Jim Steinman

Today's the remembrance day for Jim Steinman, he died in 2021. Unfortunately not bombastically or over the top like his songs, but of kidney failure after having been ill. Listening to his songs over the years, he had some amazing ones. I first heard Meat Loaf Bat Out Of Hell like probably most people, but he had songs before that. Lots of stuff I could have used, but chose not to. If you have to hear the other version (perhaps even the better version - ok for sure the better version) of Total Eclipse click there. And one day I will make my version of my favorite hours worth of Meat Loaf (well, I already have it made, but when will I post it?). I chose these to spread it out trying to give each artist a chance, but I still left out Brown, Lane, Hannah, Pandora's Box, Take That and even Steinman himself solo. Maybe I will post part two next year. Or maybe Meat Loaf doing the full albums he didn't do with Steinman (they sound great - the albums that could have been) For now you get this pick.

Jim Steinman

01 Celine Dion - It's All Coming Back To Me Now

02 Boyzone - No Matter What

03 Taylor Dayne - Original Sin

04 Barry Manilow - Read 'em And Weep

05 Meat Loaf - I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)

06 Todd Rundgren - Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

07 Barbra Streisand - Left In The Dark

08 Westlife - Total Eclipse of the Heart (Sunset Strippers Verse Club Mix)

09 Air Supply - Making Love Out Of Nothing At All

10 Fire Inc. - Tonight Is What It Means to Be Young

11 Sisters Of Mercy - This Corrosion

12 Joss Stone - Holding Out For A Hero

13 Bonnie Tyler With Todd Rundgren - Loving You's A Dirty Job But Somebody's Gotta Do It

What's The Connection? Brothers 1

For some reason I was inspired to make this connection for my late brother whose birthday is tomorrow, but you get this playlist today. So many songs with brother in the title, it isn't even funny. Here's the first volume of this. I have a couple more hours to put together and I will, but after tomorrow, because I have something planned for tomorrow already. Youll have to wait and see. More on him tomorrow.

What's The Connection? Brothers 1

01 Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

02 Neil Diamond - Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show

03 Manhattan Transfer - Four Brothers

04 Bing Crosby - Brother, Can You Spare A Dime_

05 Dean Martin - Hey, Brother, Pour the Wine

06 Isley Brothers - Brother, Brother

07 Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Brothers Cup

08 Queen - Soul Brother

09 Hot Chocolate - Brother Louie

10 Earth, Wind & Fire - Blood Brothers

11 The Cult - Brother Wolf, Sister Moon

12 War - Me and Baby Brother

13 The Fall - Oh! Brother

14 Hollies - He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother

15 David Bowie - The Bewley Brothers

16 Erasure - Brother And Sister

17 Phil Manzanera - Blood Brother

18 Jungle Brothers - Jungle Brother

After Hours 3

Hard to believe that I am on volume three of this pick. I really was originally thinking I might get lucky and do a couple of these. The more I hear, the more I like it though. I have been playing all the volumes in my house. Hopefully you are liking them too. I called it After Hours, because it reminds me of an after hour smoky jazz club. Makes me want to light up a cigar and drink a brandy. Go listen to the others in the series. This one features mostly female torch singers and a few AI females. Definitely not traditional.

After Hours 3

40 Rickie Lee Jones - Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying

41 Abbey Lincoln - Blue Monk

42 Diana Krall - Almost Blue

43 Lana Del Rey - Blue Velvet

44 Vintage Echoes - Pour Me Slow

45 Peggy Lee - Black Coffee

46 Cosmai - I Love Paul

47 Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox featuring Haley Reinhart - Seven Nation Army

48 Shirley Horn - Here's to Life

49 Kaite Bush - Physical

50 Nina Simone - Wild Is The Wind

51 Billie Holiday - You Don't Know What Love Is

52 Blossom Dearie - Once Upon A Summertime

53 Helen Merrill - What's New

54 June Christy - Something Cool

55 Dinah Washington - Drinking Again

56 Kaite Bush - Oops

57 Cassandra Wilson - Strange Fruit

58 Julie London - Cry Me A River

59 Sarah Vaughan - September Song

Almost Gosple 1

This is the first of a series of picks I'm making of almost gosple (notice how I spell it on the cover). I actually made a gospel playlist many years ago, but the new series feels fresh and fun. Sometime back then, I made that Gospel Brunch pick that captured this same spirit—uptempo tracks with big energy, revival vibes, and a mix of soulful grooves that make you want to stand up, clap, and move. This Almost Gosple playlist builds on that idea, blending classic soul, crossover hits, retro reimaginings, and uplifting sounds that aren't all strictly worship but carry that joyful, choir-driven punch. Those boxers in their blue robes sure look ready to belt out some harmonies—hope the choir director gave them the right pitch! Make sure you also look at the After Hours picks from a week ago or so! I'd love to hear what you think of all these.

Almost Gosple 1

01 Kirk Franklin - Wanna Be Happy

02 Vintage Soul - Never Gonna Give You Up

03 Sam Smith - Stay With Me

04 Soul'd Out - Humble (1950's Soul Version)

05 RetroScope - Bring Me to Life

06 Digital Connect - Unbreakable Hope

07 Mary Mary - Shackles (Praise You)

08 Sinach - I Know Who I Am

09 The Staple Singers - Respect Yourself

10 Hezekiah Walker - Souled Out

11 Tasha Cobbs Leonard - Already Good (Tasha Slide)

12 The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day

13 Replayd Music - Truth I Know

14 Solomon Ray - Find Your Rest

15 Soul Jazz Era - Take Me to Church

16 RetroFlow Soul - Purple Rain

17 Rhythm&Velvet - Somebody to Love (Gospel Soul)

18 The Flipside - Dancing Queen

Cocktail Hour 2 (repost)

Yesterday I posted part one of this pick, well, reposted it. I updated links because I was looking at it again and noticed that four years came and went and the links didn't stay current. But the music holds up. Here's what I wrote then about this: Part two of this pick. Cocktail hour is what I call it but it's appropriate for dinner or any other time you want some good music that you don't need to dance to. You can put it on for quiet moments like that or whatever. Go to sleep with this on in the background. That's nice, too. Now go check out the After Hours ones from a few days ago.

Cocktail Hour 2 (repost)

23 Jamie Cullum - What A Difference A Day Made

24 Sting - Englishman In New York

25 Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good

26 Laura Mvula - Green Garden

27 Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

28 George Michael - Brother Can You Spare A Dime

29 Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares For Me

30 Michael Buble - Haven't Met You Yet

31 Natalie Cole - This Will Be

32 Robbie Williams - Beyond The Sea

33 Van Morrison - Moondance

34 Aretha Franklin - I Say A Little Prayer

35 John Mayer - Slow Dancing In A Burning Room

36 Rumer - Slow

37 Michael Buble - Moondance

38 Sade - By Your Side

39 Rebecca Ferguson - Nothing's Real But Love

40 Hozier - Take Me to Church

41 Ella Mai - Boo'd Up

Cocktail Hour 1 (repost)

Since I just posted the After Hours picks the last couple of days, I thought I woud revisit this two volume set. The links were dead anyway, so I updated them here. I sort of quote what I wrote before: Some standards and a few not yet, but all are appropriate for cocktails or dinner. I like all of these. They are classics or classic sounding to me. I remember watching the movie Umbrellas Of Cherbourg as a kid and just loving Catherine Deneuve. It always stayed with me and is perfect for this pick. Sorry, but Bjork got in here twice. Once in her pre-Sugarcubes band Gling Glo and once solo much later. I just do love the sound of both tracks and Luktar-Gvendur was the inspiration for making this playlist. BTW, I really like the marbling technique for the cover background. Fun to do!

Cocktail Hour 1 (repost)

01 Gordon McRae & Jo Stafford - 'A' Your Adorable

02 Gling Glo - Luktar-Gvendur

03 kd Lang - The Air That I Breathe

04 Julie London - I'm In The Mood For Love

05 Astrud Gilberto - Corcovado

06 Jo Stafford - Falling In Love Again

07 Sinead O'Connor - My Heart Belongs To Daddy

08 Don Henley - Come Rain Or Come Shine

09 Sting - My One And Only Love

10 Kate Bush - The Man I Love

11 Catherine Deneuve & Nino Castelnuovo - Devant Le Garage

12 Doris Day - Bewitched

13 Claudine Longet - Meditation

14 Dean Martin - Pretty Baby

15 Billie Holiday - Our Love Is Here To Stay

16 Susanna Hoffs - The Look of Love

17 Bjork - I Can't Help Loving That Man

18 Wayne Newton - Danke Schoen

19 Nancy Sinatra - Call Me

20 Lisa Stansfield - Down In The Depths

21 Linda Ronstadt - You Took Advantage Of Me

22 Tony Bennett - Jeepers Creepers

After Hours 2

Yesterday’s pick set the scene — tonight’s keeps the lights low and the room quieter. The air feels thicker, the piano slower, the bass heavier, like it’s learned something from the silence. This one leans deeper into that after-midnight calm — where the smoke curls, the clock forgets, and every note feels like it’s playing just for you. Several AI tunes made the cut again (that was the point after all), but the mood stays human — worn, warm, and wide awake at 2 a.m.

After Hours 2

22 Remix Realms - Billie Jean

23 Jimmy Scott - I'm Through With Love

24 Anarch-I-Wamba - Knocked Down

25 Nat King Cole - Lonely One

26 Arthur Prysock - I Worry About You

27 True Believers - One Tequila

28 Zero Sugar - Lounge Lightning

29 Lou Rawls - Willow Weep For Me

30 Frank Sinatra - One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)

31 re-SOUL - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

32 Art-I Ramone - Sedated

33 AI Tendencies - Institutionalized

34 Andy Bey - In A Sentimental Mood

35 Mark Murphy - My Foolish Heart

36 Mel Torme - Blue Moon

37 Zero Sugar - A(i)ck Shun

38 Richard Cheese - Just Like Heaven

39 Doug Hilton - The Moonlight Mocks Me (It's Cold and Blue)

After Hours 1

When the lights fade and the last glass clinks, the real music begins. This pick drifts through a 1950s saloon haze — slow, smoky jazz wrapped in barroom quiet. Sparse piano and brushed snares sway around a thumping upright bass, while a low baritone croon leans close, all grit and midnight warmth. At the mic, Zero Sugar’s own boxer — no howls, just bark and heart — croons the kind of tunes made for the hour after the night ends. A couple of AI tunes here, but the rest...

After Hours 1

01 Johnny Hartman - Unforgettable

02 re-SOUL - Baby Shark

03 Dean Martin - I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)

04 Tony Bennett - I Wanna Be Around

05 Don Nelson featuring Jimmy Rowles, Leroy Vinnegar & Stan Levey - The Wind

06 Ray Charles - Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)

07 Midnight Jazz - Velvet Corners

08 Sam Cooke - Lost And Lookin'

09 Mose Allison - Lost Mind

10 Raviel Blackthorne - Tonight, I'm A Little Too Broken

11 Sammy Davis Jr. - I'm A Fool To Want You

12 Sound Of Moc - She Wore Blue Under Streetlights

13 Chet Baker - Almost Blue

14 Frank Sinatra - In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

15 Lee Hazlewood - Your Sweet Love

16 Electric Prunes - Too Much To Dream (After Hours Mix)

17 Zero Sugar - Love Is Like Lounging

18 Charles Brown - Driftin' Blues

19 Jack Jones - Here's That Rainy Day

20 Zero Sugar - Faux On The Run

21 Chris Connor - Lush Life

Quiet VU

This pick of Velvet Underground is what I call quiet VU. It's the more beautiful sounding acoustic leaning Velvet Underground. This is a band that I know from Rock and Roll and Walking On The Wild Side, Heroin and Sister Ray. What some don't realize is that Lou Reed had many sides to him. Many of these love songs are just beautiful. You will realize, as did Laurie Anderson, that Lou had a quiet side to him. These mostly VU songs also had an underground twist to each. It's up to you to interpret what each means. I added one solo Lou Reed track and also a colloboration track with Nico. They all can fit together nicely. Even your mom or grandma can like these songs, but you will love them too. And before you say anything, I know that his relationship with Anderson started way after his Velvet Underground days, but I just love the way they just look like they love each other in this shot. Quiet Love.

Quiet VU

01 Velvet Underground - Velvet Nursery Rhyme

02 Velvet Underground - Jesus

03 Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes

04 Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning

05 Velvet Underground - I'll Be Your Mirror

06 Velvet Underground - Candy Says

07 Velvet Underground - New Age (long version)

08 Velvet Underground - Here She Comes Now

09 Velvet Underground - I Love You (demo)

10 Velvet Underground - After Hours

11 Velvet Underground - I'm Sticking with You

12 Velvet Underground - Femme Fatale

13 Velvet Underground - Ocean

14 Velvet Underground - I Found a Reason

15 Lou Reed - Perfect Day

16 Nico - Chelsea Girls

First Summer Potpourri

Imagine you recently started dating someone in college and before they leave for the summer: surprise, surprise you get an unexpected cassette thay secretly had made for you. They mail it to you so you get the pick after they have left. Whoa! That's pretty cool. This is such a cassette. I wasn't expecting it. It had really cool songs on it. Several that were new releases at the time. And it has a message. A message of longing, but still a bit unsure. Testing the waters to see if I felt the same about her as she did about me. And also wanting to impress me with her knowledge of music. It worked. I ended up driving hours and hours in a bus to go see her as soon as I could. If I wasn't as much of a simpleton, it probably could have lasted much longer. Either way it ended up lasting for years. I was smitten. This cassette was a good reason for the start of that. I still don't understand a couple of the choices, but the other 95% I totally do.

First Summer Potpourri

01 Elvis Costello - Girls Talk

02 The Inkspots - If I Didn't Care

03 Suzanne Fellini - Love On The Phone

04 The Chipmunks - Christmas Don't Be Late

05 Elvis Costello - My Funny Valentine

06 The Selector - On My Radio

07 Icehouse - Sister

08 Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star

09 Sue Saad & The Next - Won't Give Up

10 Romantics - She's Got Everything

11 Graham Parker - Heat Treatment

12 The Sinceros - I Still Miss You

13 The Inmates - The Walk

14 Joe Jackson - Jumpin' With Symphony Sid

15 Elvis Costello - Big Boys

16 Romantics - When I Look In Your Eyes

17 Joe Jackson - Is She Really Going Out With Him

18 The Motels - Forever Mine

Jon Davison Pick

There are going to be people that will ask how I could possibly include Jon Davison in this Yes series of family picks. I will give you at least thirteen reasons. But first of all, even though I love Jon Anderson as the lead singer of Yes, I have to say that after having seen Jon "Juano" Davison play and after having met him and after hanging out with him for hours. He is not only the nicest guy ever, he's a great singer, he's also a good songwriter. And I've never seen anyone so dedicated to trying his best. I wish I knew him better and could hang out more often. Just a good person. Anyway he has less Yes to choose from, but he does have quite a bit of family and guest spots and previous bands to choose from. Here are a few of my favorites to pick from.

Jon Davison Pick

01 The Samurai Of Prog - She (Who Must Be Obeyed)

02 Sky Cries Mary - Every Iceberg Is Afire

03 The Samurai Of Prog - Starship Trooper

04 Yes - Believe Again

05 Mogador - The Sick Rose

06 Steve Howe - The Headlands

07 Billy Sherwood - Written In The Centuries

08 Glass Hammer - Nothing Box

09 Arc Of Life - You Make It Real

10 In Continuum featuring Steve Hackett and Jon Davison - Crash Landing

11 Yes - The Ice Bridge

12 The Birds Of Satan - Raspberries

13 Glass Hammer - If The Stars

Mama Connection

In honor of Mother's Day (and my mom's upcoming birthday) here is my pick of mama, mother, mom songs. You don't have to tell me that there are more. I know there are a million. These are just the ones I play for mother's day around my house in this What's The Connection? I hope you begin the tradition, too. These are good songs to remind you of mom. Make sure you give her a phone call to tell her how much she means to you. Too late to send flowers or a card, so if you didn't, now you will remember next year. She's the only one you got. And after seeing labor for hours, and the hard job of raising you. You owe. I sure do. Yes, I hand drew the cover and then scanned it in.

Mama Connection

01 Spice Girls - Mama

02 The Intruders - I'll Always Love My Mama

03 Connie Francis - Mama

04 Earth Wind & Fire - Mom

05 Kate Bush - Mother Stands For Comfort

06 The Sugarcubes - Mama

07 Nina Hagen - Mama

08 2 Pac - Dear Mama

09 Howard Jones - Look Mama

10 ELO - Mama

11 BJ Thomas - Mama

12 Mothers Of Invention - Motherly Love

13 Pink Floyd - Mother

14 Jackson 5 - Mama's Pearl

15 Junior - Mama Used To Say

16 Siouxsie & the Banshees - Oh Mother

17 Will.I.Am - I Got It From My Mama

Blues Pick 2

This is part two of my convincing a rock and roll lover that he really likes the blues, too. Amazing how many people really like the blues after they get exposed to it. Used to have the largest free blues festival in my backyard (San Jose State University) and got to hear some amazing blues bands over the years. Even got to eat lunch with some of the greats, but I never would have if someone hadn't first introduced me to George Thorogood. Mixed in with ZZ Top and Triumph, I was hooked and started going to blues clubs and collecting some fun albums. So that's why this pick series came into being. Pass it on and get someone hooked.

Blues 2

01 Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit

02 Triumph - Suitcase Blues

03 Johnny -Guitar- Watson - Three Hours Past Midnight

04 Rolling Stones - Fancy Man Blues

05 Led Zeppelin - Dazed And Confused

06 Robert Johnson - Crossroads Blues

07 ZZ Top - Blue Jean Blues

08 Bessie Smith - Do Your Duty

09 Jimi Hendrix - Red House

10 The Kinks - Sittin' On My Sofa

11 The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Tuff Enuff

12 Howlin' Wolf - Killing Floor

13 Otis Rush - I Can't Quit You Baby

14 Doors - Roadhouse Blues

15 John Lee Hooker - I'm Bad Like Jesse James

16 Junior Brown - Guit-Steel Blues

17 Junior Wells - Messin' With The Kid

18 Taj Mahal - Big Legged Mommas Are Back In Style

19 Van Halen - Ice Cream Man

20 Joe Walsh - All Night Laundry Mat Blues

Rundgren Productions Connection

Todd Rundgren is an amazing artist. From Nazz to Utopia and all the fun stuff inbetween he just is amazing. Someday, you'll have to ask me about how I trapped him for several hours, but not today. He's one of those guys that when he produces an album, he puts his stamp on it. I noticed that with several producers that when they produced an album of an artist, to me, it was the best album they ever did. It's that way with Todd. The artist might hate Rundgren after working with him, but he pulls out the best of each. This is my "What's The Connection?" list of some productions by Todd Rundgren. 

Rundgren Productions

01 XTC - Dear God
02 Sparks - Wonder Girl
03 Patti Smith Group - Dancing Barefoot
04 What Is This - I'll Be Around
05 Hall & Oates - You're Much Too Soon
06 Badfinger - Baby Blue
07 Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way
08 Lords Of The New Church - Live For Today
09 Grand Funk Railroad - We're an American Band
10 Jules Shear - Whispering Your Name
11 Will Powers - Kissing With Confidence
12 Steve Hillage - Hurdy Gurdy Man
13 Cheap Trick - I Can't Take It
14 Pursuit Of Happiness - I'm An Adult Now
15 The New Cars - Not Tonight
16 Tubes - Prime Time
17 New York Dolls - Personality Crisis
18 Rick Derringer - Guitars And Women
19 Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell