Monday, July 7, 2025: Johnny Thunder - I'm Alive

"Everyone I've talked to, I've asked them if they've heard that record. It was one of the most powerful records I've ever heard." - Bob Dylan, November 1969, The Rolling Stone Interview.

Johnny Thunder (real name Gil Hamilton) was an American soul and R&B singer, active mostly in the 1960s. He’s best remembered for I’m Alive, a single that’s often considered a cult classic of the 1960s pop-soul era. I’m Alive was written by Tommy James, of Tommy James & the Shondells fame. In fact, Tommy James originally wrote I’m Alive for his own band but passed it along to Johnny Thunder instead.

I’m Alive is a punchy, upbeat soul record with a powerful, defiant vocal performance. It combines garage rock energy with soul swagger — very much in line with the late-1960s crossover vibe.

The song was a modest hit in the U.S. and had more enduring popularity in the UK’s Northern Soul scene — where dancers and collectors revived many overlooked American soul singles for club play.

It's a perfect song to shout out to on a Monday morning. Shout it out loud.

Let them all know you're still alive.  

 

Sunday, July 6, 2025

No blogging on a Sunday.

See you Monday!

Saturday, July 5, 2025: Type O Negative - Anesthesia

Options exhausted, except for anesthesia.

Friday, July 4, 2025: Mahalia Jackson - We Shall Overcome

I was seriously thinking about playing "Lawyers, Guns and Money" by Warren Zevon.

Or U.S. Blues by the Grateful Dead.  Make America GRATEFUL Again. 

Possibly David Bowie's "I'm Afraid of Americans".

At the end of the day, though, you can never go wrong with Mahalia Jackson.  Ever. 

Wave that flag. Wave it wide and high.

Thursday, July 3, 2025: Wolf Alice - Don't Delete The Kisses (Live, Glastonbury 2025)

Maybe someday I'll do a Glastonbury week, really dig down and try to bring out all the cool talent on display during that historic festival.  

For now, it's just bits a pieces.  Like this cool track from London's own Wolf Alice.

Wolf Alice first caught my attention back in 2017, when their song "Silk" was featured in the trailer for Trainspotting 2.   A great return to form, a worthy sequel, and in a few, specific ways, a piece that was better than the original.  

I've only touched base with them a few times since, I swore I would have blogged them by now, but searching my history suggests otherwise.  

I love this performance, the highs and lows of singer Ellie Rowsell's voice, the setting sun, the crowd singing along, it's all a magical mix.  And it's all very cool.

Never let them tell you all the best times were in the past.  Sometimes, they are right now. But you'll never know whats right there on the road if all you do is look at your rear view mirror.  

 

Wednesday, July 2, 2025: The Maccabees - Grew Up At Midnight

The Maccabees were a priestly family of Jews who flourished 2nd century bce, Palestine, who organized a successful rebellion against the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV and reconsecrated the defiled Temple of Jerusalem. 

The Maccabees are are also an English indie rock band, formed in 2004 in London. They released four albums: Colour It In in 2007, followed by Wall of Arms in 2009, Given to the Wild which was released on 9 January 2012 and their last album Marks to Prove It released on 31 July 2015. The band announced that they decided to disband in August 2016, with farewell gigs in 2017.  However, in 25 October 2024, it was announced that the band were reuniting, and just this past week performed a killer set at this years Glastonbury.

Obviously, this is not Cool Biblical Family Of The Day, it's Cool Song Of The Day, so we'll be featuring something from the 2nd Maccabees. Not the book.  The band.  

Also, this song is featured in the movie Steve Jobs, which is criminally underrated, go check it out now. 

Tuesday, July 1, 2025: TWOfer Tuesday - The "Nineteen" Edition

No big theme this week, I've been feeling a bit under the weather, so I'm going a bit basic this TWOfer Tuesday - songs about nineteen.  About being nineteen, songs for people who are nineteen.

Why nineteen?  Because, well, can you believe I have NEVER blogged about Steely Dan before?  Like, ever?  That will change today, and in fact, though I don't usually blog the same band so close together, I must give Steely Dan their proper due at some point.  They are cool songs personified.  

That Courteeners song is immediately on my daily rotation, btw.

I remember 19 being a weird age, man. Old enough to die for your country, but not old enough to buy a beer.  It was a drag.