"Fanfare For the Common Man" - Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Daniele Dugre-Martin sent this along for a number of reasons; 1) - she likes the song: 2) - she likes the group: 3) - she attended the concert that followed the recording of the video. Note the snow and just how cold it looks to be. EL&P were one of the more popular of the "Progressive Rock" bands, not only for its innovative material but also because each member was a great musician. Aaron Copland composed the famous piece of music in 1942 in response to a speech by then-Vice-President Henry Wallace in which the VP said that the 20th Century was "The Century of the Common Man." Nothing common about this music!
"Come Along" - Cosmo Sheldrake - Cosmo Sheldrake is a London-based multi-instrumentalist musician, composer and producer. He is the son of parapsychologistRupert Sheldrakeand voice teacher Jill Purce. He released his first single 'The Moss' in 2014, which was followed by the "Pelicans We" EP in 2015. This song was issued in 2017 and his first full-length album, "The Much Much How How and I" followed in April of 2018 - Joe Gaffney.
"Eleanor" - Cricket Blue - I actually just got hired by these guys for an upcoming album release, and I had been previously unaware of them despite the fact that they’re right around the corner from me up in VT. I have so much respect for this kind of vocal duet approach - it’s so hard to do this well. And while you’re paying attention to their voices, you forget to notice just how skillful the guitar work is. It’s just gorgeous stuff all around - Dr. Kyle Saulnier.
"Comfortably Numb" - Pink Floyd - My husband is a Pink Floyd fan. He knows the lyrics to all of their songs and as a musician, often plays their songs. "Comfortably Numb" is his favorite. In honor or Michael I would like to suggest this song as my contribution to the blog. Close your eyes. Breathe slowly. Listen to the lyrics.... and you may find yourself... comfortably numb.... - Betsy Rosenblum.
"High Five" - Sigrid - I found this song recently and like that it focuses on the idea that people seek approval too often and it can actually get in the way of life - Megan Winslow. Sigrid is a Norwegian singer and songwriter. In 2017, Sigrid rose to fame with the release of her debut EP "Don't Kill My Vibe", and she later won the BBC Music Sound of 2018. Her single "Strangers" reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. On 8 March 2019, Sigrid released her debut studio album, "Sucker Punch",[1] which debuted at number 1 on Norwegian charts and at number 4 on English, Irish, and Scottish charts (Wikipedia).
"Variations on a Shaker Melody" - Christina & Michelle Naughton - This lovely hymn (known as "Simple Gifts" when the song is sung) is part of Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" which he composed in 1944 for ballet choreographer and dancer Maria Graham. It is one of my favorite melodies and its placement in the full composition is incredibly moving, dramatic, and stunning. This version features the twin pianists, Christina and Michelle Naughton (twins as well) with the arrangement by Bennett Lerner, himself a performer of 20th Century American classical music - RBK
I do so enjoy the variety of entries that we then post on this blog. Today's collection includes a number of singer-songwriters, pieces inspired by classical music or poetry, and fun stuff!
Barry Manilow - "Could It Be Magic" - Based on Chopin's "Prelude in C Minor", this is one of a number of songs that entered the "pop" charts over the years based on classical melodies. (T. Williams) (Editor's note - say what you wish about Barry Manilow's career, but this song is truly quite lovely - RBK)
Harry Chapin - "Mr. Tanner" - A hauntingly beautiful song about a man chasing his
dreams and what happens when he almost gets there. It’s beautifully
written and sung by Harry Chapin and delivered with great emotion. The
song always gets me thinking about taking chances
and trying even if you might fail. (C. Hakala) Harry Chapin (1942 - 1981) wrote a number of songs that people remember not only for their melodies but also the empathy he has towards his subjects. His legacy continues on with the Harry Chapin Foundation whose mission is "...to support organizations that have demonstrated their ability to dramatically improve the lives and livelihood of people by helping them to become self-sufficient."
Ted Hawkins - "Strange Conversation" -
A great singer who was
discovered while playing on the street. He was a homeless man with a
gift!! I used to listen to him a lot in the late 80s/early 90s. I know
all of his songs by heart. He's gone now. (S. Nystrom) (Editor's note - Mr. Hawkins was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1936 and passed in 1995 in Venice Beach, California, in 1995. His life story is fascinating and his experiences color his music. Go to www.allmusic.com/artist/ted-hawkins-mn0000023982/biography for more.)
Pink Floyd - "Comfortably Numb" - Michael's favorite song of all time. It explains who he was in exquisite detail many decades ago. (B Rosenblum) - (Editor's note - One of the most popular albums of the early 1980s (released in November of 1979), the album told of the alienation of the British underclasses and created quite a stir. Pink Floyd had already moved away from the psychedelia of its early years (1965-1970) especially with the release of 1973's "The Dark Side of the Moon" - bassist/songwriter Roger Waters was in charge of the material while guitarist David Gilmour handled the icon guitar playing. The band had a falling out in the mid-1980s with Waters going his own way and Gilmour now fronting a revised lineup. Both are still extremely popular and busy.)
Wild Party - "OutRight" - Wild Party has been around for a few years, but I just found them and have been enjoying quite of few of their songs. (M. Winslow) - (Editor's note - This San Antonio, Texas, quartet plays what they call "face-melting pop music." One can certainly the influences of Elvis Costello (especially his early albums with the Attractions) and Green Day. Such fun!)
Stu Mindeman - "Peace" - I first heard this young pianist's name late last year as a member of vocalist Kurt Elling's touring band. Then, just last month I reviewed his new album "Woven Threads", a collection of songs inspired by the years he spent in Argentina as a young boy (click here to read the review). In my research for that article, I came across his first album, 2014's "In Your Waking Eyes: Poems by Langston Hughes." Instead of treating the Hughes poems as "ancient relics", Minuteman creates a program that blends elements of African and African American music with Chicago-based vocalist Sarah-Marie Young singing the lyrics with power and passion. Timeless yet modern, the album appeals to my love of rhythm and textures. (RBK)
"Sunshine Superman" - Donovan - Donovan’s
music is a blend of world music, psychedelics and acoustic. Influential
for the past 50 years, he has worked with and written for some of the
best known groups in the business.
Sadly, he is also one (of two) musicians I’ve walked out on…the Who being the other….it’s a long story. (Daniele Dugre-Martin)
(Editor's note - In the wake of Bob Dylan going electric, a number of "folkies" followed suit. Donovan was one of the more successful crossover artists. As "trippy" as the lyrics might be, the blend of harpsichord and tabla drums is quite delightful.)
"Aloha" - Møme - As I just found by googling the name to get the special character, Møme
is a French DJ, and this song was in the top 10 songs in France in July
2016 (who knew!). I was originally going to submit this song because it
has a very unique, chill, upbeat sound. But it's very interesting that
it was a top song in France and makes me want to look at the top charts in other countries more often. (Megan Winslow)
"The Gunner's Dream" - Pink Floyd - My mood has been dark these past few days. So much so that I was reminded of Pink Floyd's 1983 "Final Cut". It's an anti-war anti-Reagan screed that works well to fuel depression (even if you liked Reagan). (T. Williams) (Editor's note - After its beginnings in the psychedelic 60s, Pink Floyd - and, in particular bassist and songwriter Roger Waters - took a turn to the left and began creating much more political and societal music. Waters still does.)
"The Train and the River" - The Jimmy Giuffre Trio with Jim Hall - Reed master (saxophones and clarinets) Jimmy Giuffre (1921-2008) first came to critical attention in 1947 as a member of the Woody Herman Big Band when he wrote "Four Brothers", a song that featured the reed section - it's a swing music standard to this day. In the mid-1950s, he put together a series of trios that combined folk and blues music elements with improvisation. By 1961, the trio moved into more avant-garde territory with free improvisation that eschewed conventional rhythms for a more flowing style.
The above tune, however, was the first Giuffre song I ever heard and is one of my all-time favorite albums. It's bluesy, quiet, and, to me, very soothing. Guitarist Hall (1930-2013) influenced a slew of guitarists through his career, doing so by working with artists as diverse as Ella Fitzgerald, saxophonist Sonny Rollins, pianist Bill Evans, and trombonist Bob Brookmeyer (who joined the Giuffre Trio replacing the bassist- see video below).
"The Green Country Suite (New England Mood)" - Jimmy Giuffre 3 with Jim Hall and Bob Brookmeyer - This trio made two albums, the first being "Trav'lin Light" released in 1958 and "The Western Suite" from 1960. The tune above, as you can see, came from the earlier album and is wonderfully contemplative, so quiet at a time when rock 'n' roll was a loud intrusion and the Civil Rights Movement was making national headlines. Brookmeyer, from Kansas City, went on to be a great composer for Big Bands and a mentor to many of today's young composers - you'll hear his music in a later post.
