The Friday Five: September 30, 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:
“Sleep With One Eye Open” by Chris Thile & Michael Daves (from Sleep With One Eye Open, 2011)
I kind of hate it when the first time I hear a tune is during the Friday Five. For one, I usually sit and scratch my head about what to write about it. Sure, I could give my visceral reaction, but I hesitate. The other thing is I rarely circle back to the record to listen to the rest of it.
“Seamus” by Pink Floyd (from Meddle, 1971)
Bluesy little ditty from Roger, David, and the boys. My dog started sniffing around the desk, trying to figure out where the dogs she was hearing were.
“Slow and Easy (a.k.a. Lawless Mike)” by The Dave Brubeck Quartet (from Time Further Out, 1961)
Not on the original track list for Time Further Out, this mid-tempo shuffle was included in the 1996 reissue.
“Crucial” by New Edition (from Hits, 2004)
“No my name isn’t Janet… ” oh, wait, wrong song. The Flyte Tyme crew’s signature sound is all over this late ’80s hit.
“Skin Ticket” by Slipknot (from Iowa, 2001)
While I don’t listen to as much metal as I once did, I still dabble here and there. Slipknot is by far the heaviest thing I can stand.
What’s on your shuffle today?
20 Comments
Phil
Glen Phillips – “Don’t Need Anything” (Winter Pays for Summer, 2005)
This is not my favorite tune from the album that should have put Glen’s solo work on the radio, but a not-so-good Glen Phillips song is usually still a pretty good song. Short, sweet, and simple.
Smashing Pumpkins – “Rocket” (“Unplugged” 100% Pure Acoustic Performances, 1993)
This version of the Siamese Dream track is from a compilation of bootlegs. “Rocket” is apparently part of a performance for a radio station in the Netherlands and is a nearly spot-on reproduction of the album version.
Rush – “Sweet Miracle” (Vapor Trails, 2002)
Vapor Trails was my entry back into the Rush fold. I have always been a big Rush fan, but I cautiously watched them from a distance for the Counterparts and Test for Echo albums, which is interesting since those two discs saw the band move back toward a more guitar-centric sound and are now among my favorites in their catalog. Despite the extensive use of technology used to piece together the songs for this album, it has an organic, cohesive feel to me and expresses almost a sense of urgency to get back to making music after the tragic events in Neil Peart’s life that led to a five-year hiatus that would have sidelined most bands.
Mötley Crüe – “Bastard” (Shout at the Devil, 1983)
I had a strange infatuation with the Crüe in the mid-80s and with this album in particular. Was the band mad at the devil and really shouting at him? And if so, why record an instrumental named “God Bless the Children of the Beast?!” Or were they the devil’s minions? The album’s satanic imagery would lead one to believe the latter over the former. But I could never really figure this album out other than it was a loud, heavy, rocking good time with tunes about drugs, sex, the devil, and a Beatles cover. How could that be bad? I also never figured out what “Bastard”—or most of the other songs, for that matter—were really about, but it had the F-bomb in it, which was cool for a mostly-compliant teenager who only really ever rebelled in the area of music. As I look back at it now, I realize the album was mostly a result of the over-abundance of drug use and not some grand musical statement. But isn’t that what rock ‘n’ roll is about anyway?!
Joe Satriani – “Cool #9” (Joe Satriani, 1995)
So once again Satch comes up during my Friday Five shuffle. Interesting that this doesn’t happen too often at other times. Anyway, this opener from his self-titled album is a slow groove that is reminiscent of another of his tunes that I can’t quite put my finger on at the moment. Something off Surfing with the Alien or Flying in a Blue Dream I’m sure, since those are the two albums I’m most familiar with. Nice chilled-out tune to end this Friday Five, complete with some Tom Morello-like whammy pedal antics.
Phil
> “Sleep With One Eye Open” by Chris Thile & Michael Daves (from Sleep With One Eye Open, 2011)
I love the songs I’ve heard from Thile and Daves! The funny thing is that in my youth I would have absolutely cringed if my dad–an avid Hank Williams, Sr., Jim Reeves, and George Jones fan–put something like this on the radio. Not something I would listen to all the time, but I can definitely appreciate the purity of the sound and the passion with which these guys approach it. And Thile can do little wrong in my eyes anyway.
Michael Parr
I’ve really enjoyed all the tunes I’ve heard from this record, as well. Thile is an absolute master of his craft.
dslifton
“Manana (Is Soon Enough For Me)” – Peggy Lee. Ah, the era of the space-age bachelor pad, when those incredible Afro-Cuban rhythms first started to work their way into America. Too bad the song, and Lee’s mock Spanish accent, is borderline racist.
“Give A Little Whistle” – Herbie Mann. A swingin’ little tune in which a piccolo and flute replace a sax and trumpet in a post-bop quintet.
“Hung Up On Me” – Those Darlins. Ever wonder if there were members of the Carter Family that they gave up on trying to save? They formed a band.
“Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again” – North Mississippi All-Stars. Pretty cool acoustic cover of Dylan’s classic.
“Up Above My Head” – Rance Allen Group. Probably Stax’s most successful attempt to branch out into gospel. This was from the kickass Wattstax festival.
Mike Duquette
Disclaimer: I was listening to iTunes before I remembered today was Friday, so I restarted the shuffle from scratch. “Born to Run” was in there, but that’s about all I remember.
1. Smokey Robinson, “Aqui contigo” (from “Motown Around the World: The Classic Singles”): This was being compiled in my last months as intern for UMe, and I was so excited when it came out. Needless to say, the best parts are the classic ’60s singles (Stevie, Supremes, Temptations, Four Tops) sung in Italian and German, rather than this “bonus track,” a Spanish version of “Being with You.”
2. Genesis “Conversations with Two Stools (Live in Munich)” (from “Live Over Europe 2007”): Phil Collins and Chester Thompson’s requisite drum duet. I don’t remember it being seven minutes long when I went to see them on this tour; then again, I was in New York. Maybe Europe can take a longer jam than Americans? (Although what are the big European jam bands, then?)
3. a-ha, “Touchy!” (from “Stay on These Roads”): You have to get me at the right time to enjoy most of the stuff from a-ha’s third album. Fortunately, one of those conditions is “after listening to seven minutes of Genesis percussion,” so this bouncy, synth-y tune is on my good side.
4. Danny Elfman, “Shootout” (from “Batman: Original Motion Picture Score”): I usually feel silly about having my many film score tracks pop up in a Five, but Elfman’s Batman is really good. Plus this comes off the excellent 2-CD reissue of the soundtrack by La-La Land Records, which was hands down one of my favorite reissues last year.
5. Brad Fiedel, “Trust Me” (from “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”): OK, another soundtrack cue to close it out. I love Fiedel’s work for both Terminator movies, and this cue is a perfect example – propulsive, simple themes over an insistent, mechanical rhythm.
David_E
1. The Lemonheads – “Down About It” – This is the song a million amateurs with guitars get close to writing every time they pick up their instruments, but never, ever will.
2. Billy Squier – “My Kinda Lover” – No.
3. Juana Molina – “Rio Seco” – Hypnotic, like backpacking through Portugal, Spain and acid.
4. Olivia Newton John – “A Little More Love” – From the album Totally Hot, and she was. Love the layered harmonies on this one. She out BeeGee’d the Bee Gees!
5. Pure Prairie League – “I’m Almost Ready” – Ah, the sweet sounds of 1980 FM radio, where country was country and pop was pop and country pop was both, before Nashville soaked it all in aspartame and fiddles.
Anonymous
1. “One Way Out” – The Allman Brothers Band – Live At The Fillmore East
In 1972, I was attending radiography school in Charlotte, NC. During my first week of darkroom duty, I brought a tape recorder and the Live At Fillmore East recording. When this song started to play, the black darkroom tech who had previously ignored me completely started dancing and said, “Where’d a white boy like you get such good down in the alley music?”
2. “New Kid In Town” – The Eagles – Hotel California
New city and new job in July 1976. This was the perfect song on the radio. Still brings back 1976 every time I hear it.
3. “Real Love” – John Lennon – Real Love CD Single
Being nostalgic today, I miss John Lennon.
4. “Cool Change” – The Little River Band – Greatest Hits
5. “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” – Marvin Gaye – Gold – Greatest Hits
What an outstanding song! Every time it plays I immediately get a mental image of dancing California raisins!
Anonymous
“Do You Remember” by Ane Brun from It All Starts with One (2011). Ane’s new album is absolutely gorgeous and this song is fantastic. And the video is kind of crazpyants.
“When Under Ether” by PJ Harvey from White Chalk (2007). This album is perfect to listen to on a cold, rainy fall day. This track is particularly haunting.
“Addicted to Love (Live)” by Tina Turner from Simply the Best (1991). Tina covering Robert Palmer. You really can’t beat that, can you?
“Mary Jane’s Last Dance” by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers from Greatest Hits (1993). You can’t listen to this song without thinking of the video, can you? I certainly can’t.
“Footdown” by Michael Penn from MP4: Days of a Lost Time Accident (2000). This is one of my favorite albums of the last decade and this song is my favorite from it. I can’t say I’ve ever been disappointed by anything he’s released. Does he have a new album coming out soon? If not, he should.
Mike
1) “Generals & Majors” by XTC: Some good ’80s new wave/whatever to start the mix off. I had no idea this was even on my computer.
2) “Losing My Mind” by Weezer: Not their best moment. On the fence about whether I want to delete this or not.
3) “Time Out of Mind” by Steely Dan: I just found out they’re playing Boston…TOMORROW. F***!
4) “I Don’t Want to Be Alone (remix)” by Shai: Featuring the first ever guest verse (on an R&B song) from a young Jay-Z. Only reason I’m still in possession of this piece of music.
5) “Inside & Out” by Feist: Excellent Bee Gees cover and the song that turned me into a Feist fan. New album out Tuesday!!
Michael Parr
Dude, there is no way that Steely Dan show is sold out. You should absolutely go.
dslifton
Well, the Red Sox had to do something this weekend, so they bought all the remaining tickets.
Mike
BAZINGA!!
Mike
I have another commitment. Sucks. Although I might try to do both. Depends on how much tickets for Steely Dan are.
Dennis Corrigan
Go, Mike, Go!
Mindy Milburn
Josh Ritter – Lark
Arcade Fire – Rebellion
Delilah – Grenade
Ray LaMontagne – Within You
Kelly Clarkson – Cry
Anonymous
1) INXS — “Mystify” (Kick, 1987). Good tune from a fun album. Definitely at the peak of their powers back then. Can’t believe it has been nearly 25 years since this album was released. Feel kinda old.
2) Lauryn Hill — “When It Hurts So Bad” (The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, 1998). Reggae-tinged lament of the unrequited.
3) Lauryn Hill — “Every Ghetto, Every City” (The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, 1998). Surprising double shot but I’ll take it. Light funk bounce brimming over with around the way nostalgia. Cool late 1990s update on Stevie Wonder’s “Living For The City.”
4) Lyle Lovett — “Election Day” (My Baby Don’t Tolerate, 2003). Lovett alternates between the wise old sage and a fierce, full-throttle vocal that is kind of unusual to hear on his records.
5) Cyrus Chestnut — “Cooldaddy’s Perspective” (Earth Stories, 1995). Aptly named, the jazz pianist, flanked by stellar sax and horn players, serves up a combination of cool and menacing undertones that could score a modern gangster flick.
Michael Parr
I listened to Kick earlier this week and it has aged incredibly well.
EightE1
Chapterhouse, “If You Want Me.” Love the synth bells playing “Baba O’Reilly” chords before the twee singer starts whispering. Things open up on the chorus, though.
Tori Amos, “Battle of Trees.” This song cycle thing isn’t working for me, Tori. Sorry. Can you play “China” again, please?
Adele, “Don’t You Remember.” Oh, God, this woman can totally break my heart. And I love it. I really do.
Jimi Hendrix Experience, “Little Wing.” Been on a Hendrix kick lately. This is one of my favorites.
Lindsey Buckingham, “That’s the Way that Love Goes.” Didn’t think it at first, but I’m starting to envision Seeds We Sow winding up in my year-end Top Ten. I like it better than just about anything he’s done, solo or Mac, in the last 20 years.
Anonymous
Good stuff as always Rob. I seem to recall Tori performing “China” back at RU in a room of a couple hundred people or so.
Dennis Corrigan
Recovering from a redeye, here’s my Five:
1. “Killing Floor” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience from the Monterey International Pop Festival box set. Jimi plays the blues. True story: I was living in Monterey at Fort Ord when the concert happened. Of course, I was 2, but I like to think that the vibes from the show gave me my love of music. Or so I tell myself.
2. “If You Belonged to Me” by the Traveling WIlburys from Vol. 3. Worth just to hear Dylan laugh his way through the lyrics
3. “Car Club” by the Beach Boys from Surfer Girl. All together now “Fuck Mike Love!”
4. “Landslide’ by Fleetwood Mac from Fleetwood Mac. So good
5. “Goodnight Laura” by Spoon from Transference. A mellow ending for this week, which is good. I like Spoon well enough but I can’t really get into them
Hope you hear something good this weeked – Let’s go, Yankees!