Clockwise: Jimi Hendrix; The Doors; REO Speedwagon; and The Alarm.
Rocking out while preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Irene, I was thinking I would try to rock her out to sea. So while racking my brain about songs, this is the weather-intensive rockers I came up with. I will lead off with one of the grand-daddies of them all, Riders On The Storm by The Doors. The song was released in 1971, and made it to #14 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
While Jimi Hendrix never released In From The Storm as a single. In fact, it didn't make it on to an album while he was alive, although he did play it in concert. But the Guitar God has had the song included on many of the posthumous collections. Here is a clip of In From The Storm.
Well, REO Speedwagon released their second single in 1973. Ridin' The Storm Out was the title cut from the album of the same name, and was so characteristic of the Midwest rock songs of the era. Check it out.
In 1984, one of my favorite bands were the hard-rocking Welsh group The Alarm. Always riding the fine line between Punk, Rock and Alternative Rock, they never failed to disappoint me. Check out there hard-rocking Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke, which seems so perfect for this weekend!
25 years ago, I was living in Brooklyn, working Off-Broadway theater in Greenwich Village, a poor, but happy camper. While working at the theater, the radio was often on, so I knew all three of these songs well, although only one or two was really a part of my record collection at that point. And, I am sorry to say, it wasn't the song that was in fifth place, We Built This City by Starship. I apologize because I loved Jefferson Airplane, and thought Grace Slick truly rocked. I might have tolerated the move to become Jefferson Starship, but when they went only by Starship, I had written them off. Listen to Grace and the boys sing this song, and tell me you don't think they are capable of way better...
There is some Pop music you just have to accept at face value - it is what it is. Huey Lewis and the News is one of those - a band that created catchy hooks and fun music, but it wasn't really gonna be breaking any boundary, or moving you with insightful reflection. Don't get me wrong, some music has to be like that, and Huey and the boys did it well. Here is the #4 song of the year, The Power of Love. If I am not mistaken, it was the theme song to one of the Back To The Future movies.
I will admit to having a weird fascination for the # 3 song, Mr. Mister's Broken Wing. Well, truthfully, I had a much greater interest in the song Kyrie, which was released immediately following this one, but liked this one, too. Partially, it was my interest in Richard Page's vocals, as well as the nicely structured musical accompaniment. Could be the beautifully photographed videos that went with the band, but you never know for sure. Just know I liked them, and these songs found their way into my listening rotation.
OK, I was already a fan of Tears For Fears since the first album, 1983s The Hurting. The complex music aligned with the introspective lyrics made the band a perfect brooding English schoolboy-like crush, and I was there. Songs From The Big Chair was released in 1985, and was a great follow-up to the debut, with more polish while still keeping the elements. Here is the #2 song of 1985, the primal Shout.
On one hand, how can you not like REO Speedwagon? I mean, they are a classic American rock band, and don't think they ever released anything as embarrassing as J. Geils Band's Centerfold song. On the other hand, I don't really remember many of their songs when I think of them, more like just a thought of a fun band. When I heard this, I knew the song instantly, but if someone had asked me what was their top song of 1985, I don't know if I would have had an answer. Anyway, this is Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon. Enjoy!
