Year in Review - Music

-

I have 1,845 songs on my phone.

I use the shuffle to play them as they line up, and I rarely skip a song.

I started thinking about my music year in review as Apple Music keeps track of such things and puts together a presentation every December 1st.

I figured that this would be the year when Bruce might be toppled from the top spot as I listened to a whole lot of The Rolling Stones this year.

That was spelled out by the album I listened to more than any other, Hackney Diamonds - the last Stones record, but it barely edged out Bruce’s Western Stars that I love.

But I was shocked by the song that played more times than any other song in 2024:

“I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash!

I heard it 29 times in 2024.

It’s a great song.

It’s also about the same age as me.

So, I was curious as to how my top 5 artists played out.

#5 - John Mellencamp - I’ve been listening to JCM since the 80’s and The Lonesome Jubilee is one of the best rock record ever made - I still crank every song.

#4 - Rod Stewart - In my high school years I listened to Rod all the time - he made about 8 great records in a row and Foolish Behavior came out when I was in 9th grade - I know every word he sings on that record. He’s always been a hidden gem in my rock world.

#3 - Mark Knopfler - My favorite guitar player - he’s the former leader of Dire Straits and if their time was included he might be higher on the list - he has great solo work, and he’s still putting out new music.

#2 - The Rolling Stones - Mick and Keith did not topple the Boss this past year - finished about 500 minutes short. I have no idea how Tumbling Dice or Rocks Off didn’t play more than Johnny Cash - it had to be close! The Stones were my first music love back in the 70’s - I’ll listen to them until they cart me away.

#1 - Bruce - For the 48th straight year I listened to a lot of Bruce. The thing is he has produced new music all the way through - I don’t listen to much of his known music - I hardly ever hear a song off Born in the USA. I’ve heard Born to Run about a hundred thousand times - I don’t usually listen to it.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C...
Read more

Eyes on the Horizon

-
Image
My sister’s book is out there! Go get it!! It makes me so proud to see the book on Amazon, knowing that it’s very, very great! It’s been a long, long time since we were out in California, brainstorming my stories long before they were published. Carrie Lynn was writing, writing and writing some more through the years and I kept telling her… …”Go for it!” Well, she did!  To amazing results. Of course I was able to read the book as it was being put together, but I ordered a copy from Amazon yesterday and can’t wait to read it again. The shoe is on the other foot now as I have been sitting on a lot of my writing lately. I plan on getting it out there before the end of 2024, but for now: Carrie takes center stage! And it’s so great… …go get a copy!
Read more

Eyes on the Horizon Review

-
It’s always strange for me when someone I know tells me that they read my books and it’s weird for them because they think of me as they’re reading the story. I didn’t quite grasp what they meant, and hoped that they’d get caught up in the story and not me. I kind of get what they’re saying now because I just finished reading my sister Carrie Lynn’s excellent first book, ‘Eyes on the Horizon’. Now, I had read the story a long while ago, but a whole lot of work went into the end product. As a writer, I always try and guess along with the author because I can see the plot lines, and I’m often critical of plot lines that come out of nowhere as the author tries to unpaint the corner he’s stuck in. There was none of that in ‘Eyes on the Horizon’! I didn’t have any moments of, ‘Come on, now, that doesn’t work!’ I caught all the subtle lines that we shared in conversations and I was proud that Carrie defined her characters clearly and used them to propel the story forward. I’ve also coached h...
Read more