Special guest, Diana Parry-Cruwys, finally gets another chance to pick a song of her very own with this week's "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High) by alt-country, prolific rocker, Ryan Adams.  Not the guy who sang "Summer of '69".  We discuss how unlike My Bloody Valentine this song is, how hard it is to pick just one song when you write an album a year, how drugs are bad.  Stay in school kids.

Please very much enjoy!


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Even though she's been our special guest more than anyone else, poor Diana Parry-Cruwys has only gotten to pick one song all on her own.  Well, we're making up for it by talking about Ryan Adams' "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)" this week.  Diana then fell asleep before we could record and I forgot to post the preview blurb...so we're going to be a little late this week.  Please don't think this reflect poorly on how much I appreciate my wife's taste in music.

You can buy this alt-country ditty on iTunes, Amazon Music (free with Prime!), or Google Play.

No official video, but I did find this bootleg, live version on YouTube which I liked for reasons that I'll get into on the show.  Man, phone cameras have come a long way since I still had time for concerts.



And, for your literati out there, the lyrics:
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"To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)"
Young boy you done me bad I went and did ya wrong 
Young boy you done me bad I went and did ya wrong 
Then I got high Lord I got high and I got a bone to pick with you 

And I'm sure you know its true 

Oh one day when you're looking back 
You were young and man you were sad 
When you're young you get sad 
When your young you get sad then you get high 

Oh man 
Young gal you done me bad and I went and did ya wrong 
Young gal you done me bad so I went and did ya wrong 
Then I got high 
Lord I got high 

Now you got a bone to pick with me but I wish you'd let me be 
Oh one day when you're looking back 
You were young and man you were sad 
When you're young you get sad 
When your young you get sad then you get high 

You get high 
Oh the days the rain would fall your way 
Oh the days the rain would fall your way 
Then you be high cause you got sad 
Cause you got sad 

Oh man--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, listen, watch, read, and join us on Wednesday + 1 (i.e.,Thursday) for the discussion.

A return visit from Jack Every to the TPOS studio gets us bringing the funk.  Noise may be brought as well.  Regardless, we spend a pleasant time talking about the amazing Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' "I Learned the Hard Way".  What makes this modern take on the Motown sound so cool? And does anybody know how to make a hang-up click on a cell phone? We're plumbing unknown genres this week, folks! Also, a rare TV recommendation unrelated to music but correlated with deliciousness.

Please very much enjoy!


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Returning guest and math teacher extrordinaire, Jack Every, returns to ensure the unrepresented genre of Motown gets its due by talking with us about Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings "I Learned the Hard Way", a song I had never heard of before last week.  Which is reason enough to listen in.

You can buy "I Learned the Hard Way" on iTunes, Amazon Music (free with Prime!), and Google Play.

There's an entertaining video covering the story of the song on YouTube:


And, of course, the lyrics:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I Learned the Hard Way"
Something told me insideThat your love was untrueSomething told me insideSomething told me inside

You said, "Girl, it's alrightI would never hurt you"You said, "Girl, it's alright"He said, "Girl, it's alright"

Just to be by your sideI would've walked through the flamesJust to be by your sideJust to be by your side

Now it hurts me insideJust to hear your nameJust to hear your name

I learned the hard wayThat your love is cruelI learned the hard way, babyNot to be your fool

I learned the hard wayI learned the hard way about youNow I know about youNow I know about you

When I open my eyesIt was all around meWhen I open my eyesWhen I open my eyes

Clouds of perfume and liesAnd a hotel keyClouds of perfume and liesClouds of perfume and lies

And when I answered your phoneI heard a gasp and a clickWhen I answered your phoneWhen I answered your phone

Ooh, was that wrong number, wrongOr was she after your love

Just to be by your sideI would walk through the flamesNow it hurts me insideJust to hear your name

I learned the hard wayThat your love is cruelI learned the hard way, babyNot to be your fool

I learned the hard wayI learned the hard way about youNow I know about youNow I know about you

Now I know about youNow I know about youNow I know about youNow I know about you

Just to be by your sideI would walk through the flamesNow it hurts me insideJust to hear your name

I learned the hard wayThat your love is cruelI learned the hard way, babyNot to be your fool

I learned the hard wayI learned the hard way, baby, about you

Now I know about you(Now I know about you)I know about you(Now I know about you)

Now I know about you(Now I know about you)Now I know about you(Now I know about you)

Now I know about you(Now I know about you)I won't be your fool(Now I know about you)

Listen, I know about you(Now I know about you)Your love(Now I know about you)

I wanna go home(Now I know about you)I know about you(Now I know about you)I said, "I wanna go home"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So listen, watch, read, and join us on Wednesday for the discussion.

After comparing our local classic rock stations (RIP, radio), super-guest and music encyclopedia, Chris Hornbostel, and I get into the deep talk about The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter".  Buy why is it an amazing song? Not just because it captures the turmoil of the 60's, not just because it's a secretly scary song, not just because of Keith Richards blusey, jazzy guitar, not just because of Mick Jagger's excellent lyrics, not just because of Merry Clayton's virtuouso performance, not just because of Charlie Watts' perfect snare beats, but...well, listen to the episode to find out.  Let's celebrate the end of the peace and love era together, shall we?

Please very much enjoy!


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Music super-afficianado, Chris Hornbostel is back to break down The Rolling Stone's epic reflection of the waning days of the age of Aquarius, "Gimme Shelter".  It's an eerie episode, folks!
Almost everyone probably own's Let It Bleed, but, just in case you're only buying music features on the show, here are links to purchase "Gimme Shelter" at iTunes, Amazon Music (whole album free w/ Prime!), and Google Play.

For a little background on Merry Clayton, the distinct background singer in "Gimme Shelter", here's a clip from the film "20 Feet From Stardom":


And, if you want to see an era-appropriate Stones live performance of the song (minus Mrs. Clayton so...not quite perfect), here's a video:


And, of course, the lyrics:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Gimme Shelter"
Oh, a storm is threat'ning
My very life today
If I don't get some shelter
Oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away
War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
Ooh, see the fire is sweepin'
Our very street today
Burns like a red coal carpet
Mad bull lost your way
War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
Rape, murder!
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
Rape, murder!
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
Rape, murder!
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
The floods is threat'ning
My very life today
Gimme, gimme shelter
Or I'm gonna fade away
War, children, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
I tell you love, sister, it's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away
It's just a kiss away
Kiss away, kiss away--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, listen, watch, read, and join us back here on Wednesday for the full discussion.

Rob's solo-casting it up this week with one of his personal favorite's, ELOs "Mr. Blue Sky".  Listen in horror as he attempts to describe fancy orchestral words! Stare in sympathy as he consults his thesaurus to come up with new words for "awesome"! Flee from the overwhelming gushing of good vibes and joyousness! Feel happy emotions deep inside your soul as you realize that you've already started humming the chorus.  Don't hide away for so long, listener: embrace the sun before Mr. Night comes to ruin the party.

Please very much enjoy!


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With the sun high in the sky and something of a drought on here in Massachusetts, I'm reminded of one of my favorite songs to blare out my car window on these beautiful summer days: ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky"! Honestly, this is one of the songs that I did this show to talk about.  Hope you'll enjoy listening to me do just that.

You can buy "Mr. Blue Sky" on iTunes, Amazon Music (free with Prime), or Google Play.  It's free or 99 cents so I expect everyone to buy it.

Even though the song is almost 40 years old, ELO actually put together a video in 2012! Talk about longevity.  Only downside: it features the re-recordings that Jeff Lynne created in the 2000s so it's a little different than the album version including missing the whole epilogue.  Oh well!



For discussion context, here's the first place I ever heard this song: a Volkswagon commercial.  It's some real Don Draper-level awesome.



And, of course, the lyrics:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Mr. Blue Sky"

Sun is shinin' in the sky,
There ain't a cloud in sight
It's stopped rainin'
Everybody's in a play
And don't you know
It's a beautiful new day.

Runnin' down the avenue,(Pant, Pant, Pant)
See how the sun shines brightly
In the city on the streets
Where once was pity,
Mr. Blue Sky is living here today.

[Chorus:]
Mr. Blue Sky, please tell us why,
You had to hide away
For so long where did we go wrong.

Hey there Mr. Blue
We're so pleased to be with you
Look around see what you do,
Everybody smiles at you.

Hey you with the pretty face,
Welcome to the human race
A celebration Mr. Blue Sky's
Up there waitin' and today
Is the day we've waited for

[Chorus]

Mr. Blue you did it right,
But soon comes Mr. Night,
Creepin' over, now his
Hand is on your shoulder,
Never mind I'll remember you this way.

[Chorus]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, listen, watch, read, and join us on Wednesday for the full discussion.

Matt Summers makes a triumphant return with a song that has absolutely nothing wrong with it, The Breeders' "Cannonball".  Is it true that the Ewoks provide backing vocals to Kim Deal? Is anything cooler than early-90s distortion effects? And is being a great band with an awesome single the same as being a one-hit wonder?

Have a swig of this delicious shimmy shake while you listen.

Please very much enjoy!


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All-star guest Matt Summers want to immortalize his love for The Breeders' '90s masterpiece, "Cannonball".  So, I guess the best way to do that is to come on the show.  Posterity will thank him for that.  And, if the A.V. Club agrees with him, those crazy kids must be on to something.
You can find "Cannonball" on iTunes, Amazon Music (free with Prime!!), or Google Play.

There's a totally rockin' 90s-era video to watch as well!


And, of course, the lyrics:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Cannonball"
(Check check check
One, two
One, two)

Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell
Crash
On the last splash

I know you, little libertine
I know you're a real koo koo

(Hey now)

Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball
Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball
(Hey now)
In the shade
In the shade
(Hey now)
In the shade
In the shade

I know you, little libertine
I know you're a cannonball
I'll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song

(Hey now)
In the shade
(Hey now)
In the shade

Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball
Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball

Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell
Crash
I'm the last splash

I'll be your whatever you want
The bong in this reggae song
(Hey
Hey now)

Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball
Want you
Koo koo
Cannonball
(Hey now)
In the shade
In the shade
(Hey now)
In the shade
In the shade.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, listen, watch, read, and join us on Wednesday for the full conversation.

While I messed up and forgot that "Imagine" was actually from the album Imagine, special guest, Terry Parretti, lifelong educator and dancer, forgives me in the name of  John Lennon's message of peace, humanity, and love.  We discuss what happens when we die and if it even matters, the power of music in teaching, and just how crummy the 70s were.  Stay tuned until the end for some free choreography consultation.

Please very much enjoy!


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