Starbuck’s Bruce Blackman discusses 5 songs from new album

In 1976, “Moonlight Feels Right” reached No. 3 by Atlanta’s septet Starbuck, written by their lead vocalist and keyboardist Bruce Blackman. Now Blackman and team are back with Beach Radio Hits, which he discussed with Goldmine.

STARBUCK

Beach Radio Hits

Independent (digital format)

The dozen song collection opens with a remastered version of “Moonlight Feels Right” followed by eleven new songs, beginning in the beach music style with the soothing “Ocean Drive Nights.” Bruce Blackman told Goldmine, “This is a collection of tunes which have recently received beach music and yacht rock radio attention. The idea for ‘Ocean Drive Nights’ came from my wife Peggy and I being on Ocean Drive in Atlantic City and the good time we had there. Then I thought about Ocean Drive in Myrtle Beach and Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. Finally, I recalled that we were at a French resort in the Caribbean and on another Ocean Drive, and I reference it in the lyrics, ‘Together on a lovers’ beach, listening to the moon speaking perfect French.”

“Ocean Drive Nights”

“This is a collection of tunes which have recently received beach music and yacht rock radio attention.” – Starbuck’s Bruce Blackman

“On the Sand” also has a beach music sound, filled brass and a saxophone solo. Blackman continued, “Jay Scott plays the sax solo on this song about a guy who sees a girl on the beach and wants to ask her out, but he is afraid to do so. When he finally works up the nerve, instead of her saying yes, she drew a smiley face with her toes on the sand.”

“On the Sand”

“You’re the Reason” begins with an organ, recalling Barbara Lewis’ ‘Hello Stranger,’ and the instrumental break borrows from Percy Faith’s ‘Theme from ‘A Summer Place.’’ Blackman shared, “When I was in high school and college, you would go parking. Every town had a spot where teenagers would go. One time I borrowed a 1963 T-Bird from a good friend of mine, and he had a dashboard with a hula girl on it, which I reference, ‘Little green light on the radio, on a cool summer night in our front seat chateau. I saw the hula girl moving her hips watching you before you touched my lips.’”

“You’re the Reason”

Seasons change to the “Coldest Night of the Year,” vocally sounding most like Starbuck classics. Blackman explained, “I played an instrument called a melodica on this song. My main instrument that I received formal training on was trumpet, and this combines my trumpet and keyboard experience. I use a trumpet mouthpiece with this small two-octave handheld keyboard.”

“Coldest Night of the Year”

The soothing soulful finale, “Jones About You,” references the group’s biggest hit, with the line, “What took you so long, Mr. Moonlight?” Blackman concluded, “In my freshman year of college I heard a guy talking about a girl, saying, ‘Man, I’m Jones about her.’ I understood what he meant and that phrase stuck in my head. The song is about a guy who just can’t live without a certain girl.”