A Musick Channel Blog - Musick is not just my name, it's a passion. Join me for my thoughts, performances, and links to download across the musical landscape. -Darryl Musick
They go into harm's way. Many times, with no idea for the reason why but they do a dirty job, putting their lives on the line, under orders from those above. Hopefully, it will be for a good cause and they'll come home to live a happy and healthy life. Sadly, that is not always the case but we still appreciate what our veterans have done to protect us and defend our country. We salute our those men and women this Veteran's Day weekend with a playlist in their honor. 5. "Star Spangled Banner" - Whitney Houston. The 1991 Super Bowl was played with the background of a new war looming behind it. Operation Desert Storm had just launched and our country's troops were in the middle east, trying to evict Iraqi troops from neighboring Kuwait. Ms. Houston channels her energies into a longing for those troops to come home and one of the most iconic performances of our national anthem. 4. "The Battle of Ira Hayes" - Johnny Cash. Cash doesn't sugarcoat things and this song is a fine example. It tells the story of an Arizona Pima Indian who went off to war, even when those back home abused his people and stole their water. He fights heroically, only to come home, become a drunk, and die in a ditch. 3. "Goodnight Saigon" - Billy Joel. A haunting song of the indignities suffered upon those who went to Vietnam. From boot camp in Perris Island to the battles in the jungle that didn't lead to any great victories. 2. "Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival. Great, hard rocking tune with John Fogerty singing about those sent off to fight our wars. They're not the senators sons. They're not the CEO's son...they're not those fortunate sons. They're the unfortunate ones who have no choice but to go off and fight.
1. "Fightin' Side of Me" - Merle Haggard. A counterpoint of patriotism, Haggard wrote 'em as he saw them and this song was saying, you can say what you want, feel what you feel, but if you're running down our country...well...those are fightin' words. Enjoy the music and your long weekend, especially those of you who have served our country. Darryl Musick Copyright 2018 - All Rights Reserved
Fall begins today. I love that, my favorite season of the year. It follows my worst season, summer, which is too hot and miserable. Fall is perfect as the heat settles down before the cold sets in. Composers must have a different idea because most songs about the season are melancholy and somber...odes mourning the end of summer. That's too bad.
5. "Harvest Moon" - Neil Young. Here's a beautiful song celebrating a life-long love affair. Young's a wonderful songwriter and this song, which sings many times "because I'm still in love with you" really resonates to those who are deeply in love.
4. "September" - Earth, Wind, and Fire. A simple song with some simple lyrics. Peppy and happy, we're still in love in December like we were in September. That's pretty much the entire song.
3. "California Dreaming" - The Mama's and the Papas. Living in a gray New York as fall sets in, dreaming about being in California where...the quakes and wildfires are going strong? Well, that's just our real life interrupting this pretty fantasy.
2. "If We Make it Through December" - Merle Haggard. Another sad song about the season. Someone's been laid off, hoping to make it through the end of the year where things might look up a bit, even some California dreaming in here, too.
1. "What Made Milwaukee Famous Made a Loser Out Of Me" - Jerry Lee Lewis. Fall is also time for our favorite holiday, Oktoberfest. We top this list off with a great beer drinking song for singing in your favorite beer tent or garten this fall. Presented by the killer himself. Like the music? Come by The Musick Channel Garage Sale and pick up some classic vinyl albums, along to other merchandise.
Darryl Musick Copyright 2018 - All Rights Reserved
Sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...pretty much defined the music of my youth. On the other hand, many great songs found solace in the bottom of a bottle. There's been some great explorations of drowning out our sorrows over lost love, lost jobs, and just loss of dignity at times. Let's get right to it...
6. "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer" - George Thorogood. Thorogood covers this Amos Milburn drinking ballad exceptionally well. He's out on the streets after his landlady kicks him out, his friend won't let him crash on the couch. Only one thing left to do...gonna get drunk until he can't even speak.
5. "Red, Red Wine" - UB40 - England's reggae band got a big hit with this one. About trying to forget that one who broke up with you but you think you still need. The red wine will help you forget, my friend...
4. "I Lie When I Drink" - Dale Watson. Like Merle Haggard's "Swinging Doors," this tune is about a guy who basically lives in the bar. But he's a truthful gent, until he gets a few under his belt. A great honky tonk tune by the best in the business.
3. "Drunken Lullabies" - Flogging Molly. This Irish punk band (by way of L.A.) comes through with this song about dark prospects and the unreal possibility of achieving anything good so we end up the same old way...singing drunken lullabies instead.
2. "Tonight, the Bottle Let Me Down" - The Mavericks. Raul Malo and the Mavericks love to take a dark song and set it to a happy, uptempo tune and this rendering of Merle Haggard's classic tale about how even the alcohol can't make him forget his lost love is a perfect example. Great swing version of the country classic.
1. "Misery and Gin" - Merle Haggard. The king of drinking songs. Nobody did it as prolific and with such expertise as did the Hag. I could do a couple of entire lists of his odes to alcohol...maybe I will someday...but we'll put the cherry on top of this list with this one. Another ode to a lost love, a guy drinking to forget, hooking up with a meaningless fling, trying to make his appearances seem way happier than the sad truth...a masterpiece of a song. Like the music? Come by The Musick Channel Garage Sale and pick up some classic vinyl albums, along to other merchandise.
Darryl Musick Copyright 2018 - All Rights Reserved
