![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
For once, I'm actually posting here from Berit's computer with the iTunes playing, not just using it as background music while I putter about the apartment, working on something else, so I'll multitask between my Temptation work (making up one big list of everything left to be done for the show; actually not as big a list as usual) and comment on the songs as they go by this time.
1. "For Once in My Life" - Stevie Wonder - Hitsville U.S.A., The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
I sometimes dismiss Stevie Wonder in my head, for no good reason. Yeah, "Superstition" is one of my favorite songs (and one of the first singles I can remember owning), and of course there's "Fingertips" and "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," but I tend to associate him with mellow, syrupy ballads.
Last year, as we were driving to Wisconsin, Berit and I came into Chicago as a couple of local R&B DJs were having an on-air contest to determine who was better, Stevie or Marvin Gaye. I smirked and assumed Marvin (a favorite of mine) would wipe up the floor with Stevie. As the contest went on, it was clear that, even without using any of the "heavy guns" (the great classic hits), Stevie was kicking Marvin's ass, quite soundly. I somewhat had to reevaluate Stevie in my head after that, the man has a DEEP catalogue of great music.
(earlier this year, driving to The Brick, B & I came across a pair of NYC DJs doing pretty much the exact same thing with Gladys Knight and my BELOVED Aretha Franklin . . . and, well, they made a pretty good case for Gladys - they made Berit a believer - but didn't completely move me to "prefer" Ms. Knight, though "And The Pips" nearly tips the balance, Aretha didn't have a "And The Pips" -- Knight's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" was one of the other first singles I remember having as a small child)
Anyway, this Stevie Wonder song is a mellow ballad, yes, but beautiful sung, written, produced, and arranged, and makes me feel happy to be up and awake this morning.
2. "Dream Lover" - The Packabeats - Highly Strung
This is a strange instrumental. Familiar tune, of course, but the melody is being played on an organ, and in some strange, dissonant way. It sounds like it's double-tracked by the same organ, slightly out-of-tune with itself on each track. Ah, there's a hot guitar solo in there . . . kinda buried, but it's there (this is supposed to be a surf guitar comp, I think). Strange humming in there, too. Odd production. Waitaminute, is this a Joe Meek production? Let me check . . . YES! of course this is Joe Meek. Now I get it.
3. "Beside You" - Iggy Pop - American Caesar
A pleasant ballad from the Igmeister, boringly produced, as most of his music has been since Zombie Birdhouse, but a good song, well-sung. moving. He's made plenty of great tracks in the last 24 years, but most of his ALBUMS tend to disappoint. Good for randomness selection, I guess.
4. "I Am Alone Today" - The Fruit Machine - Tektites Vol. IV
A long-forgotten "psychedelic" track from a downloaded comp of scratchy singles. Nice "heavy" guitar. Not bad. Then it just ends. Fine.
5. "Working Undercover for the Man" - They Might Be Giants - Mink Car
Favorite recent TMBG track, pretty, smart, funny, and slightly ominous (sung from the point of view of a government agent undercover in a rock band, spying on his audience).
6. "Abba Zaba" - Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - Safe as Milk
Ah! Early Van Vliet! Chugging and fun. This is an upbeat mix this morning. I'm being forcibly put in a good mood.
7. "Just for Fun" - Jonathan Richman - Having a Party with Jonathan Richman
Hunh. And it's Jonathan Richman who adds a sad, mournful note? It nearly sounds like one of JoJo's normal happy songs, but it has a strange, past-tense feel, like the fun is long gone, but it's nice to think of it now. Oh, it's a live recording, too. Didn't remember that.
8. "I'm Gonna Run Away from You" - Tami Lynn - Golden Years 02
Another song from a downloaded comp that I don't know (I like adding music I barely or don't know into iTunes and just having it come up - like listening to the radio sometimes). Good R&B song. Almost girl group. Here's something I found about Tami Lynn.
9. "Because the Night" - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Live 1975-85
I really like Springsteen's songwriting. I really don't like his arrangements/performances, but they're bearable for me in live versions rather than his usually dead, freeze-dried, overthought studio albums. Live, he's got one of the best bar bands in the world, with above-average originals. Patti did this one better, and Springsteen's alterations to the lyrics (or is it restoration to his originals before Smith changed them for her version?) are clumsy. In any version, a damned great chorus there.
10. "Centipede Boogie" -Chet Atkins - Chet Atkins and His Guitar
Man, this cat can play. Aggressively cheery guitar instrumental. Making me happier by the moment. Good way to go out on this list, though the music will play on . . .
1. "For Once in My Life" - Stevie Wonder - Hitsville U.S.A., The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
I sometimes dismiss Stevie Wonder in my head, for no good reason. Yeah, "Superstition" is one of my favorite songs (and one of the first singles I can remember owning), and of course there's "Fingertips" and "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," but I tend to associate him with mellow, syrupy ballads.
Last year, as we were driving to Wisconsin, Berit and I came into Chicago as a couple of local R&B DJs were having an on-air contest to determine who was better, Stevie or Marvin Gaye. I smirked and assumed Marvin (a favorite of mine) would wipe up the floor with Stevie. As the contest went on, it was clear that, even without using any of the "heavy guns" (the great classic hits), Stevie was kicking Marvin's ass, quite soundly. I somewhat had to reevaluate Stevie in my head after that, the man has a DEEP catalogue of great music.
(earlier this year, driving to The Brick, B & I came across a pair of NYC DJs doing pretty much the exact same thing with Gladys Knight and my BELOVED Aretha Franklin . . . and, well, they made a pretty good case for Gladys - they made Berit a believer - but didn't completely move me to "prefer" Ms. Knight, though "And The Pips" nearly tips the balance, Aretha didn't have a "And The Pips" -- Knight's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" was one of the other first singles I remember having as a small child)
Anyway, this Stevie Wonder song is a mellow ballad, yes, but beautiful sung, written, produced, and arranged, and makes me feel happy to be up and awake this morning.
2. "Dream Lover" - The Packabeats - Highly Strung
This is a strange instrumental. Familiar tune, of course, but the melody is being played on an organ, and in some strange, dissonant way. It sounds like it's double-tracked by the same organ, slightly out-of-tune with itself on each track. Ah, there's a hot guitar solo in there . . . kinda buried, but it's there (this is supposed to be a surf guitar comp, I think). Strange humming in there, too. Odd production. Waitaminute, is this a Joe Meek production? Let me check . . . YES! of course this is Joe Meek. Now I get it.
3. "Beside You" - Iggy Pop - American Caesar
A pleasant ballad from the Igmeister, boringly produced, as most of his music has been since Zombie Birdhouse, but a good song, well-sung. moving. He's made plenty of great tracks in the last 24 years, but most of his ALBUMS tend to disappoint. Good for randomness selection, I guess.
4. "I Am Alone Today" - The Fruit Machine - Tektites Vol. IV
A long-forgotten "psychedelic" track from a downloaded comp of scratchy singles. Nice "heavy" guitar. Not bad. Then it just ends. Fine.
5. "Working Undercover for the Man" - They Might Be Giants - Mink Car
Favorite recent TMBG track, pretty, smart, funny, and slightly ominous (sung from the point of view of a government agent undercover in a rock band, spying on his audience).
6. "Abba Zaba" - Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - Safe as Milk
Ah! Early Van Vliet! Chugging and fun. This is an upbeat mix this morning. I'm being forcibly put in a good mood.
7. "Just for Fun" - Jonathan Richman - Having a Party with Jonathan Richman
Hunh. And it's Jonathan Richman who adds a sad, mournful note? It nearly sounds like one of JoJo's normal happy songs, but it has a strange, past-tense feel, like the fun is long gone, but it's nice to think of it now. Oh, it's a live recording, too. Didn't remember that.
8. "I'm Gonna Run Away from You" - Tami Lynn - Golden Years 02
Another song from a downloaded comp that I don't know (I like adding music I barely or don't know into iTunes and just having it come up - like listening to the radio sometimes). Good R&B song. Almost girl group. Here's something I found about Tami Lynn.
9. "Because the Night" - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band - Live 1975-85
I really like Springsteen's songwriting. I really don't like his arrangements/performances, but they're bearable for me in live versions rather than his usually dead, freeze-dried, overthought studio albums. Live, he's got one of the best bar bands in the world, with above-average originals. Patti did this one better, and Springsteen's alterations to the lyrics (or is it restoration to his originals before Smith changed them for her version?) are clumsy. In any version, a damned great chorus there.
10. "Centipede Boogie" -Chet Atkins - Chet Atkins and His Guitar
Man, this cat can play. Aggressively cheery guitar instrumental. Making me happier by the moment. Good way to go out on this list, though the music will play on . . .
