Day 473: The Big Box O’ Juke – 90s Edition

originally published April 17, 2013 Once again it’s time to twist that volume knob all the way to the right, wrap yourself in your favorite flannel shirt, bring your old Tamagotchi back to life, and ease into the latest batch of vintage tuneage from the Big Box ‘O Juke. Today we’re dipping into the music […]

Day 434: 50 Years Of Feeling The Boner In Her Hair

originally published March 9, 2013 Not a lot of songs are so generously packed full of interesting tidbittery to warrant a thousand words. Three-hundred fifty-one days ago, I devoted an article to what I have yet to be convinced is not the worst song of the 1980’s, “We Built This City” by Starship. Today’s song […]

Day 422: Big Box O’Juke – 70’s Edition

originally published February 25, 2013 It’s time to dial up some tuneage from the distant past, back when cheese was king and fashions looked like rainbows had thrown up onto a jelly bean factory. Yes, it’s another edition of the Big Box O’ Juke, where you learn the stories behind the hits, and probably end […]

Day 408: A Half-Century Of Beatle Gold

originally published February 11, 2013 First off, I’d like to apologize in advance to all members of the baby boomer generation. This article may assist in making you feel old. That said, you’re going to have to get used to the fact that every significant cultural accomplishment of the 1960’s is going to turn 50 […]

Day 390: Girl You Know It’s (Totally Not) True

originally published January 24, 2013 So it looks like Beyonce may have been lip-synching when she belted out the national anthem on Monday before a chilly Washington crowd at President Obama’s inauguration. Is this a big deal? Should we, the public, feel duped or deceived? On the one hand her voice may have been affected […]

Day 381: The Big Box Of Juke – 80s Edition

originally published January 15, 2013 Last night I fell asleep with a song in my head. This morning, the bridge of that song – essentially the same lyric and countermelody, repeated over and over again at a gradually increasing tempo – haunted the crusty innards of my brain. It’s a great song, but any tune […]

Day 376: Quince-Brogels’s Lost Operas

originally published January 10, 2013 We are extremely fortunate to have acquired the private journals of Elias Quince-Brogels, the noted early 20th-century composer of such memorable operas as Tessitura di Spinach and Luogo’s Serenade To His Coffee Table. And while some of the journals allow us a tremendous insight into the man himself (it seems […]

Day 367: The Happy Rockin’ New Year’s Day Quiz

originally published January 1, 2013 It’s New Year’s Day, and that means forsaking actual research in lieu of a Holiday Quiz. For me, it’s a big jump forward. I can no longer Google “What Day Of The Year Is It” in order to make sure my article numbering is correct; now I have to do […]

Day 337: One And Done

originally published December 2, 2012 I’ll be honest, I didn’t think this would make a full article. What is a one-hit wonder? Quick answer: an artist or band who scored only one hit in either the Top-40 or the Top-100, depending on your criteria. Simple, right? So let’s look at a big list that will […]

Day 309: 1000 Morphemes, 1000 Diurnal Courses

originally published November 4, 2012 Nobody picks up a guitar and searches clumsily for their first proper E chord, hoping someday they’ll play in a Bay City Rollers tribute band. But they might figure out the progression to “Saturday Night”, and it’s possible that they’re pretty good at it. And when they’re older, struggling to […]