TUNES: Uncovered

The 90's were full of angst, drama and more. Tonic's If You Could Only See has a slightly different angle and was unique to this period of music. Rising to a respectable numbers on many Billboard charts this song was the one that moved their career into high gear. Listen as Carey explains the reason the song was written and Tonic's place in the 90's zeitgeist.

I hope you were in Memphis during the time we're going to be talking about. Music was (in Mark's opinion) at it's best. Some of the local bands were staples on the local circuit. This episode features a good friend, Memphis musician Mark Bryan. From his time with Larry Raspberry which we're discussing today to Jimmy Davis, Rob Jungklas, and more, Mark has held down the bass for som...

Two of 1979's best albums are the focus of this last episode on the Albums of the late 70's series. Tom Petty's Damn The Torpedoes and Pink Floyd's The Wall continue to be sold and are still in heavy airplay on radio across the world. Damn The Torpedoes gave us Refugee, Here Comes My Girl and Even The Losers plus more gems that didn't get as much airplay. Tom and Mike Campbell...

If you haven't heard songs off of these two albums I really don't know what to say. Off The Wall was on the charts in the top 10 for 8 months. 8 months, that's not a typo. Don't Stop Til You Get Enough was in very heavy rotation on both the radio station and in the clubs. Cheap Trick's Live At Budokan catapulted them into the radio stratosphere. I Want You To Want Me was a stap...

This episode is one we couldn't wait to record and release. One of the late 70's greatest albums was released in 1978, Van Halen's debut titled Van Halen. If you haven't heard Eruption, stop right now and look it up. Additionally The Police's debut Outlandos d'Amour was also released in '78. Roxanne was everywhere that summer and for good reason. It's a long episode...

Two of 1978's best albums are our focus for this episode. The Cars debut album, The Cars, and Gerry Rafferty's City to City each made their mark on the radio and our turntables. The Cars brought a semi-new wave feel coupled with rock/pop sensibilities to their radio friendly singles. Ric Ocasek was the face but all of the members made huge contributions. Gerry Rafferty was a very successfu...

Two of 1977's best albums are the focus of this episode, Billy Joel's The Stranger and Styx's Grand Illusion. Billy Joel's career wasn't in the best shape in 1977 and his record label was just about to pull the plug and boy did he deliver. Some of his most notable songs, Moving Out, Just The Way You Are, and Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, were just cuts from the first side....

In our next episode we discuss Steve Miller's Book of Dreams and Steely Dan's Aja, two of the year's best albums. Steve Miller's career has lasted for decades and his guitar mastery is evident in his live shows. Some of the tracks from this album are on his greatest hits album. And what can we say about Steely Dan's Aja. An "island" album for Mark and one of Carey&#39...

This episode is all about the everyman and the eclectic. From songs about life on the road to songs with a medieval angle these two albums were big hits in 1976. Bob Seger's Live Bullet and Kansas' Leftoverture were in constant rotation on FM radio. Live Bullet had a large number of songs touching R&B, soul, country and more. Leftoverture started with one of the best acapella openings...

In the first of a multi-episode stretch this episode is all about the albums released in the very prolific year of 1976. The first of four albums we chose are: Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive Boston - Boston (debut album) It was very difficult to narrow down to just 4 albums for a year that saw some of the most successful albums released. We start with one of Mark's favorite all-time alb...

The British Invasion didn't stop with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Bush hit the scene in 1994 with Sixteen Stone, their debut album which spawned Comedown and Glycerine which had good airplay. Little Things was also on the album but enjoyed less exposure but is nonetheless worthy of a listen. Led by Gavin Rossdale, the band enjoyed their heyday until around 2000 and then split up. They...

Not every artist has a Silk Degrees in their discography but Boz Scaggs most successful album was one of the top albums of 1976. With 4 amazing singles including this one, Georgia, the album stayed on the charts for more than 2 years. His studio musicians were the cream of the crop and their talent shows up in each and every song.

Rumors was obviously the biggest Fleetwood Mac album, but there were other good albums and songs in their catalog. Their 1973 release Mystery To Me had one of those songs, Hypnotized. The title was an apt description of the tune as a hypnotizing feeling is what the song emotes. Bob Welch also released this on his solo album after leaving the Mac and it was well received there as well. Let's tr...

Austin Texas has turned out some amazing talent over the years. This episode's uncovered tune is from one of those bands. Storyville was formed in 1993 and their second album gives us this catchy tune, Good Day For The Blues. And as a special treat we have a guest joinging us for this one. We welcome John "Johnny Wishbones" Burrell to the show as we talk about one of the 90's mos...

In our 4th in a series of songs from past one hit wonders this episode introduces us to Rickie Lee Jones and another track from her debut album. Last Chance Texaco is Rickie Lee's story of a girl in need of a tune-up. Using thinly veiled references to garages and cars, she tells a compelling story. If you remember Chuck E.'s in Love, this was farther down the track list but a good tune non...

Looking for an encouraging word, a positive thought? Sister Hazel's Change Your Mind fits that bill. From Gainesville Florida this five man band has released 11 albums of which Fortress was their 3rd. The song was written as a plea to 'change your mind' if you were going through a hardship and focus on the positive. This one was a fun one to record, remembering other one-hit wonders ha...

If you think Play That Funky Music was Wild Cherry's biggest hit, you would be right. But they also had other songs that are worth your time to search out. We've done that for you with their much slower song Hold On. Written by lead singer and guitarist Robert Parissi Hold On was an ode to blue eyed soul, and man did they do it justice. Take a listen and let us know what you think.

Jessie's Girl was a huge hit for Mr. Springfield but he is so much more than bubble gum pop. This song isn't what some people would equate with Rick but is much closer to what his actual discography contains. The movie was a fairly close representation of touring and the soundtrack was very well done. Love Somebody dot some airplay and charted, but not as high and long lasting as Jessie&#3...

Foreigner ruled the airwaves with their first album, songs like Feels Like The First Time and Cold as Ice were everywhere. This episode's uncovered tune is a lesser known gem. Fool For You Anyway didn't get airplay like the singles but shows a different side of the band. A stripped down song with layered background vocals makes for a smooth late 70's song we like to revisit often. Take...

Take a listen to this episode originally published December 14, 2024. Rarely will you get such musicianship coupled with strong lyrics, great production, and great live performances like you will with this episode's band, Giant. Formed by Dann and David Huff, Giant was a powerhouse band. Dann's playing and production talents have graced the albums of many a hit artist. When you get a chanc...

Sometimes a tune needs to be talked about again. This is one of those songs. Take a listen to this episode originally published July 13, 2024. Just a few hours down I-40 there once was a band that had catchy songs and great production but you probably haven't heard of them. The Silver Seas released five albums and today's episode revolves around their 3rd release, Chateau Revenge and it&#3...

If you ever saw Human Radio live, you were truly one of the lucky ones. Clever and intelligent lyrics, catchy melodies, masterful musicianship and a live show not to be missed. Me & Elvis was their hit but this song will get you moving. Featuring Steve Arnold on bass, this is a tour de force of a tight groove with all the hallmarks of a song that stays with you long after you've heard it....

Rod Stewart was all over the radio with Maggie May, Hot Legs, and many more hits from the 70's all the way through the 2000's. This episode's uncovered tune is I Was Only Joking was off Rod's 1977 album Foot Loose and Fancy Free. His voice is instantly recognizable and it's easy to place yourself back to the time when the song was on the radio. Storytelling was a strength of Mr...

This Canadian band started strong, had another solid album and then promptly broke up. It took them another 24 years before their third album. This episode's uncovered tune Out of The Blue is off their second album Luminescence. Some might call it yacht rock but we call it one of the best tunes we're heard lately. An uplifting message, tight vocals and great production make for a must list...

If you were asked what was the biggest selling single to come out of Australia, this episode's song would probably have not been your answer. Split Enz was at the top of their game in 1980 and their album True Colours gave us I Got You, a catchy tune with an amazing number of airplays and sales. Grab your leg warmers and hair gel and take a listen to this 80's classic.