My Favorite Tom Jones Songs Are…

Above: “Tom Jones Live In Las Vegas, At The Flamingo” (1969)

Tom Jones has released dozens of studio albums over his brilliant career and his song list is vast. It seems as if Tom Jones has a thousand different compilation albums out there too! Choosing my favorite songs from this iconic performer is not an easy endeavor; I’ve always seemed to embrace any Tom Jones song I listen to. This may sound odd, only I honestly love his vocals. I’ve always believed that Tom Jones can make any song his own.

”She’s A Lady” and “Delilah” are my top two favorite songs from Tom Jones. I also enjoy his cover of “Hot Legs” and the James Bond theme song: “Thunderball”. Tom Jones is one-of-a-kind and there truly isn’t anyone else in the contemporary world of music that has taken the torch from him. Tom Jones always took a song and thoroughly celebrated it, as songs are a gift to us all in the first place.

Thank you for reading and feel free to comment your favorite Tom Jones songs and/or albums.

– Larry

My 2 Favorite Neil Diamond Songs Are…

I was introduced to the songs of Neil Diamond growing up as a kid, thanks to my late mother.  My mother adored Neil Diamond and anytime one of his songs played on the AM radio dial, she would become the happiest person on Earth.  So it’s no wonder I do have my own favorite songs from this singing legend.

Neil Diamonds’ singing voice is like comfort food to me; there truly is no other singer that sounds like him. I believe he is one of the greatest songwriters and lyricists of Rock & Easy Listening history.

Not all of Neil Diamonds’ songs are upbeat, however. I remember buying my mother the 45 rpm of his 1978 duet with the iconic Barbara Striesand: “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”. Yes, that is a sad song! In later years, I purchased several Neil Diamond CDs for my mother. God rest her soul.

Here are two of my favorite Neil Diamond songs:

”Forever In Blue Jeans is an upbeat, blue-collar and honest song, to me. I’ve always loved the foot tapping swagger this song has!

”America” (from the 1980 movie soundtrack “The Jazz Singer”) is both patriotic and feel-good. This song gives me such deep appreciation to those immigrants of yesteryear that helped build America; as well as those immigrants that to this very day, come to my country to make a better life for themselves.

Thank you for reading my post and please share your favorite Neil Diamond songs! – Larry

HEATWAVE “The Groove Line” – A Reflection On A Funk / Disco Classic

With their strong roots to Dayton, Ohio and that area’s pioneering Funk scene, Heatwave made their musical impact on both the record charts and within discotheques worldwide. As a youngster back in the latter ‘70’s, I owned Heatwave 45 rpms before I ever knew about the world of Hard Rock.

Heatwave had an international representation with their band members’ points of origin and sold multi-million records during an era when American Bandstand and Soul Train were showcasing the pioneers of R&Bs’, Funk and Disco. My favorite song from Heatwave will forever be “The Groove Line” which was featured on their second studio album from 1978: “Central Heating”.

Written by the late Rod Temperman (a one time Heatwave member), “The Groove Line” encompasses everything that’s delicious about a non-stop, funk driven and super groovy Disco era song! To this very day, this song never fails to cheer me up when I’m down or rev me up when I’m tired.

The rhythm and entire flow of “The Groove Line” is nothing short of Funktastic, IMO. A tried and true adrenaline boost Heatwave created here and I can’t be more real than that! Lastly, “The Groove Line” reminds me of going camping, with my family, to the Connecticut shoreline as a young lad. Good times, indeed. Thank you for reading my post here! Comments welcomed. – Larry

Mickey’s Band Concert – 45 rpm Storage Box I Found… Check It Out!

This past Wednesday night, my daughter and I decided to visit some area thrift stores for vinyl record finds. We didn’t find any vinyl albums; however, my daughter did discover this Disney Mickey’s Band Concert 45 rpm storage box. This nifty box is made of vinyl and I’m guessing (until I do further research) that it’s from the 1960’s to early 1970’s.

I did find this exact 45 rpm storage box on ebay in near perfect condition and its price was $99.99 (US funds). The price I paid for my box was a (wow!!) $4.99 (US funds). Our box had some minor stains on it which I washed off very easily.

I will be using this Mickey’s Band Concert box for its intended purpose of storing 45 rpms with their respective sleeves. My daughter and I had fun treasure hunting at those thrift stores, that night. I hope your thrift store visits are successful too!

Please feel free to share your thrift store vinyl album and/or music related finds! Thank you for reading my story! – Larry

AMERICA “A Horse With No Name” – My Childhood Sunday Drive Song

AMERICA – A Horse With No Name is an AM Radio classic that was originally recorded by America and released as a single in late 1971. Dewey Bunnell wrote this song and sung it for America. This classic Folk Rock song is featured on the debut and self-titled studio album from America, on its 1972 re-release.

When I first heard this song as a young lad, it was on one of the many 1970’s Sunday drives my parents would take my sister and I on. A Horse With No Name was played so often on AM Radio back then, I thought it was only natural to hear it at least six times during one Sunday drive through the countryside! I remember vividly, my father singing along to this song and singing this song when it was not on the radio as well. Yes, back then I memorized the lyrics very quickly to A Horse With No Name.

The peaceful mood of this song is what I find so striking, along with the soothing vocals of Dewey Bunnell which truly enhances the tranquility. Everything seems to fit together perfectly on this song; from the flow and atmosphere to the “la la la la la la la la” chorus.

To this very day, anytime I hear this song I think about my father and those innocent family Sunday drives from yesteryear. Sadly, my father passed away on December 19th of 2015, at the age of 76. Revisiting A Horse With No Name is my way of celebrating both my father’s love for this song and my affection for it as well. Rest peacefully dad and know I will never forget those Sunday drives. – Larry

Above: Debut/Self-Titled America Album Cover