Bruce riffs on “four” from September of 1994, the fourth studio album by Blues Traveler (Hook / Stand / Look Around / Run-Around). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: the theme from the television series “The Magic School Bus” STAFF PICKS: “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb — Brian. “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow — Rob. “Seether” by Veruca Salt — Wayne. “Lucas With the Lid Off” by Lucas — Bruce. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “L.A.” by Widespread Panic. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
Blues Traveler formed as a high school garage band in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987, and their fourth studio album, aptly named four, was their true breakout album.
Blues Traveler is composed of guitarist Chan Kinchla, bassist Bobby Sheehan, drummer Brendan Hill, and front man, harmonica player, and primary songwriter John Popper. Sheehan would die in 1999 and be replaced by Tad Kinchla. The group would add Ben Wilson on keyboards in 2000. This group is hard to define from a genre standpoint, as they have a little prog rock, a little psychedelic, a little funk, and surprisingly for a band originating in New Jersey, a little Southern rock. The name was inspired by a character from the movie "Ghostbusters." They were called Blues Band at the time, and became Blues Traveler after getting the idea from Gozer the Traveler.
The group moved to New York where they shared an apartment with their high school friend Chris Barron. Barron, Popper and Hill were briefly in a band called The Trucking Company. After Popper and Hill left The Trucking Company to focus on Blues Traveler the group changed their name - to the Spin Doctors.
Like the Grateful Dead, Blues Traveler is known as a jam band, and they encourage fans to record their live performances. They also started the H.O.R.D.E. festival (Horizons of Rock Developing Everywhere).
The album four is a great showcase of the talents of this band, and there is a lot of variety in the tracks. We think you'll be "hooked" on this funk/rock/psychedelic jam session.
Hook
This is the second single from the album, and it peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is a tongue in cheek critique of the music industry. A "hook" is a riff or phrase in music that becomes a sort of earworm in your mind. The lyrics make the case that the artist can basically sing anything as long as the hook is good. In fact, the chord progression is built on Pachelbel's Cannon in D, one of the oldest music hooks around.
Stand
A funky deep cut, Stand is about making a decision to move forward despite obstacles. Popper wrote this song shortly after a motorcycle accident had him on stage performing in a wheelchair with the band. Despite the difficulty of both being overweight and recovering from injury, John Popper pressed on. By the way, Paul Shaffer of David Letterman Show fame is playing keyboards on this piece.
Look Around
A softer deep cut, this track is about carrying on after setbacks and heartbreak, and not giving up. "If you want peace then live alone. If you want to hide then find a stage. Each a brief but perfect home to accommodate your rage."
Run-Around
This is the big hit from the album. The song is about being stuck in the friend zone, and was inspired by a crush John Popper had on a female bass player who briefly worked with the band. The video is a great parody of "The Wizard of Oz," where Blues Traveler is secretly playing a set behind a curtain while a more photogenic band is on stage.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Main Theme from the television series The Magic School Bus
The children's educational series featured teacher Ms. Frizzle (voiced by Lily Tomlin)
STAFF PICKS:
Stay (I Missed You) by Lisa Loeb
The movie Reality Bites had a killer soundtrack, and this may be the most famous song from the film. Brian tells about how Lisa Loeb was brought to the film soundtrack by actor Ethan Hawke while she was unsigned to a recording contract.
All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow
Rob's staff pick is from Crow's debut album, and this single was on the charts this month. The lyrics originate from a poem called "Fun" by Wyn Cooper. The lyrics chronicle what life might look like from a bar stool, sitting around drinking all day. Sheryl Crow became a celebrity after the release of this album entitled "Tuesday Night Music Club."
Seether by Veruca Salt
Wayne takes the tempo up with this rocking staff pick. Nina Gordon and Louise Post front this alternate rock band, and sing about rage and animalistic instincts that build up over time. "Can't fight the seether, I can't see her till I'm foaming at the mouth."
Lucas With the Lid Off by Lucas
Bruce brings us a track from Danish rapper Lucas Secon built on a tune from Benny Goodman's "When Buddha Smiles," originally penned in 1935. The video was a complex shot done in one continuous take with no edits, cuts, or enhancement.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
L.A. by Widespread Panic
Jam band Widespread Panic takes us out on this podcast with this instrumental track.