The Friday Five: July 22, 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:
“Rewrite” by Paul Simon (from So Beautiful or So What, 2011)
There aren’t enough hours in the day to listen to Simon’s latest record as much as I’d like. “Rewrite” is just one of the many reasons why.
“Another Lonely Christmas” by Prince & The Revolution (from 12″ Archive 2.0, 2001)
Christmas in July? With temperatures across the country reaching well into the triple digits, I’d bet everyone could stand a little holiday cheer to remind them that snow and sub-zero temperatures that’ll be here in just six short months. There’s not much cheer to be found here, though.
“Legs (dance-enhancing version)” by ZZ Top (from Greatest Hits, 1992)
I know, I know … what is “Legs” without the video, right?
That’s better, right?
“The Scientist” by Johnette Napolitano & Danny Lohner (from Wicker Park, 2004)
Take the already haunting Coldplay cut, amp it up with the incomparable vocals of Concrete Blonde’s Johnette Napolitano, and you’ve got yourself a perfect cover.
“[silence]” by Nine Inch Nails (from Broken, 1992)
They say silence is golden. I swear, this is the next track that shuffled up, though I feel like I might be cheating you guys. Maybe I should elucidate on just how … oh, forget it. I used the word elucidate and I want to kick my own ass right now.
What’s on your shuffle today?
15 Comments
d10ero
The Animals-Sky Pilot
The complete 7 minute plus anti war epic
John Mellencamp-Authority Song
JCM’s a fan of I Fought The Law by the Bobby Fuller 4
Dion-If I Should Fall Behind
Beautiful mid tempo doo-wop adaptation of the Boss
Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes-Why Is Love Such A Sacrifice
Got tix to see them in August…do this one, please
Too Slim & the Taildraggers-She Sees Ghosts
Sorta like the movie Sixth Sense but about a dog, got it?
dslifton
“Invisible Sun” – The Police. Damn, I miss my idealism. Now I’m just a cranky old liberal.
“Silent House” – Crowded House (North American Travelogue). One of those minor-key melancholy things that Neil Finn does better than just about everyone.
“I Am Free” – The Kinks. Album cut from The Kink Kontroversy. You can see it was all there for Ray, but he hadn’t found it yet.
“Where Diamonds Are Halos” – Sugar. Second week in a row something from Besides comes up. David Barbe’s shining moment.
“Purple Rain” – Elvis Costello (Beacon Theatre, 5-24-11). The first time Elvis did a Spinning Songbook tour, he had a blistering cover of “Pop Life.” He replaced it on this tour with an overblown version of this.
For the second week in a row, no Springsteen.
Michael Parr
As much as I dig Elvis, he really should stay away from “Purple Rain.” His version made my teeth hurt.
dslifton
Elvis has pissed me off so much over the past decade that I won’t buy his albums or see his concerts anymore.
Chris Holmes
1. Linda Jones, “Hypnotized” – Thanks to Ken Shane for introducing me to this little slice of soul magic.
2. Frank Sinatra & Antônio Carlos Jobim, “The Song of the Sabia (Sabiá)” – This is from the Sinatra/Jobim set released last year. This was going to be part of the follow-up to the brilliant Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim album, but that was shelved. This track is pretty much on par with the material on the first album.
3. Cage the Elephant, “Shake Me Down” – I will be including this album on my Best of 2011 list, so keep your eyes peeled!
4. Björk Guðmundsdóttir & Trió Guðmundar Ingólfssonar, “Brestir og brak” – Yes, this is from that Björk jazz album. It’s fascinating to hear her sing over straightforward jazz arrangements, although I can’t make it through this album in one sitting.
5. Pink Floyd, “Eclipse” – This from a gig in Munich, 1973. I was on a huge bootleg jag a few years back, and I don’t know why. With many bands, one concert is the same as the next. Floyd is one of the few bands that defies that rule.
Anonymous
“By Your Side” by Sade from The Ultimate Collection (2011). One of my biggest regrets of 2011, so far, is not going to see one of Sade’s live shows.
“Baby Roulette” by Chiddy Bang from Peanut Butter and Swelly Mixtape (2011). If you haven’t downloaded this mixtape yet, what the hell are you waiting for? It is full of summer jams. Trust me, kids.
“International Velvet Theme” by Dean & Britta from 13 Most Beautiful: Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screentests (2010). This whole project is kind of perfection. If you haven’t seen the film, it’s on Netflix Instant. I plan on putting it on in the background during my next party.
“You and I” by Washed Out from Within and Without (2011). This album is my nominee for the Make-Out Record of 2011.
“Respect” by Otis Redding from The Ultimate Otis Redding (1986). I heard two dudes released a single this week that samples Otis.
Chris Holmes
Kanye West and Big Boi from Outkast I think.
Anonymous
I thought it was Coolio and Hammer.
Mike
This is actually my Friday Five from last week. I typed it up in Word with the intention of posting it, but then I wound up seeing some band at some place in the West Village and then eating Chinese food with a couple other guys and…so went my Friday.
1) “Love”
by Erykah Badu | from “New Amerykah Part 2: Return of the Ankh”
Something about there being only
two…uh, some metaphysical stuff that I don’t want to go back and listen to the
song in order to figure out. Erykah Badu is funky. Buy this album. And all her
others. Then go see her live (something I personally need to do next time she
comes to Boston.)
2) “Air”
by Ben Folds Five | from the soundtrack of “Godzilla-The Movie”
From the time period in between
Whatever & Ever Amen and Reinhold Messner, a pretty straightforward power
ballad (with big guitars!) from “serious” Ben as opposed to “sassy” Ben. As
much as the movie sucked (and I watched it a million times…when I was working
in retail, it was pretty much on the video screens for a month straight), this soundtrack
is VERY solid. Good BFF. Good Foo Fighters. Awesome “Heroes” cover by The
Wallflowers. Great Michael Penn song, too.
3) “Sassy”
by Neneh Cherry featuring Gang Starr | from “Homebrew”
Talk about underrated. “Homebrew”
is one of those albums I wish I could grab everyone by the neck and force to
listen to. Today also would have been Guru’s 50th birthday. What a
loss.
4) “U-16
Girls” by Travis | from “Singles”
Travis > pretty much
any Britpop band from the Nineties or early Oughts. This song has gang vocals.
I love.
5) “Gone
to the Movies” by Semisonic | from “Feeling Strangely Fine”
We close this week’s five with a
wistful, gentle ballad. Actually, “gentle” is the first word that comes to mind
when I think of Dan Wilson. I got to shake his hand and tell him how much of a
fan I was around the time “Free Life” came out. His reaction seemed very
genuine and friendly. These guys need a full-on reunion album.
Chris Holmes
Love, love, love “Air.” Man I miss the Five.
Mike Duquette
Michael, is that “Legs” from the ’92 hits set? Everything after that (the Rhino box, etc.) inexplicably edits the end of the song. The ’92 set and the video are complete, though. Enough nerd talk! Here’s my five:
“(Come ‘Round Here) I’m the One You Need,” The Jackson 5. I love all the fuzz guitars on J5 tunes. Anything that might’ve got 10 year olds into psychedelic soul is OK by me. And little Michael was taking notes on Levi Stubbs for his delivery on this track.
“Beautiful,” Christina Aguilera. You know, I got this bigger iPod and I thought it would be fun to have everything in my collection in one place. Now I’m not so sure.
“Interlude (instrumental),” Morrissey & Siouxsie. I feel like I should be travelling down a river after midnight.
“I’m So Bored with the USA,” The Clash. My brother hates The Clash. Hates all “punk” music. He’s missing out, especially where The Clash are concerned.
“Fingertips (Part 2),” Stevie Wonder. Ideal summer music, that Stevie. And his fakeout at the end is my favorite live music moment, ever. More nerd talk, about this single: the first release of this single cut Parts 1 & 2 at a different point in the song; it was the later version, where Stevie starts with “Everybody say yeah!” that was the hit. It’s all in the editing!
Michael Parr
It’s the ’92 hits collection, and without the edit.
EightE1
The other day, my chirpractor (Johnny Pants, aka Docta Back Cracka) told me my head was on crooked, right before he delivered a Klitschko-like blow to the back of my skull. Then he apologized … and did it again. My vertigo went away, but now I fear everyone I walk past is about to give me a rabbit punch.
Fountains of Wayne, “Acela.” Bumpin’ new song from the very cool new FoW record.
Yes, “Into the Storm.” Decent track from the new Yes record. Not sold yet on Benoit David as frontman, but I like Chris Squire’s everpresent bass bubbling throughout.
Eagles, “Seven Bridges Road.” Reminds me of how much time I’ve spent this week listening to corporate hippie music (I’m looking at you, Mr. Crosby, Mr. Stills, and Mr. Nash).
Stevie Nicks, “You May Be the One.” In Your Dreams really is the return to form most have said it is. It is impossible, though, to imagine these songs written for anyone but Lindsey Buckingham, and I’ve grown tired of that whole story.
Journey, “To Whom It May Concern.” More goodness from Eclipse. Difficult to imagine a Journey record making my year-end top ten, but I fucking love this thing. Could happen.
Anonymous
1. “Don’t Answer Me” – The Alan Parsons Project – The Definitive Collection There’s a great video on YouTube for this song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALC7kt6iUHY
2. “Done In The Dark” – Etta James – Etta James
3. “(If You’re Going To) San Francisco” – Scott McKenzie – San Francisco
4. “The Dream” – David Sanborn – The Best Of David Sanborn Every time this shuffles up on iTunes my wife asks me, “What movie has that song in it?” I don’t know that it’s from any movie. Any ideas?
5. “Let It Be Me” – Rosie Thomas (& Ed Harcourt, I think) – If Songs Could Be Held
Anonymous
1. U2— “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?” (Achtung Baby). Good tune with some of Bono’s more elastic vocals. Veers back and forth between playing the father figure who sees the writing on the wall and questioning an ex lover’s choice of replacement.
2. Prince — “It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night” (Sign O’ The Times). You know the Friday Five is going well when you get a selection from your favorite album. Prince serves up an infectious percolating party track punctuated by brass blasts, spirited piano riffs and a rap from Sheila E. thrown in for good measure.
3. Stevie Wonder — “Overjoyed” (Natural Wonder). I realize there are some Stevie Wonder ballads you just want to wring out like a washcloth to get the sap out of them. However, this live version is terrific with a simpatico string arrangement that matches the sweetness of Wonder’s expressive vocals without going overboard.
4. Aimee Mann — “You’re With Stupid Now” (I’m With Stupid). I had to laugh at the juxtaposition from Stevie Wonder to this Aimee Mann cut. I think it’s the second week in a row my IPod has reached to this album. While there’s a chilly bitterness to the lyrics, Mann’s mixture of plaintive regret and aching lament in her vocals suggests something else.
5. Prince — “Now” (The Gold Experience). While there are certainly better anthems in Prince’s back catalog, there is a rousing, frathouse kind of immediacy here.