Ickmix 2
I used to really enjoy creating mixes for friends and – well – especially girlfriends. Inspiration would smack me like a freight train, and I’d dig into my collection and weave together tapestries of musical brilliance (at least I thought so!) and what I thought to be clever proclamations of affection. Well, the girlfriends are no more (my wife would kill me), but I have to get my mix fix in every now and then. So indulge me, my internet friends, and take in my new Ickmix.
It’s a fairly mellow mix. I’m a mellow fellow. I hope you enjoy. If you do, let me know. It may give me a kick in the pants to make more.
Ickmix 2 (mp3 – 63MB – 46:00)
Playlist:Bob Schneider – “The World Just Passes You By”
Tom Petty – “Casa Dega”
Los Lobos – “The Town” – from The Town and the City
Wilco – “Pieholden Suite”, from Summerteeth
Old 97’s – “Valentine”, from Fight Songs
The Shins – “Gone for Good”, from Chutes Too Narrow
Steve Earle – “Telephone Road”, from El Corazon
Little Feat – “New Delhi Freight Train”, from Time Loves a Hero
John Prine – “Morning Train”, from Fair & Square
My Morning Jacket – “The Way That He Sings”, from At Dawn
Phish – “Esther”, from JuntaBeneath Dodger Stadium
There are two albums I’ve been immersing myself in lately: Los Lobos’ ‘The Town and the City‘ and Ry Cooder’s ‘Chávez Ravine‘. The Los Lobos album hasn’t left my truck’s CD player in weeks. It’s great to have one of those albums that you can keep repeating over and over, and find something new and fresh with every listen.
But ‘Chávez Ravine‘ has been muscling its way into my listening time lately. It’s been out for a few years now (it was released all the way back in June 2005). It’s a concept album, I guess you’d call it, based on the story behind Chávez Ravine – the current site of Dodger Stadium a few miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Before Dodger Stadium was built, Chávez Ravine was home to a poor but tightly knit Latino community. You can find out more about the details behind it here, but suffice it to say that in the end, the city of Los Angeles forced the community out, either in the name of eminent domain or condemnation. The sheriff’s department physically moved the last holdouts of Chávez Ravine – in a standoff that would come to be known as “The Battle of Chávez Ravine”. Once the community was razed, the city filled in the ravine with dirt from the top of a nearby hill, and Dodger Stadium was born.
The second to last song on the album is “3rd Base, Dodger Stadium”. Sung from the perspective of a man who grew up in the neighborhood that is now the interior of Dodger Stadium, the song will rip your heart out. Just a taste of the lyrics…
Back around the 76 ball, Johnny Greeneyes had his shoeshine stall.
In the middle of the 1st base line, got my first kiss, Florencia was kind.
Now, if the dozer hadn’t taken my yard, you’d see the tree with our initials carved.
So many moments in my memory. Sure was fun, ‘cause the game was free.
It was free.The wonderful, unique voice you’ll hear is Bla Pahinui, a Hawaiian singer that Cooder brought in for this song. Call me impressionable or sensitive or whatever, but this song really affects me. I’m one of those history buffs who has a keen interest in the people and places that came before. It’s hard to gauge how many others feel the same way. As the thousands of fans watch the baseball games from the stands of Dodger Stadium, how many of them are even aware of the people of Chávez Ravine – the lives, the childhoods, the first kisses that took place beneath the grass and parking lots?
Ry Cooder (w/ Bla Pahinui) – 3rd Base, Dodger Stadium
Buy Chavez Ravine
Blind, Sexy Dancers, Peaches and Lap Lap
I saw the Blind Boys of Alabama open for Tom Petty many years back. I wish I was at the Knitting Factory in LA a few nights ago to catch the purple one jumping on stage to jam with them on “I’m a Soldier in the Army of the Lord”.
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uzv62BolLMk 336 259]
So a few years ago, British electronic duo 7 Hurtz hooked up with Bitch Lap Lap and Peaches for a version of Prince’s “Sexy Dancer”. Bitch Lap Lap? That’s indie queen Leslie Feist. I guess she used to lurk on stage at Peaches shows back in the day and called herself Bitch Lap Lap (they lived together in Toronto for a spell). I did not know that until tonight. You see, I was doing some exhaustive research trying to figure out who was acting out the Brenda part to Peaches’ Apollonia in the song (the banter mimics an inter-song segue on the Apollonia 6 album. Pre-“Ooo She She Wa Wa” to be exact. Yes, I am a 37 year old married father of two, and I know that.). I searched 7 Hurtz’s MySpace page and the only picture of a female I could find was this one…
After another minute of research, I discovered that the mystery voice was Feist. I hope you don’t mind, though, that I intend to picture the young lady above when listening to this version. In fact, I’ll picture her in both roles…. as twins. Antennaed twins.
The song appears on an album of Prince covers called ‘Controversy: A Tribute to Prince‘. It’s got some interesting versions from some artists I’d never heard of (except for D’Angelo, who does “She’s Always in My Hair”): Blue States, Stina Nordenstam, Kode Nine and Space Ape, to name a few. A reggae version of “Girls & Boys”? This album’s got it.
So give it a listen. Picture the antennaed twins, and go with them to Prince’s house.
7 Hurtz w/ Peaches & Bitch Lap Lap – Sexy Dancer (mp3)
Buy: Controversy: A Tribute to Prince (UK Amazon)
Links: Peaches.com | 7 Hurtz | Feist
Hittin’ the Speed of the Sound of Loneliness
As I sit to type this, I’m watching American Idol contestant Kristy Lee Cook absolutely BUTCHER the Beatles song “8 Days a Week”. An uptempo, countrified version. Buhhh-leck. “Dolly Parton on helium,” says Simon. Lucky for me I don’t watch American Idol. Oh sh – -, caught!
So anyway, here’s Alabama 3 with a version of John Prine’s “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” – one of my favorites in his catalog. A3, as the popular country group Alabama insists they call themselves stateside, is a British acid house band that mixes in genres like country, gospel, and blues. Their claim to fame so far is “Woke Up This Morning”, the theme song to The Sopranos (RIP). I heard this on Sirius a few weeks ago, and promised to share it with you fine folks sometime soon.
From Last Train to Mashville, Vol. 2 (2003)
It’s a fun version – hee-hawed up a bit and turned into a first person perspective. I don’t think they’re being irreverent, and I don’t think the point of the song is lost on them (Prine’s lyrics imply a more somber tone) – but they do alter the atmosphere of tune – one of sadness and – well – loneliness.
photo by Senor McGuireAnd who captures the atmosphere of the song the best? My favorite version (I have to honestly say I like it better than Prine’s original) is Nanci Griffith‘s, from her great album of covers, Other Voices, Other Rooms. With a little help from Mr. Prine himself on backing vocals, Nanci sets the tone perfectly – wistful and bittersweet. Every time I hear it though, I wish Prine would take that second verse!
From Other Voices, Other Rooms (1993)
And that isn’t to say that Prine’s version is lacking in any way. Here’s the original from Prine’s 1986 album German Afternoons.
John Prine – Speed of the Sound of Loneliness (mp3)
From German Afternoons (1986)
Links:
Alabama 3’s Official Site
Nanci Griffith’s Official Site
John Prine’s Official SiteBruce’s Magic New York Nights
photo from BackstreetsBruce’s back to back nights in Rochester and Buffalo at the end of last week ranked up there as two of the tightest, most energetic shows of the tour. Among the breakouts and non-standard fare was a spirited “Because the Night” and a deeep “Racing in the Street” in Rochester.
The following night in Buffalo, the crowd was treated to a Magic tour premiere of “Detroit Medley”. I can’t recall seeing it on too many set lists from the Rising or Reunion tours, but I could be wrong. Always good to see a classic E Street staple back in the set.
Racing in the Street (mp3) – Rochester, NY – March 6th, 2008
Because the Night (mp3) – Rochester, NY – March 6th, 2008
Detroit Medley (mp3) – Buffalo, NY – March 7th, 2008
A Nudge in the Right Direction
- First of all, start the weekend right over at Gonzo’s Music-0-Rama with a vintage Stevie Wonder show circa 1974. Talking Book era baby, can’t beat it.
- Green Alien Chick has landed, and is unloading great boots left and right. The Police at the Pinkpop Festival, 1979. Elvis Costello and the Attractions at the same festival. And if you want to rock your your shit this weekend, it’s 1981 live Iron $@!# Maiden!
- Popdose interviews Al Jarreau! And they dig deep into one of my favorite guilty pleasures, Al’s “After All”.
- Paying tribute to a sad loss this past week, Steve has live soundboard Jeff Healey at Maybe We Ain’t That Young Anymore.
- Berkeley Place posts some early Boss (1974). I’ll be catching the Boss in Anaheim in a few weeks. My first show of the Magic tour. Yeeowww!
- If you haven’t seen the video of Janet Jackson “teaching” Larry King how to dance, check it out. Good God Larry, you are WHITE. You’ve got less soul than Don “No Soul” Simmons!!
- Oh you haven’t met Don “No Soul” Simmons before? Wait no longer…(from Amazon Women on the Moon)[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WICfZ4_V-ys 336 278]
Spotlight on Keith!
Keith Richards was born December 18th, 1943 in Dartford, Kent, England. He met Mick Jagger at Wentworth Primary School in 1951. In 1962, the Rolling Stones were born with Keith on guitar.
In April of 2006, Keith fell out of a tree while on holiday in Fiji, and landed on his head. Later that year, Keith signed on to play Jack Sparrow’s father in the third Pirates of the Caribbean film. In March of 2008, Louis Vuitton announced Keith as the new face of LV. Coincidence??
Here’s the new photo that’s going up on billboards all over the world’s urban landscape. Annie Leibovitz snapped the pic…
You just can’t help but love ol’ Keith.
Here’s a nice collection of live tunes with Keith taking center stage.
“It’s Good to be Anywhere”
1. Happy (Brussels 1973)
2. Before They Make Me Run (Paris 2003)
3. Little T & A (Hampton 1981)
4. This Place Is Empty (Buenos Aires 2006)
5. Gimme Shelter (Buenos Aires 1993)
6. Slipping Away (Glasgow 2006)
7. The Worst (Rio de Janeiro 1995)
8. You Got The Silver (Stuttgart 1999)
9. The Nearness Of You (Paris 2003)
10. Learning The Game (Austin 2006)
11. Thru And Thru (New York 2003)
12. Wanna Hold You (Buenos Aires 1998)
13. Infamy (Los Angeles 2005)
14. Can’t Be Seen (Atlantic City 1989)
15. All About You (Chicago 1997)
16. Connection (Los Angeles 1988)*
17. You Don’t Have To Mean It (Rio de Janeiro 1998)
18. Happy (Toronto 2002)Big Chief
The Meters.
Dr. John.
Professor @#!% Longhair.
Earl King.
‘Nuff said.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IOyBwrvOKA]
RIP Jeff Healey
Canadian guitarist Jeff Healey passed away Sunday at the age of 41 after a long battle with a rare form of retinal cancer. Jeff had been blind since infancy due to this cancer.
“Angel Eyes” was one of those songs that hit right in my formative years (1988). I was 18 years old, in love with my high school sweetie, and a song like this came along to sum it all up. Truly a great tune.
Jeff Healey Band – Angel Eyes (LastFM full song)
Everybody all aboard
The Gap Band. Venice Beach 1983. Charlie Wilson dancing in the surf in a Speedo.
Yep, Spring is in the air.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTo7BXlqcHs]
