On August 4, 1958, Billboard Magazine revolutionized the music industry by publishing their first list tracking radio plays and sales of songs called the Hot 100. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Hot 100, Billboard plans to run a special feature about the chart each week on their website. For instance this week the magazine takes a chronological look at the Hot 100’s top song each year since 1958.
Some of these videos included in this week’s feature are absolute gold!
Before we leave you, check out this fantastic photo of Notre Dame hero/Cubs reliever Jeff Samardzija shaking hands with alt-country legend Jeff Tweedy of Wilco taken before the game at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on August 3:
[Photo by Jeremy Herrig]
Growing up, my family only had three options for non-radio music in my father’s automobile: some homemade Doo-wop mix, Kool & the Gang’s Celebrate!, and Heart’s self-titled album. The last of these three options shot up to #1 on the Billboard 200 charts in these United States, but I’m not sure the 1985 offering was the Wilson sisters’ best effort. That album marked the duo’s shift into pop, and it effectively spelled the end of Ann and Nancy’s reign as Queens of Rock.
But early Heart actually kicks quite a large amount of ass, and the band’s first few albums pack a hard-rock punch that few female-led bands have accomplished since. Ann Wilson is a lyrical badass, with pipes to beat the band, and I’m fairly excited to check out her first solo album, Hope & Glory. Well, it’s not quite solo, with guests including her sister, Elton John, Winona Judd, Alison Krauss and others.
The lead track is a cover of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song, brought to my attention by our diligent researcher, Jon Hochstat. It’s equal parts cool and creepy — no, probably 75% creepy and 25% cool — backed by an avant-garde guitar at one point, but Wilson’s Plant-i-ness perhaps bests Bobby P. himself at this age. I love covers that take a little liberty with the original, and she’s clearly accomplished that here. Take a listen below, and let us know what you think…
Written by
Scott Bernstein on
03.28.2007 |
Apollo Sunshine,
Beck,
Elton John,
Genesis,
Grateful Dead,
Heart,
Intermezzo,
Rage,
Spoon,
Zappa,
moe.
Tuesday brought 70-degree weather and sunshine to the New York City area, and I think I’m coming to the conclusion that I hate winter. Spring, on the other hand; that’s my jam. Hopefully the weather is nice where you are on this fine hump day. To help you get over that hump, check out these fine links from around the Interwebs:
Did I miss anything? Let me know by leaving a comment below…..
Once a year, Grousing The Aisles comes out on the last work day of the week. And that day is today, which means it’s essentially a Friday right now.
Here’s my friendly advice to help you celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday weekend: Start downloading these shows now, so that when you get back from your holiday host you’ll have plenty of music to wash out all the Christmas music that will begin to surround you. And with a last name like Bernstein, I’d rather hear a mix of classic rock, funky soul and jambanditry, like this week’s fresh slate of downloads:
Heart — 08/03/76 SBD (FLAC)
This is one of the tastiest-sounding of all soundboards from Heart, which in 1976 was just starting its climb to rock infamy. Not only does this recording feature original hits such as Magic Man and Crazy On You, but the Wilson sisters tear their way through three hotter-than-fuck Led Zeppelin tunes: Lez Zeppelin has nothing on the original female Zeppelin. Cameron Crowe is a lucky man — his wife Nancy Wilson drops guitar solos that offer some serious face meltage. Since this show is a must own, we also offer up the 320kbps MP3 files from sendspace. And, c’mon, check out those sweet mullets. Read on for more great downloads…
