The song “Dogs” by Pink Floyd is my current favorite song. Favorite songs, favorite bands and favorite albums have a definitive cycle (meaning a beginning, peak and end), and sometimes rotate annually (Dylan’s “Time Out of Mind” for sure). I always hit a heavy Grateful Dead period in the spring and a John Prine month in November. 

NOTE: Here is a link to “Dogs” on YouTube if you want to listen while reading.

Pink Floyd’s Animals album has surfaced to the top several times already (yes, I said album… read my story blabber from Dec 2008 here), but never the song “Dogs”. 

In December 2008, I wrote about “Animals” being my favorite album. I am tickled pink in a really geeky music way. I find so much joy in a song that’s been right under my nose for decades. But then, that’s the beauty of music.

Similar to discovering a band for the first time, I love the process of developing a connection with a specific song. The term “favorite song” is not really the most accurate description when someone says this is my “favorite song”.  It’s more likely a person’s favorite song at that moment in time. Time changes, and so does one’s favorite song.  

“Dogs” crept up on me this summer and stayed a good 3 months. Without even realizing it, “Dogs” was my go-to song when I wanted to feel inspired or connected via music. Unusually, it didn’t matter if I was driving to work in the car. It didn’t matter if I was on my Sonos doing paperwork in the kitchen. It also didn’t matter if I was on my bluetooth ear buds working in the yard. I played tunes off my Amazon Prime Account via FireStick on the bedroom TV. Whenever I did, I found myself always typing those four familiar letters. D – O – G – S.

I have gone so deep into this “Dogs” stripper pole that I now have a “favorite moment.” It’s the early mini climax at 6:45 to the phrase “…When you loose control. You’ll reap the harvest you have sown.” This lyric repeated in my head every day for weeks. Before I made this connection with this song, I wrote it down on an index card. I carried it around with me. (Yes, I know strange, but fun).

“Animals” was released in January 1977. It marked a significant time in Pink Floyd’s creativity and style. This period culminated in their next album “The Wall” (1979). The album (obviously) plays off George Orwell’s book “Animal Farm” and creates a deeply moving cohesive collection of songs and sounds (maybe Gilmour’s best work?). Rather than explain all the social references created by Roger Waters… I’ll direct you to Classic Albums website for the skinny (click here).

My friend’s at the local Nyack, NY Dark Side of the Hudson band (Dylan and crew… see story from May 2015) recreate this album magically a few times each year… I’m already looking forward it.

Well, as I listen to the album for the umpteenth time while I pen this story, I’m wondering what’s next…

I’ve been into Charlie Hunter, Hollis Brown and Yes the last week or so. However, nothing has bubbled to the top yet.

Just so you know, I’ve seen a bunch of shows and have a pile of show notes… Soulive and Drive-by Truckers at Brooklyn Bowl pieces are in draft form and coming soon. I had no “takers” from publications to pick up these stories, so they lingered.

Keep flapping rancheleros!

Peace!