Music Monday 1988: A bit of everything

There is a radio show on CBC here in Canada that occasionally does a feature called SYNTH: Songs You Need To Hear.

Now, I can’t say to someone, “You’ll like this song” (or book for that matter) because I can’t presume that others will share my taste in music (or books), so it is safer to say, “You might like this” and if they don’t like it, so be it.

Maybe you will find a new favorite.

CBC MUSIC, Central · Mornings with CBC Music

1988

When many black musicians were predominantly in rap and hip hop groups, In Living Color was a refreshing change, not to mention the wicked guitar chops of Vernon Reid:

Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians had a big hit with What I Am, but the entire album was chock full of gems. If I had this on vinyl, I would have worn out the grooves. Luckily, I had the cassette…yeah, that eventually stretched a bit.

I didn’t know Bob had a son, but I’m glad he did.

On to one of the most underrated Canadian bands. When you find another TPOH (The Pursuit of Happiness) fan, it’s like a mini family reunion. Their 1988 album, Love Junk, was also chock full of gems.

I have to think that the band Sloan was influenced by this band. (I featured Slone in my Oct 1st Music Monday)

The mid to late 80s was the heyday of the “Guitar Gods”. Eddie started us off at the beginning of the 80s, but many were poised to unseat him from his throne.

You have to be a really good guitarist to think people are going to sit and watch you solo for a whole concert…well, Joe Satriani is pretty good.

The first time I heard this next song, I was mesmerized. I was also new to the orchestral/chamber music genre. Over the years, the “mesmer” has waned from hearing it over and over and over…
But it’s still a beautiful piece with a gazillion versions to chose from.

Fun fact: Apparently, Johann Pachelbel added a footnote on the original score that read, “Not to be used at weddings.” but one of his sons dropped a dollop of mustard from his bratwurst on it and the ink was left illegible.

-Leon

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/

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