Category: My Sunday Song

My Sunday Song – “Nothing’s Gonna Stop You Now” by Loverboy

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For My Sunday Song #387, Tim’s next pick is from Loverboy and the song is “Nothing’s Gonna Stopy You Now”. The song was written for the U.S. Olympic Team for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and it is know as the Team Sports Theme (whatever that is). Yes, nothing like a U.S. Olympic Theme Song written by a Canadian band. Makes a lot of sense!! The song was written by composer Bill Wray with Paul Dean and Mike Reno. The song was released as a single and on the album ‘The Official Music of the XXIIIrd Olympiad Los Angeles 1984‘.

The song is an anthem for the athletes and is made to inspire which the lyrics are all about that dedication and sacrifice the players have to make to be world-class athletes. The opening lyrics “You know you paid the price – You made every sacrifice,” showcase that belief.

Musically, the music is powerful and full of energy and excitement needed to inspire. It starts off with some keyboard filled with orchestration and a high-pitched vocal by Mike Reno. Then the song kicks in and it sounds like classic Loverboy. It could be “Queen of the Broken Hearts” or any other Loverboy song it sounds that familiar. It is fist pumping and hard driving with some great guitar work while the drums and bass drive the song forward. There is no denying the band behind this song.

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My Sunday Song – “Got To Get You Back In My Life” by Triumph

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For My Sunday Song #386, we are talking about one of the earliest Triumph songs called “Got to Get You Back In My Life”. This Tim selection was the B-Side to their debut single called “Hobo” and has never been on any studio album. The single came out back in 1975 and the song was written by drummer and vocalist Gil Moore there is a lot of questions around who sang the song. Most likely it was Gil, but some have said it was handled by bassist and keyboardist, Mike Levine…who I don’t know if he ever sang another song for the band after this. My guess it is Gil with a lot of help by maybe Mike or any of the other two members.

The strange thing about this song is the band that was playing it was a four-piece with Gil, Mike, Peter Young and Fred Keeler…no Rik Emmett in the band yet. They were a blues-based band and they called themselves Abernathy Shagnaster. They signed to Attic records for which the single was released, but the single came out under the Triumph name. I’m not sure I have found why that happened. Shortly after the single was released, Young and Keeler left the band and the band found Rik Emmett

The song itself is very early 70’s. You can hear Year’s organ really well and Mike’s bass line is thick and heavy. The drums are soft and minimal and the guitar isn’t very prominent. The background vocals are great with some good harmonizing. The song sounds like a cross between the Carpenters and the Partridge Family. Okay, not really but the song is light and poppy and has that 70’s sound like you’d get from Jackson Browne or singers of his ilk. It’s a pretty good song, but man, I would’ve never guessed this was Triumph if Tim hadn’t told me.

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My Sunday Song – “Subway” by Aerosmith

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For My Sunday Song #385, we are going with Tim’s next selection which is “Subway” by Aerosmith. This one is unusual as it is simply an instrumental. The song was written by Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer. Yep, no Joe Perry to Steven Tyler on this one. The song was never released on a studio album, but finally was released as a B-Side to “Sweet Emotions” when it was re-released sometime in 1991 for the “Pandora’s Box’ box set. It was also on the Aerosmith ‘Box of Fire’ release on a bonus disc.

The song was recorded during the ‘Draw the Line’ sessions and this was back when Joe Perry and Steven Tyler were so messed up that they wouldn’t show up for days. Meanwhile, Brad, Tom and Joey needed to keep busy so they would write their own stuff and this was a result. This would’ve been during the 1977 ‘Cenacle’ sessions I believe. The band rented an old estate known as the Cenacle, a 300-room former convent near Armonk, NY., where they would be isolated without drugs around so they could focus on writing new songs. However, the drug dealers and the drugs found them!!

The song is an instrumental, as I said above. It sounds like the guys are just jamming away and it is the basic blueprint for a song that is missing vocals and a guitar solo. It is very repetitive repeating that same riff and rhythm throughout. It is a little bluesy and there is a familiarity to it that I can’t place. Maybe that is because it sounds like Aerosmith from the 70’s. Despite no Tyler on vocals or Perry on guitar, this sounds like Aerosmith because the backbone of the band is here and all their glory. I dig when bands finally release this kind of stuff that shows more insight in to the band. Things that they worked on that didn’t get fully developed are precious treats for me.

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My Sunday Song – “You Can’t Fight It” by Rush

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For My Sunday Song #384, we have Tim’s fourth choice with “You Can’t Fight It” by Rush. This is about as early as you can get with Rush and isn’t on any studio album. It is the first professional studio recording the band had ever done. It was done in Toronto, Canada with David Stock producing. In fact, this is part of the very first single the band ever put out with the song “Not Fade Away” which is a great Buddy Holly cover. But we are here to talk about the B-Side which was written by Geddy Lee and then drummer, John Rutsey.

It was written back in 1971 by the two gents, but Geddy ended up getting kicked out of the band, but cooler heads prevailed and John called Geddy and asked him to come back and by March of 1972, the band was set and ready to progress forward. No one would release the record so the band formed Moon Records and released it themselves, mainly in Toronto. It is extremely rare and a probably worth a fortune if you can actually find one. There is one for sale on Discogs as of my writing this for $1,500 if that gives you any idea of the value.

The song seems to be about the band just rocking you hard and you won’t be able to fight it. The song is short at under 3 minutes because according to Alex Lifeson, radio would only play songs that were around 3 minutes. A song that completely and utterly rocks out. A great bar sounding song with some wicked guitar riffs and soloing by Alex. Just Stellar!! John’s drum rolls on this song were killer as well as he would go nuts during his fills. Both Alex and John fed off each other with this one. Geddy’s vocals were perfect for this song as well as he slayed with the confidence and cockiness needed for a beast of a rock song. This might be a new favorite song of mine for Rush. Simply fantastic!!

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My Sunday Song – “I Really Don’t Want Your Love” by April Wine

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For My Sunday Song #383, we are diving in to the song “I Really Don’t Want Your Love” by April Wine. This is another Tim Durling selection that is a rare track and not any April Wine studio album. This is a B-Side to the song to their 1984 hit “This Could Be The Right One” off their album ‘Animal Grace’. The single hit #61 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, but of course the B-Side did nothing, but at least it was out there in the world to be heard.

The song was written by Myles Goodwyn, as all of their songs basically were. The song is about a girl that is leading the guy on. She’s playing games and stringing hime along for her own enjoyment. He is tired of it and has hit his breaking point and he’s ready to say goodbye. He doesn’t need her love anymore and he’s out of there. Someday she’ll turn around and might notice that he’s gone.

This is a great song and so hard to believe this wasn’t on any studio album as it has everything you’d want in a song. The quick tempo has lots of energy, great guitars, great driving drum beat and rhythm section. The vocals have a pacing that is really great on the lyrics and Myles vocals are awesome as well (assuming Myles is singing as I am not overly familiar with the band). The chorus is really awesome as well as it is so catchy and will hook you in instantly. I found myself moving to the beat of the music and that is always the sign of a good song. If this is a non-album track, just how good are the studio tracks. I might need to check these guys out.

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My Sunday Song – “Satisfied” by Sammy Hagar

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For My Sunday Song #381, we are kicking off another 10 song set and this time around Tim Durling from Tim’s Vinyl Confessions is picking the songs. Go check out his YouTube channel for some great content, you won’t be disappointed. Like Deke before him, Tim had a theme. He picked songs that are rare non-album tracks and B-Sides and we are kicking it off with the song “Satisfied” by Sammy Hagar. The song is leftover from the 1981 ‘Standing Hampton’ recording session and was released as a B-Side for the song “I’ll Fall in Love Again” and I believe on the song “Heavy Metal” as well.

The song was written by Sammy Hagar and basically it seems to be what the title says. He’s satisfied with his woman who I believe he is keeping satisfied as well since he is an “All Night Man”. Not much deeper than that and does it really need to be. This is early 80’s rock and it is all about having a good time and there is nothing wrong with that.

The song is an absolute beast and it is hard to believe this was left off the album. I believe he had about 20 songs left over in some form or fashion from the ‘Standing Hampton’ sessions. The song is a pure rocker and it speeds through with some racing guitar riffs and a cocky Sammy spitting out the vocals. The solo is more reserved and mixed with some cool bass licks, then the solo gets more riveting and fast before Sammy comes soaring back in. The ending rocks too with a some bombastically paced out slams of the drums and Sammy grunts / screams. I guess this would be the climax of the song…ooh, I can’t believe I went there…but I did because he’s “Satisfied”.

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My Sunday Song – “Long Way to Neverland” by Headstones

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For My Sunday Song #380, we are to the final song of 10 song set of Deke’s Choices. This time around we are tackling “Long Way to Neverland” by Headstones. Headstones are yet another Canadian band out of Kingston and they have a major punk influence. The song is off their 2013 album ‘Love + Fury’ and was written by the band. The song was the 2nd single off the album and went to #6 on the Canadian Rock/Alt chart.

The song was written by the band which consist of Hugh Dillon, Trent Carr, Tim White and Dale Harrison. The lyrics to “Long Way to Neverland” are rather confusing to me. The lyrics are introspective while at the same time it is giving you the power. Basically, I get out of it that it wants to give you the power to be yourself, to stay true to oneself. Don’t give in to pressures by either your peers or by society. Remain strong when confronted by those that don’t agree with you. “To Thine Own Self Be True” or something like that. But I could be way off base here because he also is sitting there getting stoned and just ignoring everything.

There is a Lou Reed vibe to the opening as lead singer, Hugh Dillon, speaks it more in that Lou Reed style. It is really cool. The guitars have a grunge edge to them and the harmonica really adds a punch to it. The song has a ton of attitude and bite and I am really digging the dangerous feel to it. A band I had never heard of before this, but damn I’m glad I know it now. In under 3 minutes waste no time in making you feel it and want to re-live the experience over and over. A brilliant piece of music.

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My Sunday Song – “Let It Ride” by Big Sugar

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For My Sunday Song #379, we are talking about “Let it Ride” and not the BTO version, but the cover by Big Sugar. Deke’s choice is another Canadian band, but he is mixing it up by picking a cover song. The song is off this Toronto band’s 1998 album ‘Heated’ which went platinum in Canada with over 100,000 album sold.

The song has a great story with it as it was inspired by a bus touring traffic incident with Bachman-Turner Overdrive. While driving from one town to the next, the band got boxed in between some 18 -Wheelers and when the trucks and the bus pulled over at the next rest stop, they actually confronted the truck drivers. And truck drivers being as cool as they normally are, they told the band to basically calm down and let it ride. The song itself is about a guy that apparently has lied to his girl and he is telling her to forget about and move on…yeah…I am sure that went over well.

Big Sugar has taken this song and really changed it up. The guitars don’t sound like this 70’s hit did, no. They brought some crunchy guitars and then there is almost a swagger to it with a reggae vibe. The vocals aren’t full of harmonies, now they have a darker edge that only Gordie Johnson can do. They have brought the song in to the 21st Century in a big way. Heck, they even added another 1:20 to the song with more guitars and well more everything. A totally different vibe, they made it their own song. Which I like to see they put in a lot of effort thinking how they wanted to present this song.

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My Sunday Song – “Hanging High ‘N’ Dry (Live)” by Brighton Rock

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For My Sunday Song #378, we are on the 8th song choice from Deke. This time around we have a live song from Brighton Rock called “Hangin’ High ‘N’ Dry”. This might be the first live song we’ve done here on My Sunday Song so this is a change of pace for me. The song is off the band’s live album called ‘A Room For Five Live’ which was released July 23, 2002. This Canadian band only had 3 albums and the last one was 1991. This was the first release from the band in over a decade. The original song can be found on their 1988 album ‘Take a Deep Breath”.

The song was written by lead singer Gerry McGhee, lead guitarist Greg Fraser and keyboardist Johnny Rogers. The song is about standing by your lover, but they moved up and on leaving you in the dust. You are waiting for them to say something, but they no longer care. They’ve moved on leaving you high & dry. It is sad really. But I am sure that it has happened to everyone.

The live song is a keyboard heavy song at the opening and then Gerry comes in on the first verse. His vocals are a little rough and gritty in an almost Tom Keifer kind of way, but not as high pitched. The guitar work by Fraser is great as he has nice riffs thrown in and a solo that plays perfectly for the tone of the song and not all showboaty. The rhythm section lays down a nice groove as the song is a cross between a ballad and a rocker as there is a little punch to it, but there is still a tenderness and sadness to it as well. Not a bad track.

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