Honoring WOMEN

As we come to the end of March, I decided to keep honoring the women in our lives because we all know without their unbelievable strength, this world would never be the same. Over the weekend, the music world lost a hall of famer and legendary drummer, Mr. Taylor Hawkins. My first thoughts went to his wife, Alison, who married Taylor in 2005 and they have three children. I know that Oliver, Anabelle, and Everleigh (what a beautiful name, no?) will forever be nurtured by Alison because that is what a mother will do as there is no doubt in my mind that despite the unrelenting pain, she will do whatever it takes to do to ensure that they are loved, while protecting them with her long wings, forever surrounding their souls.

When my mother passed away in 2004 my father, who was the “toughest guy” in the neighborhood, was left staggering with fraught and despair as our family did not know if he would survive without her. Unbeknownst to me, my mother had informed my bride before she passed that it was not only acceptable but necessary for my dad to find someone because, well, women often know men better than the average man. And to this day, I do not know if it was part of the mother and daughter-in-law plan, but my bride suggested a secular bereavement group to my dad, which surprisingly he was accepting. Before you knew it, my brothers and I, accompanied him to this group every other Monday night where my dad was able to navigate, through many tears, into a world, where I am absolutely convinced that my mother guided from heaven above, that life without her was appropriate for him to move on because he was still here on earth. At these meetings, a beautiful woman, who had just lost her husband, walked into my dad’s life in 2006 and they have now found their “second” love of their lives. My wife did not inform me of what my mother had told her until many years later when she knew that I would be able to manage it. When we really think about it, how many men would say that they would want the love of their life to find someone else? If this does not prove that women are the pillar of this world, then I do not know what else would.

I have a friend who unexpectedly suffered the loss of her husband last June to a habitual unlawful monster as well as the passing of her mother a brief time later. As I watch from afar, I have been astonished at her fortitude to comfort her son who just started his first year of college. I often wonder if a man could withstand the same circumstances while wishing I could wipe away all the pain. Her gift is not of this world and hopefully what she is giving now will come back to her multiple times over as I believe her husband would want nothing but the best in the future for his bride and son.

We all know that someone special, whether it be a matriarch or a neighbor on the block, whereby she stood tall above everyone while making this world a better place to live by giving and sacrificing everything in her being to ensure that love existed everywhere one turned. As I turn back to Alison Hawkins, my heart bleeds for you as the tears fall upon my face like a faucet, so this playlist is a continuing salute to all the women in this world. This depiction of songs will include the words such as “mother,” “daughter,” “woman,” and “girl,” (with no disrespect because all women were girls at some point) in its title as well as being some of my most favorite songs ever. This is dedicated to Alison and every woman on the planet as well as heaven! (Enjoy)

1— “Mother” by Michael Buble—On the same day that Alison lost the love of her life, Mr. Buble released his first studio album in more than three years as him and his wife were dealing with Noah, their son, who had contracted cancer prior to turning three years old. For the past five years he has been in remission and that is something to be grateful for. When I saw the title of this song, I immediately listened to it as the tears just flowed because I believe every man on this planet feels the same way as the lyrics depict. Every word that Michael sings is staggering but the lyrics that just floor me are the following: “… the person that I turn to… and the person that I trust… the voice inside my head when I think I’m giving up…” To all the mothers out there, this song says it all. Mr. Buble is on my bucket list, and I will make it my business to see him at Madison Square Garden as I absolutely love every song that he has ever recorded. Thank you, Michael, for paying homage to all the mothers across the universe. This could be your greatest achievement to date!

2— “Mother”—by Christina Aguilera– I know this is sac-religious but dare I say that I love this version better than the late great John Lennon? I do not know for sure which I adore but all I know is that when I saw that Christina took part in a dedication for Mr. Lennon, I was absolutely blown away that someone who is so young would pay homage to a legendary Beatle. And then when I heard her say “Mother” from the opening notes, I knew I would forever appreciate her take on this absolute treasure of a song. I know Christina has a plethora of tunes in her catalog, but this will always remain my personal favorite and I cannot thank her enough for putting her heart and soul into this rendition. Absolutely flawless.

3— “Woman”— by John Lennon- I believe that I have written before on this page that I wanted this tune to be my brides’ and I wedding song to be introduced to the congregation at the GJOA club party room. I think the lyrics depict the most absolute love of a woman written by a husband and the more documentation I see on Mr. Lennon, if there is one clear constant it was that Yoko was the love of his life. That may be the only thing that John and I had in common.

4— “Do Right by Your Woman”- by Bad Company– This remains near the top of my all-time favorite songs by the legendary band called Bad Company when headed by Paul Rodgers. I will say it again- how Bad Co. or Paul are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is more than infuriating. This tune says it all- do right by your woman, she’ll do right by you.

5—” Flutter Girl”- by Chris Cornell– After Soundgarden broke up in April 1997, I was dazed and confused that my absolute favorite band at that time in my life were not going to record any new material that I was in denial while praying for something to occur. Then it happened in September 1999, when Mr. Chris Cornell delivered his first solo effort which I believe is a masterpiece. Folks, I cannot even begin to describe what this album meant to me as I left my work home and my actual home in Ringwood N.J. to move to the Nutmeg state. It took me about five years to finally settle in and this body of work assisted me in ways that still resonates deep within me. Every time I hear a Cornell song, it reminds me of what a gift he was and how much he is missed. And now we deal with the same issue with Taylor Hawkins. Such a shame. “Euphoria Morning” by Chris Cornell is an album that you should own, absolutely staggering.  

6— “Girl from the North Country”— by Bob Dylan– Where would this world be without Bob Dylan? The man is beyond a National Treasure and if his contemporaries can be “knighted” I think it is time we produce a term here in the U.S. that would be equivalent in its meaning. Mr. Dylan changed the lives of millions with his powerful and meaningful lyrics. This duet with Johnny Cash is brilliant.

7— “Oh Girl”—by The Chi-Lites– I have a funny feeling that I have already listed this tune on some other playlist, but it has to be considered one of the greatest recordings this world has ever heard and what’s the harm in listening to this repeatedly?  This will forever take me back to my “Omaha Beef” days when I worked for my uncle in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn (the only building that has now been replaced by a mall and sat across the street to where the Barclay center now resides). I am so grateful to all the butchers, including Mike, who was one of the biggest influences on my life (besides my dad and uncles) as he looked out for me every Saturday, while showing me the ropes of life. He would often drive me to my home in the Sunset Park area as he traveled on to Bensonhurst to be with his lovely bride. Mike recently lost the love of his life and my heart aches for him because I bet, they danced to this song together. Thank you, Mike, for taking me under your wings and despite the fact that we do not get to see each other that often, if ever, you will live on in my heart!

8— “Girl Crush”—by Little Big Town– Karen Fairchild absolutely makes me melt whenever I hear this tune as it definitely lands in my top ten songs in my lifetime. I know I have written about this track more than a few times and I concocted a plan to dance with my beautiful bride at a huge party while wanting the entire audience to see how much I love her. A little more than four years ago, my brother and I planned a milestone birthday party for my dad. I knew that the playlist was going to be the hardest thing because if my father hears one song that he does not like, he seeks to take over being the DJ. It took me more than two weeks to carefully select each and every song while knowing there was a moment when we would have to leave the restaurant as we had the room for four hours. I think I slipped this song in fifteen minutes before we had to exit, and I knew people would be gathering to give my dad a huge hug while celebrating him. As the opening notes came on, I slid over to my bride took her by the hand and led her to the dance floor. As I drifted off into another world, I was so happy to be out there with the woman I love while knowing it was a day that my dad would never forget. And no, he never noticed that this song was on the playlist.     

9— “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town”— by Pearl Jam– I recently rediscovered “Vs.” by PJ, while being blown away on how phenomenal that album is and when I heard this track, I knew it had to make this setlist. I know that recently I have been on an unfair strike against Pearl Jam because my jealousy gets the best of me as I cannot understand why Soundgarden does not receive the same accolades. And when Rolling Stone “threw” “Superunknown” out of its Top 500 greatest albums list while skyrocketing “Ten” towards the cream of the crop, I lost it. This is the first time in over two years that I have listened to a PJ song and forgot how great this song is. I understand that Nikki can get under people’s skin but for Eddie to insinuate that Tommy Lee is not a solid drummer is baffling. And despite the slight to The Crue, I included a song by PJ. As you can probably tell, things could change in a second and the strike could be back on.

10— “Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution”—by The Black Crowes– Speaking of being annoyed with a band… Folks, I could have been the poster boy or president of the “fandom” club for the Black Crowes. My two favorite albums of all time are “Amorica” and “Warpaint” where I wanted to be Chris Robinson for one tour as my adulation was off the charts. But then, the bickering went to another level with the constant breaking up and coming back together, I lost all interest. And when the Robinson brothers decided to make peace (which is wonderful) they elected to hire “session” players instead of all the bandmates who withstood all the years of not knowing if they would have a job that contributed their musical talents to all of their fantastic albums. I know I am done with ever seeing them again but acknowledge their impact on the music world over the past 30 years. And I still love their songs but will listen at home or on walks.  

11— “Cinnamon Girl”—by Neil Young & Crazy Horse– This song will forever take me back to the gym at MBIA as I started to make CDs with songs for the Spin or Bootcamp class and one morning David came into our class while asking who created the assortment of tunes. As this song played, I raised my hand and even though he was finished with his workout, he sat on the floor in the workout room jamming to each tune with this huge smile. He then showed up to one of our bootcamp classes and by that time the “gym rats” were a well-oiled machine whereby a “newcomer” would have extreme difficulty keeping up with us. Dave insisted he would be up to it and midway through the class he exited. Once the class ended, I entered the locker room and found Dave slumped over a sink while his face was red as a tomato. I used the “bat phone” within the room to call the other Dave who was in charge and secretly told him that I thought David needed medical attention. Dave bursts in and says out loud- “Hey David, are you okay? Errol called saying that you were dying.” (As you probably know, Neil pulled his material from Spotify so his original will not be included on my link).

12— “Kiss a Girl”—by Keith Urban– I do not know what it is about this track, but over the years it has become one of my most favorite tunes and as most of you probably know, my country roots are embedded mostly with the “Willie’s” and “Patsy’s” of the world but I will always be attracted to talent, which there is no denying that Mr. Urban contains. Each summer carnival I receive a lot of heat from my fellow Lions that I do not include ‘today’s country’ on my playlists but recently have relented while imploring them to find me songs like this. Crank it up! Keith has a nice guitar solo as well.  

13— “Mother Maria”—by Slash (featuring Beth Hart)– When Slash decided to put out his first solo album in 2010, I was extremely curious on what sound he was going for as Snakepit had that modern day Rolling Stones feel with hard, sleazy type of grooves which I admit I liked some of the songs but not all. His debut in 2010 started off his collaboration with Myles Kennedy which is now steamrolling across the U.S. but what I loved best about the effort was his ability to bring in various singers and work with their tone. The result is a spectacular blend of assorted gems where one song will have you freakishly air-guitaring to his extreme talents to an exquisite tune like this where one can squeeze the headphones tight, but it will not hurt your ear drums. I am not sure what Beth Hart is doing these days, but this track is a homerun. (Sorry this song is not included on Spotify either)

14—”The Most Beautiful Girl”-by Charlie Rich-I can remember when New York City had a very successful country radio station- WHN on 1050 AM- and it seemed like they played this song just as much as “I Love a Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbit. I can listen to this beautiful tune all day long. It brings me back to the fruit and vegetable store across the street from us when we lived on 51^st street and eighth avenue in Sunset Park Brooklyn where I believe they used a horse and buggy to make deliveries to their store, way back in the 1950’s. My mom was their favorite customer as she was always seeking out answers from Larry and Ed. I can see my mom rummaging through the various vegetable in search for the best sleeve of “corn on the cob” and yes, she would tear down the outside to see if the corn were good. If it weren’t, she would toss it back despite the fact that she opened it.

15— “The Captain’s Daughter”—by Alison Krauss & Union Station– “Forever Words” was released in 2018 by various artists recording poetry and lyrics by the legendary Johnny Cash. This is one of my favorites on the album whereby the acts produced the music that were taken from words that Mr. Cash had written over the years but never recorded himself. Ms. Krauss has a beautiful voice.   

16— “Gold Dust Woman”—by Fleetwood Mac– When is the last time you listened to this stone-cold classic? In my opinion, this tune is often over-looked because, well, “Rumors” has to be considered one of the greatest recordings in history with stadium anthems, but please do not forget this astounding song. This is one of my most favorite recordings with Stevie on vocals. Crank it up!

17— “Mother”—by Myles Kennedy– For those who follow this blog consistently you are probably rolling your eyes and saying- “not this guy again?!” But, folks, the first solo album by the legend (yes, legend) Mr. Myles Kennedy (“Year of the Tiger”) is one of the utmost recordings of this century. I know he plays with Slash and Alter Bridge but when he released his two solo albums, I was blown away on the talent he possesses. Again, the lyrics that strike a chord within my soul are the following- “… Mother, you may never know… the debt I owe to you alone… I hope I can repay in time… for never letting go…” And we all know that a mother’s love survives! Thank you, Myles, for this jewel.

18— “The Girl I Love”—by Tony Bennett & Sheryl Crow-The first time I heard this tune I could not believe that this was Sheryl Crow, and I am immediately apologizing to her, I meant no harm. Up until that point, I was used to hearing a different version of Sheryl, but I have to say that if she were to pull a “Rod Stewart” and release albums of “American Standards” I would be the first in line to make the purchase. Tony is Tony and well Ms. Crow positively crushes it while more than holding her own with a legend.  

19— “Son and Daughter”—by Queen– Hopefully, I am throwing Queen songs at you that are not as familiar. We all know the “standards” that are played endlessly like it is ground hog day but remember they are so much more than “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This is from the debut album in 1973 and one can feel the huge influence of blues tinged with heavy metal. Whenever I listen, I picture Steven Tyler singing while Joe Perry is jamming with Tony Iommi with Bill Ward crushing it on the drums. Folks, this is pure rock and roll at its finest. 

20— “Man Smart, Woman Smarter”—by Robert Palmer– It is extremely hard to believe that Mr. Palmer has been gone almost 20 years and for those of us who are “of age” there was no denying that he ruled the music world for at least five years with his solo material as well as with Power Station. By now you know I steer everyone in a different direction to explore down the less traveled road to witness jewels like this tune. I can picture every woman in my family, arm in arm, singing out loud- “that’s right… the women are smarter… that’s right… the women are smarter…” with my bride and mother pointing the finger at me and my dad. LOL. I love it… because we know it is true.  

21— “Does Your Mother Know”—by ABBA– Was there a bigger group in the 1970’s than ABBA? Every time I hear one of their songs, I think of summer whether it was spent on 46^th street or in Otisville. My mom would hang her head out the fourth-floor window calling out for me or my brother to go to the store for her as she was prepared to cast the exact number of coins crumbled in tin foil with strict instructions. If she could not find us, the search was on for Johnny-Boy as he could never say no to her but would tell his own mother that he refused to go anywhere for her. Usually on the weekends, the kids around a one square mile would congregate to the local church parking lot across from my grandparents’ house on Orchard Road to choose sides for the weekly softball game. And of course, we would always be interrupted by my grandfather as he would make his celebrated entrance by announcing “Pinch Hitter.” He would not leave until a “frozen rope” was hit… but that would often take some time as most, if not all, would sit on the steamy hot blacktop with white stripes that outlines the parking spaces. Do you see what ABBA does to me?   

22— “My Kind of Girl”—by Michael Buble– Mr. Buble has been on my bucket list for some time now and in the past, I have said (to myself) that I want to see him live in concert right around the holiday season because as you all know, his Christmas album is one that I am taking to that deserted island. His catalog is now at the point where I enjoy everything that he performs, so I have talked myself into going to any one of his concerts at any point of they year. And if I am lucky enough that he rolls into the Tri-state area during the holidays, I am there. Michael has earned his status as one of the all-time greats because of his dedication and love of his craft. Kudos to you Michael!  

23— “She’s Always a Woman”—by Billy Joel– As you know I am not the biggest Billy Joel fan but when it comes to an iconic song like this, I bow down in honor because this has to be one of the most brilliant tunes ever written or sung. I cannot remember but I recently heard that two huge Joel fans always argue about what is his best song with one selecting this track. With numerous stadium anthem tunes, one cannot go wrong with any of his monster hits. For every woman out there in the universe, I dedicate this song to you.

24— “Daughters”—by John Mayer– Thanks to my oldest son who introduced me to John and way back when, I took him to see Mr. Mayer before he was able to drive on his own. As I watch him, I can see what John has done to his internal system like the Van Halen brothers did for me when I was young like him. This tune is proof positive of his immense talent. “So, fathers be good to your daughters!”

25— “Have You Really Loved a Woman”—by Bryan Adams– This has and always will be one of my bride’s favorite songs of all-time. Music is my nourishment and for me, it is like watching a baby in a highchair eating the Gerber selection of the day as the joy on their face from the assorted flavors each night present another memory. And this tune does the same thing to my wife as I watch her drift off into another world, which brings me so much joy because I love watching people have music transform them. Each time this is played we clear the living room floor to just melt into each other’s arms while wishing the song would never end. I love my bride with all my heart as well as my mother, grandmother’s, aunts, cousins, extended family, and my female friends. As we approach the end of March, make it a point to let that special woman or women in your life know how much they mean to you. I bow in honor of all women; our lives would never exist or be the same without you.

R.I.P. Mr. TAYLOR HAWKINS

THERE ARE NO WORDS.

THE TEARS CONTINUE TO FALL.

MY HEART GOES OUT TO HIS WIFE, ALISON AND HIS CHILDREN, OLIVER, ANABELLE & EVERLEIGH.

MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY, HIS BROTHER DAVE AND THE FOO FIGHTERS’ FAMILY!

WHAT A SAD OCCURRENCE.

R.I.P. TAYLOR, YOUR INFECTIOUS SMILE AND ENTHUSIASM WILL BE MISSED.

HEARTBROKEN.

GODSPEED.

My Top 10 List for THE CHICKS

“…  It’s a sad, sad story… when a mother will teach her daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger… and how in the world can the words that I said… send somebody so over the edge that they’d write me a letter… saying that I better shut up and sing… or my life will be over…”  The first time I heard Natalie Maines sing these words I was overcome with astonishment at the unkindness that can exist while quickly recognizing with fear and empathy for Natalie and her “sisters” -Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer (they are daughters from the same mother) because I cannot even begin to imagine what they had to endure for what probably lasted more than a lifetime for them. My assumption is residual still exists but hopefully the days of looking over the shoulder have dissipated. As I continued to listen to “Taking the Long Way” during 2006 the deeper I drifted off in the musicianship, the hypnotic harmonizing vocals and the lyrics that painted vivid depictions of real life. Alas, my love affair with the Chicks had begun but it coincided with the band taking a long hiatus as the sisters, Emily, and Martie, became the “Court Yard Hounds” as they wanted to record again in 2010 but Natalie needed more time. In the meantime, I went back in time to discover the treasures I had been missing since 1998 when Ms. Maines joined the trio after artistic differences led Laura Lynch, the original singer, to leave.

Admittedly, I am slightly better than a novice when it comes to knowing all there is about these three women who have survived a meteor as well as other personal struggles but have persevered due to their strength, grit, determination, and wonderful individual talents. We have been the beneficiaries of their unbelievable contributions to the music world and my hope is that they are comfortable to reap the adoration of their beloved brethren with worldwide tours with the hope of additional studio albums.

Unlike when attending school, exploring music is the most enjoyable homework that I have ever encountered and the more I studied, I realized there were multiple reasons why The Chicks were revered on a global basis. Everyone has their own personal favorites and Natalie’s vocals resonated intensely to the point where I believe she has climbed to the Patsy and Karen category for me as I am completely engulfed whenever I hear her sing. When Emily and Martie kick in their beautiful harmonizing vocals, I am immersed to the point where I wish that feeling could last every day for all eternity. In addition to their stunning background vocals, Martie’s extreme talents on the fiddle, mandolin, viola, and guitar as well as arranging string arrangements for their tunes is absolutely astounding. Her sister, Emily, is an accomplished banjo, dobro, guitar, accordion, and sitar player. I know I am leaving out other instruments, but you get the meaning of what I am saying- these women have that something special which comes along very few times in a lifetime. By the time I discovered them, the first person I thought of was my mother because I know she would love a song like “Give it up or let me go.” The Chicks would have been right up her alley.

In 2015, there was a European reunion tour which gave me hope that a U.S. counterpart would come to fruition which it did as my new dream would come true as I was not only able to see The Chicks at a concert, but they played at the world’s greatest arena, Madison Square Garden. On Monday June 13, 2016, I think I floated my way up to section 309 as the usher asked if there was anyone else in my party. I shook my head no as I could see the look of surprise which reminded me of what a friend of mine, Blake, stated at one of the huddles we had at S&P as he heard that I was extremely excited to see The Chicks as he informed everyone that he was going as well but that he had to because he was taking his mother as a birthday gift. I had no problem with the laughter that followed because I knew that it would be me having the last chuckle because their live show was absolutely one of the best I have ever seen or heard. (I know, I say that about every concert).

On July 17, 2020, The Chicks released their first album in 14 years- “Gaslighter”- which has also become one of my most favorite albums, not just by them, but in general. As I mentioned last week in my post to celebrate women, I was amazed by the fortitude it took to record such a “statement” body of work, whereby a man gaslighted everyone around him to believe there was nothing to apologize for while admitting no guilt whatsoever (sound familiar?) while implying that it was the fault of Natalie. And I know there are always “three sides to every story” but my money is on Ms. Maines and her sisters. As I countdown the days until June 30^th when I will make the trip to the Xfinity Theater in Hartford CT, I decided to keep honoring women for the month of March by naming my favorite ten songs by this dynamic trio. This is not easy but here goes at this moment in time here are my favorites in descending order! (Enjoy!)

10— “You Were Mine” —Heartbreak or heartache songs have always been a weakness for me, like chocolate ice-cream but at least with songs, I do not put on the pounds. The depiction painted here is of despair as a picture-perfect family is torn apart as the husband has found another person, leaving the prior love of his life, along with two small children. Natalie’s vocals make you hang on every word and the part of the tune that gets me every time is when she laments the following lyrics- “I can give you two good reasons… to show you love’s not blind… He’s two and she’s four, and you know they adore you… So how can I tell them you’ve changed your mind?” I bet there are many who can relate to this track, and I hope things will be brighter in the future.  

9— “Goodbye Earl”— I love the groove in this tune as one cannot help but either bounce in your seat or jump up to the dance floor to flail all around. And the weird thing is the topic is real as domestic abuse leads to a plan to dispose of Earl. The joyful musicianship hides the pain of the lyrics as it is impossible to not sing along with Ms. Maines as it flows so easily- “… that Earl had to die, goodbye Earl… we need a break, let’s go out to the lake Earl… we’ll pack a lunch, and stuff you in the trunk, Earl…” I love Natalie’s “twang” throughout the entire song, and it pains me in multiple ways as I wish there would never be any exploitation of anyone in this world. Of course, I could never devise or propose a strategy to eliminate the nuisance by illegal means. I witnessed them playing this song at MSG and even though I was singing along, I felt weird because there was a little too much joy in the air, if you know what I mean.

8— “So Hard”— I think “Taking the Long Way” album steered The Chicks just slightly down the road away from pure country to the “pop/rock” avenue and it makes sense because Rick Rubin was the producer. My assumption is that he was a major influence while pushing the women to another level and I am thankful because it pulled me in. As mentioned above, I went back through their catalog and let it soak into my bloodstream because the country influence instilled in me through my mother was an easy attraction. This tune is tinged with a rock flavor with an addictive chorus (and a nice guitar solo at the 2:47 mark) that will not leave your head the entire day. The lyrics that stop me in my tracks are the following – “… live for the moment… when all the clouds open up for me to see… show me a vision… of you and me swimming peacefully…”- boy do I wish these words would sink into the entire universe’s brains because we are better when we work together.

7— “Long Time Gone”- Infectious- if one were to look up the meaning of this word, there just might be a reference to this track by The Chicks. Now I recognize that this is a cover by the women, but their bluegrass flavor completely engulfs you into a spell and I know I would follow their orders. I love the fiddle, banjo, viola and of course the spectacular vocals which add the flavor to this stupendous rendition. Of course, my favorite lines are – “… Now they sound tired, but they don’t sound Haggard… they’ve got money, but they don’t have Cash… they got Junior, but they don’t have Hank…”- as the homage paid to those who helped pave the way is admirable. And I bet Merle, Johnny and Hank would have loved to jam with Natalie, Martie, and Emily!

6—” Ready to Run”- Each time I hear this I feel like it is early morning with the sun shining as I kneel down to tie my shoelaces to get ready for a nice long walk. As I scuddle past the herd of whitetail deer who give me a glancing look like “yeah keep going” a few houses up from my driveway, I make my way up the steep incline with that beautiful morning smell that kickstarts my journey. Sometimes, a sly fox will fly by me, or a dog will forcefully run towards me, but I am ready with either a stick or just by raising my arm as the bark is much larger than the bite. Admittedly, it took me a while to learn the various tricks to deal with the different animals that I may encounter, and I know it is me that is the intruder, so I try to keep as quiet as I can. And that can be hard with this track playing in my ears but instead of singing, I will happily dance by or shuffle my feet like a defensive football safety performing their daily drills. Love this tune!

5— “Wide Open Spaces”— I can imagine the brethren shaking their heads in disbelief that I would have this track listed as number five and I clearly recognize or accept the position that this tune could be their best effort ever. Right off the bat when Natalie sings – “… who doesn’t know what I’m talking about… who’s never left home, who’s never struck out…”- we are mesmerized by this most excellent song. Speaking of striking out, I will never forget when I played for the Flynn Celtics, and we had a game at 79^th street on Shore Road in Brooklyn. We were playing our nemesis, “72^nd Precinct” and I forget the players’ name, but he was a tall left-handed pitcher who was extremely intimidating when he stood on the mound. I come to the plate (as a lefty) with the bases loaded and we are down a run. There was a fence right behind home plate where there were a lot of people watching with clenched jaws as one could cut the intensity with a make-believe knife. I was only about five feet five inches and he seemed like seven feet tall as I had a really challenging time seeing the ball come zooming out of his hand as most left-handed batters struggle with the last second sight of a small white ball seemingly approaching their head. I battled him as I fouled off at least 13 pitches and worked the count to 3-2. As I stepped out of the box, I saw Joe from 48^th street cheering me on. I recall the last pitch like it was yesterday, it was about shoulder high but on the plate, so I knew I had to swing. And in slow motion, I can still see my bat missing the ball slightly underneath it as the sound of it hitting the catcher’s glove with a “pop” ended the game right there. As I stood there nearly in tears because I struck out, everyone in the stands started to clap and encouraging me to forget about it because I gave it my best. Life comes full circle as I can feel that my boys will soon venture out into their own wide-open spaces. This is a phenomenal song.  

4— “Young Man”— The first time I heard this tune, I could not move because I listened with my heart as Natalie calmly lets her son know that she tried her best and to leave the unwelcome news of his father’s departure behind, so as to move forward in life. Separation from a hero can be life altering but she is there to let him know that as a mother, she will always offer a shoulder to lean on. And there is a glimmer of hope from her past as she implores her son to “take the best parts of him” and to not dwell on her blues because they are not for him to undertake. In an ironic twist, the real-life pain that Ms. Maines sustained for the past two decades resulted in one of the most exquisite sounding tunes that the Chicks have ever recorded. Folks, this is absolutely flawless.

3— “Set Me Free”— The last three songs on “Gaslighter” are probably my most favorite tunes that have ever ended an album and it was really hard to not include “Hope It’s Something Good” but the more I battled between all the tunes, this one won out because it is a stunner of a song. One can hear the anguish in Natalie’s voice as she pleads with her former partner to set her free but laments that she has seen the “good guy” in him to ask one last time to stop with the obstacles. This is one of the most magnificent songs I have ever heard on this planet, and I can listen to it all day despite the pain. I believe there are so many who can sadly relate to this situation. There is a certain beauty that is shockingly stunning that makes it okay for me to listen to this over and over again. When I feel something sad, I wish I could make it all good. If I had one wish from a “genie” I would request peace in every capacity that exists to lead to a beautiful life for all.

2— “Traveling Soldier”— Oh my, I think this is Natalie’s greatest vocal accomplishment ever as I am completely transformed into butter that melts quickly on a short stack of pancakes. It is impossible for me to not shed a tear as I intently listen to the lyrics while waiting for my favorite part of the song at the 3:07 mark where Natalie’s voice fades a bit as she sadly sings- “… one Friday night at a football game… the Lord’s Prayer said and the anthem sang… a man said folks, would you bow your heads… for a list of local Vietnam dead?… Cryin’ all alone under the stands was a piccolo player in the marchin’ band… and one name read, and nobody really cared… but a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair….”  And when the sisters come in with the backing vocals, I could supply the topping on a huge stack of hotcakes as my entire body just evaporates. Thank you to all who are or have served.

1— “Not Ready to Make Nice”—Just like “Enter Sandman” this was the tune that pulled me into their world as I was just blown away with the entire production in addition to the courage it took for not only recording a song like this but to withstand the onslaught for such a long time. I understand the response from The Chicks about the not forgetting part as I cannot even imagine what they went through as a unit as well as individually. I am glad they say “forgive, sounds good” and wonder if those who disagreed with the statement have remorse for the affliction which will never leave these ladies. From a music standpoint, the musicianship is working on all cylinders and the background vocals that surround Natalie when she sings the chorus is phenomenal. This is an extraordinarily talented band, and I am forever grateful to these beautiful women for a treasure-chest of songs to fall back on while praying for future albums. Thank you, Natalie, Martie and Emily for your talents, gift, strength & fortitude as women who have survived with grace and valor. I look forward to the future in harmony.

Celebrating WOMEN

Women.

Where would this world be without those who are the smartest, strongest, and more than anything else, the most compassionate and loving beings who provide exceptional guidance with unconditional affection? Throughout my life the one constant has been being surrounded by women who have shaped my existence with grace and valor.

My mother endured a lifetime of physical and mental pain from a disease which went undiagnosed for years while being informed there was nothing wrong with her and she should just “snap out of it!” She suffered in silence as my brothers, and I never really knew what she was going through because the shield of armor protected us from worry. It was not until I purchased my first car where I witnessed the pain with my own eyes as I opened the passenger door once again as she struggled to position herself inside on our weekly Saturday morning visit to the doctor. After approximately four failed skin grafts and witnessing tears in her eyes, I marched to the doctor informing him that the “free money” he was unashamedly collecting was ending as alternative practices were now going to be employed in place of the status quo. And in an ironic twist of cruelty, since the medical side was losing profits, they were successful into forcing my dad’s insurance away from the “voodoo” treatments, which was actually working, while the pain returned. But once again being the matriarch of our family, she marched forward without missing a beat to take us all under her wings, something she had done since the day we were all born until the day God took our angel to help in heaven. Her impact is deep and on-going.

My grandmother on my dad’s side (unfortunately my mother’s mom passed away when I was three years old) was a pillar of strength despite being slightly taller than five feet as I watched by her side as the grip of her hand on mine engulfed my existence while she walked me through life moments with sheer determination that went unmatched. As a child I would marvel as I witnessed the struggle as evidenced by a daily five-mile walk, each way, to work while she kept an eye out for us while we waited for her day to end in early afternoon, at the motel grounds as we played ball, swam, and ate with a smile on our faces. Upon arrival my brother and I would be wiped but the other half of her day was just beginning as I would always wonder if she ever slept more than three hours a night. She led by example, and I am forever grateful to have a front seat in life lessons.

There is no one that I have learned more from than my bride as I watch with pride as her fortitude as a woman as she sidesteps the purposeful obstacles with grace and dignity while assisting me with my own personal growth. Her beauty extends deep into her soul as I watch with admiration as she manages our household as well as her business, while uplifting everyone around her with her boundless spirit and enthusiasm. She has been by my side since the first day that our lives crossed paths with words of wisdom, guidance on major life events, a shoulder to cry on after her mother-in-law left her too and taught me patience which I thought was unachievable. And she has done all this while being a mother to her two sons as her eyes, ears and words have assisted them both in ways that will last a lifetime.

In my personal and business life I have women friends who have made a profound effect on my life as they have also taught me things that I have not received from my male counterparts with a large part being on a level of maturity that sometimes “guys” just do not have. For the past two decades in my professional life, women have maintained positions traditionally held by men and in my opinion, have excelled in leadership skills that has expanded the boundaries which were cemented for an extremely long time that had many looking in the mirror wondering why it has taken this long, while acknowledging there is always room for extensive growth. And as a male I clearly recognize the extra lengths that a woman has to climb for which I have never understood or accepted. As a man, I recognize with gratitude the amazing talents of women and realize that my life would be empty without my bride, mother, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, in-laws, and friends. Please know that I appreciate the women in my life every day of the year and not just a day or a month but totally agree in celebrating women for the month of March. In honor of every girl and woman in the world, here is a setlist of some of my favorite songs created by women as well as tunes by some legends. My apologies to those artists I have left off this list, it was not done purposefully. This is definitely a set of songs for a dinner party, very soft. (Enjoy!)

1— “Baby, I’m Yours” by Barbara Lewis—I was extremely lucky to have grown up in a house that played a lot of the greatest songs ever crafted as we all had a front seat to listen to classics such as this Ms. Lewis beauty. “Baby I’m yours…. And I’ll be yours until… two and two is three”- what is not to love about this tune? I recall my mother and her sister sitting in the kitchen enjoying their coffee as my dad wore the hat of being the DJ and we would be serenaded by the sisters as I would drift away with them as they lifted us off the ground on to their stage while my applause would never end. Pure perfection.

2— “Hold On”—by Adele– The first time I heard this I could not move as I could feel her emotion seep into my soul with the pain that she had endured during the last five years but there is a message of hope for every woman out there. Adele’s talents are staggering to the point where we all wonder how she can achieve even higher accomplishments but with each passing body of work, she is able to take us to another level to see the sun shining in your face, indicating that better days are ahead. I really do not know what else to say. 

3— “Sandcastles”— by Beyonce- Talk about passion? Taken from her phenomenally successful album- “Lemonade”- this unbelievable tune is another stunner from a person who has become an Icon at an incredibly youthful age. I will always gravitate to songs that run deep, and it does not get any more personal than at the 1:35 mark where she scowls the following- “… and your face what is it about you that I can’t erase baby?” If this does not move you, nothing will. And if this does not show the power of a woman, I do not know what else will. We all know that women are extremely strong and resilient with Beyonce leading the way.

4— “I’ve Dreamed of You”- by Barbara Streisand– One of my brides’ favorite singers of all-time is Ms. Streisand and I acknowledge that there are hundreds of songs to choose from but recently I have been overcome by her take on this classic written by Rogers and Hammerstein. The lyrics that bowl me over are – “I have dreamed of you, my great love… and my best friend.” Folks, this is absolutely one of the most overwhelming renditions ever performed, as I am left speechless.

5—” Try Some, Buy Some”- by Ronnie Spector– On Saturday night December 9, 2006, I took my bride to the BB Kings Blues Club to see the legend known as Ronnie Spector. As we sat at the table, I waited anxiously to witness one of the greatest female singers this world has ever heard while feeling the pressure to bow before music royalty. Ronnie was one of the women that the Beatles floundered over as they could not believe that they had met one of their heroes. Mr. George Harrison wrote this tune for her and despite maybe not being “radio successful” it is one of the most outstanding recordings in the history of music. Ronnie, I was extremely saddened by your passing on January 12^th and what stands out to me more than your majestic voice was your unreal resolve in getting your life back after what Phil had done to you. I will say it again, women are much stronger than men and, in many cases, it is the man that forces the pain upon the woman while making the world believe there is nothing wrong. Rest in peace Ronnie, your impact will last for generations to come.

6— “The Best”— by Tina Turner– I know that she does not like to keep rehashing the past and I do not mean to open any wounds as I am simply amazed by this woman’s determination to break free of a man’s ruthlessness by giving away everything that she earned but her name. And with nothing left in her pocket, she worked the smallest places, including hotels, performed on every TV show but earned the respect of the entire universe. She deserves every accolade thrust upon her because the grit, determination and love for her craft is awe inspiring not only for women but should be by every man on this planet. Tina, you simply are the best!

7— “Before He Cheats”—by Carrie Underwood– It is hard to believe, even for me, that I would be writing about a contestant on “American Idol” but talent, along with a drive that is undeniable, is worth enough that I am performing the “Wayne’s World We Are Not Worthy Bow” because when this track was released I was flabbergasted while it quickly became one of my all-time favorite songs. Carrie is proof that a woman’s resolution is unmatched and for that I am extremely grateful for her gift to us all.

8— “Truth No. 2”—by The Chicks– Do you know how psyched that I am able to see this outstanding band on Thursday June 30^th at the Xfinity Theater in Hartford CT? I am flying solo so if you want to make the trek, we can tailgate and somehow figure out to sit together. The Chicks are one of my favorite acts of all-time and I know I will treasure seeing them again live in concert because I was not sure if they would tour again. Folks, if you have never seen these wonderful ladies perform you are deeply missing out because they are a national treasure. To be able to bounce back from the onslaught of hate from strangers because of an opinion is something that I do not know if any male act could ever survive. I will salute these women every chance I get but the number one reason is their astounding talent. The Chicks should be treasured as one of the greatest bands this world has ever seen. I am counting down the days like I was a kid waiting for Santa. I love Natalie, Martie, and Emily as much as Eddie and Alex.   

9— “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”— by Aretha Franklin– What would this world be without Aretha? It is unimaginable, right? I know I say this all the time, but this has to be considered in the top ten songs ever recorded in the history of music. I recognize I have no idea what this song means to a woman but as a man I am absolutely amazed by her voice, presence, stature, and strength as this tune leaves me breathless. I cannot even begin to imagine all the barriers she (along with numerous other women) had to hurdle to become a national treasure. Aretha, you are missed everyday by the entire universe. We bow to your existence and know you are doing God’s work as the angel you were here on earth!

10— “Isolation”—by Ann Wilson– I do not mean to “isolate” Ann without her sister Nancy as they both changed the world with their presence in Heart but Ann’s first solo album in 2007 is absolutely phenomenal despite being mostly covers. Dare I say that I love this version better than the late, great Mr. John Lennon as I usually do not move whenever I hear this exhilarating take on his absolute classic of a tune?  Ann Wilson’s voice is from heaven, and we are all blessed by her gift. I am bowing in absolute gratitude as my life would never be the same without her. (And Nancy!)

11— “Doctor’s Orders”—by Carol Douglas– Ever since I was a child in the 1970’s this has always been one of my favorite songs and about a decade ago I had to search long to find the original version. I know, I was the “rock” guy but songs like this bring me nothing but pleasure as I think this is one of the ultimate “one hit wonders” ever. Folks, this has been on almost every New Year’s Eve playlist in my home over the past ten years. “They don’t make songs like this anymore!”

12— “Yesterday Once More”—by The Carpenters– I always go back and forth between Karen and Patsy Cline as my favorite all-time female singers but I know I cannot go wrong with either choice. “Heavenly” is the first word that comes to mind whenever I hear Karen’s voice as I drift off while thinking of my mother as we both shared a love of her music. Folks, her vocal prowess is not from this earth and is flat-out flawless as I believe her impact surpasses almost every singer this world has ever heard. Karen, I wish I could have helped you because you are sorely missed. I will always love your gift.

13— “Note to God”—by Charice– Call me sappy, call me what you want but from the very first time I heard this song I was paralyzed with gratitude because it seemed like I was never presented with a gift like this track. I know it may be associated with the holidays, but I can listen to this track every day for the rest of my life. The production is flawless, and I am forever grateful to Charice for giving her all so that we may treasure it for the rest of our lives. 

14—”Dream a Little Dream of Me”-by The Mama & The Papas-Ellen Naomi Cohen, otherwise known as “Mama Cass,” was, in my opinion, one of the utmost treasures this world has ever seen or heard. Once I discovered The Mamas & The Papas as a teenager I was smitten with “Cass Elliot” so much so that I thought that I knew her personally, all because of this treasure of a song. What an impact she made in her 32 years on this planet, and she was gone when I was only nine years old. With no offense to the rest of the band, if not for Mama Cass there would have never been the success that was achieved. Ellen, I wish I could have met you!

15— “Crazy for You”—by Madonna– Shock and awe has followed this Icon throughout her career and maybe she does push the boundaries a bit but at the end of the day there is no denying her amazing ability to sustain. As mentioned, a million times, whenever you hear a song, it takes you back to that moment in time and I was 20 years old when this was released with a rock image to uphold but I would never change the channel when I heard this. Madonna ruled the mid 1980’s like very few other artists have ever achieved. 

16— “Long Long Time”—by Linda Ronstadt– This is another one of my bride’s favorite singers of all-time as Linda has graced this planet by being herself first and foremost while also gifting us with her unbelievable talents as a vocalist. This tune is proof positive on her greatness. Her amazing career goes beyond being a singer, it is her humanitarian ways that has blessed this world more than anything as she is one of the most beautiful souls that there has ever been.

17— “We Belong”—by Pat Benatar– Okay by now you all know how I feel about Pat not gaining entrance into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (the Go-Go’s before Pat Benatar? Really?) but I will try to focus on the positive. Mrs. Benatar ‘s vocal prowess on this tune is one of her best ever and every time I hear it, I drift off into another world. Thank you, Pat, from all the fans around the universe that know you belong together shoulder to shoulder with all the others who have walked into those hallowed halls.

18— “Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going?)”—by Diana Ross-I have always been mesmerized by this song since I was a kid and each time I hear it, I just listen in awe as I also recognize that Thelma Houston had recorded it two years earlier than Diana, but Ms. Ross’s adaptation will forever remain my favorite. And just like when Sting left the Police to pursue a solo career I feel for Florence, Mary and Betty but also realize that sometimes life is not fair. In this case, I guess there was no way that Diana would not become the spotlight because there is that undeniable talent and drive. That has to be respected.

19— “So Much Love”—by Dusty Springfield– The album “Dusty in Memphis” is clearly a body of work that one needs to listen as each song is brilliant while the musicianship is astounding but clearly it is Dusty’s majestic voice that is pure perfection. Her ability to navigate through the decades while recreating herself is a testament to a woman’s will to overcome any and all obstacles. Dusty, I will always bow to your catalog, absolutely incredible.

20— “Worth My Time”—by Mary J. Blige– Her talent is staggering, and my preferences are the tunes that scream with passion, love and pain as Mary has been a role model for so many through perseverance of her own experiences as she continues to deliver with priceless pieces like this.  

21— “Occasionally”—by Melissa Etheridge– Prior to marrying my bride, I would always suggest going to concerts as a date with most of my selections being spot on. In July 1989, about 18 months before we said our vows in front of family and friends, I took her to see Little Feat on the upper west side in Manhattan where there used to be outdoor concerts near the water, I believe it was Pier 84. She was not familiar with Little Feat and admittedly I was just a novice but was soaking up all the great bands that I could. Upon our arrival, most of the Little Feat brethren were talking about this young woman who was the opener. There was such a buzz that I was taken back and actually could not wait to hear this new sensation. Melissa brought the Pier down with her amazing performance, highlighted by “Like the Way I Do” but when she played this song all by herself with the acoustic guitar while she slapped it with her hands to keep the beat going, I was flabbergasted. Whenever I hear this song, it takes me back to that awesome night and it was even a Sunday but at the time I was courting the love of my life, so it did not matter what day or night or what time.

22— “If I Could Turn Back Time”—by Cher– Boy do I wish that I could turn back time or at least slow it down. As I mentioned last year when I was a kid, I remember watching the “Sonny & Cher” show in a trance because of her beauty as well as her voice while also being blown away by her acting abilities. One of my favorite all-time movies is “Mask” and I thought she should have won the academy for best actress in 1985. Talk about resilience? If one were to look up the definition for this word, you just might see her photo. Her grit and determination are not only admired by women around this universe. This song will forever bring me back to the S&P 2018 holiday party as it is the one song that Linda requested. I could see her enter the crowded room just in time as this tune started. So many songs to choose from but this one will always strike a chord in me because the deeper I head on the back nine, the more I wish I could turn back time.

23— “Midnight Train to Georgia”—by Gladys Knight & The Pips– This has to be considered one of the best recordings in the history of music as there is no one who can sing this like Gladys, and it is so wonderful that she is still gifting us with her talent. I cannot even imagine what she has seen and endured (like many of her female friends) to make it to the point where she has to be considered a national treasure. To do it as long as she has done it with beauty, class, and a love for all is extremely admirable. Crank this classic up!

24— “La Vie en Rose”—by Lady Gaga– I remember sitting in the movie theater with my bride watching this generation’s rendition of “A Star is Born” and when Lady started singing this song, I was awe-struck despite not understanding one word she was reciting. This was near the beginning of the movie and if it had ended after her performing this tune, I would have been satisfied. Stefani, in my opinion, currently occupies the most iconic entertainer role and ultimately will be referred to as one of the best ever. She is extremely dynamic in her ability to sing to any kind of genre and her kindness towards Tony Bennett will forever be etched in my memory. Folks, Metallica was considering asking her to tour with them as the “metal” club knows that her love and knowledge of this sector is at a level where few have ever achieved. I bow to Lady Gaga.   

25— “The Daughters”—by Little Big Town– I recognize that this is a quartet consisting of Phillip and Jimi, but the focus here today is on the unbelievable vocal range by Karen Fairchild along with a beautiful backing vocal by Kimberly Schlapman. In my opinion, Karen has to be considered in the upper echelon of female singers that are out there today. As I listen to the words to this song it really brings home the amount of pressure that a girl or woman has to deal with, and I feel the pain because it really is not fair. “Dream for everyone but not yourself”- these lyrics knock me to the ground while praying that things will change for everyone on this planet as expectations for conformity dictated by one should not apply to all.

26— “If I Could See the World (Through the Eyes of a Child)”—by Patsy Cline– I can hear why my mother thought that Patsy was the ultimate because her voice takes me to the same place as she took my mom. The lyrics to this song hit home because of what is happening to innocent people, including children, which is extremely heart-breaking as we all know “what a wonderful world this would be” through the eyes of a child. As we celebrate women across this universe, I would like to personally thank every woman because without your strength, resolve, determination and love, our world would cease to exist. And where would we be without your unconditional nurturing? Let’s all celebrate this month and everyday for the rest of our time here!

My Top 10 List for STYX

“Oh Mama, I’m in fear for my life… from the long arm of the law… (thump… thump, thump… thump, thump)… lawman has put an end to my running and I am so far from my home… (thump… thump, thump…thump, thump)… Oh, Mama, I can hear you a crying you’re so scared and all alone… (thump, thump… thump, thump… thump, thump)…Hangman is coming down from the gallows and I don’t have very long… YEAH!!!”

As a 13-year-old who was at the very beginning stages of discovering my own genre of music, in part to separate from my parental influence but with deference, because I aspired to incorporate that sensation of being on a different planet with no concern of evaluation. At the moment I heard these lyrics from “Renegade” on the radio, along with that huge guitar sound, my entire world changed as I was polarized to the point of paralysis. I was convinced that this is how my parents’ lives were transformed when they first heard Elvis and Patsy. When I turned 14 in 1979, my good friend, Cathy, purchased the “Pieces of Eight” album for me and this became part of my daily intake, as much as the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I ingested for lunch every day while I was a teenager.

There are certain songs that strike a chord which altered the course of one’s life and I profess with no reservations that this tune solidified my destiny, even if I were not to play guitar, drums or become the next “Diamond Dave.” Of course, I was familiar with “Come Sail Away” from Styx which was released in 1977 and I loved that track as much as the rest of the brethren because that song takes me down memory lane and I appreciate it more today than I did back then as a teenager. “I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had” brings me back to what I believe was the greatest foundation of a neighborhood, despite the perception (or reality) of what other parts of the world would look down upon because maybe we weren’t the “richest” (in terms of money) but the bonds that were developed have never escaped our inner souls. And how do I know this? It is the connections that still exist today, as I remain in touch with Cathy, Brian, Audrey, and Anna despite not being available on “social media.” Obviously, it is the friendship, but I would profess that each one of us have a music linkage in some small way where we can reflect upon. (i.e.- “Meatloaf” or “Funeral for a Friend” quickly comes to mind).

Once I tasted “Pieces of Eight” I could not wait for the next serving and in 1979 it was “Cornerstone” which I can honestly say is my personal favorite. I often wonder why this body of work is not mentioned as part of their best efforts (like Cheap Trick with “All Shook Up”) and I know it most likely has to do with “Babe” which quickly climbed the “pop” charts. I will never forget when my mother turned to me at the kitchen table when she heard “Babe” on WCBS-FM radio and said- “isn’t that what you have been playing from your bedroom?” Of course, my father’s displeasure was evident in his face as he scowled- “what is this s**t they are now playing on the oldies station?!”

Okay let me address the “elephant in the room.”

I am not taking sides and will try to be “Switzerland” as I attempt to understand both points of view. It pains me deeply that Dennis DeYoung is no longer part of the band. I have to be transparent and let everyone know that when “Kilroy Was Here” was released in February 1983 (when I was about to graduate high school that June) I was “embarrassed” by “Mr. Roboto” and exited Styx just as fast as when KISS released “I Was Made for Loving You.” Although I have to say that I absolutely love the KISS song now, however, I still cannot entertain “Mr. Roboto.” My opinion is that Dennis fancied more theatrics in both the music and stage presence, while JY and Tommy coveted maintenance, if not an increase, of the infamous rocking guitar groove which exemplified Styx.  

Unlike with Foreigner, I have seen Styx with Mr. Lawrence Gowan (Mr. DeYoung’s replacement as of 1999) more than a few times, in part because I feel a connection with Tommy Shaw where the songs that he has written has affected me like very few others in any other band or artist. (Yes, I know I say this that about so many others but believe me when I say that Mr. Shaw is one of my “heroes.”) And to come to Dennis’s defense, I find it hypocritical that both Tommy and “JY” (James Young) will now perform “Mr. Roboto” and continue to put out “concept” albums (see- “The Mission” and most recently “Crash of the Crown”) for which they ridiculed Dennis to no end. Yes, I will admit my “fandom” with Styx is not as deep as it is with Foreigner and I will continue to see Mr. Gowan with the rest of the current members of the band, while I cannot pull the plug on Mr. Kelly Hanson leading the vocals with Foreigner.

Honestly, it comes down to Mr. Tommy Shaw as he continues to be someone that I wish I could walk in his shoes, for at least one tour. And I know that has to hurt Dennis because he was one of the founding members along with JY well before Tommy entered the picture. It appears the damage is extremely deep as both Tommy and James ignore any questions about Dennis with absolute silence, while Mr. DeYoung has made overtures that he would be open for one final tour.  At this point in time with Lawrence being part of the Styx family for over two decades and crafting new material, I doubt that Dennis will ever be let back in, even for one last time as the rumor mill heats up with Peter and Ace joining KISS on their very last concert date, which has not been selected just yet, but we know it will be at Madison Square Garden.

With that out of the way, let us go back to 1979, specifically to my rectangular bedroom customized with a plethora of KISS posters and the moment where I put the needle down on side one of “Cornerstone.” As soon as I heard the drum roll from the late John Pannozo (he and his brother, Chuck were there from the beginning; Chuck makes special appearances these days on bass and if you are lucky enough to be there when he walks out on stage it is magic) and the synthesizer from the opener – “Lights” – I immediately knew that I was going to love the entire album without even listening to the other tracks. Of course, I recognized that “Babe” was going to open the door to a whole new audience, but I did not bail because I had been shopping in this section for a long period of time and was okay with more in the congregation while also knowing that it was probably a “one-time” sale with those purchasers moving on to the next pop sensation. “Cornerstone” was the last album where the contributions by DeYoung and Shaw together, as well as individually, brought the band to another level but the cracks began to show.

As I turned over to side two, the impeccable “Borrowed Time” was always one of my favorites and I can remember like it was yesterday as Dennis lets the world know- “Don’t look now but here come the ‘80’s!” And seemingly in a blink of an eye four decades have flown by while I continue to reminisce, so much so that in early February I went back to Sunset Park and walked around the entire place while telling folks on the basketball courts that it was my first time in the park since 1989. In addition, as I approached my grammar school, P.S. 169, a couple stopped me, and we talked for a bit. When I informed them that my final year at the school was 1977, their stunned gazes back at me will forever be etched in my memory.  By the time “Paradise Theater” was released in 1981 the expectations for additional “monster” radio hits may have assured the dissolve despite the achievement of “stadium anthems” that are still being played today. (see “Too Much Time on My Hands”). I recall seeing a huge theater at the now defunct “Brendan Byrne Arena” in Northern New Jersey as the curtains fell and was wondering if they had spoken with KISS about a new stage show but they powered through the absolute classics as Tommy and JY made sure that huge guitar sound was not going anywhere. As I left, one could tell that trouble lay ahead as Dennis took the theatrics to something akin to a Broadway play and when “Mr. Roboto” was released as a single, it appeared the show business side had won out. To be fair, there are many Styx fans that love that tune while I also contend it had others running for the exits, including myself.

More than 30 years later I saw that Styx was playing at the Beacon Theater in New York City on Rocktober 28, 2010 and they were going to play both “Grand Illusion” (considered their best effort) and “Pieces of Eight” in their entirety. My seat was in the lower left orchestra section and as I made my way, I literally felt like I was a teenager again as I could sense a return to my wonderful childhood days, especially waiting to be polarized again by “Oh Mama I’m in fear for my life.” The show was fantastic as the band had a huge picture of an “old record player” and instead of an “intermission” Tommy would tell the audience, “As we flip over to side two” the crowd would see someone’s hands carefully picking up the Grand Illusion record while slowly turning it over. This little thing put me back in my bedroom as a mid-teenager where my world was carefree as I would excitedly search for that next band or record to satisfy my quenching thirst for rock music. For a few minutes as I watched and listened to Lawrence perform the title track there was a slight turn of the head like when someone hides a bone behind its back from a dog, but I could not let this moment of euphoria be interrupted by something that was already in place and out of my control. Was it like Dennis? No, but as the saying goes- “close enough for horseshoes” so I went with it and thoroughly enjoyed my trip down memory lane. I am always up for discovering new music but there is nothing like going back home.

Fast forward to the summer of 2018 as I was entrenched with my new family from Chicago as they were not just colleagues that worked out of the S&P office. Linda and I needed no excuse to go to “Chi-town” a few days earlier (on our own dime) prior to our annual work “offsite” where the “New Yorkers” had no problem with jumping on a flight to what I consider a very cool city. Of course, I always look for concerts (yes, the ones that I want to attend) and was certain Linda would tag along despite being a complete novice (still is) on music in general, never mind the stuff which I listen to. I also knew I would have no problem convincing Emily into going as she also admires Styx, especially Mr. Shaw. So, on Saturday night July 7^th of that year, we walked from the Swissotel to the Huntington Bank Pavilion as I implored them, as Santo and his girlfriend also boarded the bus, that we were going to be there by 6:45 p.m. because Tesla was the opener, set to hit the stage at 7:00. Just a few seconds after 7:00, Tesla blasts through their set as a scattering of fans knew their tunes which made my heartbeat faster because whenever I am together with the Tesla brethren, I realize that I am not alone. It was a homecoming for James Young as the women in front of us informed that they had grown up on the same street as James and knew his family. We made new friends that evening as Styx tore it up with such classics as “Blue Collar Man,” “Fooling Yourself,” and of course ended the grand summer night with “Renegade.”

Since that concert was so much fun, I went to see them again in 2019, this time in Stamford CT at the Palace Theater in May where again I had a lower left orchestra seat. As the show continued on, I suddenly realized that Mr. Gowan is just as flashy as Dennis while recognizing that JY and Tommy could have withstood the “balladry” from Dennis but refused to let it change the course of what brought them the success of Styx. Although I have to say that the band seems to be back to the original ingredients as evidenced by its last two concept albums, albeit with less of the ballad type of songs. My journey back to the past will continue as I will trek to the Beacon next Wednesday to see the boys tear it up again (and just like with Tesla, I like to see them as headliners with no offense to their 2022 tour with REO and Loverboy, although I may go just to see Loverboy for the first time since the 1980’s- yes, go ahead and make fun but at the time, just like a Bon Jovi show, the girls outnumbered the boys by at least ten). If I am going to that deserted island and was informed that I can only take ten songs by Styx, here they are in descending order at this moment in time! (Enjoy)

10— “Radio Silence” —Part of the reason I went back to see them again in 2019 was after witnessing them perform this track in Chicago as this quickly became one of my all-time Styx songs and it will remain there no matter if I perform this list at some point in the future. By the time 2019 rolled around I was well versed with this track and the folks around me were looking at me wondering where this song came from as I tried my best to emulate Tommy by singing word for word. Everyone- “… radio silence, so lonely… no communication… radio silence… anybody can you hear me?… I need a little mercy… it’s gonna take a little faith to see… The Mission… it all comes down to me…” For the folks who have not followed them since the 1980’s, like myself, give this song a listen and tell me this does not harken back to the days of yesteryear? Crank it up!

9— “Crystal Ball”— This gem marked the debut of Mr. Tommy Shaw in the band as I think he had written this song prior to joining and I can imagine laying this at the feet of his future bandmates as their smiles had to be ear to ear. Thank goodness that I attended the show in Stamford because they were pulling out the classics that night and when this started the entire audience let out a huge scream as we all knew what was coming. Mr. Shaw owned it and the performance took me back to being a teenager. Folks, it does not get much better than this.

8— “Suite Madame Blue”— Back to that night in 2019, right before they took a break for an intermission, the opening notes from what arguably many of the brethren believe is their greatest achievement in the catalog began and at that moment there was this dude in front of me who was polarized the same way I was when I heard “Renegade” for the first time. He was slightly older than me and I could tell he was a freak of a fan just by his reaction to this tune as he sung every word, crushed every drum part and air-guitared like I had never seen before. His enthusiasm is something that I will never forget as I was jamming along just as furiously, especially when the tempo picks up at the 3:54 minute mark and when JY explodes with his solo, we all felt like we were sitting on a cloud. When the song ended, the entire crowd was standing on its feet while I was doing the Wayne’s World “We Are Not Worthy” bow.

7— “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)”- Talk about crowd interaction? Wow, the entire audience will always sing along with Tommy, word-for-word, as this spectacle is a sight to behold as evidenced by the joy on everyone’s faces, especially at the 2:34 mark as he screams “Get Up!” Okay folks, let me take you there- summer night, not at all humid surrounded by a body of water as the amphitheater sits seemingly where waves would come to the shore on a beach as the familiar opening notes harkens the crowd from its seats as the 1:21 introduction ends with “Relax, take it easy.” There is Tommy Shaw at the microphone in front of the stage looking like he went into a time machine as he appears younger today as his youthful demeanor is contagious as well as the huge smile because the feedback from the audience is unreal. “Get Up… get back on your feet… you’re the one they can’t beat, and you know it… come on, let’s see what you’ve got… just take your best shot and don’t blow it…” What a night at Northerly Island in Chicago as the music dispelled our worries for the day!

6—” Boat on a River”- This song will forever remind me of my mother as she would tell me to open the door whenever she heard this tune because of that “folkish” feel and despite not knowing the lyrics, she would disappear into another stratosphere just as I would on the hardwood floor. Any time I listen to it these days, I can picture her smiling on her cloud as I am elevated back to my childhood days as I would endlessly listen to “Cornerstone” while always jumping back up to put the needle back on the last song on side one. In my opinion, this is one of Tommy’s best vocal performances ever as his timing is impeccable and even in 1979 this was very different from anything on the radio or even in their own rich catalog. “Oh, the river is deep… the river it touches my life like the waves on the sand… and all roads leads to tranquility base, where the frown on my face disappears.” Ahh to be young again, actually I become young again by listening to spectacular songs like this!   

5— “Borrowed Time”— Flipping over to side two, I was entranced by the opening notes from the synthesizers and when John’s drums come in at the 57 second mark, I was captured hook, line, and sinker. Believe it or not I can recall that “scary feeling” of entering a new decade (because I did not recall 1970 as I was only four) and when Dennis let’s everyone know that there was a new beginning coming, we all were wondering what was lying ahead. “… I was so cool back in ’65… I had it made ‘cause I understood what to do to survive… I had my car, and I made the scene… didn’t give a damn about no gasoline…” We were coming out of the long lines for gas, blackouts, Son of Sam, and disco was nearing its end as we all wondered if the promised land was really ours because we were the great society? Or were we? Looking back the 1980’s was a blast, and I would not trade it for anything. Styx was one of my many favorite bands, especially from 1978 through 1982 and their music prepared me for exploration of new bands because of their many talents including harmonizing vocals as well as the musicianship clicking on all cylinders paved the way for other acts to follow in their footsteps of success.

4— “Come Sail Away”— Talk about reminiscing? This song is extremely nostalgic as I am immediately put on the corner of 48^th street and 8^th avenue in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn as we would meet at the infamous “Izzy’s” store where he and his wife, Sonya, took us all under their wings while keeping an eye out for us like our parents, although Johnny-Boy and Peter drove Sonya crazy. On Sunday mornings, the members of the “Outlaws” football team would congregate on the corner while waiting for the consistently late teammates as “Cheesy” would fire missiles at us while we would ease in and out of two-way traffic to prepare us for our games at either Dyker Park in Bensonhurst or East 40^th and Farragut Road in East Flatbush. Even Johnny would blast this tune from his Monte Carlo, although not when we came into Bensonhurst, and I can hear him sing along to this song while missing some words despite hearing it a million times. On the corner, we congregated with our “childhood friends” and wondered where “the dreams we had” would lead us in the future. It was a cast of characters when I look back with Joe probably being the leader as he was the nicest guy in the neighborhood but also one of the toughest as he took no prisoners. I vividly remember him yelling at “Cheesy” in the huddle, imploring him not to throw a “bomb” to me over and over again. As we lined up, Vinny would see who was guarding me while lifting his chin up letting me know to go long and before anyone knew we had six points on the board but even I appreciated that Joe was right. With him around, all we did was play sports whether it be football on 8^th avenue or softball in the Pershing school yard while no three-member team could ever beat him, Flip, and Joe in street hockey as I can still hear him saying- “Kick save and a beaut!”  With no offense to Lawrence because he does a really good job with it but seeing Dennis perform this at the height of their popularity was life-altering.

3— “Renegade”— As mentioned I thought that this was the greatest rock song in the history of music when I was 13 years old because as with numerous Styx tunes, it starts off with this soft feel like it is going to be a ballad, with Tommy’s perfect a cappella and then BAM! Mr. Shaw wrote the song but asked James if he could perform the solo, which has to be considered one of his best as I am always air-guitaring out like a freak. I remember when “Rock Band” was the flavor of the month and my boys and I would take on this tune as I always took vocals because despite being a freak air-guitarist, those skills did not transfer over to a video game. Even attempting the vocals was fruitless as I could not match the tone and height of Mr. Shaw’s vocal prowess as I was usually kicked out of the song while my boys would continue on with the drums and guitar as there were hardly any “misses” from them. This is typically the last song they perform at their concerts and despite hearing it a zillion times, I always CRANK IT UP!

2— “Queen of Spades”— Oh my, talk about “psyched anticipation?!” if there is such a thing? As I laid on the hardwood floor with my pillow while I sang along with Dennis – “… day into night… she’s with me… how sweet is her warm embrace… safe in the scent… of jasmine… so safe in her gold and lace…” I thought this was going to be the utmost ballad on the planet but at the 1:46 mark, something that I thought could not get any better, escalated to the point of jubilation as I immediately jumped up while pushing up the volume to ear piercing levels and began to rock out to what I considered the ultimate heavy guitar riffs of all-time. John’s drumming kept this train rolling down the tracks at a faster speed than I expected because when I boarded, I thought I was headed in the love tunnel but ended up on the “Acela” headed to Philly or Washington. In my opinion, this is the pinnacle of Dennis’s singing ability as there is no denying his impact on their accomplishments and his scary cynical snide “Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha…. You lose” at the 4:01 mark is masterful. I remember playing this tune for Vera and at first, she was loving it but when the loud guitars came blazing in, she held her ears while screaming at me to “turn that s**t off.” I would laugh just like Dennis did.

1— “Sing for the Day”—Go ahead and roll your eyes or pound the device you are reading this on, but I make no qualms by stating that this tune by Tommy Shaw is by far my ultimate song by Styx and it has been this way since Cathy purchased the “Pieces of Eight” album back in February 1979. I have always wished that I knew someone named “Hannah” and I would fail performing this at a karaoke party, but I bet I could win the lip-sync contest. Listen to the blending of Tommy’s and Dennis vocals for the chorus section and tell me this is not one of the best harmonization’s ever? My favorite part arrives at the 3:12 when Tommy laments the following- “Hannah don’t fail me I need you like never before… Father time’s at my back, on my heels, behind every door” – these words are coming true for me with each passing day and when he pleads with Hannah as he begs her “please tell me the things that he says are untrue” I can feel his pain. My dream came true in Rocktober 2010 when I witnessed Styx perform this masterpiece as I felt like I was flying near the top of the remodeled Beacon Theater in all its beauty. Thank you to every member of Styx, past and present, for taking me back to my youth each and every time I hear one of your songs as the beautiful memories come rushing back to those glorious days.