Hidden Treasures - Hot Summer

[Scott]

I like to pick at my playlists for a few weeks at least, and so it is again with this weeks list. But something funny happened on the way to posting this. Several other Classic Rock outlets also posted on this topic. So I guess it may appear that I am piling on, but I'm not...


This has been a brutally hot summer, especially here in the South East. High temps with high humidity mean high energy bills and time spent indoors. Unless you're OK with sweating, a lot... So this week were listening to Hot Summer songs...


PLAYLIST --> http://www.podsnack.com/CA69EFD9E8C/av1nqpkc

	INXS The Swing 1984 1 - Melting In The Sun Fellow Australian journalists, John O'Donnell, Toby Creswell and Craig Mathieson, found that Rodgers' effort with "Original Sin" had delivered a track with a "confident rhythm" and helped the band so that "they now had focus; the lyrical image ... fitted their circumstances". Meanwhile Launay, after hearing that track, "accepted the challenge" of providing a "sense of reinvention" for the group so that "post-punk affectations and new romantic plumage were fading away, revealing a rock band with funk leanings and pop instincts". In October 2010, The Swing, was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums at No. 56, with their 1987 album, Kick at No. 11. In February 2014 The Swing returned to the top 50 on the ARIA Albums Chart, with the local airing of a mini-series, INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, on the Seven Network.
	Detective Detective 1977 2 - Wild Hot Summer Nights After Michael des Barres' short stint with the band Phoenix, he formed Detective along with former Yes and Badger keyboardist Tony Kaye, and they were signed on to the Swan Song label. Although there's no way of avoiding the similarities between Detective's sound and that of Led Zeppelin's, their debut album evolved as the freshest of the three albums that they released. Des Barres vocals are unmistakably Plant-like, and Michael Monarch's guitar riffs are somewhat refined, yet at times they buzz and chug just like Page's, but there's still an ample amount of enjoyable rock & roll left over to make Detective a worthy album.
	Survivor Too Hot To Sleep 1988 3 - Too Hot To Sleep During pre-production of their seventh album, Too Hot to Sleep (October 1988), Ellis and Droubay were replaced by studio session veterans Mickey Curry (drums) and Bill Syniar (bass). Sullivan produced the effort with Frank Fillipetti. Though the album presented a harder-rocking Survivor, similar to the sound in the band's early days, Too Hot to Sleep failed to make a significant dent on the chart (only number 187 US). After the disappointing sales of Too Hot to Sleep, Jamison decided to start work on a solo album and Peterik and Sullivan decided to put the band on indefinite hiatus.
	Walter Egan Not Shy 1978 4 - Hot Summer Nights A year after recording his 1977 debut album Fundamental Roll, New York City native turned California rocker Walter Egan, found himself back in the studio once again joining forces with Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham (producer) and Stevie Nicks (background vocals). The winning combination of the Egan, Buckingham, and Nicks on Not Shy proved it's potency by giving Egan one of the biggest smash hits of 1978, "Magnet & Steel" which peaked at # 8 on the Billboard charts. Much like it's predecessor Fundamental Roll, Not Shy oozes sexy summertime California pop rock complete with an impeccable production and Egan's knack for writing catchy fun-loving romantic lyrics. Like Fundamental Roll, Not Shy is a lost 70s treasure and is highly recommend listening for both fans of Fleetwood Mac and goodtime Southern California rock in general.

[Scott]

Quick bonus ...  I always knew of the song Hot Summer Nights but never knew it was a Walter Egan tune until I took a chance on the Paper Sleeve release of Not Shy (glad I did by the way).  I had always thought it was by a band named NIGHT as this version was the one that hit the Top 40 and therefore my radio in the late 70's.  I may have even had the 45 of this version, if memory serves me correctly (which it usually does). Anyway, thought it would be interesting to post the alternate version as a bonus video...

[Jon]

Are you talking about the Culture Factory edition of the Walter Egan album?

[Scott]

yes sir...

[Niels (Mod)]

I've just had a 3 weeks vacation here in Denmark, and it was a lousy weather I would had made a "Rain-songs" NHT.

INXS - I was never the biggest INXS-fan, but I did buy 2 or 3 albums. I don't think, I've heard this album before, and therefore not this track. It's defininitely nothing special. I would probably had loved the production in 1984.

DETECTIVE - I have never heard of this band/album before, and listening to this song, I haven't missed anything. I've said countless of times, that this kind of music doesn't appeal to me, to say the least.  Oh, the guitarsolo is kind of okay.

SURVIVOR - This band was always a joke to me. Yeah, they made the song to that Rocky-movie, and it was okay, but waaayyy overplayed. I will start to refer this kind of rock as "Scott-rock". Boring american AOR of the worst and most boring kind. No offense . I DID buy crap like this back in the mid-eighties, but never a Survivor-album, I'm proud to say.

WALTER EGAN - Now, who's this dude? Yep, another piece of "Scott-rock", but this one is not the worst of the bunch. I can definitely hear the Fleetwood Mac'ish sound in this, and that's what makes this listenable. Best track of these 4, without a doubt.

 I dare you to make a SHT without "Scott-rock". I know, you can, because, you've done it before, my friend.

[RJhog (Admin)]

"Scott-Rock".  That's funny.

[Scott]

1 Anti-Scott Rock playlist ordered....  Give me some time to figure out what that means and then I will post

[RJhog (Admin)]

Yep, it's hot as "you know what" here in Georgia.

INXS - This isn't bad.  It's very typical INXS, which is a good thing if you like 'em and a bad thing if you don't.  I'm somewhere in between.  Typical beat, heavy on keys and effects.  Maybe even a bit of help from a drum machine.  

Detective - Seems like you've featured this band before, but if you did, I don't remember it sounding like this.  This is quite funky.  At least the verse does.  Not really the chorus.  If I heard this on the radio, I would definitely think this was a soul/funk band.  Call me crazy, but I don't hear one drop of Led Zeppelin in this.  But the guitar solo is nice.

Survivor - Third straight song I've never heard.  The opening is great.  Love the acoustic work and that voice.  That's a great voice.  This song puts me at about 20 years old down on the streets of Myrtle Beach.  Not sure why Niels is so against Scott-Rock, but this slice of it is terrific.  More killer guitar playing too.

Walter Egan - I certainly remember Magnet & Steel.  I always liked it too...still do.  I've heard this song, but I'm not sure if it was this version.  I don't think it was.  I'm pretty sure it was the other band's version.  But it's a pretty cool song.  

Night - Yep, the female vocals sound much more familiar than those of Egan.  I like the guitar solo in both versions, but that's a cheesy video if I've ever seen one.  Looks like some people just walked in off the street to shoot the video.

Cool topic.  Let's see, if I were to choose four songs about Summer or how hot it is, I'd go with:

1. Light Up The Sky or D.O.A. by Van Halen (they may not be specifically about Summer, but I can't help but be transported back to the Summer of '79 or '80 or '81 when I hear them).

2. Hotter Than Hell by Kiss

3. You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) by Meat Loaf

4. Last Days Of Summer by The Answer (something new from this year)

But I did like your playlist as well.  I'd rank 'em:

1. Survivor

2. Egan

3. Detective

4. INXS

[Niels (Mod)]

 "Not sure why Niels is so against Scott-rock" :-)))

I totally agree about LUTS and the summer of '79!!

VH was a "summer-band" in those days, since VH II was out (or bought by me) in mid-May 1979, WACF was a bit earlier, March '80, as I remember it, but FW was released in mid-June '81 in these parts of the wood, and DD was also a mid/late-june release in '82.

[Scott]

That Meat Loaf tune made my short list but I cut it since it was an obvious choice.  Kiss?  I dont think its about summer, just guessing but I think thats right.

Im quite surprised the WE tune fared this well...  pleasantly surprised!

[Jon]

The only song here that makes me think of summer is the Walter Egan song. The others just don't give me that summer/hot vibe like the Walter Egan tune. The songs are fine, but I'm not feeling the theme vibe. But, that's ok. Maybe it's because it really hasn't been that hot here, had the AC on all last week, but it's been off this week and, before last week, had it on maybe 5 other days. Maybe I'll feel hotter when I cut the grass today. We shall see.

The WE song is more familiar than the Night version. Don't recall this being sung by a female or maybe I just forgot. 

Now, if you asked me to name a song that is about and described summer/heat perfectly, it would be "Summer In The City" by The Lovin' Spoonful. It also makes me think of John McClane.  

On a different note, I like the Culture Factory reissues. Nice packaging and superb sound. They're a bit pricey, but if you wait long enough, the prices will drop.

[Scott]

I have  a couple culture factory paper sleeves releases, they are very cool.  They are all true to the original LP, the CD comes in the same sleeve the vinyl did and the CD is printed with the original label same as the vinyl.  I have Kim Carnes Voyeur, Bob Segers Night Moves, two Motels albums, and a couple 38 Specials as well...

[Jon]

I have the first four Toto albums, BOC's "Fire Of Unkown Origin" and the FM soundtrack.