music – Gary Bennett Publishing

One-hit wonderful: Celebrate these one-off hits on One-Hit Wonder Day

By Gary Bennett

Motion of the turntable of warm toned image with shallow depth of field

This article appears in the September 25, 2025, issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment magazine.

I’ve always puzzled at the mockery directed toward pop artists who only manage one big hit song in their careers. In my mind, they’ve managed something that few others have: hit the jackpot in life by creating something that brings others entertainment and sometimes joy. That is one-hit “wonder-ful” in my book.

I’m not alone. These artists and their songs even have their own day. September 25 is officially “One-Hit Wonder Day.”

A one-hit wonder is any artist that achieves mainstream popularity, often for only one piece of work, and becomes known among the public solely for that momentary success. The term is mostly used for music performers with only one hit single that overshadows their other work.

Because of streaming services and the decline of broadcast radio, the line has been blurred as to what is a hit song now days and what is not. People listen to what they want and pay less attention to mainstream radio and Top 40 charts than they used to.

Still, the term ‘one-hit wonder’ lives on in popular culture. How many times have you heard the term directed at someone who (as far as you can tell) has only done one big thing in life? I tease my best friend all the time with this term because he obviously “married up.” Another gets the same ribbing because he is an only child.

Maybe one-hit wonders haven’t attained long-lasting success or public notoriety, but in many cases, they’ve earned a comfortable living with a little thing called “royalties.”

Case in point, back in my day, a fellow named Norman Greenbaum had one big hit, “Spirit in the Sky.” It reached No. 3 on the pop charts in 1970. I’m sure you’ve heard it. It has sort of a mystical vibe. It turns up in movies and commercials all the time. Even though he long-ago signed away the publishing rights, Greenbaum still receives a cut of the revenue as the song’s performer. Each time “Spirit in the Sky” appears in a movie or ad, he cashes a check for $10,000 or more.

“It’s not like it’s made me rich, as you can see,” said Greenbaum, 82, pointing at his modest two-bedroom home in Santa Rosa, California. “But because of ‘Spirit in the Sky,’ I’ve never had to work a real job. “

Then there are the hitmakers in bands who go off to become solo performers but don’t have the same success on their own.

There is a fellow named Dave Mason who had plenty of hits with a terrific band called Traffic in the 1960s but came up with just one big one as a solo performer, “We Just Disagree,” in 1977. He’s now 79 and still plays small clubs. Before he plays his one big solo hit, he tells the audience it’s his “mailbox song,” because every month he walks out to the mailbox and picks up his royalty check. He says he has no idea how much he’s made on that one song but agrees he could probably live off it.

English singer, songwriter and guitarist Dave Mason performs in 1974 in London, UK. (Photo by Chris Walter/Getty Images)

Consider, too, the successful artists that have been called one-hit wonders even though they’ve had other charting singles. In their cases, one mammoth song overshadowed everything else they’ve done. Think Grateful Dead’s “Touch of Grey,” Beck’s “Loser,” Frank Zappa’s “Valley Girl” and Simple Minds’ “Don’t You Forget About Me.”

I often joke with my wife that if I could just come up with one pop hit, we would be set (never mind the fact that I have no musical talent).

“Macarena” by Los Del Río in 1996 is often cited as the quintessential one-hit wonder. The song’s popularity, powered by the iconic dance, made it a global sensation in the mid-1990s. Afterwards, the band was never able to come anywhere close to the level of success achieved by that song.

So, settle in fellow music fans and take a trip with me through the decades on One-Hit Wonder Day on Sept. 25, and pull up some of these classic songs and terrific artists who never reached these heights again. But at least they did once!

1960s

• Teen Angel, Mark Dinning, 1960

• The Lions Sleeps Tonight, The Tokens, 1961

• Monster Mash, Bobby “Boris” Picket, 1962

• Rhythm of the Rain, The Cascades, 1963

• (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet, The Reflections, 1964

• Eve of Destruction, Barry McGuire, 1965

• Wild Thing, The Troggs, 1966

• A Whiter Shade of Pale, Procol Harum, 1967

• In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Iron Butterfly, 1968

• Get Together, The Youngbloods, 1969

1970s

• Ride Captain Ride, Blues Image, 1970

• One Toke Over the Line, Brewer & Shipley, 1971

• Brandy, You’re a Fine Girl, Looking Glass, 1972

• Dancing in the Moonlight, King Harvest, 1973

• Midnight at the Oasis, Maria Muldaur, 1974

• The Hustle, Van McCoy, 1975

• Play That Funky Music, Wild Cherry, 1976

• You Light Up My Life, Debby Boone, 1977

• Short People, Randy Newman, 1978

• My Sharona, The Knack, 1979

1980s

• Whip It, Devo, 1980

• Just the Two of Us, Grover Washington, Jr., 1981

• 867-5309/Jenny, Tommy Tutone, 1982

• There’s Always Something There to Remind Me, Naked Eyes, 1983

• We’re Not Gonna Take It, Twisted Sister, 1984

• Take on Me, a-ha, 1985

• Take My Breath Away, Berlin, 1986

• At This Moment, Billy Vera and the Beaters, 1987

• Don’t Worry, Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin, 1988

• Bust a Move, Young MC, 1989

1990s

• Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice, 1990

• Walking in Memphis, Marc Cohn, 1991

• Life Is a Highway, Tom Cochrane, 1992

• I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles), The Proclaimers, 1993

• Loser, Beck, 1994

• I’ll Be There for You (Theme from Friends), The Rembrandts, 1995

• Macarena, Los Del Rio, 1996

• MMMBop, Hanson, 1997

• Torn, Natalie Imbuglia, 1998

• Mambo No. 5, Lou Bega, 1999

2000s

• Who Let the Dogs Out, Baha Men, 2000

• I Hope You Dance, Lee Ann Womack, 2001

• The Middle, Jimmy Eat World, 2002

• The Boys of Summer, The Ataris, 2003

• Heaven, Los Lonely Boys, 2004

• Bad Day, Daniel Powter, 2005

• Crazy, Gnarles Barkley, 2006

• Hey There Delilah, Plain White T’s, 2007

• All Summer Long, Kid Rock, 2008

• Goodbye, Kristinia DeBarge, 2009

2010s

• Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen, 2010

• Somebody That I Used to Know, Goyte, 2011

• Let Her Go, Passenger, 2012

• Ho Hey, Lumineers, 2013

• Cheerleader, Omi, 2014

• Fight Song, Rachel Platten, 2015

• Ex’s and Oh’s, Elle King, 2016

• Feel It Still, Portugal. The Man, 2017

• Let You Down, NF, 2018

• Roxanne, Arizona Zervas, 2019

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Music from the 1970s is the best

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the April 24, 2025 issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

My bold declaration that music from the ‘70s is the best might have raised some eyebrows, especially if you’re not a person of a certain age, but hear me out.

Before I defend myself, I don’t think you can blame me.

It’s a well-known truism that people tend to carry the music of their youth with them all their lives. It makes perfect sense.

When we are young, the world is full of possibilities, good times and any number of wonders we have yet to experience. And somehow, music makes all of it even better.

I can still remember teasing my mom and dad for playing their big-band sounds of the ‘40s and old-time country hits of the ‘50s on their gigantic, living room stereo. “They should really get with it,” I thought.

Well, now it’s my turn to get with it, but I just can’t let go.

How can I when my first memory of really enjoying music is as vivid today as it was then? I was lying in my bed in 1972 with my transistor radio nestled to my ear, listening to some faraway AM radio station playing Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” I felt so alone yet so connected to the rest of the world.

I was born at the perfect time. In the 1970s, I went from 13 years old to 23 years old. I graduated from high school smack dab in the middle — 1975 — and from college as the decade ended. That time of life, I believe, is when we really discover the joy of music. It’s the time of first jobs, first kisses, making friends and discovering what you are all about. As all this swirls around you, music provides soundtrack to your life.

Frederick’s Weinberg Center for the Arts will give me another chance to revel in the music of my youth on April 26 when Neil Berg brings his Broadway-quality troop of vocalists and musicians to town with his show “The 70’s: Long Live Rock N’ Roll.”

Berg has been to Frederick before with his show “50 Years of Rock N’ Roll.” This new show promises to recreate the sounds and spirit of the ‘70s with stories and songs from iconic names like Elton John, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel.

I’ll be there.

Now, back to my thesis.

Many music historians agree with me that the music of the ‘70s is the best, but even if that were not so, I would still argue that the sheer variety of music and artists pushing the envelope to create new genres and sounds is unmatched by any other decade.

There were emerging genres like funk, heavy metal and disco. What constituted rock ‘n’ roll, pop, soul and even country became more and more blurred as artists “crossed-over” and experimented with strings, electronic instruments and synthesizers. What emerged was a nourishing stew of unique and memorable sounds that had something for everyone.

The ‘70s began on a sour note, however: the disbanding of the Beatles. Although we didn’t know it at the time, this seismic shift in the music world created a vacuum that drew in all types of new sounds. Add to this heartbreak the early ‘70s drug overdose deaths of ‘60s rock legends Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison, and the slate seemed to be wiped clean.

First on the scene were the sensitive singer-songwriters. These were some of my favorites. This list includes household names like Elton John, James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Simon and Garfunkel, Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce, Barry Manilow, Billy Joel, John Denver, Jimmy Buffet, Neil Diamond and, of course, each of the four ex-Beatles. They brought thoughtful lyrics, heartfelt emotion and acoustic instruments to the mix. They provided music that felt raw and emotional, often focusing on storytelling and real experiences that resonated with listeners.

Female solo artists came into their own in the early ‘70s, too. Besides King and Mitchell, artists like Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Roberta Flack, Olivia Newton-John, Joan Baez and Helen Reddy provided a new voice to pop music.

In the ‘70s, Black music expanded from soul into funk with the raw city sounds of James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Parliament, Funkadelic, War, and Sly and the Family Stone. With funk music, rhythm and beat were emphasized over melody, to great effect. Most of these artists had no trouble landing in the mainstream Top 40 charts, as young people became more adventurous in their musical tastes. Rap music even has its roots in the ‘70s.

Pure soul music from the Motown record label got even better. Unparalleled artists like Stevie Wonder; Marvin Gaye; Kool & the Gang; Earth, Wind & Fire; the Spinners; the Stylistics; the Temptations; Barry White; the O’Jays; Gladys Knight & the Pips; and the Jacksons became cross-over sensations. Stevie Wonder’s 1974 masterpiece album, “Songs in the Key of Life,” and Marvin Gaye’s thought-provoking single “What’s Going On” brought a whole new vibrancy and mass-appeal to soul music.

Even rock ‘n’ roll music went through changes in the ‘70s, as it entered its own teen years. Somehow, it got divided into hard rock and soft rock.

Soft rock featured acoustic instruments and prioritized melodies and harmonies over a hard-driving beat. Some of the top soft rock bands of the ‘70s are legendary. Fleetwood Mac with their seminal 1977 album “Rumours,” dominated the chart for a couple of years. Others included Paul McCartney & Wings, America, the Hollies, Steely Dan, Rod Stewart and Faces, Hall & Oates, Queen, ABBA, the Doobie Brothers, Chicago and Three Dog Night.

The soft rock superstar band, the Eagles, were (and still are) in a category of their own. They pioneered the laid back, California sound with exquisitely tight harmonies, an at-times hard-driving beat, and relatable lyrics. Their work-of-genius single “Hotel California” became one of the defining songs of the ‘70s. To this day, they sell out the largest venues worldwide.

During the ‘70s, a distinctive sound emerged that became known as Southern rock. It fused rock, country and blues into an unforgettable and instantly recognizable sound led by electric guitars and whiskey-tinged vocals. Stalwarts like the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ozark Mountain Daredevils and the Marshall Tucker Band led the way. Even country audiences took to this new brand of rock music.

The hard rockers had their own iconic bands, too. It was the decade of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Kiss, Deep Purple and Judas Priest. The all-time great band, The Rolling Stones, much like the Eagles in the soft rock category, reside in their very own musical stratosphere, undeniably great in the ‘60s, ’70s and ‘80s.

While the ’60s had their British Invasion that knocked many of the old standby singers into the realm of the forgotten, many folks forget that the ‘70s had their own invasion: the disco invasion of 1976.

Love it or hate it, there is no denying that disco music, derived from the dance clubs and discotheques of New York City, enjoyed about five years of unsurpassed popularity. The invasion was led by an unlikely group that was already here: the Bee Gees.

They somehow were able to re-create themselves from syrupy balladeers in the early ‘70s to the founders of disco music. They dominated the charts in the mid- to late-‘70s with a string of No. 1 singles and albums, including the best-selling soundtrack of all-time, “Saturday Night Fever.” At one Beatle-like point in time, they had five songs in the top 10 and three songs in the top five of the Billboard chart simultaneously. They are universally considered to be one of the most important acts of all time.

Other offshoots of rock and soul music emerged with their own superstar artists and devoted fans: punk rock, blue-eyed soul, progressive rock and new wave. In a category all his own, Bob Marley introduced the world to reggae music in the ‘70s and became one of the best-selling artists of all time.

Relive the timeless hits of ABBA

By Gary Bennett

The Concert: A tribute to ABBA will come to Frederick Oct 13

This article appears in the October 10, 2024 edition of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment magazine.

I remember ABBA so well. Like a shooting star, the Swedish pop group came and went quickly. They burst on the scene in 1974 with a unique sound that featured rich female harmonies with backing vocals from a couple of satisfied-to-be-in-the-background males. But by the early ‘80s, they were finished as big hit makers.

But for those six or seven years, they were a group to be reckoned with — a global phenomenon of epic proportions and Sweden’s biggest “export” to the world.

On Oct. 13, we can relive the timeless hits of the ‘70s and early ‘80s as The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA takes center stage at the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick.

Their music was bubblegum “poppy,” decidedly up-tempo and definitely “feminine.” As a male teenager in the ’70s, I couldn’t really admit to liking them, as I could with female rockers like, say, the band Heart. More than once, I had to quickly turn the radio down as pals piled into my car.

To say ABBA’s sound was unique would be an understatement. They are still immediately recognizable on certain Sirius XM channels and streaming services today.

The band was comprised of four members, and that’s how they got their name. Benney Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (the two B’s in ABBA) wrote and produced all the songs and played piano and guitar. Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (the two A’s) sang the rich vocals while wearing very short mini-skirts and other dazzling costumes.

Like most bands, ABBA was no overnight success. The ABBA story began in Sweden in 1966 when Bjorn and Benny, who were playing for different bands, met and wrote their first songs together. In 1969 they met the women who would become their wives and musical partners.

After a few years of toiling and achieving modest success in Sweden, they entered a singing contest with the song “Waterloo” and won. Soon, “Waterloo” was No. 1 all over Europe and reached the top 10 in the U.S in 1974. About 18 months later in 1976, they hit it big again on the U.S. charts with “SOS” taken off their third album.

Later that year, “Mamma Mia,” perhaps their most widely known song because of the musical and movie, was released and spent time at No. 1 in the U.K. and amazingly, 10 weeks at No. 1 in Australia. Crikey! In the U.S., “Mamma Mia” peaked only at number 63. This song, however, established them as reliable hit makers and one of the most popular groups in the world.

Then, 1977 brought hits like “Fernando” and the ever popular “Dancing Queen,” the latter being ABBA’s only No. 1 U.S. single. That one will get you up and onto the dance floor even today.

In 1978, ABBA’s fourth original album “Arrival” was released and spawned hits “Money, Money, Money” and “Knowing Me, Knowing You.” Later that year, they completed a sold-out, worldwide tour, completed a feature film called “ABBA: The Movie” and their newest album called, naturally, “ABBA: The Album.”

The hits began to wane in 1979 as one of the married couples announced their divorce. This did not mean the complete end to ABBA, however. They completed their final tour in Japan in 1980 but also found the time and geniality to complete the “Super Trouper” album. In 1981 the other married couple divorced, effectively ending ABBA’s reign as one of the most unlikely top pop groups in the world.

A revival of sorts came in 1999 when the musical “Mamma Mia” premiered in London. It opened on Broadway two years later and became a cultural phenomenon. To date, more than 60 million people have seen it in over 400 cities. A successful movie version starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan was released in July 2008.

Today, ABBA is regarded as one of the all-time classic pop acts, acknowledged by their 2010 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. All four group members are still alive, doing well and living in Sweden.

IF YOU GO:
The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA will start at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Weinberg Center, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Tickets start at $40 and are available at weinbercenter.org, by calling the box office at 301-600-2828, or in person.

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Sad songs to help weather grief

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the August 29, 2024 issue of the Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

In honor of National Grief Awareness Day on Aug. 30, I listened to some of the saddest songs ever written and recorded, trying to pick out the saddest ones of all.

I’ve experienced my own share of grief, like most people my age: parents dying, siblings dying, losing jobs and losing love.

But as a volunteer counselor at Camp Jamie — Hospice of Frederick County’s grief camp for children — I’ve also been privy to the heartbreaking grief of kids who’ve lost parents. Nothing compares to that.

At camp, it always surprises me how effective music therapy is with grieving children. There’s just something about sad music that makes you realize you are not alone in your feelings — that others have experienced what you’re experiencing.

So if you’re experiencing some form of grief right now or just need a good cry, I present to you my top 10 saddest rock songs. Most deal with lost love, but there are some exceptions.

My No. 1 sad song not only features being jilted at the altar but also a father dying and a mother dying of grief because her husband died (“the only man she ever loved”). Suicide is contemplated along with the existence of God. All in about 3 minutes!

1. “ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)”

Gilbert O’Sullivan, 1971

This obscure Irish singer somehow penned the saddest No. 1 song I’ve ever heard. Amazingly, he never experienced any of the misfortunes he wrote so evocatively about.

“Left standing in the lurch at a church were people saying, ‘My God, that’s tough. She stood him up. No point in us remaining.’”

2. “MY HEART WILL GO ON”

Celine Dion, 1997

This Oscar-winner for best original song for “Titanic” mourns love lost in the most tragic of circumstances. Who can forget the mournful flute arrangement as Rose recalls Jack slipping away into the icy depths?

“Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you. That is how I know you go on.”

3. “TEARS IN HEAVEN”

Eric Clapton, 1992

Clapton’s heartfelt ballad stems from unimaginable pain: mourning his 4-year-old son’s death from a fall from a 53-story building in 1991.

“Would you hold my hand, if I saw you in heaven? Would you help me stand, if I saw you in heaven?”

4. “LANDSLIDE”

Fleetwood Mac, 1975

Written and performed by Stevie Nicks, the song contemplates the regret that comes with getting older and things beginning to slip away.

“But time makes you bolder, even children get older, and I’m gettin’ older, too. I’m gettin’ older, too.”

5. “TRACES OF LOVE”

Classics IV, 1969

This ingenious songwriting mechanism uses souvenirs of a failed love affair to recall the pain.

“Faded photograph, covered now with lines and creases. Tickets torn in half, memories in bits and pieces. Traces of love long ago that didn’t work out right.”

6. “AT SEVENTEEN”

Janis Ian, 1975

This Grammy-winner for best pop female performance brutally depicts a teenage girl’s angst at not fitting in but desperately wanting to.

“To those of us who knew the pain of valentines that never came, and those whose names were never called when choosing sides for basketball.”

7. “CAT’S IN THE CRADLE”

Harry Chapin, 1974

Chapin’s only No. 1 song recounts the sad story of a dad who has no time for his young son growing up, but then the grown-up son turns the tables on his now-elderly dad.

“My son turned 10 just the other day. He said, ‘Thanks for the ball, Dad — come on, let’s play. Can you teach me to throw?’ I said, ‘Not today. I got a lot to do.’ He said, ‘That’s OK.’”

8. “BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX”

Glen Campbell, 1967

This Jimmy Webb-penned classic explores the difficulty in leaving a failed romance when the other person still loves you.

“By the time I make Oklahoma, she’ll be sleepin’. She’ll turn softly and call my name out low, and she’ll cry just to think I’d really leave her, though time and time I’ve tried to tell her so.”

9. “DUST IN THE WIND”

Kansas, 1977

This song, featuring a mournful violin arrangement, regrets the fact that human life, with all of its hopes and dreams, is ultimately meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

“I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment’s gone. All my dreams pass before my eyes — a curiosity, dust in the wind. All they are is dust in the wind.”

10. “OPERATOR (THAT’S NOT THE WAY IT FEELS)”

Jim Croce, 1972

This tuneful ballad from the star-crossed, blue-collar rocker uses a fleeting friendship with a compassionate telephone operator to finally accept losing his love.

“Operator, could you help me place this call? ‘Cause I can’t read the number that you just gave me. There’s something in my eyes. You know it happens every time I think about the love I thought would save me.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Adele’s “Someone Like You,” The Beatles’ “Yesterday,” The Beatles’ “She’s Leaving Home,” Bee Gees’ “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself,” The Carpenters’ “Rainy Days and Mondays,” Johnny Cash’s “Hurt,” Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” John Denver’s “(Sometimes I Feel) Like a Sad Song,” Elton John’s “Empty Garden,” George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” Gladys Knight and the Pips’ “Neither One of Us,” Bobby Goldsboro’s “Honey,” Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Roy Orbison’s “Crying,” REM’s “Everybody Hurts,” Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars” and Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

Patriotic songs to honor America

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the June 13, 2024 edition of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

The six weeks from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July (with Flag Day on June 14 thrown in there for good measure) should be known as the “Honor America Sesquimonthly.” (If no one is claiming that phrase, I’ll be glad to.)

The feeling of pride we get this time of year is unlike any other. Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day is close, but different. The “holidays” are warm, cozy and faith- and family-oriented. This patriotic time of year is sometimes boisterous or somber, proud and neighbor-oriented.

There is something special about these six weeks. We make it a point to honor our fallen war heroes, Old Glory and our bold declaration of independence from Great Britain. It doesn’t hurt that all of this celebrating is done in front of a backdrop of delightfully mild weather so we can all get outside and share our good fortune with each other.

And, as with most human endeavors, a soundtrack of great music makes it even better.

There are many great traditional patriotic songs beginning with Frederick’s own “Star Spangled Banner.” Just watch any July 4 fireworks show and you are sure to hear the “who’s who” of patriotic music: “America” (My country ‘tis of thee), “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless America,” “Stars and Stripes Forever,” “1776 Overture,” “1812 Overture” (with canons firing), “Washington Post March,” “This Land is Your Land,” “Yankee Doodle,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and the stirring themes from our five military branches.

But did you know that recent country, pop and rock artists put pen to paper and came up with some fabulously patriotic songs to help us mark the season? Of course you did! But someone has to list them, so I’ll take it from here!

Here are my top 10 present-day patriotic songs from well-known artists. They deserve our gratitude for tackling a tough assignment and adding to our pride and warm feelings at this special time of year.

You won’t find many country songs here, because I’m not much of a country music fan. But my No. 1 song is proudly country.

1. “GOD BLESS THE USA”
Lee Greenwood, 1984

This classic tune came into prominence after 9/11 and became an instant standard. Stirring and proud, it is played at most large events.

“And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.”

2. “AMERICA”
Simon and Garfunkel, 1968

Bittersweet and soulful, this song represents a search for America that has seemingly disappeared. You’ll recognize the Paul Simon signature melody instantly.

“Let us be lovers. We’ll marry our fortunes together. I’ve got some real estate here in my bag. So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies and walked off to look for America.”

3. “AMERICA”
Neil Diamond, 1980

An immigrant’s anthem as they try to make a better life in America at a time when they were more welcome here.

“Free, only want to be free. We huddle close, hang on to a dream. On the boats and on the planes, they’re coming to America.”

4. “BORN IN THE USA”
Bruce Springsteen, 1984

The Boss’ hard-rocking, explicitly anti-war anthem drips with defiance but recovers with a deceptively patriotic chorus.

“Born down in a dead man’s town, the first kick I took was when I hit the ground. End up like a dog that’s been beat too much till you spend half your life just coverin’ up. Born in the USA.”

5. “R.O.C.K. IN THE USA”
John Cougar Mellencamp, 1982

A light-hearted but hard-driving spelling bee of a song that harkens back to the music of the ’60s.

“They come from the cities, and they come from the smaller towns, and beat up cars with guitars and drummers goin’ crack boom bam. R.O.C.K. in the USA!”

6. “AMERICAN GIRL”
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1976

This is a tuneful song from an artist that left us too soon about making the most of your life in America.

“Take it easy, baby. Make it last all night. She was an American girl.”

7. “AMERICAN WOMAN”
The Guess Who, 1970 (covered by Lenny Kravitz, 2013)

A bunch of Canadian rockers intimidated by American women who seem full of attitude and self-assurance. Kravitz made it relative again.

“Don’t come knockin’ ’round my door. I don’t wanna see your shadow no more. Colored lights can hypnotize, sparkle someone else’s eyes. So woman, get away from me-e.”

8. “PINK HOUSES”
John Cougar Mellencamp, 1983

A tribute to the everyday folks that built America and wanted nothing more than a little piece of the American dream.

“Ah, but ain’t that America for you and me? Ain’t that America? Somethin’ to see, baby. Ain’t that America? Home of the free … little pink houses for you and me.”

9. “AMERICAN PIE”
Don McLean, 1971

A 9-minute tribute to the day the music died in 1959 is layered with surreal imagery and a great sing-along chorus.

“So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie. Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry. Them good ol’ boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye, singin’ this’ll be the day that I die.”

10. “I WON’T BACK DOWN”
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1989

A defiant, “take-no-prisoners” song that captures the fighting spirit of America.

“Well, I know what’s right. I got just one life. In a world that keeps on pushin’ me around, but I’ll stand my ground. And I won’t back down.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Chuck Berry’s “Back in the USA,” Brooks and Dunn’s “Only in America,” James Brown’s “Living in America,” Johnny Cash’s “Ragged Old Flag,” Jimmy Hendrix’s “Star Spangled Banner,” Faith Hill’s “American Heart,” Toby Keith’s “American Soldier,” Kiss’ “Rockin’ in the USA,” Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Red White and Blue,” Brad Paisley’s “American Saturday Night,” Katy Perry’s “Firework,” Paul Simon’s “American Tune,” Steve Miller Band’s “Living in the USA,” Carrie Underwood’s “All-American Girl” and Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

Spring fling: Songs for the season

By Gary Bennett

The Beach Boys shown in London in November 1966

This article appears in the May 16, 2024, issue of the Frederick News-Post’s 72 Hours entertainment insert.

Spring is the season of renewal and rejuvenation. Sure, it has taken its sweet time getting established this year, but I think it’s finally here.

The crack of the bat means baseball is underway. Kids are out playing on jungle gyms again. The sweet smell of freshly cut grass, lilacs and dogwoods are in the air. People are out and about with big smiles plastered on their faces. Carroll Creek, Culler Lake and Market Street are alive with activity. Folks begin to grab outside tables to enjoy a dinner downtown. The thwack of tennis balls and clack of bocce balls punctuate the daily hum of activity. Windows are open at night. Butterflies and robins have returned.

And, as often is the case, the sound of music enhances this sweet atmosphere. I offer up here my top 10 picks for classic spring songs that will make you glad you made it through another tough winter.

1. “PIECES OF APRIL”

Three Dog Night, 1970

A slow and sweetly wistful song about remembering springtime and an early love.

“April gave us springtime, and the promise of the flowers, and the feeling that we both shared, and the love that we called ours.”

2. “I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW”

Johnny Nash, 1972

This reggae-infused anthem is hopeful and optimistic. Problems can now be faced squarely in the brightness of a new day.

“I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that made me blind. It’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright sun-shiny day.”

3. “IT’S A BEAUTIFUL MORNING”

The Rascals, 1968

Carefree and optimistic, the song perfectly captures all the possibilities of a beautiful spring day laid out before you.

“It’s a beautiful morning. I think I’ll go outside for awhile and smile.”

4. “SPRING VACATION”

Beach Boys, 2012

If you didn’t know the Beach Boys were still releasing songs in 2012, this lilting song with the unmistakable harmonies will likely leave you wanting more.

“Driving around, living the dream, I’m cruising the town, digging the scene. I’m not gonna stress, not gonna worry, doing our best, no need to hurry.”

5. “APRIL COME SHE WILL”

Simon & Garfunkel, 1966

A quiet, simple, acoustic song (with artistically-licensed grammar), comes in at under 2 minutes and reminds me of a child’s nursery rhyme.

“April come she will, May she will stay, June she’ll change her tune, July she will fly. August die she must.”

Art Garfunkel, left, and Paul Simon serenade an audience of close to one-half million in New York’s Central Park at a free concert Sept. 19, 1981.

6. “MR. BLUE SKY”

Electric Light Orchestra, 1977

This bouncy, happy-go-lucky song features an electric guitar and robotic voice. It always makes me smile.

“Sun is shinin’ in the sky. There ain’t a cloud in sight. It’s stopped raining. Everybody’s in the play.”

7. “SEASON SUITE: SPRING”

John Denver, 1972

This typical John Denver guitar song pulls me closer to nature and somehow makes me feel better about myself, too.

“Open up your eyes and see the brand new day. The clear blue sky and brightly shining sun.”

8. “A FATHER’S FIRST SPRING”

The Avett Brothers, 2012

This sweet, haunting, melancholy song proves that spring songs don’t always have to be peppy.

“Sweetest surrender of winter, she put up her flag. It is waving. The thunder of summer is rumbling in.”

9. “PRIMAVERA”

Carlos Santana, 1999

A Latin, syncopated song from this other-worldly guitar virtuoso pays homage to planet Earth at the best time of year.

“Como la Semilla, Lleva nueva vida, Hay en esta primavera, Una nueva era.”

10. “APRIL”

Deep Purple, 1969

A 12-minute, mesmerizing rock opera with a sweeping guitar intro. Lyrics finally kick in at the 9-minute mark and are not kind to April or springtime.

“April is a cruel time, even though the sun may shine and world looks in the shade as it slowly comes away. Still falls the April rain.”

Honorable Mentions: Tori Amos’ “Spring Haze,” Coldplay’s “Up with Birds,” Dawn’s “Here Comes the Spring,” Donovan’s “The Lullaby of Spring,” Jack Hartmann’s “Springtime Dance,” Elvis Presley’s “Spring Fever,” Chris Rea’s “Fires of Spring,” Carly Simon’s “Spring is Here,” Frank Sinatra’s “It Might as Well Be Spring” and Donna Summer’s “Spring Affair.”

The Everly Brothers Experience brings the nostalgia and harmonies of the famed duo to Frederick

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert, April 18, 2024.

Since 2016, brothers Zachary and Dylan Zmed, along with their partner and drummer Burleigh Drummond, have celebrated the pivotal music of the Everly Brothers with a heartfelt tribute.

That tribute, the Everly Brothers Experience, featuring the Zmed Brothers as the Everlys, plays at the Weinberg Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. April 20.

Presented by Key West Productions, the Everly Brothers Experience promises to be a trip down memory lane, revisiting the rich vocals and gorgeous harmonies popularized by the Everlys in the late ’50s and early ’60s.

“The music of the ’50s and ’60s are nostalgic for us,” they said in a press release. “Our parents raised us on it, and we feel that the Everlys’ contribution is greatly overlooked, especially by younger generations.”

The Zmed brothers do not try to impersonate the Everlys but honor their iconic sound by recreating the music as close to the original as possible.

I’m a little too young to remember the heyday of the Everly Brothers and other founders of rock ‘n roll as they came on the scene in the 1950s. However, it is no secret, for my generation at least, that the Everly Brothers had an outsized influence on the Beatles and many other iconic acts that came later. John Lennon and Paul McCartney made no secret of their admiration, patterning their unmistakable harmonies on the ones from “Don And Phil.”

Before the Beatles, Lennon and McCartney referred to themselves as “the British Everly Brothers” when hitchhiking to talent contests in England.

Other super groups, like the Beach Boys, Bee Gees, and Simon and Garfunkel, credit the Everlys as having a huge influence on their music.

I vividly remember my father was an avid Everly Brothers fan. He mostly enjoyed country music, especially Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, but he made an exception for the Everlys.

It was no wonder. The Everlys embraced elements of country in their music with some twangy vocals and steel-string acoustic guitars. Today, their music might be categorized as country rock. Along with Elvis, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and others, the Everly Brothers were among the pioneers of rock ‘n’ roll.

As with many stars, the Everlys were raised in a musical family. They sang with their parents on the radio during their high school years. As they gained attention, they began writing and recording their own music. Their first hit song came in 1957, the hugely popular “Bye Bye Love.” It hit No. 1 in the spring, shortly after I was born, and stayed there for four weeks. You know the chorus: “Bye-bye love/ Bye-bye happiness/ Hello loneliness/ I think I’m-a gonna cry-y.”

Huge hits would follow, like “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have To Do Is Dream” (my No. 1 all-time favorite song about dreaming!), “When Will I Be Loved” (perhaps made more famous by Linda Ronstadt in 1974), “So Sad,” “Crying in the Rain” and “Problems.” Their biggest-selling single of all time, “Cathy’s Clown,” came in 1960. You know this one, too: “Here he co-o-o-omes: That’s Cathy’s clown.”

In a move that would be unheard of today, the brothers enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1961. Elvis did the very same thing. There were very few military exemptions back then, and it beat being drafted and sent to Vietnam.

But, unfortunately, unlike Elvis, the Everlys’ output and fame fell off upon their return. Their last big hit came in 1962 with “That’s Old Fashioned (That’s the Way Love Should Be).” The British Invasion took hold shortly thereafter, curtailing or ending the careers of many rock ‘n’ roll pioneers. They did, however, launch a successful touring career in the ’60s. In the ’70s, the brothers began releasing solo recordings — but no hits — and officially broke up in 1973.

They got back together for a while in the ’80s, performing periodically until Phil’s death in 2014. Don died seven years later in 2021.

In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked the Everlys as the No. 1 greatest musical duo of all time. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1986, along with such first-name luminaries as Elvis, Chuck, Buddy and Jerry Lee. The Everlys were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019.

By all accounts, they were unaffected by their meteoric stardom. They said in 1960 at the height of their popularity, “We’re not Grand Ole Opry … we’re obviously not Perry Como … we’re just pop music.”

When you listen to Buffett, you can’t help but smile

By Gary Bennett

GULF SHORES, AL – JULY 11: Musician Jimmy Buffett performs onstage at Jimmy Buffett & Friends: Live from the Gulf Coast, a concert presented by CMT at on the beach on July 11, 2010 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT)

This article appears in the February 22, 2024, issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

Jimmy Buffett lived a life most of us can only dream of. By all accounts it was wacky, wild and wonderful.

We all know about his hugely successful music career. He recorded more than 30 albums, wrote and recorded a career-defining and endlessly entertaining song in “Margaritaville” and built a string of successful Margaritaville restaurants and resorts.

But did you know he was a best-selling author and a seaplane pilot?

He wrote three best-selling books: “Tales from Margaritaville,” “Where is Joe Merchant,” and “A Pirate Looks at Fifty.”

Piloting a seaplane was his way of escaping reality and inviting family and friends on his many adventures, fishing and otherwise, all around the Caribbean.

His early life wasn’t always easy, though.

He flunked out of college, flunked his draft physical and started a band in his 20s, but it got no traction, so it broke up soon after.

He was divorced twice, went broke once and survived not one, but two, devastating crashes: one by car and one by seaplane that he only survived due to some Navy training.

Later, he broke the same leg three times in one year, did a lot of dope and went into therapy.

But there’s no reason to focus on the negative stuff because Jimmy never did.

He spent his life looking optimistically for the next opportunity and he almost always found it. He was signed to a recording contract at ABC Records in 1973 to replace his recently deceased friend, Jim Croce.

Buffett died last year on Sept. 1 at age 76, from complications from Merkle cell carcinoma, a rare type of skin cancer.

Somehow, fittingly, he died on the last day of meteorological summer. If the “music died” when Buddy Holly died, could it be that summer died with Jimmy Buffett? We’ll have to wait and see this summer.

I was never a big Jimmy Buffett fan and certainly never a “parrothead”— the term reserved for his most loyal, diehard fans who could always be counted on to dress up in wild costumes at his concerts, perhaps with a parrot on their shoulder.

But I can appreciate the niche he carved out for himself in the music business, much to everyone’s surprise.

One can name no other artist (other than the Beach Boys) who so completely embodied a carefree, island-hopping, “strumming my six-string on my front porch swing,” summery persona.

Buffett may have described himself best when he said: “I’ve got a Caribbean soul I can barely control.” He and his Coral Reefer band toured the world for nearly 50 years, bringing joy wherever they set down.

My wife and I have been to a few of his concerts and always had a really good time.

Near the end, he wasn’t much of a singer. He was more like an affable host or a barefoot ringleader of one giant outdoor party.

Sometimes, you felt like he was phoning it in, not giving it much effort. But the more I thought about it, isn’t that the essence of Jimmy Buffett anyway, making it look easy and effortless?

Surprisingly, he started out as more of a country singer. His 1974 heartfelt ballad “Come Monday” was a big hit on both the country and pop charts. It has an unmistakable country feel to it.

But soon after, something changed. He was no longer country. He embraced what might be called tropical island or Caribbean music, with a strong influence of steel drums and simple melodies and lyrics. By all accounts, he went back to his roots.

When “Margaritaville” hit the airwaves in 1977, it was impossible not to like the song or the carefree-looking artist that penned and sang it. “Margaritaville” speaks not of a town, but of a state of mind when you use your favorite adult beverage to numb yourself to life and your inability to do much with it.

With exasperation but acceptance, Buffett sang “Don’t know the reason / stayed here all season / Nothin’ to show but this brand new tattoo. But it’s a real beauty / a Mexican cutie / how it got here I haven’t a clue.”

He then finished up plaintively “Wasted away again in Margaritaville, Searching for my lost shaker of salt. Some people say that there’s a woman to blame. But I know / it’s my own damn fault.”

To this day when I hear it, I can’t help but smile and sing along. Putting smiles on strangers’ faces — not a bad legacy to leave.

Classic rock favorites to celebrate the dark season

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the January 18 edition of the Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

Winter is upon us once again, and unlike my friends to the south, I love it — the chill of the air and the heat of the fireplace.

I suspect many of you feel the same.

To me, real winter begins right after the holidays. I don’t even consider December to be part of winter.

On Jan. 2, family get-togethers, all the anticipation, celebrations and sparkle of the holiday season are gone. We are left with two full months (or more) of persevering and seeing what we are made of.

And, it’s absolutely invaluable.

There’s something about winter that toughens us and opens our eyes to myriad possibilities. We buckle down. We work hard. We don’t worry about vacations. Days are short. Time is of the essence. When we accomplish something, particularly outdoors, we feel good about ourselves. We feel like we can’t be deterred.

But there can be a melancholy about winter. There’s an overabundance of darkness. The other three seasons seem long ago and far away. Unfortunately, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can rear its ugly head with some folks, causing mental and physical ailments.

Still, if you can, try to embrace the season. Embrace the cold. Embrace the melancholy. Spring will come in fits and starts and everything will be renewed again.

Here are my top 17 classic rock songs about winter (or set in the winter) to help get you through, nee, celebrate, the season.

“SONG FOR A WINTER’S NIGHT”
Gordon Lightfoot, 1967

Warm, caring loner holed up in his cabin, longing for an absent love.
“The lamp is burnin’ low upon my table top, the snow is softly falling, the air is still in the silence of my room, I hear your voice softly calling.”

“A WINTER’S TALE”
The Moody Blues, 2003

Sweet, poignant song about losing a love but taking it well.
“It was only a winter’s tale, just another winter’s tale, and why should the world take notice, of one more love that’s failed?”

“CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’”
The Mamas & the Papas, 1968

Longing for the warmth of LA during a cold winter in New York City.
“All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray, I’ve been for a walk, on a winter’s day.”

“A WINTER’S TALE”
Queen, 1995

Not the same tune as the Moody Blues song above, but Freddie Mercury singing gorgeously of life and beauty as both wind down.
“It’s winter-fall, red skies are gleaming, sea-gulls are flyin’ over, swans are floatin’ by, smoking chimney-tops.”

“A HAZY SHADE OF WINTER”
Simon and Garfunkel, 1966 (also covered by The Bangles, 1984)

Quintessential pop tune contemplating the passing of the seasons with a focus on winter.
“But look around, leaves are brown now, and the sky is a hazy shade of winter.”

“COLD”
Annie Lennox, 1992

Song explores longing, isolation and heartbreak—the cold realities of life.
“Cold is the color of crystal, the snow light, that falls from the heavenly skies, catch me and let me dive under, for I want to swim in the pools of your eyes.”

“WHEN OCTOBER GOES”
Barry Manilow, 1984

Johnny Mercer lyrics contemplating the pain of growing old and of reliving lost love.
“I should be over it now, I know, it doesn’t matter much how old I grow, I hate to see October go.”

“WINTERLONG”
Neil Young, 1977

Waiting and yearning for your love for a very long time.
“I waited for you, winterlong, you seem to be where I belong, it’s all illusion anyway.”

“WINTER”
U2, 2008

Describes a person’s crisis of faith.
“Rhymes they sprang in me, summer sang in me, but summer sings in me no more.”

“WINTER SONG”
Chris Rea, 2000

A heartwarming song trying to explain the rapture of true love when it’s cold outside.
“If I put my arms around you, turn you in from the storm, from your autumn through winter, darling I’ll keep you warm.”

“ASPENGLOW”
John Denver, 1970

The wonder of glowing, snowy mountaintops at dawn and dusk.
“As the winter days unfold, hearts grow warmer with the cold, peace of mind is all you know, winter’s gold, Aspenglow.”

“SNOWBOUND”
Genesis, 1978

Lovely ballad about (somehow!) a peaceful death out in the cold.
“Lay your body down upon the midnight snow, feel the cold of winter in your hair, here in a world of your own, in a casing that’s grown.”

“MY DECEMBER”
Linkin Park, 2000

Sad story about being away and missing home.
“This is my December, these are my snow-covered dreams, this is me pretending, this is all I need.”

14. “WINTERTIME LOVE”
The Doors, 1968
A plea for love and warmth in the cold season.
“Wintertime winds blow cold to season, fallin’ in love, I’m hopin’ to be, wind is so cold, is that the reason? Keeping you warm, your hands touching me.”

“SNOWBIRD”
Anne Murray, 1970

Peppy song about yearning for youth in the twilight of life.
“Beneath this snowy mantle, cold and clean, the unborn grass lies waiting, for its coat to turn to green, the snowbird sings the song he always sings.”

“WINTER”
The Rolling Stones, 1973

Song bemoans the realities of the season and hopes for spring love.
“And it sure been a cold, cold winter, and the wind ain’t been blowin’ from the south, it’s sure been a cold, cold winter, And a lotta love is all burned out.”

“WINTER SONG”
Bruce Springsteen, 1973

Slow, moody “acquired-taste” song that drips with sexual innuendo cloaked in seasonal comparisons.
“Summer’s sweet and she brings me water, but give me winter, that old icy whore, summer lies meek and follows orders, winter cries “Me!” and pulls you through the door.”

The stories and music of Jim Croce at New Spire Arts

By Gary Bennett

Mike Schirf will perform the music and tell the stories of Jim Croce at a special tribute show in Frederick. Courtesy photo

This article appears in the November 30, 2023, issue of the Frederick News-Post’s entertainment insert “72 Hours.”

“50 Years Gone: A Tribute to Jim Croce” will hit downtown Frederick at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at New Spire Arts for two shows, one of which is already sold out. Presented by Key West Productions, the show was put together as a loving, musical tribute to the life and music of Jim Croce.

According to show producer Tom Kohlhepp, Frederick will be the first stop for this show.

The duo of Mike Schirf and Chris Masheck will take the stage and not only play all of Croce’s biggest hits, like “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” “Time in a Bottle,” “I Got a Name” and “Operator,” but they’ll also tell the great stories that Croce told during his all-too-short career.

They’ll also sing many of Croce’s lesser-known songs, like “Roller Derby Queen,” “One Less Set of Footsteps” and “Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues.”

“This night will be really [about] spending time not only listening to Croce’s music but more importantly, I think, getting to know more about the man,” Kohlhepp said. “He wrote so many of his best songs about people he actually knew and came across in life.”

Schirf will sing and play the Jim Croce parts. He is a big Croce fan, according to Kohlhepp, and includes many of Croce’s songs in his setlist when playing his own gigs.

Once Schirf and Kohlhepp decided to put this show together, they settled on Chris Masheck as the best person to accompany Schirf in Maury Muehleisen’s role. All Jim Croce fans know the impact Maury’s beautiful guitar work had on Croce’s success. It’s a testament to the producer that his part is included in the show.

It should be noted, Schirf and Masheck will not attempt to look like the original band members. “The feel and the sound are what we’re really going after,” Kohlhepp said.

Kohlhepp’s production company will also offer the “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” show about the life and times of the late Jimmy Buffett at New Spire Arts in February. Kohlhepp was privileged to know Buffett and has lots of interesting, little-known stories to share. “I really like doing my research and enjoy sharing these stories with anyone who wants to listen,” he said.

And if you were wondering, yes, Croce and Buffett knew each other in real life and got together a few times in the early ‘70s. Buffett was actually signed in 1974 to take Croce’s place on the roster of ABC Records’ recording artists after Croce passed.