The Friday Five: March 11, 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:
“Wings and Feathers” by The Guggenheim Grotto (from The Universe Is Laughing, 2010)
A bit ironic that this week’s Friday Five would begin with my favorite Irish singer/songwriter duo, as I’m headed to NYC to see them later this evening. While not my favorite track from their most recent release, it’s one I could see coming to love, in the live setting.
“Hot for Teacher” by Van Halen (from The Best of Both Worlds, 2004)
As Jeff Giles’ (y’all) has pointed out, there simply is no better Friday record than Van Halen’s seminal, 1984. For me, “Hot for Teacher” was every bit the hit single as “Jump” or “Panama.” I mean, come on … that intro? I remember spending hours upon hours trying—in vain—to master the two-hand tapped figure.
“Babylon” by David Gray (from Draw the Line, 2009)
This is a live version of Gray’s big hit single. It’s a xerox performance, save for the crowd’s insistence to sing the tune themselves. As much as I love the original, I can’t sit through 6 and a half minutes of it.
“The Way Young Lovers Do” by Van Morrison (from Astral Weeks, 1968)
Sorry Mr. Gray … I’d much rather listen to the real deal.
“Airplanes, Part 2 (feat. Hayley Williams & Eminem)” by B.o.B. (from B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray, 2010)
I can honestly say that I haven’t cared for much of Eminem’s output of the last few years, save for a verse here and there. His appearance on “Airplanes” is one of those exceptions.
What’s on your shuffle today?
23 Comments
Chris Holmes
1. Paul Anka, “Puppy Love” – Awwwww, ain’t that sweet!
2. Adrian Belew, “Pause” – From the excellent Side One EP featuring Les Claypool among others. This one isn’t all that great though, it’s brief atmospheric piece.
3. Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, “Trampoline Phoenix” – If I told you that a progressive/experimental jazz group from Tulsa could kick ass,would you believe me?
4. As Tall As Lions, “Song for Luna” – Very melodic indie pop/rock. Perfect for a Friday morning.
5. Rodrigo y Gabriela, “Satori” – Flamenco done like heavy metal, just the way I likes it.
de10ero
Mick Sterling & the Stud Brothers-Into The Mystic
Why of course Van is the man…but this is pretty damn good
Fitz & the Tantrums-Money Grabber
Like Sharon Jones, good for your soul
24Pesos-Maxwell Street
UK blues with a modern twist
Bob Marley & the Wailers-Trenchtown Rock
…”one good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain…”
James Brown-Get Up Offa That Thing
This’ll wake you up
Pete
1. Prince – “Raspberry Beret” / Live in Milan, Italy, Nov. 3, 2010
2. Phish – “Water In The Sky” / Live in Hampton, VA, March 6, 2009
3. Prince – “777-9311” / Live in Copenhagen, Denmark, 2004
4. Bruce Springsteen – “Devil’s Arcade” / From Magic Tour Highlights, 2008.
5. Gang Starr – “No Shame In My Game” / From Daily Operation, 1992.
Zack Stiegler
1. Robyn – We Dance to the Beat
Love me some Robyn.
2. Beastie Boys – Do It
From Ill Communication. For my money, the last album they made that’s worth a damn.
3. Cut Copy – Take Me Over
Wonderfully bouncy cut from their latest, Zonoscope.
4. The Dead Weather – I’m Mad
5. Public Enemy – Air Hoodlum
Anonymous
1. “All That heaven Will Allow” – The Mavericks – from “What A Crying Shame”
2. “Houses In The Fields” – John Gorka – from “Pure John Gorka”
3. “Setting Me Up” – Eric Clapton – from “Just One Night”
4. “Stormy Monday” – The Allman Brothers Band – from “Live At Fillmore East”
5. “I Want You Back” – KT Tunstall – from “Live”
Mike Duquette
1. Maroon 5, “This Love”: When this was released as a single in early 2004, it was probably the first and last time I was actively looking for good music from radio and television. I’ll always look upon the song fondly for that reason (and I’ve since heard a few mainstream pop tunes that would have fit perfectly in that era; i.e. Katy Perry), but I’m kind of glad I have a slightly different music recommendation network at my disposal now.
2. Queen, “Who Wants to Live Forever”: in terms of Queen-songs-that-have-since-become-epitaphs-for-Freddie, I’m more on board with “The Show Must Go On.” I am a sucker for the Michael Kamen orchestra sound, though.
3. Bob Marley and The Wailers, “Could You Be Loved”: Like a zillion other people, I own the “Legend” compilation.
4. John Williams, “Preparing the Cage”: From “JAWS.” Everyone knows and loves the two-note main theme, but the fugue-like piece used in the last third of the movie, when everyone’s on the Orca, is the secret weapon as far as I’m concerned.
5. Girl Talk, “Down for the Count”: from the last Girl Talk album, which still hasn’t supplanted “Feed the Animals” in my mind. But sampling the piano coda from “Layla,” Madness’ “Our House” and The Temptation’s “Get Ready” means instant success as far as I’m concerned. Happy Friday y’all!
Bill C
68 Guns by the Alarm from Standards. A great song back in the day. Holds up reasonably well.
This Little Girl of Mine by the Everly Brothers. Just finished Warren Zevon’s biography and learned all about his time with the EB. This is a very pretty song.
Politically Uncorrect by Gretchen Wilson from All Jacked Up. When my brother told me to buy this CD I thought he was insane. I assumed it was more “Redneck Woman” tripe. But actually it is a great disc. This isn’t one of the better songs, but it is still very good.
Difficult Kind by Sheryl Crowe from Live in Central Park. Next.
Dance with Bonaparte by Mark Knopfler from Golden Hearts. While much of his solo work sounds the same, this is still a great song. On to the weekend.
Anonymous
“The Hook” by Stephen Malkmus from his self-titled solo debut (aka the first Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks album) (2001) – I was 100% obsessed with this record when it was first released, but haven’t listened to it in years. Recently rediscovered it and it still holds up. Amazing album.
“Immaculate” by Dominque Young Unique from Glamorous Touch mixtape (2011) – This mixtape was just released yesterday and I love it. Highly recommend you download it. Really hoping I finally get to see her live this year.
“We Call Upon the Author” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds from Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008) – This is my favorite track from the most recent, excellent Seeds album. I love Grinderman, but I’m hoping Mr. Cave and the Seeds releae a new record soon.
“Every Night” by James Pants from James Pants (self-titled) (2011) – This album isn’t out yet, but when it does get released, you should run and get it because it is fantastic.
“The Devil” by Anna Calvi from Anna Calvi (self-titled) (2011) – I can guarantee you that this album will be in my top 10 favorites of 2011 and Ms. Calvi is becoming one of my favorite new artists. I cannot recommend her debut album highly enough.
Mindy
1. Adele – Don’t You Remember
2. Enigma – Knocking on Forbidden Doors
3. Black Crowers – Downtown Money Waster
4. Lady GaGa – Poker Face
5. Andrea Bocelli – Come Un Fiume Tu
jefito
1. King Curtis, “Ridin’ Thumb” — from the essential “What It Is!” box
2. The Kleptones, “Can’t Be Paranoid” — from “Uptime.” Download it now, along with everything else they’ve ever done.
3. Fats Waller, “You Run Your Mouth, I’ll Run My Business” — from the “If You Got to Ask, You Ain’t Got It!’ box
4. Larry Adler, “The Continental” — from “The Virtuoso of the Mouth Organ,” which is coincidentally what Jason’s mother has painted over her bedroom door.
5. Ken Shane, “Disappeared” — from “South Ridgeway Avenue.” Hey, I know that dude.
Ted
1. INXS, “Don’t Change” (It’s actually from that shitty album, Original Sin)
2. Smashing Pumpkins, “Clones (We’re All)” Thanks to Dw Dunphy for this one!
3. Jellyfish, “Bye, Bye, Bye” Because Jason Hare has been such a cheerleader for this band, I finally download this album last year — and was not disappointed.
4. Cee Lo Green, ” Fool For You” (Ft. Philip Bailey) Solid soul.
5. Paul Simon, “The Boy in the Bubble” Probably one of my favorite Simon songs from the ’80s.
Chris Holmes
Spilt Milk is so awesome it’s not even funny.
Anonymous
That’s the stone cold truth.
Michael Parr
Spilt Milk might be my favorite record of the early ’90s.
365Danbury
Juke Box Hero-Foreigner
Hey Ya!-OutKast
Fortress Around Your Heart-Sting
The Only Living Boy In New York-Simon and Garfunkel
Conviction of the Heart-Kenny Loggins
What an odd mix.
dslifton
1. “Without Love” – Aretha Franklin
2. “Aly, Walk With Me” – The Raveonettes
3. “A Little Mascara” – Bill Janovitz
4. “Hang On, Mike” – Mike Viola
5. “New York City Serenade” – Bruce Springsteen (10-26-74),
Catfish Vegas
The Byrds – Paths of Victory
Wilco – How To Fight Loneliness
Aretha Franklin – Respect
Glen Hansard & Marketa Iglóva – Falling Slowly
Warren Zevon – Johnny Strikes Up The Band
Shannon J
“Up to the Mountain (MLK Song),” Patty Griffin, from Children Running Through. I think this one started last week’s five for me too. Weird.
“Tall Trees,” Crowded House, from Woodface. I’ve been on a bit of a Finn kick lately. It’s a good thing.
“Summer Dress,” Shawn Colvin from a live bootleg someone sent me. (No money was exchanged, hope she is cool with taping!) This version is nice – it’s from an outdoor show and the sound quality is surprisingly good. There are birds singing in the background, which adds some ambience.”
“Sunny Came Home,” Shawn Colvin from Live. I’m starting to pick up on iPod’s shuffle logic. I remain a fan of this song, though I hate that it got her labeled, in some circles, as a one-hit wonder.
“Think for Yourself,” The Beatles, from Rubber Soul. This may have been the first CD I ever bought; came in a longbox.
Anonymous
1. “As Long as She Needs Me”- Sammy Davis Jr., I’ve Gotta Be Me- The Best of Sammy Davis, Jr. on Reprise
2. “Hounds of Love”- Kate Bush, Hounds of Love
3. “Hold On”- John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band
4. “Classics: A Tale of Two Sixties”- Barclay James Harvest, XII
5.”On My Way Back Home”- Band of Horses, Infinite Arms
Dennis Corrigan
While waiting for the Notre Dame game to start:
1. “Stone Crazy” by Buddy Guy from the Very Best of Buddy Guy – It’s all here on this classic Chess side
2. “Dazed and Confused (live)” by Led Zeppelin from How the West Was Won – yes, I listened to all 25+ minutes of it, right from the opening gong
3. “I Will Follow” by U2 from Boy – once upon a time there was a little band from Dublin
4. “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen from Born in the U.S.A. So 80’s
5. “A Brief History of Love” by The Big Pink from A Brief History of Love
Go Irish! Beat Cardinals!
Jeanne Marie
1. Morning Glory – Stillwater Junction
2. Last Goodbye – Jeff Buckley
3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The Beatles
4. Just Like Heaven – The Cure
5. She Talks To Angels – The Black Crowes
EightE1
Ending a week that got progressively strange … I’m wondering now if the week had been extended by some means, just how weird shit woulda gotten. I gotta hand it to the Interwebs — every time I think I can’t be surprised by something that happens online, I am greeted by something even stranger that happens online. There is potential for coolness to abound, but I’m still left marvelling.
This is all abstract and nonsensical, I know. Perhaps I’ll have more to report next time. Anyway, on with my Five:
Van Halen, “Eruption.” All the press Sammy Hagar’s getting for droppin’ the poop on Eddie Van Halen just makes me want to hear stuff like this even more. Reminds me of his greatness. The tapping thing that starts at :57 never ceases to make me smile. God love him, I hope VH actually finishes whatever they’ve started (ha ha ho ho hee hee) and blast out some cool new music soon.
Drive-By Truckers, “The Wig He Made Her Wear.” From The Big To-Do, a tale of murder, mental and physical abuse, and religion. Everyone who uses religion to simply lord their power over others has something rotten and worm-ridden hidden just under their squeaky-clean surface. Would that the Westboro lunatics meet a similar fate.
Led Zeppelin, “Communication Breakdown.” Oh my God. Imagine hearing this for the first time, back in ’69. How fucking mind-blowing that musta been. And what a great preamble to the guitar solo: “Oooooooooohhhhhh … SUCK!”
Counting Crows, “American Girls.” A couple days ago, I listened to Hard Candy straight through in my car for the first time in a long time, and I love how well it held up for me. This was the first song in years that I’d turned on the radio specifically with the hope of hearing it (this was before album leaks were so prevalent). Duritz shoulda won a Grammy for the line “American girls, all feathers and cream / Coming to bed so edible.”
David Bowie, “Never Get Old.” I really like Bowie’s last three or four records. I think people miss the sly bits of wit he brought to the material, the playfulness just beneath the darkness. It’s good stuff.
Michael Parr
“American Girls” should have been a huge hit.