Some years back in one of these weekly ramblings, I talked about getting my driver's license and driving on my own for the first time. I had discovered on my car radio a station out of Bloomington, Indiana (WTTS, 92.3 FM), that played a wide range of music that seemed to appeal to me--both classic and contemporary rock, as well as blues, including deep album cuts that most stations don't play. As I believe I pointed out then, it was the only time in my life I heard Billy Joel's "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" on the radio.
One summer during my college years, the station played a song by an up-and-coming artist--one of those that's hard to categorize by genre. Pop, rock, "alt" country (whatever the hell that is), folk, blues--he kind of blended it all. I identified with the lyrics to the song, so much so that it became sort of an unofficial anthem of my college years--I don't know why exactly. I've never been arrested, I didn't drink at all at that point in my life, I've never smoked anything stronger than a Cuban cigar, to this day I've never looked at Madonna's book (let alone read it), and my old man never referred to me as a "no good punk." I think I just liked the everyman feel of it. 30 years later, I still do.
The song was called "Alright Guy" and it was performed by Todd Snider. As much as I loved hearing it on the radio in my early 20s, weirdly, I kind of forgot about it after I left home and moved to--of all places--Bloomington. Some years ago, likely while drinking on a Saturday night and posting to Facebook, I found myself thinking about songs I heard on WTTS repeatedly during my college years. I recalled the song and was delighted to find a video on YouTube, which I promptly posted on my page. Unusually for me, I never felt inspired to explore more of Snider's music. This was the only song of his I ever knew and it's slipped in and out of my musical consciousness periodically over the last 30 years.
I read this week that Todd Snider died last week at the age of 59. When I first saw the article, I have to confess that I couldn't quite place the name. It sounded familiar to me, but I thought I might be thinking of Todd Rundgren. As I read the article and stumbled upon the song title "Alright Guy" (what turned out to be his biggest song), it all came flooding back to me. I felt compelled to check out more of his music, especially after I read that he was friends with and influenced by the likes John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Jimmy Buffett. In fact, Buffett actually signed him to his record label, Margaritaville Records, a subsidiary of MCA. I discovered that that "everyman" feel that I initially identified with in "Alright Guy" came across in his other works--even in cover versions of other artists' songs. His most recent album, High, Lonesome and Then Some., was just released in October. I'm quite taken with his music and look forward to exploring more. I only wish I'd done so while he was still alive. Well... better late than never, I guess.
So in honour of Snider and collegiate nostalgia, I submit this week's album. Released in 1994 on Margaritaville Records it was produced by Tony Brown and Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer bandmate Mike Utley, who also played keyboards. The album was comprised of songs that Snider had been performing at the Nashville nightclub The Daily Planet. Featuring "Alright Guy" as well as the hidden track which also became a minor hit, "Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues," please enjoy the late, great Todd Snider with Songs For The Daily Planet.
(Sadly, the video to "Alright Guy" that's included in the YouTube playlist is in its edited MTV form. I also included a link to the uncensored version of the song because I find most censors to be dopes and dicks--although I'm sure some are alright guys.)
I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Until next week, stay safe, be good to your neighbours, and please remember that if at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Yours in peace, love, and rock 'n' roll!
The Reverend Will the Thrill
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