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Song of the Day #4,041: ‘Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard’ – Simon & Garfunkel

The Concert in Central Park was the first Simon & Garfunkel album I ever heard. Released in 1982, this recording of the late-1991 benefit concert was my gateway to the duo’s music and also to a half dozen of Paul Simon’s solo tunes.

In fact, it wasn’t until I started diving into Simon & Garfunkel’s catalog that I realized tracks such as ‘Late in the Evening,’ ‘Slip Slidin’ Away,’ ‘Kodachrome’ and ‘Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard’ were actually solo tracks written and recorded after their breakup. I mean, they sound so good performed by both men.

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Song of the Day #4,040: ‘Too Little Too Late’ – Barenaked Ladies

Sometimes I kick myself for not keeping detailed records about my Song of the Day posts. If I could go back to Song of the Day #1 and keep a spreadsheet of every artist, song, theme, and so on, I would totally do it.

That would allow me to know, for example, where Barenaked Ladies stands in terms of Random Weekend appearances. Because I have to think they are way up there, if not at the very top.

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Song of the Day #4,039: ‘Midnight Creeper’ – Elton John

Keeping up his incredible pace in the early 70s, Elton John released his fifth album in four years with 1973’s Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Piano Player. This record, like Honky Chateau before it, went to #1 in the U.S.

Opening track ‘Daniel’ is the standout on this one, and it made my playlist alongside the playful, nostalgic ‘Crocodile Rock’ (shout out to the excellent use of that song in Rocketman). But two songs new to me also made the cut.

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Song of the Day #4,038: ‘Susie (Dramas)’ – Elton John

Elton John followed Madman Across the Water with Honky Chateau just a year later, in 1972. That’s four albums in three years containing some of the most enduring pop songs of all time. Wow.

The obvious keepers on Honky Chateau are ‘Honky Cat,’ ‘Rocket Man’ and ‘Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters.’ The latter two songs would be at or near the top if I were to rank the 37 songs I ended up with on my Elton John playlist.

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Song of the Day #4,037: ‘Rotten Peaches’ – Elton John

‘Rotten Peaches’ is the second track from Elton John’s Madman Across the Water to make my personal playlist.

This is a big, anthemic piano ballad that makes good use of a gospel choir. My hunch is that if it didn’t have such an off-putting title phrase it could have been a hit. This song plus ‘Holiday Inn’ anchor Side Two of Madman Across the Water, making the album a rewarding listen start to finish.

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