Melanie Safka wrote the song “Lay Down” after performing at Woodstock in 1969, where she was inspired by the sight of the audience lighting candles in the rain. It became her first US hit, peaking at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Melanie was born on this date in 1947. She passed away just over a week ago. A few of her songs are on today’s playlist.
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In early 1980 newspaper The Village Voice published the results of its poll of 155 music critics. Voted the best album of 1979 was Graham Parker & The Rumour’s Squeezing Out Sparks. The rest of the top ten was:
Neil Young – Rust Never Sleeps
The Clash – The Clash
Talking Heads – Fear of Music
Elvis Costello – Armed Forces
Van Morrison – Into the Music
The B-52s – The B-52s
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Damn the Torpedoes
Pere Ubu – Dub Housing
Donna Summer – Bad Girls Graham Parker was born on this date in 1950. A handful of his songs are included on today’s playlist.
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With its songs about war, addiction, loneliness and death, John Prine’s self-titled album is just what I need to take my mind off all of the horrible news these days.
The late John Prine was born on this date in 1946. Several of his tunes are included on today’s playlist.
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Today’s playlist celebrates the August 23 birthdays of Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder, The Who’s Keith Moon, The Strokes/The Voidz’ Julian Casablancas, The Drifters’ Rudy Lewis, Linda Thompson, IDLES’ Joe Talbot, Car Seat Headrest’s Will Toledo, Orange Juice’s Edwyn Collins, Gene Kelly, Tex Williams, The Reflections’ Tony Micale, Rick Springfield, and Andrew Rannells.