is from Tokyo, Japan. She was a wrestler at Nihon University and recruited to RIZIN by Olympic wrestling champ Saori Yoshida. She looked pretty good in her first UFC fight. But her striking needs to improve. Kanako trains with Kieran Fitzgibbon at Combat Sports Academy in Dublin, CA when she is in the US. Virna decided that the way to beat Kanako was standing. So she was pretty aggressive with strikes until she pulled guard. That probably wasn't such a good idea but Virna hooked an armbar from the bottom. Though Kanako escaped, it became clear in round two that her left arm was damaged. The cageside doctor looked at her arm after round two and stopped the fight. It was a big win for Virna as she hadn't looked very good in previous fights. Maybe this will get her back on the rails. I haven't heard anything about Kanako's arm. Enjoy the video! 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Real McCoy

Artist:Real McCoy

Song:Another Night

Album:Platinum & Gold Collection

Another Night was a worldwide hit before it became a top five hit in the US in 1995. Real McCoy is a standard Euro Dance act that normally would have success in clubs. But once Arista Records owner Clive Davis was interested in Another Night, he has the power to make anything a hit. Real McCoy are from Berlin, Germany led by rapper Olaf "O-Jay" Jeglitza along with producers Jurgen "J. Wind" Wind and Frank "Quickmix" Hassas. They were called M.C. Sar & The Real McCoy. They released an album and some of their singles charted in Germany and other European countries. They were on Wind's Freshline label. But he signed a deal with BMG Germany's Hansa label and that got them distribution throughout Europe. The singer was Patricia "Patsy" Petersen. Another Night was written by Wind and Hassas and Jeglitza wrote his raps. The singer on Another Night Karin Kasar was recommended by producers Frank and Christian Berman. She sang on their records. Karin was brought in to sing on the album but Patricia was still the singer for Real McCoy. She is in the video but it's Karin's voice. Another Night was a minor hit in Europe. But then it was picked up by BMG Canada and it topped the Canadian dance chart. That's when Davis heard Another Night and thought they could be another Ace of Base. He signed them and shortened the band name to Real McCoy. Another Night reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and so did the single Run Away. The album was certified 2XPlatinum. Of course they weren't as successful after that. Real McCoy continued to chart in Germany For one thing, Jeglitza had trouble keeping singers. Real McCoy went on hiatus in 2000. This comp covers the Arista years. Real McCoy last recorded an album in 1997. But Jeglitza continues to release occasional singles and tour Europe with Another Night singer Karin Kasar. Here's the video for Another Night by Real McCoy.