I'm Already Ready … For The Weekend!

Don’t you love weekends?  What’s it going to be like when we are all retired and get to have weekends basically every day?  Probably not the same – the weekend is rejuvenation time for us working stiffs who have to toil away during the week while The Man laughs and torments us.  I was listening to some songs on a recent Sunday, and thought that they captured weekends pretty well.
​
First up, it’s the chill sound of the Rascals Groovin.  Slow paced, tuneful with pop hooks galore, and lyrics that evoke a lazy Sunday afternoon, it’s pretty good stuff.  I’ve loved it for many years (and many other Rascals tunes for that matter), and thought it was the jam.  Here goes:

​But how about we go a little bigger?  I’m not a Loverboy fan at all, but I must admit that I jump when Working For The Weekend blasts off.  I remember when this song came out, and the work weeks just seemed sooooo long back in those days.  Weekends were what it was all about, and hey, that much hasn’t changed.  Let’s give a listen:

What about Wreckless Eric?  He’s a banger and I love him despite his recent disappointing show at Johnny Brenda’s.  He did a great tune called It’ll Soon Be The Weekend a few decades ago that is still useful for getting into that weekend mood.  Since it’s early in the week as I write this, I’m sure hoping that he is right and that it will soon be the weekend:

Chicago.  I never thought that I would put this top-40 band into the BRP catalog.  But Saturday In The Park was their breakout hit, and it was a good tune.  This one always reminds me of my eldest sister who was the one who brought it into my orbit.  Nostalgia blast! 

​Here’s another guy I never thought would make BRP, but you gotta go with what is out there:  Mr. Elton John with Saturday Night’s Alright For Fightin’.  Hey, I’m from the south, and most nights are alright for fightin’ down there, but this track has a banged up energy that makes you forget all about Honky Cat and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.  Elton’s nadir was the redo of Candle In The Wind after Princess Diana died.  Regardless of the schmaltz factor, Reggie did write some good tunes, and this is one of them:

​The Cure’s Friday I’m In Love is a great track.  Maybe Friday isn’t technically the weekend, but Friday night certainly is, and I’m going with it (if nothing else than to wash off the stank of Chicago and Elton).  Yes, the Cure were gloomy, and while I was into them big-time when they were still producing music that matters, I’ve found that a number of their tracks leave me bored now.  But not this one:  it’s pretty special to BRP for a very personal reason, and it makes me smile every time I hear it.  Now it’s your turn to hear it:

​Final one:  Dave Edmunds, one of the all-time greats, with Almost Saturday Night.  Dave is one talented guy, British but playing Americana, and I’ve seen him a number of times.  When matched up with Nick Lowe, they cranked out the Rockpile albums that were simply awesome and which remain great listens to this day.  But this track is Dave’s weekend special:

​What?  One last song?  Well, you know I’m a HUGE Graham Parker fan, and his track Saturday Nite Is Dead from the amazing Squeezing Out Sparks album is a classic rave up. I love Brinsley Schwartz's guitar in this song.  Hey, if you take away nothing else from this post, be sure to do yourself a favor and listen to this album.  It’s heartbreaking that Graham never made the big-time, but one spin will have you saying “why not?”  It’s one of those records that never loses its steam and power, even after all these years. 

And with that, it’s back to the work week with thoughts of next weekend brewing in our minds.  Keep The Man in check, make sure the paycheck hits the checkbook on Friday, and then go have some FUN.  As always, I have a big weekend lined up, and I’m sure you do, too.  It’s how we roll here at BRP.  Catch you later. ​