The Cars first album also came out in 1978 and had a mixture of what we would eventually call New Wave, with traditional rock, and a little punk edge. This live version is a bit heavier than the version on the album and heard on the radio.
Tag Archives: Guest DJ
Talking Heads – Warning Sign
Ok, now we are moving into a more arty not, necessarily rock direction. I love this video in that the crowd seems to be surrounding the Talking Heads. Also, David Bryne throws down some crazy licks on the guitar. The album More Songs About Buildings and Food was a sign that there was something different out there that was really interesting musically.
Bruce Springsteen – The Promised Land
Coming off of Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen was a genuine rock star and while I think Born to Run created tons Bruce fans, Darkness on the Edge of Town turned that crowd into life-long adoring fans that still exist to this day (did you know Joe Pos once wrote about this album?). I love that the lyrics are screened on the video. Probably my favorite Springsteen song.
This verse is just magic:
There’s a dark cloud rising from the desert floor
I packed my bags and I’m heading straight into the storm
Gonna be a twister to blow everything down
That ain’t got the faith to stand its ground
Blow away the dreams that tear you apart
Blow away the dreams that break your heart
Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted
Van Halen – Feel Your Love Tonight
I’m going to start the week with rock and roll because for the most part, rock still dominated popular music. Van Halen came out in 1978 and blew my 15-year-old mind away. This is still one of my favorite songs of all time and this performance really shows what early Van Halen was like alive. I flipped out when I found this video. This album is important because rock was getting a little stodgy (I’m looking at you Foreigner and Styx). Van Halen gave rock a much-needed kick in the ass. The drum solo got a little long, unfortunately.
Bonnie Raitt – Nick of Time/Thing Called Love
Wayne Cochran – I Can’t Turn You Loose
absolute fire performance with Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band
Evan Dando and The Lemonhead – Streets of Baltimore/If I Could Talk I’d Tell You
A (extreme Classic Rock DJ voice) DOUBLESHOT (/end voice) of The Lemonheads. Evan Dando does justice to the Gram Parsons penned "Streets of Baltimore" and the full Lemonheads band on Conan doing "If I Could Talk I'd Tell You"
Devo – Gut Feeling
I had no idea Devo has some punk rock baked into their DNA until I heard this song (and then hit repeat about 10 times)
Husker Du – Books About UFOs
Grant Hart's vocals are muddled but the song still bops