The Friday Five: September 23, 2011
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“Snaggletooth” by Motörhead (from No Remorse, 2001)
It’s too damn early for Lemmy. Thankfully, Motörhead tunes tend to be on the short side.
“Before You Were Born” by Toad the Wet Sprocket (from 1992-09-16: Fox Theater, Boulder, CO, USA, 1992)
This is from an excellent soundboard recording of an equally quality performance by Toad. Save for, of course, when Glen flubs the second line.
“Mighty Mighty” by Earth, Wind & Fire (from The Eternal Dance, 1992)
I’ve been listening to a lot of Earth, Wind & Fire lately.
“I Believe” by Chicago (from Chicago 18, 1986)
I spent the entire song waiting for a key change that didn’t happen.
“Traffic” by Ned’s Atomic Dustbin (from Brainbloodvolume, 1995)
Brainbloodvolume is a criminally overlooked record.
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: June 3, 2011
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“Stay” by David Bowie (from Station to Station, 1991)
We’re kicking off the festivities with a aggressively funky cut from the Thin White Duke. I especially dig the go-go congas panned hard left.
“Fireflies” by The Hush Now (from Constellations, 2009)
File these guy under “the best bands you’ve never heard.” Heck, I’m not even sure how I originally tripped over their 2008 self-titled effort, but it was one of the records that I ended up coming back to more than a few times. The second record was a bit uneven in spots, but still solid overall.
“Manipulation” by Chicago (from Chicago XIV, 1980)
In the year 1980 BDF—that’s Before David Foster, for the uninitated—Chicago released the record that got them dropped from Columbia records. Yes, boys and girls, it’s that bad.
“Speak Low” by Billie Holiday (from Verve Jazz Masters 12, 1994)
Oh, how I love Billie.
“Breakout” by Foo Fighters (from Greatest Hits, 2009)
Hail! Hail! Rock n’ Roll!
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: April 1, 2011
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
Editor’s Note: I had considered a few different April Fools’ Day scenarios, but ran out of time to execute. I suppose the joke is on me! – Michael
“Band on the Run” by Paul McCartney & Wings (from Wingspan: Hits and History, 2001)
“Hard to Say I’m Sorry (single edit)” by Chicago (from The Best of Chicago: 40th Anniversary Edition, 2007)
“Goin’ Out of My Head” by Wes Montgomery (from Verve Jazz Masters 14, 1994)
“Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” by Stockard Channing (from Grease, 1978)
“Take a Photograph” by Dropping Daylight (from Brace Yourself, 2006)What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: January 14, 2011
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“Lets Go Crazy (special dance mix)” by Prince (from Ultimate, 2006)
“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here to get through this thing called life.” I’m particularly fond of this version, as it features the extended guitar breakdown that was featured in the film.
“Got the Time” by Joe Jackson (from The Best of Joe Jackson, 2007)
Looks like we’re entering another “Greatest Hits” shuffle. I dig Joe.
“Will You Still Love Me?” by Chicago (from Greatest Hits 1982-1989, 1989)
Between the snow storms that have dumped over 30 inches of snow in the last week, my dear friends Jason and Jessica Hare paid the wife and I visit. During the ensuing music geek-off, Jason revealed the following performance that, well … I’ll just let you see for yourself:
“Starfish & Coffee” by Prince & The Revolution (from Dream Factory, 1986)
Yes, that does say by Prince & The Revolution. Yes, I do have a copy of the July 18, 1986 configuration of the unreleased gem that would later become part of His Royal Badness’ magnum opus, Sign “☮” the Times. With a minimal amount of internet sleuthing, you too could unearth the glory of Prince’s unreleased treasures.
“If I Had $1000000” by Barenaked Ladies (from Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits: 1991-2001, 2001)
I’ve always wanted a monkey.
What’s on your shuffle today?
The Friday Five: April 9, 2010
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“One More Try” by George Michael (from Faith, 1987)
Oh, the overwrought teenaged melodrama that accompanies this tune in my memory bank. I could fill pages, upon pages, of the tales of the end of the world, listening to Chicago, Richard Marx, and so much more wuss-rock. It’s a wonder I didn’t get my ass kicked every day. (It was every-other day.)
“Runaway” by Bon Jovi (from 7800º Fahrenheit, 1985)
I never really gave a shit about Jon-Bon until Slippery When Wet, but I was fully aware of the band during the pre-slippery era thanks to the VCR tapes my aunt would send with 8 hours of MTV content.
“Feels Good” by Tony! Toni! Toné! (from The Revival, 1990)
This song was inescapable during the summer of 1990. In retrospect, I don’t think that I liked it then quite as much as I do now. To be fair, in 1990 I was likely still heavily under the influence of the crew of metal-heads that I associated with. I was forced – peer pressure is a bitch – to keep my guilty pleasures under wraps, stashing my Prince and MJ records in lieu of the latest Megadeth and Metallica.
“Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga (from The Fame Monster, 2009)
While on some level I agree with M.I.A.’s recent assertion that Gaga is “the industry’s last stab at making itself important,” I can’t help but secretly enjoy the hell out of her over-the-top shtick.
“The Dragon” by The Guggenheim Grotto (from Happy the Man, 2009)
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Ireland’s Guggenheim Grotto twice in the last month. With any luck, I’ll be seeing them again this weekend. If it seems a bit obsessive: I’ll fully admit it is, and with good reason. The duo’s songs are poetic and intimate, and tug at the heartstrings like few others can. If you are in the NYC area, I highly recommend making it to at least one of their upcoming shows. They are setting up residency at The Bowery Electric each Wednesday in June, and there is a good chance that you’ll run into me – and maybe Jason Hare – at any one of these shows.
What’s on your shuffle today?
Side Note: What do you guys think of the lala.com embedded tracks?