New Featured Unknown/Underrated Song: "Who Will Save Your Soul" by Jewel

When this artist released her first single, people didn't quite get how great she was, nor the depth of her songwriting.  In retrospect, it's almost comical how this song only reached #11.  This happens all the time to new artists because of the inability of radio station Music Directors to listen with their ears instead of pre-programmed information and biases.  I know--I worked in the industry for 10 years and saw it all around me!  Of course Jewel had plenty of worthy songs waiting in the wings after this one.  Most new artists don't, and they are doomed to be a One-Hit Wonder.

Here is that great song from Jewel that is without a doubt one of The Top Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*:

"Who Will Save Your Soul"

by Jewel

Words and Music by Jewel


People living their lives for you on TV
They say they're better than you and you agree
He says "Hold my calls from behind those cold brick walls"
Says "Come here boys, there ain't nothing for free"
Another doctor's bill, a lawyer's bill
Another cute cheap thrill
You know you love him if you put in your will

[Chorus:]
Who will save your soul when it comes to the flower?
Who will save your soul after all the lies that you told, boy?
Who will save your soul if you won't save your own?

We try to hustle them, try to bustle them, try to cuss them
The cops want someone to bust down on Orleans Avenue
Another day, another dollar, another war,
Another tower went up, where the homeless had their homes
So we pray to as many different Gods as there are flowers
But we call religion our friend
We're so worried about saving our souls
Afraid that God will take His toll
That we forget to begin

[Chorus]

Some are walking, some are talking, some are stalking their kill
You got social security, but that doesn't pay your bills
There are addictions to feed and there are mouths to pay
So you bargain with the Devil, say you're OK for today,
You say that you love them, take their money and run
Say it's been swell, sweetheart, but it was just one of those things
Those flings, those strings you've got to cut,
So get out on the streets, girls, and bust you butts.

This Date in Rock Music History: September 4

1952:  Gladys Knight & the Pips formed following a birthday party for Bubba Knight in Atlanta, Georgia.

1959:  "Mack The Knife" by Bobby Darin was banned by a radio station in New York City.
 
1961:  A new girl group appeared on the charts for the first time as the Marvelettes' first single "Please Mr. Postman" debuted.
1961:  Elvis Presley had the fastest-rising song as "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame" moved from 66 to 32.
1961:  Bobby Vee was rocketing up the charts with his hit "Take Good Care Of My Baby", which moved from 23 to 6 on this date.








1961:  Bobby Lewis had one of the top R&B songs of the Rock Era with "Tossin' And Turnin", which on this date spent its 10th week at #1.
1962:  The Beatles recorded "Love Me Do" and five other songs at EMI Studios in London.  (Note:  some websites claim the songs were recorded at Abbey Road Studios--the studios were not named Abbey Road until 1968, when the Beatles recorded the album 'Abbey Road'.)
1964:  The Animals made their live debut at the Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, New York.
1965:  The Rolling Stones performed two shows at the Adelphi Theatre in Belfast, Northern Ireland after performing twice in Dublin the night before.
1965:  We Five conquered the #1 position on the Easy Listening chart with "You Were On My Mind".






1965:  The McCoys climbed from 49 to 22 with "Hang On Sloopy".










1965:  "Help!" became the Beatles' 36th hit and ninth #1 song...in less than two years.  Bob Dylan rose from 6 to 2 with "Like A Rolling Stone", jumping "California Girls" by the Beach Boys.  The Righteous Brothers were still at 4 with their classic "Unchained Melody" and the Four Tops remained at position #5 with "It's The Same Old Song".  The rest of a fantastic Top 10:  Sonny & Cher's former #1 "I Got You Babe", We Five jumped into the list with "You Were On My Mind", James Brown was at 8 with "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag", Barry McGuire shot up from 27 to 9 with "Eve Of Destruction" while Mel Carter fell with "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me".




1967:  Monday is of course the date for new releases.  Imagine you work as a Music Director on this date and come in to listen to this brand new 45--Lulu released the single "To Sir With Love".  (Note:  one website claims "To Sir With Love" debuted on the charts on September 3.  According to 'Billboard' magazine, "To Sir With Love" debuted on September 9, 1967.)
1970:  The Rolling Stones released the live album Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out on Decca Records.










1971:  The new #1 Easy Listening song was "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" from Joan Baez.
1971:  Tapestry was still the #1 album for a 12th week from Carole King of Stanley, Idaho.  She was approaching the record at the time of 18 by the album More of the Monkees.  The Moody Blues, meanwhile, made a strong move (8-2) with Every Good Boy Deserves Favour while Paul & Linda McCartney slipped with Ram.  Rod Stewart's Every Picture Tells a Story came in fourth.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Who with Who's Next, James Taylor and Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, Jethro Tull and Aqualung, the Carpenters and their self-titled release, the Soundtrack to "Jesus Christ Superstar" and Marvin Gaye moved back in the Top 10 with What's Going On.






1971:  Paul & Linda McCartney recorded the third-highest jump to #1 of the Rock Era (the other two are by the Beatles), as they rose from #12 to #1 with one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*--"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey".  That ended the Bee Gees' four-week run at the top with "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart".  The Undisputed Truth moved up strong with "Smiling Faces Sometimes" and Aretha Franklin's big hit "Spanish Harlem" was at #4.  The rest of the Top 10:  Donny Osmond's remake of "Go Away Little Girl", Bill Withers moved from 13 to 6 with "Ain't No Sunshine", John Denver's first hit "Take Me Home, Country Roads" was at 7, the Five Man Electrical Band were at 8 after peaking at #3 with "Signs", Three Dog Night were at 9 with their sixth Top 10 hit "Liar" and Rare Earth crashed into the Top 10 with "I Just Want To Celebrate".
1975:  The Eagles were in concert at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
1976:  ABBA had the #1 song in the U.K.--"Dancing Queen".
1976:  War had the perfect #1 song on the Adult Contemporary chart--"Summer".
1976:  The #1 R&B song was "Play That Funky Music" from Wild Cherry.



1976:  On the other side of the Atlantic, the Bee Gees moved to #1 with "You Should Be Dancing", holding off Lou Rawls and "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine".  Wings could not fly past 3 with "Let 'Em In" while new duo England Dan & John Ford Coley moved up with "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight".  The rest of an outstanding Top 10:  K.C. and the Sunshine Band with "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty", Wild Cherry at 6--"Play That Funky Music", Walter Murphy moved up with 'A Fifth Of Beethoven", Elton John & Kiki Dee took a tumble from #1 with "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", Boz Scaggs moved from 16 to 9 with "Lowdown" and George Benson had song #10--"This Masquerade".
1976:  After 58 weeks, the self-titled Fleetwood Mac LP moved to #1, the fourth-longest time before reaching #1 of the Rock Era.  
1980:  Yes performed the first of three sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1982:  Pat Benatar, the Cars, Santana, the Kinks, Eddie Money and Dave Edmunds played on a spectacular day of music at the US Festival at the Glen Helen Regional Park near San Bernadino, California.





1982:  Glenn Frey had one of the hottest songs on this date as his solo release "The One You Love" moved from 75 to 53.








1982:  The Steve Miller Band moved to #1 with "Abracadabra", which meant for the first time in seven weeks, "Eye Of The Tiger" by Survivor was not #1.  Chicago moved from 5-3 with "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" and at #4--Fleetwood Mac's "Hold Me".  Air Supply reached #5 with "Even The Nights Are Better".  The rest of the Top 10:  Melissa Manchester moved from 11 to 6 with her biggest career hit "You Should Hear How She Talks About You", John Cougar Mellencamp dropped with "Hurts So Good", the Go-Go's remained on "Vacation", Crosby Stills & Nash were at 9 with "Wasted On The Way" and Sir Paul McCartney was in the #10 spot with "Take It Away".
1982:  Chicago remained at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "Hard To Say I'm Sorry".
1986:  After getting his license back after a five-year suspension, Gregg Allman celebrated by getting arrested for drunk driving in Florida.
1993:  Paula Abdul hosted an AIDS awareness television special called In a New Light '93.

1993:  UB40 spent a seventh week at #1 with their remake of the Elvis Presley classic "Can't Help Falling In Love".
1996:  Yusaf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens, signed copies of his first album in 18 years.  Islam used the occasion to promote the spoken-word album praising Allah--The Life of the Last Prophet.
1996:  KISS performed on the MTV Video Music Awards.
1997:  Bruce Springsteen joined the Wallflowers onstage to sing "One Headlight" at the MTV Video Music Awards.
1997:  After the Foo Fighters performed at the MTV Video Music Awards, guitarist Pat Smear announced that he was quitting the group.
2003:  The Spin Doctors announced that they were getting back together.




2002:  Kelly Clarkson won the first "American Idol" competition.
2003:  Aerosmith, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Good Charlotte performed at the Washington Mall in Washington, D.C. to kick off the National Football League season.
2003:  Universal Music Group announced that they were slashing prices of CD's to $12.98.
2003:  North Carolina Reverend Paul Scott slammed the Nelly-endorsed energy drink Pimp Juice, saying "As black men we should be building a nation of strong black leaders, not a nation of super energized, drunk pimps."
2012:  Lillian Lopez, singer with Odyssey ("Native New Yorker"), died of cancer at age 76.

Born This Day:

1942:  Gene Parsons of the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers was born in Morongo Valley, California.
1942:  Merald "Bubba" Knight of Gladys Knight and the Pips was born in Atlanta, Georgia
1946:  Gary Duncan, guitarist of Quicksilver Messenger Service, was born in San Diego, California.
1946:  Greg Elmore, drummer of Quicksilver Messenger Service, was born in the Coronado Naval Air Station, California.
1950:  Ronald LaPread of the Commodores






1951:  Martin Chambers, great drummer of the Pretenders, was born in Hereford, Herefordshire, England.

1960:  Kim Thayil, elite guitarist with Soundgarden, was born in Seattle, Washington.
1980:  Dan Miller of O-Town was born in Laconia, New Hampshire.

1981:  Beyonce Knowles was born in Houston, Texas.

This Date in Rock Music History: September 3

1955:  Bill Haley & the Comets refused an offer to tour Australia because of a fear of flying.

1955:  Chuck Berry logged a third week at #1 on the R& B chart with "Maybellene".
1962:  The Beatles, Billy J. Kramer, the Coasters, and Rory Storm and the Hurricanes played the first of three Monday night gigs at the Queen's Hall in Widnes, Cheshire, England.  The Hurricanes by this time had gotten over the defection of drummer Ringo Starr to the Beatles.
1963:  Frank Sinatra's Reprise Records was absorbed by Warner Brothers Records.
1966:  The Supremes stood on top of the R&B chart with "You Can't Hurry Love".
1966:  What Now My Love gave Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass their third #1 album out of six released.  
1966:  The great song "Born Free" was #1 on the Easy Listening chart for Roger Williams.
1966:  The Association were making their move as "Cherish" jumped from #66 to #27.

1966:  Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" took over #1 from the Lovin' Spoonful, which dropped to 2 with "Summer In The City".
1967:  The Anni-Frid Four, led by Anni-Frid Lynstad who would later join ABBA, won a talent contest on the Swedish television show Hylands Hörna.









1970:  Alan Wilson, guitarist, harmonica player, singer and main songwriter of Canned Heat, died in Topanga Canyon, California from barbiturates. 
1977:  The Grateful Dead, the Marshall Tucker Band and the New Riders of the Purple Sage performed at Old Bridge Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey.
1977:  "Handy Man" by James Taylor ruled the Adult chart.








                               The Brothers Johnson brightened up the Top 10...

1977:  "Best of My Love" by the Emotions was the #1 song again for the third week.  Andy Gibb's former #1 "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" refused to fall further and that meant Rita Coolidge couldn't advance with "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher".  The Commodores ("Easy) and James Taylor ("Handy Man") were stuck as well.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Floaters and "Float On", Crosby, Stills & Nash with "Just A Song Before I Go" at #7, Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop", the Brothers Johnson edged up with "Strawberry Letter 23" and ELO landed their 11th hit and second Top 10 with "Telephone Line".







    
                           "I Don't Want to Know", one of the great tracks on 'Rumours'...

1977:  Rumours by Fleetwood Mac spent its 17th week at #1 on the Album chart, one shy of the all-time Rock Era record by More of the Monkees.  CSN, the solid release from Crosby, Stills & Nash, was #2 followed by the Soundtrack to "Star Wars".  JT from James Taylor was fourth and Moody Blue by Elvis Presley moved from 24 to 5 following his passing on August 16.  






1979:  Monday, the date for new releases, fell on this date and Foreigner provided "Dirty White Boy".











1979:  Kenny Rogers released the single "You Decorated My Life".  (Note:  some websites naively say the song was released September 10.  "You Decorated My Life" debuted on the Singles chart on September 8, according to 'Billboard' magazine.  It is physically impossible fr a song to be included on the Singles chart if it has not yet been released as a single.)

1982:  The Police, the Talking Heads, the B-52's, Oingo Boingo, the English Beat and the Ramones performed on the opening day of the three-day US Festival in San Bernadino, California.  The Festival attracted 400,000 people.
1983:  Metallica wrapped up their first tour at The Stone in San Francisco, California.
1983:  Laura Branigan reached #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart with "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You".








  1983:  The Eurythmics scored the only #1 of their career--"Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)".  Michael Sembello's "Maniac" from the movie Flashdance edged up and the Police finally fishtailed from #1 after eight weeks with "Every Breath You Take".  Taco was "Puttin' On The Ritz" while Donna Summer swapped places with "She Works Hard For The Money".  The rest of the Top 10:  newcomer Men Without Hats and "The Safety Dance" moved from 11 to 6, Billy Joel's 21st hit "Tell Her About It" was right behind, Men at Work were at position #8 with "It's A Mistake", Culture Club saw "I'll Tumble 4 (sic) Ya" stay at #9 and Michael Jackson made it six Top 10 songs in a row from the album Thriller with "Human Nature".

1983:  It was seven straight weeks for the great album Synchronicity by the Police at #1.  Thriller by Michael Jackson was still at #2 after 37 weeks and the Soundtrack to "Flashdance" was #3.  Def Leppard had a hot album as well with Pyromania.  The rest of the Top 10:  The Wild Heart from Stevie Nicks, Staying Alive by the Bee Gees, Billy Joel moved from 18 to 7 with An Innocent Man, Asia's follow-up Alpha was at #8, Jackson Browne slipped into the Top 10 with Lawyers in Love and Reach the Beach was the #10 album by the Fixx.







1988:  Peter Cetera of Sun Valley, Idaho enjoyed a huge Adult Contemporary hit as "One Good Woman" reached #1.
1988:  The album Hysteria had already spent three weeks at #1 and now, Def Leppard rose to #1 for the third time--55 weeks after its release!  Tracy Chapman had to relinquish the spot with her debut and Guns N' Roses edged up with Appetite for Destruction.










1990:  INXS released the single "Suicide Blonde".  (Note:  some websites naively say the single was released September 25.  "Suicide Blonde" debuted on the Singles chart on September 8.  It is physically impossible for a song to be included on the Singles chart if it has not yet been released as a single.)














1990:  New group Alias released the song "More Than Words Can Say" to radio stations.  (Note:  some websites naively report that the song was released on September 8.  The song debuted on the 'Billboard' Singles chart on September 8.  It is physically impossible for a song to be released as a single, mailed to radio stations, listened to and added by the radio station to their playlists, reported to the trade papers, and printed and published by the trade papers, all on the same day.)
1992:  David Bowie appeared on the cover of Architectural Digest.
1993:  Kenny G & Peabo Bryson combined for the #1 Adult Contemporary hit on this date--"By The Time This Night Is Over".
1994:  Brian Setzer (Stray Cats and solo performer) married Christine Schmidt.

1994:  Major Lance ("Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um") died of heart failure at the age of 55 in Decatur, Georgia.  (Note:  there is much confusion as to his birth year.  Some websites say he was born in 1941 or 1942, but according to the newspaper 'The Baltimore Sun', Lance was born in 1939, making him 55 at the date of his death.) 
1994:  The Soundtrack to "The Lion King" held on to #1 for the eighth straight week on the Album chart while the Soundtrack to "Forrest Gump" sat at #2.  The Sign from Ace of Base was third with Stone Temple Pilots taking the #4 position with their album Purple.  The rest of the Top 10:  The great album Dookie from Green Day, August and Everything After by the Counting Crows, Regulate...G Funk Era by Warren G, the self-titled Candlebox, Sleeps With Angels from Neil Young & Crazy Horse debuting at #9 and Smash from Offspring at #10.



1994:  Boyz II Men could not be stopped as "I'll Make Love To You" remained #1 on the R&B chart for the third week.
2003:  The Rolling Stones performed at the SECC Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.
2003:  Kyle Norman of Jagged Edge turned himself in to authorities in Decatur, Georgia to face charges of drugs and weapons possession.
2003:  Mary J. Blige had the top album with Love and Life.

2010:  Mike Edwards, cellist of ELO, was killed on the road between Harbertonford and Halwell, Devon, England when a giant bale of hay fell down a hill and crashed into his van.  The cylindrical bale fell down a slope, flipped 15 feet over a hedge and smashed onto the roof of his van, killing him instantly.
2014:  David Cassidy, former singer with the Partridge Family, pleaded guilty to a DWI charge in upstate New York.  The charge is from an incident near Albany the previous summer in which Cassidy was pulled over for failing to dim his headlights to oncoming traffic, and was discovered to be driving while intoxicated. 

Born This Day:

1934:  Freddie King, one of the elite guitarists of the Rock Era, was born in Gilmer, Texas; died of complications from stomach ulcers and acute pancreatitis December 28, 1976 in Dallas, Texas.
1940:  Shadow Morton (George Morton), who wrote "Remember (Walking In The Sand" and "Leader Of The Pack" for the Shangri-Las and worked with the Who, Jimi Hendrix, Iron Butterfly, Janis Ian and Vanilla Fudge, was born in Richmond, Virginia; died February 14, 2013 in Laguna Beach, California after a long battle with cancer.  (Note:  the newspaper 'The New York Times' claims Morton was born in Brooklyn, New York.  According to the newspaper 'The Guardian', Morton was born in Richmond and later lived in Brooklyn.)



1942:  Al Jardine of the Beach Boys was born in Lima, Ohio.
1945:  George Biondi, bassist of Steppenwolf, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1945:  Mike Harrison, keyboardist of Spooky Tooth, was born in Carlisle, Cumberland, England.
1947:  Eric Bell, founding member and original guitarist of Thin Lizzy, was born in Belfast, Ireland.







1948:  Don Brewer, founding member and drummer of Grand Funk Railroad, was born in Flint, Michigan.
1955:  Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols was born in London.
1960:  Perry Bamonte, keyboard and guitar player of the Cure, was born in London.








1973:  Jennifer Paige ("Crush") was born in Marietta, Georgia.  (Note:  some websites report Paige was born in Atlanta, Georgia.  According to Barnes & Noble, Jennifer was born in Marietta, a suburb of Atlanta.)