Hit Me

Listening to Morning Train (9-5) is considered a non-violent form of torture, completely based on my true personal experience seeing Sheena Easton sing this song. Earworm Alert!

We discuss the Toronto connection to Bob Seger's song, Night Moves.

Robert recalls the time he had one hour with the legendary Leonard Cohen at CBC Radio promoting his CD, I'm Your Man. 

Fly By Night versus Fly at Night: There's no dogfight here, they're both winners. Enjoy!

Some bird songs from The Beatles, it's as simple as that. 

When I worked at cfny fm radio Toronto in the early 80's I got to listen to a lot of music. Here are some of my favourite songs from those days.

American Songwriter David Olney died performing at a Songwriter's Festival in Florida. This is a short Hit Me Tribute

Songwriter David Olney died this week performing in Florida. Here's a short Hit Me tribute.

What could these two songs possibly have in common? Find out on this week's Hit Me!

If you love horses, you'll love this week's Hit Me. Lots of fun and puns.

I have a beef about TV and film using Louis Prima and his music to denote 50's and 60's Las Vegas. Have a listen.

This year's annual Very Merry Hit Me Christmas Special looks at four Christmas Songs. Or are they? 

Hit Me warms you up with the Calypso style songs composed by the late songwriter Irving Burgie.

Windsor Ontario born Rockabilly singer and songwriter Jack Scott died this week. 

Hit Me talks about the late singer-songwriter Iain Sutherland who with his brother Gavin performed and wrote Rod Stewart's Sailing and the song Arms of Mary covered by Chilliwack in Canada.

Hit Me Episode 53 debuts our Genius Series beginning with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Even includes some Barenaked Ladies. Listen to the end because we are also debuting our first contest. Enjoy!

If you watched Taylor Swift on the AMA's this week, then you gotta listen to this week's podcast. For another opinion.

I play three songs that make me cry. Because it's Cryin' Time. 

It's our 50th Hit Me episode so since we've put in our 10,000 hours like The Beatles did we are playing Robert's favourite song(s) from each individual Beatle. 

A look back at the song Tennessee Whiskey, a recent cover hit by Chris Stapleton. Hard liquor will not be served. 

No music, no lyrics, Hit Me Episode 48 just talks about the creation of the song, Me and Bobby McGee.

An interesting personal look back at the late singer Bob McBride, best known as the lead singer of Lighthouse. Sorry for the technical difficulties...

Hit Me Episode 46 goes Country inspired by the PBS Country Music documentary by director Ken Burns. Listen to the evolution to this Kitty Wells standard.

As September slowly comes to an end, Hit Me looks at a bunch of September songs. Don't worry, it gets better by the end of the episode.

Hit Me Episode 44 remembers the late Paul Revere, the  Last Mad Man of Rock and Roll. Quentin Tarantino pays homage to the Raiders in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and I remember a great latter day Paul Revere and the Raiders concert in Toronto. 

For no particular reason, Hit Me remembers Call Me Maybe. Of course, I have a personal story about Carly Rae Jepsen and her big hit.

There's no Elvis like the real Elvis. Or is there? 

Back from vacation with a Woodstock minute to start off Episode 41 and then a quick get to know Eva Cassidy.

Hit Me showcases songs by famous musicians who attended my now closed alma mater, Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute in Toronto.

Hit Me is finally enjoying a little summer vacation and we hope you are too. So only two podcasts over the next little while. This week we talk about and play Dan Hill's signature song Sometimes When We Touch. Enjoy!

Meet and listen to three Jewish boys I knew who rocked. You might know them too. 

A quick look and listen to the Gimbel and Fox song Girl sung by Davy Jones.

 If you've ever been to Nashville TN, watched the TV series Nashville or are a singer-songwriter type, you've probably heard of the Bluebird Cafe. Hear all about it from someone who's performed there: Me.

What can you say about Morris Albert's Feelings? Cheesy? Second Cousin? Lawsuit? Pour Toi? Stan Kenton? It's all here in Hit Me Episode 35. 

July 1 is Canada's Birthday and Hit Me is celebrating with some odd and not so odd songs about Canada. 

You must listen to this Tony Awards' off air performance of Everything's Coming Up Roses, the showstopping song from the Broadway Musical Gypsy,  sung by Billy Porter. 

Hit Me looks at and listens to Bob Welch's solo hit Sentimental Lady. 

Hit Me talks about and plays some of the music of a few musical greats who passed away recently.  

It's Tony Awards week and we take a look at not only the multiple Tony Award winning musical Once but a quirky promotion that involved the singing of its  signature movie and musical song, Falling Slowly (The song also won an Oscar) and the hundreds of guitar players who showed up to play along with the cast. 

A Mini Music Memory about the time Mason Williams played a bit of Classical Gas on my first guitar.

Don't know who Les Reed is? I didn't until I read his recent obituary and learned about the great songs he co-wrote and that I've been singing some of them for years.

Three good songs that I discovered and the interesting paths upon which I found them. 

Trying something different this week. I discuss Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline without playing the song or reciting lyrics. Just barely.

Hit Me Episode 26 is all about singer and songwriter Bobby Day. It's just not Spring until you hear his signature song. And two other hit surprises from his catalogue.

It's the 25th episode of Hit Me so we're celebrating Hit Me style by featuring all danceable songs that only use two chords. Enjoy!

Hit Me Episode 24 is short and sweet and all about those lines you may have missed on four particular hit records by the Beatles, The Captain and Tennille, Little Stevie Wonder and Barenaked Ladies. The fun continues next week with the Two Chord Dance Party celebrating Hit Me's 25th episode. 

Ten years ago this week I attended a great concert by legendary songwriters performing their hit songs at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville TN. I try to recreate some of the magic of that evening in this week's podcast.

Hit Me Episode 22 looks at three songs you thought were written by the artists who made it famous. 

We look at and listen to a few good songs that I seemed to have missed when they were popular. 

Lyricist Hal David wrote some great songs. Here are three I didn't know he wrote. 

 Never heard of Bob? You've heard his music and musical friends: Buddy Holly, Charlie Rich, Bobby Goldsboro; its about time you know about Bob Montgomery.

Hit Me Episode 18 is a Mini Music Memory about autographed CDs. I play and talk about three. How many do you have?

Learn a bit about guitar chords and hit songs that are one chord wonders. Robert also plays his guitar and sings in this Hit Me Episode 17!

Hit Me Episode Sixteen looks at the history and mystery of the song House of the Rising Sun.

A short Hit Me Episode Fifteen on a big talent the late SNL comedian Phil Hartman who earlier on in his career did album cover art.

Hit Me Episode Fourteen looks at a few Records in Peril: classic records you probably won't be hearing much of in the future.

Hit Me Episode Thirteen a Mini Music Memory when I attended a Pro Songwriter led Song Camp outside Nashville, TN.

Hit Me Episode Twelve is about Canadian singers and musicians born, raised or lived a spell in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Inspired by the recent passing of Daryl Dragon, the Captain in The Captain and Tennille, Hit Me Episode Eleven takes a look back at the song Muskrat Love.

Hit Me Episode Ten: Ten Feet From Garth. A Mini Music Memory about that time I saw superstar Garth Brooks performing in a small club in Nashville.

Hit Me Podcast Episode Nine featuring Christmas songs you've probably never heard before.

Hit Me Episode Eight is about some of Tom Jones' hit songs and song choices after having read his autobiography. 

The recent passing of singer-songwriter Scott English, who co-wrote Brandy, later known as Mandy by Barry Manilow got us thinking about song titles that Rhyme With Brandy.

Today begins a new occasional feature episode called Mini Music Memories. I recall a 1977 college show by the popular Canadian band The Stampeders right about the time they briefly switched over to be a multi-piece funk band. Also James Leroy and the Dave Clark Five!

Hit Me Episode Five looks at singers and musicians who've had hit songs with two different bands. 

Hit Me looks at the variety of hit songs that Glen Campbell played guitar on as a session musician.

We focus on some obscure female songwriters whose hits you do know. 

Hit Me Episode Two continues with the theme of playing earlier versions of songs before the known hit plus covers. This week is Elvis Presley's Are You Lonesome Tonight.

The premier episode of Hit Me focusses on the recorded versions of Hurting Each Other long before the Carpenters hit plus Robert's personal memories.