Weekday Wayback
While going through the anxiety-building process of registration this coming week, remember to listen to Glenn Frey when he says to “take it easy”. The lyrics to this song are a great theme song to sing yourself while registering for classes to make life seem a little less rough. Give it a listen and have a great week - see you next time!
Remember, “Lighten up while you still can.”
Oingo Boingo is taking us waaaaayback this Wednesday to get ready for Halloween! Nothing’s more spooky than lead singer, Danny Elfman’s, terrifying grin and wacky lyrics; and the usual ridiculously funny antics of Rodney Dangerfield mix this video together for a delightfully indulgent and confusing experience. I’d believe this video is an accurate representation of a true Dead Man’s Party….. rowdy. Take a look and see you next week!!
This Weekday Wayback features none other than the legendary, and influential band out of Los Angles California, The Doors. “Roadhouse Blues”, released in 1970, is an electric and dynamic video that highlights the chaos and celebrity surrounding Jim Morrison. It also shows off The Doors interest and inspiration in blues music! Give it a listen and come back next week for more!
-Lizzie Brown
This week’s Weekday Wayback is Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”. It was written and composed by Prince, and released by a band The Family. Which was created to release more of Prince’s written music. On their first and only album The Family, “Nothing Compares 2 U” got very little recognition but blew up when It was later made famous by Irish recording artist Sinéad O'Connor, whose arrangement was released as the second single from her second studio album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. The video seen above is previously unseen rehearsal footage of Prince & The Revolution from the summer of 1984. This video demonstrates Prince’s power in performance and boils over feelings of deep nostalgia and remorse for one of the greatest artists of all time. Enjoy!
This weeks Weekday Wayback is Songs From the Film by the recently passed power pop legend Tommy Keene. On his second record and major label debut, Tommy Keene shows the true sound of a genre that many are unfamiliar with. The jangly guitars, the use of chorus, and the upbeat attitude of the songs make the album, which is full of great tracks. The songwriter from DC passed away at the age of 59 on November 22nd, 2017. Enjoy this great record from a mostly unknown artist! Also, as a side note, the only copy of this album I had was on vinyl, so if there are crackles in the songs, that's because I recorded it from the record.
Gavin Susalski
This weeks Thanksgiving Weekday Wayback is Forever Changes by Love. This extremely influential album is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week so I thought it would be fitting for the Wayback. Love is an acoustic psychedelic group that started during the counterculture (hippie) movement of the 60's that is considered to be one of the most important psychedelic groups of the era. Their third album Forever Changes is regarded as a classic and is ranked as the 40th greatest album of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine and it truly feels that way. The album reflects on the hippie movement in a contemplative way, discussing how the "flower power" ideals of the time would not solve all of the worlds problems. The group went on to inspire the likes of Jimi Hendrix in style and some musicality as well as more modern groups such as the Shins. Definitely check this album out, it's a good time!
Gavin Susalski
Since there hasn't been a Weekday Wayback in what seems like forever, I'd like to kick this years Waybacks off with something special. It seems we've been losing so many great musicians in the past few years, most recently Tom Petty. So in honor of that, our Weekday Wayback is a side project of his: the Traveling Wilburys. This super group, containing George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Roy Orbison, was started as an accident when all the members were hanging out in Bob Dylan's studio and decided to help George Harrison record a B-side. When they finished, the song was much greater than any B-side could have been, so they decided to take to the studio and create an album. These great artists all worked side by side, all working on lyrics, music, and production equally as each has immense importance to rock music on their own. The group decided on a name and released The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 in 1988 to see it sell millions of copies as well as win album of the year. Definitely check out this collaboration of some of music's greats in honor of Tom Petty as well as Roy Orbison and George Harrison who have also passed. The whole album is excellent, I hope you enjoy!
Gavin Susalski
I always say a person's favorite Bowie album says a lot about them. Of course I also say the same thing about a person's favorite flavor of ice cream. My personal arbiters of character aside, I picked this album for good reason, from the collection of albums passed along to me by my materfamilias, this was the one David Bowie album. The craziest thing to me is that I didn't realize until as I sat down to write this Weekday Wayback is that Let's Dance was Bowie's fifteenth studio album! Released on April 14 of 1983, Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) was just behind him and Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture had yet to be conceived. Opening with "Modern Love", Let's Dance sets the upbeat tone for the rest of the album. That song was revitalized with use in the Greta Gerwig film Frances Ha released in 2012. Ever the crooner, Bowie pulls out all the stops on the second track "China Girl", which had previously been an Iggy Pop song on his debut album from 1977 The Idiot. Funnily enough, Bowie contributed keyboards, saxophone, and toy piano to the Iggy Pop recording. Another interesting musical collaboration related to Let's Dance: Stevie Ray Vaughn is the lead guitarist for the album. It is also incredibly interesting that the title track clocks in at nearly eight minutes. While some critics derided this album for being too pop-y, I think it's a comforting one full of tracks that are worth remembering in his legacy.
Natalie Doggett
Given my wit and the maternal influences on my music preferences, it makes sense that I would feature Elvis Costello for Weekday Wayback. My Aim is True was Costello's first album, recorded and released in 1976. My Aim is True introduced listeners to what would become Costello's trademark snark paired with a hip interpretation of what it meant to be post-punk. Stealing Buddy Holly's signature glasses and adding a skinny tie, Costello gets bitter in "Alison" from which the album derives it's title as he sings, "I think somebody better put out the big light because I can't stand to see you this way," at the woman who spurned his advances. This snarky bitterness is a trend that has continued throughout his career that never wears on the listener. Luckily for fans, he is still making music. In 2013, he released Wise Up Ghost with The Roots, which is such a cool collaboration. All we can hope for is for Costello to keep it up with his snark and musical stylings for many more years to come.
Natalie Doggett
Of their entire discography, The Clash achieved the most commercial success with Combat Rock, their fifth album. It's interesting seeing a British band comment on things like the Vietnam War and its aftermath on tracks like "Straight to Hell". For those of you familiar with the artist M.I.A., her hit song "Paper Planes" samples the opening of "Straight to Hell". Another interesting thing to note about Combat Rock is that poet Allen Ginsberg appears on the track "Ghetto Defendant". The ugliness we don't often acknowledge about our country and its history is a theme that many artists have worked with since the release of Combat Rock in 1982. Albums released contemporarily to it include Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA and U2's The Joshua Tree. My personal favorite track is "Should I Stay or Should I Go" because Strummer incorporates Spanish into the lyrics in a way that doesn't feel forced. It's a little sad that this was the last album to feature the original lineup of the band because drummer Topper Headon's deteriorating health and poor life choices led him to be fired from the band. He was not the only member to be fired because guitarist Mick Jones was similarly let go before the band began work on their sixth and final album, Cut the Crap. Band squabbles aside, Combat Rock is a pretty solid album and worth checking out beyond the more well known singles "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" and "Rock the Casbah".
Natalie Doggett
Known for its album cover designed by Raymond Pettibon who also designed the Black Flag logo, Goo proved to the world that punk wasn't dead but rather reborn. Sonic Youth's sixth album was released in June of 1990. Lead single "Kool Thing" features Chuck D of Public Enemy, which has to be the most interesting intersection of artists from the 90s. Other notable tracks include "Tunic (Song for Karen)" imagines Karen Carpenter no longer suffering from anorexia and befriending Janis Joplin and Elvis as well as "Dirty Boots". This album marks the shift in the sound of rock; the 80s were a decade that featured many bands who strived for a sound that could reverberate through a packed stadium, while the 90s were when bands went for a grittier sound suited for more intimate venues like CBGB. If you want an insider's look at all things Sonic Youth, it is worth your while to read Kim Gordon's 2015 memoir Girl in a Band that has drawn comparisons to Patti Smith's Just Kids for its candor in her commentary on being a woman in the music industry. Sonic Youth is disbanded but it's always great to appreciate the gems in their discography like Goo.
Natalie Doggett
There's just something so wonderful about Debbie Harry. Who wouldn't want to be her? Parallel Lines was Blondie's third album; it was released in 1978. With this album, the band finally achieved commercial success in the United States. Parallel Lines marks a departure from the post-punk sound that the band used to establish themselves as regulars in the CBGB lineup. Opening with a strong cover of "Hanging on the Telephone", their post-punk roots shine through, which carry over into "One Way or Another". However, tracks like "Heart of Glass" show the more danceable side the band would come to embrace that brought them increasing commercial success. Interestingly enough, Blondie recently put out two solid new singles that prove that age can't hold you back, especially if you're Debbie Harry.
Natalie Doggett
This week, dear readers, you're in luck because I'm writing a second Weekday Wayback! It wasn't easy picking a favorite album by the Police, especially when Zenyatta Mondatta is also the name of a very cool racehorse who has a diet of oats and Guinness! Random trivia tidbits aside (I swear I've mentioned that one pretty regularly on my show), Outlandos D'Amour is the band's first album; it was released in 1978. The title track "Next to You" has the aggressive influence of punk, while it is followed by "So Lonely" with a distinct reggae sound. Other random trivia tidbit: the laughter heard at the beginning of "Roxanne" occurred when Sting accidentally sat on the keyboard. Look at the Wikipedia entry for the song if you don't believe me; he's credited for butt piano on it. For a debut album, Outlandos D'Amour is awesome because the reggae influence that would become the band's signature really shines through. It's worth noting said reggae influence has rubbed off on subsequent generations, most notably Vampire Weekend whom we adore here at KRCX.
Natalie Doggett
Recently, the entirety of Prince's discography returned to streaming services including Spotify, which I have a premium subscription for. His talent was like no other and will likely never be matched in this generation or those to come. Purple Rain is demonstrative of this. Opening with a bang in the form of "Let's Go Crazy", the tone of the album is anything but set in stone. Side one (back when albums came out on vinyl and cassette) ends with the yearning of "Darling Nikki". "Darling Nikki" has the distinction of being the song that apparently motivated Tipper Gore to co-found the Parents Music Resource Center. Side two then kicks things off with the timeless "When Doves Cry", which was later sampled in MC Hammer's song "Pray", an exception to the rule regarding Prince's careful curation of his catalogue. The title track closes the album with 8 minutes and 43 seconds of transcendental bliss. There is no way to put into words the magic that is "Purple Rain", but I can say I tried. That being said, go treat yourselves to the sonic masterpiece that is Prince's sixth studio album.
Natalie Doggett
This classic of an album turned 40 just a few days ago. Written and recorded during a tumultuous period for the band, Rumours saw the outpouring of some of the songs Fleetwood Mac is best known for today. Every track highlights the vulnerabilities the members of the band were feeling in their relationships. "Dreams" written by Stevie Nicks laments "players only love you when they're playing". "Go Your Own Way" is Lindsey Buckingham's response to Nicks, as the couple were in a rough patch in their relationship, which eventually culminated in a divorce. Interestingly, the members of the band didn't realize they were writing such personal songs about each other until they convened in the recording studio to lay down the tracks. Despite the rifts in their personal relationships, Fleetwood Mac came together to write "The Chain". Rumours is an album of tremendous musicality from start to finish with incredibly tender lyrics that demand to be heard all the way through.
Natalie Doggett
This Weekday Wayback is filed under: bands you probably don't know but definitely should. Unapologetic in their feminist critique of the ills plaguing society, X-Ray Spex took aim at many that pissed them off, most notably consumerism. Lorna Logic's wailing saxophone complements vocalist Poly Strene's rage against the throw-away culture that persists to this day in "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!" Strene, born Marianne Joan Elliott-Said, chose her stage name deliberately go along with the disposable lifestyle they so frequently targeted. Germ Free Adolescent teems with rage coming from righteous indignation at many of the -isms that are still a problem today including ageism as seen on the track "Age". The riotous aesthetic is one that deserves to be brought back and adopted for today's society. I end this post by saying, don't be discouraged at the current state of affairs, get pissed off! It's exactly what Poly Strene would have wanted.
Natalie Doggett
Released in 1986, Please is one hell of a debut album. Incorporating elements of techno pop of the decade, the Pet Shop Boys found a way of distinguishing themselves from their contemporaries, their talent for lyric writing. In addition, Neil Tennant's vocals work with the instrumentation of each track to develop its own aesthetic. "Suburbia" demonstrates this with darker synth work that combines with Tennant's somber vocals to create a haunting track imploring the listener to "take a run with the dogs tonight." The repetition of upbeat synth motifs in "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" and Tennant's crooning vocals lull the listener into a catatonic, capitalistic trance. Fun fact: the title of the album was chosen so when people went to their record store (remember when that was still a thing?) to buy the album they would have to ask, "Can I have the Pet Shop Boys album, "Please"?" Those clever guys!
Natalie Doggett
Thanksgiving is nearly upon us and in keeping with that theme, I've chosen Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie as our Weekday Wayback. Guthrie's father was the well-known singer-songwriter, Woody Guthrie, who also wrote songs with political themes. This was his debut album; it was released in 1967. Influences of both Pete Seeger and his father can be found on this album, yet we hear Guthrie's own distinct synthesis of his predecessors that show him moving into territory uniquely his own. There's a point to all of this, which is this: "Alice's Restaurant Massacre" is the Thanksgiving Song, end of discussion. The original recording clocks in at 18 minutes and 34 seconds. The talking blues style is well suited to this true story of taking out the trash and dodging the draft. The song included with this post is an updated version (released in 1995) that runs for 22 minutes and 26 seconds. I really don't want to give too much away for anyone who hasn't heard it before but please believe me when I say this is song worth every second. The amazing thing of it all is this song has its basis in reality, the events of which took place on Thanksgiving Day 1965, granted there is some exaggeration in this retelling. With that in mind, have a lovely Thanksgiving!
Natalie Doggett
Kate Bush. Where to begin? Hounds of Love, released in 1985, was her fifth album and a return to success after her previous album, The Dreaming, didn't do so well in her native Britain or the United States. The amazing thing about Hounds of Love is that it's secretly two albums in one, what I mean is that side 1 (when it was released on vinyl back in the day) is Hounds of Love while side 2 is The Ninth Wave, which is a conceptual piece about a person lost in their thoughts at night, floating alone in the water. How awesome is that? Extremely awesome! The track "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" feels all the more relevant in light of Tuesday. "Cloudbusting" is another wonderful song that also lets her ethereal vocals shine. As a whole, this album is orchestral and majestic, which comes from Bush's dedication to mixing in traditional Irish instruments in addition to piano, synthesizer, and layered vocals. Kate Bush is a talented musician so I hope that this Weekday Wayback serves as a encouragement to our readers to check out more of her work.
Natalie Doggett
Delving into the early 70's for Weekday Wayback isn't entirely out of character for me because while my friends were in their collective emo phase during 6th grade, I fully immersed myself in 70's music with no shame. This Weekday Wayback is quite timely as well because Springsteen recently released his memoir, Born to Run. While I have yet to read said memoir, I feel like this album is a great way of taking a sonic stroll down memory lane. This was his second album after Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ. Released in September of 1973, this album features Springsteen's earnest lyrics that have defined his career in addition to his incredible skills on the guitar. Clarence Clemons on the saxophone is a revelation and I can't stress enough how incredible he is! It wasn't until an advance copy of "Born to Run" was given out to stations that "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" began to receive significant airplay. Thus the song gained status as the most used set closer for the first ten years of his career with the E Street Band. Here is proof that the sophomore slump can be avoided, assuming you're Bruce Springsteen.
Natalie Doggett
