We hope to release our 16th single of 2024 by the end of this weekend, Lord willing. 

In case you missed our announcement in January, ApologetiX is booked to play what will be our first concert in almost seven years. We've gotten a tremendous response from fans all over the United States and Canada who tell us they're planning to attend.

Our most-recent show was on October 24, 2017. We've been comfortable operating as a studio-only band since then and have been saying all along that it would take something really big to get us back up on stage. Well, this is it!

We're honored to be selected as the closing act for the third annual Immortal Fest in Versailles OH on Labor Day Weekend this year. ApologetiX will play Sunday night, September 1, and most of our fans will still have Monday off for the holiday.

Other artists scheduled to play that weekend include: Bride, The Daniel Band, Fear Not, Ironwrath, James Durbin, Les Carlsen of Bloodgood, Neon Cross, Sacred Warrior, Saint, Shout, Trytan, Whitecross, and Worldview. The emcee will be the legendary Pastor Bob Beeman of Sanctuary International.

If we were going to return to the stage, we always felt the ideal spot would be a centralized location in the Midwest that would enable as many of our fans as possible to attend from north, south, east, and west. Versailles OH fits the bill. Here are some nearby cities and how far away they are from Versailles:

Dayton OH (45 miles), Muncie IN (50 miles), Cincinnati OH (95 miles), Columbus OH (100 miles), Indianapolis IN (110 miles), Toledo OH (130 miles), Ann Arbor MI (175 miles), Lexington KY (175 miles), Detroit MI (190 miles), Louisville KY (195 miles), Cleveland OH (225 miles), Chicago IL (250 miles), Pittsburgh PA (285 miles), Saint Louis MO (350 miles), and Nashville TN (365 miles). 

Sunday, September 1, 2024 
Immortal Fest II
BMI Event Center
791 E. Main St
Versailles, OH 45380 

BMI Event Center is Miami Valley's best concert venue. The 1500-seat indoor concert hall includes a 330-seat balcony. 

CLICK HERE for more info on the artists, the schedule, the event itself, and tickets.

We began our latest trip through the Bible on Wednesday, April 3.

Here's our Bible-reading plan for the next two weeks for those of you reading along with us:


Note: If you don't have a Bible handy, you can look up these passages for free on Bible Gateway. They have about 60 different English translations/versions there to choose from, plus translations in many other languages, many of which also have multiple translations/versions.

We recently revamped the downloadable version of our complete library. Now it comes in a PDF with pictures of every album and single for easy reference. You just click on the ones you need to download them instantly.

We're giving our complete library on download to everyone who donates $100 this week.

That's 1694 tracks, including various versions (studio, live, rarity, album, single, EP, revised, remastered, etc.), plus side projects ... even our most-recent single, “Got My Mindset From You / Media Circus" and our latest CD, Unchained Medley.

We ran out of our latest batch of ApologetiX USB thumb drives this week, but we hope to order new ones next week. They should be in stock by the middle of the month.

As we do with CDs, we'll start taking orders now, and we’ll send out the USBs as soon as they’re in stock.

The new USBs will contain the digital versions of all 74 of our CDs, plus any singles, EPs, or rarities that aren't on CD ... including our next single.

Emblazoned with the band's logo, they have a storage capacity of 16 GB, and they’re write-enabled, so you can add more music to them if and when you get future ApX downloads.  

They’re available for a donation of $150 or more. If you've donated for our complete library before, they're available for a donation of $50 or more.

J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here again.
 
Here are the latest entries in the "albums that influenced me" series I started writing in May 2020.
 
Note: Just because an album appears on this list doesn't mean I give it a blanket endorsement. Many of the secular albums on this list are mainly there because they wound up being spoofed by ApologetiX.

1542. Spanky and Our Gang - Sparky and Our Gang
This was another album I acquired when my brother-in-law Dan gave me most of his old records in the winter of 1982-83. I don't know why I didn't think of it till now. Sparky and Our Gang was a Chicago-based, five-member group led by Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane. She acquired her nickname because of the similarity of her last name to child actor George "Spanky" McFarland, who had starred in the Our Gang comedy film clips in the 1930s and 1940s. The band McFarlane fronted had a style that is now classified as "sunshine pop" and a sound that reminds me of The Mamas & The Papas and Peter, Paul & Mary. Hold that thought. Spanky and Our Gang released their self-titled debut LP on August 1, 1967. It only went to #77, but spun off three Top 40 singles: "Sunday Will Never Be the Same" (#9), "Lazy Day" (#14 pop, #1 Canada), and "Making Every Minute Count" (#31). Those first two are a couple of my favorite '60s tunes. Another noteworthy track on the album was "Jet Plane," a John Denver composition that would be covered much more famously two years later by ... you guessed it ... Peter, Paul & Mary, who took it to #1. In 1968, Spanky and Our Gang's second LP, Like to Get to Know You, went to #56 and produced two more Top 40 singles, the title track (#17) and "Sunday Mornin'" (#30). The group had four more Hot 100 hits after that but never crashed the Top 40 again. Sadly, their two lead guitarists both died shortly thereafter —Malcolm Hale (who also played trombone and sang) in 1968 and Lefty Baker (who also played banjo and sang) in 1971. By the time of Baker's death, the group had already broken up, in large part because Hale had played such a large role in their music. They briefly reformed in 1975 and carried on till 1980. In the early '80s, McFarland joined a new version of ... wait for it ... The Mamas & The Papas with original Papas John Phillips and Denny Doherty and John's daughter, Mackenzie Phillips, who was already famous for her longtime role on the TV sitcom One Day at a Time. 
 
1543. Classic Masters - Sheena Easton
Versatile Scottish singer Sheena Easton won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1982 but first came to prominence in 1980 on a U.K. reality TV show on BBC called The Big Time: Pop Singer. However, she actually ended up with more Top 10 and Top 40 hits in the States than in the United Kingdom, including #1 hits on the pop, adult contemporary, country, and dance charts. Furthermore, she became the first and only artist to score Top Five hits on all five of Billboard's primary singles charts — pop, adult contemporary, country, R&B, and dance. Released July 2002, Classic Masters contains all 11 of her U.S. Top 40 hits from 1981-86: "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" (#1 pop, #1 AC), "For Your Eyes Only" (#4 pop, #6 AC), “We’ve Got Tonight” with Kenny Rogers (#6 pop, #2 AC for five weeks, #1 country), “Strut” (#7 pop, #6 dance), “Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)” (#9 pop, #15 AC, #9 dance), “Sugar Walls” (#9 pop, #3 R&B, #1 Dance), "You Could Have Been With Me" (#15 pop, #6 AC), "Modern Girl" (#19 pop, #13 AC), "Almost Over You" (#25 pop, #4 AC), "When He Shines" (#30 pop, #13 AC), and "Do It for Love" (#29 pop, #39 AC). The remaining track on the album, a remake of the old Martha and the Vandellas hit "Jimmy Mack," missed the Top 40 but still made the Hot 100 (#65 pop). Easton would net three more Top 40 hits from 1987-89, including two with Prince, "U Got the Look" (#2 pop) and "The Arms of Orion" (#36 pop, #21 AC). But she had one other solo hit in 1989 that became the second biggest of her career. We'll talk about that one tomorrow. I know what you're saying: We've got tonight ... who needs tomorrow? 

1544. The Lover in Me - Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton's ninth studio LP, The Lover in Me, came out on November 7, 1988. The title track, produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface (who were also two of the songwriters) became the second-biggest U.S. hit of her career (#2 pop, #2 dance, #5 R&B, #43 adult contemporary, #15 U.K.). A second single, "101," written and produced by Prince (although he used the pseudonym Joey Coco in the writing credits), also reached #2 on the U.S. dance chart and #54 on the U.K. pop chart, but did not hit the Hot 100. Three additional cuts were released as singles, one of which charted in the United Kingdom but not the United States, one that charted only in the Netherlands, and one that didn't chart at all: "Days Like This" (#43 U.K.), "Follow My Rainbow" (#14 Netherlands), and "No Deposit, No Return." The album sold half a million copies in the United States. It peaked at #44 on the Billboard 200 and #30 on the U.K. albums chart, but got to #9 in the Netherlands. Although not a single, "Without You" is very nice tune, too. Easton would have three more U.K. hits (two of which were also U.S. hits) after this album: "The Arms of Orion" with Prince (#36 pop, #21 AC, #27 U.K.) in 1989, "What Comes Naturally" (#19 pop, #77 U.K.) in 1991, and "Giving Up Giving In" (#54 U.K.) in 2000.
 
1545. Billboard Top Hits 1976 - Various Artists
This bicentennial bonanza featured six #1 hits: "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" by Elton John & Kiki Dee, "Love Machine (Part 1)" by The Miracles, "Let Your Love Flow" by The Bellamy Brothers, "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry, "Saturday Night" by Bay City Rollers, and "Theme from S.W.A.T." by Rhythm Heritage. It also included a trio of #2 hits with #1 connections: "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright (which went to #1 on Cash Box and Record World charts), "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" by England Dan & John Ford Coley (which topped the Billboard adult contemporary chart), and "All By Myself" by Eric Carmen (which later become a #1 AC hit for Celine Dion, who also reached #4 on the pop chart with it). The remaining track, "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" by Elvin Bishop, peaked at #3 on the Billboard, Cash Box, Record World, and Radio & Records charts. Bishop was the former lead guitarist for the Paul Butterfield Blues Band from 1965-68, but the lead vocals on "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" were done by Mickey Thomas, who eventually sang lead vocals on three #1 hits for Starship: "We Built This City," "Sara," and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now." ApologetiX has spoofed "Play That Funky Music" and "Fooled Around and Fell in Love," although there are a few others on Billboard Top HIts 1976 I wouldn't mind taking a crack at.
 
1546. Super Hits of the '70s - Have a Nice Day Volume 20 - Various Artists
C'mon, you didn't really think I was done talking about this series, did you? As one of the later volumes, Super Hits of the '70s - Have a Nice Day Volume 20 didn't focus on a specific year but comprised 12 tunes from 1972-77, although half of them came from '77. Three of the tracks made the Top Five: "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me" by Mac Davis (#1), "Disco Duck Part 1" by Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots (#1), and "Do You Wanna Make Love" by Peter McCann (#5). Three others stalled at #6: "Get Closer" by Seals & Crofts, "Devil Woman" by Cliff Richard, and "Angel In Your Arms" by Hot. If you just looked at the titles, you might think those last two were a study in contrasts, but the actual lyrics suggest otherwise. The remaining two Top 10 hits on Have a Nice Day Volume 2 were "After The Lovin'" by Engelbert Humperdinck (#8) and "Smoke From A Distant Fire" by The Sanford Townsend Band (#9). But the four lowest-charting selections were the ones I found the most interesting. Like the aforementioned "Disco Duck" (and so many other '70s hits), each was an unusual story song: "The Last Game Of The Season (A Blind Man in the Bleachers)" by David Geddes (#18), "Living Next Door To Alice" by Smokie (#25), "Ariel" by Dean Friedman (#26), and "Judy Mae" by Boomer Castleman (#33). The first two were tear-jerkers with a twist and the final one was just plain twisted. The other, "Ariel," was the first song I ever attempted to buy on a 45 record, in the summer of '77. I couldn't find it and had to settle for "Nobody Does It Better" by Carly Simon. 
 
1547. Super Hits of the '70s - Have a Nice Day Volume 22 - Various Artists
With a dozen Top 20 smashes from 1978-79, Super Hits of the '70s - Have a Nice Day Volume 22 offered an eclectic mix. Three #1 pop hits headlined the affair: "Hot Child In The City" by Nick Gilder, "Sad Eyes" by Robert John, and "My Sharona" by The Knack. Two #1 adult contemporary hits played supporting roles: "Love Is In The Air" by John Paul Young (#7 pop) and "Lotta Love" by Nicolette Larson (#8 pop). Apparently a lotta love was in the air at the close of the '70s. Another song, "Gold" by John Stewart reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 but made it to #1 on the Radio & Records chart. The rest of the Top 10 hits were "Stumblin' In" by Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman (#4), "Every 1's A Winner" by Hot Chocolate (#6), and "You Take My Breath Away" by Rex Smith (#10). That brings us to my favorite track on this album, "Driver's Seat" by Sniff 'n' the Tears (#15). Have a Nice Day Volume 22 also included a pair of #18 hits, "Dancin' Shoes" by longtime Elton John drummer/backing vocalist Nigel Olsson and "Hold On" by Ian Gomm, which was one of two Top 40 hits with that title in 1979. The other was by Triumph (#38). ApologetiX has spoofed "My Sharona," "Hot Child in the City," and "Every 1's a Winner."
 
1548. AM Gold 1965 - Various Artists
Time Life Music and Warner Special Products brought us the AM Gold series, with 22 volumes in 1995 and 14 additional volumes from 1996-2002. I purchased a handful of them in 2007 through second-hand sources in an effort to complete playlists of Top Five singles. Like most of the discs, AM Gold 1965 contained 22 tracks, seven of which went to #1: "I Got You Babe" by Sonny and Cher, "Downtown' by Petula Clark, "My Girl" by The Temptations, "Game of Love" by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders, "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" by The Righteous Brothers, "This Diamond Ring" by Gary Lewis and The Playboys, "Back in My Arms Again" by The Supremes. They were joined by a dozen other Top 10 hits: "California Girls" by The Beach Boys (#3), "What's New Pussycat" by Tom Jones (#3), "You Were on My Mind" by We Five (#3), King of the Road" by Roger Miller (#4), "I'll Never Find Another You" by The Seekers (#4), "You're the One" by The Vogues (#4), "The 'In' Crowd" by The Ramsey Lewis Trio (#5), "What the World Needs Now Is Love" by Jackie DeShannon (#7), "You've Got Your Troubles" by The Fortunes (#7), "Goldfinger" by Shirley Bassey (#8), "I Got to Pieces" by Peter & Gordon (#9), and "Do You Believe in Magic" by The Lovin' Spoonful (#9). Bringing up the rear were "Make Me Your Baby" by Barbara Lewis (#11), "Little Things" by Bobby Goldsboro (#13), and "The Tracks of My Tears" by The Miracles (#16). There are plenty of great songs on AM Gold 1965, but I think the one I needed most for completion purposes was "The 'In' Crowd," the only instrumental on the album. 

If you'd like to donate to the ministry of ApologetiX, there are a couple ways you can do it. 

If you prefer to mail a check or money order, please make it out to "ApologetiX" and send it to: 

ApologetiX
208 Charlemma Drive
Pittsburgh PA 15214-1414

Although the donations are not tax-deductible, they will be received very gratefully and used immediately. Thank you!