If your favorite neighborhood bar's jukebox were stocked solely with local recordings, tell us one song ' vintage or current ' you'd gladly plug a dollar in to hear.
Dave Benton (Madcity Music Exchange)
The Fendermen: 'Mule Skinner Blues.' This roared out of a spooky alternate universe in 1960, all damped freight-train Fender guitars and yelped vocals. And no drums! No bass guitar! It's driving, cool, surreal, absurd,timeless. In my mind, the most unique and enduring rock 'n' roll single ever released by a Madison area band.
Jenni Schwaner Ladd (host of WORT-FM's 'Leopard Print Lounge')
The Apologists' (above) 'We're Only Happy When We're Drinking.' A catchy anthem for any hard-drinkin', hard-rockin' Wisconsin cowboy or girl, it's got that great blue-collar garage-countrytwang, and lyrics heartfelt and simple enough for the whole bar to sing along.
Lisa Hinzman (MaeRae)
All right, this neighborhood bar is a combo of O'Cayz Corral and Club de Wash, and I'm spending my buck on Cattleprod's song, 'Don't Mind Walking.' The song is weird and mighty, the drumming is huge, and there's only one Cattleprod. It just makes me happy.
Eric Oehler (Null Device)
I'm probably expected to reference some obscure bit of Madison electro, but I'm going to have to choose The German Art Students' 'Dick Clark.' It's a catchy bit of clever post-new-wave rock with a self-effacing subject. I can't resist those kinds of songs.
Cathy Dethmers (High Noon Saloon)
'504' by the New Recruits is about O'Cayz Corral. The song is basically an ode to the Madison music scene at the time, [which was] pretty close-knit, supportive, and genuinely excited about live music. It's a bit bittersweet to hear '504' since the fire, but it brings back memories of all the really good times I had there.
Jonathan W. Little (The Lake 93.1 FM)
Robert J. (right, Moon Gypsies, Lucas Cates Band) ' who's been writing, recording and performing great songs in Madison for 20-plus years ' did 'Love Isn't Love Till You Give It Way' in the early '90s. Universal, timeless message.Music by Robert, lyrics by R.J. Reynolds, the first morning host on Triple M.
Westside Andy Linderman (Westside Andy/Mel Ford Band)
Back in the late '60s, there was a very cool restaurant/bar on State Street called Gargano's with a great jukebox. I would always plug 'Talk Is Cheap' by a Milwaukee band called Short Stuff. It featured great lyrics and a harp solo with fabulous tone by Jim Liban, an incredible harmonica player who greatly influenced my playing.
Rick Tvedt (Rick's Cafe, Madison Area Music Awards)
The Skintones' 'Basket Case,' because it speaks for me and makes meraise my fist in the air and say, 'fuck yeah.' It's a great rock song, too.
