Goodbye October, Hello November

Alan Jackson - "Drive" - It wasn’t my childhood, but I can certainly identify with the sentiment.  I find its optimistic spirit comforting. (T. Williams)

From his official bio: Alan Jackson, born October 17, 1958, in Newnan, Georgia, grew up in rural Georgia; he lived with his parents and four older sisters in a house built around his grandfather's old toolshed. Shortly after marrying his high school sweetheart, Denise, in 1979, Jackson moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a career in music. After a long series of rejections, he finally landed a recording deal with Arista Records. The tremendous success of his debut album, "Here in the Real World" (1990), marked Jackson's arrival among a group of country artists including Randy Travis, Clint Black, Travis Tritt, Garth Brooks, and Vince Gill that represented a new brand of traditionalism in country music and the end of the synthesized pop country trend of the 1980s. 

Lovin' Spoonful - "Rain On the Roof" - When our daughters were growing up, Naomi and I took turns putting them to bed.  We'd read stories and sing a few songs.  My choice today was one that I added to the repertoire when they were just a little past "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" age.  The Spoonful, their name coming from a blues song, were considered one of a number of groups to be "The American Beatles" - they had a slew of hits over a three-year period, all of them quite singable and radio friendly.  The delightful John Sebastian song has always been one of my favorites; it's sweet and now I sing it to our grandchildren.  (RBK)

Peder B. Helland - "Soothing Relaxation" - OK, so this is an odd one. I have discovered amazing sleep music. It runs for six to eight hours with a soothing visual accompaniment of underwater creatures. But listen to the music. It really works of you need to feel calm and sleepy!! (Sig Nystrom) 
(Editor's Note - I suppose I should have posted this last but....There are actually a number of longer digital recordings designed to help people sleep.)

Endless Field - "Unending Season" - Here’s some friends of mine that go by the name Endless Field. The two musicians behind this project, Jesse Lewis (guitar) and Ike Sturm (double bass), are among the most respected sidemen and session musicians in New York - they’re the kind of cats that appear in the background of an inexhaustible stream of notable projects from big-name artists in the jazz and improvised music scenes. Endless Field is a nature-oriented project featuring their compositions, as well as collaborations with top-tier jazz musicians such as Donny McCaslin and Ingrid Jensen. Heartbreakingly beautiful stuff, at once both intricate and infinitely accessible.  (K. Saulnier)
(Editor's Note - I saw and heard these gentlemen just yesterday (10/27) at The Russell Library in Middletown.  They played this piece and several others. In the midst of the maddening and sad news coming from Pittsburgh, PA, this music was an excellent balm at a time of need.)

Buddy Holly & the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - "True Love Ways" - Daniele Dugre-Martin suggested this update of classic Holly song. Initially after he passed away at the age of 22 and in the midst of an amazing career.  Through the wonder of modern technology, we hear this version the way Holly imagined it - read the story the album by going to www.mygoldmusic.co.uk/artists/buddy-holly/new-album-true-love-ways-orchestra/.  Watch the video of the project by going to www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT3WsFCuEHg&feature=youtu.be.  \
Here's the title track:

The Beatles - "Think For Yourself" - I can listen to this song several times a day - Harrison's lyrics & voice, McCartney's fuzz bass, group harmonizing....and the great line "although your mind's opaque" !!! (Joe Gaffney)

To this day, my favorite "Fab Four" disk and the first of George Harrison's songs that really stood out. Considering the output of Lennon & McCartney, he did not get a lot of opportunities to show his composer's side.  I agree with Professor G that the harmonies are spot on - actually, The Beatles were known for their fascinating background work. This new remix (2009) really brings out the brilliant sounds with McCartney shining on both the electric bass and the 'fuzz" bass! (RBK)

Week 2 Potpourri

We continue to make our journey through the worlds of music -  hope those of you who read this find something new that you are willing to explore deeper. If not, don't worry. Just listen!

“Crazy Fingers” - Grateful Dead -  off the “Blues for Allah” album from 1975. It has varied tempos, key changes and interesting lyrics.

It is part of the class on the Grateful Dead I am taking at the Neighborhood Music School. We performed the song in concert recently.

(John Jarvis)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk0Cl0gIU0o

"True Love Ways" - Buddy Holly - The pride of Lubbock, Texas, Buddy Holly has often been named as an inspiration by past and present musicians from Elvis to the Beatles and Muse to Linkin Park.  A rarity in the world of early rock, this song uses orchestral music and soul searching, meaningful lyrics while other groups were simply repeating the chorus and introducing a catchy beat.

(D. Dugre-Martin)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjFRHIhSvwc

"Tightrope" - Walk the Moon - It is a very upbeat, happy song that falls somewhere along the alternative genre spectrum. It's a song that has always been fun to listen to and sing along with.

(M. Winslow)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPedH9B8AAE

"Cold Beer" - Hibshi (featuring Aimee) - EDM (Electronic Dance Music) takes many forms and this particular tune (chosen by my QU 301 student Austin Kasabri) comes from an artist who has little or no online presence and has only released three songs.  This particular piece has all the elements of contemporary popular music e.g a good "hook", nice vocals, and a medium-tempo that flows throughout the song.

(comment by RBK)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5w0dQUFZbI

"Good Day Sunshine" & "She's Leaving Home" - The Beatles - Two songs from the Fab Four, both written by Paul McCartney.  To say that this group changed the face of "pop music" is bit of an understatement but what they did in their eight years of the spotlight is nothing short of amazing.

The first song comes from the "Revolver" album - the Youtube link goes to a version by McCartney. "She's Leaving Home" comes from "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and is the original stereo mix.

(B. Rosenblum)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvPNYs7Baps

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dypv4SLyAfg

"I Loved Her First" - Heartland - Country music is delightful - I particularly like the ballads.  They usually hit me emotionally as they so clearly relate to events in my own life.

This particular song is from 2006, but as my daughter gets ready for her marriage, it hits home.

(T. Willams)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg8Z69B6RFQ

"I Hope You Dance" - Lee-Ann Womack - In the same vein as the song above, this was the song that my older daughter Sarah and I danced to at her wedding. I love the sentiment, the vocals, and the melody. Yes, music not only makes us dance and sing but also often says the words we wished we could to the people we love the most.

(R Kamins)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV-Z1YwaOiw

"Resolution" - John Coltrane Quartet - This is the second movement from Coltrane's historic "A Love Supreme" that was released in 1965. Tis was the first "jazz" Lp I ever purchased - my good friend Peter Parcek (a wonderful blues artist now living and working in the Boston, MA, area) recommended it.  For someone who listened to mostly rock music and blues, this music was shocking and I admit it took several years before I could enter into this music, appreciate its power, and how the composer's faith was elemental to what he and the group created.

(R Kamins)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsxtKQW9ggg