From their 1998 album, All The Pain Money Can Buy. The song reached number 20 on Billboards Hot 100 chart in 1999.
From songfacts.
Tony Scalzo wrote “Out Of My Head,” which reflects his mindset. “I was a struggling musician,” he said in a Songfacts interview. “I had a record deal, so I knew there was a chance that things were going to turn around for us and for me, but I was struggling, and I was really ambitious at that time. Maybe I was just thinking about recurrent situations and how hopefully things would come out right.”
Things did come out right: The first single from Fastball’s second album was “The Way,” which became a huge radio hit. “Out of My Head” was a more modest hit, but still did very well, helping that second album, All the Pain Money Can Buy, sell over one million copies.
Structurally, this song is very unusual. It open with a verse and a chorus – nothing strange there – but then repeats the chorus twice with no subsequent verses. You have to have a pretty compelling chorus to pull that off, and this song does, with a clever melody and intriguing, ambiguous lyric.
Scalzo points out that many greats ignored conventional song structures quite often, notably Bob Dylan and The Beatles
Out Of My Head
Sometimes I feel like I’m drunk behind the wheel
the wheel of possibility
However it may roll, give it a spin
See if you can somehow factor in
You know there’s always more than one way
to say exactly what you mean to say
Was I out of my head or was I out of my mind?
How could I have ever been so blind?
I was waiting for an indication, it was hard to find
Don’t matter what I say, only what I do
I never mean to do bad things to you
So quiet but I finally woke up
If you’re sad then it’s time you spoke up too
Was I out of my head or was I out of my mind?
How could I have ever been so blind?
I was waiting for an indication, it was hard to find
Don’t matter what I say, only what I do
I never mean to do bad things to you
So quiet but I finally woke up
If you’re sad then it’s time you spoke up too
Was I out of my head or was I out of my mind?
How could I have ever been so blind?
I was waiting for an indication, it was hard to find
Don’t matter what I say, only what I do
I never mean to do bad things to you
So quiet but I finally wake up
If you’re sad then it’s time you spoke up too
From her 1996 self-titled album Sheryl Crow, The song reached number 10 on Billboards Hot 100 chart. The guitar riff in this song is unmistakable. When you hear the first note you know what it is.
From songfacts.
This song describes a person who seems depressed or upset no matter what happens. According to Crow, the inspiration for the song was her feelings after the massive success of her first album, as her record label and the media put pressure on her to follow it up.
This won the Grammy award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. >>
On her VH1 Storytellers appearance in 1998, Sheryl Crow said this was initially a country song, but she turned it into a rock song so she could get more exposure. >>
The Australian lensman Keir McFarlane directed the video, which portrays Crow as an angry museum exhibit (10 years before the movie Night at the Museum). McFarlane also did the video for Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.”
Crow was a huge fan of Tom Petty, and said that this song was in some ways inspired by the way he played.
If It Makes You Happy
I belong, a long way from here
I put on a poncho and played for mosquitoes
And drank ’till I was thirsty again
We went searching, through thrift store jungles
Found Geronimo’s rifle, Marilyn’s shampoo
And Benny Goodman’s cursive pen
Well, okay, I made this up
I promise you I’d never give up
If it makes you happy
It can’t be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad?
Get down, real low down
You listen to Coltrane, derail your own train
Well, who hasn’t been there before?
I come ’round, around the hard way
Bring you comics in bed
Scrape the mold off the bread
And serve you french toast again
Okay, I still get stoned
I’m not the kind of girl you’d take home
If it makes you happy
It can’t be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad?
If it makes you happy
It can’t be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad?
We’ve been far, far away from here
I put on a poncho and played for mosquitoes
And everywhere in between
Well, okay, we get along
So what if right now, everything’s wrong?
If it makes you happy
It can’t be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad?
If it makes you happy
It can’t be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad?
From his 1977 album French Kiss, the song reached number 14 on Billboards Hot 100 chart in 1978. All of Bob’s songs have a haunting quality about them.
From songfacts.
This song is a straightforward ode to a shy woman at a dance with the most alluring eyes he’s ever seen. Welch was a member of Fleetwood Mac before recording as a solo artist.
Ebony Eyes
Well have you seen that girl in the corner
I’d like to take her out of her chains
‘Cause if I have my way with you baby I would be changing your life today
Your eyes got me dreamin
Your eyes got me blind
Your eyes got me hopin
That I’ll be holding you close tonight
Your eyes got me dreamin
Your eyes got me blind
Your eyes got me hopin
That I’ll be holding you close tonight
She was the same as a hundred ladies
But when my eyes looked at her I learned
That she was keepin a secret fire
And if I got real close I’d burn
So it looked like I had to move slowly
Like a cat at night in the trees
‘Cause I was waiting for her to show me
The way that she like her love to feel
Your eyes got me dreamin
Your eyes got me blind
Your eyes got me hopin
That I’ll be holding you close tonight
Your eyes got me dreamin
Your eyes got me blind
Your eyes got me hopin
That I’ll be holding you close tonight
Ebony eyes, ebony eyes
Ebony eyes, ebony eyes
Your eyes got me dreamin
Your eyes got me blind
Your eyes got me hopin
That I’ll be holding you close tonight
Your eyes got me dreamin
Your eyes got me blind
Your eyes got me hopin
That I’ll be holding you close tonight
I guess many people have mistaken this for a Supreme’s song but it’s not. The Three Degrees was originally formed circa 1965 in Philadelphia. 15 women have been in this group over the years but it has always been a trio. The song reached #2 on Billboards Hot 100 chart in 1974.
More from songfacts.
This was written by the Philadelphia songwriting and production team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. It was released on their Philadelphia International Records and became the only #1 in the UK for the label.
Three Degree Shelia Ferguson recalls in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, “The song was played to me by Kenny Gamble at the piano in 1973 and I threw a tantrum. I screamed and yelled and said I would never sing it. I thought it was ridiculously insulting to be given such a simple song and that it took no talent to sing it. We did do it and several million copies later, I realized that he knew more than me.”
A few months earlier in their first recording for Philadelphia International Records, The Three Degrees supplied the vocals for the US #1 hit “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia),” which was the theme song for the TV show Soul Train.
When Will I See You Again
Hoo-oo ha-a ha-a hoo-oo
Precious moments
When will I see you again
When will we share precious moments
Will I have to wait forever
Will I have to suffer
And cry the whole night trough?
When will I see you again
When will our hearts beat together?
Are we in love or just friends?
Is this my beginning
Or is this the end?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
Hoo-oo- a hoo-oo
Precious moments
Are we in love or just friends?
Is this my beginning
Or is this the end?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
When will I see you again?
From his 1982 album Three Lock Box, The song reached number 13 on Billboards Hot 100 chart in 1983. I am a big fan of Sammy’s. He did Hard rock/Metal the right way.
Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy
I don’t mind, when you act your age
It suits me fine, that you treat me like a child
And I can’t deny, when I’m with you that you
Step outside, from all those fears locked up inside
Your love is driving me crazy
Your love just takes me away
Your love is driving me crazy
Takes me all the way
What I like, is what you’ve got to offer
Just my type, I don’t mind playing on the edge
Your love is driving me crazy
Your love just takes me away
Your love is driving me crazy
Takes me all the way
Lead me to forbidden doors
You know I’m yours
Yeah you’ve got it, yeah I want it
Don’t you know it babay
Right on time, a tight fit right on the money
So sublime, hot sweet cherries on the vine
Your love is driving me crazy
Your love just takes me away
Your love is driving me crazy
Takes me all the way
Your love is driving me crazy
Your love just takes me away
Your love is driving me crazy
Your love just takes me away
Your love, your love, your love just takes me away
Your love, your love, your love just takes me away
From their album Infinity, the song reached number 68 on Billboards Hot 100 chart in 1978. This is probably my favorite Journey song. Neil Schon mixed in some blues guitar on this one.
From songfacts.
This was one of the first Journey songs featuring lead singer Steve Perry. He was accepted into the band after the group’s manager listened to his audition tape for only 15 seconds.
Even though this is about San Francisco, it was written in Los Angeles, where the band had relocated. Steve Perry explained in an interview with Joe Benson of Arrow 93.1 FM: “I had the song written in Los Angeles almost completely except for the bridge and it was written about Los Angeles. It was ‘when the lights go down in the city and the sun shines on LA.’ I didn’t like the way it sounded at the time. And so I just had it sitting back in the corner. Then life changed my plans once again, and I was now facing joining Journey. I love San Francisco, the bay and the whole thing. ‘The bay’ fit so nice, ‘When the lights go down in the city and the sun shines on the bay.’ It was one of those early morning going across the bridge things when the sun was coming up and the lights were going down. It was perfect.”
Perry finished writing the song with Journey guitarist Neal Schon, who says they “banged it out in about 20 minutes.”
Lights
When the lights go down in the city
And the sun shines on the bay
Do I want to be there in my city?
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
So you said, you’re lonely
Well my friend I’m lonely too
I want to get back to my city by the rain
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
It’s sad ohh, there’s been mornings
Out of the world without you
Without your charm
Oh, oh, oh, nah, nah, nah, oh, oh
When the lights go down in the city
And the sun shines on the bay
Do I want to be there in my city, oh oh?
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
When the lights go down in the city
And the sun shines on the bay
Do I want to be there in my city
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Mmm, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Well, rock is not quite dead yet and this band proves it. The lead singer Jay Buchanan is considered to be one of the best singers in rock today. He has been compared to Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers. The band is heavily influenced by 70s and 80s rock.
Too Bad
I know you better than you think I do
You coulda stuck with me
But I guess a girl’s gotta do what she has to
Every now and then, my name passes your lips
Your late night stroll down a memory lane
On your, your finger tips
Do you miss me so much?
Feeling like I hypnotized you
Feel a burning deep inside you
The only thing that satisfies
You miss me so much
And now you’re burning with that old flame
Yearning for my old game
You tremble when you hear my name
You miss me so much
Well, that’s too bad
And we go together like a hand and gun
Squeeze off a couple rounds
Put me away ’til next time you wanna hurt someone
Every now and then, you like to empty your clip, no no
Then I go right under your belt on your hip
Do you miss me so much?
Feeling like I hypnotized you
Feel a burning deep inside you
The only thing that satisfies
You miss me so much
And now you’re burning with that old flame
Yearning for my old game
You tremble when you hear my name
You miss me so much
Well, that’s too bad, too bad, too bad
Feeling like I hypnotized you
Feel a burning deep inside you
The only thing that satisfies
You miss me so much
And now you’re burning with that old flame
Yearning for my old game
You tremble when you hear my name
You miss me so much, so much
And you miss me
Well, that’s too bad
I heard this song for the first time on the HBO show Vinyl now canceled. They sure did not do a lot of production on it but that’s what makes it great. I am surprised it was not a big hit.
From songfacts.
This song was written by Mott The Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs on demand and under the severest of pressure, and recorded in September 1969. It is a fantasy ode to a lady of the road from a self-proclaimed Rock star.
In the band’s official biography, Ralphs says: “It was a fictitious story, written about being on the road in America.” At this time, the band hadn’t even performed live.
This was released as a single on November 1, 1969; the B-side was “Road To Birmingham,” although in the USA, it was released with a different B-side: “Backsliding Fearlessly.”
Rock And Roll Queen
Listen woman you needn’t look so stupid when I call your name out loud
Cause everybody thinks you’re a sweet smelling girl with intelligence
And you know how
I wouldn’t want anyone else to know
About the way you really are
You’re just a rock and roll queen
You know what I mean
And I’m just a rock and roll star
Listen woman you needn’t go to bed with everybody that you meet
Cause everybody thinks you’re a sweet little girl with intelligence in
Your feet
I wouldn’t want anyone else to know
About the way you really are
You’re just a rock and roll queen
You know what I mean
And I’m just a rock and roll star
Alright!
You’re just a rock and roll queen
You know what I mean
And I’m just a rock and roll star
I just heard this song this morning for the first time. It kind of caught me off guard because it has more of a rock feel than anything coming out of Stax records at that time. It reached number 132 on Billboards pop chart.
Open up the sky
‘Cause I’m coming up to you
So send down your wings
And let ’em bring me to you
You know I’m standing at the station, ready to go
Oh, big ‘ol aeroplane, I’m trusting you so
Get on up big bird, to my baby’s love
Get on up big bird, to my baby’s love
Get on up big bird,
Cause I got to make it,
Just get on up
‘Cause I got to make it,
Get on up
With me down here
And you up there
Now all we know is
It ain’t no fair
‘Cause I got love packed in my baggage
Holdin’ my claim check,
Gonna be with my baby
And never comin’ back
Get on up big bird, to my baby’s love
Get on up big bird, to my baby’s love
Get on up big bird,
Up
Up
Just get on up
Open up the sky
‘Cause I’m coming up to you
So send down your wings
And let ’em bring me to you
Get on up big bird, to my baby’s love
Get on up big bird, to my baby’s love
Get on up big bird,
‘Cause I got to make it,
Just get on up
Cause I got to make it,
Get on up
Get on up big bird,
Get on up big bird,
Get on up big bird,
Get on up big bird
The title song from their 1973 album. The song reached number one on Billboards Hot 100 chart in 1973. For some reason, I had never heard this song until the 1980s. Of course, I had heard other Grand Funk Railroad songs but not this one. Oh, Happy 4th of July.
From songfacts.
We were touring, supporting The Phoenix Album, we were going from town to town, there were lawsuits flying all over the place, it was a very tumultuous time period. I remember lots of discussions in the back of cars going, ‘What are we going to do next?’ Our manager kept saying, ‘Why don’t you just write songs about what you do: you’re out here on the road, you’re going to this hotel, you go to different places, there’s people, you come into town…’
So the thought came into my mind, ‘We’re coming to your town, we’ll help you party it down.’ That’s really what we were doing – we were coming into town and we were the party. That’s where the line came from, and the next thought I had was, ‘We’re an American band.’ It wasn’t to wave the flag or anything, it was just simply what we were. It was a true description and it kind of rolled off my mind. I went home and worked on the concept for a while and picked up a guitar; I’m not really a great guitar player, I can play tow-finger chords and that kind of stuff. I worked out the chord structure and I brought it in to rehearsal one day and there you go – we just let it go from there. It had a mind of its own.”
The lyrics are about little things that were going on on the road during the Phoenix tour. All of them are true. Don explains the line, “Up all night with Freddie King, I’ve got to tell you, poker’s his thing”:
“Freddie King was the opening act for us, the great Blues guitar player from Texas. It always struck me as funny that he would make his band play poker with him every night. We used to sit in on some of the poker games, and that’s where that line came from. His band, he’d pay them, and then he’d go win all the money back so they were broke and they’d have to keep playing for him – it was a great deal. A lot of people don’t understand the Freddie King part because they don’t know who Freddie King is. Anybody who knows about Freddie King immediately picks it up. People who don’t say, ‘What are you saying, that Focus can’t sing?'”
Regarding the line, “four young chiquitas in Omaha,” Don Brewer told us that it came from a situation where they checked into a hotel in Omaha, Nebraska. “There were four groupies in the lobby waiting to see the band,” he said. “‘Four young chiquitas’ sounded a lot better than ‘four young groupies’ or ‘four young girls.'”
The line, “Sweet Sweet Connie was doing her act” is about Connie Hamzy, a famous groupie known as “Sweet Connie.” Some of her rumored conquests include Brewer, John Bonham, Keith Moon, Huey Lewis, Peter Criss, and Bill Clinton 9when he was governor of Arkansas). This song made her famous, and in 2010 VH1 ran a special about her life. According to Hamzy, she didn’t have “the whole band,” as stated in the lyrics, but she came pretty close – Mark Farner was a holdout.
Brewer sang lead on this. Grand Funk guitarist Mark Farner sang most of their songs, but Don was the lead vocal on songs like “Shinin’ On,” “Walk Like A Man” and “Gimme Shelter.” He and Mark shared vocals on “Some Kind Of Wonderful.”
Todd Rundgren produced the We’re An American Band album. He is an accomplished musician who produced albums for Badfinger and The New York Dolls before working with Grand Funk. He has played on albums by Joan Jett, Cheap Trick and Hall & Oates, and had success as a solo artist with the hit “Hello It’s Me.”
We’re An American Band
Out on the road for forty days
Last night in Little Rock put me in a haze
Sweet, sweet Connie, doin’ her act
She had the whole show and that’s a natural fact
Up all night with Freddie King
I got to tell you, poker’s his thing
Booze and ladies, keep me right
As long as we can make it to the show tonight
We’re an American band
We’re an American band
We’re comin’ to your town
We’ll help you party it down
We’re an American band
Four young chiquitas in Omaha
Waitin’ for the band to return from the show
Feelin’ good, feelin’ right, it’s Saturday night
The hotel detective, he was outta sight
Now these fine ladies, they had a plan
They was out to meet the boys in the band
They said, come on dudes, let’s get it on
And we proceeded to tear that hotel down
We’re an American band
We’re an American band
We’re comin’ to your town
We’ll help you party it down
We’re an American band
We’re an American band
We’re an American band
We’re comin’ to your town
We’ll help you party it down
We’re an American band
We’re an American band
We’re an American band
We’re comin’ to your town
We’ll help you party it down
We’re an American band
We’re an American band
We’re an American band
We’re comin’ to your town
We’ll help you party it down
We’re an American band
We’re an American band, wooo
We’re an American band, wooo
We’re an American band, wooo
Free Fallin' 