Ickmusic’s Friday Five: September 5, 2008
As I’ve said before four day work weeks always throw me for a loop. This week had the added pleasure of a computer move leaving my music on one while I get the other ready for day to day use. Needless to say, I’m in need of a Friday Five fix to get me through the rest of this day.
Last week we wrapped up the “The Theme Days of Summer” with a send off. This week we’re back in the swing of the general shuffle. For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s how it works: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five with some words for each track.
Then it’s your turn! Just share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments and see what your fellow readers are listening to as well.
This week’s Friday Five is courtesy of Last.fm.
Here are this week’s tracks:
½. The Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick (from Christmas with the Beach Boys)
Apparently Last.fm does not know it’s not Christmas yet, this was quickly skipped but I thought I should include it here.
1. Rihanna – Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z) (from Good Girl Gone Bad)
For as overexposed of a track as this was I still genuinely enjoying hearing it and have not reached for the ‘skip’ button any time it’s popped up in a shuffle.
2. Prince – When 2 R in Love (from The Black Album)
Featuring the beat Justin Timberlake lifted for his all-too-obvious Prince inspired track “Until the End of Time”. I’m rather ambivalent about this track in particular as it always seemed out of place on the raunchy Black Album. While it’s a great song it’s no “Cindy C.”.
3. Billy Joel – The River of Dreams (from River of Dreams)
I think that this might be the first Billy Joel track to appear on a Friday Five. I have an odd relationship with Billy Joel in that I do truly appreciate and enjoy his music, but own relatively little of it and have not ever really looked to change that. I actually do not even own this record, rather the greatest hits package that covers this period of his career.
4. Eric Johnson – My Back Pages (from Bloom)
While I prefer his instrumental work, this is a great cover of the Dylan classic.
5. Led Zeppelin – Fool in the Rain (from In Through the Out Door)
I know that this may be blasphemy and an act of music-snob hari-kari but this is hands down my favorite Led Zeppelin song. It never fails to lighten even the darkest mood and I’m always up and dancing about during the Samba breakdown.
So what’s bringing you joy this Friday?
8 Comments
Anne
1. “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie from Plans, 2005.
2. “Strange” by Patsy Cline from 12 Greatest Hits. My husband just moved out after 14 years of marriage. Patsy is always needed in these cases.
3. “Good Luck (Ft. Lisa Kekaula) by Basement Jaxx from Kish Kash, 2003.
4. “Expectations” by Belle & Sebastian from the Juno OST.
5. “Miles and Miles” by Dee, 2002. All of you know this song. It is from the Edge vehicle commercial where the song went “I like to live on the edge. I like the view from above.” It is the only reason I bought this song on eMusic.
Kelly
1. “Freedom” by Richie Havens from Woodtock: Three Days of Peace & Music. Richie’s going to be here in Cincinnati in a couple of days at a really small venue. I just might have to go see him.
2. “Single Again” by Fiery Furnaces from EP. I had to listen to this song three times when I first got this album because the lyrics fascinated me.
3. “The Pleasure Principle” by Janet Jackson from Control. I miss 1980s Janet.
4. “Golden Brown” by The Stranglers from Coast to Coast. I’m working on a fall mix right now and this is definitely going on it. Amazing song.
5. “Judy is a Punk” by The Ramones from Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!: The Anthology. One of my favorite Ramones tunes.
Gonzo
1. “Man on a Mission” – Van Halen. Man, haven’t heard this in a while. I always default to Diamond Dave, but this is a great Sammy track from a great Sammy album.
2. “American Terrorist” – Lupe Fiasco. I don’t love Lupe Fiasco, but I like him well enough.
3. “In God’s Hands” – Nelly Furtado. Good song, though not a favorite from the album. I suppose it’s needed to balance out the dance tracks.
4. “B-Boy Bouillabase” – Beastie Boys. CLASSIC!
5. “I Ain’t tha 1” – NWA. Straight Outta Compton is still a great record, though yeah…dated.
Pete
Happy Friday yawl…
1. “Elvis Imitators” by Jimmy Buffett, from Boats, Beaches, Bars, and Ballads (1992) – I’m not a huge Buffett guy, but really, how can you NOT like some of this stuff. It evokes sandy tropical beaches and booze. Nothing wrong with that….
2. “Metropolis” by the Pogues, from If I Should Fall From Grace With God (1987) – It’s hard to find a Pogues song I don’t like. Especially on this album. Still need to see this band live while Shane’s sthttp://www.sendspace.com/file/diydkwill kicking.
3. “Tick Tick Bang” by Prince (1981), from the Controversy sessions. Love this sped up early version – early horn-dog Prince style.
4. “I Hear Them All” by Old Crow Medicine Show, from Big Iron World (2006) – good old-timey, bluegrass-y tune. This is my only song by these guys. Nice enough I guess.
5. “New York” by the Sex Pistols, from a bootleg called Kill the Hippies. Their Jan 5th, 1978 show in Atlanta. This was the start of their very short and only tour of the U.S. A few weeks later, the Sex Pistols were done. At least in the Sid Vicious incarnation.
whiteray
Anne: How awful! May bad times soon be in your rear-view mirror.
Kelly: I saw Richie in a small venue last winter and it was one of the three best concerts I’ve been to in my life. (The shows by Paul McCartney and Ringo’s first All-Starr Band are the other two.) By all means, go see Richie!
Now on the the Friday Five:
1. “If I Call Your Name” by Jason Campbell, 1971, Deram 344, UK single (I think). Nice pop tune with a good hook.
2. “Barbara Allen” by Bob Dylan from “Live at the Gaslight 1962.” Traditional folk song as only Mr. Zimmerman can deliver.
3. “Awake” by Mungal with Nitin Sahwney from “Putumayo Presents Asian Groove,” 2002. I’ve been listening to a lot of the Putumayo CDs lately, and “Asian Groove” is one of the better ones. This track features a sitar (I think) and some cool rhythms in the background.
4. “Opening Suite, Second Contribution,” by Shawn Phillips, 1971. When I finally got “Second Contribution” on CD, I ripped it into several long mp3s, making it sound the way it did when I first heard it back in 1972 or so. (Many of the tracks lead into the next.) This suite opens with the gorgeous “She Was Waiting For Her Mother At The Station In Torino And You Know I Love You Baby But It’s Getting To Heavy To Laugh,” more commonly known – thank God — as “Woman.” A sublime record.
5. “Stand!” by Sly & The Family Stone, Epic 10450, 1969. A great single that carries a good message: “Stand for the things you know are right . . . Stand! Stand! Stand!” Oh yeah!
Pete
Anne – crappy news indeed, but all for the best I’m sure…thank God for the tunes, huh? 😉
Julie
” Land of Hope and Dreams” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Live in NYC.
Thunder Road guided me through the first half of my life. This one guides what remain. “Dreams will not be thwarted, faith will be rewarded”
“Ballad of Carol Lynn” Whiskeytown Pneumonia. I feel a greater affinity toward this record than I do Stranger’s Almanac.
“It’s Too Late” Derek and the Dominos Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. I have a friend that theorizes Clapton is always better when pushed to be so and Duane Allman certainly did that. Last Clapton show with Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall, Willie Weeks and Steve Jordan was pretty close to being a perfect band.
“Under Your Breath” Whiskeytown Pneumonia ( I don’t have a lot on my ipod) Not a huge fan of the mix here, it sounds muddy to me but I like the song. Young Ryan very talented, current Ryan is too for that matter.
“1917” Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions. Gorgeous gorgeous song. Transports you to Paris WWI with lovely harmonizing from the McGarrigle sisters. One of my all time favorite records, never tire of it.
KathyB
Julie–I love your list.
Here goes nothing:
1. “Moondance” by Van Morrison from “The Best of Van Morrison” (1990). What’s interesting is the album art that iTunes chose for this album–someone named Darren Morrison, whom I’ve never heard of, but it looks like the cover of an old book, so it might be country or folk. Looking him up in the iTunes store, it appears he is definitely country, and he’s got a song called “Letter to Buffett,” which I think I need to check out, being the Parrothead that I am.
2. “Houses on the Hill” by Whiskeytown, from the “A Stranger Is Born” sessions (later included on “Strangers Almanac”). As I’ve mentioned quite a few times, I love Whiskeytown.
3. “Black Roses” by Joseph Plunkett & The Weight. Which should actually be “Joseph Plunket” & the Weight–I just did some research after realizing I have no information about this song in my iTunes. Or just “The Weight.” This song doesn’t appear to be on any of their albums. It’s a country-inflected sort of garage rock that I feel indifferent about.
4. “Here Comes My Baby” by The Tremeloes from “Even the Bad Times Are Good” (1967) Nice jaunty little pop ditty. (that’s a compliment)
5. “Leaving This Life” by Lori McKenna from “Unglamorous” (2007). Finishing off with a depressing song. It’s probably supposed to be optimistic, but I find it depressing, although beautiful.