Songs »Fooled Around and Fell in Love

By Elvin Bishop (1975)

It’s Elvin Bishop’s birthday. Must play Fooled Around and Fell in Love at least three times.

See more: Songs


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on October 21, 2011

Songs »Got a Hold on Me

By Christine McVie (1984)

Got a Hold on Me is often mistaken as a Fleetwood Mac song but it’s pure McVie.
Shunning the spotlight for the past many years, she left is this lovely adult contemporary love song behind before taking the high road to peaceful living.

See more: Songs


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 1, 2011

Songs »Blue Bayou

by Roy Orbison (1963) and Linda Ronstadt (1977)

Still on a Roy Orbison kick, I thought I’d recommend his most beautiful song, Blue Bayou. Also recorded wonderfully by the lovely Linda Ronstadt, it’s a sentemental song and one of the prettiest I can call to mind. In fact, it ranks high in my favorites of all time, so it surprises me I’ve not recommended it here before.

As winter begins to nip at us, one can relate to dreaming of someplace with fishing boats and familiar sunrises. By the way, it does not refer to the Louisiana Water Park (though it would shake my whole reading of the song if it was) nor the Disney restaurant.

See more: Songs


One Comment →
Posted on November 30, 2010

Albums »Carpenters

by The Carpenters (1971)

The Carpenters self titled album is an iconic one of its time, and many will argue, of the worst of its time. Schmaltzy, cheesy, feathery soft and mild, Karen and brother Richard were the number one selling act in the 1970’s (this album alone went quadruple platinum). Still, it’s soothing music like this that sometimes hits the mid afternoon spot and can anyone deny that she possessed one of the nicest voices ever recorded?

You’ll likely be familiar with most of the album’s many hits (Rainy Days and Mondays, For All We Know, Superstar) but there are less often played songs here too. Drusilla Penny, a rare Carpenters ditty sung by Richard, is Jim’s favorite (though he is not a big fan over all) but some of the others are admittedly a bit much to handle even for me as I recommend you give this adult contemporary dynamo a chance (see Bacharach medley and Saturday).

See more: Albums


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on October 12, 2010

Songs »Slip Sliding Away

by Paul Simon (1977)

Poignancy could be Paul Simon’s middle name and perhaps never more than with his bittersweet Slip Slidin’ Away – a song that never fails to make me rather sad (and enjoy it). The song was an new composition released on his 1977 Greatest Hits, Etc.

See more: Songs


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 12, 2010

Songs »What You Won’t Do For Love

what you won't do for love bobby caldwellOh, AM golden goodness roll over me! What You Won't Do For Love makes me feel like I'm being seduced by penthouse views while wearing Harem pants and accepting a glass of sparkling wine.

The song may sound familiar to you from the many, many songs that sample it. This jazzy number was surely the biggest of his career in the US, but I learned from wikipedia that he has a lasting and devoted fan base in Japan. ?br/>

See more: Songs


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 31, 2009

Songs »Lovin You

loving you minnie ripertonWhile Lovin' You has become a bit of a shorthand joke in movies and TV shows to represent a kind of cheesy, schmaltzy romance that no one seems to believe in with such a hazy soft focus any more, I find it so simple both lyrically “loving you is easy because you're beautiful” and pretty that it still fills me with a sweet feeling.

As sweet as the baby's breath that halos Minnie Riperton's afro and the fact that she used to sing this to her baby daughter, comedienne Maya Rudolph.

See more: Songs


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on June 1, 2009

Songs »Jackie Blue

jackie blue ozark mountain daredevilsOn an old episode of This American Life, David Sedaris instilled a very definite fear in liberal radio listeners with his account of hitchhiking shenanigans and with the quote, “They popped in an 8-track of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils… that was my punishment.” It's an unfair smear job that I fear left an indelible scar on the rep of the bearded band – even Ira Glass gets a smirky little jab in at their expense.

The band's tune Jackie Blue has been happily flottering through my brain for days, like an animated little songbird from Missouri; they really don't deserve an association with almost getting killed on the highway – in fact, they're about as frightening as a countrified slice of Bread.

Jackie Blue is a top hit of the hillbilly soft rock genre which I suppose, for some people, is just as frightening as a hitchhike gone wrong…. but not me.

See more: Songs


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on May 25, 2009