Thank You Very Much
One Way or the Other - The Fifth Avenue Band (Blast from the Past Tuesday)
Sunday night I sat down to watch some tv before bed. That’s something I always do when I’m home, but something I’ve definitely slacked on while I’m at school. I went straight for Happy Days and Taxi — two shows that are some of my all-time favorites. They’ve got a quick humor to them, and I love the nostalgia of a live-audience, three camera sitcom. You may have noticed by now that every time I write an author’s note here on Ear Bites, I link “Angela” — the theme song for Taxi. That to me is the ultimate example of the power of a theme song. Whenever I hear it I immediately get a warm feeling in my heart, a sense of happiness and contentment that is connected to how I feel when I watch the show. Today’s song, “One Way or the Other” by The Fifth Avenue Band, gives me that same type of feeling, so much so that I feel it’s gotta be the theme tune for some long-lost sitcom!
The quality of the recording is between sounding slightly fuzzy and crystal clear, a nice balance that almost has you doing a double take as to when it was actually released. (1969, by the way!) It’s an easy track to listen to, one that welcomes you with open arms from the very first moments. The vocals are locked in, with the lead going between falsetto and chest voice in a feat that seems effortless. The backing vocals are perfectly mixed, with just enough of a pop to let them shine in the chorus. In a cool turn of events, you’ll hear some bongos on top of the regular drumkit — a combo that sounds real fitting in the context of the tune! The bass line is a driving force in this song, moving with the beat and punctuating it exactly where it is needed.
“One Way or the Other” is a bright light in an unexpected place. It’s one of those buried treasures that I’ve kept close to my heart for a little while. Every time it flows through my headphones my mood is instantly lifted and everything has a sparkle to it. To the Fifth Avenue Band I feel Andy Kaufman’s Latka from Taxi says it best — “Thank you very much”!
Got something I should hear? Let me know here!
Follow Ear Bites on Instagram here!
Follow Ear Bites on Spotify here!
Listen to my radio show “No Static at All” Saturdays 1:30pm-3:30pm EST or my other show all about new music Tuesdays 12:30-1:30pm EST here! This week on “No Static At All”, I’ll be featuring a playlist with musicians from every letter of the alphabet!