Stale Single #1: Jacob's Ladder

Song:  Jacob's Ladder
Artist:  Huey Lewis & The News
Album:  Fore!
Year:  1986

"Do you like Huey Lewis and the News?"

- Patrick Bateman, American Psycho

You know that scene in American Psycho where Patrick Bateman is giving his treatise on Huey Lewis and the News?  It's such a great scene because of the impending murder of who he is talking to, but also because of the simple idle chat of one of the greatest bands of the '80s.

For real.  Many of you all don't even remember the 1980's.  But, if you had any sense of the pulse of popular culture back then you would know all about Huey and his band.  Huey Lewis and the News was EVERYWHERE back in the day.  Movies (Back To The Future), TV shows, MTV, etc...the band was all over the place.  Say what you want about Huey Lewis and the News.  Tell me that they are lame '80s bullshit.  But, I will say "Fuck you, kind sir.  Huey Lewis and the News were the absolute shit".  Respectfully, of course.

Anyway,  Jacob's Ladder is one of my favorite tunes of Huey and the guys.  It wasn't really one of their smash hits back in the day but it's truly a great song.  Written by the venerable Bruce Hornsby and his brother, Bruce gave it to his friend Huey to record and use on their album.  Actually, Bruce and his band did a fantastic rendition of Jacob's Ladder on their album Scenes From The Southside.  

The song itself is all about rejecting those biblical proselytizers that often are seen on television spewing hellfire and brimstone or out and about on the street berating others about their lifestyle and their need to repent.

Like that poor fan-dancer out in the south side of Birmingham.

Life is a struggle, yo, says Huey through the lyrics of his friend Bruce.  But...step by step, one day at a time, anyone can make it through.  It's truly one of those uplifting songs.

So, this is our first Stale Single...hope you like it.  Sometimes it's fun just to look at one song, tell a quick story, and get the fuck out before anyone gets bored.

Stale Music Review #4 - Bruce Hornsby

Halcyon Days by Bruce Hornsby

Cost: $0.92US

Song Count: 11

Call me names, roll your eyes, or snort in derision but I love Bruce Hornsby and I always have.  I grew up loving classic rock, punk rock, and "the metal".  But, always tucked back in the dark recesses of my brain I have held the oh-so-secret knowledge that Bruce Hornsby is "my dog".  This is me professing my love for the piano-master.

Bruce, while a fucking virtuoso on his instrument(s), is a fantastic songwriter with a strong sense of melody and a sense of humor.  Listening to his records, you can tell that Bruce takes his music extremely seriously but doesn't take himself all that seriously.  He seems like a dude that you can hang out with on the back deck and knock back a few beers with.  Which is cool.  The fucker has written some damn hits, too:  The Way It Is, Valley Road, Mandolin Rain...etc.

Halcyon Days is a fun record.  It's mostly lighthearted, up-tempo, and the song sequencing is well done.  This is a good Bruce record.  Not greatness by any means.  But, it's great background music for a low-key party, or cleaning the house, or typing on your blog.  

Guests on the album:  Sting, Sir Elton John, and Eric Clapton.  You can totally tell that Clapton plays some guitar on Gonna Be Some Changes Made.  Slowhand has a verrrryyy distinctive sound.

One more time:  Here's the tracklist and whatever notes I feel like writing.

1.  Gonna Be Some Changes Made - There is a reason he kicked the record off with this song.  Funny, great chorus, awesome playing...damn it's a great song.

2.  Candy Mountain Run - Not a huge fan of the chorus.

3.  Dreamland - Feels like a dream.  Moody, but sweet.  A nice tune.

4.  Circus on the Moon

5.  Halcyon Days

6.  What the Hell Happened - Classic Hornsby.  Silly, goofy, and filled with awesome musicianship.

7.  Hooray For Tom - Tom won the spelling bee.  Bruce (or narrator) did not.  Let the lamentation begin.  The narrator of the song is a total "hater".

8.  Heir Gordon - Really like this tune.  

9.  Mirror On The Wall - If Hornsby did a "rocking" tune for this album, this would be it.  A friggin' fantastic song on every level.

10.  Song F

11.  Lost In The Snow - Has a kind of dreamy quality to me...

Anyway, great album by a great musician who also happens to be a great live act and great guy.  If you get a chance to listen to Halcyon Days, then do it.  If you have a chance to see Bruce and his band (the Noisemakers) play live and choose not to...well, I will kick you in the nuts.

*Edit:  I sent Bruce the CD cover for Halcyon Days, which he signed for me.  It now hangs on the wall.