For My Sunday Song #398, we are to the next Japanese Bonus selection in Mike’s Choices. This time around we have the song “Straight Down the Line” by the band Shaw Blades. This short lived band of two great friends consisted of Night Ranger’s Jack Blades and Styx’s own Tommy Shaw. The boys were also part of the supergroup Damn Yankees. This song was written by both and was the Japanese Bonus track on the stellar debut album simply titled Shaw Blades. Later, Tommy did include it on his album 7 Deadly Zens but with Kevin Cronan on backing vocals instead of Jack (and that is the one I have the video for…sorry).

The song seems to be about a woman Tommy loves but she doesn’t love him back. She is out trying to find herself and that one thing to complete her and they are all dead end roads like a trip to Mexico, voodoo, a new age guru, being a Hollywood Star. When she looks in the mirror, I don’t know if anyone is looking back. She seems empty. He still loves her and hopes she’s thinking of him and will come back to him. He believes she’s the one for him. I hope she finds herself. She reminds me of Jenny and Forrest Gump.

What does Mike have to say about the song…”Straight Down the Line” is the gem.  It’s the fastest song of the whole bunch, upbeat but light, and a blast in the car.  Tommy’s intricate little lightning fast guitar hook is a tasty delight.  Tracks like this are why collectors really seek out Japanese imports.  They are their own rewards.” And he isn’t wrong on his view of the song. There is a light, upbeat feeling despite the sadness in the lyrics of this lost go trying to find herself. The guitar work is great and it is such a catchy, airy song. I will have to go crank it in the car and see if he’s right about it being a blast. I have a feeling he is!

Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. Should it have made the final track list of the album? How could you not…I guess if you don’t like Tommy, but that would be worth a whole other discussion on why. Now, I want to thank Mike for picking these tracks and you should go check out his website – Mike Ladano and his YouTube page for Grab A Stack A Rock. You will enjoy it all!! Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a Happy Sunday!

Here is the audio from the Shaw Blades album…No video found.

And here is the video from Tommy Shaw’s album…

“Straight Down The Line”

You bought a one way ticket
And you headed down to Mexico
Said you were gonna find the answers
To the questions I don’t know

You can’t help yourself
It’s not someone else
When you look in the mirror

Tell me what do you see
Are you thinking of me?
Yeah

You’ve got a new age guru
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
You’re selling some kind of Voodoo
But I think he only wants to score

You can’t help yourself
No there’s no one else
Take a good look around now

Tell me what do you see
Are you thinking of me
Yeah yeah yeah

Straight down the line
You’ll find the answer
Straight down the line
You know I believe
When all’s said and done
You’ll be the one
Straight down the line

You met a Hollywood agent
With a big house on the hill
He says he’s gonna leave his wife
But you know that he never will

You can’t help yourself
No there’s no one else
When you look in the mirror

Tell me what do you see
Are you thinking of me
Yeah yeah yeah

Straight down the line
You’ll know the answer
Straight down the line
You know I believe
When all’s said and done
You’ll be the one
Straight down the line, oh yeah
Straight down the line, oh yeah

Is it time to make a reservation (Make a reservation)
Do you need a ride to take you home (Take you home)
Or will it always be
Destination unknown
Do you need a little recreation (Recreation)
A little something that will feed your soul (Feed your soul)
Don’t you love it
When you finally find your way home
Oh yeah

Straight down the line
Straight down the line

Straight down the line
You’ll find the answer
Straight down the line
You know I believe
When all’s said and done
You’ll be the one

Time ain’t wasted
Time ain’t wasted
When I spend my time with you
Time ain’t wasted
Time ain’t wasted

Straight down the line, oh yeah
Straight down the line (Straight down the line)
Yeah (Straight)
Straight down the line

Written by Tommy Shaw & Jack Blades