Tag: Saxophone

Super Sax

I saw a Facebook post which asked group members to post a rock song with saxophone in it. Ironically, I heard a sax song TWICE during that same week so I took it as a sign to blog about it. I’m talking about “Maneater” by Hall and Oates.

It was released on the 1982 album “H2O“. After doing a little research I found out the sax player’s name is Charlie DeChant. His nickname is “Mr. Casual”, which I assume is a play on words (i.e. casual sax) and he’s apparently been with Hall and Oates since 1976. He obviously contributed some other great sax to other songs in their catalog.

Another rock song which features saxophone is a great piece of New Orleans songwriting. My first introduction to “Send Me Some Lovin'” was a live album by the one and only Little Richard. It has a fantastic vocal and a great sax solo, too.

After a quick search on Google, I found out Lee Allen played tenor sax on the recording and Alvin “Red” Tyler played baritone sax. When I think about saxophone, this is the first piece of music which pops to mind. You can label it an “oldie”, but I think it’s fantastic!

I had a third song in mind, but I can’t seem to remember what it is. In any event, the saxophone was actually invented by a Belgian dude named Adolphe Sax. I guess he also invented some instruments I’m not familiar with including the saxotromba, saxhorn, and saxtuba. I reserve the right to revisit Super Sax in the future!

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Vax, Sax, and Michigan

Jeff Daniels…man, that guy is funny! I was scrolling through my streaming options when I came across the 2002 film “Super Sucker”, which features Daniels. He also wrote and directed the film. I hadn’t heard of this one, but I definitely won’t forget it.

“Super Sucker” does a great job of lampooning work culture — more specifically, being part of a sales team. If you’ve never had the pleasure, it usually consists of over-the-top positivity and enthusiasm along with undue pressure to achieve one’s goals. The goals, though, are not really emphasized as actual sales, but really just a byproduct of how awesome whatever you’re selling is. (During one stint at a for profit trade school, my boss used to say, “We’re in the business of changing people’s lives” — yeah, that and a nice chunk of commission. )

One thing I learned while researching this underrated film is Jeff Daniels grew up in Chelsea, Michigan. Another of this film’s connection to Michigan is the soundtrack work of Alto Reed — he was best known as the saxophone player in Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band.

There are some familiar faces in the film including Dawn Wells (best known as MaryAnn on “Gilligan’s Island”) as the spokesperson for the Super Sucker product. Again, that all goes back to how happy you’ll be once you own one of these home appliances. Who wouldn’t be reassured by her approval, right?

I was surprised this film wasn’t rated higher on imdb.com, but it’s not a film for everyone. It definitely has some dark humor in it, which I love.

Apparently, Daniels founded The Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, MI and it’s still alive and kicking. https://www.purplerosetheatre.org/about/staff-2/

Viva, Jeff Daniels! Viva Dawn Wells!

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!