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.

5 on Friday -- Set 302

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

Supernatural is one of my favorite shows -- if not my very favorite. The first episode airing after the winter break featured Lucifer dancing to Heaven Must be Missing an Angel, which has led to this week's disco throwback set.

Happy Friday!

1 - Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel - Tavares 

2 - You Make Me Feel Mighty Real - Sylvester 

3 - Got to Give it Up, Part 1 - Marvin Gaye

4 - Get Down Tonight - KC and The Sunshine Band

  

5 - I Feel Love - Donna Summer 

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 301

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

...and sending out a Big Time Birthday Hug to my musical partner in crime, Mike Golch -- the other remaining 5 on Friday blogger!

Photo by Jean-Luc Ourlin

To mark the passing of David Bowie on January 10th at age 69, A Piece of My Mind salutes a musical giant with this week's set.  

1 - Ziggy Stardust - 1972

I'm going to go out on a limb -- considering his extensive musical catalogue -- but the opening chords of Ziggy Stardust can be considered to be Bowie's musical signature.

2 - Moonage Daydream - 1972

Like many people, I adored the inclusion of Moonage Daydream on the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack. Although I loved the whole soundtrack playlist, I always found myself starting with David Bowie's track and then hitting replay over and over. 

3 - Golden Years - 1975

Once again, this track was used in a film soundtrack in the anachronistic A Knight's Tale, where Heath Ledger and the rest of the medival court danced to the strains of David Bowie in their 15th century costumes. A perfect Bowie-esque touch.

4 - Blue Jean - 1984

David Bowie showcases his considerable vocal range in this track. He was easily able to scale between nearly four octaves -- one octave containing eight notes (remember The Sound of Music and Do Re Me Fa So La Ti Do) -- and was in the same pop-music range as Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant and Muse's Matt Bellamy. Strangely enough, two more of my favorites.   

5 - This is Not America - Pat Metheny featuring David Bowie - 1985

Okay, maybe he does more vocal gymnastics on this track. Considering he's performing alongside jazz fusion heavyweight Pat Metheny -- another favorite of mine! -- I'm sure he welcomed stretching his musical chops.  

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 300!

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

Well, here we are at set 300. Seriously, who'd a thunk it?

I hit my 100th set on December 30, 2011  -- Set 100

I hit my 200th set on December 6, 2013  -- Set 200

Time to celebrate! Once again, I'd like to thank all of you for dropping in on Fridays to have a listen.     

1 - I'm Happy Just to Dance With You - The Beatles

2 - Dancing in the Street - David Bowie and Mick Jagger

I'll be posting a Bowie set next week to honor the passing of a music giant.

3 - Just Dance - Lady Gaga

4 - Dance to the Music - Sly and the Family Stone

5 - You Should Be Dancing - The BeeGees

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.