Four day work weeks always throw me for a loop. If it weren’t for the season finale of Lost being on last night I may very well have missed this week’s Friday Five. That said let’s cut straight to the main course…

Here are this week’s tracks:

1. Crash Test Dummies – Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm (from Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm)

This has to be one of the oddest tunes ever. Three seemingly unrelated tales with a disjointed chorus that consists merely of a hummed tune and somehow it was a huge hit.

2. Taco – Puttin’ on the Ritz (from Taco: The Greatest Hits)

It’s shaping up to be an odd shuffle with another bizarre “one hit wonder” track, this time from the 80’s. Taking the Irving Berlin and putting a new wave twist on it this was a radio staple for the better part of the decade. It’s aged surprisingly well and I really enjoyed hearing it again. I imagine ya’ll might too…

3. Snoop Dogg – Who Am I (What’s My Name?) (from Doggystyle)

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Funky as hell, Snoop never disappoints.  A little bit of Funkadelic‘s “(Not Just) Knee Deep” and a sprinkle of George Clinton‘s “Atomic Dog” makes for a instant party starter.

4. Beastie Boys – Body Movin’ (Fatboy Slim remix)  (from Anthology: The Sounds of Science)

Looks like the shuffle is gonna keep the party moving with some help from Bed-Stuy’s favorite sons with a detour to Kent courtesy of Mr. Norman Cook.

5. Shania Twain – You’re Still the One (from Come on Over)

There was a time when you could not escape this tune. Hell, even Prince covered it. Perhaps a bit ironic these days (the tune was written by Twain in response to critics of her and soon to be ex-husband Robert “Mutt” Lange) it still stands as a beautiful testament to the power of love.

Now it’s your turn, grab a Coke, Pepsi, Stella or Mojito, hit shuffle and let the world know what’s getting you started on your weekend!

Drrums Please!!

Despite Mother Nature’s insistence on having a spring that actually lasts a few months, it’s the official “unofficial” beginning of summer. That said it’s time for another themed Friday Five, this time it’s the ‘summer’ edition. I set up the following smart playlist in iTunes (I’m including this in case any of the faithful fivers want to play along at home):

Match > All
Playlist > is not > Ω Archive
Name > contains > summer

This only turned up 75 tracks which is more than enough to shuffle up a Friday Five. Last week was a blur for me but it looks like the friends of five made sure that the shuffle kept rolling through the weekend (though Jim’s ‘Monday Five’ was noticeably absent). For those of you reading this for the first time, here’s how it works… I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and then show you my five with some words for each track.

Then it’s your turn!

Here are this week’s tracks:

1. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Summertime (MP3) (from Greatest Hits)

What more can I say? It’s not summer until I hear this track.

[audio:03 Summertime.mp3]

2. Candy Dulfer – Summertime (from Candy Store)

It’s impossible to hate on Candy Dulfer. She’s an absolute knockout who can blow like there’s no tomorrow. She can hang with Maceo, dazzle with Prince and hold her own as she does here. Her solo records tend to fall on the Acid Jazz side of the flop and this is no exception.

3. Incognito – Summer’s Ended (from Jazz Funk)

Speaking of Acid Jazz here’s the group that all but invented the genre from their 1981 debut record. It’s an astounding statement that 27 years later this record still sounds vital and fresh as it does.

4.  Less Than Jake – Summer Nights (MP3) (from Greased)

Who can resist power-punk/ska versions of the soundtrack of Grease?

[audio:01 Summer Nights.mp3]

5. Y & T – Summertime Girls (studio version) (from Open Fire)

I blame Jeff Giles of Popdose for this one. Seriously, I had managed to forget the power and majesty that was Y & T until Jeff posted this track and it sent me on a shame spiral of finding and purchasing the catalog that I had long lost when I owned the cassettes and LP’s.

All fun aside, before you head out this Memorial Day weekend to your picnics, barbecues and family gatherings take a few moments and remember the 4,079 men and women who have lost their lives in operations in Iraq and the 505 lost in Afghanistan. Whether or not you agree with the current administrations direction it’s imperative to honor the men and women of the armed forces who have died in military service to their country.

Have a great and safe holiday weekend and let us know what’s taking you there!

You can’t hurry love, but this week I’ll be hitting you all with a ‘speed round’ of the Five…

Here are this week’s tracks:

1. Jay-Z – ’03 Bonnie & Clyde (feat. Beyoncé Knowles) (from The Blueprint²: The Gift & The Curse (disc 1: The Gift))

Mr. & Mrs. Carter rocking a cover (in the loosest term) of 2Pac’s “Me and My Girlfriend” with a little twist of Prince’s “If I Was Your Girlfriend”. I have to say that I have more respect for this couple for managing to be very high profile celebrities and not allow every moment of the lives be invaded by the media. They should be role models for how to live a celebrity life!

2. Maceo Parker – Georgia on My Mind (MP3) (from Life on Planet Groove)

There’s no doubt that when it comes to funk there are few funkier than Maceo. I always love hearing him taking his talents and applying them outside of the funk as well. Here it’s all about the voice. I just found out the Maceo and Soulive are performing at the Tarrytown Music Hall and if my schedule allows I’ll be in attendance.

3. Steve Perry – Girl Can’t Help It (from 1994-11-22: Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA, USA (disc 1))

There is no substitute. This was taken from one of the great circulating bootlegs from his For the Love of Strange Medicine Tour.

4. The Cure – A Letter to Elise (from Wish)

This track is a masterclass in how to pour your entire heart, soul and being into a song. One of, if not my absolute, favorite Cure songs (it’s a tie between this and “Pictures of You”).

And every time I try to pick it up
Like falling sand
As fast as I pick it up
It runs away through my clutching hands

Brilliance…

5. Portishead – Silence (from Third)

The opening track from Portishead’s latest. I’ve not totally gotten into this new record yet despite numerous tries.

So what’s playing as you are rushing out the door?