Sweet Wine of Love
I wanted to open this week's playlist with a new to me track and one that's been an easy listening tune for a Sunday spin. As I've started this series I've done a bit of a weekly scramble to find new music while trying to prevent myself from unearthing good songs in my catalog just to say that I've been listening to them all week.
"Sweet Wine of Love" has the, most obviously, sweet yet smooth tone that brings back memories of my mother playing smooth jazz on Sunday mornings. I'm in awe of the guitar work and the sultry ambience created by Robin Trower here and on a bonus track in the name of "Lost in Love."
We'll see other weeks start with a bang, although this one certainly does in its own way, but here's a nice sampling to kick off your week.
Take It Easy
Music obscurity is one of my favorite conversation topics. Finding a like minded individual with extensive knowledge of all things music, especially the rarities, brings out the talker in me. Archie James Cavanaugh's "Take It Easy" is a track that might win me the most obscure yet incredibly catchy song mention of the night.
Black and White Raven was originally only released in Cavanaugh's home state of Alaska in 1980, but the beauty of the internet and streaming has laid this track at my doorstep. I wonder how many people have heard it or have even heard of the artist. Whether you have or not I've popped it on this playlist to provide some insight on some of the wonderful music that has slipped through the cracks of time.
Much like the song's title, Cavanaugh takes it easy and unleashes a Boz Scaggs'-esque groove that drew my attention immediately. I hope it does the same for you.
Night By Night
One of my regular customers came into work and we got talking music. One thing lead to another and "Night By Night" was mentioned. I couldn't get it out of my head for the next two weeks.
Steely Dan has their hits and then they have their deep cuts. They also have the deep cuts that should be hits. Let's be honest, Steely Dan has it all and can produce in whatever capacity you'd like. Songs like "Night By Night" remind me that great bands have tracks that like to hide away until unearthed through the rest of the quote unquote popular tunes.
For me, this track likes to elude my list of great Dan songs for whatever reason or vendetta. But here I am, adding it to this playlist because its a damn good track that is a damn good track to play along to (see below for more references to my favorites and play along tracks.)
Take it all night by night. Live it with passion and fun. Go out and find your dreams waiting for you. All you have to do is put in a little work. Okay goodbye.
Retro Rockets
Blessed by one of the "fun uncles," my neighborhood was introduced to one of the most eclectic pieces of music I've ever heard. In a truly perfect melding of genres and instrumentation, Dr. Didg brings a fusion of ingredients that creates one hell of a good time.
My best friends and I have those songs, those artists that were there in our formative years and that never go away. Dr. Didg has weaseled their way onto our mixes and our iPods. It also helps that the wildly out of place, but incredibly perfect, didgeridoo sounds like it's telling us to "buy some weed" over and over again. What group of teenagers isn't going to love that?
This song brings me back to hanging out with my best friends and doing the numerous, but never enough, stupid things we filled our adolescence with. Pop this track, and the ones that follow, on your playlist. It'll turn your normal day into a memorable one.
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
As I write these out of order it occurs to me that this week's playlist is filled with a lot of my "Favorites." When you love music there are a lot of favorites out there, but at least most of them are for funky reasons.
This one may not be funky, but "Happiness" is still my favorite Beatles' song and my go to track to listen to when I want to play the drums. It's mysterious and dark and different and has different time signatures. It's a perfect mixture of what the Beatles are to me and to all of their other fans I'm sure.
If you're reading these in order you may be confused until you're finished, but again, in the different version take I have going on, the alternative version of this track is actually what got me hooked and then the actual Beatles did the rest. Across The Universe did an incredible job of showcasing the stories and characters inside the Beatles' lexicon. If you've ever seen the film you'll know the moment when Max sings out in ecstasy amongst the other wounded Vietnam soldiers as they lay in their dreary hospital beds. It was then that I fell in love with this song. Yes, not from the Beatles themselves, but, in a lot of my circumstances, from a version so different or so obscure other "normal" people wouldn't understand.
Higher and Higher
If I had to pick a favorite live song from Bruce Springsteen's incredible career of show highlights it would have to be the rendition of Jackie Wilson's High & Higher from the historic Stranded in the Park show on March 25th, 1977. The ending to a momentous four night run at the Boston Music Hall, this tune closes the evening on a show that lives in infamy amongst the Bruce faithful.
An instant mood lifter and a booty shaker, this version has me bobbing back and forth anytime I hear it. It puts a smile on my face and wipes any thoughts from my mind as I engulf myself in the mysticism and glory that is seeing Bruce Springsteen Live. A show Twenty six years before I was even born, but one I can enjoy and transport myself to any time I'd like. God bless tapers and the early years of The E Street Band.
Dealing with bootlegs and old recordings has its drawbacks, especially when there is no representation of this show on Spotify. Please, ignore the playlist version, the much slower and less energetic one of this song, and head on over to the Youtube video somewhere around here.
Let this perfect Saturday (actually any day) tune take you away and shake that booty. I promise it'll make you happier. What a perfect piece of music.
Hold On
Keeping the alternative song version theme going, here's another track that is way better than the original. Alabama Shakes' "Hold On" is one hell of a punch line introduction to the band as their opening track on the debut album Boys & Girls.
Again, please ignore the playlist version and direct your attention to the the video above if you're looking for more energy, more feel, more groove. The music video version of "Hold On" is my go to from this group and one of my favorite tracks to play the drums along with.
This iteration of "Hold On" has everything you'd want in a live performance. Masterfully recorded in a live setting, albeit without an audience, this version gives you the energy and ambience of a live show or live album.
While making this playlist my thoughts wandered towards one of my favorite bands and the way they recorded their music. Being the talented musicians they were, The Beatles would record their songs live in the same room and pick from multiple takes to identify the best one. This Alabama Shakes video gives me that vibe and it doesn't disappoint.
I've got the mp3 of this if anyone is looking for it. Give me a holler and it's yours.
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