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Song of the Day #2,518: ‘Peace Like a River’ – Paul Simon

paul_simonMy fourth favorite album of 1972 is Paul Simon’s self-titled solo debut.

Hard as it is to imagine now, there were serious doubts in the early 70s over Simon’s prospects as a solo artist once Art Garfunkel left the band to pursue his movie career.

One reviewer of this album, quoted on Wikipedia, wrote “”I gather…this album is merely Simon’s way of keeping his hand in while Garfunkel makes movies….I’m now wondering if Garfunkel’s arranging work doesn’t include sending Simon back to rewrite some of his songs before recording them.”

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Song of the Day #2,517: ‘Starman’ – David Bowie

ziggy_stardustA few weeks back I decided to count down the best albums of my birth year, 1972.

When I dove into my collection to start the process, I was surprised to discover that I own only seven albums from that year, which certainly reduces the drama of the proposed countdown.

I guess it makes sense that I wouldn’t own a large number of records from one specific year more than 40 years back. But a little research revealed a couple of dozen albums that struck a nerve back when I was a mewling babe.

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Song of the Day #2,516: ‘The Drugs Not Working’ – Ryan Adams

ryan_adams_rock_rollRyan Adams has averaged an album per year since his 2000 solo debut, Heartbreaker (before that, he released a trio of albums with Whiskeytown).

I’m only familiar with a handful of those records, and I definitely have a preference for his alt-country work, including Heartbreaker and the albums he recorded with The Cardinals.

I’m also a big fan of the more rock-focused Gold, probably his best album.

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Song of the Day #2,515: ‘The Lovers are Losing’ – Keane

perfectsymmetryKeane is like an NFL running back who has three and a half great seasons, then gets a knee injury, tries to come back the following year and just doesn’t have the same speed or ability to cut anymore.

He bounces around a couple of teams, clinging to a roster spot as a backup, then ends up out of the league selling mattresses or something. You just hope he was smart with his money during his heyday.

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Song of the Day #2,514: ‘Somebody’ – Natalie La Rose feat. Jeremih

natalie_la_roseClosing out my latest dip into the mucky waters of Billboard’s Hot 100, I arrive at a song that features Jeremih singing that he wants to “take shots with somebody” to the tune of Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody.’

I don’t know if the performers grasp the irony of glorifying hard partying using a song whose famous singer died after prolonged substance abuse.

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