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 (eleven years ago) link
Michael Penn - This and Thatalso, this song is so classic
― tylerw, Friday, 12 October 2012 00:38 (eleven years ago) link
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 (eleven years ago) link
Sunrise by Duran Duran at Papa Ginos a month or so ago.Why would THAT happen?
― mr.raffles, Wednesday, 17 October 2012 03:21 (eleven years ago) link
lite rock cover of Catch the Sun by Doves @ my bank
― suggest butt (Pillbox), Wednesday, 17 October 2012 04:19 (eleven years ago) link
"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 (eleven years ago) link
REM - "All The Way To Reno"
― da croupier, Wednesday, 17 October 2012 15:53 (eleven years ago) link
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, 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 (eleven years ago) link
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 (eleven years ago) link
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 (eleven years ago) link
heard velvet underground - oh! sweet nuthin' at walgreens last week
― Anime Mann (diamonddave85), Wednesday, 17 October 2012 16:16 (eleven years ago) link
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 (eleven years ago) link
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 (eleven years ago) link
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 (eleven years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
lol i heard donna lewis's flop second single "without love" in a cvs once
― dyl, Wednesday, 15 January 2014 18:22 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
Not obscure, but I really enjoyed hearing Scritti Politti at CVS yesterday.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 12 February 2014 21:20 (ten years ago) link
I heard the song 'On the Beach' by Neil Young at the grocery store once.
― Austin, Wednesday, 12 February 2014 23:46 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
Heard "Emerge" Fischerspooner at a Florida water-park
― Mark G, Thursday, 13 February 2014 07:14 (ten years ago) link
https://soundcloud.com/hennessyyoungman/cvsbangers
― 龜, Thursday, 13 February 2014 07:21 (ten years ago) link
haha thank you, a classic
― raggett neds of your summer dress (The Reverend), Thursday, 13 February 2014 07:44 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
alfred i'd start straight up bawling
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 26 March 2014 22:04 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
whenever i'm in cvs i hear "shattered dreams"
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 26 March 2014 22:06 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
haha otm
― goole, Thursday, 27 March 2014 14:39 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
^^^^ I've heard it at CVS too
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 15 April 2014 14:49 (ten years ago) link
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 (ten years ago) link
trouble - lindsey buckingham
― i also enjoy in line skateing (spazzmatazz), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 18:19 (ten years ago) link
also hear a LOT of Rumours in CVS
― i also enjoy in line skateing (spazzmatazz), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 18:20 (ten years ago) link
i hear a lot of saint etienne in supermarkets and drugstores
― christmas candy bar (al leong), Wednesday, 16 April 2014 18:26 (ten years ago) link
My fave supermarket plays nothing but 60's soul.
I think I answered this elsewhere, but our CVS had "The Sign of Fire" by the Fixx...I flipped!! It started this whole Fixx thing with me for a while.
― I am Sporadicus! (I M Losted), Thursday, 17 April 2014 16:59 (ten years ago) link
This morning at CVS I heard REM's "At My Most Beautiful."
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 17 April 2014 21:02 (ten years ago) link
somehow, even though it tanked, that's the single from up i hear most often by far. only in grocery stores and drugstores obv.
― balls, Thursday, 17 April 2014 21:41 (ten years ago) link
Thin Lizzy - Don't Believe a Word at Walgreens
― how's life, Tuesday, 6 May 2014 11:57 (nine years ago) link
Followed by this random pop punk/emotronic ish:
http://thepasstheband.bandcamp.com/track/cross-walk-stereo
― how's life, Tuesday, 6 May 2014 12:01 (nine years ago) link
Which, just like, I mean, I expected anything else as a follow-up.
― how's life, Tuesday, 6 May 2014 12:13 (nine years ago) link
Sunday afternoon: Ric Ocasek's "Something to Grab For."
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 6 May 2014 12:14 (nine years ago) link
Semisonic: All About Chemistry― 50 Shades of Greil (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, October 11, 2012 1:56 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― 50 Shades of Greil (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, October 11, 2012 1:56 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Just heard this at Taco Bell.
― Damnit Janet Weiss & The Riot Grrriel (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 7 May 2014 22:27 (nine years ago) link
At Publix this a.m:
Jesse Johnson ft. Sly Stone - Crazay
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 16 May 2014 13:20 (nine years ago) link
The right aid imo
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 27 February 2024 17:02 (one month ago) link
Dionne Warwick - “you’re gonna need me” in Home Depot
― brimstead, Tuesday, 27 February 2024 23:58 (one month ago) link
need her in home depot right now, been sitting in aisle 6 for ten minutes
― CEO Greedwagon (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 16:11 (one month ago) link
Favourite coffee shop, right now: "Radio Free Europe." (LZ's "Rock and Roll" before that, but I hear that a lot.)
― clemenza, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 18:13 (one month ago) link
I hear "Losing My Religion" constantly out in the world, making me dislike a song I've always disliked even more. I never hear "Radio Free Europe."
― clemenza, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 18:15 (one month ago) link
Sting: "Love Is The Seventh Wave" at HEB
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 7 March 2024 04:58 (one month ago) link
I heard "Field of Gold" at Home Depot recently.
Sent me back to those months working at Liquor Depot in 1994. How that one, Billy Joel's "The River of Dreams" and Elton John's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" just rotated with each other, over and over and over and over again. Certain songs that when I play them back in my head, I only hear them through shitty retail P.A. speakers.
"Stuck On You" by Lionel Ritchie another one. That played all summer long at the waterslide, interrupted occasionally by "PURPLE MATS, ALL PURPLE MATS MUST BE RETURNED AT THE FRONT."
― pplains, Thursday, 7 March 2024 15:01 (one month ago) link
purple mats is a good band name at least, forgetting the trauma. altho i guess it sounds like a replacements trib act, which would be very risky to perform properly
― ... 2024-- there's one clear winner! (Hunt3r), Thursday, 7 March 2024 15:08 (one month ago) link
Purple Mats: A Tribute To Prince *And* The Replacements
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 7 March 2024 15:16 (one month ago) link
Updated The Playlist (after 3 1/2 years):
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Qvc8uzVk4bDpMeW6p2lc6?si=WeLFdjwOTFSSK8QLAcyn2A&pi=u-DHyTVDxlRsiB
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 8 March 2024 19:11 (one month ago) link
Is there a count ceiling? That’s almost 1000! Well done.Just hears Right Place Wrong Time Dr John at King Soopers. I dont know if obscure. But it was backed up by v v not obscure Horse w No Name, then v v v v v not obscure Mr Bluesky (extended mix). I think the ELO lasted 15 mins.Hmm now Joan Jett. HMfLY
― ... 2024-- there's one clear winner! (Hunt3r), Friday, 8 March 2024 21:58 (one month ago) link
stars are stars- eatb at torchysfuck i dont care if it was a single anywhere and i dont care if it’s on torchy’s spotify clone targeting my demo— this owned, i regret nothing
― ... 2024-- there's one clear winner! (Hunt3r), Thursday, 14 March 2024 18:56 (one month ago) link
Oldies Dairy Queen again:
Impalas: "I'm Sorry (I Ran The Whole Way Home)"Stompers: "Quarter To Four Stomp"Buddy Holly: "Well…All Right"
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 23 March 2024 19:23 (one month ago) link
Never heard of that middle one; "Well...All Right" one of Holly's best.
― clemenza, Saturday, 23 March 2024 21:40 (one month ago) link
I hadn't either. According to the shot of the 45 label in this YouTube, they were an act from the stable of writer/producer Gary S. Paxton of "Ally Oop" and Skip & Flip fame.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n95hdb7RKkI
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 23 March 2024 23:57 (one month ago) link
According to the trivia buffs in the YT comments, a pre-"Monster Mash" Bobby "Boris" Pickett was a Stomper.
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 24 March 2024 00:04 (one month ago) link
Paxton's Wiki page is a trip. Some pearls:
His work throughout this early-1960s period is scattered over various labels, mostly his own, which he seemed to open and close on a constant basis, making regular use of the five studios he owned. Over the years, Paxton built a reputation as an eccentric figure in the recording industry. Brian Wilson was known to admire his talents, and Phil Spector to fear him. His creativity and knack for promotion were legendary, but could also run to excess: once, after a local radio station dismissed one of his records ("Elephant Game (Part One)" by Renfro & Jackson) as "too black", he assembled a protest parade down Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, consisting of 15 cheerleaders and a live elephant pulling a Volkswagen convertible. He was arrested after the elephant got scared and began to defecate in the street....On December 29, 1980, Paxton was shot three times by hitmen (allegedly) hired by Vern Gosdin, a country singer he was producing, putting him out of the music world for eight years and nearly ending his life. After the trial, he visited the men in prison and forgave them....Appearing on his gospel album covers in a halo of facial hair and a tall-top cowboy hat, Paxton infused his religious work with the same eccentricity, individuality, and hippie humor that had characterized his 60s material in Los Angeles: acting the role of the Jesus freak, likening himself to "an armpit in the body of Christ", and crafting song titles like "When the Meat Wagon Comes for You", "Will There Be Hippies in Heaven?", "I'm a Fool for Christ (Whose Fool Are You?)", and "Jesus Is My Lawyer in Heaven".
...
On December 29, 1980, Paxton was shot three times by hitmen (allegedly) hired by Vern Gosdin, a country singer he was producing, putting him out of the music world for eight years and nearly ending his life. After the trial, he visited the men in prison and forgave them.
Appearing on his gospel album covers in a halo of facial hair and a tall-top cowboy hat, Paxton infused his religious work with the same eccentricity, individuality, and hippie humor that had characterized his 60s material in Los Angeles: acting the role of the Jesus freak, likening himself to "an armpit in the body of Christ", and crafting song titles like "When the Meat Wagon Comes for You", "Will There Be Hippies in Heaven?", "I'm a Fool for Christ (Whose Fool Are You?)", and "Jesus Is My Lawyer in Heaven".
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 24 March 2024 00:14 (one month ago) link
Not exactly obscure, but a bit unexpected: my local Food Bazaar was blasting "Fight For Your Right to Party" a few weeks ago.
― obvious, Sunday, 24 March 2024 01:06 (one month ago) link
I heard this thing at Publix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2REh2XpwDo
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 24 March 2024 01:11 (one month ago) link
My friend just posted on FB about hearing "Take Your Mama" by Scissor Sisters AT WHATABURGER
WTFBURGER
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 28 March 2024 16:01 (four weeks ago) link
...and now he just posted about hearing "Had A Dad" at the washateria.
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 28 March 2024 21:11 (four weeks ago) link
...and now I'm hosting a pub quiz at a BBQ joint, and as I come in they're playing "Parklife"!
*What is going on today?*
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 28 March 2024 23:33 (four weeks ago) link
Psychedelic Tyme @ Goodwill
Amboy Dukes: "Journey To The Center of The Mind"Electric Prunes: "Get Me To The World On Time"Donovan: "Wear Your Love Like Heaven"Zombies: "I Want You Back Again"
And also:
Junior Walker & The All-Stars: "(I'm A) Road Runner"
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 3 April 2024 19:22 (three weeks ago) link
the good thing- talking heads at torchys again and it’s v clear i should never list things from this non-cvs again, they have a gen-x streaming svc channel. but it is soooo good lol.so this is my final torchys listing :-/
― schrodingers cat was always cool (Hunt3r), Wednesday, 3 April 2024 21:50 (three weeks ago) link
Streaming channels are perfectly fine. More places use them than one would think.
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 3 April 2024 22:05 (three weeks ago) link
Buncha OMD at Dairy Queen. Standouts were "Secret" and "Maid of Orleans" (demo).
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 12 April 2024 21:28 (one week ago) link
I'm glad someone out there's playing the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.
― clemenza, Friday, 12 April 2024 21:53 (one week ago) link
(Plagiarizing a joke I helped originate 31 years ago.)
― clemenza, Friday, 12 April 2024 21:54 (one week ago) link
Target:
Bobby Womack: "It's Party Time"
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 12 April 2024 23:05 (one week ago) link
Ace Hardware- 18 Alice Cooperi need guidance to rate its obscurity, maybe i’m being distracted by how odd it seemed to me.
― schrodingers cat was always cool (Hunt3r), Sunday, 14 April 2024 04:28 (one week ago) link
'90s Alt Rock Pandora or something at a Double Dave's yesterday.
Sponge: "Plowed"Alice In Chains: "It Ain't Like That"
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 23 April 2024 14:56 (two days ago) link
oh man, cock-rock era AiC. love that tune.
and have always loved that Sponge song, plus the album it came from.
― ain't nothin but a brie thing, baby (Neanderthal), Tuesday, 23 April 2024 14:58 (two days ago) link
The Cure - Mint Car
― ain't nothin but a brie thing, baby (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 24 April 2024 17:48 (yesterday) link
whoa
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 24 April 2024 17:50 (yesterday) link
At a KFC no less
― ain't nothin but a brie thing, baby (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 24 April 2024 17:54 (yesterday) link
I went to one of my favorite Chinese noodle restaurants recently, and as I was walking in they had Rush - Subdivisions playing. Pretty much all I can ask for from a dining experience.
― Muad'Doob (Moodles), Wednesday, 24 April 2024 18:12 (yesterday) link
My local artisan grilled cheese place played that on Monday.
Same feeling of bliss
― ain't nothin but a brie thing, baby (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 24 April 2024 18:17 (yesterday) link
oh damn, Subdivisions Spring is here!
― Muad'Doob (Moodles), Wednesday, 24 April 2024 18:21 (yesterday) link