By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

Hard rock is a true thing or beauty! That perfect balance of the almighty riffs put in motion by Chuck Berry and the other elder statesmen amped up in attack and volume to drive it all home. AC/DC took that approach, recast in their own unique spirit and truly transformed the genre. The great British band Status Quo can probably be credited with pioneering this approach, but AC/DC took it and ran with it. 

Formed in 1973, AC/DC consciously avoided the trappings of all rock that surrounded them: nothing sweet, nothing mystical, nothing pretentious, just straight ahead rock and roll. Original singer Dave Evans did a fair job, but fronting this band required someone more authentic. Enter Bon Scott, a few years older than the others, battle scars and war wounds to prove it, but also the voice.  

From 1975 through 1978 AC/DC released five albums, all absolute classics and all produced by Harry Vanda and George Young, both former members of Australia's greatest 1960s export, the Easybeats! George also happened to be the older brother of AC/DC guitarists Malcolm and Angus Young. Wanda and Young created the perfect template for hard rock production, a no frills, straight to the heart sonic attack.  

By 1978 the band were at their peak, and truth be told, you would have been hard pressed to find a better live act. I can honestly say, seeing AC/DC open for Thin Lizzy in 1978 remains one of the greatest concerts I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot! Following the '78 'Powerage' tour, everything seemed in place as the band headed back to the studio. 

The major change this time out would be in the role of producer. Atlantic Records decided all that was holding them back from the big time was a more radio friendly approach to their albums and tried to match up legendary producer Eddie Kramer who had worked with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Peter Frampton, and Kiss. Immediately AC/DC were unhappy and when initial sessions yielded nothing, they convinced their manager to get Kramer out, ultimately going with  Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who was able to help them produce a masterpiece called 'Highway To Hell.' 

Released in the summer of 1979 to universal acclaim, radio finally came around with the title track blasting out of radios everywhere. From start to end, it's an absolute classic. 'Walk All Over You,' ' Touch Too Much,' ;Girls Got Rhythm,' 'Shot Down In Flames' and all the rest present the AC/DC style  for their die-hard fans and new converts alike to rejoice in. The album hit Top 10 in the UK and No. 17 in the states. 

Sadly, of course, the story is without a happy ending as just over six months later, singer Bon Scott was found dead with the coroner’s report concluding that Scott had died of "acute alcohol poisoning" classified as "death by misadventure.” 44 years on, let the music play loud as we present 'Highway To Hell' as our Summit FM Album Essential for this week. 

By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

When the Beatles burst into American living rooms on Feb. 9, 1964 via the Ed Sullivan Show, they altered the direction of the universe. That's no exaggeration! There was the world before the Beatles, and the world after. What we have now is the world after the world after, which is a big room in a lot of disarray, most of the old paint peeled off the wall, but a few of the original layers still able to peek through. 

The music of the Beatles startled and shook the music world to the core. Countless musicians sited that Sullivan show as the moment they knew they wanted to be a musician while others less musically inclined still pointed to it as a 'one day the world was suddenly in full color' moment. A huge reason the Beatles were not dismissed as temporary entertainment and fodder for the kids was because even those of an older generation knew there was something more to their music than a typical teenage come hither or empty calorie sugary beverage. There was, ahem, substance! 

Not wanting to seem like unhip day old bread, countless artists recorded Beatles songs who otherwise wouldn't have given a second listen to these 'long haired' kids from across the pond. Acknowledgement came from the likes of Leonard Bernstein to Frank Sinatra over time. Sinatra famously recording a version of George Harrison’s ‘Something,’ referring to it as the finest Lennon/McCartney composition. It was the thought that counted. 

Beatles songs were recorded in the mode of easy listening, country, folk, orchestral, jazz, electronic, you name it with nearly all versions succeeding at one level or another, simply because of the quality of the songs. Here then are a handful of Beatles interpretations, some to be take less seriously than others, but all sincere in their homage. Trust me, there's plenty more where these came from! 

By Ryan Humbert - Summit FM Contributor

Americana music has been around for a lot longer than most people realize, going as far back as, say, The Flying Burrito Brothers and Gram Parsons, to name just two. The biggest issue is that most folks didn't know what to call it. Alt-Country? Roots Rock? Twangcore?

While it's certainly had a mild identity crisis over the years, it doesn't matter what you call it -- it's always been a mixture of traditional American music genres -- folk, country, blues, bluegrass, soul and more.

Here are five smoking-hot new songs for August 2023 -- enjoy!

Don't forget to tune into the Americana Roundup, every Sunday morning from 9 to 11AM on The Summit FM -- hosted by Ryan Humbert, lead singer of the Shootouts. For more information, visit AmericanaRoundup.com.

By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

'Sailin' Shoes,' the sophomore effort from Little Feat, delivered on any promises put forth on their debut, yet changed up their approach a bit at the same time.  Released in 1972, 'Sailin' Shoes' was somewhat out of step, no pun intended, with so much of what was happening that year. A banner year for hard rock, progressive rock, and glam, new sounds and styles were the order of the day and to some extenet, Little Feat seemed like a holdover trading in blues, folk, and country sounds and a more earthy approach. 

There was, however, so much more going on with the songwriting of Lowell George, the sharp delivery of the band, and the ace production of Ted Templeman, that Little Feat were hardly yesterday’s news. 

Opening with the warm and inviting classic 'Easy To Slip,' the listener is pulled into a wonderful musical ride.  Songs like 'Willin',' 'Sailin Shoes,' A Apolitical Blues,' and 'Trouble sit very tall in the Little Feat catalog. These have been covered by everyone from Van Dyke Parks to Van Halen and Bob Weir to the Black Crowes. 

A real highlight is the straight on rocker 'Teenage Nervous Breakdown,' later covered by Nazareth, and the raucous 'Tripe Face Boogie.' showed the band could kick it out with the best of ‘em. If you need a comparison, of sorts, the album lands itself somewhere between the intersection of NRBQ and Rolling Stones Avenues, and that’s a pretty cool place to be. 

The band would soldier on through the '70s, changing styles and course as the mood struck, with the band coming to a halt with the death of Lowell George in 1979 at age 43, of a heart attack. His legacy and the band's catalog have a secure place in the hearts of fans worldwide, but 'Sailin' Shoes' was arguably their finest hour. The album was recently released in a deluxe Anniversary Edition. Enjoy as we present this week's Summit Essential. 

Hear tracks from "Sailing Shoes" all day long, one song per hour, this Thursday August 24th as our Summit Album Essentials!

By Brad Savage - Summit FM Program Director

On The Summit FM, you hear "Cruisin' The Decades - 100 Years of Music" each Friday at 5:00 pm! It has become a major "labour of love" for me to find and select the songs, as well as host this show. In fact, in many ways this "deep dive" into music history has led to me personally acquiring more and more and more physical media for my record collection, and spending more time than ever on "old" music.

It's funny because I absolutely love new music, emerging artists, local, and cutting edge new bands. Part of my job is to keep on top of new releases and know about the newest bands. But, there is magic is these classic recordings. This "Cruisin'" material is where it all came from, and it's the roots of modern music.

"Cruisin' The Decades: Global Edition" is now heard on 38 independent radio stations across the USA, Canada, Germany (shortwave radio), New Zealand, and now in Roatan, Honduras (Bay Islands). It is a global radio show and the mission and the concept is a love of music and the magic of the airwaves!

Here are some old songs I have been recently enjoying!

By Laura Smiley - Summit FM Sales Director

Wellness can be achieved by virtue of completing a journey and maintain a lifestyle. But it can also be magnified by our ability to appreciate and be thankful for the things that we already have! Summit Wellness continues to hum the melody of connection between feeling good and feeling grateful!  

Gratitude is a monthly feature contributed by Matt Anthony, Digital Media Producer and on-air host for the Summit FM. Matt reflects on instances where we might uncover more ways to appreciate what’s in front of us, and how those instances might contribute to our overall health and well-being. 

"Microscopic Moments of Mirth"
By Matt Anthony - Summit FM Contributor

At the 2:34 mark of The Rolling Stones’ version of “Just My Imagination’” from the iconic Some Girls album, there’s a seemingly unnoticeable 3-chord slide-riff that jumps out of the mix. I’m not sure whether it’s Keef or Woody who is responsible for it. But I remember hearing it for the first time, when it gently massaged the Jensen Coaxial speakers of my ’71 Old Cutlass.  I was blown away.  

In the over 40 years since then, whenever I listened to their version of The Temptations classic, I would ready myself, as if I had a Fender Telecaster in my hands, and playfully mimic that quick, soulful, staccato burst of gooey joy that, for whatever reason, took hold of me on that day in 1978. 

Why did it do that? 

As I advance along the AARP-timeline, I’ve come to realize that ‘gratitude’ can come in very small, bite-size chunks.  And our appreciation of these tiny events may not be immediately apparent, as it was when first hearing Side 1/Song 3 of Some Girls.  Social media has instructed us that the big achievements in our lives get top billing.  For instance, moments ago, while scrolling through my Facebook page, a friend announced a major, life-changing job promotion. A family-member shared photos of a gender-reveal party.  And over on Instagram, two of my nephews boasted loudly of the seats they procured for a huge EDM show. 

I've had a hard time leaving this town 
I've been losing everything that I've found 

Within the last year, I’ve introduced a couple of good friends to the music of The Clarks.  My friend, Gary, likes to read the lyrics when he encounters a new song.  As a history and theology buff, his eyes were instantly widened from the instant “Born Too Late’ invaded the Bluetooth speaker that sat on their front porch. He was in love with them. 

Now, I’m not a musician by any stretch of the imagination, primarily just tinkering from time to time on an old Sigma acoustic. But that G-to-Am-to-D transition at the :42 mark is the goosebump-moment.  Why is that? How do we explain it? I mean, it’s a chord-progression that takes less than three seconds? 

These small moments of gratitude can be largely complex. And the appreciation of them can go amazingly unnoticed.  This life-lesson has become much more magnified after January of 2019 when I was entrusted with being a caregiver. What has become much more pronounced for me as we make our way through the 4^th year of this disease is that tiny instances of joy can often be shrouded by the big picture.  And that means that we sometimes have to take more time to find them. 

So, I try to keep this mantra alive every day: uncover something blissful and magnify it.  But it’s tough.   

‘Music’ seems to be a worthy barometer.  When I come home in the middle of the day to check on my bride to make sure that she’s safe and to find out she’s spending her day, I can usually count on help from Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir. The house is normally full of music. Generally, it’s (coincidentally) the Grateful Dead.  Donna and her son have been long-time fans, so Terrapin Station or American Beauty provides lunch-time entertainment. Snagging a few bites of quinoa while watching her joyfully mouthing the words is pretty simple but pretty remarkable. 

Fire wheel burning in the air 
You will follow me and we will ride to glory 
Way up, the middle of the air 

The smiley-face that a server at a restaurant places next to her name on the check when she thanks you for visiting. That refreshing, clean, swept-away smell that emerges after a storm has blown through and the humidity has lowered. Or, as experienced this past week, that comforting mellowness of being able to put your stuff back in its place after a weekend full of painting the interior of your home. 

No, they don’t compare, necessarily, to graduation ceremonies, trips to Hawaii, or the birth of a daughter.  But while life is punctuated with major milestones, its DNA is comprised of smaller, somewhat mundane, ebb-and-flow events that, on the surface, seem incongruous with the ‘big stuff’.  

But these are the things that matter. These are the things that get us through. They mirror the historic double-tap ending of “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. That delicious pause before Michael Hutchence mumbles the line, “You’re one of my kind”.  That silky, sexy trumpet-punch when Miles announces his entrance at 1:32 of “So What” inside Kind Of Blue. 

These are the moments that can inspire true gratitude. 

By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

I've been listening to music probably every day since 1967. From transistor AM radio all the way to streaming audio, it's been a long strange trip of sounds to say the least. Countless 45's, albums and cds obtained over the decades, a laundry list of concerts attended, promoted and performed along the way as well. I’ll be honest, this far along the trail, it's hard to get the wind knocked out of me by a band. 

I still look and listen for new bands and artists all the time with hopes that there will be one that creates the right spark. Ideally it would be a long lasting relationship, one where you immerse yourself in their world and look forward to each and every release. Other times, it may be a less involved romance or, to paraphrase Pink Floyd, they give you a “quick short, sharp shock.” Sometimes, that's just what the doctor ordered, and does the trick. It is with that spirit in mind, I would like to tell you about a recent obsession of mine, Otoboke Beaver. 

Otoboke Beaver are a fierce female foursome from Osaka, Japan. They formed in 2009, releasing a handful of singles and ep's before finally issuing their first proper album, ‘Super Champion, last year. The best way to experience this fantastic four, however, is to see them live, but if that isn’t on the docket, YouTube will suffice for the time being. 

It's a safe bet that you have never witnessed energy, chaos, harmony, precision and cuteness all at the same time quite like Otoboke Beaver. They are all excellent musicians and though what they play is very rooted in a hardcore/thrash hybrid of sorts, they manage to mix in spot on harmonies and prog-like precision that all adds up to a sonic explosion like you've never heard. Dressed up in the sharpest mid-60's mod girl attire complete with old school stage moves, the juxtaposition of sweet and sinister side by side is both alarming and engaging. 

Led by singer Accorinrin and guitarist Yoyoyoshie, who are backed by a most dynamic rhythm section of bassist Hirochan and Kahokiss on drums, these four lovely ladies are a Molotov cocktail of caffeine, amphetamine, anger and joy that at once assaults and captivates as it plants a big wide smile on your face.  

The list of unique acts from Japan to make inroads in America goes back to at least, 1963 with singer Kyu Sakamoto, who scored a number one hit with "Sukiyaki." Sung in Japanese, it sold an astonishing 13 million copies at the time. There were the Mops, a garage band formed in 1966 who adopted a Stones/Beatles approach, the psychedelic sounds of the Flower Travelin' Band, and in the early 1970s a fantastic combo that mixed glam, pop and prog called the Sadistic Mika Band.  

Signed to Harvest/EMI records and produced by Chris Thomas, the Sadistic Mika Band landed the opening slot on the Roxy Music tour in 1975 and actually received slight commercial radio airplay in some markets, Cleveland being one of them. Fast forward a few and we have the Plastics, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Shonen Knife, and later Guitar Wolf, Teengenerate ,High Rise, Keiji Haino, Marble Sheep and on and on, and, let us not forget Yoko Ono's part in all this!. Japan has always had an interesting music scene, but rarely made a dent elsewhere.  

Sometimes, the Japanese interpretation of Western styles is, let’s say, charmingly alarming. High Rise, for instance, took the crash, bang wallop of Blue Cheer, only, as if Blue Cheer weren’t loud and Neanderthal enough, High Rise opted to turn up the volume to internal organ vibrating levels as they delivered their three chords in the 1990s. 

But I digress – back to Otoboke Beaver!  

Songs like "I Am Not Maternal," "I Won't Dish Out Salads," "Leave Me Alone! No, Stay with Me!" and "Let's Go Shopping After The Show" are blasts of mayhem, the longest song clocking in at just over two minutes. It was a live video of "I Checked Your Cell Phone" that first caught my attention. Randomly popping up in my YouTube feed, I was, for some reason, curious enough to click it. Once there, I couldn't turn back! The KEXP Session posted here is perhaps the best and most well rounded presentation of what they do. Actual live concerts tend to be more chaotic, often finding Yoyoyoshie diving in the crowd, guitar in hand. 

I will tell you that this is not for the faint of heart, nor is it something I would listen to all the time, but there is something very special about this foursome that are doing something very original, not taking themselves too seriously and at the same time, totally delivering the goods. Does anyone remember ‘Pink Lady and Jeff’? Never mind.  

I don't know what else to say, other than, welcome to the world of Otoboke Beaver! Hate mail and/or thank you cards all welcome! 

By Laura Smiley - Summit FM Sales Director

By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

As the Goo Goo Dolls stumbled out of their home base in Buffalo, New York back in 1986, it would have been hard for anyone at the time to have them pegged as becoming a million selling pop group. As they began, their sound was more akin to the ragged aesthetics of the Replacements brushed with some pseudo-Metal tendencies with a punk spirit driving them. 

They were one of countless bands dealing in similar sounds at the time. Their 1986 debut on Celluoid Records showed off that style and featured the lead vocals of bassist Robby Takac. Soon they were signed by Metal Blade Records, an odd match up, that led to the album 'Jed,' a smiliar batch of songs, the only difference being that guitarist John Rzeznik took the lead vocal on a couple tracks. This small alteration would set coordinate for the road ahead and on the follow-up, Rzeznik would handle the bulk of vocals, setting the stage for their major label debut. 

Over the next 4 or 5 years, the band, now signed to Warner Brothers, honed their style mixing hard edged rock with more pop styles and production values, each album gaining more attention. Songs like 'Long Way Down' and especially 'Name' put them on MTV and radio and suddenly, this ragged mob from Buffalo were a cleaned up pop band ready to take on the world. 

Released in 1998, 'Dizzy Up The Girl. Fulfilled any promises put forth by the previous few albums with the single 'Iris' being omnipresent for the following year. The album would go on to sell over four million copies and cement the band as a favorite in the 'post-grunge' era of the late 1990s. 

The spotlight may have moved, but the Goo Goo Dolls remain, fan base intact, consistently releasing albums along the post-Dizzy path right up to 2022's 'Chaos In Bloom.' 

Catch the Goo Goo Dolls and OAR at Blossom Music Center on Sunday, August 20th