Best Van Morrison Songs - The Hymns of Praise

Religion is always a touchy subject, and trying to tease out Van Morrison's theology from his songs is neither fair nor possible. So I'll tread carefully with these three Van Morrison songs, each of which can easily be interpreted as Christian hymns of praise. You may debate the "Christian" part, but Van no doubt taps into the Christian lexicon in these lyrics.

"By His Grace"- Hymns to the Silence (1991)

Hymns to the Silence is the Van Morrison album with some of the most overtly Christian tones, with versions of established hymns - "Be Thou My Vision" and "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" - and the sublime "By His Grace." But it is easily Van's most schizophrenic album - among the religious invocations are bitter music-industry rants, cheesy contemporary pop songs, straight-up blues, and epic meditations. Perhaps that's why "By His Grace" is a bit unsettling at first, this "grace" sounds so mechanical, like something to be earned - "You've got to try for the kingdom... " and the word "try" is used seven more times in two and a half minutes. This is an album of an artist in manic frustration. Struggle is the only way through, but the struggle can only be made "by his grace."

"Full Force Gale" - Into the Music (1979)

Perhaps the most overtly Christian of Van Morrison songs, and to my ear the most convincing, "Full Force Gale" will hit you just like one. Into the Music is so full of heart-felt gratitude and redemption that it's hard to take this as anything less than a hymn of thanks. "I was headed for a fall, then I looked up and saw the writing on the wall / Like a full force gale I was lifted up again / I was lifted up again by the Lord." The one-two punch of "Bright Side of the Road" and "Full Force Gale" that opens the album is the sunniest stretch of any Van Morrison album you'll find anywhere.

"If I Ever Needed Someone" - His Band and the Street Choir (1970)

So does Van use "Lord" here as an exclamation, as though addressing a redemptive lover, or is he addressing The Lord himself? It's in the ear of the hearer, really. And it's a fitting Christian hymn for someone of the latter perspective: "To see me through the daytime, and through the long and lonely night / To see me through the darkness and on into the light."

Whenever I talk about Van Morrison I always want to tell people about another favorite artist, prattle on, rick. Deeply influenced by Van's music, prattle on, rick. preserves Van's heartfelt, dreamy aesthetic and updates it in a lovely modern folk-pop sound. Do yourself the favor of downloading some of their music for free at http://prattleonrickmusic.com/

You can read the other articles in my Best Van Morrison Songs: 30 Essentials series, available at my profile.

Best Van Morrison Songs - The Love Ballads

As the creator of "Brown Eyed Girl" and an impressive list of rom-com soundtrack favorites, Van Morrison might be best known to the average listener as a romantic balladeer. The reputation is deserved, but is just one facet of the artist. My list here includes a couple you probably won't hear in the movies, and one you certainly have already.

"Crazy Love" - Moondance (1970)

"Crazy Love" has been covered often and featured in film (Aaron Neville's version in Phenomenon comes to mind first), simply because it's a perfect love song. Van's version is definitive, however, sung in a hushed falsetto, backed with subtle vibraphone and soulful call-and-response from female backing vocals. As we often see in Van Morrison songs, the singer finds redemption in the love of a woman: "She gives me some sweet loving, brightens up my day, and it makes me righteous, makes me whole."

"Stepping Out Queen Part II" - outtake from Into the Music (1979), released on Philosopher's Stone (1998)

This is a typical Van meditation jam, but the beauty here is it's from the recording session of one of his best records. Backed by drums, bass, piano, and fiddle, Van lays down a sensual strum on acoustic guitar, beginning the song with a spoken intro. When he starts singing "Come into my garden and just look at the flowers!" it gets me every time. I know it looks dumb on paper, but you've got to hear it. He transforms a line, repeats it, reworks it and makes it pure and undeniable. The passion builds as the singer pleads to his lover at dawn and the acoustic guitar goes to double-time strum, the bass climbs and falls, the cymbals explode and, well, just listen and use your imagination.

"Sweet Thing" - Astral Weeks (1968)

Astral Weeks is special for myriad reasons, one of which is the group of unfamiliar musicians Van found himself with at a recording session in New York in 1968. Fresh off a terrible experience with Bang Records (one that did produce the classic "Brown-Eyed Girl"), Van had a fresh start with Warner Bros. and this was his first session under the new contract. Jazz musicians were hired, and the fusion of their improvisational instincts with Van's soulful folk songs produced a classic in less than a week. Van invokes the Romantic poets here; "Sweet Thing" sounds like it could have been written by John Keats - "I will stroll the merry way and jump the hedges first / I will drink the clear clean water for to quench my thirst." Connie Kay's drumming stands out to me, as it does whenever he shows up on a Van Morrison recording. Kay's insistent hi-hat and tasteful fills give the song urgency; Jay Berliner adds sweet flourishes on acoustic guitar; even the string arrangement overdubbed in later sessions adds just the right touches of grace. Together they give the sensation of floating - a fitting ode to romantic love, I'd say.

Whenever I talk about Van Morrison I always want to tell people about another favorite artist, prattle on, rick. Deeply influenced by Van's music, prattle on, rick. preserves Van's heartfelt, dreamy aesthetic and updates it in a lovely modern folk-pop sound. Do yourself the favor of downloading some of their music for free at http://prattleonrickmusic.com/

You can read the other articles in my Best Van Morrison Songs: 30 Essentials series, available at my profile.

The top five Best Foo Fighters songs

I know exactly what you are thinking now, if you're a fan of the Foo Fighters. Probably you have in your mind exactly what your favorite songs are of this epic film. Everyone has their opinions of course (which is more than the right), and I'm here to give you my top five choices. Is Monkey wrench, alive come February stars, Everlong, and my hero.

Why not have a quick reading, and I'll explain why you made these choices:

5. Monkey wrench -plain and simple, this is a rocking song! They come in two piece of the album, the colour and the shape, fill your right breast right after the much more mild, singing doll. A big part of why I like so much this song may be for this reason.

4. Come Alive -I have to admit, I'm a sucker when it comes to solid acoustic guitar harmonies, clean male intros, and well put together song settings. This song is not only all that, but it also creates an amazing finale. I can't help but get chills.

3. February stars -similar to come alive, this song starts more soft and takes three minutes to the chorus. Oh what a chorus is though! The tone of his voice Dave Grohl is deep and full meaning. This definitely gives me a sense of child-like desire to sit outside and watch the stars, while contemplating life.

2. Everlong -OK, I like this song. It's not only great to sing along Karaoke (anyone?), but it's surprisingly fun to hear the drums I the same image should be true for the guitar and bass parts. seriously, if you're a musician go grab your instrument and learn this melody!

1. My Hero -this is by far the easiest song for me to write about (in a sense). Not only is one of my favorites from Dave Grohl, but also in my top ten of all time. Although there are rumours that this song was originally written by Grohl on Kurt Cobain, this has not been confirmed. For me, this song is very emotional and has a real sense of purpose in my life. It was the first song that I heard on the radio a bit after my grandfather passed in 2007. It was then that I realized how much I looked upon him. Now, every time I hear this song it reminds me of him, which brings a feeling of sadness, but also remembering the life of love.

So you, my collection for the top five best Foo Fighters songs. As you know, I am somewhat biased towards the album the colour and the shape (to be honest, it's the best!). Reading this article, you may not agree with my choices, but at least you will have insight into why I did the above options.

Thanks for reading, and keep Rocking!

To look at some of my own music and Download a free album from my band, Omega Moo. You can also watch our video of this song's Music City wreck, which is on the album.

Playlist For Writing Your New Years Resolutions - Top 5 Van Morrison Songs To Guide The Way

Van Morrison, for all his curmudgeonry (it's a word, I looked it up) has left us a gorgeous body of work, a common theme of which is rebirth and renewal. As I start to reflect on resolutions I'd like to make for the new year, here are the top 5 Van songs that will serve to comfort and guide me as I do.

"Brand New Day" - Moondance (1970)

Like much of Moondance, this one seems to wrap you in a warm blanket - and a palpable sense of hope that something new and whole is on the horizon. "I've been used, abused and so confused... but I stood and looked, and my eyes got hooked, on that beautiful morning sun." You may be sitting down to your pen and paper with some shame and regret on your shoulders - "Brand New Day" will help you shrug it off and begin anew.

"Astral Weeks" - Astral Weeks (1968)

Van finds salvation in newfound love and nature itself in one of his most mystical works. The finale sings of "another time... another place" but you'll find sufficient wonder and peace in this one to inspire action today.

"Starting a New Life" - Tupelo Honey (1971)

From the looks of the album cover, Van's at peace on his farm with his family and some animals, but the reality was far from it. At any rate, Van seems to be aspiring to the pastoral dream of the album's image, in spite of some significant domestic drama, with sweet songs like this one - "I've been shoveling the snow away, working hard for my pay, all I gotta say is we're starting a new life."

"Spirit"- Common One (1980)

In another mystical gem, Van plays benevolent pied piper, directing us inward "to the one." Interpretation of "the one" is up to you, but the affect is unmistakable - "you turn it around, you keep walking on." (On a side note, if you don't feel like shifting between albums as this list suggests, just stick with Common One, one of Van's most spiritual - and underrated - albums.)

"Wasted Years" - Too Long in Exile (1993)

This is a lovely duet with John Lee Hooker, a thought or two from a pair with a few years under the belt. Long time fans of Van's recognize him as a very bitter fellow at times, but here a wizened man makes this heartening conclusion: "The great sadness, oh you've got to let it all go, live in the present, live in the future - John Lee ain't that so?"

For some more great music, much of it appropriate for making New Years resolutions, check out the Van-inspired act prattle on, rick.. You can download a free copy of their latest single at http://prattleonrickmusic.com/

Best Van Morrison Songs - Balm For The Wounded Soul

It's clear from both Van Morrison's live shows and his records that healing is one of his primary ends, why he goes to all the trouble of making music and dealing with the record-making machine. If Van Morrison has a religion, it's music and music alone, in spite of whatever you may hear about God on some select Van Morrison songs. Music is what he has come back to over and over again, from his childhood, through his philosophical searches, through to present day. It's what provides solace, wonder, and purpose. And at times it's as if he's trying to convert the rest of us.

"And the Healing Has Begun"- Into the Music (1979)

Van returns to a familiar groove - the exact chord progression and meter of "Madame George" in fact. But this time he trades pity for transcendence. He and his lover will walk and talk and sing, and have some port, and make love, and shut out the rest of the world until the healing has begun. And music is redemption: "We're gonna make music underneath the stars / we're gonna play to the violin and the two guitars / and we'll sit there playing for hours and hours and hours and hours and hours... when the healing has begun."

"Virgo Clowns" - His Band and the Street Choir (1970)

This album was originally demoed in a church in Woodstock, and there's a lighthearted feeling of community throughout, as though Van had bought into the hippie aquarian dream. "Virgo Clowns" is when it sounds most sincere, as Van lulls us to rest with his syncopated guitar strum and sparse instrumentation. The performance is loose but compassionate and Van makes a communal pronouncement: "Let us lift you up on high, see the twinkle in your eye... Light up your golden smile, take away all your misery and gloom."

"The Mystery" - Poetic Champions Compose (1987)

"Let go into the mystery, let yourself go / You've got to open up your heart, that's all I know." So often a theme of Van Morrison's work, resignation to (or belief in?) the unknown is again his counsel here. To many it may seem naïve at best, escapist at worst. But with Van you can be confident he has searched and searched. It's why his music is still so vital to me, 20 years since my first encounter with it. The idea - of mystical surrender - is a frightening one, and a liberating one. And in such a mystifying world, perhaps the only truly sensible one.

Whenever I talk about Van Morrison I always want to tell people about another favorite artist, prattle on, rick. Deeply influenced by Van's music, prattle on, rick. preserves Van's heartfelt, dreamy aesthetic and updates it in a lovely modern folk-pop sound. Do yourself the favor of downloading some of their music for free at http://prattleonrickmusic.com/

You can read the other articles in my Best Van Morrison Songs: 30 Essentials series, available at my profile.

Seven Great Songs by "The Killers" That Should Have Been Singles

1. "Ultra Violet (Light My Way)" - A cover version of U2 which was recorded for the "Achtung Baby" covers album in 2011, this actually equals the original version! Some may say it is even better than the original, which is an amazing accomplishment. Brandon Flowers, the lead singer, and his cohorts rebuilt the song from scratch as a full on stadium rock anthem.

2. "Neon Tiger" - Taken from "Day and Age", their third proper studio album, this is a short and sweet song with great lyrics, which basically root for non-conformity. The spirit of the lyrics can be summed as "Just do your thing, do not let them tame you."

3."Move Away" - Taken from "Sawdust", their b-sides compilation. This was actually included in the soundtrack to one of the many "Spiderman" movies, but was never released as a single. This track finds "The Killers" in full attack mode, with powerful guitar riffs and relentless percussion. One of the top tracks in the running playlist on my iPod.

4. "Jenny Was a Friend Of Mine" - Taken from their outstanding debut album "Hot Fuss", this is the opening track. And what and opening it is. Guitar sounds that quote U2, the keyboards bring to mine the early works of "The Cure", and the bass parts are obviously inspired by their long-time heroes, "New Order." A storm of a song.

5. "Be Still" - "The Killers" are often accused of being bombast and forthright. This may be true sometimes, but they do it with belief and self awareness, and that is what makes them special. This low key ballad from "Battle Born" shows their more quite side. It is just beautiful, a magnificent "you are special, stay the way you are" night-time lullaby.

6. "Sweet Talk" - It is amazing how songs like these end up in a b-sides collection. Other bands would kill and steal for a song like this to be released as a single. But "The Killers" must have very high quality control standards. Very dominant keyboard sounds fill the speakers, and you can actually get chills when Brandon sings the refrain "hold on" towards the end.

7. "Bling (confessions of a king)" - A prime example of a recurring theme in Brandon's lyrics, the travelling protagonist on a quest for answers. I just love the turn that the song takes about 3 minutes in, with it becoming a no holds barred cry of "higher and higher..."

More about "The Killers" can be found in my The Killers mini-site.
For more reviews and insight about music, be sure to visit my music blog

The 5 Best Songs of Van Halen - Classic Hard Rock Review and Trivia Question

Led by the lead singer David Lee Roth and the amazing guitar talents of Eddie Van Halen, this band is considered revolutionary and has helped to change the sound and style of hard rock music, which shows in quite a few of today's bands. Bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen team up to form one of the most dynamic and original rhythm sections ever heard in rock music. The signature sound in Van Halen's songs can be recognized by the near perfect backing vocals and harmonizing of Michael Anthony. This makes him one of the most important and talented musicians to come out of the hard rock/heavy metal music scene.

Eddie Van Halen formed this band back in the 70's. My trivia question to you is: Eddie Van Halen married an actress in April of 1981. Can you name this actress? I will give the answer after I name my choices of the 5 best Van Halen songs.

Runnin' With The Devil is the song that started if all for this band. Their début album opens with this track and is by far the perfect introduction to what has become their trademark sound. The opening bass riff is one of the most recognizable intros to a song ever in hard rock music.

Ice Cream Man begins with a little acoustical talent, showing us why Eddie will become one of the biggest guitar heroes of his time. In mid song, the tempo changes over to a faster, louder pace still keeping its melodic flavor and showing off its unique style. This song is one of many covers this band recorded, but don't be fooled as they made this top song all their own.

Commercially speaking, Jump is one of the most popular VH songs and introduces us to the many different talents of Eddie Van Halen as we discover his keyboard playing as well. It became a huge hit single and the only single from the band to reach #1 on the billboard charts.

Hot For Teacher starts with that now famous drum groove that grabs you and pulls you in, without ever letting up. Add to that a brilliant music video, set in a High School classroom, it was obvious that this furious rocker would become a trend setting hard rock masterpiece.

With Why Can't This Be Love, Eddie Van Halen gets guitar savvy and Sammy Hagar knocks out the vocals. Released from their top-selling album 5150, this song became one of the most requested VH songs ever. This song has a catchy groove to it that doesn't let up, leaving you ready to hear it again.

At present, founding member and bassist Michael Anthony is not in the band. He has been replaced with Eddie Van Halen's son, Wolfgang Van Halen. Wolfgang's bass playing is obviously different from that of Michael Anthony's, but he has been very successful at filling the spot and contributes his own style as well to keeping with the sound that distinguishes this band from other classic hard rock bands.

Now for the answer to my trivia question. The actress that Eddie Van Halen married in 1981 was Valerie Bertinelli.

To see more reviews on Classic Hard Rock bands, please visit my website http://www.classichardrockreviews.com/ Test your trivia knowledge or test my trivia knowledge by visiting my website http://www.classichardrocktrivia.com/

Keep Rockin,
Teri L. John

Top Ten WORST Christmas Songs

What was the first Christmas song you remember singing?
If you went to Sunday school as a child it's likely that it was "Away in a Manger."
You remember how it goes, don't you?
Away in a Manger no crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
I nominate this song, first sung in the late 1800s, as the BEST Christmas song ever written. Why? Because it tells the simple story of the birth of Jesus and it refers to him as "Lord." Why is that important? Because it is an appellation that belongs only to that little baby who grew up to live a perfect and sinless life, die on a cross for the sins of mankind, be buried in a tomb and then to rise again from the dead three days later. It all proved that "the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay" really was and is Lord of all.
No wonder we sing that song with such reverence and awe. It reminds us of the story of God's love for you and me and how far He is willing to go to tell us how much he loves us.
But that's not the title of this article. The title says you are going to read about the ten WORST Christmas song ever written. So let's get on with it, shall we?
Here is my list for the Top 10 Worst Christmas Songs Ever Written
10 - "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." I think the Jackson 5 recorded this song if memory serves me right and it sounded pretty good. But let's face it: no one likes a snitch so it makes the Top 10.
9. - "Do you Hear What I Hear?" By Bing Crosby. Now I know many of you are going to ask, "So who's Bing Crosby?" but I don't have the time to explain it to you. I put this song on the list for one big reason: it is boring.
8. - "The Little Drummer Boy." What does "Pa rum pa pump um" mean? I'm just not sure and then there's the fact that there was no "little drummer boy" in the Christmas story so some guy just made it up and inserted him into the nativity.
7. - "All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth." When Mariah Cary recorded this one as a duet with Justin Bieber it was cause for entry into the Top Ten Worst.
6. - "Love on Layaway." I was in Walmart when this one came on and I thought what a great song for shopping! Yuck.
5. - "Jingle Bell Rock." I can sing most of the song and it is fun, but whenever I do I wonder, "What's a jingle horse?"
4. - "All I want for Christmas is YOU!" This song sung by Mariah Carey is loud, noisy and selfish. Doesn't sound like Christmas to me.
3. - "Baby it's Cold Outside." This isn't a Christmas song at all, it's just played during the season. It's silly and smarmy, and when I hear it sung by the two guys in the "Glee Cast" version, it is down-right creepy and before they are done, I get nauseous.
2. - "Santa Baby" by Madonna. Come on, we all know Madonna is a complete fraud as a singer. Eartha Kitt's version was sweet and gentle, but we all know that Madonna can't sing. And what's with these words, "Santa Baby, just slip a sable under the tree for me?" Madonna wants a fur for Christmas? I thought she was some kind of an environmentalist?
And now the Number One worst Christmas song ever written - drum roll please: "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."
"Wait a minute," you scream at me, "That's my favorite song of all! I have all the words memorized! Why is 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'
the worst Christmas song ever written?"
Here are three reasons this is the worst Christmas song ever written:
First of all, parents use this song to parent instead of parenting themselves.
What parent hasn't repeated the words of this song to get their children to shut up or stop fighting or clean their room or do their homework?
Second, it teaches children that Christmas is all about getting more stuff and has nothing to do with giving. What do we think Santa does most of the year and especially in those fast-moving days between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve? He's making a list and checking it twice! It makes it look like Santa is some kind of cosmic bully with a clip board running around taking notes of every nasty thing children think or do.
Every kid knows that if you want some really good stuff you better buck up and behave yourself because Santa's got stuff! They've all seen Santa's workshop and they can name several of the elves he hires to make toys and candy and all those fun things advertised on TV.
Heck, I want to be on Santa's list, don't you?
The third, and most important reason this is the worst Christmas song ever written is because in young children's minds Santa Claus is an early surrogate for God.
Kids innately know that the only person who "sees you when you're sleeping and knows when you're awake and knows when you've been bad or good" is God and for at least the month of December, Santa is an acceptable alternative.
So does this song teach children that God is loving, kind and forgiving or that he is grumpy and judgmental?
Lots of people have the idea that God is out to get them - could that idea have taken root when they learned this silly song? The song positions Santa as some sort of clairvoyant giant Gotcha god hiding behind some curtain or lurking in the darkness just waiting to catch you doing something you shouldn't do or thinking something you shouldn't think or saying something you shouldn't say.
This false idea of God gets burned on the imagination of little children with the line, "He knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake." And every little kid on earth knows one thing for sure... that it's very difficult to "be good for goodness sake."
So in their most impressionable years God becomes this judgmental, hypercritical ogre who is impossible to please and who is hell-bent on stifling every fun thing anyone wants to do! After all, what fun is it to always be a good little boy or girl? Every kid wants to use some of those nasty words Uncle Bill uses when he works on his car. And what kid doesn't want to take something that's not theirs or try to do some of the things they watch big people do in the movies or on TV?
Kids learn early that it's impossible to be good enough to please Santa Clause to the degree you get everything on your Christmas list. Why? Because He knows everything - even those secret things no other person on earth knows.
And that is a characteristic of God. It's called omniscience and it means infinite knowledge.
While omniscience is a true characteristic of God, it is not the key godly characteristic revealed in the Christmas story. Christmas does not teach, "He knows when you are sleeping and he knows when you're awake. He knows when you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake." No, instead it teaches the characteristic of God that, "He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake and he loves you not because you are bad or good but because he created you for his own sake."
Christmas teaches us that in the midst of our goodness and our badness, God always loves us. And the Bible says that "There is no fear in love. But perfect loves drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
Guilt and fear, the basis for "Santa Clause is Coming to Town", makes us think that God may be mad at us. But he isn't mad at us, he loves us. Because God loves us we don't have to be afraid of Him when things go wrong; but rather we can run to him with our fears and guilt and with our deepest sorrows and find in him the peace and joy that some of the best Christmas songs celebrate.
Do you remember what the angles said to the shepherds the day Jesus was born? They said, "Do not be afraid!" Here's why: Jesus came to rescue us, not frighten us. That's why we sing,
I love Thee, Lord Jesus look down from the sky,
And stay by my side, 'til morning is nigh.
Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay,
Close by me forever and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven to live with Thee there!
Now that does not sound like "you better watch out, you better not cry you better not pout I'm telling you why." It sounds more like "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

Best Van Morrison Songs - The Mystical Psalms

One of Van Morrison's many faces is that of the window-gazing dreamer, rapt in wonder - or caught in Silas Marner-like catalepsy. He's given us gorgeous songs of rapture, hymns to the unknown, to love, to mystery, to the indefinable things of our lives. And, in my estimation, no one has done it better. Take a moment to experience this introduction to some of the best Van Morrison songs for daydreaming and staring into the Great Unknown.

"Astral Weeks" - Astral Weeks (1968)

Strains of separation, alienation, intense spiritual love, familial love, all come in a stream of consciousness and settle into a meditation on the afterlife. Interesting that the singer doesn't find his solace or redemption in this woman and her boy, on the "far side of the ocean," but instead in his "home on high, in another life, so far away." There's almost a naiveté about Van's conclusion here, one that can be forgiven a man in his early 20s. It's also interesting to note this was written in the days where Van's band Them had fallen apart, his early solo career had been a music industry cliché of a disaster, and his future was uncertain. He had very little, and he turned to "the One" for solace. Which leads us to...

"Spirit" - Common One (1980)

This is maybe my favorite of Van Morrison songs about the mystical. "When you've given up hope... You turn to the One." I added the caps, on "the One" but how else are we to interpret the phrase? This is a recurring theme for Van, where he returns to a belief in something higher, something unknown and really unknowable, when all else seems uncertain and useless. At least he does through the early 1980s; by the 1990s it's as if there's no religion for Van, other than music itself (see "No Religion" from 1995's Day's Like This). Whatever his theology, this song is a must-have for the modern mystic, and a go-to for the soul in its dark night.

"And it Stoned Me" - Moondance (1970)

I'm so thankful to Van Morrison for his work, for so many reasons. "And it Stoned Me" reminds us to find beauty and wonder in simple things, in this case an afternoon walk to the local swimming hole. I like the way he phrases it too - "And it stoned me, to my soul" - stoned, like drugs? or stoned like the ancient form of capital punishment? I'm going with the first one - and what a lovely thought: great highs, transformation of the mind even, can be find in the common and the routine. Thank you, Van - that was a wonderful remark!

Whenever I talk about Van Morrison I always want to tell people about another favorite artist, prattle on, rick. Deeply influenced by Van's music, prattle on, rick. preserves Van's heartfelt, dreamy aesthetic and updates it in a lovely modern folk-pop sound. Do yourself the favor of downloading some of their music for free at http://prattleonrickmusic.com/

You can read the other articles in my Best Van Morrison Songs: 30 Essentials series, available at my profile.

The 5 Best Songs of The Who - Classic Hard Rock Review and Trivia Question

Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon and John Entwistle have released many albums and have sold out concerts all over the world many times over. What really brought The Who's popularity to a new level was their famed 1969 appearance at the Woodstock Music Festival. Their 1975 major motion picture film "Tommy" brought the band further into the mainstream and gave their fans a glimpse into the creative minds of these 4 musicians, showcasing their talents and musical styles.

Their success did not stop, even after the passing of 2 of the original Who members. My trivia question to you is: Who replaced drummer Keith Moon in 1978 after he passed away? I will give the answer after I name my choices of the 5 best The Who songs.

BaBa O'Riley is more popularly known as Teenage Wasteland. This is one of the more experimental Who songs complete with a synthesizer introduction which is highly impressive, considering the times when it was introduced. When you add in the violin you have a very interesting and catchy song. It eventually kicks into high gear leaving you exhilarated by the end.

Who Are You is the title track to their 1978 album. This would be the final contribution from drummer, Keith Moon. Roger Daltrey's vocals have never been better than here as the chorus has you singing right along with him. They have always been known for their complicated song structure and this song exploits that as the melody takes you away on its journey.

Behind Blue Eyes shows the darker side of The Who, as heartfelt feelings are exposed throughout this song. It is sung with so much passion, you can actually feel it inside. This song is a true masterpiece.

Won't Get Fooled Again is a true classic rocker that closes out every concert The Who plays. Pete Townshend shows some of his very best guitar work here. Even with its frequent time changes, the power never lets up.

You Better You Bet is from their 1981 album, Face Dances. The band slightly changed musical direction by this time. They brought it back to basics with this popular rocker, complete with their trademark backing vocals and sarcastic lyrical content.

Despite the passing of drummer, Keith Moon and bassist, John Entwistle, classic hard rock band The Who continue to record and sell out concert venues all over the world. Their success and musical status hasn't changed at all.

Now for the answer to my trivia question. The musician who replaced Keith Moon as the new drummer for The Who is Kenney Jones.

To see more reviews on Classic Hard Rock bands, please visit my website http://www.classichardrockreviews.com/
Test your trivia knowledge or test mine, by visiting my website http://www.classichardrocktrivia.com/
Keep Rockin,
Teri L. John

Best Van Morrison Songs - The RnB Scorchers

Van Morrison's diversity is one of the many qualities that make his songs and his records legendary. One of the genres he's frequented - and mastered - over the years is classic soul and RnB music. Classic blues and the rock-n-roll of the 1950s were clearly the foundation under his band, Them, that formed in Belfast in the early 1960s (they were, to me, the grittiest and hardest-rocking of all the British Invasion bands, but we'll get to that in another article). And in his ensuing solo career he often worked in the RnB idiom, and by the 1990s he could probably be best described as an RnB artist, especially in light of his live shows. Here's where to start for the best Van Morrison songs in classic RnB mode.

"Jackie Wilson Said" - Saint Dominic's Preview (1972)

After a brief vocal intro, the horns come a-blazing and the rhythm section kicks in with a flawless groove. Van is usually heralded as a great singer and songwriter, but his arrangements are rarely given proper recognition. This one is a great example of the thought and detail put into the songs. All of the stops, breakdowns, horn hits, etc. - those things don't just happen in rehearsal; they're put together and teased out of musicians by a visionary director. While I can't say Van himself sat down and worked out each part on his own or with his band, it's certain he had final say over the way things turned out live and on record.

"Bright Side of the Road" - Into the Music (1979)

You've heard it on a movie soundtrack, without a doubt, and for good reason. This one swings so light-heartedly and feels so infectious in yet another exquisite arrangement. It's impossible not to sing along with the ladies in the background, to hum along to the horns, and whistle along to Van's perfect harmonica solo. Most of the credit for the horns, it must be said, probably goes to Pee Wee Ellis, the James Brown veteran who brought such class to Van's early '80s records.

"I've Been Working" - His Band and the Street Choir (1970)

I have to say this is not one of my favorite Van Morrison songs, or even one of my favorite of his RnB tracks, but it's such a classic jam I have to include it. The groove is so intense and hypnotic and has inspired scores of cover versions. And take a moment to find a contemporary live version of this; they were sweat-drenched and epic.

Whenever I talk about Van Morrison I always want to tell people about another favorite artist, prattle on, rick. Deeply influenced by Van's music, prattle on, rick. preserves Van's heartfelt, dreamy aesthetic and updates it in a lovely modern folk-pop sound. Do yourself the favor of downloading some of their music for free at http://prattleonrickmusic.com/

You can read the other articles in my Best Van Morrison Songs: 30 Essentials series, available at my profile.

Best Van Morrison Songs - The Jazz Standards

Classic jazz has always been an important influence in Van Morrison's work. From his parents' record collection through to his days as a saxophone player in Irish showband The Monarchs (with stints at military bases in Germany), Van was steeped in the tradition. His setlists from the early 1970s onward often featured heavy swing numbers, and he even recorded a straight-up swing record for 1995's How Long's This Been Going On. And on that collection he revisited a few earlier Van Morrison songs, two of which made my list here:

"I Will Be There"- Saint Dominic's Preview (1972)

This record includes some of his best arrangements period, and "I Will Be There" is a great example. Featuring great saxophone lines, tasteful bluesy vocals, and one of the best endings of all Van Morrison songs - "gonna grab my razor, and my suitcase, and my toothbrush, and my overcoat, and my underwear - I! Will! Be! There!" It's also one of the rare occasions where Van seems to be having a lot of fun on record, and we get a rare glimpse into his sense of humor.

"Moondance" - Moondance (1970)

Like "I Will Be There," this song reappeared in a new album version in 1995. But this is the version everyone knows, and the one that includes that somewhat regrettable flute. I've nothing personal against flutes (not that I know of at least), but its presence really dates this song. Like every wince-worthy 60s movie soundtrack. Yet the recording endures because, as is so often the case with Van Morrison songs, the composition is quality. Besides the flute, my only other regret is that Pee Wee Ellis wasn't in the band at the time to take the sax solo.

"The Way Young Lovers Do" - Astral Weeks (1968)

Though often dismissed by critics as out of place on Astral Weeks, it's one of my favorite tracks on the record. The horn arrangements alone are enough to make my list, but there's quite a bit more to appreciate. Van's steady acoustic strumming, the pocket groove from Connie Kay (drums) and Richard Davis (bass), the trombone solo, the disconcerting play of the strings. And a great example of how music can completely transform a text - this sweet love poem on paper takes on a constant sense of gloom in the context of the music. As though love and life always have a dark side, the way young lovers do.

Whenever I talk about Van Morrison I always want to tell people about another favorite artist, prattle on, rick. Deeply influenced by Van's music, prattle on, rick. preserves Van's heartfelt, dreamy aesthetic and updates it in a lovely modern folk-pop sound. Do yourself the favor of downloading some of their music for free at http://prattleonrickmusic.com/

You can read the other articles in my Best Van Morrison Songs: 30 Essentials series, available at my profile.

The 5 Best Songs of Foreigner - Classic Rock Review and Trivia Question

Founding members Mick Jones and Lou Gramm, along with a group of equally important and talented musicians, have recorded numerous albums. They have sold in excess of over 38 million albums in the U.S. alone. The band has had many chart topping hits from each of their albums. This helped them get exposure without the aid of music videos. It wasn't until many years later that the classic rock band, Foreigner followed the music video trend which helped secure the future and helped the band to stay on top with continued success.

Foreigner has a massive fan base throughout the world, mostly because of the different origins of the band members. My trivia question to you is: How did Foreigner come up with the name for the band? I will give you the answer after I name my choices of the 5 best Foreigner songs.

Cold As Ice is one of the first songs to come from their début album. With its infectious keyboard opening and perfectly produced harmonies, this song was originally a B-side that ended up reaching number 6 on the billboard 100.

Hot Blooded comes from Foreigner's sophomore release and immediately was released as a single that reached number 3 on the charts. Parts of this song have been sampled by other artists, showing the impact of their style and songwriting creativity.

I Want To Know What Love Is was not their first or their last power ballad, though it was certainly one of the bands best. Lou Gramm's vocals reached an all time high on this number 1 chart topping hit. It remained number 1 on both the U.S. and U.K. charts for quite some time, making this song their most popular and biggest hit to date.

Juke Box Hero was written by the band as looking through the eyes of a fan. This harder rocking Foreigner song has some of their finest guitar riffs and backing vocals. Known highly for their vocal abilities, this song raises those talents to an all time high.

Urgent was immediately released as a single off the band's 1981 album. This song was one of their first to feature the synthesizer and saxophone as some of the main focal points to the song. With the help of Motown legend, Junior Walker, this top FM radio hit was a great success and it brought in a whole new fan base.

Gone are the days of Lou Gramm and his widely recognized vocals. With founding member Mick Jones and a new group of very talented and highly experienced musicians, Foreigner continues to tour although on a much smaller scale than in their glory days. The band never achieved the greatness it once had and may never again.

Now for the answer to my trivia question.Classic rock band, Foreigner came up with the name for their band from the collective group of musicians from different countries that formed the band. No matter which country they played in, they would always be considered Foreigners.

To see more reviews on Classic Rock bands, please visit my website http://www.classichardrockreviews.com/
Test your trivia knowledge or test mine by visiting my website http://www.classichardrocktrivia.com/
Keep Rockin,
Teri L. John

Best Van Morrison Songs - The Best of the Rest

The following songs did not fit neatly into the categories I designated for my Best Van Morrison Songs series. Because all three of these move me immensely, I wanted to include them somehow.

"Linden Arden Stole the Highlights"- Veedon Fleece (1974)

I suppose there's been much speculation about this Linden Arden, and I think there's no definitive answer. My guess is Van read a story in a newspaper - I think I've heard it was a character in a little known play? - and ran with the idea. This is a tale of tender man ("loved to go to church on Sunday," "and he loved the little children like they were his very own") on the run and struggling with his own demons ("whiskey ran like water in his veins," "he took the law into his own hands," "cleaved their heads off with a hatchet"). With the gentle upright bass and piano backing, there's a feeling of compassion similar to Astral Weeks' "Madame George" that makes this an essential track.

"Celtic New Year"- Magic Time (2005)

I realize I could have created another category of Van Morrison songs - Songs of Home - as the theme of home and belonging crops up often in his records. "Celtic New Year" is a great example. There are many lines in this one that I don't quite understand, and I hesitate to overanalyze; I find I'm better-served sticking to the feeling I get when I'm listening. Here I feel an intense longing, the kind you feel when you clearly belong in a particular place at particular time - like home for the holidays, to use a bad example. There are lines that support that feeling - "Won't you come back, I want you to be of good cheer, come back home in the Celtic New Year."

"Saint Dominic's Preview"- Saint Dominic's Preview (1972)

Now, diving into this third song, I realize the common thread among them - they're really kind of mysterious to me. What is Celtic New Year (forgive me, I didn't do the research) and what does it have to do with Louisiana and playing cards? Who was Linden Arden (I did do my research) anyway, and did he really decapitate a bunch of dudes? And what in the world is "Saint Dominic's Preview" (again, I did the research, and there's no conclusive answer). The latter in particular feels very Dylanesque, in the jumping of time frames and seemingly disconnected images - window cleaning in Paris, restaurant business meetings, recording sessions, Safeway supermarkets, and cocktail parties. What's it all about? No idea, to be honest. But it's not so important. What I hear is defiance, determination, and a communal effort towards... something. And it feels pretty damn good.

Whenever I talk about Van Morrison I always want to tell people about another favorite artist, prattle on, rick. Deeply influenced by Van's music, prattle on, rick. preserves Van's heartfelt, dreamy aesthetic and updates it in a lovely modern folk-pop sound. Do yourself the favor of downloading some of their music for free at http://prattleonrickmusic.com/ .

You can read the other articles in my Best Van Morrison Songs: 30 Essentials series, available at my profile.

How Indian Songs Are Categorized?

Everyone wants to hear Hit Songs and in today's time one of the best places for getting hit songs instantly is internet. The use of internet is in every sphere of life. One cannot deny its importance at any cost. As a result, one would also find songs on the internet which they can download for free. When it comes to India songs, there are many different websites running on the net from where one can easily download his favorite song.
The procedure of downloading songs from internet is very simple. All that one is required to do is to log into a particular song website. He should be sure that the website is a legitimate one. After logging into the website, he will find a list of categories of songs. The Indian music have numerous categories. Depending on which type of song one is willing to have he can choose the category. For example if an individual wants to download a song of a particular Hindi film, then he will be required to click on the folder of that film. After clicking he will see the list of all songs of that particular film. Now whichever song from the list one wants, he can click on it and the download will start. The entire process hardly takes any time of the individual, making it one of the most effective and efficient method of downloading music. One can also download Songs Lyrics And Videos if he wants to. The videos available on these websites are of extremely high quality.

Categories of songs-
The Indian music industry is a multi billion industry.There are many different production houses producing music for various films, albums on a timely basis.These entire production houses earn crores of profit every year. Such is the demand of Indian music among the public.There is a wide category of Indian music-Film music- these are those music which are a part of a Hindi film. During the course of the film, the songs are used to reflect the film's story.Pop songs- these music are released separately sung by singers who want to make a mark in the music industry.Indian Music And Gazal- the Gazal is a different genre of music. These are basically sung by Ustaads who are pioneer of singing it. Singing a Gazal requires a considerable amount of effort ad it is still considered as one of the toughest song to be ever sung by an individual.Classical- these are another genre of songs. One has to be highly skilled in singing classical music. It takes years of practice to perfect and to sing it effectively.
Tip-

One can also gel songs by buying the CDs from the nearest music store. However, one thing should be kept in mind and that is the CDs should not be pirated. Piracy is against the law and one should abandon it.
Indian Songs And Gazal have been winning the hearts of millions of people. They have occupied a significant place in India families. A citizen of India cannot afford to ignore the attraction of India songs. They attract people of all ages- whether it is a five year old kid or a seventy year old veteran. Hit Songs

Where to Find the Best Songs Collection?

Listening to online music was the dream of many few years ago, but today, it is a way of living life. Due to the emerging technologies and online revolution, it has become possible to listen to your favorite songs anytime and anywhere, regardless of the location. Indeed, it is possible to download music at any point of time. People are taking the advantage of online melody and songs and listen to their songs as and when desired. This has made the lives easier and smoother. Today, people can listen to their favorite singers 24*7 without any disruption and from the comfort of their home only.

If you want you can select your songs from different categories and align them in an ordered list and listen conveniently. Listening to music has several advantages from relaxation of body to soul balance. It not only creates a ripple effect of positive energy, but also improves memory power. Soothing and placid melody balances the nervous system and relieves nervous tension immediately. It also helps to improve concentration level and promotes clear thinking at the same time. Listening to melody is a good practice as it helps to clear out disoriented and depressed thought processes. In fact, it enhances memory and improves will power.

Today, it is the easiest way to keep you enthusiastic, happy and rejuvenated. There are lots and lots of online music stores like iTunes and Amazon that offer unlimited song collection for the music lovers. There are melody stores that offer unlimited downloading of songs. All you need to do is to visit these websites and listen to your favorite song. All these music stores offer high-quality and original music at the most competitive prices.

The apparent advantages of the online music stores are:

1. Pricing

These online music stores provide unlimited library of songs to music lover's community at the most affordable prices. They only have to sign up in order to access unlimited number of songs.

2. Quality

People can listen extremely high-quality of music and sound from these stores. They can even download their favorite songs from these websites.

3. Variety

These online melody stores offer a wide variety of songs to melody lovers. People can choose from traditional songs, English pops, to Hindi karaoke songs as per their preferences and tastes.

Today, it is easy to find all types of tracks (professional karaoke tracks, Indian melody, & foreign music, etc.) from these online music stores or dedicated websites and listen to your track in a hassle-free manner.

Hindi Karaoke Shop.com provides an online karaoke service which allows people to sing on high quality professional karaoke tracks . They have been in the karaoke business for the last four years and have finally thought of bringing it online so that it becomes easy for all to contact us directly. It is a one-stop shop for Hindi karaoke songs and other Hindi karaoke music
tracks.

The Best Elton John Songs That You Probably Never Heard Of, Part 2

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

In the first part of my article I pointed out some of the best Elton John songs that never made it to the charts, some of which never even made it to the airwaves (and trust me I listened to the radio a lot back then, so if I didn't hear it they probably didn't play it).

Well, my list grew as I went over the John/Taupin cannon. So here are more nuggets of gold that were left in the stream, just waiting for you to stumble upon them:

1. Solar Prestige a Gammon

Want to know how talented Elton and Bernie Taupin really are? Try this. Taupin writes three verses of wonderfully goofy nonsense. Elton take the lyrics and puts them to a gorgeous melody, which he sings with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Gus Dudgeon produces it and, Voila! Result? An infectious little piece of silliness that will win anyone over, complete with touches of Italian street music, jazz vibes (thank you, Ray Cooper, wherever you are), and synthesizer solo. How many artists or bands do you know of who could be this wacky and pull it off? Sample lyric: "Oh ma cameo molesting. Kee pa a poorer for tea." (P.S. If you ever figure out what that means welcome back from the Twilight Zone)

2. Meal Ticket

From the classic "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" this fabulous rocker barely got any airplay at the time. But it was one of his finest. The entire album was autobiographical, or as Elton described it in a 2006 interview with Cameron Crowe, "Captain Fantastic was written from start to finish in running order, as a kind of story about coming to terms with failure-or trying desperately not to be one. We lived that story."

Telling the story of the tribulations involved in getting a meal ticket (i.e. a coupon redeemable at a restaurant and entitling the holder to a meal) in a wider sense it describes in vivid detail Elton's and Bernie's desire to really be somebody in the world. Sample lyric: "While the others climb reaching dizzy heights the world's in front of me in black and white... I'm on the bottom line"

3. Street Kids

Another unsung masterpiece, this time from the album "Rock of the Westies". There were two sides to Bernie Taupin: the sensitive poet and the rebel who frequented the pubs. This song came from the latter, celebrating the juvenile delinquent in a street gang. The entire album was Elton's first with an almost completely brand new band, only guitarist Davey Johnstone and percussionist Ray Cooper remaining from the previous lineup. They all sounded like they were having way too much fun making this record. Caleb Quaye, who had played with Elton in his very earliest days, returned to punctuate this powerful rocker with a scorching electric guitar solo. Sample lyric: "And if you think you've seen gasoline burnin' in my eyes don't be alarmed. Tell yourself it's good to be alive".

I hope you enjoyed my choices for the best Elton John songs you most likely didn't even know about. It just goes to show you how outstanding he was that even some of his least known songs were this memorable.

If you are fond of folk-rock then you can click here to download a free folk-rock song.

The 5 Best Songs of Bob Seger - Classic Rock Review and Trivia Question

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Bob Seger is known for his rock music, love ballads and with that classic raspy voice of his you even get the bar room bluesy songs that his fans love.

Most fans feel that his greatest success came from the release of the now classic rock cd, Live Bullet. This was recorded at Cobo Hall in 1975. He is a master story-teller. Stranger In Town was his 2nd release with The Silver Bullet Band. It has fantastic arrangements and recordings from The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section on it. Bob Seger always comes across as if he were writing and relating directly to all us average people around the world.

One of his songs was used in one of the most memorable movie scenes ever made. My trivia question to you is: Can you name the 1983 classic movie starring Tom Cruise that featured Bob Seger's hit song, Old Time Rock & Roll? I will give the answer after I name my choices of the 5 best Bob Seger songs.

Old Time Rock & Roll is the song that really set things up for Bob Seger. You can't help but sing along and it leaves you feeling really good about life. Music lovers will always remember the dance that is associated with this song.

From the opening notes of the saxophone in Turn The Page, you are captured. It is a journey through time, life on the road and a day in the life of a rock star. Bob Seger paints you a picture and tells you a story that drags you right into his world. Nobody does this quite like he does and that is what makes this one of the best classic rock songs ever written.

Hollywood Nights is yet another perfectly created story about the discovery of love and the inevitable loss of it. This song is so beautifully sung, that even the hurt leaves you feeling good.

We've Got Tonight is the best in Bob Seger ballads. It is perfect for slow dancing and has become one of the top graduation dance theme songs. This song was written for all of us who have ever been in love.

Roll Me Away is a perfect driving song. It is also what I call a daydreamers paradise. Every time I hear this song I find myself getting caught on every word. It has a fantastic, medium paced tempo and delivers one of the most fantasized thoughts ever written. Close your eyes and let this music take you away.

Every time Bob Seger releases an album, it is an event. He has a way of touching the heart and soul of all who listen to him. He can take an average song and make it perfect.

Now for the answer to my trivia question. The 1983 classic movie starring Tom Cruise that featured Old Time Rock & Roll is Risky Business.

To see more reviews on Classic Hard Rock artists, please visit my website http://www.classichardrockreviews.com/
Test your trivia knowledge and have some fun by visiting my website http://www.classichardrocktrivia.com/
Keep Rockin,
Teri L. John