YTunes Shuffle Episode 67: Adam Chester Song Nuggets

Adam Chester is a song writer, singer, pianist, author and most notably, Sir Elton John's surrogate. That means, Adam stands in for Elton to rehearse the band and sometimes, even helps Elton remember how to play some of his own songs. Through his Fave 5 we get a sense of how Adam came to be a successful musician and a family man.  Here are a few little extras, or Nuggets on the music he brought in to share.

Allan Sherman “My Zelda”

Allan is a Chicago born and raise comedy writer. This song, from the album “My Son, The Folk Singer” (1962) became the fastest-selling record up to that time. He went to University of Illinois (Maggi’s alma mater) and wrote for the Daily Illini. He never graduated because he was expelled for reaking into a campus sorority house with his then-girlfriend.

Elton John “Funeral For A Friend”

This was known as one of the first bathroom break songs on radio. It is 11 minutes long and wasn’t played very much on FM radio but still gained immense popularity.” Funeral For a Friend” is the instrumental section and transitions into “Love Lies Bleeding.” Not surprisingly, he wrote the music for this song after thinking about what he would want played at his funeral. In this episode, Adam talks about how Love Lies Bleeding is also the name of a flower! Check out the beautiful blossom here.

Adam Chester “8 Days And Nights”

A Ytunes Shuffle first and original!!!

Bee Gees “How Deep Is Your Love”

This was a big radio smash and broke a big record for the 70’s by staying #1 for 3 weeks and then stayed in the Top 10 for 17 weeks! The band was sued by a man named Ronald Selle, an antiques dealer in Illinois who wrote a song called “Let It End” claiming “How Deep Is Your Love” was based off of Selle’s song.  Selle’s song was never released, he just made a home recording that he had sent to publishers. The jury did convict The Bee Gees to copying Selle’s song based on similarities between songs,  but the judge nullified the verdict.

Truman Chester “Burn”

Truman Chester is the 14 year old son of our guest. This is an original recording not available (yet) for purchase or download. You can hear the song only on this episode of YTunes Shuffle.

YTunes Shuffle Episode 66: Brian Scolaro's Song Nuggets

This week's guest, Brian Scolaro, is a nationally touring comedian and television actor, recognizable from shows like Madmen, I'm Dying Up here, Girl Meets Word, Superior DOnuts, Conan, Bones, Grey's Anatomy, and Dexter, to name a few. These are Brian's #Fave5 songs and a little extra 'nugget' for you to further enjoy the artists as well!

WALL OF VOODOO "Mexican Radio"

This songs joins the ranks of ZZ Top's "Heard It On The X" and The Doors' "The WASP Texas Radio and The Big Beat" because it was inspired by the unregulated AM stations from Mexico that would bleed into American stations. The video for this song got tons of airplay on MTV in 1981. At the time MTV didn't have many videos to choose from and even the record company didn't want them spending any money on the video...or even do one. Lead singer Stan Ridgeway said "we had to push to get that thing out there ourselves. So in spite of the record company, whatever success it had was really the band's and mine."

EXUBA- The Obeah Man

Tony McKay moved to NYC from the Bahamas at 17 years old to study architecture. Didn't finish that and instead found himself the front of a group called Tony McKay and the Islanders. In the 1960's, he found himself performing with the likes of Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Jimi Hendrix, and Barbra Streisand.

PETER GABRIEL "Washing Of The Water"

Founder of Genesis....in early concerts, they had a bad PA system so it made it difficult to hear what Peter was singing. This drove Gabriel to find other ways to impress his personality on the audience...so hestarted wearing various costumes. Everything from a dress-wearing fox head (which you see on the cover of Foxtrot) to batwings, to a Flower to "Britannia" which looks like a trans roman warrior.

ELO "Mr. Bluesky"

VERA LYNN "We'll Meet Again"

This song is sentimental and optimistically written for the British troops during WWII. This song is directly cited in Pink Floyd's 1979 Vera, from their album "The Wall." This song was used on a compliation in 2009 to coincide with the 70-year anniversary of the declaration of WWII. Suddenly, Vera, at the age of 92, became the oldest living artist to make it to #1 on the album chart.

YTunes Shuffle Episode 64 Song Nuggets Ft. Monique Wyatt

Monique Wyatt is a creative writer and stand up comedian; add wife and super mom to that and you are about to meet amazing human being. Check out the soundtrack to her life and all the juicy nuggets that come with it:

MICHAEL JACKSON "Bad"

This was supposed to be a duet with Prince. Producer Quincy Jones arranged a meeting with both superstars, and when Prince heard the song, he told Jones that it would be a hit without him. Turned down the project. Prince isn't exactly a fan on collaborations that he doesn't control...and appearing on Jackson's album would have been out of character for him.

TONY TERRY "When I'm With You"

Terry was featured in the movie Sisterella "co-produced by Michael Jackson. He also did a run on broadway as The Tin Man in The Wiz.

BEYONCE "Party"

Beyonce chose to work with Kanye West (a frequent collaborator of her husband) after she heard his song "Runaway" which she admitted made her cry. "The fact that he's belting out his pain, his confusion, and his anger with no pre-written lyrics was so moving. He's singing his heart out for five minutes. He is so vulnerable. I love when an artist can be so honest." Also, her Destiny's Child co stars make an appearance in the music video!

ALANIS MORISSETTE "Right Through You"

As a teen, Alanis suffered from eating disorders. When she went to therapy to deal with these issues, she learned she had chronic depression and plagued by anxiety attacks, which happened when she was watching movies. She was prescribed medication, but never stayed on it, since she didn't like the way the pills make her feel. She opened for Vanilla Ice on his 1990 tour.

EMPIRE SOUNDTRACK "Mama"

The song was sung by Jussie Smollett's character Jamal on the 7th episode of the third seaon in the scene where the Lyons were having dinner at Cookie's place with Angelo's family. It is dedicated to Jamal's mother, Cookie. Actually written by, Jussie Smollett.

Keep up with Monique and her stand up on Facebook! Then make sure to like and share and connect with the show on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

YTunes Shuffle Song Nuggets Episode 63: Matt Brauning

Matt Brauning is an empowerment speaker, life coach and new author of "The Firebox Principle." He and host Maggi Mayfield are long time friends so you will hear one of these songs that is tribute to their drinkin' days! Matt is a big fan of the WWE, a 4 times successful entrepreneur, and a family man. These songs help tell the story of his life!


TOM PETTY "Making Some  Noise"

This was Tom Petty's first single! At first, that juicy guitar lick we hear (written by Heartbreaker Mike Campbell) was used only at the end of the song....making it a 7 minute song. Then, a singer on the same label, Dwight Twilley, came by when Petty was playing it and suggested they use it throughout the song. Petty liked the idea and called the band back to the studiointhe middle of the night to re-record it. The final version is 2:43 seconds long!

BIG & RICH "Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy"

This song made a big impact on the charts because it was featured in the advertisements for ESPN's coverage of the 2004 World Series Of Poker.

The shoot for the video of this song has a huge parade with dancers, marching bands, horses and friends like Gretchen WIlson and Cowboy Troy...it caused over $23,000 in damage to Nashville's Shelby Street Bridge. John RIch, the son of a preacher, told Billboard magazine, "When your dad's a preacher, and you have a song on the radio called "Save a Horse Ride a Cowby" that makes for an interesting conversation."

JOHNNY CASH "I Walk The Line"

While performing this song on his TV show, Cash admitted that his eerie hum at the beginning of each verse was to get his pitch.

LIVING COLOR "Cult Of Personality"

Much of the success of this song is owed to MTV. In the book "I WANT MY MTV, it was claimed the Epic Records, who had both Living Colour and Michael Jackson on their roster, refused to release Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" video to the network until they agree to put the "Cult of Personality" clip in heavy rotation."

You can also find a version of this in Guitar Hero 3.

TOM PETTY "Learning To Fly"

Not about drugs! Petty got the idea for it when he saw a pilot being interviewed on TV. The pilot said how it wasn't hard to fly...the hardest part was coming down.  THe song was informed by the political events at the time....mostly the Gulf War...and the band's dynamics.Into THe Great Wide Open was a Heartbreakers album, whereas the previous album, Full Moon Fever, was a solo album. He told Billboard, "I wanted that song to be kind of redemptive song, only in the vaguest way, certainly not literally."

Follow Matt Brauning's progress on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

YTunes Shuffle Episode 62- Alex D'Lerma Song Nuggets

Alex D'Lerma just finished his press tour for his latest film he wrote and directed called "Fear, Love And Agoraphobia. The five songs he chose take us through growing up in a big family where he was the youngest of 6 kids, what it was like in a small agricultural town as a kid, facing racism, meeting his best friend in 1st grade and how he got started in the arts and what his journey has been like since.

These are five life defining songs for the filmmaker.

THE BRAVE KIND "Dogs"

Fronted by sisters Megan and Lauren Sexton, from Ventura, CA. They call their style, sister friend folk band.

THE BEATLES "It's Getting Better"

The Sgt. Pepper album made pop history. It was the first album where the lyrics were printed on the back cover. And, the album was inspired by The BEACHBOYS "Pet Sounds"

BILLY JOEL "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant"

Billy Joel has ranked this #1 on his list of top Billy Joel songs. Billy says this song was inspired by The Beatles, specifically Abbey Road, where a few unfinished tunes were put together to create one coherent peice.

RANDY CRAWFORD "Street Life"

Despite her American Nationality, she won Best British Female Solo Artist in 1982. She's had multiple top 5 hits in the UK but has never even entered the Hot 100 as a solo artist in the US.

VAN MORRISON "Someone Like You"

Charlie's Angel Farrah Fawcett was a big fan of Van Morrison. When she was dying of cancer and too sick to go to one of his shows, he taped it especially for her...and it was one of the last things she ever watched.

Keep up with Alex D'Lerma's work through his website.

YTunes Shuffle Nuggets Episode 61: Maureen Davis

Maureen Davis is a foundational cornerstone of the LA Rockabilly scene. She is the front person/singer/songwriter for Maureen Davis and The Mercury 5. She is a fashion icon and teachers at The School of Rock. Here are the YTunes Nuggets on the original #Fave5 she submitted, although these were not what she played on the episode.



DIONNE WARWICK-Walk On By

She got arrested in  Miami airport for having marijuana on her. The headlines read "Walk On High"  (This recording has 2 grand pianos...this was the first time this was ever done)

BLACK KEYS-Psychotic Girl

Their music has appeared in several advertisements, but the group is picky about which companies use their music. Early on, the band was offered a 6-digit sum to use their songs in an English mayo commercial. They said no because they didn't want to alienate their fan base. They are also Obama supporters and have played benefit shows for his 2008 campaign.

BUDDIE & JULIE MILLER-You Make My Heart Beat Fast

Buddie Miller has worked with the likes of Shawn Colvin and Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash and Lee Ann Womack and was the producer for the show Nashville. The duo has two recorded albums together, but regularly make appearances on each other's solo projects.

MAUREEN AND THE MERCURY 5-Baby Please Don't Go

Their songs are heard on Lifetime Channel and Comedy Central. Their co producer, Scotty Lund, has worked with the likes of Black eyed peas, rihanna, drake). So they are in good hands!

BONNIE RAITT-Cry Like A River

Her father was a broadway singer, Carousel, Oklahoma!, and her mother is an accomplished pianist/singer, Marge Goddard. The best advice her dad gave her: Make every night, opening night.

Thank you so much for listening and we'd love your feedback on the show! Email us with questions, comments and concerns ytunesshuffle@gmail.com. Thanks!

YTunes Shuffle Song Nuggets: Episode 59 Maddison Bullock

Maddison Bullock is a highly trained athlete (figure skater) as well as a well regarded actress and now film producer! She spent time on the show sharing her #Fave5 songs and how her life led her to making her biggest project "ICE: The Movie" out on Amazon now.

OASIS "Wonderwall"

The general consensus is that this song is about Noel Gallagher's then-girlfriend Meg Mathews, who is compared with a schoolboy's wall to which posters of footballers and Pop stars are attached. He told Select magazine at the time: "It's about my girlfriend. She was out of work, and that, a bit down on her luck, so it's just saying, 'Cheer up and f---in get on with it.'" Noel later married then divorced Meg Mathews. However, according to Q magazines 1001 Best Songs Ever, this was not about Mathews. Noel is quoted as saying, "The meaning of that song was taken away from me by the media who jumped on it. And how do you tell your Mrs. it's not about her once she's read it is? It's about an imaginary friend who's going to come and save you from yourself."
The music is based on Wonderwall Music, an instrumental album George Harrison wrote for the movie Wonderwall in 1968. This was the first solo album released by any of The Beatles.


KENNY LOGGINS "Danger Zone"

Finished school in Alhambra CA. Also wrote four songs as part of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band! When Loggins experienced health problems in 1982, he was referred to Julia Cooper, a colon therapist. They felt an immediate connection. They were both married, but were both unhappy in their relationships. Loggins then had one child, and his wife was pregnant with their second. Their relationship was limited to a close friendship for many years. Near the end of the 1980s, Loggins separated from his wife, Eva, at nearly the same time Julia left her husband, and they began a deeper relationship. They were married in 92


A TEENS "Upside Down"

Upside down was the groups first original song. An ABBA cover band, this Swedish band was a world wide success and up for awards like Billboard newcomer artist of the year against Blink 182 and Christina Aguilera. One song “Dancing Queen” They made the video after the story of Breakfast Club.

THE GLITCH MOB "Fortune Days"

 An electro band from Los Angeles...the way they found “the largest audience of any LA band” according to La weekley, was by performing live...a lot.

IMAGINE DRAGONS "Believer"

The band came up with the name as an anagram from other words. No one but the band knows what it stands for. Not even their families. And now they won’t ever say because it’s been built up for so long that anything they say at this point will be a let down.

Maddison Bullock is continuing to work on several projects including two movies and writing a book. Keep up with her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.