SUMMER

“That’s right kid, you better keep running because if I catch you, I am going to kill you!”

Let me set the scenario. It is a nice warm summer day in and around 1978 as my brother, and I were spending the next 40 days at our grandparents’ home in Otisville N.Y. We set out with the local kids in town, including Rob, John, and Patti, as we walk up about twenty-five steps that look like they are part of a rotunda as they complete a half circle like a grand entrance to a park with swings along with a huge slide. At the top step we all noticed what seemed like hundreds of small green apples spread across the ground like they had fallen off the back of a truck. The apples were hard as golf balls as we made the extremely stupid and dangerous naïve teenage decision to hurl at the next car that drove past the park.

There was at least five of us that unloaded rapid fire where we each probably threw three apples a piece as I can remember the sound of the metal on the car being dented by our throws. Just our luck, it was a convertible, and the stack or roof is down. I do not know if it was my heave, but I have a track record of hitting folks either right on top of the head or in the face. (I once hit Peggy right on top of her head with a snowball where she would often stand at the base of her stoop holding on to the fence and laid in the neighbor’s yard across the street, where the ivy protected my identity, without making a sound as she looked all around but could not figure out who or where the throw came from. And there was this time where I whizzed a snowball right into Ronny’s mouth). I can see one of the apples hit him on the right side of his cheek.

The next sound we all heard was the screeching of tires as he slammed on the brakes, threw his car into park, hopped over the driver’s door while leaving the keys in the ignition and he set off like a Pitbull determined to exact revenge. We all set off in different directions, like when a light is turned on and the cockroaches scramble as quickly as they can off the kitchen counter. My brother runs over to a mother who is pushing her child on the chain-link swing with the black rubber seat and begs her to say, if needed, that he is with her. One of the guys runs off to the right while two others go left. With no other option but straight down the middle, I take off like a bat out of hell. Guess who he follows.

I can hear his footsteps pounding the ground as his grunting sounds come up almost as rapidly as I am running. I am flying by the Otisville grammar school (my brother attended that school and my mother actually graduated from the same building when it was a high school in 1963) and I cannot take a chance of climbing over the fence to the entrance of the softball field. I quickly slide along the chain link fence until I see an opening. I make my way down to the last step which puts me right at third base. I know that both left-field and right field have a density of bushes and small trees, which would make it extremely difficult to navigate through. My only option is to run straight towards centerfield despite the fact that there was also much shrubbery that included vines with thorns. As I am running, he lets out the aforementioned verbal warning as he is gaining in on me as I approach the centerfield hill. I knew that I could no longer turn around to see where he was because I would have received the beating of my life. I emerged from the bushes with minimal scratches as I continue my way up past Mickey’s house and despite the fact that I did not know where I was running to, I had a paved road which would only enhance my speed. Folks, when I was an early teenager there were not too many people who could beat me running and whenever I had fear within, it was like when Batman would either push a button or flick a switch inside the dashboard of the Batmobile to have the flames bolt out of the steel pipes above the back wheels.

I would say that guy chased me for a good mile, and I ran another without turning around. I believe I ended up on Seybolt Avenue and then onto Mount Hope Road which was one of the main arteries in and out of Otisville. That man was nowhere in sight as I knew he would be searching for me with his car while I found the trusty old path in the woods to get back home. I realized the gravity of what I had done and till this day am extremely sorrowful for my abhorrent behavior. Thankfully, he did not crash.

The rest of the summer was spent with my friends on 46^th through 48^th streets which usually went like this- running into the bathroom early in the morning to find a towel to take to Brighton Beach along with enough money to board the “B” train, to purchase a hero sandwich right underneath the station at Brighton 7^th street at our favorite deli and to have enough to either make the trip to Nathan’s or back to seventh street for a soft swirl ice cream on a waffle cone. Never thought about sunscreen as we played football or frisbee in the hot Coney Island sun as well as riding the waves in while scrapping our chests from the broken seashells. Every once in a while, one of us would be caught in an undertow thinking we were going to drown but remembering the message that was beaten into our heads- do not swim against the current, let it take you out, eventually it will let you go, and you can swim to the side.

As the beach day would come to its end, we would typically walk back to the main train entrance at Coney Island to jump back on the B train and maybe purchase those rock-hard candy apples that would break your teeth or that sticky cotton candy. Of course, since we entered the train at its inception, there were numerous places to pick as Johnny-Boy would lay down and take up at least three spots. Typically, he was sound asleep by the 20^th Avenue station while me, Vinnie and Tommy would walk to the next car knowing that we only had about five more stops to exit knowing full well we were not waking him up because well, it was fun. As we exited the Fort Hamilton stop, we would all bang on the window to alert him to wake up, most times he would wake up at 36^th street or Pacific Street (which is now the Barclay’s stop) and have to walk over to the Brooklyn bound side.

After dinner, we would have numerous options to keep ourselves busy with “Buck-Buck,” “Kings,” (usually played near the corner of 46^th street and seventh across from Johnny’s house) “Red Devil,” and “Manhunt.” If the three musketeers (Johnny-Boy, Vinnie, and Tommy) were on the same team and we had to search for them, they would usually cheat by going to the store, grab some munchies while always going out of the boundaries. The other team eventually caught on and we either called it a night or played another game while they thought we were all still looking for them. When “Kings” was the option, there was no one on the block that could beat Carl, he had the most amazing ball handling skills and when we had around ten kids playing, his serve would spin so deadly that no one had a chance to return, especially if you were in the ninth or tenth spot. Impossible to beat, he turned to using his feet only and still managed to come out on top.   

During the summer, our dad let us stay out until it became dark which was a step up instead of having the lights go out after “Happy Days” at 8:30 p.m. My brother and I always tried to squeeze out the last rays of daylight as we would typically be on someone’s stoop by 9:00 enjoying the endless summer nights. As we approach Memorial Day weekend, I first want to honor our fallen heroes who protected our lives with theirs as well as those who are still with us. Making the ultimate sacrifice will forever be taken into our hearts. On another note, it typically is the start of summer, so I have decided to create a setlist with songs that are related to what has now become my favorite season. There will be tunes which contain the following words in the title- “summer,” “beach,” “sand,” “thunder,” and “lightning.”  And in a slight twist I will also include tracks where either specific lyrics can be identified with summer or in some cases, are just associated with heat or the wonderful hot weather.  (Enjoy!!) Oh, by the way I want to wish my next-door neighbor an incredibly happy birthday today! When I reach eighty-seven, I hope I am half as energetic as this man! And he served us in The Navy. I salute you, my friend!

1— “Hot Child in the City” by Nick Gilder—During that summer of 1978 spent in Otisville, this was the one song that was forever played on WABC- AM radio at seventy-seven on the dial with DJs such as Ron Lundy and Harry Harrison. A few years ago, I heard this tune for the first time in probably decades and I immediately purchased it from I-tunes. Can you believe that Apple has discontinued the I-pod? What will I do? Anyway, how cool is this tune? I can listen to this track all summer long as the groove is extremely infectious while easy to sing along with Mr. Gilder. Folks, this was one of the biggest hits of the 1970’s.

2— “Remember (Walkin’ In the Sand)”—by The Shangri-Las– I know some of you are screaming for the Aerosmith version but for me it has always been the sound of Mary and Betty Weiss along with the Ganser identical twins, Mary Ann and “Margie.” If you listen carefully, one can hear the “seagulls” like you are at the beach- what better way to kick off the summer with this absolute stone-cold classic!

3— “Knock on Wood”— by Eddie Floyd- “… it’s like thunder… lightning… the way you love me is frightening… I better knock-on wood…” I had to find a way to get this track on the list because I believe it is one of the best songs ever recorded. It has this cool finger-snapping groove that will either have you strutting into the circle on the beach or air-guitar in case you are embarrassed to dance. I have always equated this track to summer because I can picture a backyard party as the night is just falling as this is blaring out of the speakers and once it ends, there will be calls to play it again. Crank it up!!

4— “In the Summertime”- by Mungo Jerry-I drove my boys crazy with this tune because I demanded participation as one of us would do the “UHHH” while someone would do the “CHHH… CHHH, CHHH…” and the third person would sing along to the crazy lyrics- “… if her daddy’s rich… take her out for a meal… if her daddy’s poor, just do what you feel…” This is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. “CHH, CHH, CHH, UGH!”

5—” Last Summer”- by Johnny Orlando– To stay somewhat in touch with what’s new in popular music, I am one of those folks who load up on the “NOW That’s What I Call Music” releases. I know that this is no longer hip, if it ever was, it is a question that I cannot answer, but I love the feel to this tune as I sway back and forth while singing- “Take me back to last summer… last summer… last summer.” Ironically, I will forever associate this track to the Holiday party in December 2018 when I played DJ for the entire public finance family of friends.

6— “Beach Baby”— by First Class– This song will forever put me in the fenced in dirt field right next to the GJOA club on a Sunday afternoon in the sweltering sun as my brother and I would either be kicking a ball around or getting dirty in some way as this blasted from the jukebox. I always thought this was one of the best songs when I was growing up because of the lead singer, Tony Burrows, who was hired to do the vocals. And not too many other tunes have a French horn. Anyway, I can picture Kenny & Margie, Arnie & Clara, Ellen & Buzz, Richie & Carol, as well as my parents as there were wonderful moments of togetherness that will last a lifetime. My mom and Clara were great friends, and I would always smile as they stuck together with their “girl power” while having a connection that men dream of having. If you are a fan of “Everybody Loves Raymond” Ray sings this song as he comes down the stairs in the infamous episode called “Raybert.”

7— “The Boys of Summer”—by Don Henley– Arguably the greatest summer song ever crafted, no? As soon as the tune begins, I can picture a long country road where it is extremely hot that you can see the heat coming off the blacktop road. My brother and I were the boys of summer with our uncle as he took us many places while we typically walked most of the time. In one of the most infamous stories, we were walking on a sizzling summer day alongside an open cemetery when we saw and heard this huge dog running across the two-lane road. My uncle and I blazed out of there so quickly but then realized that my brother was not with us. As we turned, he was frozen with fear while we screamed for him to run. It was too late; I remember as the dog launched off his back legs in slow motion towards his face. Oh boy, this is going to be bad. At the last possible second, he turns as the dogs’ teeth lands on his back pocket. The scream alone scared the dog back across the road while we quickly ran back to take him home. Those were the days with the boys of summer.

8— “Hot Fun in the Summertime”—by Sly & The Family Stone– During their heyday, they had to be considered one of the best bands to ever play music. I believe that even Miles Davis was a fan of this family outfit. I am too young to remember their career but has there ever been a more intriguing star than Sly? He turns up like once every decade to maybe create some new tunes but for the most part he has vanished. Again, I do not know the whole story but wish he were still active to recreate the magic he has with various stars of today. I have to believe there would be some wild collaborations. In the meantime, we have a huge catalog to fall back upon- this is a fantastic summer song.

9— “Heatseeker”— by AC/DC– You will never know when I change on a dime and start to rock out. For the next few songs, I will be turning up the heat and look out for thunder and lightning.  Released in 1988 when MTV was all over the place, AC/DC made a splash with this unbelievably cool video. Brian Johnson flat out knocks me out with his stance in front of the fans as it looks like he is slicing cold cuts at the deli as his elbow churns fast in and out while Angus’s hair is probably the longest it ever was as AC/DC ruled the world. It is sad to see Malcolm there shaking like the rhythm machine that he was- he was recently voted the best rhythm guitarist ever. I would have loved to have been in the first row shaking my head north to south with a vengeance.

10— “Thunder Kiss ‘65”—by White Zombie– I will never forget the first time I ever heard this tune; I was polarized from the opening notes and knew I needed to get my hands on it. “… I never try anything… I just do it… want to try me?” Folks, this is Exhibit A for the best headbanging ever as it is almost impossible to not slam your head up and down.  Witnessing Mr. Zombie in concert is an event and the audience is rabid when he cranks this tune out. When the kids were young and trapped in my car, I would blast this song to the moon while only opening the windows a crack so they could breathe but just enough to not lose any flavor. When my youngest attended college, he had a roommate who played this track and my son started to sing it. His buddy looked at him and said- “You know this song?!” “Yeah, my dad played it all the time.” Ahh, an enormously proud moment for Papa! \m/ \m/

11— “Lightning Strike”—by Judas Priest– Rob and the boys continue to get better and heavier as the years go on. Hold on to your ears folks as the pulsating bass and lead guitars will either have you searching for cover, or you will stay in the open field to air-guitar while the strikes of lightning surround you. Talk about head-banging- OMG- this is so good and there is no other way to listen to this but LOUD.

12— “Driving Rain”—by Slash (feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators)-Okay so we had the heat, the thunder and lightning and now what? The driving rain as the summer night is interrupted by the beauty of Slash with Myles as the force is everywhere including the guitar solo at the 2:40 mark. Myles Kennedy is one of the best singers out there today and I can picture them cranking through this tune in the pouring rain. Actually, I saw them perform this on a beautiful night in lower Manhattan at the Rooftop at Pier 17 on Friday Rocktober 5, 2018 and despite being autumn, it felt like a summer night with the Manhattan Bridge in the backdrop as this unit tore it up.

13— “Cruel Summer”—by Taylor Swift– Welcome to my world as one never knows what will appear and I made the conscious decision to take it down to a pop level with the wonderful Ms. Taylor Swift. I do not know why but I love her “Lover” album as I can listen to songs like this all day long. It is amazing to me that someone so young can be extremely talented. We are all beneficiaries of her amazing gift.

14—”Summertime Sadness”-by Lana Del Rey-By no means do I know this woman’s career, but I have been dipping my toe into other genres, LOL. Of course, I love pop and there is a certain mystique with this tune that draws me in as it is quite easy on the ears. I am performing the “American Idol” wave above my head as I sway back and forth.

15— “Feels Like Summer”—by Childish Gambino– I believe I heard my boys talking about this artist and I came across this most pleasant groove which would be perfect for a backyard party as I can picture folks grabbing each other’s hands while kicking off their shoes to dance on the grass. I imagine a beautiful moonlit night after the thunderstorm strolled through to cool everything off and there is no cooler song than this.   

16— “Heat Waves”—by Glass Animals– I love the way the song begins, and it appears like it starts all over again at the seventeen second mark and again at the forty-one second timeframe. This is chilling music at its best, I think this tune will make my setlist for the Carnival in July. I can picture laying on a hill with a blade of grass in my mouth as I wish the long summer days would never end. Very cool tune.

17— “Sea and Sand”—by The Who– I know there are many who consider “Quadrophenia” as the best concept album ever and if this tune does not put you on the beach, I do not know what will. At this time, The Who were clicking on all cylinders as each members’ talent shine through on this magnificent tune. Keith Moon’s drumming is perfect while John Entwistle’s bass playing is from another planet. And what else can be said of Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend? Those two are still on the road. Again, very often The Who can be taken for granted but when you hear a song like this it makes one realize how incredible this unit has been for more than a half of a century.

18— “Black Water”—by The Doobie Brothers– Any chance I had to get this treasure of a song on a playlist I will do it and yes, we all want to go in the water in the summer. As a teenager, I used to think that this was the coolest song ever crafted because of the way that Patrick Simmons sung it and when the background vocals kick in at the 3:08 mark, well it has to be considered royalty. This will forever remind me of 46^th street because it was created in 1974 and we heard this tune day, night, and all summer long.

19— “Dirty Water”—by The Foo Fighters– It still hurts, and I know the pain will continue forever. This is the first time since Taylor Hawkins passing that I have included a song by The Foo’s, but I believe this is part of the healing process. This is a perfect tune because it starts off exceptionally soft and like many of their other tracks, it bursts into your ears with Taylor’s pounding drums. Taken from their oft overlooked “Concrete and Gold” album, this is a super solid song. “… feel an earthquake coming on… feel the metal in my bones… ‘cause I am a natural disaster… dirty water in my blood… feel the moment coming on… heavy metal in my bones…”

20— “Walk on Water”—by Eddie Money– This definitely lands in my top ten for Mr. Money and I miss him very much because I not only loved his music but his reality show before he passed was a lot of fun to watch. Folks, this is pure euphoria as I will not believe that anyone on the planet could not like this song. It has both the obligatory- “na, na, na, na, na, na” along with the hand clapping, what’s not to like? Whether I am home or walking on the roads, I put the volume up as high as my ears can take. Please squeeze your headphones in as far as you can to get the juices to flow. Thank you, Eddie, for making a positive impact on so many lives with your gift!

21— “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”—by Brian Hyland– Each time I hear this I think of my mother as I can picture her shaking her hands while she loudly sang the chorus which is extremely addictive. These “old-time” songs have a way of putting this huge smile on my face and I may have mentioned this before, but I usually put this tune on at the summer carnival each year in my town. As I look around, I can see the faces of those of who are my age or older and the smiles are abundant. This is what summer and great songs are supposed to do.

22— “Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer”—by Nat King Cole– I recommend that this song be played nationwide this upcoming weekend to signal the beginning of summer. Nat King Cole is a national treasure, and his tunes are not just for the holiday season. I believe this song was included in the jukebox at the GJOA club and I can still feel the heat in that dirt yard like it was yesterday.

23— “Mr. Sandman”—by The Chordettes– Wow, a blast from the past. For reasons I can not articulate but whenever I hear this song, I think of Richie Cunningham of “Happy Days” because he was pure as Opie.

24— “Summer’s End”—by Phoebe Bridgers, Maria Taylor– Thanks to my oldest son, I am now aware of Ms. Bridgers and her impressive talent. This is a beautiful tune, and it has quickly become one of my recent favorites. When I heard this, I was immediately taken back to my summer days with my grandmother as she made it extremely special with the love that poured out for us. I would be the first one up on Sunday morning’s as she prepared “Norwegian pancakes” or crepes for the entire family. Ma would feed me first, at least five or six, and I was like a dog whereby anyone who could not complete their batch I would finish it for them. After three hours, if there was any batter left over, she would make it for me as I cleaned the plate while my uncle would scream at her for letting me eat so many of them. “He’s a growing boy!” Miss you Ma!

25— “Bridge Over Troubled Water”—by Simon & Garfunkel– This could have easily been included on my “Motivation” playlist about a month ago and I decided to have a majestic ending. I will set the scene; it is a warm summer night as you start to see the fireflies in the air while sitting around in a circle of friends either having cool watermelon or ice cream. As the young child starts to fall asleep in mom’s arms, the teenagers walk off with their desserts while the elders of the crowd reminisce about the golden days of summer. Each are grateful for the positivity in their lives while making it known to their loved ones and friends that they will always be there for them in their time of need, like a bridge over troubled water, they will lay themselves down for you. Is there a better way to start off the summer?!

Remembering CHRIS CORNELL

What did I get myself into?

I am here by myself where it is dark and scorching hot on this day in June 1994. Why would they have a concert at the 69^th Regiment Armory, a historic National Guard building? Wait, is that a fighter plane? Does this hallway ever end? Okay, I will follow the crowd. Why are there no windows? This day started off great as I was extremely psyched to witness my heroes for the first time ever. Once I coach the S&P women’s softball team to a victory, I will follow the yellow brick road to Lexington Avenue between East 25^th and East 26^th street.

As the crowd begins to bunch up for no apparent reason, I swing to the left and roll outside all the sweaty people while confronting a rope. Oh, there it is, a drum set as the stage comes into view despite the dungeonlike atmosphere. I head back to get a position near the front but quickly realize that I cannot be this close to people because of the extreme humidity. Just standing there without moving, I could feel the sweat fall off the back of my hair on to the back of my neck. Silhouettes begin to emerge above the shoulders of those in front of me. Cameron’s drumming is frantic while Kim’s guitar sounds like it is crying and Shepherd’s thumping bass line are actually crushing my chest. Oh my God, it is beyond loud, should I run to the back to save my hearing? No, I need to see him. There he is the mythical legendary singer this earth has ever heard in the history of musical voices- Mr. Chris Cornell! Despite the tornado that was engulfing me, I was right at home as he belted out- “… And you stare at me… In your Jesus Christ pose…”

When I entered the lobby of the Town Hall in April 2011, I purchased a beer and proceeded to go to my seat. “Sir, you cannot take the beverage inside the theater” Wait, what? I literally turned and took about seven steps from the lobby to the door entrance. After standing against a wall beside the door, I quickly finish but it is not what I wanted to do but hey, many times in life, you cannot get what you want. (Thank you, Mick, and Keith!). As Chris takes the stage solo with an acoustic guitar while pledging his affection for Syd Barrett, one of the founding members of Pink Floyd, and launches into “Dark Globe,” I knew what I wanted to do with my life. At that moment I was prepared to quit my career and follow him to the ends of the earth.

It is early morning in May 2017 while I am watering my lawn. Mr. Green Thumb, I am not. I feel a buzz in my pocket. Who could be texting me at 0500? It is my brother. Oh no. As I see his message I look up to the skies as tears begin to slowly roll down my cheeks. Please God, tell me it is not true. And in what seems like a blink of an eye, today marks the fifth year since Chris Cornell passed away.

I will never forget the first time I heard “Outshined.” I was floored while immediately wanting to know who the band that was performing a song that I would consider “The Mighty Led Zeppelin on steroids.” My favorite line to the track right from the start and has always stayed with me- “I’m looking California… But feeling Minnesota… Oh Yeah!” My journey with Soundgarden begins as I purchased “Badmotorfinger” when it was released in Rocktober 1991. Folks, this was a banner year for me as I married my bride in February, Metallica releases “The Black Album” that summer and I fall deeper into heavier music that autumn. What I did not know was that I would have to pause until 1994 for “Superunknown” but obviously it was worth the wait.

My “OCD” kicked into high gear after I heard “Spoonman” on the radio and I dove headfirst into the album in late spring 1994, so much so, that I digested as much as the three meals I was eating on a daily basis. The more I listened, it became crystal clear that Chris Cornell was the greatest living singer of my era where I now contained the stories for which I could tell my grandchildren that I actually witnessed him in concert.

Overtime was available for the Corporate Records group on Saturdays around the time “Superunknown” took off and I beamed with pride as my new favorite band had the number one video with “Black Hole Sun.” I worked with slightly older crowd and even they were impressed as Chris stood there with his guitar while all these things were flying past him. In 1995, Soundgarden was everywhere with “Fell on Black Days,” and “The Day I Tried to Live.” The slickest tune, in my opinion, is “Head Down” which sounded like a modern-day Beatles tune.

In May 1996, they release “Down on the Upside” which had similar ingredients to “Superunknown” as well as the structure, but I had no issues, like some other critics. When I heard “Burden in My Hand” I knew that it would remain one of their best songs they would ever craft. On Wednesday July 10, 1996, I head to Lollapalooza in The Bronx N.Y. at Randall’s Island to be part of history as the day/night festival included Soundgarden as the headliner, right after Metallica. By this time, my two obsessions were both of these bands. It was an exceptionally long day with three distinct stages as lesser known to mega star entities crushed it out of the park on this sizzling summer day. Seeing The Ramones and the Wu Tang Clan in the late afternoon which transitioned to slight darkness as the audience waited for Metallica. After a blistering set (as usual) the crew is working feverishly to prepare the audience for arguably the most popular band on the planet at this time. As Cornell and the boys played mostly all tunes from their fourth and fifth studio album, I was in my glory because witnessing them play live was astonishing, in large part due to Chris as his vocal prowess was not of this earth.

While making my way from the Fairlawn N.J. train station my Hyundai begins the descent after seeing the “low fire risk” on the “Smokey the Bear” sign at the top of Skyline drive and the WDHA FM radio disc jockey tells his listeners that the members of Soundgarden mutually agreed to end their alliance. A piece of my heart was taken from me on Wednesday April 9, 1997, and I’m not totally sure because my parents remained together until my mother’s passing, but it felt like they divorced from me. Didn’t they know how much I loved them? Why and how could they do this to the fans? I believe the pressure to produce after the enormous success of “Superunknown” had to seep its way into their heads and I think maybe utilizing the same formula maybe led to pointed fingers as well as everyone retreating to their corners. My wish would have been to take a needed vacation, but the decision became a finality.

I knew this would not be the end of Chris Cornell because his voice was too valuable to not share with the rest of the world. I have always felt for the other gentlemen in the band because their musicianship help put Chris on the map. In 1999, Mr. Cornell releases his first solo album – “Euphoria Morning”- which came at a perfect time in my life as I made the difficult decision to leave my “family” in Ringwood N.J. to move to the Nutmeg state in August of that year. This massive solo effort goes with me everywhere as I try to adjust to a new life, feeling alone as I left for work in the dark and came home in the dark. The inspiration to keep moving forward was the realization that Chris was on his own without his brothers and that body of work remains one of my favorites to this day.

In a surprising shift, in my opinion, Chris decides to join forces with the three members of Rage Against the Machine as their lead singer left for a solo career. Audioslave is a supergroup that existed from 2001 through 2007 and I recognized their impressive bodies of work but except maybe more than a handful of songs, it was not “my cup of tea.”

Fast forward to April 2011, I am making my way to the Town Hall in New York City to witness Mr. Cornell for the first time as a solo artist. I knew that the Town Hall was “restricted” to acoustic performances if I am not mistaken. As he begins his set, I felt like I had come back home. Maybe it was because I had grown longer in the tooth, but I was extremely comfortable with this version of Chris. When he brought out his then 6-year-old daughter, Toni, to sit in a “kindergarten” chair next to him I could feel that bond that a father has with his offspring bleeding through as the crowd was as attentive as an animal at the zoo would be when a child is holding something for them to eat. That night he performed “When I’m Down” which was a song I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever get to see him perform because it was not “popular.” Folks, I literally felt like my feet left the floor when he was singing it and at that moment, I wanted to quit my job to follow him, even to the desert. I was willing to inquire about any type of job on the tour or in his circle somehow, someway. I would have swept the stage after each show or run any kind of errand just as long as I could attend every one of his concerts as a solo artist.

And in a most surprising turn of events, I attended the “reunion” tour of Soundgarden as they stopped at Jones Beach in July of that year but walked away wanting the “solo Cornell.” I know, even I could not believe it but after 14 years things change, and I wanted the solo artist. During the years that followed, Chris took part in numerous humanitarian events while also writing the most incredible songs in his career, again in my opinion. He took chances as evidenced with his collaboration with Cee Lo Green with the oft criticized “Scream” but hey, he shook it off while just moving forward. In 2015, he returns to his “roots” with the incredible “Higher Truth” album that includes the unbelievably moving “Misery Chain” which brings me to tears every time I hear it. Then suddenly as I received the text on May 18, 2017, my thoughts and prayers went to his wife, daughters, family, friends and all his bandmates from Temple of the Dog, Soundgarden and Audioslave. I knew at that moment that my life would never be the same because death has a way of taking a piece out of you even if you have never met the person. And terribly similar with my mother’s passing, there are times when I cannot believe that time has gone by so quickly but at the same time, the dwelling can slow things down to a crawl in what can seem like endless days.

In remembrance of Chris today, I have created a list of songs that celebrate his incredible career as a solo artist as well as his contributions with the aforementioned bands. Mr. Cornell was a beautiful husband and father and that is what always matters first. His gift was obviously his voice but more than that it was his humanitarianism, compassion, passion, creativity, and a man who wanted peace that stands out to me whenever he is remembered. Time eventually heals as sorrow slowly turns to joy as remembrance of the love experienced with that person takes center stage. His time on earth made a huge positive impact on my life and I never even met him. Hopefully, this will encourage exploration of his wonderful catalog. I apologize in advance, but I could not include “Say Hello 2 Heaven”- maybe at another time but for now, it is too painful. (Enjoy!)

1— “Our Time in the Universe”—This is one of those songs that just puts a smile on the face as you will either get out of your seat to dance or at least sway back and forth while clapping your hands as well as air-guitaring acoustically. The chorus is infectious as I love to sing along- “… cause it’s our time… in the universe… well I don’t mind if we’re blessed or curse… and it’s our time in the universe… yours and mine…” By this time in his career, Chris had it all and I honestly believe that being a father enhanced his writing abilities and I am grateful for his time on this universe.

2— “Dusty”- “… I think it’s turning back around… and I think I like it… I think it’s turning back around… though I don’t know why it is…”  Unlike the days when growing up where I would close the door, lay on the floor without a care in the world, in 1996 I had to be strategic because my bride wanted no part of Soundgarden so besides headphones, the plan was to always blast this throughout our home in Ringwood, once she left the house with our oldest son. This tune reminds me of an updated “hippie” tune because I feel like dancing in circles, wearing a tied-dyed shirt while flaying to the off-beat groove accentuated by Matt’s great drumming.

3— “Hands All Over”— For the folks who are unfamiliar with Soundgarden, please do yourself a favor and begin exploring because crushing tunes like this are awaiting your ears. Taken from their second studio album- “Louder than Love”- this exemplifies the special talents where one can feel the hunger of a band that is going to put their mark on the world. The band had a long-standing history with producer, Terry Date, who assisted them in their skyrocketing to the top of the world. And for those paying attention, Mr. Date went on to produce albums for the band by the name of Pantera. The brothers from Texas knew that if Soundgarden utilized his talents, there was no way they could go wrong.  

4— “Doesn’t Remind Me”- Again, there was no way that I could ignore greatness, and this is one of my ultimate tracks with Audioslave as Chris knocks it out of the park as the guitar solo by Tom Morello will leave you breathless. It was my selfishness at the time because I wanted Chris all by his lonesome because I felt that he reached a crossroad in his career where I believe his solo career would have driven him to a level on par with his prior band. That said, there is no denying the impact that Audioslave put on the hard-rock world as their brethren would tell you this was the best version of Mr. Cornell.   

5—” Hunger Strike”- I do not believe I have met anyone on this planet that does not like this tune. It is impossible to not admire. After Chris lost his best friend, Andrew Wood, he decided to form a tribute band, Temple of the Dog, to pay homage to a man who was the leader of “Mother Love Bone” and “Malfunkshun.” This unit turned into “Pearl Jam” as most of the members are still with them to this day and this album introduced a vocalist by the name of Eddie Vedder. A brief time later, Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Matt Cameron (who played drums for both Pearl Jam and Soundgarden) teamed up with Eddie to release “Ten”- the debut by Pearl Jam. Eddie does an admiral job on this tune but it is the high-pitched background vocal who steals the show. His name, Chris Cornell.

6— “You Know My Name”— Later on in his career, Chris was asked multiple times to write songs for movies and how cool is it that this tune will forever be associated with “James Bond” as this track headlined the 2006 version – “Casino Royale.” The more you listen to this song, the more you realize how phenomenal it is and I know that I always have to hit the rewind button at least two times before I move on to the next tune. I love to sing along- “… Arm yourself because no one else here will save you… the odds will betray you… and I will replace you… you can’t deny the prize… it may never fulfill you…” Although he would never admit it but how cool was Chris Cornell? To be able to craft a song that would fit perfectly into the theme of 007. That is too cool, if I may say!

7— “Wild World”— “Is it great to have him back?!” That was the message Chris had for the audience as he showed up for Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) and performed this duet to perfection as you could feel the admiration Chris had for Yusuf. I can listen to the original version all day long as well as this unreal collaboration because both men have the most identifiable voices this world has ever heard. Here is another example of Chris’s humanitarianism as well as acceptance while encouraging peace around the world. This is a stunning and most beautiful recording in the history of music, in my opinion. (For unknown reasons, this song is not available on Spotify)

8— “Let Your Eyes Wander – I will never forget the first time I heard this track, I was frozen on Metro North as I had downloaded “Higher Truth” the prior day and as I looked out the train window, the visions that Chris painted appeared before me like when Dorothy saw her “Auntie Em” in front of her as the house swirled in circles. But in my lost world, there is no wicked witch riding that huge bike. No, his vocal soothed me like no other song had ever done before. Sometimes in a marriage, eyes can wander but at the end of the day, you will come back to me. Powerful images by a man who painted imagery like no one could and none since he left us. Folks, it does not get much better than this. Absolutely stunning.

9— “Nothing Compares 2 U”— Recognizing that Sinead was a lightning bolt for controversy but there is no way anyone can take away the genius of her spectacular recording (acknowledging that Prince had written this tune) and I will not say that Chris does it better than the Ms. O’Connor’s, but his rendition brings tears to the eyes. It is a testament to the absolute beauty of his voice as I hang on every word he sings while my heart starts to tear up. Folks, when you listen to this you can picture being in an audience in a small theater, then realize what I had experienced and agree with my assessment that I wanted to quit my career while finding a way to work in his crew, in any capacity. This is beyond words.  

10— “Show Me How to Live”— You cannot go wrong with either version- the electric or acoustic but if you are seeking an adrenaline rush then go with the original recording because the pulsating bass, along with the drums are more than enough to get the juices flowing. And Chris’s vocal prowess is amazing because he takes it to a remarkably elevated level, then drops like a brick falling from the roof. The guitar solo is short but extremely powerful as there really is no one who plays like Tom Morello. The tune is a huge wall of sound and I understand the attraction to this supergroup. Love the ending where his voice sounds like he is gargling.  

11— “Can’t Change Me”— The first song from his debut album still holds its ground as a super solid tune as the flow keeps you coming back for more. Later on in his career, he explained to an audience that in life we conform to what others expect of you and after a while realization sets in that pleasing everybody is a useless expectation. He knew that there was no reason for him to change and there was no one that could. Love the bridge at the 2:03 mark when he exclaims- “and suddenly I can see everything that’s wrong… with me yeah… but what can I do… I’m the only thing I really have… at all….” I finally let those words sink in after all these years.

12— “Room A Thousand Years Wide”— Slow trudging head-banging took over the planet around 1991 as Soundgarden came into view. I can remember just banging my head up and down as I sat on N.J. Transit soaking up the entire “Badmotorfinger” album as this tune has always stuck with me. Is it repetitious? Maybe but that is how I learn. Especially when it comes to music as I constantly listen to tunes that I love and how about the saxophone solo towards the end of the tune. Who would have thought a Soundgarden song would have a saxophone? Crank it up as you shake your head east to west!

13— “Call Me a Dog”—It boggles the mind on how successful the Temple of the Dog album is, and this is Exhibit A on how great this unit was. Listen closely to the way Chris sings this track, it is absolutely astounding. The guitar solo just makes me fall over and just like that ice cream sundae which you hope will never end, I never want this song to come to a conclusion. Flawless.

14—”Stay with Me Baby”- I know I will sound like a broken record but songs like these highlight his proficiency as a vocalist. This conjures up memories of “old school” gospel, R&B mixed in with rock as I can picture Chris standing up at a pulpit giving his sermon as all his constituents just bow in his presence while no one attempts to sing along because it will ruin everything. I was so bummed when HBO decided to remove “Vinyl” after one season. This tune is part of the soundtrack and with no offense to any other artist but there is no way this track is not the ultimate tune on that list of songs. I always have to rewind this at least twice and sometimes I have to smack myself in the face to wake me up. Has to be considered one of his greatest vocal performances ever.

15— “Spoonman”— At some point during this pandemic I was watching “Kelly & Ryan” on their morning weekday show and there was some contest where the wheel was spinning. Before the caller was to answer the trivia question, the song that was playing in the background was this and Kelly Ripa was dancing in her seat while exclaiming that she loved this tune. I say, if Kelly can love this tune, so can you. Despite the fact that I have heard this nearly a million times, there was no way I could not have this on a setlist remembering Chris. That night at the armory, there was some dude (not sure if it was the original guy from Seattle) that was frantically playing a whole bunch of spoons on his legs, arms, and chest while the crowd went wild. Kim Thayil’s guitar playing is pure magnificence.

16— “Bend in The Road”— As soon as the tune begins, I can feel a lump in my throat as I try not to cry and the reason for the tears is the unconditional beauty of the song. “Higher Truth” is a masterpiece in my mind, and it is because of tunes like this. When Chris begins the third verse at the 2:41 mark with “… so put a bridge or a hill… or a forest of pines… or a river of blue… I can run alongside… and I’ll sleep when it’s night…” I nearly lose it.

17— “Thank You”— Not too many artists can pull off covering The Mighty Led Zeppelin, but Chris can because no one else had a voice like him. I can remember being at the Town Hall and when he started to play this, I was shocked because I had not witnessed too many other bands even think of attempting to replicate Mr. Plant. But as soon as he began singing, I was completely mesmerized and could not move. I know how much he and the members of Soundgarden love Zep. His rendition is the appropriate homage where I believe even the original members would nod in appreciation. Supremely exquisite.  

18— “Burden in My Hand”—Folks, last week I stated that “It’s All I Can Do” by The Cars was most likely the song that I have listened to the most in my life and I will now state that this track would be number two. In 1996, I was playing for the S&P men’s softball team and during that summer we had more than a few games at Randall’s Island in the Bronx. As Joe would volunteer to drive, I agreed but, on the ride, he had to concur to play “Down on the Upside” to the field and especially on the long ride back to Hoboken New Jersey. There would be four of us in the car and they would all say “Turn it down” as I would crank this tune up as loud as Joe’s car would allow. I believe this song is a masterpiece and it is usually the first tune that comes to mind when someone will ask me- “What is Soundgarden’s best song?”

19— “Redemption Song (feat. Toni Cornell)— As Cornell’s career progressed, he began to cover heartfelt songs and to take on a cover of Bob Marley & The Wailers is a tough task. He pulled it off and, in this case, he had his daughter, Toni, who was eleven when she appeared in New York City, this time at the Beacon Theater in 2015. Chris carefully lets his daughter take the spotlight as he follows along with her as her delivery is unreal for someone who had just turned eleven. His shadow with his lower octave compliments her strong confidence as she steals the crowds’ heart with a beautiful duet with her dad, whom you could tell was beaming with pride. At least she will always have this recording and the memory of being on stage with her hero. Priceless.

20— “I Am the Highway”— In my opinion, this is the best Audioslave song in their short but stellar career. There is something about the flow that keeps me laser focused on what he is singing about and when it comes to the chorus, it is extremely hard to not sing along to- “… I am not your rolling wheels… I am the highway… I am not your carpet ride… I am the sky…” There is no “takeoff”- meaning Morello plays it cool with a subtle but highly effective guitar solo that takes the tune to another level. The version performed by Chris on his acoustic tour is also excellent. He performed this at the Town Hall on that special night in 2011.

21— “Black Hole Sun”— There is an argument to be made that this would be considered the greatest song that Soundgarden ever recorded, and I would have no evidence to refute this assertion. As mentioned, this will always take me back to my days in Corporate Records where Frank gave me my first break into the workforce, and I am forever grateful. There I met two close friends, Mike, and Joe, as they took me under their wings while leading by example as well as offering up help at every turn. Despite not seeing them in a while, they will remain in my heart for eternity. And of course, they were all there in front of the TV that Saturday morning as the video for this song was being played at least ten times a day on MTV. I watched with pride as I knew that there could not be a bad word spoken because they were witnessing greatness. I can listen to this tune all day, week, month, and year long. This is a complete masterpiece.

22— “Outshined”—How cool is this song? It contains all the ingredients of a hard-rock song that anyone could ever ask as I can picture driving in one of those late 1960’s “muscle” cars because this tune has the horsepower needed to make anyone go from “zero-to-sixty” in no time. “…show me the power child, I’d like to say… that I am down on my knees today… yeah it gives me the butterflies, gives me away… ‘til I’m up on my feet again… hey I’m feeling… Oh I’m feeling… Outshined, outshined, outshined, outshined…” Chris’s howl at the 3:44 mark just makes me fall over as I gear up to sing the chorus all over again. The engine of Kim, Ben and Matt click on all cylinders. They have to know that they are part of history because this is one of the greatest songs ever created.

23— “Misery Chain (feat. Joy Williams)”— Chris recorded this song for the movie- “12 Years a Slave”- which is a true story of a man, Solomon Northrup, who was abducted and sold into slavery. He was inspired to write various tunes, but he settled on one which he thought was important from Solomon’s journey. Chris believed that every generation needs a reminder on compassion, love and basic human rights must be held at a much higher position than race or religion. If this tune doesn’t bring a tear to your eyes, I will not know how to respond. His solo version is absolute perfection, but I decided to go with the duet performance with Joy Williams on the David Letterman show in December 2013. “… won’t you take one link… from this misery chain… keep it to remind you… of a long-forgotten time or a place… so that you’ll recognize it… ‘til it’s understood… that every trace of the misery chain… is gone for good…” This could be one of the best duets in the history of music.

24— “The Promise”—Chris crafted the title song to the movie of the same name which was released in 2016 and dealt with the unnerving Armenian genocide during World War I. Chris said he wanted to pay homage to those that were lost to this horrifying event as well as shine a light on current situations where the same lack of humanity was occurring. I know he is looking down from heaven and shaking his head once more in disbelief as terrible atrocities keep happening despite the fact that we are in the 21^st century. This song is pure elegance and if Chris did not go down the path of the rock genre, he could have made a career by singing anything because that is how special his gift is to us all. “Persevere and thrive… As we’ve always done” Unfortunately, we have no other option.

25— “Sunshower”—Song after song, it really is baffling on the number of beautiful tunes that he has left behind and I know there is a substantial portion of his brethren that would say that this lays at the top of the pile. His pure rawness, if this is a real term, is what sets him apart from the rest. His compelling ability to craft songs leaves many speechless and when the tempo picks up at the 4:24 mark, unbelievably, the song ascends into further euphoria. Chris Cornell is a musical genius. (This appears on the” Great Expectations” soundtrack released in 1998)

26— “As Hope and Promise Fade”—Chris had this magical way of singing about sullen things in life which some may consider depressing but I for one, could never turn away. It was like those old Bugs Bunny cartoons where the aroma of a carrot would lift Bugs out of his hole while he floated towards the grand prize. Each time I listen, I am motionless as I hang on his every note while wishing I could sing like him- doesn’t everyone?

27— “When I’m Down”—This lands in my top five songs of all-time and am always blown away when I listen because it is like I am experiencing it for the first time. It has to be the most passionate tune I have ever heard, especially at the 2:57 mark when Mr. Cornell laments “… I know you hold… precious little hope for me… and in your happiness… I’m always drowning in my grief…” About five years ago, our family is headed out on a trip, and I had this on a set list and when it ended, my youngest looked over at me and said that this was Cornell’s greatest achievement as a singer/songwriter. When I saw him that night at the Town Hall, he informed the audience that he could never find the right person to play the piano part, so he said he was going to put the original recording on behind his singing. As he sang, I literally felt like I came out of my body, floated up to the ceiling and came slowly back down when I knew the song was ending. I stood in the aisle as tears were streaming down my face and considered this one of the most iconic moments of all the concerts I have ever attended. Again, I was willing to quit my job and follow him to the desert.

28— “The Keeper”—Chris wrote this tune for the movie, Machine Gun Preacher, which is a true story of Sam Childers, a former criminal, who travels to East Africa and tries to help the children of Sudan. Mr. Cornell was struck by the actual pictures of the children with Sam while they are all near a crashed plane and yet the smiles on their faces depict the amazing impact he had on their lives. It is a tale of someone making good after mistakes that were made and despite the atrocities surrounding the children, Mr. Childers was able to make them feel like children. As you listen to Chris tell his story in a song, the tears start to well up in the ducts of your eyes. Over the past five years since his sudden passing, I have listened to this track that he crafted more than any other in his catalog because I feel like he was The Keeper, meaning he is able to divert the troubles, even for a short period of time, with his wonderful spirit of a human, assisted with a voice that was not of this world. Chris, you are sorely missed, and I pray for your wife and children in their journey of life, but I know you are watching over them because you are a husband and father first. The rest of us are beneficiaries of your immense talent and we are forever grateful.

My Top 10 List for THE CARS

It was the summer of 1978 when I was four months into my teenage years as my life revolved around baseball whereby, I joined my first “organized” team- The Flynn Celtics- and this was the first time I had ever played on grass. Back then there was no need to put cleats and a glove on a eight-year-old while making them perform tasks they would probably only encounter a few times on a baseball diamond, if ever, just because an overzealous coach knew better.

Our education was free of charge on the streets of Brooklyn as the numerous iterations of the sport existed through the purchase of chalk, a spalding high bounce ball and a stick-ball bat. If “Egebo’s” ran out of bats, a broom stick would suffice. Walking to the school yard provided the ability to play it three different ways- “inside the well” we would outline a rectangular box, fill it in with the chalk and if the pitcher had chalk on the spalding, it was considered a strike. But of course, if your friend did not wipe the ball off, a close call would result in endless arguments on the next pitch.

“Inside the well” self-hitting with the stick ball bat off the wall in front of you was considered a single, if not caught by the opposing team before it hit the ground. If one hit the ball over the fourth-floor window or if the spalding bounced off both walls without being retrieved by a catch, that was considered a homerun. And then sometimes, we would set up camp between third-base and left field on the regular softball field with the batter standing there while hitting the ball into the well, with this being the only type that involved running the bases.

One of the most infamous stories was when John V. (his family owned the best “ice” parlor in the neighborhood) was hit in the eye from a laser line-drive, and we all thought he caught it. As the ball trickled by his side, he quickly started to run (but I believe he was the outfielder) up the stairs on the 48^th street side while turning right towards ninth avenue. A bunch of us followed as he made a beeline right to Maimonides Emergency room. We all waited outside and after exiting the patch stayed on his eye for what seemed like months. He nearly lost his eye.

My other passion was filling up on rock music as I was just beginning my journey. In 1976, I was introduced to KISS with their first live album which has been a life-long love affair, with a blip after the disco song but I eventually came back. One of my coffee-buddies, Mike, asked me the other weekend- “So how many KISS shirts do you own?” In 1977, Foreigner emerged with their debut album and since that time I have worshipped the ground that Lou Gramm walks on. And then in 1978, a five-piece outfit from Boston came on the radio with their first single – “Just What I Needed.” From that moment through my graduation from college is probably where my “OCD” began because my obsession was apparent by everyone around me as they probably still associate me to this day, as the guy who loves The Cars.

Their debut album has to be considered one of the best ever even if none of the songs had not become “monster hits” which are still played today on the classic rock radio format because the musicianship, the vocals (including the spectacular background), as well as their song-writing ability was apparent from the opening gate. As previously mentioned, they were a little “off-beat” by their sound and appearance as “New Wave” entered the fray with The Talking Heads and The B-52’s leading the way down what was considered “freak street.” It was a home for those who did not “fit in” with the various sections of high school. (Think “Basket Case”- Ally Sheedy’s character in “The Breakfast Club.”)

The recently departed Mr. Ric Ocasek had the classic “new wave” appearance, in my opinion, while Greg Hawkes definitely made heads turn with his look as well as his mysterious organ/synthesizer playing which was brought to the forefront of the “New Wave” explosion. Greg Robinson, drummer, and Elliot Easton, the oft-underrated guitarist, could have passed for guys in a band during the 1960’s with their “mop-top” haircuts. And then there was Benjamin Orr, who was taken from us way too soon at 53 in 2000, was the cool slick blond-haired gentleman who shared singing duties with Ric. These five gentlemen changed my life for the better.

While the debut album was being digested by the general public by way of Mr. Tony Pigg of WPLJ-FM fame, who was a huge fan, and would play The Cars every night during his time on the air, the band released “Candy-O” almost a year later to the date. “Dangerous Type” was the song that I would throw back at my school-yard buddies who denied their existence as proof that the rock stations played that track as much as any other tune during 1979 and 1980. As I have mentioned numerous times on this page, I have probably listened to “Candy-O” more than any other album that I have ever owned. Both sides are flawless with stunning classics such as “Since I Held You” and “It’s All I Can Do.”

And then in a little more than a year, in August 1980, their third album – “Panorama”- is issued and despite the enormous success of “Touch and Go” this body of work had become too “new wave” for mainstream rock radio stations. I love the “weirdness” of the album especially the title track that begins side one- “… I’m gonna get what’s coming to me… no surprises… no impressions… hey what’s wrong with you tonight… just sitting on your can, can…. doing the Panorama…” Was it experimental? Maybe. But nowhere near “Fear of Music” by The Talking Heads but then again, the record label knew they had golden nuggets on their hands, especially with the momentous success of the debut album which fit perfectly on the shelf of classic rock bands. My obsession with this album grew with intensity as the complaints continued to expand from every corner of the universe. (Okay I exaggerate a bit, but you get what I am saying). If anything, I wanted the band to know that I still loved them and despite all the negativity surrounding their third effort, I was there to let them know that there were some stalwarts still in their corner.

I have never skipped over a track on “Panorama” and will point you to “Gimme Some Slack,” “Misfit Kid” and “You Wear Those Eyes” as songs that I believe should have been played on the radio with much frequency. “It’s my party… you can come… It’s my party… have some fun” starts off one of my favorites on the album with Ben taking the lead on “Don’t Tell Me No.” I will admit I sensed something awry as the song writing seemed to belong to Mr. Ocasek by this time and that is not to say that his fingerprints are not on most, if not all, of their success. But there seemed to be collaboration between Ric with Ben and Gregg up until Panorama. In addition, it appeared that Ric was singing lead on about 70% of the songs being written.

This trend continued when their fourth body of work- “Shake It Up”- was released in November 1981 which definitely brought them back to the radio airwaves as they shook off the criticism of “Panorama” while making a splash as the title track became their first single to crack the Billboard top ten chart. That did not sit too well with me because at the time, I had a reputation with the boys in the school yard and any smell of a song going down the “pop” highway was a “no-no.” However, I did not turn my back on the band and would always point back to the first three albums as proof of not selling out. Anyhow, this album contained “Since You’re Gone,” “I’m Not the One,” and “Think It Over” which I felt were solid evidence that this unit was still on their game.

There must have been friction with the boys because it took more than two years for them to issue “Heartbeat City” which was produced by Robert “Mutt” Lange after Roy Thomas Baker had done the first four albums. Mutt actually informed Def Leppard that he was committed to The Cars and could not take the reins on “Hysteria.” But due to the delays I mentioned on my top ten for Leppard, Mr. Lange was able to complete that masterpiece. I am not saying Heartbeat City is in that category but there was this thing called Music Television in 1984 that was creeping into everyone’s households. The Cars rode MTV’s initial success with huge video hits such as “Magic” and “You Might Think.” And of course, arguably their biggest song on the album (and in their catalog) was the irresistible “Drive” which highlighted Ben’s vocals. The video was actually directed by Timothy Hutton and the woman seen arguing with Ric was Paulina Porizkova, whom he would later marry. (It was sad to see that Ric had written her and his two eldest sons out of his will after he passed but Paulina was able to settle with his estate). On another note, “Stranger Eyes,” was used in the theaters to promote a movie called “Top Gun” but never made the soundtrack. By the way, the beginning of “Hello Again” sounds exactly like Def Leppard and Andy Warhol directed this video while making a cameo.

By the time I graduated college in 1987, unfortunately I was moving on from The Cars because of an unknown at the time, Guns & Roses, were emerging with a force that I have never seen replicated in my lifetime. I know what you are thinking- Nirvana- okay I can see an argument there but with Guns it was their debut. In 2011, out of nowhere, The Cars reunite, sans Mr. Orr (obviously), with a surprise new body of work called “Move Like This” which returned them to their roots, and I absolutely love this album. After seeing them when I was 15 years old on the “Panorama” tour which parked at Madison Square Garden for two nights in December 1980 I figured I would never have the opportunity to see them in concert, especially after Ben left us. But then, in one of the biggest moments in my life, The Cars announce a small tour to support the album and on May 25, 2011, they played at Roseland Ballroom. Of course, you know I was there in attendance, but the best part is that I had friends who loved them just as much as I did. Diana, Jon, and Chris (I apologize if I left someone out) jammed along with the boys that night hoping for Ric to let Elliot lose but that did not occur. No matter, it was a dream come true for me to see my heroes at a point in my life where I never thought it could ever happen.

This is going to be hard—to narrow down to just ten songs from this Hall of Fame band (did you hear that, Frankie? Hall of Fame!!) but I will do my best to do this justice. I could have just put down every song from the debut or “Candy-O” because they are flawless. For the folks looking for the “greatest hit” top ten, there is a CD on sale on Amazon or some streaming venue that will play what you want to hear. Yes, of course this list will have hits, how can it not? But suffice to say this selection of songs would not appear on anyone else’s inventory. So, without further ado, at this moment in time, here are my ten favorite tunes by The Cars!! (Enjoy)

10— “Keep on Knocking” —I feel a little bit guilty for selecting a song that did not include Ben Orr on bass but just like dozens of other tunes by The Cars, the groove is too infectious for me to ignore. It is amazing to me that nearly a quarter of a century later, the boys just picked up where they left off as both Greg and David are in the forefront of this rocking tune. As I squeeze my headphones into my ears like someone would turn the orange to get the most juice, I drift off into another world – “… they keep on knockin’… like the party is on… they keep on knockin’…  yeah, from dark till dawn…” As usual Elliott has a nice short, sweet solo but one can tell he knows how to manage the axe. I was able to witness live at the Roseland Ballroom and it is something I will always treasure as I never wanted that night to end. Rest in peace, Ric and Ben.

9— “Drive”— I felt extremely good for Ben as this song took off with international attention because by this time, by appearance, it seemed like the band was tilting towards Ric and it seemed that Ben was being somewhat ignored, but I could be incorrect. I believe this tune highlighted this man’s wonderful talent as a singer and oh by the way, he was an excellent bass guitar player. As I have stated before, this track can be played at any event- a wedding, a dinner party or even a prom- yes, it may be “old” but as we approach the season for these celebrations, what better song to play than this? Even grandma will love dancing with their grandson, granddaughter, or hubby to this exquisite tune. Funny thing is that when this became popular in 1984, although old enough for a license, I could not drive anyone home which may have put a cramp in my style because I had neither a car nor the permission to drive one. By this time, I no longer had the immature feeling of dropping a unit once it went down the “pop” highway. In this case, it was the exact opposite as I was incredibly happy for Mr. Orr as the spotlight shined brightly on him which hopefully alleviated my assumed frustrations he was experiencing up until that point. This song put him on the map.

8— “Misfit Kid”— I read an interview in the past year where Mr. Easton was asked what track done by The Cars where he was surprised that it did not turn into a “hit” and the song he cited was “Misfit Kid!” I could never understand on why this did not achieve the success it truly deserves, especially at the 1:07 mark with the obligatory clap of the hands (and occurs again at 2:22, 3:44, 3:52, 3:59, 4:07, 4:12 and 4:22) I love the way Ric accentuates the following part- “… well I’m a ready to strut…” I would blast this from my bedroom window to the folks around the corner as I would scream- “I’m on the inside… taking a fast ride…” as Elliot blasts another short but solid solo. I love the way Gregg follows along with the addictive keyboards and this has to be one of Ric’s best vocal performances. “I’m the American Misfit Kid… that’s right… I get cornflakes…” C’mon who sings about cornflakes? I love this tune!

7— “I’m Not the One”- The Cars had this amazing ability to take it down while getting everyone involved. If you listen carefully, Ric is the lead on vocals while Ben continues to sing “You know why” around the entire tune and when they all blend in on singing, the result is expert. When I hear this I am laying on the hardwood floor with a pillow around my head as I would listen with extreme pleasure as the chorus knocks me out- “… going round and round… cause you can’t get on your feet… going round and round… still takin’ all the heat… go around and round… never lookin’ down…” Elliot has a subtle and gentle solo while Gregg follows along inconspicuously but adds to the flavor of the tune. Again, this is flawless.

6—” Since You’re Gone”- Whenever I hear this song it takes me back to the “breakroom” at Brooklyn College where students would relax by watching television or listen to “perfect album sides” and I would constantly sign up for an endless supply but the guy who ran it said he had to let others in on the fun. Anyway, when I suggested side one of “Shake It Up” as soon as the needle hit the record, he emerged from his chair and started to dance around the room like there was no one watching. The flow is subtle but extremely addicting and the lyrics make you want to sing along with Ric- “… since you’re gone, I took the big vacation… since you’re gone… well never feel sedate… well the moonlight ain’t so great…”  I can hear why he was dancing around the room; this takes you into another stratosphere.

5— “Touch and Go”— Oh my, I absolutely love the “stop and go” offbeat that kicks off the song for the first forty seconds or so as Ric’s familiar vocals light up the board and then the tempo picks up as Elliot leads the charge with the fun groove. And what about his unbelievable guitar solo at the 2:19 mark? It actually is one of his longest, go figure on a studio version none the less. Ric, let Elliot loose! When Mr. Ocasek comes back in with “All I want is you tonight” my favorite part of the tune comes next when he slyly says- “… I guess that dress does fit you tight, yeah…” For the critics, how can this track not be considered as one of their best in the catalog? Admittedly, it is the highlight of “Panorama,” but the rest of the album is incredibly good. Love the way Elliot just blazes along with his mini solos the rest of the way.

4— “It’s All I Can Do”— I do not know for sure but if I had to guess I would say that I have listened to this song more than any other tune on my time on this planet. “One too many times… I fell over you… once in a shadow… I finally grew… and once in a night… I dreamed you were there… I cancelled my flight… from going nowhere.” As I laid on the floor I was polarized, wondering how they knew what was going on in my mind? It really takes me back to that moment in my life where admiration froze me in my tracks as fear of approaching ultimately led to one door being closed, while the other door remains open to this day. It’s funny how a mother knows, and I know she is smiling down on me because she knew. And what about one of Mr. Easton’s craftly mastered guitar solo? It could be considered as one of his top five in the Cars catalog.

3— “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight”— Okay folks, this one song gets them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame even if this were the only tune that they ever recorded. I know what you are thinking- why isn’t this number one on your list? I recognize that this is their Magnum Opus but my “likes” may be different and that is why it ultimately lands at number three, but I would have no issue with the disagreements because I understand the argument. The guitar solo by Mr. Easton at the 3:05 mark is ultimately his prized possession as the lead guitarist for this Hall of Fame unit as it stacks up there as one of the greatest solos in rock music, period- end of story. On this topic I will hear no disagreements. David Robinson’s drumming keeps the head-banging at a furious pace while the background vocals lift you off the ground. Ric’s vocal performance is astounding as the groove just keeps you coming back for more. It is hard to imagine that a unit could craft such an impressive tune on their debut album. Without a doubt this is their best track ever! “I, I, I need you!”

2— “Night Spots”— As soon as I flipped over to side two and heard the opening notes along with Mr. Ocasek singing – “… I see you crossing the fine line… a silly driver kind of off the wall… you keep it cool… when it is t-t-tight… eyes wide open when you start to fall…” I knew instantly that this was going to be one of my all-time favorite tracks. Along with “Candy-O” I believe this is one of their “heaviest” tunes and am surprised that this has not been covered by any other hard-rock or metal act. It may have to do with Mr. Hawkes incredible ability on the keyboards/synthesizer but hey, Metallica did Seger’s “Turn the Page” without a saxophone while having the lead guitar taking on that role. I do not know how to explain it to you, especially as you go through the litany of songs that you think I should have included- the ears want what the ears want. “It’s just an automatic line… It’s just an automatic line.” Crank this up!

1— “All Mixed Up”—This song is equivalent to that expensive bottle of wine or whatever your favorite libation is that is tucked away where no one knows where it is, except you. It typically is broken out during a special event amongst family or close friends. For the brethren, my hope is that there is agreement that this lands in the top ten if you would not put it in the position of number one. I genuinely believe that the die-hard Cars fan agrees with this selection. I was hooked at “she shadows me in the mirror… she never leaves on the light… And somethings that I say to her… they just don’t seem to bite…” This creation is unlike any other serving that The Cars had to offer, and I believe the only song to have a saxophone. This is the cream of the crop! I want to thank the late great brothers from another mother- Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr as well as David Robinson, Greg Hawkes, and Elliot Easton for enriching my life forever. By the way, you all know I wanted to give the induction speech at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for The Cars. But I have to give credit to Mr. Brandon Flowers (The Killers) because although I think my enthusiasm would have been “killer” and what earned my respect is when he kneeled at the bottom step. I might have done a yoga move by bowing on my two knees but as each member (sans Ben) walked up to the podium, they shook his extended hand, and you could see the appreciation in Brandon’s eyes. I will always love The Cars.

MAY THE 4ORCE

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

That is what it seems like when I think back to my days spent growing up in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. In grammar school, unless someone fell way behind, there was a guarantee that friendships would strengthen for a minimum of seven years as familiarity breeds comfortability. Maybe there was a new entrant or departure but nothing like attending high school whereby meeting someone from Bay Ridge or Bensonhurst was similar to meeting a Martian. Folks, no one left their block and despite lower Manhattan being less than 20 minutes by the subway, departing to the city was analogous to boarding a plane. As a child, I never thought I would ever enter a cabin. And I did not until I was an adult while I bet there are still people in Brooklyn that have not ever enjoyed the pleasure of a middle seat on a five-hour flight.

I began kindergarten at P.S. 169 in 1970 with the expectation to remain there until 1977 but between third and fourth grades for some reason my dad decided to move in with my grandparents in Otisville N.Y.

As mentioned in last week’s post, parents shield their children from worry because they know at some point, it will be waiting at their doorstep, so why let it enter during the formative years? I remember receiving gifts, well wishes, and tears. Oh boy, were there tears! Most of them came from me because I did not want to leave my friends at this public school or the “originals” from 46^th street. I remember asking why we had to leave but was never really clear on the answer.

As we traveled past Bear Mountain and Route 17, the land moved by at a quick pace as my sad puppy-eyes were puffy while barely above the backseat window while even our beagle, Heidi, fought for that spot but we shared the view. I wondered what my life was going to be like without concrete. Despite not wanting to leave, at least, I was going to begin my new world with family. Upon arrival, the view from my grandparent’s house made me believe that I would see John Boy or Mary Ellen because we moved to The Walton’s Mountain.

One of the first things I noticed were that the “Johnny Pumps” were not black and grey like in Brooklyn. They were barely up to my kneecap while being red or green and I recall thinking that the fire departments up here must have the longest hoses because it seemed like they were spaced a town apart. There is no tall red fire alarm “church-like” statutes with a pull-down lever- think when someone knocked on “The Munsters” front door before Lilly answered. What if there is a fire somewhere, do we send up smoke signals? Where did we move to?

As I walked up Orchard Road, I made a right turn and there stood the entire town. “Chinotti’s” was equivalent to what Target is today, it had everything from milk to clothes. But the first thing I noticed was the hospitality. I would turn to see who this person was saying hello to, were they speaking to me?  “Hey, kid do not let me catch you stuffing anything in your pockets” was replaced by “have a nice day, come back soon.”

I remember the first time I ever boarded a school bus to make the long haul to Minisink Valley while thinking I was on a movie set because as a third grader, I was allowed to walk to P.S. 169 because I never had to cross an avenue, only streets. I had “arrived” I told myself, despite not knowing too many people on the bus. Upon hesitation, Ms. Greene’s orders were loud and clear. Until you sit, the bus is not moving. I even received a “report card” on the bus and if there were any “red marks” your parents will be responsible for the transportation, so you know I sat there with my hands folded.

As I entered the classroom, I was the “Martian” now. Where is Thomas, Cathy, Angela, or Andre? I was frozen with fear because I wondered if I would be accepted and could not comprehend the number of children exiting the endless line of buses while I sat there looking out a window seeing a beautiful baseball field. Hey, maybe I will like it here. Finally getting comfortable with my new universe, here I am being lifted out of my seat right before completion of the school year as we moved backed to Brooklyn. I will never forget my last ride on the bus with Ms. Greene as Phillip lifted his shirt above his head to shield the tears and as I departed, here again were those endless tears. Okay, we first moved to Otisville because doctors had informed my dad that he could be a widower, so he wanted her to be in the hands of his mother. Heading back to Brooklyn was the result of the toughness of my mother as her undiagnosed disease (ultimately named “Lupus” in the late 1970’s) was met with the fierceness of a girl from Brooklyn.

I have to admit that I think I would have adapted either way but the first thing my friends at P.S. 169 said when I came back- “where are the gifts we gave you?!” Settling back in was an easy adjustment and between the summers of 1975 and 1977 we spent time in either The Fortway or The Alpine movie theaters watching some of the greatest movies ever. I bet there were less people swimming in Coney Island beach in 1975 as fear of going in the water was caused by “Jaws”- believe me, back then it appeared larger than life on the big screen and not some mechanical machine. Then in 1976, one of the ultimate “Brooklyn” movies – “Rocky” – despite being made in Philly, created the voices of the underdog. And I mean literally, because anyone who grew up in Brooklyn had to deal with people screaming things aloud in the theater, especially on the weekend nights. If something were yelled back, there was a brawl after the movie ended, without a doubt.

Come on let’s go see the movie! No way, I am not a science fiction or “space” guy I do not want to go see “Star Wars” as it was released three months after I turned twelve. (For the aficionados, I know that it is now called “Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope”) I can recall sitting in the Fortway being mesmerized because this was something that I had never experienced. (I did see “V” and “VI” but that was it- my bride and my boys can talk for hours about all the movies and side shows, I bowed out after “Luke I am your father!”).

So, in honor of “May the 4^th” taken from the infamous line from the movie- “May the Force Be with You” I have decided to create a setlist of songs from bands or artists whereby their “4^th” album was a force to be reckoned with or had a powerful force in the pulsating sound that resonates with my ears. Folks, things were so different back in the galaxy a long, long time ago whereby record companies, despite not making any money, stuck with bands for numerous records before they “hit it big.” Take the band Kansas, for instance, apparently Mr. Kirschner was in the hole for over a million, but he stuck with them as they prepared their fourth studio album. Unbelievably, the last song that Kerry Livgren had written for the album was “Carry On Wayward Son” which catapulted them to stardom. And “technically” “KISS Alive” was the fourth album but it was a compilation of the first three albums which put them on the map in 1975. Of course, you know I will make my own rules and after careful consideration I will give some breathing room towards the end because when I first started to do this list, I was going to make it all hard rock or metal, which I know will please some of my readers but scare away a majority. Without further ado, “May the 4orce” always be with you! (Enjoy!)

 1— “When the Levee Breaks” by Mighty Led Zeppelin—One would have to begin with the “gold standard,” correct? Led Zeppelin IV is considered as one of the best fourth albums in the history of music, if not perched on top of the pile. Trying to produce a tune to start off is difficult because we all have heard them a billion times, so I decided to start off with one that may have been heard a million instead. Admittedly, my oldest son talked me into it as I was not sure that folks would want to start off with a track that was more than seven minutes long but once I put on the headphones, it flies by just like that! If there was one thing as teenagers hanging out at Izzy’s all those years ago, is that we all agreed upon the legacy of the Mighty Led Zeppelin. There were hardly any arguments because it was just understood that they were the Mecca and unlike Jedha in “Rogue One,” no division amongst the brethren ever occurred. Folks, when I tell you that when we played ball in the school yard all year round, inside the “well” was Robert, John, Jimmy, and John-Paul blasting from the boom boxes. It was one of the greatest educational experiences of my life. Of course, I took it to another level when I would ask my boys when they were in grade school who the members of the Mighty Led Zeppelin (first and last names) to be able to sit down at the dinner table with mom and dad. And they were informed that they could not begin with either Robert or Jimmy. Would you be able to pass this test? Please do not tell me if you cannot. Sometimes, we (I) take this legendary band for granted and when you listen to “IV” it slams us all back into reality. The Mighty Led Zeppelin Rule!

2— “The Trooper”—by Iron Maiden– Talk about force? It comes in many forms but the first is in their music, it comes right at you and there is a higher force that sweeps you off your feet when witnessing them in concert. Folks, if you have a chance look for any song in their catalog performed around the globe and you will see a congregation in unison singing back at Bruce Dickinson with a fervor that is hypnotizing. I saw a full concert footage where they played in Spain and most of the audience probably did not understand English and yet the passion they displayed is awestriking. My brother and I attended their show at the Barclay’s Center on Friday night July 26, 2019, it was a spectacle of cosmic proportions. Admittedly, I am a complete novice when it comes to knowing this band, like I ought to, but I never turn off anyone of their tunes when I hear them. And I have started to do my homework. Anyway, “The Trooper” is off their fourth album – “Piece of Mind”- and has there ever been a bad album that they have put out? The brethren think not! Mo, Thomas, and I saw Myles Kennedy pull off this tune at his acoustic show at the Highline Ballroom on Tuesday May 22, 2018. It is such a slap at dignity that this legendary band is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

3— “It Came Out of the Sky”— by Creedence Clearwater Revival- Now talk about “way, way back?” Imagine a band or artist today putting out three albums in one calendar year? “Willy and the Poor Boys” is often cited as CCR’s best. When is the last time you listened to this absolute classic? I have been saying for decades that Creedence is the greatest American band. Now there may be many of you out there screaming at your screen for the Grateful Dead (probably the only time I have ever printed their name on my blog), but I would submit this album as the proof in the pudding because it is the purest rock and roll ever created. As a kid we would always jump on the “N” or “B” train and head to Coney Island to swim while bringing just enough money for a Nathan’s hotdog with fries. While strolling back to our spots, secured by a bathroom blanket mind you, there was this “older” couple (think Grandma and Grandpa back in the 1970’s) and they were sitting on a bench on the boardwalk listening to CCR. I was flabbergasted and you know I had to make a beeline to talk to them because they were listening to the best rock and roll while I was making dumb assumptions because of appearance. They informed me that they fell in love with CCR during the Woodstock years and never stopped listening to them. I will pass on the same advice.

4— “Sinner’s Swing”- by Van Halen-Am I going to sit here and profess that “Fair Warning” is Van Halen’s best album ever? No, but it is pretty close. I remember there being fans of the band who called this a “comeback” album. I will not pass judgement on those, but they are not real Van Halen fans. As a 16-year-old putting on this album for the first time it was just like Christmas morning. There were many rules that I needed to follow as a child growing up in my dad’s house (and I bet would be similar to those of Scandinavian descent) with number one being no cursing. The adults could but I do not think I ever uttered a curse word while talking to my mom and I think it was just in the past few years, I cursed while talking to my dad on the phone. When I realized what I did, I froze but then recognized I am far from sixteen. As the third song comes on, I am laying on the floor unaware for what was coming because it was the first time, I put the album on. Well at the twenty-eight second mark, as clear as day, Diamond Dave lets out the “F bomb” as I quickly jumped up to lift the needle off the record. My mother pokes her head into the room and said, “What are you listening to?”  I believe this is the only tune that Mr. Roth actually cursed on a recording. Yes, the concerts were a lot different. Thank the lord, my dad was not home. Other than that, this is one of Van Halen’s best! Crank it Up! But hold the little one’s ear- just for that second.  

5—” Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”- by Megadeth– Okay I know for many of you out there you are probably looking at their screen (and especially if listening along to this) while wondering- what is wrong with him? As previously mentioned, a few months ago my dad informed me for the first time ever that my mother was concerned about me because she thought the music was progressively heavier and darker. She was absolutely correct, but it was and will always be that the music gets me high. Maybe she was worried about that? I can recall as a teenager my three buddies, including Johnny-Boy, tried to hold me down to force me to smoke marijuana because they said that I already listened to the music so this would take it to another level. Once I broke free, I was again at home enjoying a peanut and butter jelly sandwich before they could even take a few steps to try and catch me. They knew it was useless because the only person in the neighborhood who could catch me was Ronnie.  I have seen Mr. Mustaine a few times with the first being at Irving Plaza and it was one of the most “forceful” concerts I ever attended. At times, I literally thought my chest cavity was going to burst, it was amongst the most violent “mosh-pits” I had ever seen as I was literally backed up to the bar all the way in the back of Irving. I survived and loved it! “Rust in Peace” is considered by many as the ultimate Megadeth album.

6— “Harvester of Sorrow”— by Metallica– Again, am I going to sit here and tell you that “… And Justice for All” is Metallica’s best album? Nope, but the brethren, besides those who abandoned ship after the debut album, will always crave this as much as any other body of work these geniuses have ever constructed. If only my friends from Izzy’s could see me now? I used to run away from their tunes whenever they pulled them out in the school yard but after 1991 was immersed so deeply that I can recall when Diane asked us at the lunch table what was in your wallet that maybe you would not want other people to know was there? I pulled out my Metallica fan club card. A member since… just like an AMEX card. Folks, prior to the birth of my oldest son, whenever my bride would leave the house, I would take out the paint and the long wooden stick to attach the roller to while this album was blaring through every orifice of the house. Walls were shaking, my neighbors would hold their ears as I was possessed. Folks, I mean it, the next time you have to paint a room, put this album on and it will be the best job you have ever done because the groove will have you crafting with consistency. His room had multiple coats! \m/ \m/

7— “Problem Child”—by AC/DC– Oh my, I do not know about you but whenever I hear an AC/DC song I break out with the biggest grin ever. “… cut this… I am hot… and when I’m not… I’m cold as ice… get out of my way… just step aside… or pay the price…” Although never knowing the legendary Bon Scott, I would heed his advice and step aside. He reminded me of that “tough kid” in the neighborhood who was not afraid of anything or anyone. He definitely had an edge and by the time “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” came out they were starting to percolate in the U.S. For all the naysayers out there, who make fun of the “three-cord” simpleton music, go ahead, and miss out on the greatest music ever crafted. For those of us who sit in the pews, just crank it up and enjoy it just like every other time you put on AC/DC.

8— “Detroit Rock City”—by KISS– Ahh, my first love. Fascination. That is the word for which I will use to describe my affection for this legendary unit where all used to reside in the New York area. Ace is in the Bronx Hall of Fame (yes, there is such a thing- his picture hangs next to Colin Powell, go figure?) Peter grew up in Bensonhurst while Gene and Paul grew up in Manhattan. Paul was a taxi-cab driver before hitting it big and would drop off folks at Madison Square Garden, most likely going to see the Mighty Led Zeppelin. Not too long after “Destroyer” was released, KISS ruled the world with a force that was real. For a period of about five years, trying to snap a photo of them without their make-up on was the order of the day for every media outlet in the universe. Back on March 2, 2019, as we started off the journey to see KISS at the United Center in Chicago IL, Emily “put a quarter” in the jukebox (okay maybe more than twenty-five cents) and played this song in the restaurant for all to hear as a dedication to me. Prior to the show, I took a picture with this family as mom and dad, with the kids were all “Dressed to Kill.” Prior to Taylor snapping the photo, Ben, and Emily, jumped in and joined the fun. I blew that picture up to something less than a poster size in a frame. I am staring at it now while writing this. One of the greatest nights in my lifetime!

9— “Let Me Drown”— by Soundgarden– I could imagine if I still lived at home with mom when I was knee deep into Soundgarden, she would have called the crisis center because she would have probably thought I had gone off the deep end. Instead, my bride was the one who told me to shut that s**t off in the house. Folks, once I realized what I was missing out on it was the biggest jolt of adrenaline I had ever received. My proclamation that this is the best album of the 1990’s still stands and what better way to start it off with this unheralded treasure of a song. You can scream out Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Metallica, or whomever you want but I will turn my ear because it will not register. Soundgarden’s “Superunknown” was their fourth and most brilliant body of work that exists in the universe still to this day is the “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” To be denied the entrance into the hall while Chris was still alive is a tragedy that can never be rectified. This album alone stamps their way into the hallowed halls.   

10— “Down”—by Stone Temple Pilots– Okay so “No. 4” is probably not their best album but it is super solid and what better way to kick it off with this stellar rocker? The groove along with the ultimate head-banging is extremely addictive to the point where I have to keep hitting the rewind button. Here is another band that does not seem to get the respect that it earned despite all the hogwash after their debut album where many labeled them a “wannabe Pearl Jam.” Please, that maybe applied to one song in their catalog, but their paths are quite different. I will say it again, Scott Weiland, has to be considered one of the best front men in the history of hard-rock or grunge or whatever tag you want to stick on the lunchbox. I consider myself to be lucky because I was able to see Scott and STP in their heyday. Attending one of their concerts back in the day is something I will always treasure. You are missed everyday Mr. Weiland! STP is still going strong with a new singer and are now touring in a city near you!

11— “Again”—by Alice In Chains– With no disrespect to Mr. William DuVall who has been the lead singer for this band for the past few decades, I am going back to the early days when Layne Staley was the voice behind the machine of Jerry Cantrell on guitar. I know I am taking liberties here, but I had to get this band on this list and I am counting “Jar of Flies” as their third release despite being an “EP.” Talk about a dark band, I know my mother in heaven is telling me to run away from this band but I would say to her that Layne had one of the “biggest” voices in all the world. Believe me, I know their music is an “acquired taste” but once you let it settle in, it will hit you. Mr. Cantrell always seems to fly under the radar when talking about the world’s best guitarists. After Layne left us and prior to Mr. DuVall joining the fray, I saw Jerry open up for Metallica at Giants Stadium. (Jerry and James are close friends). Folks, I am telling you, he did not fall under the pressure of opening for one of the world’s prevalent bands, in fact, just the opposite I think he took all that nervousness (assumed) and blew the crowd away.

12— “No Rest for The Wicked”—by Godsmack– In my opinion, “IV” is the best Godsmack album but I know I would be met with strong disagreements. I thought they gelled to the point where their music became more melodic while still containing that driving force. I believe this track epitomizes both because at this point of their career, they had not achieved creating tunes like this. Sully is one of the coolest dudes on the earth and the bass player, Robbie Merrill, seems like he is at his house jamming with his buds when you see him up on stage. He wanders freely while making it look so effortless. To this day, Shannon Larkin, is the only drummer that I have ever witnessed to play the drums in a circular motion, just like a Ferris wheel. You have to attend a show to know what I am talking about. Tony Rombola is another guitarist who is often overlooked, and I hope Tony is doing better these days after the loss of his son.

13— “Tomorrow’s Dream”—by Black Sabbath– Black Sabbath changed millions of lives around this universe, including mine, and I know my friend Chris told me that when his older brother brought home “Vol. 4” they listened to it day and night. Many of the brethren consider their fourth album the gold standard of the Ozzy years as Tony, Geezer and Bill just flat out killed it on every song. Folks, if you are unfamiliar with Black Sabbath, please I beg of you, give it a chance, you will not be disappointed. I know lots of other fans would have picked other tunes on this masterpiece, but I wanted to give you a quick taste of what is waiting for you. CRANK THIS WAY UP!!!

14—”Rats in the Cellar”-by Aerosmith-I know I am not way off base on this because I believe many of the brethren would state that “Rocks” is their gold standard and yes, it is their fourth album. In my opinion, this is Aerosmith with a hunger, and it shows in the tightness of the band as they click on all cylinders. I think I read somewhere that Slash said that this was the album which made him want to become a lead guitarist.

15— “Way of The World”—by Cheap Trick– Now there may be some disagreements about whether “Dream Police” is the best Cheap Trick album, but it is the bands most successful commercial body of work, headed by the title track. Everyone knows that song, so I wanted to direct you to another track that you may be unfamiliar with whereby Robin actually assisted Rick write this tune. The entire body of work is stellar. Mr. Zander was the vocals behind the “Rocktopia” on Broadway for the final night back in 2018 and he crushed it as usual. The first time I saw Cheap Trick was at Radio City Hall with UFO as the opener. During the 1980’s, tables turned, as Rick, Bun E., Robin, and Tom opened up for Robert Plant.

16— “Night Life”—by Foreigner– Similar to the situation with The Cars, Foreigner’s third album – “Head Games” – was panned by the critics just like “Panorama.” But I say what do the critics know. I love both of their third bodies of work. Unknowingly to the general public, behind the scenes the record company applied a ton of pressure on Mick and Lou to change things up. And I instantly knew when I purchased this at The Record Factory on 86^th street in Bay Ridge that something was amiss. As I turned the album around, I saw only four names. There was a part of me that wanted to walk away from this band and if not for Lou’s unbelievable vocal prowess, I would have done such. Now, I will not go out on the ledge and say that “4” is their best album but I acknowledge that it is their most successful body of work. Obviously, the entire world should know “Juke Box Hero” but again I want to expand your knowledge of the greatness of Foreigner. As soon as I put the needle down on side one, all my frustrations dissipated somewhat because this was the song that started the whole journey all over again. Folks, I have to give credit to Mick Jones because he is an extremely good guitarist who knows how to craft tunes, but it all comes down to Lou for me as he sings rock and roll like no other. I can sing this tune word for word. “We’ll see who’s standing when the sun comes up.” Boy, do I wish I were sixteen again. Have you seen the latest band photo of the current lineup? I stopped counting after five. C’mon now.

17— “Kids Wanna Rock”—by Bryan Adams– “Reckless” is often cited in publications as one that fits into the top one hundred hard rock albums of all-time and as a 19-year-old I know I would have put my vote in (and I still do!) Song two of side two is a short but forceful explosion of fun rock as one runs around in a circle air-guitaring wherever you may be at that moment. Fast forward to 2004 when I began to make the setlists for the bootcamp class run by Dave as the MBIA gym rats became a family. Talk about a song getting the juices flowing at 6:00 a.m.? The small workout room inside the gym used to bulge as I informed Dave to put it to the highest levels our ears could take. I can picture Nick doing jumping jacks, Tricia performing pushups while the sweat was falling from my face from jumping rope at a frantic pace. Those were the days.

18— “Armageddon It”—by Def Leppard– Okay I know I wrote about Def Leppard a few weeks ago but there is no denying that “Hysteria” (4^th) is their epic album, no? I am not sure if this would be number eleven, but I am sure that it falls in my top twenty. The consistent groove is addictive and I recommend it can be used in your next spin class. My favorite part is when Joe says “C’mon Steve” at the 3:02 mark as Mr. Clarke does what he does best, turn the guitar solo into the highlight of the tune as it is subtle but flows so beautifully. The background vocals are flawless, and it is impossible to not sing along to. The countdown to the stadium tour begins now with less than two months left after a long wait due to the pandemic.

19— “Prove It All Night”—by Bruce Springsteen– I know many of you out there are scratching your heads so hard, it may just start bleeding, but hear me out. Yes, I have never been a huge fan of Bruce, but I have always recognized and respected his body of work. For some reason, this tune I never turned off as a teenager when I heard it on WPLJ- my favorite part comes at the 2:18 mark when he sings the following- “… baby tie your hair back… in a long white bow… meet me in the fields… behind the dynamo…” I own a few select tracks by this legend on my I-pod and realized it was from “Darkness on the Edge of Town” which many consider his best… or one of his utmost efforts.

20— “We’re Not Gonna Take It”—by The Who– “Tommy” has this unbelievable impact on people’s lives and if you know someone, like I do, that knows every word of this four-sided classic on their fourth effort, you physically see the force that overtakes the body. If there was ever a recording that is not of this world, this may just be it. Roger and Pete are still going at it, and I saw an interview with the both of them where they were so honored that people still love this classic that was created more than 50 years ago. Absolutely amazing.

21— “Run”—by Collective Soul– In my opinion, “Dosage,” is the ultimate album to date by this unheralded band as I believe Ed Roland set out to make this their best effort. “Are these times contagious… I’ve never been this bored before…”- he had me at the moment he sung the opening lyrics to arguably one of their greatest tunes they have ever recorded. I will never understand how anyone in this universe could not like this beautiful song, I say it is impossible, even if you are not a fan or familiar with their entire catalog. I fall over when I hear the “shuffling” or “scuffling” towards the end of the tune and cannot move. Folks, this is brilliant!

22— “Love of My Life”—by Queen– “A Night at the Races” put Queen on the universal level with “Bohemian Rhapsody” but the brethren recognize the entire album is “sheer” magnificence. I could have gone with “The Prophet’s Song” which could be considered one of the best “prog rock” songs in their catalog and would stack up well with any other progressive tune. But I went with the exquisite “Love of My Life” which now has reached the general public ears after the movie came out a few years ago. The Queen family would sing it towards Freddie back in the day and now everyone should know it. Listen with love because I can see an argument that this could land in the top ten tunes they have ever crafted.

23— “John Barleycorn”—by Traffic– When my oldest son was in grammar school, he went on a trip to Washington D.C., so we decided to make it a family trip while residing at a nice Marriott hotel close to where his class were staying. My bride and I, along with my youngest son, took daily trips around the D.C. area and it was one of my favorite “vacations” despite our oldest not being with us because I had never seen the monuments or museums. As we were exploring on a Monday afternoon, I saw the “Warner Theater” and in bold letters it said “Steve Winwood” tonight. I looked over at my wife and she said, “go ahead.” The woman in the ticket window informs me that there is a single available in the fifth-row center in orchestra. I immediately purchased it and ran back to them as she assumed there were none available because I came back so fast. I sat next to this “dude” who was about fifteen years older than I and it was like I was looking at myself in the mirror if we met at a Van Halen concert. He knew each song along with every guitar riff and drum beat as it made the night that much better. That “dude” also taught me to take a sheet of paper and pen to write down the setlist as well as any notes that would make me recall what happened that evening. By the way, “John Barleycorn Must Die,” is Traffic’s fourth and best album.

24— “Life on Mars?”—by David Bowie– I know what you are thinking but “Hunky Dory” is also considered a classic fourth album. Is it his best? Too hard to tell for such a diverse catalog for an artist who always kept you guessing. The prior body of work to “Hunky” was totally guitar driven while this leans more to the pop side. All that said, any chance that I can put “Life on Mars?” on any setlist I will jump to it because this is without a doubt my most treasured song by Mr. Bowie. David was a force on earth and my assumption he is too on the other side. And what better way to honor “Star Wars” than with a song with the name “Mars” in it. May the 4orce be with you all.