Random Friday: Midnight Train

Today is the last day of term in the new job I started back in November. It's no understatement to say this job saved my life, or at least my sanity, and for the first time in years I'm actually looking forward to going back to work after the summer. As mentioned earlier in the week, I also get a full 6 week holiday, which I've never had before, so... I'm going to try to be a bit more positive. There are some things in life you can't fix, and you just have to learn to live with them, but I fixed the job problem, and that was huge. Happy happy, joy joy, as a sadly-departed old friend of mine used to say.

The Steve Miller Band's Midnight Train is pure feel-good rock n roll. It's late-stage Miller, from the early 90s, yet it could easily fit in a set list with their prime era classics such as Rock 'n' Me, Jungle Love or Jet Airliner. (I don't include The Joker in that list, not because I don't love it, but because it's unique, and not an obvious match for the rest of his back catalogue.) Sam loves it too, it's probably his favourite song at the moment.

Random Friday: Handwriting

I don't blame my terrible memory on getting older: I've always had a terrible memory. I often write things on the back of my hand as a reminder - shopping to get, songs to track down, ideas for blog posts, what time to pick Sam up... it's the only place I can be guaranteed to see a written reminder. Of course, in the era of covid (and especially since I work in a hospital), I wash my hands a lot during the day... which means quite a few of those messages get lost. Believe me though, I've had some great ideas for blog posts... but I've washed them all away, so you're left with this blather.

Earlier in the week, I was in a meeting at work with doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, occupational therapists and all kinds of important, intelligent people. (I always feel like the dumbest person in any meeting I attend... apart from the ones I have to chair: then, I just feel sorry for wasting everybody's time.) However, I found myself warming to the doctor chairing this meeting when he paused to write an important medical update for the patient / student we were discussing... on the back of his hand. For a few seconds, I felt less alone.

There was, of course, only one song to play today...

 

Random Play: Listen To That Intro!

Can't Buy A Thrill must surely be in the Top Ten Greatest Debut Albums ever alongside Rattlesnakes, Bat Out Of Hell, and Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. I'll let you debate the other six amongst yourselves.

If you also wanted to argue that the opening track of Side 2 contains one of the Top Ten Guitar Intros of all time... well, who would I be to argue with that? I'm never quite sure why they didn't open the album with it, rather than Side 2. I mean, Do It Again is a fine song, but it doesn't have the instant, hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck-standing-to-attention excitement of Reelin' In The Years.

Can't Buy A Thrill? Course you can. It's only 5.99 on Amazon. Though I'm sure you own a copy already. Be daft not to...

You been tellin' me you're a genius

Since you were seventeen

In all the time I've known you

I still don't know what you mean

The weekend at the college

Didn't turn out like you planned

The things that pass for knowledge

I can't understand

Random Play: California Snow

If, when you see the picture above, your first thought is Gram Parsons... congratulations, you have passed the test. Feel free to keep reading. If you thought of someone else... shame.

Albert Hammond told us that It Never Rains In Southern California. It does, however, snow. At least that's according to Tom Russell and Dave Alvin who co-wrote today's song, one that's kept popping up on mixes of mine over the past few months. Russell explains over on Facebook that he wrote the song "in an attempt to get inside the head and conflicted feelings of a border patrolman. At the time a lot of folks were dying up in the border mountains because the weather changed so drastically up there." Unlike a lot of issue-based songs, this is a beautiful piece of music too, one that really sticks in your head, reminding me of both Tom Joad era Springsteen (lyrically) and the glorious Willin' by Little Feat (musically and lyrically).

I'm not sure which I prefer, Alvin's version or Russell's... so here are both of them. Enjoy.




And if that's not enough California Snow for you today, here's Weezer with a song of the same title from 2019's The Black Album. Very different to the tracks above, but it's fun if you like Weezer. Which I do. We are a broad church here at My Top Ten, embracing many different musical genres... except, probably, those of you who didn't think immediately of Gram Parsons at the top of the page. But stick around long enough and we will wash away the sins of your past...

Random Play - Wish I Had A Girl

Random Play is the new title for posts that don't fall into any other categories. For when I just hear a tune and think "I've got to write about that". Case in point...

This is the greatest pop video I have ever seen in my life.

How have I managed to live 47 years without seeing it before?

I've done three volumes of Stalker Songs so far...

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

...but this video trumps them all. Even Lionel Ritchie.

If you ever see this guy in your neighbourhood: get a restraining order.

The highlight is when Henry bumps into the gospel choir on the street corner and they take pity on him for his mad, stalkerish behaviour. That's a nice touch.

The thing is, although the "Woke" crowd would doubtlessly have a field day over this video today, this is basically the message behind 90% of successful pop hits. Henry's just a lot more blatant about it than most. And he looks a bit like Bob from Twin Peaks, which doesn't help.

Whatever happened to Henry Lee Summer? You may well ask.

The mugshot below gives us a clue...

I Wish I Had A Better Lawyer wasn't quite as big a follow-up hit.

At least the video has a happy ending. (Although none of the women featured in it were ever seen again. Make of that what you will.)