Route 66 - February 7, 2019

Next up in our look back 25 years to albums released in 1994, we have the debut record from the band Cake.

This is a band that had quite a few hits in the mid-90s, but has since fallen into obscurity. Aside from one or two songs, they are rarely played on radio stations today. I admit that I was not a fan of their quirky sound back when it came out. I found them too weird for my tastes. However, I've learned to appreciate the band in recent years, and their sound has remained original and fresh today.

Cake was a post-grunge band formed in Sacramento, California. This first album was a modest hit, but it was really their second album that made them famous. That's the one that featured their biggest hit "The Distance" and their sarcastic-ironic cover of "I Will Survive." I suppose in the past 25 years, I've heard so many rock songs and groups that all sound the same, that today Cake's unique blend of rock, funk, jazz and creative-catchy lyrics remains completely original and creative. Their music stands above much of what we hear today and they deserve to be rediscovered.

On a personal note, we played a Cake song at my wedding when, you guessed it: we cut the wedding cake.

Released EXACTLY 25 years ago today, on February 7, 1994, here are 2 songs from "Motorcade of Generosity" by the band Cake. The opening track "Comanche" and their first hit song "Rock and Roll Lifestyle."

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We're continuing our look back 50 years to the anniversary of Woodstock, and tonight I'm featuring a less familiar band. They were a blues-rock-country group that performed on the festival's second night: Saturday, August 16, 1969. The band is Canned Heat. They were a very popular act in the late '60s with several hit singles. They even performed at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 - one of only a handful of bands to play both Monterey and Woodstock.

Canned Heat had a distinctive sound, led by Alan Wilson who was both the songwriter, singer, guitarist, and harmonica player. Even though they're not as well known today, they influenced quite a few bands including the likes of ZZ Top and the band Phish.

Similar to other acts at Woodstock, however, Canned Heat's success and momentum was cut short due to tragedy. One year after Woodstock, in 1970, their lead singer Alan Wilson, died at age 27.

Here now is their biggest hit "Goin' Up The Country."

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