Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down…

Spring has finally sprung this week in New England and in a twist of fate it’s pouring outside (it’s been beautiful all week). I guess Meatloaf was right when he sang “two out of three ain’t bad” because it’s Friday and I’ve got The Five to keep me company while waiting out the rain. Last week’s Five was positively on fire! The familiar Fivers Club all showed up en masse and we had quite a few new and welcome additions to the group. For the first timers here’s how we get down… I hit shuffle in iTunes and share the first five random tracks that pop up with some insight and thoughts on the track, then it’s your turn!

Here are this week’s tracks:

1. G. Love & Special Sauce – Baby’s Got Sauce (from G. Love & Special Sauce)

This is definitely in my “All Time Top 5” list for most ridiculously sweet and perfect love songs.

2. Biffy Clyro – Umbrella  (from Radio 1’s Live Lounge, Volume 2)

While by in large an unremarkable version, this is a testament to the power of a well written pop song.

3. The Brian Setzer Orchestra – Sleepwalk (from The Dirty Boogie)

Again, the power of a beautiful melody can transcend time, fashion and fads. The arrangement here deserves a special nod for the fact that it takes liberty with the simplicity by adding the full horn section to Brian Setzer’s blazing fret work.

4. Prince – How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore (from Girl 6)

This tune never did much for me in any recorded version. It was not until I heard it live that it really stuck.

5. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – Lenny (from Texas Flood)

The story goes like this, Stevie’s wife Lenora scraped together the $350 needed to purchase a 1965 Stratocaster that had caught his eye in a pawn shop months earlier. She presented it to him for his birthday and that night as she slept Stevie wrote “Lenny”. Lenora remembers “He was sitting on the edge of the bed and said, ‘Listen to this.’” He proceeded to play his tribute to his loving wife “Lenny”.

How are you ringing in the weekend?