Because It's Tuesday - week of February 28

Hey look at us. We have made it to the end of February. It feels pretty good doesn't it? Spring is now officially just around the corner!

As it's Tuesday again, I'm sharing a cover song today.

This Old Heart of Mine is the tune de jour and has been recorded by many artists over the years. Some folks have even recorded it more than once!

This Holland–Dozier–Holland hit was released by the Isley Brothers in 1966 on Motown's Tamla label. It featured Ronald Isley on lead vocal and climbed the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Singles charts that year.

In 1975, Rod Stewart released his first cover of "This Old Heart of Mine" on his Atlantic Crossing album. I love that version of it, but I couldn't find a video to share. Instead, here is his 1989 recording of the Isley Brother's hit as a duet with Ronald Isley. It's a great version (but again, I really prefer his 1975 recording). If you have some time on your hands, go give a listen to Atlantic Crossing, not just this song but the entire album. It's a gem!

I hope you enjoy it & happy Tuesday, kids xo

I try hard to hide my hurt inside

This old heart of mine, always keeps me crying

The way you're treatin' me, leaves me incomplete

You're here for the day, gone for the week

Finally Friday - Over You

While it was really lovely to have had a holiday on Monday, short work weeks can be extra busy. This one was no exception, and for my Finally Friday song this week, I'm sharing "Over You" by Kurt Baker. It's my way of telling the week, hey buddy, I'm over you and ready for the weekend.

I thought I would post this song today because I'm a big fan of Kurt Baker's, and I love this song from his 2020 album, After Party. The whole album is great. I have lost count of the number of times I have listened to the whole thing on repeat. Kurt Baker tends to be in heavy rotation on my playlists most days. 

If you haven't heard him before and you're a fan of super fun power pop, you owe it to your ears to give him a listen. He's American (from Maine I believe) and seems to split his time between the states and Spain. After you fall in love with his songs (I'm pretty sure you will), you can pick up some of his records here: https://kurtbaker.bandcamp.com 

So, give Over You a listen and start your weekend off with a little dance party in the kitchen. It's what I'll be doing once the whistle blows at the end of the day xo

They tell me that perspective's what I lack

That's funny cuz I'm always looking back

Well I lost my mind. It's true

But I found I'm still in love with you

Can Con Thursday - Not Happy

Once again it's Thursday so, I'm sharing a song by a Canadian band. 

Alas, this particular Canadian band is no longer together but, for a few years in the 1990's, they did exist and made some great music. I only had the opportunity to see them once (here in Kingston, at the Toucan) and it was a great show. A little silly Jale trivia for you - Jale made their name up from the first letters of each of member's first name (Jennifer Pierce, Alyson MacLeod, Laura Stein and Eve Hartling).

Even though most of February (in our neck of the woods anyway) has felt a lot like March outside, we're in the middle of a whack of winter weather. The ice and cold has me thinking about spring and green things and dandelions and sunshine.

The video for Jale's "Not Happy" (aka today's song) contains green things and dandelions and sunshine. Nice! It's actually a really beautiful video and the song is awesome too. It's from their 1994 album, Dreamcake (their very first album), released on Sub Pop Records.

I hope watching the video and listening to the song warms you up and reminds you that spring is really just around the corner xo

Laying there upon your bed staring at the ceiling

A clock keeps ticking by your head its claiming every lonesome

Not alone

Not happy

Way Back Wednesday - Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'

In the past, I've made this same old corny joke many times: in our house, we were raised on two kinds of music, Country AND Western. 

It's funny and in our case, it's actually true. Between the ages of about 3 and 8 we lived in tight little community of families just like ours. All of the parents were around the same ages and so were the kids. In our situation, we had a lot of neighbourhood moms keeping an eye out for all of us. We definitely felt like we were free-range 70's kids but we were always within earshot or eyeshot of an adult.

I remember some days, usually in the summer, everyone would put their radios in their windows and play the same country radio station. The adults would joke that we all learned how to spell by listening to Tammy Wynette's "D-I-V-O-R-C-E." My folks loved Charley Pride back then (and remained fans of his for years). So, today, for Way Back Wednesday, I'm sharing a song of his that always makes me smile and think of my parents: "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'"

Released in the fall of 1971, it not only spent a lot of time at the top of the Country Music charts, it also was a cross over hit, spending 4 months on the Pop Charts too. After I got the call that my dad had died (I'd been home from the hospital for a couple of hours to get some sleep), I asked my little smart speaker to play some Charley Pride for me. "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" started playing and I just smiled, thinking about my dad and remembering those summer days with the radios in the windows.

It's a great song and one that I think, if it were to be released today, would be a big hit again. 

Though people may try to guess, the secret of our happiness

But some of them never learn it's a simple thing

The secret I'ma speaking of, is a woman and a man in love

And the answer is in this song that I always sing

Because It's Tuesday - week of February 21

So, I'm into week three of making an effort to post here. As it's Tuesday, I'm going to share a cover song with you.

Today's tune was written and recorded by Marshall Crenshaw back in the early 80's. It was originally released as the B-Side to "Someday, Someway." If you haven't figured it out yet, it's "You're My Favourite Waste of Time" as recorded by the late, great Ronnie Spector.

Other singers (Bette Midler and Owen Paul) both had some success with their versions of the song but I prefer Ronnie Spector's version. It was released in 2003 and I hope you enjoy it. 

Here I am

I'm playin' day dreamin' fool again

You're my favorite game