The Boney 500: Songs 344-342

[T_Bone0806]

Ready or not, here are the next 3 songs on my list of favorite songs of all time. Another eclectic mix:


344. US AND THEM-PINK FLOYD (1973)
Album: Dark Side Of The Moon

Well, I'm guessing most of you know this one, so there's not much to
say about this atmospheric track other than classic song, classic album,
nice sax work.




343. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE OUT-SLADE (1974)
Album: Stomp Your Hands, Clap Your Feet (in the US), Old, New, Borrowed and
Blue (elsewhere)

This Glam-Rock band (that description amuses me, as these guys were FAR
from photogenic) was huge in England and other European countries but
couldn't make a dent in the US charts, despite appearances on Midnight Special,
In Concert, and so on. They finally hit the Top 40 here in 1983 with "Run Runaway"
and "My Oh My". Quiet Riot also scored with remakes of a couple of Slade songs.
This one was not released as a single anywhere as far as I know, but it darn well
should've been. Amiable, upbeat and sunny, it's a great track. Cheap Trick
put a cover of it on an album a couple of years ago. If it's good enough for
Cheap Trick, it's good enough for me.




342. THERE'S A PLACE IN THE WORLD FOR A GAMBLER-DAN FOGELBERG (1974)
Album: Souvenirs

In my opinion, Fogelberg early in his recording career expertly straddled the line of
pretty, sensitive material without crossing over into total Sappy City territory.
Until he released "Longer", that is...which for me was his jump the shark moment.
This one, from his second album, is a lovely tune that kinda sweeps me away. Just
the right amount of schmaltz..your mileage may vary, of course, depending on your
tolerance for sweets..

[SportsFan68]

Dark Side of the Moon isn't just classic, it's basic. One of my buddies and I used to drive to places in her old VW bug and listen to this on her eight track. Amazing stuff.

The Slade song is fun and upbeat, just as Mr. T said.

As for Fogerberg, I agree that Longer is dreadfully schmaltzy, but I can't bring myself to agree that it was a shark-jumper. I think he recovered with High Country Snows, although it never gets any airplay around here and never did get much, and with "Same Old Lang Syne," IMO an amazing song that could be played all year, not just between Dec. 1 and Jan. 7. I also remember hours of listening to Twin Sons of Different Mothers over and over again on long trips because it stayed fresh. Maybe Tim of the Berg brothers gets the credit, I dunno . . .

[T_Bone0806]

As for Fogerberg, I agree that Longer is dreadfully schmaltzy, but I can't bring myself to agree that it was a shark-jumper. I think he recovered with High Country Snows, although it never gets any airplay around here and never did get much.

yeah, I did like a few songs on that one, along with a few others scattered here and there post "Longer"