AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Spacehog

Artist:Spacehog

Song:In the Meantime

Album:Resident Alien

Spacehog had success with the 1995 debut album Resident Alien and the single In the Meantime. Other than that, they weren't very successful. The unusual thing about Spacehog is they are from Leeds, England but they met in New York. Drummer Jonny Cragg was working in a cafe killing rats when he met guitarist Antony Langdon. He brought in his brother Royston Langdon who sings, plays bass and writes most of the songs. Cragg brought in Richard Steel to play lead guitar. They signed with Sire Records and released the 1995 album Resident Alien. The single In the Meantime reached #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Mainstream Rock chart. The video went into heavy rotation on MTV. The album was certified Gold. Spacehog self produced and Royston Langdon wrote most of the songs including In the Meantime. When the 1998 album The Chinese Album didn't do as well, Sire dropped Spacehog. After releasing the 2001 album The Hogyssey on the smaller Artemis label, Spacehog split up. Royston Langdon married actress Liv Tyler in 2003. The had a son and split up in 2008. In 2006, the Langdon brothers brought in a third brother Christian Langdon to form Arckid. It looks like they recorded an album but it was never released. Spacehog reunited in 2008 and released an album on their own label in 2013. They seem to be inactive. Royston Langdon released a solo album in 2018 and a single last year. Here's the video for In the Meantime by Spacehog. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Emimem

Artist:Eminem

Song:The Real Slim Shady

Album:Curtain Call: The Hits

Marshall "Eminem" Mathers is probably the most successful rapper of all time. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America. I think he continued what The Beastie Boys started. The 2000 single The Real Slim Shady is not his biggest hit. But it was his first top ten pop hit. It set the stage for bigger things. He was born Oct. 17, 1972 in St. Joseph, MO. After his parents divorce, Mathers moved with his mother to a black neighborhood in Detroit. Though he was not a good student, Mathers wanted to be a comic book artist. He started rapping at age 14 as M&M which became Eminem. He dropped out of high school at age 17 and started performing locally. At the time, he knew that being a white rapper was going to be an uphill climb. Mathers was in the group Soul Intent in the early 90s. They released an EP in 1995. Mathers signed with producers Jeff and Mark Bass and released an album in 1996. Though it wasn't successful, Mathers continued to work with the Bass brothers. Then Mathers created the Slim Shady alter ego which allowed for a much angrier attitude. The Slim Shady EP got him featured in hip hop magazine The Source as "unsigned hype". Then he went to Los Angeles for the Rap Olympics. After placing second, an Interscope Records intern asked Mathers for a copy of The Slim Shady EP. He gave it to Interscope CEO Jimmy Iovine who played it for N.W.A. rapper and producer Andre "Dr. Dre" Young. Young signed Mathers immediately and began working with him. Mathers idolized Young but also found him great to work with. The 1999 album The Slim Shady LP was certified 5XPlatinum. The single My Name Is only reached #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 probably because radio stations didn't like the violent lyrics. Young and the Bass Brothers produced the album. So now they have a formula for success. The 2000 album The Marshall Mathers LP was certified 11XPlatinum. Young and The Bass Brothers produced the album. The single The Real Slim Shady reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was produced by Young and partner Melvin "Mel-Man" Bradford. They wrote it with Mathers, bassist Mike Elizondo and pianist Thomas Coster Jr. Both played on the album. I think radio stations liked the song's satirical tone. Mathers' next album The Eminem Show was also successful. And his first #1 hit was Lose Yourself from the soundtrack of 8 Mile, a film Mathers starred in. After that he started to fade. He considered retirement after the tour to support the 2004 album Encore. This comp Curtain Call was released in 2005. He did return in 2009 and released another album in 2010. But he just hasn't had the same success. His latest album Music to Be Murdered By was released in 2020. And he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year. Don't be surprised if he retires from performing to be a producer. That's what he was going to do in 2005. Here's the video for The Real Slim Shady by Eminem. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Keith Richards

Artist:Keith Richards

Song:Run Rudolph Run

Single:Run Rudolph Run

Of course Keith Richards is famous as guitarist for The Rolling Stones. He also co-writes many of the songs with lead singer Mick Jagger. But unlike Jagger, he has rarely recorded solo. His first solo recording was a 1978 cover of Chuck Berry's Run Rudolph Run. So it's perfect for the holidays. Richards was born Dec. 18, 1943 in Dartford, England. His grandfather was a musician who gave him his first guitar. He attended school with Jagger until both families moved. But a chance encounter revealed a mutual interest in R&B and of course that led to the formation of The Rolling Stones. And as famous as they became, Richards still loves the music that he listened to growing up. And that's how Run Rudolph Run came about. Richards said in an interview that he thought it was the coolest Christmas song. He decided to record it. The Rolling Stones were in Los Angeles on tour. Richards asked Ronnie Wood to help him and it was released as a single. Run Rudolph Run has never been released on an album but it is available as a digital download. It's perfect for the holidays. Other than this, he has recorded three albums. In the mid-80s, Jagger and Richards weren't getting along and it was possible the Stones might split up. Both recorded solo albums. Richards released the 1988 album Talk Is Cheap. He also released albums in 1992 and 2015. His main collaborator on al three albums was session drummer Steve Jordan. In the 80s he was the drummer for the Saturday Night Live band. Of course the Stones never split up so I think Richards is happy in the band and doesn't want to go solo. Here's a video for Run Rudolph Run by Keith Richards.

 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Nigel Olsson

Artist:Nigel Olsson

Song:Dancin' Shoes

Album:Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day Vol. 22

Nigel Olsson is best known as Elton John's drummer. When he's not doing that, he's a session musician. He also recorded a few albums in the 70s and scored a top 20 hit with the 1978 single Dancin' Shoes. A couple of his other songs charted so Olsson is technically not a one hit wonder. But Dancin' Shoes was his only memorable song. He was born Feb. 10, 1949 in Wallasey, Cheshire, England. He started out playing guitar but took up drums when a drummer failed to show for a gig. His first appearance on record was with the band Plastic Penny. They recorded two albums. Olsson was in the group Argosy led by future Supertramp leader Roger Hodgson. Elton John was also in that band along with future studio musician Caleb Quaye. They recorded one single. After a brief stint with Uriah Heep, Olsson joined The Spencer Davis Group just before they split up. That's where he met Elton John bassist Dee Murray. Both guys worked on John's demos. So when John got his record deal and became a big star, Olsson was his drummer until 1975. He started working sessions with Neil Sedaka, Linda Ronstadt and Rod Stewart. He also recorded a 1975 album for Elton John's label Rocket Records. While continuing studio work, Olsson signed with Bang Records with Columbia distribution. He recorded three albums for Bang. Dancin' Shoes is from the 1978 album Nigel. This was Olsson's second Bang album. Dancin' Shoes reached #18 on the Billboard Hot 100. Olsson wrote and produced half the songs on the album. But he also worked with another Bang artist Paul Davis (I Go Crazy). Davis produced Dancin' Shoes. The guitar solo is by legendary session guitarist Jay Graydon.  The song was written by Faith Band lead singer Carl Storie. Their original version reached #54 on the Billboard Hot 100. So why did Olsson's cover chart higher? It was released first. Mercury Records released Faith Band's Dancin' Shoes as a single only after Olsson's recording started getting radio play. I listened to both. They are very similar. Dancin' Shoes is available on this Rhino various artists budget comp. Bang was sold to Columbia in 1979. When Olsson's 1980 album Changing Tides didn't sell, he returned to Elton John's band for a few years. Olsson released an album in 2001. But mostly he continues to tour and record with Elton John and play sessions. Here's a video for Dancin' Shoes by Nigel Olsson. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

Artist:Smokey Robinson & the Miracles f/The Temptations

Song:The Christmas Song

Album:20th Century Masters: The Christmas Collection: The Best of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

So I always like to feature a couple of Christmas songs at this time of year. But the music plays at random and the Christmas songs were either songs I had already done or I couldn't do for various reasons. I only looked at a couple seriously and decided against both. So when this recording of The Christmas Song by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and The Temptations came up, I thought it would be fun. The only problem is that Robinson recorded several Christmas albums and The Christmas Song is on all of them. On this comp it is labelled as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and The Temptations. But the song times don't match up so I don't think Motown knows when this version was recorded. It doesn't seem to be from a Smokey Robinson solo album or a Temptations album. Christmas with the Miracles was released in 1963. Robinson's wife Claudette was still in the group and she sings lead on one song. With the exception of the Robinson original Christmas Everyday, they recorded all standards including The Christmas Song. The album is 23 minutes long. The Miracles second Christmas album The Season for Miracles was released in 1970 though I understand it was recorded in 1968. Robinson wrote one song for the album and he records two Stevie Wonder songs. This album likely has the version of The Christmas Song with The Temptations. But a slightly longer version appears on the 1999 comp Our Very Best Christmas and that matches up with the version on this 2003 comp. BTW, these two comps are identical except for the cover. Regardless, I think Motown fans will dig the album. It's funny that suddenly Universal figured out The Temptations are on this recording. Here's a video for The Christmas Song by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles featuring The Temptations. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Teenage Fanclub

Artist:Teenage Fanclub

Song:What You Do To Me

Album:Bandwagonesque

The Scottish band Teenage Fanclub will remind you of other 60s influenced bands like Radiohead. They just never had the same success. Teenage Fanclub is from the Bellshill district of Glasgow, Scotland. Lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Norman Blake was in several 80s bands including BMX Bandits and The Boy Hairdressers. He formed Teenage Fanclub in 1989 with The Boy Hairdressers guitarist Raymond McGinley and drummer Francis Macdonald along with BMX Bandits bassist and singer songwriter Gerard Love. They released the album A Catholic Education in 1990. They were mostly songs intended for The Boy Hairdressers. Macdonald left to return to school after the album was finished. The band was unhappy with him anyway and new drummer Brendan O'Hare re-recorded the drum parts. After recording an EP, Teenage Fanclub signed with Creation Records and released the album The King. This was recorded in one day and intended as a limited release. But it got positive reviews and that was enough to get Teenage Fanclub a US record deal with Geffen Records. They remained on Creation in England. They had modest international success with the 1991 album Bandwagonesque. Most of their success was in England and the Alternative Rock chart. The album is heavily influenced by The Beatles and especially Alex Chilton's Big Star. Bandwagonesque was named Spin Magazine's Album of the year over a lot of better known albums. And in the video for What You Do To Me, Teenage Fanclub is supposed to look like The Beatles. The song is a repeated refrain of the title. I think there are only two lines in the song. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie released a Bandwagonesque tribute album in 2017. He said it was his favorite album of all time. This album is available on CD. Teenage Fanclub released three albums on Geffen and switched to Columbia for the 1997 album Songs from Northern Britain. After Creation closed, they released one more album on Columbia. Then Teenage Fanclub released several albums on their own label before signing with Merge Records for the 2021 album Endless Arcade. They toured to support the album. Gerard Love left Teenage Fanclub in 2018. Blake and McGinley still lead the band. Here's the video for What You Do To Me by Teenage Fanclub. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Upsetters

Artist:The Upsetters

Song:Jaywalking

Album:The Bobby Robinson Story: Selected Sides 1951-1960

Most music fans are familiar with the Jamaican band The Upsetters and their long association with Lee "Scratch" Perry. But there was also an US band called The Upsetters that mainly backed up Little Richard but also recorded a few singles. The leader of The Upsetters was sax player Grady Gaines. He was a session musician for Peacock Records before forming The Upsetters to back up Little Richard in 1955. After Richard retired in 1957, they toured with Dee Clark, Little Willie John, James Brown, Jackie Wilson and Joe Tex. Other members were drummer Chuck Connor, Clifford Burks on sax and Olsie Richard Robinson on bass. They recorded several singles for different labels. Jaywalking was released in 1960 on Fury Records, one of several labels owned by New York record store owner Bobby Robinson. This four CD box set covers his 50s history. After The Upsetters split up in the mid-60s, Gaines toured with Curtis Mayfield and Millie Jackson. He reformed a version of The Upsetters in the 80s and continued to perform until he died on Jan. 29, 2021 at age 85. Here's a video of Jaywalking by The Upsetters.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-for KING & COUNTRY

Artist:for KING & COUNTRY

Song:God Only Knows

Album:Burn the Ships: Deluxe Edition: Remixes & Collaborations

The CCM duo for KING & COUNTRY have not only had success in that market but have crossed over a bit to pop. The 2019 single God Only Knows is their biggest hit to date. for KING & COUNTRY is brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone. They were born in Sydney, Australia. Their family moved to Nashville in 1991 when their concert promoter father got a new job. Their older sister is popular CCM singer Rebecca St. James. They started performing as a duo first as Joel & Luke and then Austoville. When they signed with Word's Fervent label, they discussed changing the group name to All the King's Men while recording their debut album. Their producer suggested the British battle cry for KING & COUNTRY so they went with that. They had immediate success when their 2011 single Busted Hearts reached #3 on Billboard's CCM chart and they have been going strong ever since. They are now on Curb Records as Mike Curb bought Word in 2016. God Only Knows is from the 2018 album Burn the Ships. It is for KING & COUNTRY's third album. God Only Knows reached #2 on the CCM chart and appeared on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified Gold. The album was produced mostly by veteran CCM producer Tedd Tjornhom. The Smallbones wrote all the songs with co-writers. God Only knows was written with veteran CCM songwriters Josh Kerr and Jordan Reynolds. Kerr is the brother of CCM singer Hannah Kerr. For this album, they wanted the songs to be more personal. God Only Knows is about when Joel's wife was addicted to prescription drugs and the suicidal thoughts that come with that. The girl is actress Masey McLain who has appeared in faith based films like the 2016 film I'm Not Ashamed. Burn the Ships is available in a deluxe edition including a remix of God Only Knows featuring Dolly Parton. The success continues with the 2022 album What Are We Waiting For? which topped the CCM charts. for KING & COUNTRY toured earlier this year. And they will tour again in the spring of 2023. Here's the video for God Only Knows by for KING & COUNTRY.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Shaun Groves

Artist:Shaun Groves

Song:Welcome Home

Album:Invitation to Eavesdrop

Singer songwriter Shaun Groves had success in the CCM market with his 2001 debut album Invitation to Eavesdrop. He seemed to be heading to stardom when he decided it wasn't for him and he moved to El Salvador to be a missionary. He still tours and records for his own label. He was born Dec. 27, 1973 in Tyler, TX. He became a Christian at 12 years old and then got into music. This led to a music scholarship at Baylor University. Groves' plan was to marry his high school sweetheart, become a minister and write songs on the side. But an internship at a Nashville publishing company led to a full time job and then record company interest in his demos. Groves signed in 2000 with Michael W. Smith's Rocketown label with Word distribution. His 2001 debut album Invitation to Eavesdrop was a big success on the CCM charts. Welcome Home was one of five singles that charted. It was nominated for a Song of the Year Dove award. Epic Records saw crossover appeal in Groves and released the album to the secular market. Groves thought he would record one album and return to his original plan. But the success changed that. After three albums, Groves decided he was getting too comfortable. He quit the music business to do missionary work in El Salvador for Compassion International. Since returning home, he still tours and records on his own label occasionally. But mostly he does a lot of fundraising for Compassion International. This just shows that success in the music business is not for everyone especially in CCM where commerce and faith don't always agree. Here's Shaun Groves performing Welcome Home at Cup O Joy in Green Bay, WI Aug. 1, 2013.

 

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Jamie Hayter vs Hikaru Shida

Here's the match video of Jamie Hayter defending her AEW Women's Championship against Hikaru Shida from last night's episode of Dynamite. This was the main event of the show so it was given a lot of time. Women's matches usually get screwed on Dynamite. The match was hard hitting as expected. Both of them like to work that style. So I recommend you watch it. Complaints include the commentary which was really bad. There were way too many false finishes though the crowd seemed to be into it. AEW crowds tend to be dopey. Britt Baker's outside interference was predictable but unnecessary. And it hurt the finish. And the post match nonsense was predictable too. The fans are already cheering Jamie so I don't know why Britt hasn't turned on her already. It's inevitable. Hikaru should be on her way to Japan already. She will do some wrestling and a Makai show. She goes home every couple of months. Enjoy the video! 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Group 1 Crew

Artist:Group 1 Crew

Song:Movin'

Album:Ordinary Dreamers

The Christian hip hop group Group 1 Crew had success on the Christian charts and were poised to cross over to pop when they split up in 2017. They are from Orlando, FL led by Jose "Manwell" Reyes. He writes all the songs and raps. The other members are singer Blanca Reyes (no relation) and rapper Pablo Villatoro. After having success with the single Can't Go On, Group 1 Crew signed with the CCM label Fervent Records. After singles from the 2007 album Group 1 Crew reached the top 20 in the CCM charts, Group 1 Crew signed a secular record deal with Curb and Warner Bros. Movin' is from the 2009 album Ordinary Dreamers. It was produced by Christopher Stevens who has worked with TobyMac. Movin' reached #4 on the CCM chart. I can certainly see why Warners was interested in Group 1 Crew. I heard them for the first time today. And the only way I knew they were CCM is Fervent Records is a CCM label. Most folks aren't going to know that. Obviously there was crossover potential. Then things started to fall apart. Villatoro left after the 2010 album Outta Space Love. Blanca married drummer John Callahan, got pregnant and left after the 2012 album Fearless. After one more album, Reyes ended Group 1 Crew. He seems to be involved with a group called Panda$. They have released a few singles on Virgin Records. It seems to be a duo and they use guest rappers. They haven't released an album yet so there is very little info. I found this on Spotify. Here's the video for Movin' by Group 1 Crew. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Gene Bertoncini

Artist:Gene Bertoncini

Song:Quiet Night of Quiet Stars

Album:Jobim: Someone to Light Up My Life

Jazz guitarist Gene Bertoncini plays jazz on a classical style guitar. It's an acoustic guitar with nylon strings. Most jazz musicians use steel strings but Bertoncini says he's looking for a softer sound. He was born Apr, 6, 1937 in New York City. His father played guitar and harmonica. Bertoncini began to play guitar at age seven and appeared on a kids TV show at age 16. The classical influence is his guitar teacher Chuck Wayne told him to listen to classical guitar legend Julian Bream. That's the sound that Bertoncini is looking for. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering at Notre Dame. But instead he moved to Chicago to get into the jazz scene. He said in a recent interview that his parents were OK with that. He moved back to New York and was in Buddy Rich's band. He also worked as a sideman with Clark Terry, Monty Alexander, Herbie Mann and Duke Pearson. He was in Skitch Henderson's Tonight Show band when the show was in New York. And then when the show moved to Los Angeles, Bertoncini moved too and was in the Tonight Show band for most of the 70s. He also got into session work. That's him playing guitar on the B.J. Thomas hit Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head. Bertoncini made his recording debut as a leader in 1969. He has recorded mostly for small labels. Quiet Night of Quiet Stars is from the 1995 album Someone to Light Up My Life. The album is a tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim with Bertoncini on guitar and John Arruci and Jon Bates on drums and percussion. The album is on Chiaroscuro which is the largest label Bertoncini has ever recorded for. Though he last recorded as a leader in 2009, Bertoncini still turns up as a sideman. And he still plays New York clubs with his longtime bassist Mike Moore. Plus he does guitar tutorials on YouTube. So I don't think Gene Bertoncini is retiring at age 85. Here's Gene Bertoncini with guitarists Roberto Lubambo and Ken Hatfield performing Quiet Night of Quiet Stars July 16, 2012. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-La Bouche

Artist:La Bouche

Song:Sweet Dreams

Album:Sweet Dreams

The 1995 single Sweet Dreams was one of two hit singles for the duo La Bouche. It's a song I'm sure you have heard but know nothing about the group. That's why I'm here. I know everything. The man behind La Bouche was German producer Frank Farian. He was behind Boney M and notoriously Milli Vanilli. His co-producers were DJ Ulli Brenner and music producer Amir Saraf. The singer was Melanie Thornton and the rapper was Lane McCray. Melanie was from Charleston, SC. She moved to Germany in 1991 where her brother-in-law was in the US Army. McCray was in the US Air Force which he left for music. He met Melanie and they formed the cover band Groovin' Affairs and played German clubs. Melanie also did session work with Brenner and Saraf. When they brought her to Farian, he wanted to pair her with a rapper and she recommended McCray. Farian released the 1995 album Sweet Dreams on his own label with BMG Germany distribution. When Be My Lover topped the German chart, RCA picked up the album for US distribution. Sweet Dreams reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Be My Lover reached #6. The album was certified Platinum. It was a big success especially in Europe. Melanie co-wrote both songs and McCray co-wrote Be My Lover. The album is available as a budget CD. When the 1998 album S.O.S. wasn't successful, Melanie left La Bouche to go solo. She released an album in 2001. But then sadly she died in a Nov. 24, 2001 plane crash in Switzerland. McCray has released several solo albums and continued to perform as La Bouche with different singers. Here's the video for Sweet Dreams by La Bouche.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-forever JONES

Artist:forever JONES

Song:He Wants It All

Album:Get Ready

Contemporary gospel fans are going to want to check out this 2010 album by the family group forever JONES. They were led by Dewitt Jones and his wife Kim. They are from Washington state. Dewitt wrote the gospel standard Use Me for Ron Kenoly. He claims God gave him a "specific call" to start the group with his five kids. They are D'Jeniele Hooten on guitar and vocals, Dominique Jones on vocals and piano, Mya Jones on vocals, Dewitt Jones IV on bass and Judah Jones on drums. I guess the idea was to showcase the five kids. Their manager introduced them to producer Tommy Sims and he got them a record deal with EMI Gospel. He produced the 2010 album Get Ready. The parents wrote most of the songs. But the lead single He Wants It All was written and sung by Dominique. I thought at the time that she had star potential. They were nominated for two Grammys. The 2012 album Musical Revival was produced by Keith Thomas. When it didn't do as well, a third album was recorded. But I don't think it was ever released. And Dominique decided to go solo. She now calls herself DOE. Her big break came when she appeared on the 2018 Jonathan McReynolds single Cycles. This got her a deal with RCA Inspiration and her debut album Clarity was released Feb. 2022. She got four Dove nomination. I told you she's a star. Here's the video for He Wants It All by forever JONES.

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Cory Mckenna vs Cheyanne Vlismas

Here's the match video of Cory McKenna vs Cheyanne Vlismas from last night's UFC show in Las Vegas. This fight was at Strawweight. The UFC looks at both fighters as prospects. But I don't think this fight did anything for either. Cory is from Wales. She trains at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento. Cheyanne trains at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. She's mostly a striker. Cory is probably a more complete fighter. But in round one they were just pawing at each other not doing much of anything. I would score a round like that 9-9 for doing nothing. But judges don't do that and they scored it 10-9 for Cheyanne for marginally better striking. Urijah Faber and Danny Castillo must have seen the same thing I saw because they told Cory to get her act together. She was much better in the other two rounds. So Cory won the fight 29-28. But I think the UFC was looking for one of these fighters to step up and neither of them did that. Very disappointing. Enjoy the video! 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Filter

Artist:Filter

Song:Take a Picture

Album:The Very Best Things 1995-2008

After he left Nine Inch Nails as a touring guitarist in 1993, Richard Patrick formed Filter. They had success in the late 90s. Take a Picture was their biggest hit. Patrick formed Filter with guitarist Brian Liesegang. Liesegang lived with Trent Reznor when he lived in New Orleans. He appeared on the Broken EP but he left Nine Inch Nails when Reznor moved to Los Angeles. Patrick wasn't satisfied with being a touring member of NIN so he formed Filter. They signed with Reprise Records and released the 1995 album Short Bus. The album was just Patrick and Liesegang in the studio. Patrick wrote all the songs. So like Nine Inch Nails, Filter wasn't really a band and they hired musicians for touring. The single Hey Man Nice Shot would have been a bigger hit but it was thought to be about Kurt Cobain's suicide. Many radio stations refused to play it. The song was not about Cobain but the controversy made the album go Platinum. After touring, they recorded (Can't You) Trip Like I Do with Crystal Method for the Spawn soundtrack. This convinced Liesegang that Filter should go in an electronic music direction. Patrick didn't like that and since he wrote the songs, he had control. Liesegang left and that's when Filter became a solo act in the studio. He did bring the touring musicians for the 1999 album Title of Record. But it doesn't look like they contributed much. The single Take a Picture reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the album was certified Platinum. That was the high point for Filter. After the 2002 album The Amalgamut, all the band members left and Filter left Reprise. This comp is available as a digital download. Patrick went on hiatus, appeared in a couple of one off supergroups and returned to Filter in 2007. Since then Filter has recorded for Pulse, Rocket Science Ventures and Wind-Up. There is a new album coming in 2023. Here's the video for Take a Picture by Filter.

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai vs Liv Morgan and Tegan Nox

Here's the match video of Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai defending the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships vs Liv Morgan and Tegan Nox. This is Tegan's first match since her WWE return. She and Dakota have a long history together. I would describe both as decent wrestlers but probably overrated by HHH. The match was OK but not great. The major complaint that I heard was that the champs should be more dominant against a thrown together team. I agree with that but considering the finish, I think the WWE was trying to establish Liv and Tegan as a threat for the titles. And of course that finish had Bayley try to interfere and then a hooded figure superkicked Tegan and that led to Iyo's moonsault for the finish. The hooded figure was apprehended by security and was revealed to be Xia Li. We don't know yet what the plans are for Xia but I'm sure we'll find out soon. Enjoy the video! 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Travis Wammack

Artist:Travis Wammack

Song:Scratchy

Album:That Scratchy Guitar from Memphis

Guitarist Travis Wammack was 17 years old when Scratchy charted in 1964. Though he never had that big hit single to make him a big star, Wammack has had along career as a session musician and musical director. And he still tours. He was born in 1946 in Walnut, MS. His family moved to the Memphis suburb of Binghampton when he was three and he started playing guitar at age eight. He was neighbors with Johnny and Dorsey Burnette and they told Memphis DJ Eddie Bond about Wammack. He performed as Little Travis in Bond's "jamboree" events. And he recorded a single in 1957. Wammack recorded Scratchy in 1962 for Ara Records. It was on the B side of Fire Fly. He wrote and recorded it with session drummer Gene Chrisman and it was produced by Sun Records guitarist and Sonic Studios owner Roland James. Atlantic picked Scratchy up for distribution in 1964 and it did chart. Wammack recorded for Atlantic until 1967 but he never had another chart hit. The most notable thing about Scratchy is the use of distortion. Supposedly Wammack was the first guitarist to use a fuzz box. This CD from Bear Family has all of Wammack's 60s recordings. In 1969, Wammack moved to Muscle Shoals to work for Rick Hall's FAME Studios. When some of the musicians left FAME to start Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Wammack stayed at FAME. He played on plenty of hit records including Patches by Clarence Carter and One Bad Apple by The Osmonds. Wammack continued to record occasionally. And he was Little Richard's musical director from 1984-95. He continues to play gigs with his band The Snakeman Band. Wammack is a big rattlesnake fancier. Here's a video for Scratchy by Travis Wammack.

 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Frank Sinatra

Artist:Frank Sinatra

Song:Night and Day

Album:The Fabulous Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey

The Cole Porter standard Night and Day was Frank Sinatra's first solo recording in 1942. He was already very successful singing with Tommy Dorsey's band. But Sinatra felt it was time to go. His timing wasn't the best but I'll get to that in a minute. In 1939, Sinatra left the Harry James band for Tommy Dorsey. His recordings with Dorsey made Sinatra the very first teen idol. But by the end of 1941, it became clear to Sinatra that he had outgrown the Dorsey band and he needed to go solo. After bugging Dorsey relentlessly, he was allowed to record Night and Day and three other songs for RCA's Bluebird label in January 1942 with Dorsey's arranger Axel Stordahl. The record reached #16 on the Hit Parade. Now Sinatra really wanted to go solo. It wasn't easy but Sinatra was able to get out of his contract with Dorsey in August 1942. He also took Stordahl with him. Of course later that year, Sinatra made his famed appearance at New York's Paramount Theater where Sinatramania was born. Then he signed with Columbia Records. Unfortunately, this was during the musician's strike. Columbia's solution was to release the 1939 recording of All or Nothing at All that Sinatra made with Harry James as a Sinatra recording. It was his first big solo hit. Though Sinatra would record Night and Day many times over the years, the 1942 version is a discography orphan. This the only time Sinatra recorded for RCA. Over the years RCA has released comps with Sinatra's Dorsey recordings with Night and Day added. That's what this budget comp is. Sony released a career spanning Sinatra box set in 2007 but it's too expensive. Here's Frank Sinatra performing Night and Day in the 1943 film Reveille with Beverley. 

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Arrested Development

Artist:Arrested Development

Song:Tennessee

Album:The Best of Arrested Development

The rap group Arrested Development made a big splash with their 1992 debut album 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of... Tennessee was the first of three top ten hit singles. And the album was certified 4XPlatinum. When the 1984 album Zingalamaduni did poorly, they split up. Arrested Development leader Todd "Speech" Thomas is from Milwaukee. He was in the group Attack from 1984-86. After they split up, he was a club DJ. While attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1988, he met turntablist Timothy "Headliner" Barnwell and they formed Arrested Development. Thomas wanted them to be a positive alternative to gangsta rap. Thomas was lead rapper and he wrote all the songs. The much older Baba Oje was the group's spiritual advisor. There were other singers, dancers and musicians in Arrested Development but they were disposable. Thomas ran the show. The 1992 album 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life of... is how long it took Arrested Development to get a record deal with Chrysalis Records. Tennessee was the first single and it reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Thomas wrote the song after he saw his brother at his grandmother's funeral and then his brother died soon after from a severe asthma attack. Today it is still considered to be one of the best rap songs of all time. The singer is Dionne Ferris who would go on to have solo success a couple of years later. She sang on four songs on the album. The album was certified 4XPlatinum. They scored two other top ten hits, toured and released an MTV Unplugged album. When the 1994 album Zingalamaduni did poorly, Arrested Development officially disbanded in 1996. In recent years, Thomas has admitted that he and Barnwell weren't getting along and that caused the split. Thomas went on to release a solo album in 1996. Thomas reformed Arrested Development minus Barnwell in 2000. He records on his own label and continues to tour. Here's the video for Tennessee by Arrested Development.