Category Archives: Music

91.7 FM will be sold again

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The radio station formerly known as KTRU will have another new home soon. Houston Public Media, which operates the University of Houston’s broadcasting properties, says it will sell the frequency and transmitter for KUHA (91.7 FM) while retaining the station’s … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Three cheers for the bus drivers

Posted on August 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

In honor of Metro’s new bus system, I’m taking a break from the cover song theme to run two bus-related videos. First, to represent the old system, here’s a very young Weird Al Yankovic and his classic, “Another One Rides … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 9

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their list. 1. Sunday, Bloody Sunday – U2 (#272) 2. Tighten Up – Archie Bell and The Drells (#270) 3. Sail Away – Randy Newman (#268) 4. Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley (#264, featured cover of Leonard Cohen) 5. I … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The Harder They Come

Posted on August 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

From the movie of the same name, here’s Jimmy Cliff: An underrated classic from the 70s if you ask me. Here’s cover version by another underrated artist, Joe Jackson: Love Joe Jackson. I guess I’m just a sucker for someone … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 8

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their list. 1. Train In Vain – Annie Lennox (orig. The Clasg, #298) 2. She’s Not There – The Zombies (#297) 3. Can’t Buy Me Love – The Beatles (#295; also a cover by The Lager Rhythms) 4. Money … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Hard Headed Woman

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

First up, the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens: A bit slowed down from the studio version, but still very Cat Stevens-y. And now for someone who is not Cat Stevens singing a “Hard Headed Woman” song that is not … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 7

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their list. 1. Dancing Barefoot – U2 (orig. Patti Smith, #331) 2. Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd (#324) 3. Alison – Tufts Beelzebubs (orig. Elvis Costello, #323) 4. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Elivs Costello/Santa Esmerelda … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Happy

Posted on August 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Did you know Bruce Springsteen recorded a song called “Happy”? It’s true. That’s from his four-CD B-sides-and-other-miscellania collection Tracks, which you probably don’t own unless you’re a big Springsteen fan. Not a whole lot that’s memorable, but hey, it’s Springsteen. … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 6

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their list, and here we go. 1. La Bamba – Los Lobos (orig. Ritchie Valens, #354) 2. Jim Dandy – Black Oak Arkansas (orig. Lavern Baker, #352) 3. The Harder They Come – Jimmy Cliff (#350; also a cover … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Hallelujah

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

I know, this song has been covered forty jillion times. But you know what I’d never heard before now? Leonard Cohen’s original version. Here it is: Different from what you’re used to, right? Here’s a live version that’s a bit … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 5

Posted on July 24, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their list. 1. The Wind Cries Mary – The Bobs (#379, orig. Jimi Hendrix) 2. Personal Jesus – Johnny Cash (#377, orig. Depeche Mode) 3. White Room – The Bobs (#376, orig. Cream) 4. Unchained Melody – U2/The Manhattan … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Groove Me

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One of the great cover bands of our time, the Blues Brothers: It’s been over 33 years since John Belushi died. Every now and then I wonder what kind of career he would have had if he had managed to … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 4

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here again is the RS list. 1. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – Sly and the Family Stone (#410) 2. (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Öyster Cult (#405) 3. Remember (Walkin’ in the Sand) – Aerosmith (#404, … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Hand In Hand

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

A couple of underrated songs by iconic 80s acts. First up, Dire Straits: Man, Making Movies is an awesome album. Not a bad song on it, and it starts out with three classics, then keeps it going with this tune. … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 3

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their list. You know the drill. 1. Pink Houses – John Cougar Mellencamp (#447) 2. Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley (#444) 3. New Year’s Day – U2 (#435) 4. Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple (#434) 5. … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Taking a break from cover songs for a good, patriotic reason today: I’d love to see a modern take on that. Imagine Jay-Z interpreting and re-choreographing Jimmy Cagney’s song and dance above. Or Bruno Mars, or Justin Timberlake, or maybe … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs list, part 2

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s their list, and here’s mine for this week: 1. How Soon Is Now? – Love Spit Love (#477, orig. The Smiths) 2. Where Did Our Love Go? – Diana Ross and The Supremes (#475) 3. Into the Mystic – … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The Rainbow Connection

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Going out of order, inspired by a Facebook post by my friend Andy, here’s a classic song with a particular resonance for this week: From the original “Muppet Movie” of 1979, which I need to find on DVD and make … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Revisiting the Rolling Stone 500 Best Songs list, part 1

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Awhile back, I did a series of Friday Random Ten posts based on this Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. I had thought it was from 2008, but upon closer inspection it’s actually from 2004, it was … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: The Great Gig In The Sky

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

That Pink Floyd song from Dark Side of the Moon whose name you can never remember: That wasn’t the first video I watched for this. I looked at this one first, by The Australia Pink Floyd Show. It was so … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Gone too soon, part 5

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four 1. Super Freak – Big Daddy (orig. Rick James, 1948-2004) 2. Just A Little Lovin’ – Dusty Springfield (1939-1999) 3. Suite of Old American Dances – Trinity University Wind Symphony (Dr. Eugene … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Gotta Serve Somebody

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One of the gospel songs of Bob Dylan: Couldn’t find a decent live version of that, sorry. Anyway, because this is a Dylan song there are covers aplenty. The one I have is by blues diva Etta James: I’m convinced. … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Gone too soon, part 4

Posted on June 12, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

May 31 is the anniversary of my grandfather’s death. Charles Kuffner, Sr (I’m Charles III) was only 55 when he died, three months after I was born, and next year is the 50th anniversary of his passing. My father wrote … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Got My Mojo Working

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s one of the great voices of American blues, Muddy Waters: As our subtitled narrator notes, Muddy Waters was a huge influence of many other blues artists, as well as on rock musicians. ZZ Top is a prime example of … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Sum sum summertime

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

After all the rain we’ve had here, we haven’t had any opportunities yet to complain about the heat. I suspect that’s about to end. 1. All Summer Long – The Beach Boys 2. Cruel Summer – Bananarama 3. Dirty Summer … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Still randoming

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Back to old-school, let-the-iPod-pick-’em randomness this week. 1. Heaven – Geoff Overmyer & Natasha Rusterholz 2. Flupandemic – Flying Fish Sailors 3. The One – The Stabilisers 4. Broken Arrow – Robbie Robertson 5. All At Once – Bonnie Raitt … Continue reading →

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Memorial Day video break: No Forgotten Man

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

This great song by Solas seems appropriate for today: Have a happy and safe Memorial Day, everyone.

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Saturday video break: Good Enough

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Here’s Cyndi Lauper with a song from an iconic 80s movie: I suppose technically that’s called “The Goonies R Good Enough”, but it’s in my library simply as “Good Enough”, and that’s good enough for me. Here’s Sarah McLachlin with … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Pseudorandom, anyway

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

After a long string of theme lists, I thought it would be nice to have a true Random Ten this week. And just to be different, rather than have the iPod pick them, I went to Random.org and generated numbers … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: Gold

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

One from the kids, by Britt Nicole: Chad Orzel recently wrote about how having a six-year-old means he’s fairly up to speed on pop music today. I’m not quite as familiar with the Top 40 list he presented, but I … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 15

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

At long last, we bring this series to a close. 1. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – Carole King 2. You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) – Meat Loaf 3. Young … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: God Only Knows

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

An all-time classic from an iconic band: Remember when James Watt, Ronald Reagan’s idiot Secretary of the Interior, denied the Beach Boys a permit to play a Fourth of July concert on the Washington Mall? He’d never even heard of … Continue reading →

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Friday random ten: Parenthetically speaking, part 14

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

On our penultimate list or parentheticals. 1. When I’m Up (I Can’t Get Down) – Great Big Sea 2. Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) – Paul Young 3. Why Do I Need You (When I’ve Got My … Continue reading →

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Saturday video break: God Bless The Child

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Possibly Billie Holliday’s best-known song: Yeah, that song has no relevance to today’s society at all. Billie Holliday would have been 100 years old in April. Coverville had a nice tribute to her last week. “God Bless the Child” was … Continue reading →

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