Music

This Week’s Heavy Rotation #12

“I tell you, boy, every time the feelin’ sure is fine.”

Each week I take a look back at my playlists, and share songs that were either played the most, got stuck in my head, or just stood out. Many are new to me, but there are old faves mixed in as well.

Up here in The Heartland, life is continuing it’s slow rumble back. Blooming flowers are popping up everywhere, as are events on my family’s shared calendar. Both are welcome returns.

To say we don’t know what we’ve got ’til it’s gone is really cliche, but for me it rings true. Soccer practice? Small outdoor gatherings? Yes please.

What’s old is new again, and I’m here for it.

And with that, here are my top 5 of the last 7 days:

ZZ Top- Move Me On Down The Line

Before the Eliminator Coupe (and album), the girls, and MTV, there was 1973’s “Tres Hombres.” Albums like this from self-proclaimed “little ol’ band from Texas” were stripped down, and laid the foundation for later stardom.

This is the sort of mesquite-flavored rock that sounds best blaring from an AM radio as you barrel across the desert southwest.

For now they’re going to have to settle for being played in a Subaru in the upper Midwest.

Superhopper-Laraine Newman

Music about one of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players? Sure.

I don’t know anything about this band, except that they’re from the Twin Cities, and have (had?) a pretty decent local following. I found this when a friend of mine shared one of his playlists and it’s been stuck in my head ever since.

What I do know is that at some point, we’ll be able to start going to shows again, and when that happens, this is the kind of song I want to hear first.

Bad Religion- Anesthesia

There was a an article recently ranking Bad Religion’s albums. Against the Grain was nowhere near where it should’ve been. That’s obviously subjective, but a LOT of other people felt the same way.

In my opinion, it should’ve been #1 or 2, and this is the top track on the record.

Chicago-Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?

In my part of the world, the boys high school soccer season usually takes place in the fall. Like a million other timelines, the pandemic upended that, and my son’s “alternate fall” season has only now gotten underway.

A return to routine and structure has done wonders for them all. As great as it’s been for the boys to see each other, it’s also been nice for the parents. Turns out sorting who-is-driving-who-where is a good problem to have. That’s a sentence I never thought I’d write.

This week, I ran into someone I hadn’t seen in forever at the field. As we were catching up, we tried to figure out how long it’d been. I guessed early January. He thought it was late fall. It wound up being last August. Time is fluid that way.

The Band ft. Bob Dylan- Baby Let Me Follow You Down

Someday I’ll write about how the entirety of one Thanksgiving Holiday was spent working double shifts and watching The Last Waltz, but today’s not that day.

In the meantime, enjoy this rock and roll masterclass. In a recent piece, Terry Barr lamented not remembering some of great concerts (or events) in our lives. I wonder if those in the audience that night truly recognized they were part of something historic?

Check out Rick Danko’s grin at the :02 second mark. He knows he’s about to get into something good. Press play, and you will too.

What topped your playlists this week? Let me know in the comments below.

Thank you as always to the ever-growing community here at The Riff! All of you help make this the great community it is.

In case you missed last week’s list: