DJ

A Song Long Ago.

I first discovered the music of Anders Enger Jensen back when we lived in Chicago. I used to listen to his album “Retro Grooves, Vol. 3” with surprising regularity while walking the North Center and Lakeview neighborhoods surrounding our condo. His music is rooted in 80s and 90s synth pop and strikes very familiar chords in my love for music. His music continues to bring me joy.

One of his tracks on “Retro Grooves, Vol. 3” is called “A Song Long Ago”. The lyrics are melancholy but the production is beautiful. I can easily identify with the lyrics. The track reminds me of a lost ABBA track from the early 1980s. I enjoy the vibe.

From “Retro Grooves, Vol. 3”, here’s Anders Enger Jensen with “A Song Long Ago”. The track and album are also available through Apple Music and Spotify, as well as Band Camp.

From The Vault.

I’ve always been a big fan of The Human League, and while it didn’t get the attention it deserved in 1990, “Heart Like A Wheel” has always been one of my favorites from the group. When I was in radio in the 1990s and early 2000s we had this in “gold rotation” on our dance leaning Top 40 Rhythmic Station. I always thought the 12-inch single extended mix had much more punch than the original radio edit, so I did some slicing of reel-to-reel tape to create a radio friendly length of the extended mix. This is what it sounded like.

Inspired!

They’re shooting these videos on an iPhone!!

Here’s an Hindley Street Country Club (adjacent?) recording of “Love Is A Battlefield”. What? I know!

Fun fact, when I was in college (the first time), we covered this song in our little informal band. The leads were sang by a woman named Barbara (I called her “Rainbow Brite” because of her hair choices) and I was left to sang backups. Honestly, back then I could sing out the high descant parts in my falsetto and easily stay in key. I tried the part again in the car with Earl about a decade ago and we were all startled when I couldn’t and what actually came out of my mouth. My husband said, “please don’t do that again”.

Constant Craving.

I continue to be blown away by The Hindley Street Country Club, an Australian-based cover band. The musical ability of every member of the band is off the charts. Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

Here’s their cover of k.d. lang’s “Constant Craving”.

Xanadu.

This is an amazing cover of Olivia Newton-John’s “Xanadu”. Enjoy!

Music = Art.

I was a senior in high school when I first heard this track and I found it absolutely entrancing. I was driving a 1976 Pontiac Astre (a Vega wannabe) and had this song on a cassette that was given to me by a friend. For me, this is when I realized that modern music could truly be art. The ambience of this track is entrancing.

From 1985 here’s Art of Noise with “Moments In Love”.

Move For Me.

I’ve shared this song before. It’s still one of my favorites from my club days and I find the video somewhat entrancing. Sometimes simple is better.

From 2009, here’s “Move for Me” by Kaskade and Deadmau5 featuring Haley.

Back Seat.

Every once in a while a song will come up on “Yacht Rock” radio and I’m nine years old again, sitting in the back seat of my Dad’s 1978 Chevy Impala on a Sunday night, riding north on I-81 from Syracuse to our home along Lake Ontario. Some of my happiest childhood memories are from those rides; there aren’t any specific events that mark these occasions, it’s more of a feeling of safety and contentment and wonder.

Today Nicolette Larson’s “Lotta Love” came on and again my mind took me to the back seat of the baby blue Impala. It was the “Sport Coupe” model, as dad considered himself way too young to own a four door sedan. The hum of the V8 350 still rings in my ears as Nicolette’s voice played from the single speaker in the dash, from the AM radio always tuned to 62 WHEN.

From 1978 here’s Nicolette Larson with “Lotta Love”.

Friday Dance Party.

I still love both of these songs, and it doesn’t matter if it’s wrong or right.

Both songs were produced by the same person. From 1991, Corina “Temptation”. It went to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

And from 1991, Lisette Melendez and “Together Forever”. This was reached #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Heart and Soul.

OK, two songs on Tuesday. This is one of my very favorite tracks from the 1980s. I was always mesmerized (and still am) of the production of this track. The lead singer is singing with herself through most of the track and it’s like listening to two different songs at once that fit perfectly together. This is pop music perfection in my book.

From 1987, here’s T’Pau with “Heart and Soul”.