Dave Schwensen's Blog, page 2

#102 and 103 – Brown Sugar

#102 & 103 – Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones

I’m trying to wrap my head around this. Brown Sugar is one of my all-time favorite rock and roll songs that never fails to land in the Top Three whenever I’m consciously thinking about this type of ranking. The word “consciously” is an important element of that statement. As you should realize by now, Dream Songs is anchored in the unconscious state of my waking mind where I have no control over where it lands on this list.

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#104 and 105 – Shout Parts 1 and 2

#104 & 105 – Shout Parts 1 and 2 by The Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers

The first time I heard this song it was from a different band of “brothers,” The Beatles. It was during a television special called Around The Beatles. I hadn’t seen any advertising or advance word about the show, so it came as a total surprise.

It was a Sunday afternoon, maybe a month or two since their February 1964 U.S. debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, and I was playing at a friend’s house. We were running down a ...

#235 – I Never Came Home To Fight

#235 – I Never Came Home To Fight by Metro

Top: Dave, Steve and Jeff Bottom: Ted and Tim

Chances are you’ve never heard of this song. I know because most haven’t. But it means a lot to me personally, and hopefully it helped more than a few people when it was released as a fund-raiser.

During the winter of 1984 in New York City my close friend and music conspirator Ted Bardy (now a well-known NYC acting coach) and I met a couple guys that were leaving FOX Entertainment to start their own ...

#106 and 107 – Popsicle

#106 & 107 – Popsicle by Jan & Dean

Jan & Dean

I’ll go ahead and brag by claiming to have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to mid-1960s pop music. I can go deep, which is proven by this relatively obscure track by the Southern California surf and car hit-making duo, Jan & Dean.

I hadn’t heard this song in decades. So, I was a bit surprised when this pop-flavored teenage anthem sent its fruit icy vibes through my waking mind on August 8 and October 15. The icy cool part was that I stil...

#108 and 109 – Good Golly Miss Molly

#108 & 109 – Good Golly Miss Molly by Little Richard

The Crown Prince of Rock ‘n’ Roll

The self-proclaimed innovator, architect and Crown Prince of Rock ‘n’ Roll is none other than Little Richard. If you don’t know who he is, you should. If you had ever seen him perform, you would never forget it. Especially if it was a surprise concert – which is where this story goes.

Good Golly Miss Molly is a classic staple of rock ‘n’ roll. A hard-hitting, three chord masterpiece that I feel every g...

#110 and 111 – (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty

#110 & 111 – (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty by KC and the Sunshine Band

Shakin’ all over!

Wait a minute. Does this mean The Classic Rocker was once a disco-maniac? Nope. The only reason this song is appearing on the Dream Song List is because it’s a catchy tune that has burned its way into the crevices of my brain and sometimes bubbles out. If you have any embarrassing memories you’ve tried to forget but can’t, you’ll know what I mean.

During the disco craze of the 1970’s you cou...

#112 and 113 – Lucille

#112 & 115 – Lucille by Kenny Rogers

One of two cowboy characters that could sing.

  I have countless memories of living and working in New York City. Some of the best involve the many “characters” that became part of my world. And it wasn’t just the comedians (professional characters) I worked with at The Improv, but also the people that seemed to enter and exit through the revolving door of my everyday life.

  Some characters are lifelong friends, while others have become legends still...

#114 and 115 – She’s Still A Mystery

#114 & 115 – She’s Still A Mystery by The Lovin’ Spoonful

1967 Line-Up

In the mid-1960s, I didn’t buy a lot of albums. It was an era of 45 RPM singles, and I had stacks of them. It’s been mentioned in past Classic Rocker’s that I officially joined the pop music fad with the Beatles 1964 appearance on The Ed Sullivan show that opened my eyes (they were cool) and ears (the music) to The British Invasion. The next year, the American groups started catching up and I added to my collection with ...

#116 and 117 – America

#116 & 117 – America by Simon and Garfunkel

I drove a truck once. That’s not true. I drove a “real truck” twice. It was a round trip but included a couple years between adventures to catch my breath before doing it again. And if pressed into being brutally honest, I wasn’t any good at it. Fortunately, I survived to write about it.

Okay, being truthful…

I was a “pickup truck-driving guy” for about three years a long time ago. But that doesn’t count when compared to the 18-wheel monste...

#118 and 119 – Learning To Fly

#118 & 119 – Learning To Fly by Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd 1987

Though I like the song, I have no desire in learning to fly. I mean like a bird, a plane or superman. I’m happy to look around from my current height.

It wasn’t always that way. As a kid I was happy climbing tall trees and flying in planes. At amusement parks I had no problems with sky rides, roller coasters and even the super high Ferris wheels. While living in New York City I even walked across the roof of one the twin towers ...