The OWSLA label is releasing 19 free club tracks on Beatport called Free Treats Vol. 2. The downloads include a remix of Shrillex’s Ruffneck and Alvin Risks Cities. Clubbers rejoice in these new free tracks!

http://www.beatport.com/release/owsla-presents-free-treats-vol-2/878698

Ronnie Montrose ended his battle with cancer a couple of weeks ago. In his honor, below is the 1973 Montrose tune “Rock Candy” which was covered by the Bullet Boys for the 1991 movie Wayne’s World. Ronnie said that nine times out of ten when he met up with other musicians, they couldn’t wait to play this tune with him.

Back in 1986, Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram teamed up to record the song “Somewhere Out There” for the animated film An American Tail.  Exactly 25 years ago today, the song rose to a peak position of number 2 for one week on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. 

“Somewhere Out There” wasn’t the last time Ronstadt would peak at number 2 in a duet.  Three years later, she joined up with Aaron Neville to hit the runner-up spot with “Don’t Know Much.”  For James Ingram … well … five years earlier he hit number 1 in a duet with “Baby, Come To Me” alongside Patti Austin.

Recently Sheryl Crow celebrated her 50th birthday and it got me thinking about my favorite concert moment from her. I always like when an artist tells the story behind the song, very much like VH1′s Storytellers series, when the are performing. Billy Joel and Sammy Hagar tend to talk vividly about how a song was born during live shows.

Did you ever notice that Sheryl Crow’s hit “All I Wanna Do” is very similar to Steelers Deal’s “Stuck In The Middle With You”? Sheryl explained during a concert in Cleveland a few years back that the similarity between the two songs did not hit her until years later. Crow now pays tribute to the symbiotic relationship of two songs by playing a mashup of them live.

Do you hear the similarity between the two songs?

If you remember Jasmine Guy, you most likely know her from her starring role as Whitley Gilbert in the NBC sitcom A Different World.  Guy also, though, tried her hand at a pop music career, and in 1991 she hit the top 40 with her single “Just Want To Hold You,” which came from her self-titled debut album.  Check out the video for the song above, and join Tunesmate in wishing Guy a happy birthday, as she celebrates her 50th today.

From the one-hit wonder file, check out Texas-born singer/songwriter Bruce Channel.  Though Channel hit Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart five times in the 1960s, only once did he make the top 40.  That one song, though, went all the way to number one.  Exactly 50 years ago today, Channel’s debut single, “Hey! Baby,” topped the chart for the first week of its three-week run at number one.

If you don’t remember (or you’re too young to remember) ”Hey! Baby” from its original release, you may also know it from when it was featured in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing.

Since forming in 1979, the Beastie Boys have released eight studio albums, including their most recent offering, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, which came out in May 2011.  Their first studio album, Licensed To Ill, which brought the Beastie Boys to national attention in 1986, was their most successful in terms of sales, while also becoming the album that produced their biggest hit.  Exactly 25 years ago today, their single “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)” peaked at number 7 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart.

For more on the Beastie Boys, check out their official website.

A new radio station has arrived to channel the delicate side of hip hop, introducing Light Rap 105.5 FM. We play Nelly, LL Cool J, Snow, Gym Class Heroes, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more artists that will make your soul quiver. Today and yesterday’s light rap hits will make you cry and dance at the same time.

This Station is completely fake, but what if a station only played Light Rap? Instead of the traditional Light Rock? Below are the top tunes I think that would be in rotation today. What do you think?

Top 10 Tunes In Rotation on Light Rap 105.5 FM

1. Crossroads – Bone Thugs n Harmony
2. Over and Over – Nelly with Tim McGraw
3. I Need Love – L.L. Cool J
4. I’ll Be Missing You – Puff Daddy
5. Stereo Love – Gym Class Heroes
6. Gettin Jiggy Wit It – Will Smith
7. Regulate – Nate Dogg and Warren G
8. Set Adrift on Memory Bliss – PM Dawn
9. Ditty – Paperboy
10. Nothin’ On You – B.O.B. with Bruno Mars

Would you seriously listen to a station of light rap only? I would! Are you listening Clear Channel?

Pop singer Taylor Dayne turns 50 today.  Between 1987 and 1993, Dayne’s first nine singles all hit the top 20, with the first seven of those going top 10 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart.  After that initial success, Dayne’s pop music success fell sharply, as she hasn’t scored another top 40 hit since.  However, she has routinely hit the top 10 on the dance charts over the past two decades, including most recently with “Floor on Fire” in the fall of 2011.

Among Taylor Dayne’s pop music successes, her biggest hit was “Love Will Lead You Back,” which topped the Hot 100 chart for one week on April 7, 1990 and is featured above.

Shaquille O’Neal turns 40 today, and while you most likely know him from his fame as a basketball player, you may also remember that he pursued a music career.  Between 1993 and 2001, Shaq released five albums, beginning with his debut offering, Shaq Diesel.  That album also produced a top 40 hit for O’Neal, with “(I Know I Got) Skillz,” which rose to number 35 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart and is featured above.