John Farnhand- Pressure Down

If there was any song that perfectly encapsulated the 1980's, It's Pressure Down by John Farnhand. The beloved Australian sing and one time lead vocalist for the Little River Band made this perfect 80's song 40 years ago. The synths, the vocal effects and the reverb, it's a product of its time in the best way. It also has the best "Ah yeah" in any popular song that I know of.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood- Two Tribes

Frankie Goes to Hollywood may be considered one hit wonders here in the states but they should have also been remembered for Two Tribes. The bass synth in this incredible and I just love how Holly Johnson says "Lets Go" at the start which only in the video mix of this song. 

The video is great too. I think it were made today, the would replace Reagan and Chernenko with Trump and the current leader of Iran. They would also have MAGA cultists, BLM activists and replace the Hall & Oates impersonators with like Sabrina Carpenter and Drake stand-ins. Sorry if this post got a little political after my American 250 post.

Top 50 American bands for America's 250

Hey, sorry about the long absence. With America's 250th birthday today, here are my top 50 American bands in no particular order (there's no way I can do 250). Bands with a couple of foreign members or American citizens born outside the country count. As long as there're at least two American members, they are qualified for my list:

1. Talking Heads
2. Pixies
3. Cheap Trick
4. Kool & The Gang
5. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
6. The Replacements
7. Parliament/Funkadelic
8. Jane's Addiction
9. Nirvana
10. Anthrax
11. Husker Du
12. Foreigner
13. GAP Band
14. Living Colour
15. Foo Fighters
16. Chicago
17. Isley Brothers
18. Red Hot Chili Peppers
19. Soundgarden
20. Guns n Roses
21. White Stripes
22. Poco
23. New York Dolls
24. War
25. Sonic Youth
26. Earth, Wind & Fire
27. Smashing Pumpkins
28. Heart
29. B-52's
30. Eagles
31. Ministry
32. Gin Blossoms
33. Los Lobos
34. Chic
35. Nine Inch Nails
36. Metallica
37. Steely Dan
38. Ohio Players
39. Book of Love
40. Santana
41. Blondie
42. Crosby, Stills & Nash
43. ZZ Top
44. The Doors
45. Dead Kennedys
46. Alice in Chains
47. Velvet Underground
48. Stone Temple Pilots
49. Devo
50. Fishbone

The Chameleons- Don't Fall

One of the bands I got into during the pandemic was the post-punk band, The Chameleons. Their debut, Scripts of the Bridge, in particular I've listen to the most. The opening track, "Don't Fall', is one of my favorites from them. The spooky sample at the beginning, the menacing riffs with the anger and foreboding in Mark "Vox" Burgess' voice make this an overlooked post-punk classic. Let me know what your favorite song from the Chameleons is in the comments.

   

Red Hot Chili Peppers- Under The Bridge

I saw a video from Classic Album Review the other day about the worst rock songs of all time and this RHCP song was on the list. He claims that Under The Bridge was "whiney and soupy dreck". Under The Bridge may be one of the RHCP most well known songs but for a good reason. It showed the band were more than a bunch of funk metalheads that occasionally wear nothing but socks.

This ballad was the second single off RHCP's breakthrough album "Blood Sugar Sex Magik". It dealt with Anthony Kiedis' with the depression that came with surviving drug addiction and the survivor's guilt he lives with after his friend, founding guitarist, Hillel Slovak, died from a drug overdose in 1988. From John Fruscante's somber guitar intro to Anthony's self reflective lyrics, it was a mature recording for the California band.

If their was one complaint I have is the Choir that appears during the climax of the song. It sounds way too high, incomprehensible and comes across as cartoonish, almost like the Muppets are singing along.. It nearly derails the seriousness of the song when the band this jamming hard while Kiedis is giving it his all.

If Classic Album Review had a problem it should have been that part and not everything else.

The 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

                                                                            Wow...

After a few days of taking it in, I can say this is one of the best induction classes in years. Its on the same level as the 2020 class, maybe 2019 if Stevie Nicks was a Musical Excellence inductee. However, 2026 may take the cake because how strong the acts that got in are. So lets break it down.

• Phil Collins- 12 years after Peter Gabriel got inducted as a solo artist, the man that took his place finally became a double inductee. Of course, Phil Collins is much more and his catalog of hits, session and production work and both of his Disney movie soundtracks. Phil Collins had the career of 50 musicians and its about time he was inducted a second time.

• Billy Idol- I was really surprised Billy Idol snuck in. Not only that, he was the first inductee announced on American Idol before all the other ones. Still, I really do like Billy Idols music and I'm also glad Steve Stevens is being honored as well. Whether you see Billy Idol as the weakest inductee or not, at least its knowledge the he's apart of the one of the Rock Hall's best classes.

• Iron Maiden- When former IM singer Blaze Bayley was added to the nominee list for Iron Maiden, it was practically confirmed this powerful band was going to get in. I had my second thoughts and thought that Iron Maiden will get in through Musical Excellence much like Judas Priest. However, I was wrong and have become the first Heavy Metal band to a performer inductee since Def Leppard.

• Joy Division/New Oder- When I went to see the list of 2026 inductees on Futurerocklegends.com, I was in disbelief that Joy Division and New Order were among the performer inductees. I waited for confirmation and when I did, I screamed in excitement. It could have been so easy for the Hall to put them in a side category or pass over them disappear from contention like War, Devo and the New York Dolls. However, I'm over the moon both of these giants of alternative rock and getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and I hope it opens the door for other post-punk acts waiting their turn.

• Oasis, Whether the Gallagher brothers like it or not, Oasis are heading to the Rock Hall. I'm also glad founding member Paul McGuigan and Morning Glory drummer Alan White (not to be confused with the late Yes drummer) are included. I guess their absence on the nominee list was an error on the Hall's part. While they are the only 90's rock act getting in this year, I'm glad its them and not the Black Crowes.

• Sade- I was happily surprised by Sade's induction. The are such a low-key band compared to the other nominees like Mariah Carey or Shakira. However, I'm glad the Hall chose this unique and sensual band rather than a contemporary headliner. It proves the the Hall still values originality and I hope more smooth acts like Sade are waiting in the wings.

• Luther Vandross- Over two decades after we lost him, Luther Vandross is at last joining the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The tragedy of Luther's untimely passing is that if he was still with us, healthy and active in the music business, He could have the Dolly Parton of R&B. A figure that wholesome, kind and beloved by all. However, thanks to Kendrick Lamar's sampling his music for his hit song "luther" and his Rock Hall induction, a new generation will learn about this great man and the music he created.

• Wu-Tang Clan- The inductee I'm least familiar with but happy for them nerveless. Did have a feeling this band would get in unless voters preferred Lauryn Hill. However, Wu-Tang Clan earned their induction and are going in the Rock Hall as the largest rap act inducted. Not bad for a group of young men from Staten island.

I'm not going to go in to all the side inductees but I'm happy for Gram Parsons, Celia Cruz, Arif Madrin and Rick Rubin. It is strange the Hall doubled down on Old School female rappers get Early Influence inductions with Queen Latifah and MC Lyte but their are still deserving despite their first singles coming out in the late 1980's. This was a diverse and strong list of inductees that isn't catered to concert promoters or mediocrity. Classes like this is what the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should strive for and I hope this the first step in a new direction for this controversial museum. Although Beyoncé being elgible next year may complicate things but that's another story for another time. 

Congratulations to all the inductees!!

Al Jarreau- Murphy's Law

                        

 

                                             "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong"

That's Murphy's law in a nutshell. With March almost over, I'm going to share one more luck theme R&B song, this time from the Great Al Jarreau. Although critics at the time were not a fan of Mr. Jarreau's 1984 record, High Crime, for being "too pop", I think there a few gems here, Murphy's law being one of them. I think this track deserves to be remembered just as much as his other upbeat songs like "Mornin'" and "We're in this love together". On YouTube there's a great live version Al Jarreau did in 1985 with a killer guitar solo at the end.