City of Roses - Seafood Mama

Since this is Rose Festival time I thought I would post this gem of a B-side, City of Roses by Seafood Mama, which would later become Quarterflash. Seafood Mama originally released "Harden My Heart" in the spring of 1980 (with the B-side track being "City of Roses"). "Harden My Heart" was a big hit on Portland radio stations and got the band a one-hour TV special, Seafood Mama In Concert, on KOIN on June 5, 1980. "Harden My Heart" would later be rerecorded by the band after they renamed themselves Quarterflash. The name came from an Australian slang description of new immigrants as "one quarter flash and three parts foolish". If you've never heard this song here is your chance.

It Ain't Over Til It's Over - Lenny Kravitz

"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" is a song recorded, written, and produced by Lenny Kravitz for his second studio album, Mama Said (1991). Released as the album's second single in June 1991, the song is a mid-tempo ballad, musically inspired by Motown, Philly soul, and Earth, Wind & Fire. The horn line at the end is actually performed by the Phenix Horns from Earth, Wind & Fire. The line is based on a quotation from Yogi Berra: "It ain't over 'til it's over." It was his first Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100 of his career, is still his best peak in the chart.

Home Again - Carole King

Tapestry is a pop album by singer-songwriter Carole King, released in 1971 on Ode Records and produced by Lou Adler. It is one of the best-selling albums of all-time, with over 25 million copies sold worldwide. In the United States, it has been certified diamond by the RIAA with more than 10 million copies sold. It received four Grammy Awards in 1972, including Album of the Year. Here is one of my favorites from the album. Home Again.

Dumb Blonde - Dolly Parton

"Dumb Blonde" Dolly Parton's first country single (one of the few songs during this era that she recorded but did not write), reached #24 on the country music chart in early 1967. The song anchored her first full-length album, Hello, I'm Dolly.

Summer Night City - ABBA

"Summer Night City" is a song recorded by the Swedish pop group ABBA, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus as a tribute to their hometown of Stockholm. It is the group's second non-album single, released on 6 September 1978. It was originally intended as the lead single from the group's upcoming Voulez-Vous album, but was eventually not included. However, it was featured as a bonus track on the 1997 CD re-issue. ABBA in all their glorious fabulousness.

Oh! You Pretty Things - Peter Noone

"Oh! You Pretty Things" is a song written by David Bowie in 1971 for the album Hunky Dory. The song was first released by Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits, in a single on which Bowie played piano. It became a #12 hit in mid-1971.

Song Sung Blue - Altered Images

Altered Images were an early 1980s Scottish new wave/post-punk band. Led by lead singer Clare Grogan, the band branched into mainstream pop music, and had six UK Top 40 hit singles and three Top 30 albums between 1981 and 1983. They quickly became established as one of the biggest new wave acts around, and were subsequently voted "Best New Group" at the NME Awards and "Most Promising New Act" in the 1981 Smash Hits readers poll. Here is a great cover of the Neil Diamond classic. 

If I thought you'd ever change your mind - Agnetha Faltskog

"If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind" is a song that was originally performed by Cilla Black produced by George Martin. It reached number 20 in the UK charts in 1969. In 2004, it was covered by Agnetha Fältskog of ABBA and was the first single from her eleventh solo album, and her first single release in 17 years. Her recording reached number two in Sweden and number eleven in the UK, selling a total of 21,000 copies, 11,000 of those in the first week. It became her highest charting single in the UK since her English solo recording career commenced in 1982. I love this song.

On The Beach - The Flirts

The Flirts, a trio created and masterminded by Hi-NRG mogul Bobby "O" Orlando, are composed of one blonde, one brunette, and one redhead. They are best known for the song "Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime)". Here is a gem from their album 10 cents a dance. On the beach. Perfect for summer.  

 

Strawberry Letter 23 - Brothers Johnson

"Strawberry Letter 23" is a song written by Shuggie Otis, and best known by the version recorded by The Brothers Johnson.It is said that Otis wrote the song for a girlfriend who used strawberry-scented paper when she wrote letters to him, but Otis himself says that is not true. He recorded it for his 1971 album Freedom Flight.

George Johnson of the Brothers Johnson was dating one of Otis' cousins when he came across the album Freedom Flight. The group recorded "Strawberry Letter 23" for their 1977 album Right on Time, which was produced by Quincy Jones, and the album went platinum. They recorded the song in a funkier, more dance-oriented vein than the original Otis version. Their rendition hit the Hot 100 and peaked at number five and reached number one on the Soul Singles chart in 1977. Studio guitar player Lee Ritenour recreated Otis' original guitar solo for the Brothers Johnson cover.

Run Runaway - Slade

"Run Runaway" is a hard rock song performed by the English band Slade. It reached No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart, and proved to be the band's last U.K. Top 10 hit single.

The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome album was released in 1984 in the United States with a different track listing under the title Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply. That same year, the single "Run Runaway" became the band's biggest American hit, benefiting from heavy play on MTV, peaking at No. 20 and spending a total of eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100's Top 40. It was also number one for two weeks on the Billboard Top Tracks chart.

Language is a Virus - Laurie Anderson

Language is a virus by Laurie Anderson is from the album Home of the Brave released in 1986.
"Language Is a Virus" was originally titled "Language is a virus from outer space - William S. Burroughs."

Arrow Through Me - Wings

"Arrow Through Me" is an R&B song by Wings. It was the A-side of the second US single released from Back to the Egg and peaked at number 29. The B-side was "Old Siam, Sir", which was the A-side of the first UK single. The rumour that it inspired ABC's 1982 hit "Poison Arrow" is false, although there are similarities in its music video to that of Wings' "Goodnight Tonight", released the same year.

Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime - The Korgis

"Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" is a hit single written by James Warren and first performed by the pop band The Korgis, of which Warren was lead singer.

The song was released in 1980 from the group's second album Dumb Waiters. The single reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart and #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song topped the singles charts at #1 in France, #1 in Spain, #3 in Netherlands, #3 in Germany, and #18 in Australia. 

Different - Cass Elliott

Here is a real forgotten gem by Cass Elliott called Different that was featured in the movie Pufnstuf from 1970. A soundtrack album was released on LP, cassette and 8-track in 1970 (Capitol Records) featuring the songs and the score by Charles Fox. One of my favorites.