Lou Reed, “Dirty Blvd.” from New York (1989): Almost Hits
A still sadly topical Lou Reed track focusing on the differences between our have and have nots, ‘Dirty Blvd.’ is still one of the most transcendent moments on ‘New York.’
Almost Hits
Almost Hits: Cherokee, “Girl I’ve Got News For You” (1971)
Prior to switching their name to Cherokee, these guys were known as the Robbs and experienced a sizeable degree of fame during the ’60s as the houseband on Dick Clark’s fantastic “Where The Action Is!” television show. You May Also Like: Ken Sharp, “Girl / Forget That Girl” (2020): OneRead More
Almost Hits: Blood Sweat and Tears, “Go Down Gamblin'” (1971)
The problem with Blood, Sweat and Tears was that many rock fans didn’t consider them to be a real rock band. Their guitarist, Steve Katz, never reeled off the flaming, red hot, twelve-minute, guitar jams You May Also Like: Why You Should Have Celebrated Tears For Fears’ ‘Everybody Loves aRead More
Almost Hits: The Power Station – She Can Rock It (1996)
I recently spent a few hours perusing the autobiography of former Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor and came upon a short paragraph on the Power Station’s second album, Living In Fear. You May Also Like: On Paul McCartney’s ‘Egypt Station,’ Uriah Heep’s ‘Living the Dream’ + other new releases TheRead More
Almost Hits: Bob Dylan, “Jokerman” (1984)
The lead-off track from an album heralded as a return from born-again proselytizing, “Jokerman” found Bob Dylan using themes both Biblical and secular to tear down political charlatans. You May Also Like: How the Unsung ‘Jokerman’ Showed the Way Back for Bob Dylan The Best Bob Dylan Songs From theRead More
Almost Hits: Bachman-Turner Overdrive, “Blue Collar” (1973)
Right now, somewhere in a restaurant kitchen, or an auto shop, there is a greasy, beat-up boombox duct taped to a pole, and it is playing Bachman-Turner Overdrive. You May Also Like: ‘Bachman and Turner’ Resurrected the Spirit of Bachman-Turner Overdrive Bachman-Turner Overdrive – ‘Not Fragile’ (1974): On Second ThoughtRead More
Almost Hits: Love, “My Little Red Book” (1966)
Authored by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, “My Little Red Book” was a staple of just about every garage rock band’s diet during the ’60s. Manfred Mann’s jazz styled version of the song — which appeared in the movie, “What’s New Pussycat” and on their My Little Red Book OfRead More
Almost Hits: Herman’s Hermits, “No Milk Today” (1967)
Even though “No Milk Today” (#35, Hot 100 in 1967) was released in the USA by Herman’s Hermits as the B-side to “There’s a Kind of Hush” (#4, Hot 100) it was the better song of the two You May Also Like: The Young Rascals – Groovin’ (1967): On SecondRead More
Almost Hits: Steve Winwood, “Arc of a Diver” (1980)
A harbinger — be that good or bad — of what was to come as arena-rock morphed into synth-driven MTV fare, Steve Winwood’s Arc of a Diver smoothed the way for a smash return in the 1980s. You May Also Like: Steve Winwood returned with great songs, and an oldRead More
Almost Hits: Thee Prophets, “Playgirl” (1969)
Based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Thee Prophets included Brian Lake on lead vocals and organ, Jim Anderson on lead guitar, David Leslie on bass and vocals, and Chris Michaels on drums. You May Also Like: Bill Deal and the Rhondels – Vintage Rock (1969): Forgotten Series The Countdown 5 –Read More
