5 on Friday -- Set 306

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

My friend Shawna Romkey's final book in her Speak of the Devil series released this week. To celebrate, here are five songs that give a nod to the devil.

The Devil You Know

"Holy Hell! 

After battling her way back from Hell only to discover Luc didn't make it out, Lily must rally the angels to descend back into the Devil's domain. Now she has thirty days to rescue her angelic warrior boyfriend and break the curse to free God before Lucifer and his demon army destroy all of humanity on Earth. Forget passing the eleventh grade. Lily must face the ultimate final exam to give the Devil his due and save the world before the reapers catch up and deliver the death she cheated from them a year ago." -- Shawna Romkey

1 - Devil Inside - INXS 

2 - Sympathy For the Devil - The Rolling Stones 

3 - Running With the Devil - Van Halen 

4 - Highway to Hell - AC/DC 

5 - The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden 

If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

5 on Friday -- Set 305

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

After being on a medical leave that lasted for one year and three weeks, I'm just finishing up my final week with Wednesdays as a mid-week buffer. Next week my Wednesdays will move to half days, and by March I'll be back to full time hours.

I've been extremely grateful for this ease-back return-to-work schedule, as I'm managing three separate but connected conditions: multiple chemical sensitivities (which were the most pressing problem at the time my medical leave began,) chronic pain and chronic fatigue.

I've been careful to get loads of rest as I built up my stamina for the work week, while at the same time changing what I do with my break time, which now includes going for a walk away from my desk.

So far, so good!

Even though last weekend was a long weekend, I find I'm much more in the mood to celebrate this Friday. 

1 - New Sensation - INXS 

2 - Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me) - Rod Stewart 

3 - Let's Go! - The Cars 

4 - Roller - April Wine 

5 - The Song Remains the Same - Led Zeppelin 

If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

5 on Friday -- Set 304

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

Heading into Valentine's Day weekend, here are five songs about the course of true love from the Great White North.

Wishing you a romantic Valentine's Day!

1 - Lovin You Ain't Easy - Michel Pagliaro 

2 - Pretty Lady - Lighthouse 

3 - I'm on Fire You, Baby - April Wine 

4 - Try - Blue Rodeo 

5 - In Perfect Dreams - k d lang 

If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

5 on Friday -- Set 303

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

Time for my once-a-month project for 2016.

This year I'll be focusing on Songwriters. Check back on the first Friday of each month as I take a look at the work of artists whose creative voices are most often brought to us through the performances of others.

February belongs to Burt Bacharach. 

Along with his longtime lyricist Hal David, Bacharach is responsible for so many of my favorite love songs that I simply had to turn the month for valentines over to him.

Nine years ago, on February 5th, 2007 I posted my very first blog post here at A Piece of My Mind. Crazy to think that next year I'll be celebrating an entire decade of blogging.

And now, it's over to you Burt Bacharach.

1 - The Look of Love -Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 - 1968

This one is simply it for me. The song itself and this version of it. 

2 - Baby, It's You - The Beatles -1963

If you're going to spend the rest of your career writing legendary songs, you might as well cover a songwriting giant like Bacharach on your debut album. This song's lyrics were written by Luther Dixon and Mack David.

3 - Walk on By - Dionne Warwick - 1964

What's a love song set without a little heartache?

4 - What's New, Pussycat? - Tom Jones - 1965

Is it me, or did it just get a little hotter in here?

5 - This Guy's in Love With You - Herb Alpert - 1968

It's probably not very fair to follow Tom Jones' powerful voice with Herb Alpert's, but the unaffected delivery of this song is a huge part of its charm for me. I just adore the fact that this love song compelled a trumpet player to become a singer. That's the power of the Bacharach/David one-two punch. 

If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.