Johnny Be Good

Losing My Religion

Issue No. 45 of Johnny Be Good features one of 45 songs from the book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John Pearson's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes). Each blog has spotlighted a song from the book and a guest blogger’s color commentary. This is the final blog in the series.

1.3 Billion Views on YouTube!

Today’s guest blogger: Jason Pearson

Song: #45 of 45
Title: “Losing My Religion
Musician: R.E.M.
Released: February 1991

I APPRECIATED THIS:
I was in art school when R.E.M. released "Losing My Religion" in February 1991, and everything about the song defied conventional hit-making wisdom. The lead instrument was a mandolin backed by orchestral arrangements—a style sometimes known as chamber pop—it lacked a chorus, and its video drew inspiration from 14th-century Italian art. Warner Bros., the band's record label, initially resisted releasing it as a single, preferring to save that distinction for "Radio Song," which featured rapper KRS-One.

The song emerged during a transformative period in music, as the industry shifted from hair metal toward indie folk rock and then grunge. In 2009, the music magazine I co-founded, Blender, ranked it No. 79 on its list of "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born.”

The music video, which helped establish the song as a cultural touchstone, won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video. In 2020, it became R.E.M.'s first video to reach one billion views on YouTube (now at 1.3 billion views and generating as much as $7.5 million in YouTube revenue for the band).

Director Tarsem Singh drew inspiration from Caravaggio's masterworks, particularly "The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian" and "The Entombment of Christ.” The video's narrative parallels Gabriel García Márquez's short story, "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"—depicting an angel's arrival in a town and the varied reactions of its inhabitants.

During this period, I lived across from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. During many lunch hours, you could find me sitting in front of Caravaggio's "Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness," wearing my yellow Sony Walkman and listening to cassettes, including R.E.M. The convergence of classical art and alternative rock created a profound personal connection to both mediums.

Author Marc Myers describes similar experiences across the alternative rock community. "The affordability of the personal cassette stereo, pioneered by the Sony Walkman, certainly contributed to alternative rock's growing popularity in the 1980s," he wrote. "The portability of recorded music allowed fans to listen more carefully to music and lyrics through foam headphones. As a result, music became a more intimate experience.”

Despite its popularity among atheists, Michael Stipe's lyrics weren't about abandoning faith. The phrase "losing my religion" is Southern vernacular for reaching one's limit. In interviews with The New York Times and Q magazine, Stipe described the song as an exploration of romantic expression and unrequited love, comparing it to The Police's "Every Breath You Take.”

Stipe, a self-described introvert, reveals he modified one crucial lyric. The line, "that's me in the corner, that's me in the kitchen" became "that's me in the corner, that's me in the spotlight." The original version depicted a shy wallflower at a party—watching others dance and capturing the essence of unspoken longing.

The religious imagery in both song and video reflects Stipe's complex relationship with faith. Though he now identifies as Buddhist, he comes from a lineage of Methodist ministers. "The holy scripture is a very important part of my life, and my upbringing, and the culture that I came up through," Stipe says, emphasizing the importance of discussing faith in contemporary contexts. Recently, Stipe officiated at the wedding ceremony of Frances Bean Cobain, Kurt Cobain's daughter, to Riley Hawk, son of skateboarding legend Tony Hawk.

The ambiguous nature of its metaphors and imagery led to countless interpretations and analyses in media outlets, college classrooms, and among fans. The song's enduring relevance is evidenced by its continued presence in popular culture, from cover versions to references in television shows and literature—cementing its place as one of the defining songs of its era.

Read more about the song in Marc Myers’ WSJ article, April 12, 2016, “Behind R.E.M.’s Hit ‘Losing My Religion.’ It started with a mandolin in Athens, Ga. How R.E.M. came up with ‘Losing My Religion,’ the band’s best-selling single.”


View the official video of “Losing My Religion,” by R.E.M.

THIS ISSUE'S COMMENTARY BY Jason Pearson


Our guest blogger, Jason Pearson, was recently interviewed about his documentary film, "Spares: Second Chance Stories of Frozen Embryos." View the 20-minute film here (free).

JASON PEARSON cut his teeth in the music industry creating album art for David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Aphex Twin, Gil Scott-Heron, and a bunch of artists you’ve never hear of. He was the co-founder of Blender Magazine which was sold to Dennis Publishing. Blender was the first digital publication to be included in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian and the Victoria & Albert Museums. Blender was named Ad Age magazine of the year. 

Hidden inside the Tommy Hilfiger Building in NYC, Pearson co-launched an interactive agency developing creative for clients including: Nike, Mercedes, Disney, Levi’s, Coke, and Apple. Blender and its sister publication, Maxim, were sold to Quadrangle Capital Partners. 

Pearson then moved to California and founded Online Giving, an innovative technology platform for nonprofits. Online Giving was successfully acquired by Starwire, a Sequoia Capital investment start-up. Pearson is the co-founder at Pearpod, a creative media company serving a mixture of clients. Jason is also an oil painter and exhibits his work in galleries and was also named one of “New York Magazine’s 60 Digital Visionaries” and also named to the “Samsung Braintrust.” He has won numerous creative awards, including the Gold One Club Award.

Today, Jason describes himself as a “Visual Engineer” and the founder of FiveHive Studios—a new entrepreneurial venture into artificial intelligence and film-making, “Innovating the way good stories are told.” Jason has worked on 80 Hollywood films. View his latest documentary film, "Spares: Second Chance Stories of Frozen Embryos." View the 20-minute film here (free).

Jason and his wife, Melinda, are the parents of John and Joanne Pearson's five favorite grandkids! He also was guest blogger for Song #2, "K.C. Loving" (aka Kansas City), and Song #40, "London Calling." Thank you, Jason!

NEXT UP:Watch for the “Johnny Be Good Guest Blogger Award Show” going live here on Feb. 9, 2025, Super Bowl Sunday!

VIEW THIS BONUS VIDEO REVIEW of the book, Losing Our Religion, with guest reviewers Jerry Butler and David Schmidt. Apparently, John Pearson needed their wisdom to sort out Russell Moore's take on "An Altar Call for Evangelical America." Read the short review here.

BONUS BOOK   Watch for John's review in 2025! A new paperback, published Dec. 5, 2023, with 58 more songs is available. To order from Amazon, click on the title for Anatomy of 55 More Songs: The Oral History of Top Hits That Changed Rock, Pop and Soul, by Marc Myers. ("New and expanded now with 58 songs!") Listen to the audio book on Libro (9 hours, 37 minutes).

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THE ORIGINAL BOOK AND THE BLOG!

It all started in 2023, when John Pearson read and reviewed a "fun" book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes).

And thanks to our guest bloggers, including John Ashmen, Dick Nelson, Suzy West, Dave Barton, Patsy Barton, Paul Palmer, Bill Butterworth, Jim West, Melinda Schmidt, Jason Pearson, Gary Rea, Callista Dawson, John Walling, Ed Barrett, Larry Beatty, Skye Matlock, Scott Anderson and others. 

Nick of Time

Issue No. 44 of Johnny Be Good features one of 45 songs from the book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John Pearson's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes). Each blog will spotlight a song from the book and a guest blogger’s color commentary. Click here to subscribe. Each issue of Your Weekly Staff Meeting will highlight the latest blog.

Bonnie Raitt’s Birthday Joke!

Today’s guest blogger: Dave Barton

Song: #44 of 45
Title: “Nick of Time”
Musician: Bonnie Raitt
Released: March 1989

I APPRECIATED THIS:
This song ushered Bonnie Raitt into the public eye where throngs of new fans discovered her extraordinary talent for both crafting a song and then personally delivering it to us via recording and performance.

Read more about the song in Marc Myers’ WSJ article, Feb. 23, 2016, “Bonnie Raitt’s Turning Point: ‘Nick of Time.’” The article notes, “‘Nick of Time’ was written out of an appreciation for newfound optimism.”


View the official video of “Nick of Time,” sung by Bonnie Raitt.

MY FAVORITE NOTES & QUOTES:
My favorite quote uttered by Bonnie Raitt is not found in this book. Several years ago, my wife and I were attending a concert featuring Bonnie at the legendary Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Mid-set, she announced that one of her guitar players was celebrating his 60th birthday that evening. She encouraged the crowd to honor him with applause, which was then followed by this proclamation: “Welcome to the deep end of the pool, baby!”

My wife took note of my great amusement and the following year when I hit the 6-0, she had this quote emblazed on the top of my cake!

The lyric in the song that stands out for me is where she addresses the topic of aging:
“I see my folks are getting on
and I watch their bodies change.
I know they see the same in me
and it makes us both feel strange.”

This topic may have been referenced in songs by other composers, but I find this lyric to be gentle and authentic. Touching.

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THIS SONG?
I don’t recall the first time that I heard this song or the album by the same name. What I can tell you is that I heard this song a lot! It quickly became one of my favorite CDs to play drums to. My neighbors probably wish that I had never discovered “Nick of Time.”

JOHNNY BE...GOOD, BETTER, OR BEST?
• GOOD: It was just plain good that the author decided to include this topic and chapter in his book.

• BETTER: The interview with Ms. Raitt includes some discussion of the snares that are part of the music industry landscape. Thankfully, she made a decision to embrace sobriety—which I hope was encouraging to readers facing the struggle of addiction.

• BEST: I loved reading how the song, “Nick of Time,” came to be. From the true-life stories that inspired the lyrics, to the humble equipment she used to self-record the demo. Imagine—the record would win Bonnie Raitt TWO Grammys in 1990! (Plus, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015!)

 
Dave Barton (pictured with his wife, Patsy—who was guest blogger for “Stand by Your Man”) enjoyed seeing Bonnie Raitt in person and appreciated her humor that ended up on a birthday cake that Patsy decorated!

THIS ISSUE'S COMMENTARY BY Dave Barton
DAVE BARTON had the good fortune of being a teenager in the 1960s and a young adult in the 1970s—when some of world’s best music was created. On most Sunday mornings, he can be found at his church, playing bass and trying to keep up with the worship band! (Dave was also our guest blogger for Song #13, “Groovin’.”)


NEXT UP: Our Final Song! Song #45 of 45, "Losing My Religion," by R.E.M., with color commentary by Jason Pearson. (And watch for the “Johnny Be Good Guest Blogger Award Show” going live here on Feb. 9, 2025, Super Bowl Sunday!)
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ENJOY THE BOOK AND THE BLOG!

It all started in 2023, when John Pearson read and reviewed a "fun" book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes).

And thanks to our guest bloggers, including John Ashmen, Dick Nelson, Suzy West, Dave Barton, Patsy Barton, Paul Palmer, Bill Butterworth, Jim West, Melinda Schmidt, Jason Pearson, Gary Rea, Callista Dawson, John Walling, Ed Barrett, Larry Beatty, Skye Matlock, Scott Anderson and others. Click here to subscribe to this blog and enjoy the toe-tapping musicians in each weekly blog post—reminding you of these iconic songs of yesteryear. 

Time After Time

Issue No. 43 of Johnny Be Good features one of 45 songs from the book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John Pearson's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes). Each blog will spotlight a song from the book and a guest blogger’s color commentary. Click here to subscribe. Each issue of Your Weekly Staff Meeting will highlight the latest blog.

“She embraced her quirkiness.”

Today’s guest blogger: Callista Dawson

Song: #43 of 45
Title: “Time After Time”
Musician: Cyndi Lauper
Released: January 1984

I APPRECIATED THIS:
Learning about the collaborative spirit behind “Time After Time” was truly fascinating! The chapter dives into how Rob Hyman crafted the music with Cyndi Lauper's voice specifically in mind. It goes far beyond a songwriter saying, "Hey, sing this melody!" Hyman envisioned a powerful, emotionally-charged vocal delivery, and Lauper absolutely delivered.

Witnessing this back-and-forth between songwriter and singer, where they shaped the lyrics together—to perfectly complement both the music and Lauper's unique style—that’s what makes this story so inspiring. It's a beautiful reminder of the magic that can happen when creative minds come together, pushing each other to new heights and creating something truly special.

This collaborative process isn't always sunshine and rainbows, but in the case of “Time After Time,” it resulted in a timeless pop anthem. The label of “timeless” can sometimes be frivolously applied, but in this instance, the truth stands. For a song to be embraced by multiple generations over multiple decades is the mark of musical genius. Based on my quick research, there are currently 177 songs that cover or sample this track!

Read more about the song in Marc Myers’ WSJ article, Dec. 1, 2015, “How Cyndi Lauper Wrote Her First No. 1 Hit, ‘Time After Time.’ The 1984 ballad appeared on the debut album ‘She’s So Unusual’ and later caught the attention of Miles Davis.”


View the official video of “Time After Time,” by Cyndi Lauper (more than 545 million views!). Callista Dawson notes, “No reflection on this song can be complete without also mentioning the AMAZING cover by Eva Cassidy.”

MY FAVORITE NOTES & QUOTES:
The stand-out moment in this chapter, for me, was when Marc Myers quoted Rob Hyman saying of Cyndi Lauper: “She wasn't afraid to be different. She embraced her quirkiness.”

This quote resonates with me. It's a great reminder to be yourself and not be afraid to stand out. It’s so tempting to imitate those you admire, especially if they are successful at what you are trying to do. It’s important to embrace what makes us unique. Otherwise, the world will fall into a boring state of sameness.

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THIS SONG?
“Time After Time” premiered three years before I was born, so I can’t fondly reflect on where I was or what I was doing when it first entered the zeitgeist. However, because of the fact that this song grew to become a timeless classic, I can say that it has been an ever-present component in the soundtrack of my life!

It has been included in many of my favorite films and TV shows. It has played on the radio repeatedly (in its original Cyndi version as well as the many covers and samples), and I even danced to it at MANY school dances throughout my adolescence (it truly is the perfect song for an awkward teenage slow dance).

JOHNNY BE...GOOD, BETTER, OR BEST?
• GOOD: "Time After Time" is undeniably catchy. The melody burrows into your brain, and Lauper's vocals are stunningly haunting. It's a song that will have you singing along even if you're initially resistant.

• BETTER: Beyond the catchy exterior lies a relatable story, a truth bomb many of us can identify with, making the song more than just a fun earworm. Personally, this aspect of the song stings because it so poetically reminds me of a painful relationship from my past that will always be a part of my story. (I’m sure many can empathize.)

• BEST: Released in 1984, it still resonates with listeners today. That staying power, combined with its infectious melody and relatable theme, elevates it above the vast ocean of music that has filled peoples’ hearts and the airwaves of the past century. It takes a product of genius to endure and inspire the way this song has.

Callista Dawson is also a singer/songwriter/musician. When not making music, she is the Learning Experience Design Manager at Los Angeles Pacific University.

THIS ISSUE'S COMMENTARY BY Callista Dawson
CALLISTA DAWSON writes, “As a singer/songwriter/musician myself, I have spent the majority of my life making music! My parents nurtured my musical gifting from a young age, and I have written and recorded many songs with my father, Edward Barrett (fellow guest blogger). I credit my dad with exposing me to many genres of music and ensuring that my musical knowledge was well-rounded.

Editor’s Note! Callista’s dad, Ed, is especially proud that his daughter has released a CD, “Arms Around You.” Ed wrote the lyrics and Callista wrote and arranged all the music. She also played the piano and sang all of the songs—and designed the CD cover. Listen to “Arms Around You” on YouTube. The CD is available on iTunes, CD Baby, and Spotify.

Visit Callista on Instagram here.


NEXT UP: Song #44 of 45, “Nick of Time,” by Bonnie Raitt, with color commentary by Dave Barton.
______________________

ENJOY THE BOOK AND THE BLOG!

It all started in 2023, when John Pearson read and reviewed a "fun" book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes).

And thanks to our guest bloggers, including John Ashmen, Dick Nelson, Suzy West, Dave Barton, Patsy Barton, Paul Palmer, Bill Butterworth, Jim West, Melinda Schmidt, Jason Pearson, Gary Rea, Callista Dawson, John Walling, Ed Barrett, Larry Beatty, Skye Matlock, Scott Anderson and others. Click here to subscribe to this blog and enjoy the toe-tapping musicians in each weekly blog post—reminding you of these iconic songs of yesteryear. 

Big City

Issue No. 42 of Johnny Be Good features one of 45 songs from the book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John Pearson's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes). Each blog will spotlight a song from the book and a guest blogger’s color commentary. Click here to subscribe. Each issue of Your Weekly Staff Meeting will highlight the latest blog.

Big Buck$ for Merle Haggard’s Tour Bus Driver!

Today’s blogger: John Pearson

Song: #42 of 45
Title: “Big City"
Musician: Merle Haggard
Released: January 1982

I APPRECIATED THIS:
Note: We're going off script for Song #42, because this may have been the chapter that prompted me to launch this "fun" idea of inviting friends and family to join me in this 45-song series. So...here's the story (from my original review of Anatomy of a Song) that pushed me over the edge. I've shared this "Big City" story dozens of times this year.

In 1981, Merle Haggard wrote and recorded the hit song, “Big City,” in less than an hour—thanks to the inspiration from his tour bus driver! Listen to the song.

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"Take that anger out on a piece of paper!"

Picture this! It was July 1981 and Merle Haggard (1937-2016), the legendary singer, guitarist, and songwriter, had just finished a marathon recording session with his band at Britannia Studios in Los Angeles. “I had just signed with Epic Records, and they wanted me and my band [the Strangers] to record twenty-three songs in forty-eight hours, giving them enough material for two albums.” 

No problem. Done! So while the band was packing up, Haggard returns to his bus in the parking lot to check on his lifelong friend, Dean Holloway, who was their bus driver. “For whatever reason, my timing was perfect: Dean was ticked off.”

“I hate this place. I’m tired of this dirty old city,” complained Dean.

But Merle Haggard, like any gifted songwriter, listened beyond the words and heard lyrics for a new song! “’Mr. Holloway’—that’s what I always called him—‘I can see you’re upset, but why don’t we take that anger out on a piece of paper.’ I climbed on board, and Dean handed me a pad and pen…”

So Haggard took Dean’s “dirty old city” line and the lyrics began to flow. He then told his friend, “I’m gonna run inside and record this thing before I forget the melody.” He inspired the band to set up again and record yet one more song. Back on the bus in less than an hour, Haggard played the tape of the finished song to Dean and told him, “This was your inspiration, so we’re splitting it down the middle.”

Click here to listen to “Big City” (Song No. 42 in the book), released in January 1982. It hit No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart. And according to Merle Haggard, Dean Holloway’s share of the royalties was (wait for it…) “a half-million dollars.”

NEXT UP: Song #43 of 45, “Time After Time,” by Cyndi Lauper, with commentary by Callista Dawson.
______________________

ENJOY THE BOOK AND THE BLOG!

It all started in 2023, when John Pearson read and reviewed a "fun" book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes).

And thanks to our guest bloggers, including John Ashmen, Dick Nelson, David K., Suzy West, Dave Barton, Patsy Barton, Paul Palmer, Bill Butterworth, Jim West, Melinda Schmidt, Jason Pearson, Gary Rea, Callista Dawson, John Walling, Ed Barrett, Larry Beatty, Skye Matlock, Scott Anderson and others. Click here to subscribe to this blog and enjoy the toe-tapping musicians in each weekly blog post—reminding you of these iconic songs of yesteryear. 

Brother John/Iko Iko

Issue No. 41 of Johnny Be Good features one of 45 songs from the book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John Pearson's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes). Each blog will spotlight a song from the book and a guest blogger’s color commentary. Click here to subscribe. Each issue of Your Weekly Staff Meeting will highlight the latest blog.

“A gumbo of musical influences, including Creole, funk, R&B, doo-wop and girl-group pop”

Today’s blogger: David K.

Song: #41 of 45
Title: “Brother John/Iko Iko”
Musicians: The Neville Brothers
Released: April 1981

I APPRECIATED THIS:
Let me begin by saying that the complete history of The Neville Brothers, and their entire family, will showcase the most diverse musical menu on the planet. (I know—that’s a bold statement, but it’s true.)

No other band in the land (see what I did there?!) has ever played or displayed (can’t help myself!) the rhythmic sophistication of The Neville Brothers. This requires a very unique syncopation—and The Neville Brothers have dramatically influenced other true musicians who feel the same rhythmic vibe.

I would add this: perhaps they don’t have as much “public” appeal as they have musicians appeal. Example: One of my all-time favorite songs of this nature is “Rock n Roll Doctor” by Little Feat, written by the late great Lowell George himself.

I appreciated this chapter by Marc Myers which details how the two songs came together to form “Brother John/Iko Iko,” and what they meant down in New Orleans—the home of Mardi Gras and the Indian “tribes” that were formed in New Orlean’s black neighborhoods to “pay homage to Native Americans and create an alternate Carnival celebration.”

Read more about the song in Marc Myers’ WSJ article, April 21, 2015, The Neville Brothers’ Tribute to ‘Scar John.’ The quartet’s hit, ‘Brother John/Iko Iko’ is a gumbo of musical influences, including Creole, funk, R&B, doo-wop and girl-group pop. It’s also a tribute to a musician friend.”


View the video of “Brother John/Iko Iko” from the album, “The Best of The Neville Brothers.”

MY FAVORITE NOTES & QUOTES:
“Like most songs born in New Orleans, ‘Brother John/Iko Iko’ is a gumbo of musical influences, including Creole, funk, R&B, doo-wop and girl-group pop.”

JOHNNY BE...GOOD, BETTER, OR BEST?
• GOOD: Cyril Neville (one of the four Neville brothers) tells Marc Myers that as a child, he was curious about the Mardi Gras Indians. “From the time I was 6, I always carried with me a paperback dictionary, pencil and paper. My mother insisted I learn to read early, so I wouldn’t stumble into death. Down in New Orleans in the ’50s, if you drank from the wrong fountain because you couldn’t read the sign that said ‘Whites Only,’ you could wind up beaten or dead.”

• BETTER: Art Neville tells about the four brothers singing backup harmony on “The Wild Tchoupitoulas”—their Uncle Jolly’s album. “It was named after his tribe and featured Mardi Gras Indian call-and-response chants.”

 • BEST: Aaron Neville notes, “I sang high harmony on the recording, while Art and Charles sang the lower notes and Cyril sang the lead. I loved singing the high notes. I’d listen to Art and Charles to make sure we sang the notes together and that I blended in. I was part of the group. That’s what has always fascinated me about doo-wop—the harmony and falsetto.”

Today's blogger, David K., talked about how The Neville Brothers and other New Orleans musicians influenced each other. David also appreciates Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, and the female vocal group, The Dixie Cups.

THIS ISSUE'S COMMENTARY BY David K.
TODAY’S GUEST BLOGGER, David K., says that early on his father noticed his musical gifts—and encouraged them. So he learned to play the piano, drums, and guitar. He also sang in a band. His easy recall of artists from the 1960s and 1970s is amazing.

Today, David K. enjoys kicking back and strumming his two guitars, an Alvarez Yairi, and his Takamine (pictured). He appreciates a wide range of musical styles (“Everything!”) and especially enjoys “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” and “The Coffee House” channels on Sirius XM.

Read his review here on Song #3, “Shout,” by the Isley Brothers. Also Song #5, "Runaround Sue," by Dion DiMucci, and Song #30, "The Harder They Come,” by Jimmy Cliff.

 

NEXT UP: Song #42 of 45, “Big City,” by Merle Haggard
______________________

ENJOY THE BOOK AND THE BLOG!

It all started in 2023, when John Pearson read and reviewed a "fun" book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes).

And thanks to our guest bloggers, including John Ashmen, Dick Nelson, David K., Suzy West, Dave Barton, Patsy Barton, Paul Palmer, Bill Butterworth, Jim West, Melinda Schmidt, Jason Pearson, Gary Rea, Callista Dawson, John Walling, Ed Barrett, Larry Beatty, Skye Matlock, Scott Anderson and others. Click here to subscribe to this blog and enjoy the toe-tapping musicians in each weekly blog post—reminding you of these iconic songs of yesteryear. 

London Calling

Issue No. 40 of Johnny Be Good features one of 45 songs from the book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John Pearson's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes). Each blog will spotlight a song from the book and a guest blogger’s color commentary. Click here to subscribe. Each issue of Your Weekly Staff Meeting will highlight the latest blog.

A Psalm 40 Call for Help!

Today’s blogger: Jason Pearson

Song: #40 of 45
Title: “London Calling"
Musicians: The Clash
Released: December 1979

MY FAVORITE NOTES & QUOTES:
"If you ain't thinkin' about man and God and law, then you ain't thinkin' about nothin'," Joe Strummer once proclaimed, setting the stage for The Clash's masterpiece, "London Calling"—ranked #15 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.


View the video of “London Calling,” by The Clash.

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THIS SONG?
When the track was released in 1979, I was a 9-year-old immersed in Christian rock, with Petra, The Imperials, and Amy Grant dominating my playlist. It would take another eight years before The Clash's urgent call would become the soundtrack to my mixtape for teenage angst.

Years later, as founder of Blender magazine in New York City, I witnessed over 2,500 live performances. While I never saw Strummer himself perform (he died in 2002), I had the privilege of seeing other Clash members live. I also interviewed founder Mick Jones.

I APPRECIATED THIS:

The song's genesis, in North London's converted St. Augustine's Church, seems prophetic given its biblical undertones.

"London is drowning/And I live by the river" wasn't just about the Thames potentially flooding central London (a fear that prompted the Thames Barrier's construction). The flood served as a powerful metaphor for societal collapse: police brutality, Cold War tensions, environmental catastrophes, and heroin addiction.

The biblical resonance grows stronger with the parallel to Noah's flood—where "there was no one righteous, not even one." The song's title cleverly references the BBC World Service's WWII identification: "This is London calling..."

Joe Strummer (1952-2002) was the lead singer and his own words reveal a deep vulnerability: "We felt that we were struggling about to slip down a slope or something, grasping with our fingernails. And there was no one there to help us." The desperation echoes Psalm 40's cry for divine rescue.

Unlike John Lennon's famous "more popular than Jesus" declaration, The Clash rejected messianic status with this:

"Now don't look to us
Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust."

They created culture-changing art while openly acknowledging their flaws—drug abuse, personal conflicts, and classic rock 'n' roll excess.

The song's finale features an S.O.S. in Morse code, a final desperate plea fading into silence.

The album cover, designed by Ray Lowry as an homage to Elvis Presley's debut, captures bassist Paul Simonon destroying his coveted Fender Precision Bass at New York's Palladium on Sept. 20, 1979, after bouncers wouldn't let the audience stand up during the show.

This image of controlled chaos, described by Q magazine as "the ultimate rock 'n' roll moment," was later immortalized both as a Banksy mural on cubicle rage and also on a UK postage stamp—perhaps the ultimate irony for a counter-cultural masterpiece.

The bass guitar, permanently scarred from that moment of rebellion, now rests in the Museum of London—a fitting testament to how even the most anti-establishment art can become sacred artifact.

Read more about the song in Scott Timberg’s Nov. 1, 2016, interview with Marc Myers for Salon: “Why ‘London Calling’ matters: ‘It’s incredibly in touch and ahead of its time for British punk.’ Salon speaks to the author of Anatomy of Song about The Clash's great song and the band's famous album cover.” The song, “London Calling” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.

THIS ISSUE'S COMMENTARY BY Jason Pearson

Our guest blogger, Jason Pearson, was recently interviewed about his documentary film, "Spares: Second Chance Stories of Frozen Embryos." View the 20-minute film here (free).

JASON PEARSON cut his teeth in the music industry creating album art for David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Aphex Twin, Gil Scott-Heron, and a bunch of artists you’ve never hear of. He was the co-founder of Blender Magazine which was sold to Dennis Publishing. Blender was the first digital publication to be included in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian and the Victoria & Albert Museums. Blender was named Ad Age magazine of the year. 

Hidden inside the Tommy Hilfiger Building in NYC, Pearson co-launched an interactive agency developing creative for clients including: Nike, Mercedes, Disney, Levi’s, Coke, and Apple. Blender and its sister publication, Maxim, were sold to Quadrangle Capital Partners. 

Pearson then moved to California and founded Online Giving, an innovative technology platform for nonprofits. Online Giving was successfully acquired by Starwire, a Sequoia Capital investment start-up. Pearson is the co-founder at Pearpod, a creative media company serving a mixture of clients. Jason is also an oil painter and exhibits his work in galleries and was also named one of “New York Magazine’s 60 Digital Visionaries” and also named to the “Samsung Braintrust.” He has won numerous creative awards, including the Gold One Club Award.

Today, Jason describes himself as a “Visual Engineer” and the founder of FiveHive Studios—a new entrepreneurial venture into artificial intelligence and film-making, “Innovating the way good stories are told.” Jason has worked on 80 Hollywood films. View his latest documentary film, "Spares: Second Chance Stories of Frozen Embryos." View the 20-minute film here (free).

Jason and his wife, Melinda, are the parents of John and Joanne Pearson's five favorite grandkids! He also was guest blogger for Song #2, "K.C. Loving" (aka Kansas City). Thank you, Jason!

NEXT UP: Song #41 of 45, “Brother John/Iko Iko,” by the Neville Brothers
______________________

ENJOY THE BOOK AND THE BLOG!

It all started in 2023, when John Pearson read and reviewed a "fun" book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes).

John is grateful to our guest bloggers: John Ashmen, Dick Nelson, Suzy West, Dave Barton, Patsy Barton, Paul Palmer, Bill Butterworth, Jim West, Melinda Schmidt, Jason Pearson, Gary Rea, Callista Dawson, John Walling, Ed Barrett, Larry Beatty, Skye Matlock, Scott Anderson and others we have forgotten to mention here! Click here to subscribe to this blog and enjoy the toe-tapping musicians in each weekly blog post—reminding you of these iconic songs of yesteryear. 

Another Brick in the Wall

Issue No. 39 of Johnny Be Good features one of 45 songs from the book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John Pearson's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes). Each blog will spotlight a song from the book and a guest blogger’s color commentary. Click here to subscribe. Each issue of Your Weekly Staff Meeting will highlight the latest blog.

A Metaphor for the Misinformed!

Today’s blogger: John Pearson

Song: #39 of 45
Title: “Another Brick in the Wall”
Musicians: Pink Floyd
Released: November 1979

I APPRECIATED THIS:
Wow. I wish I had known the heart and soul and context of this song when I first heard it. If all you can remember is “We don’t need no education/We don’t need no thought control,” then you’ve missed the big idea.

Example: Did you know that “Another Brick in the Wall” was one of 26 songs in The Wall—an anti-tyranny rock opera? The opera “explored parental abandonment and teacher harassment, as well as the emotional isolation and breakdowns they produced.” The song is actually “Brick 2” of four versions created. The four-minute “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” hit the top of Billboard’s pop chart in March 1980.

Read more about the song in Marc Myers’ WSJ article, Sept. 21, 2015, “Roger Waters on ‘Another Brick in the Wall.’ Roger Waters discusses the making of ‘Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2.’” The album, The Wall, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.


View the video of “Another Brick in the Wall,” by Pink Floyd. The video was remastered in 2019 from the Pink Floyd concert video taken from the October 20, 1994, concert at Earls Court, London, England, in “The Division Bell Tour.” (More than 100 million views!) P.S. Note the “Trump Dance!”

MY FAVORITE NOTES & QUOTES:
Roger Waters (now 81) was the cofounder of Pink Floyd and the lead singer, songwriter, and bassist. Marc Myers notes that the song “has long been viewed as an anti-education mantra, a mischaracterization that still rattles Roger Waters.”

Waters: “How easy it is for people to misinterpret stuff when they don’t bother to actually think about what they’re hearing and seeing.” Oh, my. Imagine if Waters could have “educated” the misinformed via social media and cable TV back then!

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THIS SONG?
In November 1979, I was just beginning my first of 11 years as executive director of Christian Camping/USA (now CCCA) in Illinois. At the time, we had a main office and large property in Sandwich, Ill., and an auxiliary office in Wheaton, Ill., so I had lots of commuting time to listen to the radio. While I had two brothers-in-law in the record business, I tended to listen to talk radio on Chicago’s WGN Radio 720, but occasionally I’d venture over to WLS-FM to stay in touch with the culture.

I certainly remember the song’s chant, “We don’t need no education.” But I clearly didn’t understand this song—or appreciate it—until I read Chapter 39 in this fascinating book by Marc Myers.

JOHNNY BE...GOOD, BETTER, OR BEST?
• GOOD: Referencing the earlier multimedia rock performances (Andy Warhol in 1966, plus David Bowie, Alice Cooper, KISS, and others), Marc Myers writes that “…all would pale in comparison with the art-rock extravaganzas staged by Pink Floyd, which pioneered special effects at live rock shows."

• BETTER: “Such staging would reach a high point with Pink Floyd’s concert tour for The Wall in 1980 and ’81. The staging included a 160-foot-long 35-foot-high wall made from 340 giant lightweight ‘bricks’ erected between the audience and the band during the first half of the show.” (This chapter is amazing—but I should have asked “Production Guy” to write this blog post!)

 • BEST: The idea for the brick wall—and the entire rock opera—came to Roger Waters in 1977 during a Pink Floyd tour. A rowdy and rude audience disrupted the concert. When an “over-enthusiastic punter tried to scale the barriers at the front of the stage,” Waters spat in his face!

Thus the big idea: “a huge theatrical brick wall would be erected between the band and the audience to express the alienation between those in the seats and what we were trying to do. As I thought about the idea, the wall became a metaphor for some of the mechanisms people and institutions use to keep the rest of us under their control and dictate how our lives should be led—without seeming conspiracy-theory about everything.”

THIS ISSUE'S COMMENTARY BY John Pearson

LOL! Here is AI's first try at a teenaged trumpet trio, circa 1964! (Note the brick wall, as in "Another Brick in the Wall.")

JOHN PEARSON has always appreciated good music—and numerous musical genres. His father had trained in Sweden to be a concert pianist, but settled for part-time church organist. Growing up with his four musical brothers (clarinet, saxophone, and trumpet), John pounded away on the baby grand piano in their home in Seattle. He learned to play the piano by ear (albeit badly)—and also joined his three older bass-singing brothers in the backrow of the church choir.

In his college years, John was the Sunday morning and Sunday evening “song leader” at his church and also directed the church choir for a year or two. He was also the least accomplished player in his church youth group’s trumpet trio. (And it did not sound like this!)

These days, he begins his morning by listening to a hymn on YouTube—based on the hymn-of-the-day from a favorite book, The One Year® Book of Hymns: 365 Devotions Based on Popular Hymns. (Read John’s review.) Listen to today’s hymn, “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People.”

NEXT UP: Song #40 of 45, “London Calling,” by The Clash
______________________

ENJOY THE BOOK AND THE BLOG!

It all started in 2023, when John Pearson read and reviewed a "fun" book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes).

John is grateful to our guest bloggers: John Ashmen, Dick Nelson, Suzy West, Dave Barton, Patsy Barton, Paul Palmer, Bill Butterworth, Jim West, Melinda Schmidt, Jason Pearson, Gary Rea, Callista Dawson, John Walling, Ed Barrett, Larry Beatty, Skye Matlock, Scott Anderson and others we have forgotten to mention here! Click here to subscribe to this blog and enjoy the toe-tapping musicians in each weekly blog post—reminding you of these iconic songs of yesteryear. 

Heart of Glass

Issue No. 38 of Johnny Be Good features one of 45 songs from the book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John Pearson's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes). Each blog will spotlight a song from the book and a guest blogger’s color commentary. Click here to subscribe. Each issue of Your Weekly Staff Meeting will highlight the latest blog.

The First Digital Reverb Machine!

Today’s guest blogger: “Production Guy”

Song: #38 of 45
Title: “Heart of Glass"
Musicians: Blondie
Released: January 1979

Editor’s Note: Today’s guest blogger prefers to remain anonymous. This is his fourth blog. (Read his commentaries on “You Really Got Me,” “White Rabbit,” and “Love's in Need of Love Today.”)

I APPRECIATED THIS:
I asked Pearson if I could (please, please, please…) write this color commentary also. His response: “OK, but make it short!” Here’s what I appreciated:

Michael Chapman, who produced the record, tells Marc Myers about the nitty-gritty of the production side. He goes deep (maybe even into the studio’s sub-basement!). Of all 45 chapters in Myers’ book, I think I enjoyed this one the most. It’s got it all:
   • 24-track recorder
   • Roland drum machine
   • Falsetto vocal
   • A disco/dance feel
   • Two EMT 250s, the first digital reverb machine (look it up!)
   • And a Minimoog!

Read more about the song in Marc Myers’ WSJ article, March 3, 2015, “How Blondie Created ‘Heart of Glass.’ Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Chris Stein talk about ‘Heart of Glass.’” The single was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016.

Listen to “Heart of Glass,” by Blondie. Note: The original title was “Once I Had A Love (AKA The Disco Song).” This is the 1975 version, which was remastered in 2001.

MY FAVORITE NOTES & QUOTES:
Record producer Michael Chapman tells Marc Myers, “We went into New York’s Record Plant in June 1978, but the sound I wanted turned out to be a Pandora’s box of nightmares. The first step was to get the tempo right. I had this Roland drum machine that I wanted to use in sync with Clem Burke’s drums. You hear the machine on the opening. To provide Clem with a track guide, I recorded the vocal in falsetto. After we had the kick drum pounding, I changed the arrangement so it would skip a beat along the way, to give it a dance feel. I had to get the Roland to skip the beat at the same time.” (Must-read: the whole interview with Chapman!)

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THIS SONG?
In January 1979, I was a senior in high school and while I wasn’t a big fan of disco (or John Travolta), I was intrigued by the various sounds that this new wave of electronic music produced. (Remember—I’m a production guy. Although I still can’t get the program team at my church to experiment with these phenomenal machines!)

Interesting factoid: the word "disco" comes from the Italian word “discotheque, which means "record collection" or "record library." (Altogether now, let’s jive on “Stayin’ Alive.”)

JOHNNY BE...GOOD, BETTER, OR BEST?
• GOOD: Chapman tells Marc Myers, “I cleared the studio so it was just Debbie in the middle of the room alone with her headset on and me in the control booth. She sang three or four takes. Her pitch was beautiful and expressive, so you hear every aspect of her personality. But after listening back, I thought we should overdub Debbie singing a background vocal in places.”  

• BETTER: “To illustrate what I wanted, I came in early the next day and had my engineer, Peter Coleman, record me singing the background track. When Debbie arrived, I played it for her with her lead vocal. She thought it sounded great and wanted me to leave it. So I’m singing background on the record.”

 • BEST: Debbie Harry tells Marc Myers: “I think many people connect with the sense of loss or sadness that’s underneath the song. They also connect with the melody’s descending scale, sort of an ‘Ahhh, yeah, oh well,’ like a musical sigh. A lot of people have things like that feeling in their lives.”

THIS ISSUE'S COMMENTARY BY “Production Guy”

PHOTO: Our guest blogger, aka “Production Guy,” gets a little carried away on this blog—and seems to favor machinery over music. He recommends you view this 6-minute video of “The World’s FIRST Digital Reverb: EMT 250.” (Really. He loves this stuff!)

TODAY’S GUEST BLOGGER, (aka “Production Guy”) serves part-time on the production team at his church—setting up for services (he labels his work, “lights, camera, action”). He’s not a professional musician but understands the production side—and absolutely loved the “inside-the-studio” look and feel of this chapter. He told us he writes these guest blogs incognito “because I love this book and, I guess, it’s a creative outlet for me—since they don’t let me ‘on stage’ during church services.”

NEXT UP: Song #39 of 45, “Another Brick in the Wall,” by Pink Floyd
______________________

GUEST BLOGGERS INVITED!

It all started in 2023, when John Pearson read and reviewed a "fun" book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes).

If you'd enjoy being one of 45 guest bloggers, along with John Ashmen, Dick Nelson, Suzy West, Dave Barton, Patsy Barton, Paul Palmer, Bill Butterworth, Jim West, Melinda Schmidt, Jason Pearson, Gary Rea, Callista Dawson, John Walling, Ed Barrett, Larry Beatty, Skye Matlock, Scott Anderson and others, read more here and contact John Pearson. Click here to subscribe to this blog and enjoy the toe-tapping musicians in each weekly blog post—reminding you of these iconic songs of yesteryear. 

(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes

Issue No. 37 of Johnny Be Good features one of 45 songs from the book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John Pearson's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes). Each blog will spotlight a song from the book and a guest blogger’s color commentary. Click here to subscribe. Each issue of Your Weekly Staff Meeting will highlight the latest blog.

Written in 10 Minutes!

Today’s blogger: John Pearson

Song: #37 of 45
Title: “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes”
Musicians: Elvis Costello
Released: November 1977

I APPRECIATED THIS:
No one had heard of Elvis Costello (at age 22)—yet he still leveraged his songwriting giftedness and cranked out this song in just 10 minutes! In this chapter, he describes taking a train “on holiday” from London to Liverpool to visit his mother. At the time, in mid-1976, he worked as a computer operator for Elizabeth Arden, the cosmetics company.

He tells Marc Myers, “As the train pulled out of Runcorn [the last stop before his destination], I began to write. The idea for ‘Red Shoes’ came to me fully formed, with the song’s summarizing chorus line—'the angels wanna wear my red shoes’—appearing first. So in the minutes that followed, I worked backward from the chorus line on the rest of the lyrics. I could write snappy lines like ‘Oh I used to be disgusted / and now I try to be amused’ in my sleep, but it perplexed me a little to be suddenly writing this song about mortality at only 22.”

The chapter is a must-read—especially about the creative process on song writing. “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” is featured in the album, “My Aim is True.” The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.

Read more about the song in Marc Myers’ WSJ article, Nov. 17, 2015, “How Elvis Costello Created ‘Red Shoes.’ Before he became a recording artist, Elvis Costello wrote ‘Red Shoes’ on a train to Liverpool in 1976.”


Listen to “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” sung by Elvis Costello.

MY FAVORITE NOTES & QUOTES:
Costello did not have a tape recorder with him on the train. “As I walked through the Liverpool Lime Street station to find a cab, I must have looked deranged. I was muttering and singing the song to myself over and over, trying to block out noise and distractions. Fortunately, the cab ride was quiet. The driver wasn’t playing the radio or eager to talk.

“When I arrived at my mother’s house, I shouted a brief hello and rushed upstairs to my old room. I pulled out my old Spanish guitar and tuned the steel strings carefully, since I didn’t have spares if these snapped. I also didn’t have a tape recorder to capture what I was playing. By playing it over and over, I had it down.”

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THIS SONG?
(I know. You’re not gonna believe this.) I had only heard of Elvis Costello—and didn't know his music. I wondered why he would use the first name of The King of Rock and Roll? But when reading this book in 2023, I found this chapter fascinating—and immediately said, “Alexa…play ‘(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes.'” (Note: Elvis Costello's given name is Declan Patrick MacManus and he is now 70.)

JOHNNY BE...GOOD, BETTER, OR BEST?
• GOOD: “We recorded ‘Red Shoes’ and the rest of ‘My Aim Is True’ in late 1976 and early ’77 at Pathway Studios in London. Nick Lowe produced. The studio was a small space with an 8-track board and a bit of magic in the sound. The beauty of that studio is you didn’t have room to overcomplicate your ideas. I was right on top of the music, which meant I couldn’t get further away from anyone else or myself to gain perspective on what was going on.” 

• BETTER: “John Ciambotti, Clover’s bassist, referred to ‘Red Shoes’ as ‘the song that sounds like the Byrds.’ I said to myself, ‘Well, OK, if it sounds like the Byrds, that’s a good thing.’”

 • BEST: “Today, I start most of my concerts with ‘Red Shoes.’ I always want a strong starting point. My shows open with a reel of my music videos on a large screen. I figure no one else is going to show them, so why not me. But today, they look like Buster Keaton films. So much time has passed.”

THIS ISSUE'S COMMENTARY BY John Pearson

This is not John Pearson, but if he had lived in London in 1976, maybe he could have been on that train and watched Elvis Costello write a song in 10 minutes—just before they arrived in Liverpool! (Yes. 10 Minutes!)

TODAY’S BLOGGER, John Pearson, writes these blogs only when his friends and family keep saying “too busy” or “not my musical style.” By John’s count, there are eight more blogs in this 45-song blog series and he plans to wrap up this musical celebration by New Year’s Eve 2024. (Watch for the announcement of the Big Finale!)

NEXT UP: Song #38 of 45, “Heart of Glass,” by Blondie.
______________________

GUEST BLOGGERS INVITED!

It all started in 2023, when John Pearson read and reviewed a "fun" book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes).

If you'd enjoy being one of 45 guest bloggers, along with John Ashmen, Dick Nelson, Suzy West, Dave Barton, Patsy Barton, Paul Palmer, Bill Butterworth, Jim West, Melinda Schmidt, Jason Pearson, Gary Rea, Callista Dawson, John Walling, Ed Barrett, Larry Beatty, Skye Matlock, Scott Anderson and others, read more here and contact John Pearson. Click here to subscribe to this blog and enjoy the toe-tapping musicians in each weekly blog post—reminding you of these iconic songs of yesteryear. 

Deacon Blues

Issue No. 36 of Johnny Be Good features one of 45 songs from the book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John Pearson's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes). Each blog will spotlight a song from the book and a guest blogger’s color commentary. Click here to subscribe. Each issue of Your Weekly Staff Meeting will highlight the latest blog.

“Deacon Blues” & The Prodigal Son

Today’s guest blogger: Skye Matlock

Song: #36 of 45
Title: “Deacon Blues"
Musicians: Steely Dan
Released: September 1977

I APPRECIATED THIS:
Steely Dan writers Donald Fagen and Walter Becker painting the picture of Deacon Blues' birth—walking the reader through each step of creation without saying too much—is what made this chapter so impactful. I thought I knew this song better than the back of my hand before diving into the lyrical choices that were made!

Read more about the song in Marc Myers’ WSJ article, Sept. 10, 2015, “How Steely Dan Created ‘Deacon Blues.’ Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan explain the 1977 hit ‘Deacon Blues.’”

Listen to “Deacon Blues” sung by Steely Dan.

MY FAVORITE NOTES & QUOTES:
In this chapter, the last statement Donald Fagen made is a major reason why I admire Steely Dan as much as I do. He tells Marc Myers, "One thing we did right on 'Deacon Blues' and all of our records: We never tried to accommodate the mass market. We worked for ourselves and still do."

They wrote for the critics, not necessarily for the general masses, and that level of exclusivity adds to their sound.

“Deacon Blues” reminds me a lot of The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). The protagonist in the song dreams of a more glamorous life, despite societal norms and expectations. The prodigal son similarly seeks fulfillment away from his father's house. Both narratives share a theme of finding a form of redemption of acceptance, although the members of Steely Dan may not have had that intention based on the inspiration they shared in Marc Myers' book.

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THIS SONG?
Trying to remember the first time I heard this song is a challenge, as it feels like it has always been imbedded in my DNA! During my freshman year of college, I had made it a point to get as far into Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" as I could.

As soon as Steely Dan's “Aja” (ranked 63 by Rolling Stone) was next for me to cross off the list, I equipped my headphones atop my dorm room's twin bed. First came “Black Cow,” then “Aja”—and my jaw was still on the floor by the time I made it to track 3, “Deacon Blues.”

THIS ISSUE'S COMMENTARY BY Skye Matlock

TODAY’S GUEST BLOGGER, Skye Matlock, is a Texas-born-and-raised musician currently residing in New York City! Her passion for the arts led her to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design, where all of her artistic loves were being fed except for one—music.

After a few years of playing with a network of musicians on the internet, Skye married her love of lyrics and bass riffs and now performs her original music across New York in a garage rock trio under her own name. Her music abstractly explores the difficulties of being a Christian in a secular society, a theme that has become a regular part of her day-to-day.

Check out her debut album here!

NEXT UP: Song #37 of 45, “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes," by Elvis Costello
______________________

GUEST BLOGGERS INVITED!

It all started in 2023, when John Pearson read and reviewed a "fun" book, Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits That Changed Rock, R&B and Pop, by Marc Myers. Read John's review here. Order from Amazon here. Listen to the book on Libro (9 hours, 34 minutes).

If you'd enjoy being one of 45 guest bloggers, along with John Ashmen, Dick Nelson, Suzy West, Dave Barton, Patsy Barton, Paul Palmer, Bill Butterworth, Jim West, Melinda Schmidt, Jason Pearson, Gary Rea, Callista Dawson, John Walling, Ed Barrett, Larry Beatty, Skye Matlock, Scott Anderson and others, read more here and contact John Pearson. Click here to subscribe to this blog and enjoy the toe-tapping musicians in each weekly blog post—reminding you of these iconic songs of yesteryear.