New Faves 05/31/2021

It’s springtime in the Caribbean but for some reason my body and soul think it’s autumn. Perhaps it’s because I have COVID-19 fatigue, haven’t felt cold weather in over three years, and our toddler is on a Halloween kick that I’m missing cool October nights in the Northeast. As for most recent new music faves, I seem to be in a country and folk mood particularly with artists who aren’t purists but are just having fun. Even the darker among my new faves seem to have a silver lining that at least provides a life lesson or a chuckle to help ease the pain. These are songs I imagine would sound great live in a small club and half were actually recorded in the last five years and so I feel good that I’m embracing newer sounds even if they are just reintroducing old sounds in new ways. That’s the way it goes, America. Enjoy! 

01. Rodney Crowell – “Bluebird Wine” (1975 or 1976)

02. Claude King – “Wolverton Mountain” (1962)

03. The Brothers Four – “Try to Remember” (1965)

04. Stephen Stills and Judy Collins – “Girl from the North Country” (2018)

05. Creme Soda – “Keep It Heavy” (1975) 

06. Bart Crow – “Wear My Ring” (2006)

07. John Craigie – “Virgin Guitar” (2017)

08. The Ocean Blue – “Ballerina Out of Control” (1991)

09. Guy Clark – “Stuff That Works” (1995)

10. Townes Van Zandt – “Be Here to Love Me” (1969)

11. Leonard Cohen – “Passing Through (Live)” (1972)

12. John Prine – “Lonesome Friends of Science” (2018)

13. Jake Xerxes Fussell – “Ragged Levy” (2015)

14. Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real feat. Willie Nelson – “Just Outside of Austin” (2017)

15. Jonny Fritz – “I Love Leaving” (2016)

16. Jonny Fritz – “Stone Cold Daddy-O” (2016)

17. Mapache – “Lonesome LA Cowboy” (2019)

18. Alynda Segarra – “Drunken Angel” (2018)

19. Karl Blau – “Six White Horses” (2016)

20. Dan Reeder – “Nobody Wants to Be You” (2020)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

No Passport Required

My interest in international music (which includes so-called “world” music) began during my college days when my initial preference was for geographically closer to home sounds like Celtic and Caribbean (ie. Irish and reggae) in which the lyrics are in English and the songs not too dissimilar to music I already knew growing up on Long Island. The ‘90s was the high point for international music’s popularity (at least in the United States) and- for a short time- I worked in my hometown’s health food store where I was exposed to a potpourri of world and new age sounds (and I think discovered Outback’s Dance the Devil Away- good stuff). A co-worker from the store gave me tickets to see Kitaro- the king of new age- and the king’s unmemorable performance left me a bit perplexed about such music and its followers. 

Stan Getz and Astrud Glberto

In the late ‘90s, it seemed everyone I knew had a copy of Buena Vista Social Club (including me- I soon became tired of it) and each time I tried to further explore international music I felt lost and frustrated because I didn’t know how to find the good stuff. My discovery of international music continued in Peace Corps Bulgaria where I enjoyed new (to me) and exciting international sounds I was hearing from other volunteers (such as Astrud Gilberto) while much of Bulgarian music was not so much international as just run-of-the-mill wedding/dance synthesizer music (of which every country has its own version). For me, international will always be a crapshoot and the best you can do is keep your ears open and just listen to whatever sounds good, wherever it’s from. Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy! 

01. Clube da Esquina (Milton Nascimento and Lô Borges) – “Clube da Esquina Nº 2” (1972)

02. Harry Belafonte – “Banana Boat (Day-O)” (1956)

03. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem – “Mountain Dew (Live)” (1961)

04. Enya – “Watermark” (1988)

05. Françoise Hardy – “La fille avec toi” (1962)

06. Israel Kamakawiwoʻole – “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” (1993)

07. Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto – “The Girl from Ipanema” (1964)

08. Enya – “A Day Without Rain” (2000)

09. Astrud Gilberto – “Fly Me to the Moon” (1965)

10. Celtic Thunder – “A Bird Without Wings” (2008)

11. Celtic Thunder – “Mull of Kintyre” (2008)

12. Outback – “Aziz Aziz” (1991)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

The Easy Way

If your idea of a dream come true is attending a swinging pool party with jet-setting stewardesses in some exotic locale, then easy listening music may just be for you. If you think life is tough and confusing now, imagine how it must have felt for people living 60 years ago and then you can begin to appreciate how the sounds of easy listening- which includes exotica, lounge, and space age pop- soothed and captured the imaginations of so many during the era of backyard nuclear bomb shelters. 

I first discovered the strange world of easy listening back in college in the mid ‘90s when I was trying to find appropriate music for a kitschy cocktail themed party I was hosting- and the rest is history. While I tend to lean more towards Christmas themed easy listening music (Capitol Records has a seemingly inexhaustible collection of such tunes), here are some of my favorite easy listening songs that sound good any time of the year and in whatever corner of the world you find yourself. Enjoy!

01. Frank Chacksfield Orchestra – “Marakesh Express” (Unknown)

02. Frank Chacksfield Orchestra – “J’Attendrai” (Unknown)

03. 80 Drums Around the World – “Caravan” (1961)

04. Paul Mauriat – “Love is Blue” (1968)

05. Nat King Cole – “Nature Boy” (1961)

06. The New Classic Singers – “Call Me” (1966)

07. Les Baxter – “Taboo” (1956)

08. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass – “This Guy’s in Love with You” (1968)

09. Esquivel! – “Misirlou” (1959)

10. Martin Denny – “The Enchanted Sea” (1959)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

... or check out the playlist on YouTube

(To open music in separate window, click title bar at top of video box)

Oscar Duty

There once was a time in the weeks leading up to the Oscars when I would go to the movies- often alone- to dutifully watch the nominated films. Those days are gone but- as a film buff- I recently felt it my duty to watch the 2021 Best Picture winner Nomadland. Entering movies with low expectations usually serves me well and- despite its secular worldview as well as my fear and distrust of drifters and the American West- Nomadland was better than expected. In fact, I’m certain Nomadland- a movie of the times- will be regarded years from now as something special in the history of filmmaking (and it makes me want to revisit Michelangelo Antonioni’s Red Desert of which I thankfully own a copy).

Not that Nomadland is earth shattering or life changing- it isn’t. In fact, the story could just as easily have been told in a PBS documentary or 60 Minutes segment. And while it does not provide any answers, Nomadland is perhaps the most recent example of what can happen when someone attempts personal filmmaking with thoughtful cinematography and care. The short burst editing style of scenes- perhaps in response to the short attention spans of contemporary viewers- at first turned me off, but I eventually got used to it. I’ll be interested to see if Chloé Zhao’s next movie- another one of those Marvel superheroes blockbuster flicks- will be as personal and well cared for as Nomadland. Grade: B+

Playlist: R. Zimmerman from Minnesota

A continuing celebration of my favorite Bob Dylan songs. Updated. Enjoy!

Bob Dylan

01. Bob Dylan – “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (1965)

02. Bob Dylan – “Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)” (1978)

03. Bob Dylan – “Murder Most Foul” (2020)

04. Bob Dylan – “Red River Shore” (1997)

05. Bob Dylan – “Ring Them Bells” (1989)

06. Bob Dylan – “The Times They Are a-Changin’” (1964)

07. Bob Dylan – “Born in Time (Outtake)” (1990)

08. Bob Dylan – “Ring Them Bells (Live) (1993)

09. Bob Dylan – “Cross the Green Mountain” (2003)

10. Bob Dylan – “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” (1965)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Soul by the Dozen

A continuing celebration of my favorite R&B songs. Updated. Enjoy!

Funkadelic

01. Erma Franklin – “Open Up Your Soul” (1968)

02. The Beginning of the End – “Funky Nassau, Pt. 1 (1971)

03. Funkadelic – “Biological Speculation” (1972)

04. Funkadelic – “Can You Get to That” (1971)

05. Gil Scott-Heron – “Lady Day and John Coltrane” (1971)

06. Funkadelic – “I’ll Stay” (1974)

07. Marlena Shaw – “California Soul” (1969)

08. Fred Wesley – “House Party” (1980)

09. The Poets of Rhythm – “More Mess on My Thing” (1993)

10. Eddie Hazel – “California Dreamin’” (1977)

11. Bootsy Collins – “I’d Rather Be with You” (1976)

12. Funkadelic – “A Joyful Process” (1972)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Bob’s Birthday Bash

A continuing celebration of my favorite covers of Bob Dylan songs. Updated. Enjoy!

Bob Dylan

01. Peter, Paul, and Mary – “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (Live)” (1967)

02. Totta Näslund – “Wigwam” (2003)

03. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – “All Along the Watchtower” (1968) 

04. Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Tony Rice – “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (1993)

05. Peter, Paul, and Mary – “The Times They Are a-Changin’ (Live)” (1967)

06. Peter, Paul, and Mary – “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963)

07. Nanci Griffith – “Boots of Spanish Leather” (1993)

08. Fernando Goin – “Abandoned Love” (2006)

09. Ralph McTell – “One Too Many Mornings” (2011)

10. Willie Nile – “Blowin’ in the Wind” (2017)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Sing the Body Electric

Encompassing everything from house to techno, trip-hop to trance (none of which I’ve ever really understood, by the way), electronic music was big in the ‘90s in New York and around the world. At that time, a few electronic CD albums- Björk, UNKLE, Moby- found their way into my collection though back then I did not consider or care what genres these artists represented. I just liked the music. 

Björk

During my first year as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bulgaria in 1999, my musical tastes began to broaden. I recall sitting alone on the floor of my Black Sea apartment wrapping Christmas gifts for my family back in the States and enjoying Vangelis’ El Greco. While often associated with DJs and clubs, most of my favorite electronic music drips with humanity and supplies appropriate sounds to accompany me through long, soul searching nights far from home, or entertain guests as I shoot darts with them in my Bulgarian bachelor pad. Here are some of my favorite electronic songs. Enjoy!

01. Björk – “It’s Oh So Quiet” (1995)

02. Vangelis – “El Greco: Movement V” (1995) 

03. Björk – “Like Someone in Love” (1993)

04. Moby feat. Mimi Goese – “When It’s Cold I’d Like to Die” (1995)

05. Moby – “Porcelain” (1999)

06. UNKLE feat. Richard Ashcroft – “Lonely Soul” (1998)

07. Björk – “Hyperballad” (1995)

08. Neu! – “Isi” (1975)

09. Fatboy Slim – “Praise You” (1999)

10. Moby – “Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?” (1999)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Recommended Links:

Fatboy Slim – “Praise You”

Pipes and Thrills

With few exceptions, to make it as a popular singer in the 20th century then you had to have the goods. Looks and brains were a plus, but to make it big your pipes had to be powerful enough to accommodate whatever joint in which you found yourself, be it a bar, club, roadhouse, speakeasy, auditorium, or what have you. You had to give it all and connect with and thrill listeners to earn that entertainment dollar.

Billie Holiday

I think what I love best about the giants of 20th century vocal artistry is while they are from places and neighborhoods you would never want to visit, their singing brought them fame and entry into the upper class. In addition to singing, they could do whatever else it took to make a buck and thrill you. Now I look around at today’s music entertainment industry and sadly don’t see much in the way of pipes and thrills. Here are some of my favorite vocal music songs that still thrill me. Enjoy!

Sammy Davis Jr. performing for U.S. soldiers in South Vietnam

01. Sammy Davis Jr. – “Mr. Bojangles” (1972)

02. Robert Goulet – “If Ever I Would Leave You (from ‘Camelot’)” (1960)

03. Frank Sinatra – “My Heart Stood Still” (1963)

04. Frank Sinatra feat. Antônio Carlos Jobim – “Wave” (1969)

05. Frank Sinatra – “All or Nothing at All” (1962)

06. Harry Belafonte – “Jamaica Farewell” (1956)

07. Billie Holiday – “You Go to My Head” (1952)

08. Billie Holiday – “Love for Sale” (1952)

09. Billie Holiday with Eddie Heywood & His Orchestra – “All of Me” (1941)

10. Nat King Cole – “When My Sugar Walks Down the Street”  (1964) 

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

... or check out the playlist on YouTube

(To open music in separate window, click title bar at top of video box)

Recommended Links:

Dennis Miller tells about dinner with Frank Sinatra

Playlist: Four Guys from Liverpool

A continuing celebration of my favorite Beatles songs. Updated. Enjoy!

The Beatles with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

01. The Beatles – “Here Comes the Sun (2019 Mix)” (1969)

02. The Beatles – “The Fool on the Hill” (1967)

03. The Beatles – “In My Life” (1965)

04. The Beatles – “Revolution” (1968)

05. The Beatles – “For No One” (1966)

06. The Beatles – “Here, There and Everywhere” (1966)

07. The Beatles – “Something (Take 39 / Instrumental / String Only)” (1969)

08. The Beatles – “Child of Nature (Esher Demo)” (1968)

09. The Beatles – “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (Take 3)” (1968)

10. The Beatles – “Good Night (Take 10)” (1968)

11. The Beatles – “Good Night (Take 22)” (1968) 

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Oldies: Pass the Fritos

A continuing celebration of my favorite oldies songs. Updated. Enjoy!

The Beatles

01. The Beatles – “Come Together” (1969)

02. Frank Sinatra – “I Would Be in Love (Anyway)” (1970)

03. The Neon Philharmonic – “Morning Girl, Later” (1969)

04. Spirit – “Fresh-Garbage” (1968)

05. The Swinging Blue Jeans – “You’re No Good” (1964)

06. Frank Sinatra – “It Was a Very Good Year” (1965)

07. Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra – “Somethin’ Stupid” (1967)

08. Honeybus – “(Do I Figure) In Your Life” (1967)

09. The Left Banke – “She May Call You Up Tonight” (1967)

10. Frank Sinatra – “Cycles” (1968)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Rock Hard

A continuing celebration of my favorite hard rock songs. Updated. Enjoy!

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

01. The Beatles – “Back in the U.S.S.R.” (1968)

02. Queen “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (1979)

03. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – “All Along the Watchtower” (1968)

04. The Beatles – “Revolution” (1968)

05. The Beatles – “Dear Prudence” (1968)

06. The Beatles – “Happiness Is a Warm Gun” (1968)

07. Bob Seger – “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” (1969)

08. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “American Girl” (1976)

09. Santana – “Everybody’s Everything” (1971)

10. Grand Funk Railroad – “We’re an American Band” (1973)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Adults Only

A continuing celebration of my favorite adult alternative songs. Updated. Enjoy!

Sheryl Crow and Liz Phair

01. Beck – “The Golden Age” (2002)

02. Beck – “Guess I’m Doing Fine” (2002)

03. Beck – “Lost Cause” (2002)

04. Liz Phair – “Why Can’t I?” (2003)

05. Barenaked Ladies – “Brian Wilson (Live)” (1996)

06. Sheryl Crow – “If It Makes You Happy” (1996)

07. Barenaked Ladies – “The Old Apartment” (1996)

08. Snow Patrol – “Chasing Cars” (2006)

09. Counting Crows – “Colorblind” (1999) 

10. Liz Phair – “Favorite” (2003)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Good Time Boys

A continuing celebration of my favorite Britpop songs. Updated. Enjoy!

Oasis

01. The Boo Radleys – “There She Goes” (1993)

02. Athlete – “In Between 2 States” (2007)

03. Pulp – “Babies” (1994)

04. Oasis – “Acquiesce” (1998)

05. Delays – “Wanderlust” (2004)

06. British Sea Power – “Men Together Today” (2003)

07. The Verve – “One Day” (1997)

08. These Animal Men – “You’re Always Right” (1994)

09. Coldplay – “The Scientist” (2002)

10. Coldplay – “Yellow” (2000)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: What’s the Alternative?

A continuing celebration of my favorite indie/alternative songs. Updated. Enjoy!

New Order

01. They Might Be Giants – “Tesla” (2013)

02. New Order – “Regret” (1993)

03. Liz Phair – “Why Can’t I?” (2003)

04. Radiohead – “Thinking About You” (1993)

05. NOFX – “Please Play This Song on the Radio” (1992)

06. Violent Femmes – “Good Feeling” (1983)

07. The Divine Comedy – “At the Indie Disco” (2010)

08. Superchunk – “Digging for Something” (2010)

09. New Order – “Your Silent Face” (1983)

10. Real Estate – “It’s Real” (2011)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Rock Me Softly

A continuing celebration of my favorite soft rock songs. Updated. Enjoy!

Neil Diamond

01. James Taylor – “Wandering” (1975)

02. Gordon Lightfoot – “Rainy Day People” (1975)

03. Adele – “Someone Like You” (2011)

04. Paul Simon – “Still Crazy After All These Years” (1975)

05. Bread – “Dismal Day” (1969)

06. Looking Glass – “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” (1972)

07. Bread – “Aubrey” (1972)

08. Hall & Oates – “She’s Gone” (1973)

09. Neil Diamond – “Play Me” (1972)

10. Gordon Lightfoot – “Carefree Highway” (1974)

11. Neil Diamond – “Cracklin’ Rosie” (1970)

12. Seals and Crofts – “Diamond Girl” (1973)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Blue Jean Rock Poets

A continuing celebration of my favorite singer-songwriter songs. Updated. Enjoy!

Bob Dylan

01. Donovan – “Jennifer Juniper” (1968)

02. Paul Simon – “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” (1975)

03. Paul Simon – “Darling Lorraine” (2018)

04. Yusuf / Cat Stevens – “All Kinds of Roses” (2009)

05. Jonny Fritz – “Goodbye Summer” (2013)

06. Bob Dylan – “Subterranean Homesick Blues” (1965)

07. Bob Dylan – “Most of the Time (Alternate)” (1989)

08. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová – “Falling Slowly” (2007)

09. Bob Dylan – “The Times They Are a-Changin’” (1964)

10. Bob Dylan – “Murder Most Foul” (2020)

11. Simon & Garfunkel – “Homeward Bound (Live)” (1970)

12. Bob Dylan – “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall” (1964)

13. Kris Kristofferson – “Help Me Make It Through the Night” (1970)

14. Neil Young – “The Needle and the Damage Done (Live)” (1971)

15. Al Stewart – “In Brooklyn” (1969)

16. Judee Sill – “Crayon Angels” (1971)

17. Townes Van Zandt – “To Live Is to Fly” (1971)

18. Loudon Wainwright III – “Bein’ a Dad” (1997)

19. Neil Young – “Sugar Mountain (Live)” (1968)

20. Bob Dylan – “Red River Shore” (1997)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Country Grab Bag

A continuing celebration of my favorite country songs. Updated. Enjoy!

 

Glen Campbell

01. Dottie West – “Would You Hold It Against Me” (1966)

02. Waylon Jennings – “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line” (1968)

03. Shooter Jennings – “Walk of Life” (2007)

04. Johnny Cash – “For the Good Times” (2003)

05. Toby Keith and Sting – “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying” (1997)

06. Mickey Newbury – “I Don’t Think Much About Her No More” (1969)

07. Johnny Cash – “Before My Time” (2000)

08. Gordon Lightfoot – “Inspiration Lady” (2004)

09. Crystal Gayle – “Talking in Your Sleep” (1978)

10. Jim Reeves – “In the Misty Moonlight” (1964)

11. Glen Campbell – “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” (1967)

12. Porter Wagoner – “Highway Headin’ South” (1974)

13. Porter Wagoner – “The Carroll County Accident” (1968)

14. Josh Rouse – “Dressed Up Like Nebraska” (1998) 

15. Johnny Cash – “Daddy Sang Bass” (1968)

16. Jim Reeves – “The Blizzard” (1961)

17. Lefty Frizzell – “Long Black Veil” (1959)

18. Buck Owens – “Together Again” (1964)

19. Glen Campbell – “Galveston” (1969)

20. Charlie Rich – “I Can’t Even Drink It Away” (1970)

21. Charlie Rich – “Feel Like Going Home” (1992)

22. Bobby Bare – “Ride Me Down Easy” (1973)

23. Roy Drusky and Priscilla Mitchell – “Yes, Mr. Peters” (1965)

24. George Jones – “Window Up Above” (1961)

25. Dottie West – “Country Sunshine” (1973)

26. George Jones – “The Race Is On” (1964)

27. Tom T. Hall – “Homecoming” (1969)

28. Red Sovine – Phantom 309” (1967)

29. Guy Clark – “Instant Coffee Blues” (1975)

30. Kris Kristofferson – “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” (1971)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...