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?
Willie's Spirit
13 Comments
EightE1
Yay! I’m first! I’m first!
Aerosmith, “Dream On.” Proto-power ballad. If not the originator of the genre, then certainly something akin to its grandpappy. This is the studio version, but I love hearing live versions, when Tyler sings “All the things come back to you,” he’ll add stuff to the line, like “All the things you do, pretty mama, come back to you,” or (my favorite) “All the things you do, motherfucker, come back to you.” I like it when people add “motherfucker” to lyrics. Sinatra should’ve done it. “Come fly with me, come fly, let’s fly away, motherfucker.” “This, I tell you, brother, love’s a cool motherfucker.”
Dismemberment Plan, “You Are Invited.” Lyrics are yawn-inducing. Layers of noise and beat and melody are fine, fine, fine.
Peter Gabriel, “Steam,” Show him ’round your fruitcakes, and he’ll write a “Sledgehammer” knockoff. Wafer-thin and not at all representative of all the wonderful music on the Us album.
The Who, “Who Are You.” A great hangover song, with squishy synthesizers, a clearly anesthetized Keith Moon, and a well-placed “fuck” or two. Though I love “You Better You Bet,” “Eminence Front,” and “Another Tricky Day,” it probably should’ve ended here.
Sarah McLachlan, “Ordinary Miracle.” Amazing, how much I loved Fumbling Towards Ecstasy and “Adia,” and now I cannot stand the sound or sight of her. This one’s on the hard drive cuz the boy-child saw Charlotte’s Web and wanted the track. Can’t hear her these days and not think of a sad, abused dog. I also think of those commercials she does for the Humane Society.
Michael Parr
As much as I agree with your assessment of “Steam,” the “Quiet Steam” version is stellar.
EightE1
Never knowingly heard it. You’ll have to share sometime.
Mike
Personally, I think I’d rather have a llama. Or an emu.
1) “Death Wish” by Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo: Hearing songs like this takes me back to being 13 or 14 years old, staying up on Friday and Saturday nights with my ear to the radio and a fresh blank tape at the ready so I could record all of the great hip-hop that came out in that era. It was still an age where even urban radio stations were scared of anything more hardcore than Heavy D. Man, I wore out a lot of tapes back then.
2) “Feel Like Makin’ Love” by Mary J. Blige: I have two versions of the version popularized by Bad Company (the original and a cover by Millie Jackson) and three versions of the version popularized by Roberta Flack (the original and covers by D’Angelo and Gladys Knight). Strangely, this similarly-titled version by MJB is an original (strange because Mary does a LOT of covers). This was one of the better tracks on her pretty mediocre album “Love & Life” (which marked her unfortunate reunion with Sean “Puffy” Combs).
3) “What’s it Gonna Be” by Bryan Adams: I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but anything Bryan Adams recorded in the Eighties that has even the slightest bit of tempo makes me think of a soda commercial.
4) “Kick, Push II” by Lupe Fiasco: Is this two straight Friday Fives for Lupe?
5) “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy” by Queen: Did you know that Jason Mraz covered this? Have I totally ruined this song for you now?
Bill C
Patsy Cline-A Church A Courtroom and then Goodbye-Live at the Opry. Any day that my Five starts with Patsy Cline is a good day. To quote Jimmy Buffett “There is no one who can touch her, hell I hang on every line.”
Dylan-Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall from No Direction Home. A great live version of one of the greatest songs ever written.
Asking me Lies-The Replacements-Don’t Tell a Soul. Wow. Haven’t heard this for a long time but it reminds me of what a great band they were.
Jack Johnson-Flake-from Brushfire Fairytales. My daughter must have downloaded this onto my iTunes. Nothing against Jack Johnson. I just probably would not have put this on.
A Most Peculiar Man-Simon and Garfunkle-From Old Friends. Very pretty song. Most of their songs were very pretty.
Matt
Wow, it’s funny how much that performance makes me want to punch the members of Chicago (with the exception of Bill Champlin, who will always be the man). It’s also interesting that Jason (at least for that video) is sporting the Cetera haircut. Don’t remember seeing that before….and it seems to increase his Cetera-like facial mannerisms, something else that seems new. I really wish Chicago would hang it up.
Michael Parr
Truer words have seldom been said.
Matt
you’re right…I couldn’t take watching the whole thing.
judd6149
Those “private sessions” should have stayed that way…
Anonymous
It hurt me. Make it go away. 🙁
Anonymous
1. “The World Is Going Wrong” by Geoff Muldaur
2. “Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes” by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
3. “Down On The Farm” by Little Feat
4. “Goodbye Is All We Have” by Alison Krauss
5. “Hold You In My Arms” by Ray LaMontagne
judd6149
Five From Friday:
1. Grits Ani’t Groceries – Little Milton: Great vocal performance. A total soul stirrer…the lyrics good funky fun “Grits ain’t groceries, eggs ain’t poultry and Mona Lisa was a man” http://tinysong.com/CMP4
2. Cocaine Blues – Townes Van Zandt: I’m sure he rean the gambit of affiliated substance blues. They saw cocaine increases serotonin levels in the brain by 22%, food by 6% and sex by 12%…choose your poison. http://rd.io/x/QV5SUzdDzoY
3. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window – The Hold Steady: A cool Bob Dylan cover from the double-cool “I’m Not There” soundtrack. That collection fo Bob covers is good fun. The John Doe work is some of my fave on it. http://rd.io/x/QV5SUzdz1Oc
4. Walk On – Roy Orbison: “Brush away that teardrop…” Roy had teardrops in his voice. This box set “The Soul of Rock and Roll” is flowing with tears…of joy, for Roy. What a voice…what a comp. http://rd.io/x/QV5SUzdz2bA
5. Love Lives Here – The Faces: This is a REAL power ballad…at least by the standards of one of the ballsiet rocking band ever. It’s a slow burner with plenty of muscle from Ronnie’s guitar and Rod’s pipes. http://rd.io/x/QV5SUzdMTjg
Dennis Corrigan
1. “Clear Water” by Field Music from (Measure) – meh
2. “Feel” by Big Star from #1 Record – that’s more like it. Can’t go wrong with this
3. “Dynaflow Blues” by the Johnny Shines Blues Bland from Blues Masters, Vol. 15 Slide Guitar. Loved this Rhino collection from the 90’s. This also appeared as part of Vanguard’s excellent Chicago Blues Today series from the 60’s
4. “I’m a Greedy Man” by James Brown from Star Time
5. “Can’t Find My Home” by Blind Faith from Blind Faith -everyone knows this one