The Friday Five: September 2, 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:
“AC/DC Bag” by Phish (from 2004-06-18: KeySpan Park, Brooklyn, NY, USA, 2004)
Nothing like easing back into the Friday Five with a jammy bit o’ goodness from Vermont’s finest. After six days without power, I probably resemble a touring phan more than I’d care to admit.
“Crank Me Up” by BulletBoys (from BulletBoys, 1988)
Well it isn’t “Smooth Up in Ya,” or “For the Love of Money,” so … next!
“Now” by Prince (from The Gold Experience, 1995)
“Don’t worry about my name, it’s 2 long 2 remember. I could tell U now, but we’d be here ’till next September” For as clunky, and dated, as some of the material on The Gold Experience is, it still kicks a good bit of ass.
“Beck’s Bolero” by The Jeff Beck Group (from The Rolling Stone Collection: 1967-1969, 1993)
Duh-da-da-da-duh-da-da-da-duh-da-da-da-duh-duh-duh
“Snakes in Schubas” by Jason Mraz (from Selections for Friends, 2007)
So before I close this out, I want to thank Jeff Giles for picking up my slack last week. I also want to give a plug, and plea, for everyone to check out After the Flood: A Compilation to Benefit Upstate New York Victims of Hurricane Irene. It’s a few bucks for a good cause, and in return you’ll get a great collection of tunes from some of New York’s finest singer/songwriters.
What’s on your shuffle today?
10 Comments
Dennis Corrigan
A quickie before hitting the road:
1. “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” by Otis Redding from the Dictionary of Soul Complete and Unbelievable
2. “Penny Lane” by the Beatles from Magical Mystery Tour
3. “Today is the Day” by Yo La Tengo from Summer Sun – captures that late night lazy wistful end of summer feel
4. “The Losing End (When You’re On)” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse from Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
5. “Dying” by XTC from Skylarking – talk about your end of the summer
Hope everyone enjoys the long weekend and hears something good!
Phil
I’m beginning to get the impression that maybe I have different musical tastes than most in these here parts and that there’s the possibility that some of the IckMusic regulars may not have heard some of the songs that I post here. So beginning with this Friday Five, I plan to include links to the track that exist in Spotify for any of the more curious among us. I hope that’s OK.
Collective Soul – “Giving” (Disciplined Breakdown, 1997)
There was a period where I was absolutely infatuated with anything Collective Soul put out. The band’s third album may not have produced as many hits–only two–or as many instantly familiar tunes as some of its other albums, but I actually like it better than most of the others. Maybe it’s because it was born in the midst of management difficulties, money troubles, and lawsuits. Or maybe it’s simply that Ed Roland knows how to write a good song.
Joe Satriani – “Hands in the Air” (Is There Love in Space?, 2004)
One of the things I have always liked about Joe Satriani is that he doesn’t just noodle around on the guitar just for the sake of noodling. The man can shred with the best of them, but he always seems to be more concerned with creating a real song with a real melody and a groove. Give me that over guitar wankery any day.
Yes – “Changes” (Yesyears, 1991)
A live version of one of my favorite songs off 90125. Not much else to say.
KISS – “Black Diamond” (KISS, 1974)
Klassic Kiss. And while the first album did not capture the spirit or the energy of the band’s live performances, I will always have a soft spot for it in my heart. I love the unpolishedness of Peter Criss’ vocals, and it contains some of my favorite guitar work from Ace Frehley. That being said, I really could do without the outro effect of the tape slowing down.
Toad the Wet Sprocket – “Comes a Time” (Coil sessions outtake, 1996)
I have had this song in my collection for so long, and since Glen Phillips has performed it live so often and recorded versions of it for other projects, I have become so familiar with it to the point that I forget it’s not an official TTWS release. Beautiful mostly acoustic tune with electric embellishments underneath and even a solo, and it contains Phillips’ typical poetic lyrics and themes.
Michael Parr
Excellent idea, Phil!
I share your love for “Comes a Time.” I’ve gone back and listened to Coil a few times in the last year and always find something new to love about it. For a record that I largely ignored when it was released, it is one I revisit often.
Phil
Coil has to be my favorite Toad album. There’s not a bad track on it. Too bad the band was plagued with label problems and creative differences, but maybe that’s what makes it such a great album. Based on the merits of the songs alone, it should have exploded, but instead it didn’t go far because Columbia didn’t get behind it. Sadly, this has become a recurring theme with most of my favorite bands.
Matt Springer
1. “When They Ask About You,” Aretha Franklin. “Queen of Soul” is not just a title.
2. “Superstar,” Murray Head. From the Webber/Rice masterwork Jesus Christ Superstar. Later, he’d hit top of the pops with “One Night in Bangkok.” Brother of Anthony Stewart Head, who played Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The band here kinda kicks shit.
3. “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding,” Nick Lowe.
4. “Bonus Track,” The Budos Band. On the Daptone label, these folks record music that is the soundtrack to the 70s blaxploitation film you didn’t realize you were starring in EVERY DAY.
5. “Greensleeves,” Ray Bryant. Great jazz/blues/soul pianist who Popdose’s own Chris Holmes turned me onto one day in Turntable.fm.
Happy weekend all.
Anonymous
1. “Long Old Road” – Tracey Nelson – The Bluesville Years
2. “Good Day For The Blues” – Storyville – Piece Of Your Soul
3. “Sunny Side Of Heaven” – Fleetwood Mac – Bare Trees
4. “Have You Ever Loved A Woman” – Eric Clapton – 24 Nights, Disc 1
5. “I Can Tell By The Way You Smell” – Ry Cooder – Get Rhythm
steph326
1. Man On The Moon – R.E.M.
2. Desperately Wanting – Better Than Ezra
3. Fast As You Can – Fiona Apple
4. Don’t Forget Me – Neko Case
5. Ripchord – Rilo Kiley
Pete
1. “Hell Yes” – Beck. That’s Christina Ricci with the “peace and joy” / “I like your bass”/ “your beat is nice”. Hell yes.
2. “Tidal Wave” – The Killers.
3. “Down South” – Tom Petty . One of my favorites off ‘Southern Companion.’
4. “The Denial Twist” – The White Stripes. The more I hear and come across Jack White, the more I like him. A great innovator.
5. “Changing Channels” – Jimmy Buffett. In my opinion, for every good JB song, there are about 50 shit songs. This would fall into the 50 category.
Have a safe & happy long weekend!
EightE1
Cowboy Junkies, “You Will Be Loved Again.” Where is just_kap?
Jay-Z, “My 1st Song.” The Black Album rocks.
Warren Zevon, “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner.” I miss Zevon.
Quiet Riot, “Winners Take All.” One of my first “Death by Power Ballad” columns was on this. Love it.
LL Cool J, “Jingling Baby.” My buddy once thought he was saying “Jiggling Baby.” I just love that opening “Uncle L., future of the funk …”
dslifton
A day late and, judging by my wallet, considerably more than a dollar short, but here goes:
“Opportunity” – Elvis Costello. Some amazing bass work from Bruce Thomas and some typically brilliant wordplay from Costello.
“Still I’m Sad” – The Yardbirds. Not one of their best moments, but it still made it onto a 2-CD compilation.
“Easy Like” – Billy Taylor. Some great piano playing from the late, great ambassador of jazz.
“When I Was Afraid” – The Thermals. A record that was recommended to me two years ago. It’s very good, but I still haven’t bonded with it yet.
“Santos De Madera” – Marah. God, I love them.