When one is in the middle of the semester, it often feels like time is dragging. In my experience, we come back from the Thanksgiving Break and I feel as if we've run out of time and there's so much still to do. In this ever-changing world, that feeling has yet to leave me; even now, in my ninth year, as the temperature dips below freezing and the trees are bare, that feeling hangs on.
But, in the midst of the ever-darkening days (the Winter Solstice is around the corner and the light will begin to increase), the Holidays have begun and this post opens with a modern Hanukkah treat.
The LeeVees - "Applesauce vs Sour Cream" - Hard to believe it's been a decade since I first played this rocking tune from a band that was put together on a whim. Who are these guys? From the bands website: Two nice Jewish guys have taken up the important task of writing a bunch of great, rockin’ Hanukah songs. Adam Gardner (Guster) and Dave Schneider (the Zambonis) have joined forces and started a band called the LeeVees, and they have a new album of sweet and rockin’ indie-pop songs solely about Channuka called “Hanukkah Rocks.” Yes, every song is about Chanuka. Some say such a concept is a bit obsessive but Adam and Dave prefer the phrase “extremely focused.” Yes, it's goofy and, yes, they spell Hanukkah in two accepted variations and, yes, it's about food (lots of Jewish songs have the simple theme of "We were attacked, we fought, we won, and now we eat!" (RBK)
Alessia Cara - "Growing Pains" - My song choice this week is "Growing Pains" by Alessia Cara. Alessia Cara is one of my favorite artists because she is 22 and writes a lot of songs that speak to people around her age. She got very popular quite quick, but she stayed very humble through it, which is apparent in interviews with her. She wrote all the songs on her new album "The Pains of Growing" which I believe allowed her music to better relate to the young people listening to it. Writing her own songs also shows that she truly is passionate about music and wants to share her experiences with others through her art. I specifically chose the song "Growing Pains" because she puts a very clever spin on the use of the phrase. Normally, when someone says growing pains they are referring to the physical pains that come with growing quickly, but in this song she uses it to describe more of the emotional and spiritual pains that come with maturing. She beautifully talks about the hardships without making it overbearing and heavy because she balances it with a glimmer of hope and positive attitude, which is what I think makes her music so appealing. She can talk about something that many people have a difficult time with, yet doesn't have the attitude of allowing it to grow stagnant and consume a person. This gives her music more of a feeling of healing than pain, and this is what makes her music so enjoyable. I also believe that many young artists don't quite capture this in-between stage of a person's life where they're not too young to be totally dependent, yet are not old enough to be independent. I think that Alessia Cara beautifully captures this stage in life where you have life experience, yet are still so new to being an adult and are still learning to cope with the normal fears of being independent and struggling through a time when a lot is changing. (M. Winslow)
Dave Evans - "Pretty Green Hills" - I stumbled upon a Bluegrass station and am hooked. The songs are all lively, fun, and each tells a story. They're as American as apple pie. What a delight! (T. Williams)
Dave Evans (1950-2017) - from his obituary: He started his bluegrass music career in 1968, with Earl Taylor and the Stoney Mountain Boys. Then, in 1973, he joined Larry Sparks and the Lonesome Ramblers before starting his own bluegrass band in 1978, known as Dave Evans and The River Bend. Dave is also a former member of The Boys from Indiana, Lillie Mae and the Dixie Gospelaires and Melvin Goins. Dave was also fascinated by earlier bluegrass performers, such as Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, and Jimmy Martin. He created his own style of bluegrass music. Dave began writing and singing his own songs, including, "One Loaf of Bread", "Highway 52", and "Be proud of the Grey in Your Hair."
Andrea & Matteo Bocelli - "Fall On Me" - Beautiful! (B. Rosenblum) - Andrea Bocelli is one of those rare "crossover artists" in that he crossed from opera to "adult mainstream" and became world-famous. (Keep in mind - the first million-selling recording artist in the vinyl record era was Mario Lanza!) Here he sings a duet with his 21-year old son Matteo. The story goes that the father did not discover his piano-playing son could sing until a few months before the 2017 recording session for Dad's new album "Si." A new star is born! (RBK)
John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band- "So This is Christmas (Happy Xmas - War Is Over)" - Here is a Christmas song released in 1971 as a single by John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with the Harlem Community Choir. The lyrics, by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, are set to the traditional English ballad “Skewball”. It was the seventh single release by Lennon outside his work with the Beatles. The song reached number 4 in the UK, where its release was delayed until November 1972, and has periodically reemerged on the UK Singles Chart, most notably after Lennon’s death in December 1980, when it peaked at number 2."Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" was the culmination of more than two years of peace activism undertaken by John Lennon and Yoko Ono that began with the bed-ins they convened in March and May 1969, the first of which took place during their honeymoon- Wikipedia. (J. Gaffney)
The Beatles - "Good Night" (take 10 with guitar part from take 5) - 1968 celebrates a number of 50th anniversaries. Not all of them are happy. But, just in time for the Holiday Season, Apple Records has issued this massive seven-CD package of "The White Album" (or, really, just "The Beatles" and the original cover was all-white). For those who do not want to spend their entire pay check, there's a three-CD version, a two-Lp version, and four-Lp version. Included in the biggest package are several CDs of "demos", including the earliest rehearsal takes (known as "the Escher Demos" recorded at George Harrison's home studio) and three CDs of outtakes and rejected takes from the Abbey Road Studio sessions. Those studio sessions stretched on for nearly six months and charts the dissolution of The Fab Four. The early demos show four musicians really having a great time working, playing, and singing together and are the trumpet revelation of the package - these guys really like each other. By the time of the final takes, there are no vocal duets (most often heard on the Lennon-McCartney songs). The song I chose is the final song of the second album, the 30th tune. On the album, there's a large string and brass orchestra, replete with harp and musical saw (!), a large mixed chorus, a production out of a '30s musical, and the affectionate voice of Mr. Starr. The version below features Ringo backed by two guitars and the chorus of John, Paul, and George. It is so pretty in its simplicity and sound. (RBK)
We'll have one more post for Finals Week! May the next two weeks go well for all!
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)
The Beatles - "Two of Us" - A
song I downloaded to my phone and played on a remote Orkney headland
letting the wind take an old friend's ashes...a beautiful place, she
would have approved (she would have liked it more if it had a beautiful
old
pub, but that's another story). (D. Dugre-Martin) (Editor's note - This is a Paul song which just about every Beatle thought was about his relationship to John and how it soured ("You and me, chasing paper..") but Sir Paul claims it's a love song he wrote for his girlfriend Linda Eastman.
EDEN - "Drugs" - EDEN
is composed of a single member, Jonathon Ng, who is also a record
producer and model (who knew!). This was the first song by him that I
found, and I fell in love with the relaxed, yet energized atmosphere of
his
music. As I listened to more of his work I found that there were certain
lines from various songs that really stuck in my head and made me
think, which is why I was so drawn to listen his music over, and over
again. (M. Winslow)
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Jason Aldean - "Fly Over States" - I'm going with a little country this week. Thinking of all my Army colleagues out there who live and work in these great places. (T. Williams)
(Editor's Note - On our honeymoon lo those many centuries ago, we drove across the US to Wyoming in Volkswagen Squareback that broke down with regularity as we drove through those "fly-over states." We met some of the nicest people in Indiana, Nebraska, and Montana as well as the fine people of Douglas, WY. We should all do a Blue Highway tour once in our lives, if not several times.)
Banda Magda - "Thiamandi" - Banda Magda is the ensemble led by a friend and arranging partner of mine named Magda Giannikou.
I hate the word genius, because even educated people throw it around
without any understanding of what the word actually means, especially in
the arts.
But Magda is a GENIUS. The accessibility of her work (including, but not
exclusively, with this band) belies the artistry and craftsmanship
behind it - essentially, the more you know about what you’re hearing,
the deeper the rabbit hole gets. Banda Magda is
known more for their fun up-tempo stuff, but this slow track is the one I
end up playing on repeat for hours - such incredible vibe. The ensemble
itself is comprised of some of the heaviest cats in NYC, including my
wife Brooke on violin and my brother-in-law
Sam on cello, as well as some other people that are veteran members of
both her ensemble and mine. (K. Saulnier)
And, now for the 7th inning stretch:
Kate Smith - "God Bless America" - At the seventh inning stretch of New York
Yankees home games, an armed service veteran is introduced and honored. Usually
he or she stands behind home plate with their family, while their image is
shown on the jumbo screen over the outfield bleachers. Then Kate Smith sings “God Bless America”
and most of the 45,000 fans sing along with Kate. At the end of her rendition,
the jumbo screen image is changed to a picture of that service veteran when he
or she was younger. I am especially moved when I see the picture of a WWII
veteran in full dress uniform and think of how young they were to be thrown
into such a tumultuous world to execute such a monumental task. It affirms to
me that God hasblessed America and
we better take good care of her as we proceed.
Wikipedia
tells us that Irving Berlin wrote the song in 1918 while serving in the U.S.
Army at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York, but decided that it did not fit in a
revue called "Yip Yank Yaphank", so he set it aside. In 1938, with the rise of
Adolf Hitler, Irving Berlin, who was Jewish and had arrived in America from
Russia at the age of five, felt it was time to revive it as a "peace
song," and it was introduced on an Armistice Day broadcast in 1938, sung
by Kate Smith on her radio show. Berlin had made some minor changes, most
notably, he provided an introduction that is now rarely heard but which Smith
always used:
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea
Let us swear
allegiance to a land that's free
Let us all be
grateful for a land so fair
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer." (J. Gaffney)
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Lorraine Feather - "It All Adds Up" - Ms. Feather, the daughter of pioneer jazz writer and composer Leonard Feather, is one of my favorite vocalists. Her music is erudite, many of her lyrics are clever, even funny, and, judging by the songs on her new album "Math Camp", she can write ballads as powerful as Randy Newman (check out these videos, the first from "Toy Story 2" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElhbTsKsros - and this one from his adaptation of Goethe's "Faust" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEDusVxVKbA ). Anyway, back to Ms. Feather. She's had quite a career, from off-Broadway to singing back-up for Grand Funk Railroad (?!?) to writing lyrics for and recording songs by Fats Waller and Duke Ellington to writing songs for movie soundtracks. She's been a solo artist since the late 1990s and releases albums every 2-3 years. Her new CD is the first she's made since moving back to the East Coast from rural upstate Washington and many of the tracks feature a jazz quartet (including the track below which has the great Fred Hersch on piano, James Genus on bass, Gilad Hekselman on guitar, and Terri Lyne Carrington on drums). Also, many of the songs are "scientific" in nature. Give a listen. (RBK)
Now it is beginning to feel like Fall, looks like it as well. Sun rises later, sets sooner, and it's tougher (for some) to get moving (alright, for me to get moving). Here are a number of selections that may get you thinking or set your feet to moving or just settle your nerves.
John Mayer - "Daughters" - John Mayer, a college drop out and great singer- songwriter (and a native of Bridgeport, CT).... love this song and the wisdom it shares. (B. Rosenbaum)
(Editor's note - A number of contributors to this blog are fathers to daughters (the contributor is a mother to a daughter!) and I would be surprised if this song does not resonate with the men as well. Rachel, our youngest, is still "my baby" - she just turned 38, is a mother of two children (one daughter), and I struggle to remember her as a child.)
Can't resist adding this Paul Simon song that he wrote for 2002 "The Wild Thornberrys Movie" - he even received an Academy Award nomination!
The Cast of "Wicked: The Musical" - "Defying Gravity" - In honor of my amazing wife, who has overcome some life challenges, I
offer "Defying Gravity" from the Broadway musical "Wicked". It’s a song of
hope and inspiration when things look bleak. (C Hakala) - (Editor's Note - The voices you hear are those of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth and the recording is the official Broadway soundtrack. There is a movie version coming in 2019 - the picture on the left is the official poster.)
Kaushiki Chakrabarty - "Raga Multani" - Here’s an Indian artist I’m blown away by Kaushiki Chakrabarty. She
sings in the Thumri style, which is considered semi-classical by
purists. Her pitch accuracy is scary good, and I love how much sheer
swagger she has. I’ve chosen what I hope is a fairly
accessible performance of shorter length (these performances can last
hours), but even abbreviated the ensemble passes through a multitude of
different time feels and colors in the exploration of one raga. (K. Saulnier)
Antonio Vivaldi - "Autumn: The Four Seasons" - This week I am going with a classic classical (T. Williams) - Antonio Vivaldi (born in Venice in 1678 and died in Vienna in 1741) created an impressive selection of pieces for his favored instrument, the violin. In fact, 230 of his concerti for solo instrument with string orchestra and harpsichord were composed for violin while the next largest amount was 40 and that was for bassoon! "The Four Seasons" is his most famous and a delight from start to finish. (RBK)
Our selection today features violinist Fredereike Saeijs and the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra from 2014:
The Beatles - "I, Me, Mine" - In these times of government greed I would like to suggest “I, me, mine” composed by George Harrison and performed by The Beatles.
"I
Me Mine"
wasn't officially recorded during the "Let It Be" sessions for the movie or the "Abbey Road"
sessions, but The Beatles recorded it later when it needed to be
included in the
"Let It Be" film. It was their last song recorded together: on the 3rd
of January 1970. (D. Dugre-Martin)
The lyrics:
All through' the day
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
All through' the night
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
Now they're frightened of leaving it
Ev'ryone's weaving it
Coming on strong all the time
All through' the day I me mine
All I can hear
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
Even those tears
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
No-one's frightened of playing it
Ev'ryone's saying it
Flowing more freely than wine
All through' the day I me mine
This version, from The Beatles "Let It Be", features "sweetening" (strings, horns) from co-producer Phil Spector:
Benjamin Boone & Philip Levine - "Soloing" - Saxophonist and composer Benjamin Boone first met poet Philip Levine (1928-2015) when the poet was a visiting professor at California State University/ Fresno where Boone had been teaching since 2000. Levine had a lifelong fascination for jazz, incorporating musicians and songs into his poems throughout his long and varied career. The poet remains one of my favorite American writers and I use his poem "What Work Is" in my FYS classes whenever I can. Once, he appeared at Wesleyan University with a vibraphonist. Here, he is backed by Boone's trio with special guest Branford Marsalis on tenor saxophone, performing a poem that harnesses the spirit and vision of John Coltrane plus serves as a remembrance of the relationship Levine had with his mother in her later years.
Here's the trailer that Origin Records released along with the album Boone and Levine recorded titled "The Poetry of Jazz":
Here are a few songs that I meant to add to this week's post including the first suggestion sent by Fred Raudat.
Jefferson Airplane - "Comin' Back To Me" - Marty Balin (pictured left), one of the co-founder of the San Francisco-based 1960s psychedelic rock the Jefferson Airplane, died this past September 27th. He possessed one of the lovelier voices in rock music, a fine counterpoint to the harder voices of Grace Slick and Paul Kantner. Palin stayed with the band even after they morphed in to Jefferson Starship in 1975. This particular song comes from their second album "Surrealistic Pillow." (F. Raudat with notes supplied by the editor)
The Beatles - "Here, There, and Everywhere" - Suggested by Daniele Dugre-Martin, this lovely Paul McCartney tune comes from the band's 1966 "Revolver" album, the predecessor to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club". In the various biographies and histories of the Fab Four, John Lennon is quoted as saying this was his favorite McCartney song and that he had little to do with writing the gem. Note the lovely harmonies and the composer's delicate double-tracked vocals. (RBK)
Photo: Carl F. Hager
Lorraine Feather - "You're Outta Here" - Ms. Feather, the daughter of the acclaimed jazz writer and composer Leonard Feather, is one of the more creative artists who sings jazz. Over the past two decades, she has released albums based on the music of Duke Ellington, of classic and original "stride piano" music, and her own delightful compositions. The tune I chose today is based on a Fats Waller piece, "A Minor Drag" - note how the singer deals with the syncopation and the rhythms, plays with language and generally has a delightful time. To her credit, Ms Feather also composes thoughtful "adult" pieces, ballads that make you think and ponder personal relationships.
However, this track is pure fun! It features the great Dick Hyman on piano (who's still "tickling the ivories" at the age of 91!)
I was hoping to do, at least, two more posts with the ultimate one at the end of Finals Week. So, here's the penultimate post!
"Maybe" - Alina Baraz & Galimatias- Since I have been listening to a lot of very relaxing/slower music to study, I have been listening to "Maybe" by Alina Baraz a lot. I like how the song is somewhat sparse
instument/sound-wise. It has a very chill vibe,
but the song changes enough throughout to keep your interest. It comes
from her album Urban Flora which is a fantastic album to listen to while
studying (at least for me it is and I have recommended it to other students that are studying). (Megan Winslow)
"Money For Nothing" - Dire Straits - At the time this song came out, I was working at Sears and I was,
in fact, moving refrigerators and color tvs. The song was an anthem to
us in the warehouse and we sung it loud and laced with profanity. (Chris Hakala)
Editor's note: - Somewhere in our house is a picture of our younger daughter Rachel peering intently at the lyric sheet that came with Dire Straits's "Brothers in Arms" Lp. We swear it's how she learned how to read (from that album and Billy Joel's "An Innocent Man"). (RBK)
"Two of Us" - The Beatles- I played
this at a friend’s “funeral” on the Orkney Island of Rousay last summer. It illustrates our long friendship very well as it did Lennon and McCartney’s
collaboration of many years. (Daniele Dugre-Martin) From "The Beatles Bible": The opening song on The Beatles' final album, "Two Of Us" was written by Paul McCartney about his fondness for getting deliberately lost in the country with his future wifeLinda.
Lennon and McCartney shared the same microphone to sing the song, as captured in the Let It Be film. Indeed, the middle sections contain likely references to their relationship, with both acutely aware that their time as members of The Beatles was drawing to a close. (Editor's note: C'mon Paul, we know this is all about you and John!
"World We You Live" - Crowded House- I loved this group back in the 80s and 90s but only owned two of their albums. Of course everyone knows “Don’t Dream it’s Over” but they had many other hits over the years. Such as “World where you live.” Great road trip music. (Thomas Williams)
Editor's note - I have always considered this "adult pop" music, fun to sing along with plus lyrics that are not shallow. If you missed this group first time around, check out their songs.!
"Down San Diego Way" - Arthur Blythe - To end this post on a boisterous note, my 301 students ask me about my favorite songs. Of course, since I have been listening to music for over six decades, my list is way too long to publish anywhere. However, most of my favorites are connected to memories. In the mid-70s, I was a reviewer for the New Haven Advocate specializing in jazz, especially "out" jazz. I had the opportunity to meet saxophonist Arthur Blythe and hear him play live. No matter what musical situation he put himself in, his alto sax always sounded like joy personified. No more so than on "Down San Diego Way" from his first Lp on CBS Records. Guitar, percussion, bass, drums, tuba (Bob Stewart is the true "bottom"), flute, and Mr. Blythe's sweet tone. Yes, this is noisy but it' a reflection of a person who lived to play, loved to play, and appreciated when people would come up and say "thank you." This song is a real "summer - open the windows and play it loud, really loud - song". (RBK)
Hmmm....where to start? It's finally Spring (or, at least, it feels like Spring where I am sitting) and what better way to celebrate than with songs that celebrate beginnings and songs that move the feet and/or the soul.
"Centerfield" - John Fogerty - This song is a terrific ode to baseball sung by one of the most unique
voices in music. The song reminds me of playing baseball, obviously, but
of the longing to be so good at something that I was never quite good
enough at. I played for years, and always
wanted to be put into the game. However, for many years, it was just
that: a longing! (Chris Hakala)
Editor's Note - The title comes from this song but is "borrowed" from Chuck Berry's ode to his "brothers" and a nod to Jackie Robinson, "Brown Eyed Handsome Man."
Here's Mr. Berry's song, first issued in 1956:
"Love Me Do" - The Beatles - First song recorded by the Beatles who went on to
record about 214 songs mostly written by Lennon/McCartney. All four
members went on to have successful solo careers with Paul McCartney
probably being the most successful. (Daniele Dugre-Martin) Editor's note - When this song was first released in the United States, it never reached anywhere the Top 100. After "I Want to Hold Hand" and "She Loves You" topped the US charts, the Chicago-based Vee Jay label re-released the song and it made the Top 10!
"Poinciana" - Ahmad Jamal Trio - This tune, subtitled "Song of the Trees", is based on a Cuban folk song and was first made popular by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra in the late 1930s - the song went on to be recorded by a slew of people. When Pittsburgh, PA native Ahmad Jamal (formerly Frederick Jones) included the song on his fourth album, 1958's "Ahmad Jamal Trio at The Pershing" But Not For Me", the 8-minute piece became a huge hit. The version below, suggested by Professor Paul Pasquaretta, comes from one of Jamal's earliest recordings in either 1951 or 1952 and features piano, guitar (played by Ray Crawford), and bass. The "hit" version below that features the "classic" Jamal Trio with Israel Crosby (bass) and Vernel Fournier (drums). (RBK)
The 1958 "classic":
"Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - U2 - From the Irish quartet's classic 1987 album, "Joshua Tree", just great music! (Thomas Williams)
Arguably this band's biggest album, it moved them from concert halls to sports arenas and outside stadiums. (RBK)
"Wichita Lineman" - Jimmy Webb with Billy Joel - Jimmy Webb had a slew of hits in the mid-1960s and early 1970s, writing for people such as Linda Ronstadt, Richard Harris, The Fifth Dimension, Brooklyn Bridge, and Art Garfunkel. But his biggest successes came with guitarist-vocalist Glen Campbell. Campbell had Top 5 songs with "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and "Galveston" but it's "Wichita Lineman" that continues to move me to this very moment. It's such a haunting melody and the lines "I need you more than want you/And I want you for all time" hit me in the heart every time I hear them. The Campbell version is excellent but this one by the songwriter and friend Billy Joel, recorded in 2010, is darn close to perfect (great mandolin work from Stuart Duncan and a fine dobro solo from Paul Franklin, both veteran Nashville session men). (RBK)
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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
