My Top 2000 Songs #1162: Something In The Air

An undeniably incredible song worn down by classic rock oversaturation, "Something In The Air" has evolved into an oft-covered pop standard that's a bit hard to hear with fresh ears today. I absolutely loved the song back in my childhood classic rock days, and it still retains a lot of that magic, even though today it's mostly a lazy Forrest Gump-styled needle-drop shortcut to late 60s Summer of Love ethos (albeit one released a couple years late), sitting alongside the Youngbloods' "Get Together" or Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth."

Thunderclap Newman's lone album, 1970's Hollywood Dream, came to my attention largely because frontman Speedy Keen was a friend of Pete Townshend--this was when I was deep into my pre-teen Who obsession--and teenaged guitarist Jimmy McCulloch went on to play with Paul McCartney's Wings (another childhood obsession). But the album holds up great, even if the 1969 single (produced by Townshend) tends to overpower some other worthy tracks (like the definitive take on "Open The Door, Homer," from Dylan's Basement Tapes).

On tv:

Killer Tom Petty cover:

Grip Weeds cover:

Cherie Currie (of the Runaways) with Brie Darling:

Gov't Mule live:

U.K. Subs:

Eurythmics: