Playlist: Jean’s Jazz: Smells Good II

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

 

Mose Allison

01. Quincy Jones – “Harlem Nocturne” (1966)

02. Charlie Parker – “April in Paris” (1957)

03. Mose Allison – “If You’re Goin’ to the City” (1968)

04. Oscar Peterson – “Sally’s Tomato” (1969)

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

06. Charlie Parker – “Just Friends” (1949)

07. Ella Fitzgerald – “Manhattan” (1956)

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

09. Lambert, Hendricks & Ross – “Twisted” (1959)

10. Mose Allison – “The Seventh Son” (1963)

11. Keith Jarrett – “Shenandoah” (1999)

12. Dizzy Gillespie – “ No More Blues (Live)” (1962)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Blue Jean Rock Poets II

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

 

Tom Waits

01. Tom Waits – “Hope I Don’t Fall in Love with You” (1973)

02. Randy Newman – “Same Girl” (1983)

03. Tom Waits – “(Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night” (1974)

04. Elton John – “Rocket Man” (1972)

05. Gordon Lightfoot – “Pussywillows, Cat-Tails” (1968)

06. Gordon Lightfoot – “Same Old Loverman” (1971)

07. Judee Sill – “Jesus Was a Cross Maker” (1971)

08. Jackson Browne – “Sky Blue and Black (Live)” (2008)

09. Randy Newman – “Rednecks” (1974)

10. Gordon Lightfoot – “Summertime Dream” (1976)

11. Judy Collins – “Simple Gifts” (1970)

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

13. Cat Stevens – “How Can I Tell You” (1971)

14. Bob Dylan – “Blind Willie McTell” (1983)

15. Tom Waits – “Ruby’s Arms” (1980)

16. James Taylor – “You Can Close Your Eyes” (1971)

17. Judee Sill – “Lopin’ Along Thru the Cosmos” (1971)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Classical Faves

A continuing celebration of my favorite classical music songs. Updated. Enjoy! 

Luigi Boccherini

01. Vaughan Williams: “Fantasia on Greensleeves”

       – Sinfonia of London, Sir John Barbirolli (1963)

02. Boccherini: “Minuet from String Quintet No. 1 in E Major, Op. 13 No. 5, G. 275”

       – Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Bobby McFerrin (1995)

03. Mancini: “Moon River (From ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’)” 

       – Hungarian Studio Orchestra, Lang Lang, Madeleine Peyroux, Peter Illenyi (2016)

04. Orff: “Carmina Burana: In Trutina”

       – Kate Royal, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Edward Gardner (2007)

05. Dvořák: “Rusalka, Op. 114: Song to the Moon”

       – Joshua Bell, Michael Stern (2006)

06. Mascagni: “Cavalleria rusticana: Intermezzo sinfonico”

       – Herbert von Karajan, Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala, Milano (1966)

07. Pachelbel: “Canon and Gigue in D Major – Arr. Max Seiffert”

       – Berliner Philharmoniker, Frank Maus, Herbert von Karajan (1984)

08. Handel: “Rinaldo, HWV7, Act 2: ‘Lascia ch’io pianga (Almirena)”

       – Il Pomo D’oro, Joyce DiDonato, Maxim Emelyanychev (2016)

09. Bach: “Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067: VII. Badinerie”

       – Berliner Barock Solisten, Emmanuel Pahud, Rainer Kussmaul (2001)

10. Hahn: “A Chloris (Arr. For Cor Anglais & Orchestra)

       – Academy of St. Martin in the Field, Albrecht Mayer, Mathias Mönius (2010)

11. Handel: “Rinaldo, HWV7, Act 2: ‘Lascia ch’io pianga”

      – Academy of Ancient Music, Cecilia Bartoli, Christopher Hogwood (2000)

12. Bach: “No. 9, Schafe können sicher weiden (Arr. for Piano)”

      – Katia Buniatishvili (2014)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

Playlist: Good Time Boys II

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

 

Richard Ashcroft

01. The Verve – “Bittersweet Symphony” (1997)

02. Richard Ashcroft – “They Don’t Own Me” (2016)

03. Richard Ashcroft – “You on My Mind in My Sleep (2000)

04. Travis – “Closer” (2007)

05. Stereophonics – “Dakota” (2005)

06. Shack – “Streets of Kenny” (1999)

07. The Charlatans – “A Man Needs to Be Told” (2001)

08. Athlete – “Shake Those Windows” (2003)

09. Travis – “Big Chair” (2007)

10. Supergrass – “Moving” (1999)

11. Shed Seven – “Chasing Rainbows” (1998) 

12. Shed Seven – “Disco Down” (1999)

13. Blur – “The Universal” (1995)

14. Travis – “My Eyes” (2007)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

“Do You Feel Like Dancing?”

I remember when the release of a new Superchunk album was a big event- well, at least for me. Over 30 years since their debut, the Chapel Hill, North Carolina indie icons (who apparently have not received the memo the album is a dead art form) dropped Wild Loneliness on the world last Friday. While their last album- the pre-pandemic What a Time to Be Alive- was an angry, anti-Trump affair, Wild Loneliness- which opens with “City of the Dead”- finds Superchunk in a calmer, more introspective mood. But do not mistake calm introspection for sadness and slowness; the album is pretty life affirming and clocks in at just under 40 minutes which makes it conducive to repeated listens, especially for folks “drinking through the news” and finding the state of the world- as well as many of our fellow citizens- “highly suspect”.

Not really ever known as a political or message band (on their early records, it was even unclear what the lyrics were), the songs and themes on Wild Loneliness sound unified and this reminds me of my two favorite Superchunk albums of all time: Here’s Where the Strings Come In (1995) and Come Pick Me Up (1999). Not a nostalgic trip down memory lane, the music on Wild Loneliness sounds fresh, honest, and immediate with the classic Mac Muppet-like vocals and some fine drumming by Jon as well as strings, piano, horns, and catchy melodies. My only complaints are the hardcore song (probably made to satisfy Laura) and the lack of any memorable Jim signature guitar solo attacks. The closer chant may be the crown jewel of what will probably become known as Superchunk’s “COVID-19” album. Grade: A-

Listen to the album on Spotify...

... or check out the album on YouTube

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

Recommended Links:

Superchunk “Void” (Official Music Video)