I like Afterburner but yeah outside of "why am I hearing Sleeping Bag at CVS?" insanity I don't know why anything from it would make regular rotation on rock radio now
― da croupier, Thursday, October 11, 2012 2:32 PM
I tweeted this a few days ago. Recently:
Duran Duran - Do You Believe in ShameMichael Penn - This and That
― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 11 October 2012 18:50 (six years ago) Permalink
Semisonic: All About Chemistry
― 50 Shades of Greil (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 11 October 2012 18:56 (six years ago) Permalink
Grocery store, not CVS, but "Echo Beach" by Martha and the Muffins.
― Baked. And yet so soupy. (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 11 October 2012 19:03 (six years ago) Permalink
Not a CVS but I recently heard "I Am The Slime" by Zappa when I was getting my hair cut
― chr1sb3singer, Thursday, 11 October 2012 21:19 (six years ago) Permalink
once heard the entirety of they might be giants' flood on the walmart radio station.
― balls, Thursday, 11 October 2012 21:24 (six years ago) Permalink
jesus buddy were you waiting for an oil change or something?
― there is no dana, only (goole), Thursday, 11 October 2012 21:24 (six years ago) Permalink
ie it wasn't some worker blasting flood thru the store pa, it was the corporate radio station piped into walmarts coast to coast for some reason doing a 'showcase' on flood.
― balls, Thursday, 11 October 2012 21:25 (six years ago) Permalink
haha i think (dear god i hope) it started soon after i arrived and i may have indeed lingered to take it in, hear 'twisting' for the first time in however many years, take half an hour to decide whether or not i want poptarts, etc. something very fucked about hearing this blasting at walmart though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zNoxjUUyec
― balls, Thursday, 11 October 2012 21:28 (six years ago) Permalink
hahaha that's better than what I was guessing, which was "Your Racist Friend"
― The Owls of Ja Rule (DJP), Thursday, 11 October 2012 21:29 (six years ago) Permalink
I heard Cracker's cover of "Shake Some Action" in CVS just two nights ago.
― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 11 October 2012 21:32 (six years ago) Permalink
Others:
Boz Scaggs - Miss Suna-ha - The Sun Always Shines on TVTyler Collins - Girls Night OutToni Childs - Don't Walk Away
― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 11 October 2012 21:34 (six years ago) Permalink
Huh I heard echo beach at Barnes & noble last week.
― we fed him, now he's an 8 million pound troll all over our board (Hunt3r), Thursday, 11 October 2012 23:47 (six years ago) Permalink
weirdest one i remember was "change your mind" by neil young while i was standing in line to get painkillers a few years ago. must've been a radio edit. felt appropriate.
― tylerw, Friday, 12 October 2012 00:37 (six years ago) Permalink
Michael Penn - This and Thatalso, this song is so classic
― tylerw, Friday, 12 October 2012 00:38 (six years ago) Permalink
Heard "Let's Hang On" which was a minor Top 40 for Barry Manilow at a Rite Aid once.
― jetfan, Friday, 12 October 2012 02:27 (six years ago) Permalink
Sunrise by Duran Duran at Papa Ginos a month or so ago.Why would THAT happen?
― mr.raffles, Wednesday, 17 October 2012 03:21 (six years ago) Permalink
lite rock cover of Catch the Sun by Doves @ my bank
― suggest butt (Pillbox), Wednesday, 17 October 2012 04:19 (six years ago) Permalink
"Heaven's on Fire" by KISS was playing on at least two separate occasions at the CVS by my college
not an obscure single really but jarring in the soft-rock context, heard "More Bounce to the Ounce" at the local grocery store a few months ago
― no love spud webb (fadanuf4erybody), Wednesday, 17 October 2012 04:36 (six years ago) Permalink
REM - "All The Way To Reno"
― da croupier, Wednesday, 17 October 2012 15:53 (six years ago) Permalink
― balls, Thursday, October 11, 2012 5:25 PM (6 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
That is exceptionally weird and now I want to listen to that album which I haven't done in years.
― (✿◠‿◠) (ENBB), Wednesday, 17 October 2012 15:55 (six years ago) Permalink
It's not obscure but I was euphoric when I heard Amy Grant's "I Will Remember You" yesterday.
― the ones that I'm near most: fellow outcasts and ilxors (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 17 October 2012 16:09 (six years ago) Permalink
was picking up prescription for antidepressant at walgreens and they were playing "i wanna be sedated." no lie.
― andrew m., Wednesday, 17 October 2012 16:13 (six years ago) Permalink
heard velvet underground - oh! sweet nuthin' at walgreens last week
― Anime Mann (diamonddave85), Wednesday, 17 October 2012 16:16 (six years ago) Permalink
Sugar Ray's "Chasin You Around" at Met Foods. The second single off In Pursuit Of Leisure, the album after the last one anyone cared about
― da croupier, Sunday, 28 October 2012 13:52 (six years ago) Permalink
not obscure but heard like a 10-minute Tool deep cut in a 24 hour kroger once. it was weird because there was usually just soft rock & r&b playing there
― turds (Hungry4Ass), Sunday, 28 October 2012 16:07 (six years ago) Permalink
a couple visits to shop rite ago i heard the 12-inch edit of "she's always in my hair"
― charlie the luna (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Sunday, 28 October 2012 16:10 (six years ago) Permalink
I'm just gonna use this thread for obscure songs heard in any retail setting:
Roxy Music - 2HB in Noodles and Company yesterday.
― German Disco Songsmith (Dan Peterson), Monday, 13 January 2014 22:18 (four years ago) Permalink
The other week in Morrisons they were playing 'If I Could Talk I'd Tell You' by the Lemonheads (a #39 smash in 1996).
― Gavin, Leeds, Wednesday, 15 January 2014 16:18 (four years ago) Permalink
Heard the Kinks' "Juke Box Music" in a grocery store a couple of years ago. Barely a hit in the US in 1977, never played on "classic rock" radio.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 15 January 2014 17:51 (four years ago) Permalink
lol i heard donna lewis's flop second single "without love" in a cvs once
― dyl, Wednesday, 15 January 2014 18:22 (four years ago) Permalink
Heard "For What It's Worth" by The Cardigans in the grocery store the other day.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Wednesday, 15 January 2014 18:30 (four years ago) Permalink
not that obscure really but heard dennis deyoung's "desert moon" followed by madonna's "this used to be my playground" on KRGR kroger radio last night, the algorithm was feeling some super intense nostalgia apparently
― balls, Wednesday, 12 February 2014 21:06 (four years ago) Permalink
Thought this was a revival of this thread: albert hammond, "it never rains in southern california"
― The Crescent City of Kador (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 12 February 2014 21:07 (four years ago) Permalink
Not obscure, but I really enjoyed hearing Scritti Politti at CVS yesterday.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 12 February 2014 21:20 (four years ago) Permalink
I heard the song 'On the Beach' by Neil Young at the grocery store once.
― Austin, Wednesday, 12 February 2014 23:46 (four years ago) Permalink
Heard "Couple Days Off" by Huey Lewis & The News last night at Whataburger.
― ...out of that weakness, out of that envy, out of that fear.. (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 February 2014 03:17 (four years ago) Permalink
Heard "Emerge" Fischerspooner at a Florida water-park
― Mark G, Thursday, 13 February 2014 07:14 (four years ago) Permalink
https://soundcloud.com/hennessyyoungman/cvsbangers
― 龜, Thursday, 13 February 2014 07:21 (four years ago) Permalink
haha thank you, a classic
― raggett neds of your summer dress (The Reverend), Thursday, 13 February 2014 07:44 (four years ago) Permalink
Jack In The Box is good for these. Today it was "Wild Wild Life" by Talking Heads, and last time a couple weeks ago I heard "Canary In A Coalmine" by The Police.
― Interior. Ibiza Bar (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 26 March 2014 21:07 (four years ago) Permalink
alfred i'd start straight up bawling
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 26 March 2014 22:04 (four years ago) Permalink
I heard that really sterile, generic, terrible ballad by "Sergio Mendes" from the 80s...."Never Gonna Let You Go"...in a Zaxby's.
― Neanderthal, Wednesday, 26 March 2014 22:06 (four years ago) Permalink
whenever i'm in cvs i hear "shattered dreams"
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 26 March 2014 22:06 (four years ago) Permalink
I heard Jack Wagner's "All I Need" and Richard Marx's "Hazard" once in an Albertsons during a 4 hour shift. I remain convinced that they had not changed their Muzak since my childhood.
― Neanderthal, Wednesday, 26 March 2014 22:09 (four years ago) Permalink
and whenever I hit the "from this empty heart" falsetto several mothers in the cold medicine section scowl
― Bryan Fairy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 26 March 2014 22:10 (four years ago) Permalink
hahaha. I can't help not singing along to that tune either. that or "All I Need is a Miracle".
― Neanderthal, Wednesday, 26 March 2014 22:11 (four years ago) Permalink
haha otm
― goole, Thursday, 27 March 2014 14:39 (four years ago) Permalink
Shopping for pencils and invisible tape at CVS this morning I heard "Soul Drifter" by Lindsey Buckingham!
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 15 April 2014 14:49 (four years ago) Permalink
^^^^ I've heard it at CVS too
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 15 April 2014 14:49 (four years ago) Permalink
Manu Dibango - "Soul Makossa," in H.E.B. yesterday (though for some reason, in that store, the only place you can usually hear the music without straining your ears is in the restroom)
― xhuxk, Wednesday, 16 April 2014 18:16 (four years ago) Permalink
If you want to be technical, a lot of what gets posted here--particularly in regards to major artists--are closer to deep cuts than genuine obscurities.
― Ubering With The King (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 26 September 2018 03:44 (two months ago) Permalink
Boston: "Something About You" at Randall's.
― Ubering With The King (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 27 September 2018 05:28 (two months ago) Permalink
All at Five Guys:
Spoon: "You Got Yr Cherry Bomb"Foo Fighters: "Next Year"Steve Miller: "Living In The USA"Ratt: "Back For More"Bad Religion: "21st Century Digital Boy"
― Ubering With The King (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 1 October 2018 19:07 (two months ago) Permalink
I really want to know where my little Foodtown gets their music.
"Little Children" by Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas was obscure enough, but then they hit me with this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyxU9jmk21E
"Walk Tall (Like a Man)" by the Cincinnati girl group The 2 of Clubs from 1967. Going by the YouTube comments, this was a pretty big regional hit in the Midwest. I'm now obsessed with this song.
― Hideous Lump, Tuesday, 2 October 2018 04:58 (two months ago) Permalink
Blur "There's No Other Way" at Target.
it's funny as this song was not played on KROQ at the time as this was not a hit in America. MWRS 103.1 was around and did play it in the Los Angeles market.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 6 October 2018 04:45 (two months ago) Permalink
meantg, MARS
― Bee OK, Saturday, 6 October 2018 04:46 (two months ago) Permalink
Both at CVS:
Evan & Jaron: "Crazy For This Girl"Steve Winwood: "The Finer Things"
― Ubering With The King (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 7 October 2018 01:33 (two months ago) Permalink
Was walking into Trader Joe's just as Slade's "Get Down and Get With It" was ending.
― DEATH PUPPET (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Tuesday, 9 October 2018 08:50 (two months ago) Permalink
Gin Blossoms: "Alison Road" at Fuddruckers.
― Ubering With The King (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 13 October 2018 18:53 (two months ago) Permalink
'70s Gold at HEB:
Delaney & Bonnie: "Never Ending Song of Love"Linda Ronstadt: "Silver Threads & Golden Needles"John Stewart: "Gold"Bob Welch: "Sentimental Lady"
Had I stayed longer I might have heard "Werewolves of London" or "Magnet And Steel" and completed the "Non-Mac Mac" hits set.
― Ubering With The King (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 13 October 2018 23:21 (two months ago) Permalink
Grand Funk Railroad: "Shinin' On" and Elton John: "Little Jeanie" at Walmart Neighborhood Market.
― Ubering With The King (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 14 October 2018 23:48 (two months ago) Permalink
The Police: "Driven To Tears" at Jack In The Box
― Ubering With The King (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 15 October 2018 21:03 (two months ago) Permalink
That's when you know the Lord's just fuckin' with ya.
― pplains, Monday, 15 October 2018 23:34 (two months ago) Permalink
"Walk Tall (Like a Man)" is a totally awesome discovery, thanks for that!
― Freddy "Boom Boom" QAnon (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 20:31 (two months ago) Permalink
If you're interested, it appears on one of the better Where the Girls Are volumes: https://acerecords.co.uk/where-the-girls-are-volume-6
(pushes thick glasses up on bridge of nose; runs hand thru greasy hair)
― brush ’em like crazy (morrisp), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 20:39 (two months ago) Permalink
That volume ends with "Jilted," one of my all-time fave songs. ALL. TIME. FAVE.
― brush ’em like crazy (morrisp), Tuesday, 16 October 2018 20:40 (two months ago) Permalink
"Walk Tall (Like a Man)" is a totally awesome discovery
I Shazam'ed it several times in the supermarket but came up empty-handed. I just had to hope that "Walk Tall" was the title so I could search my hard drive when I got home.
I've also got a British version by The New Faces on Sequel's Here Come the Girls, Vol. 8 comp, which isn't as good. Strangely, it's titled "(Walk Tall) Like a Man" instead of "Walk Tall (Like a Man)". Also strangely, the 2 of Clubs version sounds very British--I hear a lot of Petula Clark in the vocals.
Together or separately, the songwriters Paul Vance & Lee Pockriss also wrote:
Perry Como "Catch a Falling Star"Brian Hyland "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini"The Cuff Links "Tracy"Simon Dupree "Kites"Anita Bryant "My Little Corner of the World"Shelley Fabares "Johnny Angel"Clint Holmes "Playground in My Mind"The Detergents "Leader of the Laundromat"David Geddes "Run Joey Run"and songs for the movie The Phantom Tollbooth
― Hideous Lump, Wednesday, 17 October 2018 01:57 (two months ago) Permalink
Donovan: "Epistle To Dippy" at Buc-ee's
― Ubering With The King (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 20 October 2018 00:53 (one month ago) Permalink
god damn this thread fascinates me. it's just people saying "here's some shitty music I don't even really care about that I heard playing at some shitty place that I'd prefer not to go to but I kinda have to based on convenience and/or my pharmaceutical obligations." yet I keep reading it and making note of this seemingly arbitrary cross-section of hints gone by. I listen to enough of my own tastes, now it's time I be suggested that I listen to a forgotten Mike and Mechanics psuedo-hit because the tastemakers from the CVS muzak department decided it
― del griffith, Saturday, 20 October 2018 01:17 (one month ago) Permalink
and why do they seem to like Paul Westerberg so much
― del griffith, Saturday, 20 October 2018 01:19 (one month ago) Permalink
I just heard Portishead’s “Glory Box” booming out of someone’s open car window. Not too obscure, but cool to encounter in that setting.
― a neon light ablaze in this green smoky haze (morrisp), Saturday, 20 October 2018 01:22 (one month ago) Permalink
apparently songs that were big radio hits once are obscure so "glory box" counts
― dyl, Saturday, 20 October 2018 01:38 (one month ago) Permalink
I think "songs you were surprised to hear in a retail establishment" would be a more accurate title but this is an okay place to remark that you heard "Love Vigilantes" in Safeway or whatever. It's harmless fun; let ppl have it ffs.
The posts challenging whether something is or is not an "obscure single" are to be expected. It's already an odd category: singles tend to be less obscure than other songs. But I don't see what that debate adds to the discussion except to pooh-pooh the whole premise. No one is forcing you to read the thread; just look at one of the bajillion other ones if this one doesn't meet your high standards I guess?
― (I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Beer (Ye Mad Puffin), Saturday, 20 October 2018 02:08 (one month ago) Permalink
Fwiw, in the quoted post by Croup in this thread's op, he's talking about hearing "Sleeping Bag", a forgotten Top Ten Pop hit by ZZ Top, at CVS.
― Ubering With The King (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 20 October 2018 02:12 (one month ago) Permalink
this thread is ILM HOF material IMO
― the dutiful and the banned (rip van wanko), Saturday, 20 October 2018 02:21 (one month ago) Permalink
I love the thread because I love the act of putting on a song, I just love loving real songs for real reasons even more
― del griffith, Saturday, 20 October 2018 02:27 (one month ago) Permalink
Luv 2 luv 2 luv ya
― a neon light ablaze in this green smoky haze (morrisp), Saturday, 20 October 2018 02:33 (one month ago) Permalink
baffled utterly by del griffith's interpretation of what goes on itt
― |Restore| |Restart| |Quit| (Doctor Casino), Saturday, 20 October 2018 03:42 (one month ago) Permalink
last minute wedding gear shopping at Nordstrom Rack, serenaded by the Acid House Kings
― omar little, Saturday, 20 October 2018 03:49 (one month ago) Permalink
Best wishes!
― a neon light ablaze in this green smoky haze (morrisp), Saturday, 20 October 2018 04:11 (one month ago) Permalink
not my wedding, but thanks!
― omar little, Saturday, 20 October 2018 15:24 (one month ago) Permalink
Cheap Trick: "Big Eyes" (studio version) at Walmart.
― The Greta Van Gerwig (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 25 October 2018 05:10 (one month ago) Permalink
Jane's Addiction: "Classic Girl" at Freebirds.
― The Greta Van Gerwig (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 9 November 2018 23:30 (one month ago) Permalink
Joe Jackson: "You Can't Get What You Want..." at CVS.
― The Greta Van Gerwig (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 23 November 2018 01:05 (three weeks ago) Permalink
The Monroes: "What Do All The People Know" at Whole Foods.
― ... (Eazy), Friday, 23 November 2018 18:40 (three weeks ago) Permalink
Stevie Wonder: "Until You Come Back To Me..." At Cafe Express.
― The Greta Van Gerwig (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 25 November 2018 03:48 (three weeks ago) Permalink
Heard The Dickies’ “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” at Whole Foods a couple weeks back
― john. a resident of evanston. (john. a resident of chicago.), Sunday, 25 November 2018 06:34 (three weeks ago) Permalink
"Under My Thumb" at Walmart yesterday.
I think some customers noticed the holy ghost hadtook hold of me.
― nicky lo-fi, Monday, 26 November 2018 12:30 (three weeks ago) Permalink
so not obscure
― naus, Wednesday, 28 November 2018 04:20 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Alejandro Escovedo: "Anchor" at Walmart.
I used to hear songs from his lp Real Animal (the one prior to this one) reasonably frequently in different chain store/restaurant muzaks when they were new.
― The Greta Van Gerwig (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 28 November 2018 07:01 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Lesley Gore: "She's A Fool" at Walmart.
― The Greta Van Gerwig (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 30 November 2018 16:00 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Guns N' Roses"Welcome to the Jungle"Appetite for DestructionGeffen Records, 1987
KROGERDec. 8, 2018 | 2:34 pm CST
― pplains, Saturday, 8 December 2018 23:20 (one week ago) Permalink
AND LISTEN, I'm very much aware that this 31-year-old song is hardly obscure, having reached the Top 10 in both the U.S. and New Zealand. BUT, standing in the cereal aisle when from out of nowhere that intro started cranking up and watching old ladies shop for jam while "I'm gonna watch you bleed!" and "feel my serpentine!" shouted at them from the P.A. system was QUITE THE EXPERIENCE.
Best part was hearing the segue "When you're high, you never... ever want I NEED ALL BAGGERS TO THE FRONT. ALL BAGGERS TO THE FRONT PLEASE so dowwwwnnnnnn!"
― pplains, Saturday, 8 December 2018 23:24 (one week ago) Permalink
Pretty aggro for Kroger, agreed
― underqualified backing vocalist (morrisp), Sunday, 9 December 2018 02:05 (one week ago) Permalink
XTC: "Earn Enough For Us" and Split Enz: "I Got You" at Jack In The Box.
― The Greta Van Gerwig (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 11 December 2018 18:25 (six days ago) Permalink
Just heard Eddie Floyd's "Knock On Wood" at the supermarket. Not really obscure, but I haven't heard it on the radio or otherwise in the wild since the '80s.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 11 December 2018 19:22 (six days ago) Permalink
that's a good one!!
i had a really weird moment not long ago when i heard "ship of fools" at trader joe's during the kavanaugh hearings was a bit too much tbh
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Tuesday, 11 December 2018 21:53 (six days ago) Permalink
"ship of fools" by world party, that is
I always think "Knock On Wood" was a bigger Top 40 item than it was because it was an Oldies constant during me youth. But it only went to #28 (#1 R&B) and in fact the later Amii Stewart cover was way bigger (#1 Pop).
― The Greta Van Gerwig (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 11 December 2018 23:01 (six days ago) Permalink
The Three Wise Men (XTC): "Thanks For Christmas" at Denny's.
― Infidels, Like Dylan In The Eighties (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 14 December 2018 16:31 (three days ago) Permalink