The Friday Five: September 18, 2009
Friday Five : ˈfrī-(ˌ)dā,-dē ˈfīv : On the sixth day of every week I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five and drop a little knowledge and insight for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, sometimes there isn’t. Sometimes we have 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:
The Smashing Pumpkins – “1949 (vocal mix)” (from Rarities and B-Sides, 2005)
It seems like a lifetime ago when Billy Corgan was actually relevant. Despite his ongoing attempts to further bury his Smashing Pumpkins into the ground I will hold the bands early work near and dear to my heart. While clearly ego-driven, the ambitious Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness to this day stands as one of my favorite records of the mid 90’s. This particular track was part of a remix single featuring remixes by Roli Mosimann and Moby.
Counting Crows – “Goodnight Elisabeth” (from Recovering the Satellites, 1996)
Easily one of my favorite songs in Counting Crows repertoire, “Goodnight Elisabeth” is a perfect example of the band’s strength and moreover Adam Duritz’s ability to craft the most lovelorn tale and wrap it up in a beautiful package. The lyric “If your the Queen of California I am the King of the rain…” continues in the tradition of the storyteller tying back to his past tales.
OutKast – “B.O.B.” (from Big Boi and Dre Present…Outkast, 2001)
This track is – in a word – relentless. At a frenetic 155 BPM it is the definition of banging and was the first OutKast single that really caught my attention. I was familiar with the group prior and loved the track “Elevators (Me & You)” but had not connected with the southern hip-hop duo outside that. That all changed with this track.
Paul Davis – “’65 Love Affair” (from Sweet Life: His Greatest Hit Singles, 1999)
This track just takes me back to days without a care, riding bicycles and running around during the summer. For that simple fact I cherish this track.
ZZ Top – “Rough Boy” (from Greatest Hits, 1992)
A few years later and maybe a little less “riding bicycles and running around during the summer” but this holds a similar place in my heart. Growing up just outside of the reach of NYC’s Z100 the Hudson Valley pop radio landscape in the ’80s was dominated by K104.7 WSPK and its Saturday Night all request with Dr. John Barron. It was through these shows that I discovered not just pop, but rock, new wave, AOR and of course the Power Ballad. “Rough Boy” was the third single from ZZ Top’s Afterburner and was their last in the ’80s.
I’ve got my five, what’s coming up in your shuffle today?
6 Comments
Anne
First of all, B.O.B. is my go to song if I am running and need to be motivated. Relentless is a great word to describe it. Now onto the list.
1. “Take Me to the River” Al Green
2. “Long Distance Call” Phoenix
3. “Touch, Feel & Lose” Ryan Adams
4. “Watch Your Step” Elvis Costello
5. “Step On My Old Size Nines” Stereophonics
KathyB
1. “Ca Ne Se Prete Pas” by Pamelo Mounka from “L’Incontournable.”
About a month ago, a friend gave me a bunch of Senagalese music to listen to, because it’s a genre that I know absolutely nothing about. This is one of the tracks. I still don’t know much, but I like some of it.
2. “Retromuff” by Hot IQs from “Dangling Modifier” EP, 2006. A local (Denver) band. I try to support the local artists when I can.
3. “Brigade” by the Decemberists, live in Washington, DC, from an NPR broadcast, 2005
4. “I Don’t Want to Lose Your Love” by Mad Lads from “The Complete Stax-Volt Singles: 1959-1968” Not sure where I got this from.
5. “As Time Goes By” by Mandy Patinkin from “Experiment” (1994). Because I have always been in lust with this man’s voice, ever since Evita.
EightE1
Really oddball mix this week:
Dio—”Killing the Dragon.” A chugging metal track—the title track from an under-appreciated Dio record. I cannot for the life of me remember who’s playing on this, but it kicks serious ass.
The Hold Steady—”Lord, I’m Discouraged.” My favorite album last year was Stay Positive, and this is one of the best tracks on it. It’s like Springsteen writing the Black Crowes’ “She Talks to Angels.” The first half of the song builds steadily to a remarkable guitar solo. Great vocal from Craig Finn.
Beastie Bous—”Brass Monkey.” Not my favorite Beasties song, but a butt-thumper nonetheless.
Rush—”Test for Echo.” Another title track from an under-appreciated album. The main riff in this really cooks.
Elliott Smith—”Between the Bars.” Either/Or is just an amazing record. The melody and chord progression on this one are beautiful. He really made beautiful music.
Slappy
Benjamin Orr – Hold On
James Brown – “Introduction to James Brown” – Live at the Appollo
Rolling Stones – “No Use in Crying”
Goo Goo Dolls – “Name (live at KBCO)
Dixie Chicks – “Baby Hold On” – Taking the Long Way
Pingback:
Judd6149
My Country Sugar Mama – The Howlin’ Wolf
Call Me the Breeze – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Put a Label on It – Booker T & The MGs
My Blue Heaven – Fats Domino
Borstal Boys – The Faces
Nice 5 for you, Pete. I wish I got the Petty show in the UK. Your Counting Crows play. I just had a “shuffle-moment” with them the other day when “Richard Manuel is Dead” came on. Good song. Why weren’t these guys more consistent. Duritz and his Friends-episode?