In which I click the shuffle icon on the increasingly frustrating iTunes app (no, Apple, I don't want to stream, I want to listen to my files) and listen to the first five songs that pop up from the years 1976-85.
- "Blow Away" by George Harrison (1979, Dark Horse)
I praised this single earlier this year and graded it a solid B. Click here for that post. Great way to start a random five. - "Mary Anne" by Marshall Crenshaw (1982, Warner Bros.)
And we're 2-for-2! Crenshaw music is always welcome in this house. This Buddy Holly-esque track is from his fantastic debut album. Crenshaw doesn't like the term "power pop" so I'll call this a pop song from a power trio. - "How Much Longer" by Alternative TV (1977, Deptford Fun City Records)
A cut from the 1-2-3-4: Punk & New Wave 1976 - 1979 set. Typical punk rock: three chords and lyrics about anarchy. Not too shocking these days and easily forgotten. According to Wikipedia, these guys are still around. Go figure. Note: this song also shuffled around in Random Five #7. - "Without You" by David Bowie (1983, EMI)
Most "true Bowie fans" dismiss the Let's Dance album and certainly wouldn't like this song from it, but I dig the bass line from Bernard Edwards of Chic and the noodling of Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was released as the follow-up single to "Modern Love" but only managed to get to #73 on the Hot 100. Bonus points for the Keith Haring single sleeve:
- "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" by Air Supply (1983, Arista)
I'm not much for the songs of Jim Steinman. I'll just leave it at that.
For me, this was a really good random 5' top to bottom.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, I enjoy Steinman's songs.
Since I lost my own decades in the making, lovingly curated digital library, I've been relying on Shuffle Playing the Saved Songs in Spotify, which includes both cherry-picked singles and entire albums including box sets and deluxe editions. In the last three months I've saved more than three thousand songs so here are today's big fish from the small pond:
Delete1. "Suspicious Minds" by Dwight Yoakam (1992, Epic)
Recorded and included on the Elvis-centric soundtrack for the film Honeymoon In Vegas, Dwight included a scorching 7:25 version, complete with false endings a la Elvis, on his Dwight Live album in 1995 though today's version is lifted from the the 2004 compilation The Very Best Of Dwight Yoakam. Often featured as the final song in his concerts, the song kicks off today's R5 in high gear.
2. "The Perfect Kiss" by New Order (1985, Factory)
The energy remains high with "The Perfect Kiss" so it should come as no surprise that many of the songs I have saved in Spotify are chosen expressly to accompany me in the The Blueberry. Love the frogs croaking! It's a great sounding song offering immersive sound whether listening on headphones, through desktop speakers, the Hitachi wi-fi speaker or in The Blueberry.
3. "Sin Wagon" by Dixie Chicks (1999, Monument)
Shifting gears to a bit to a little modern bluegrass with Natalie and the Erwin sisters marching us down another Highway To Hell.
4. "Mean To Me" by Linda Ronstadt (1984, Asylum)
Slamming on the brakes, we have Linda's lovely lullaby from her Lush Life album though I saved myself some time by adding the Round Midnight collection rather than the three individual albums. This music soothes me, relaxes me and helps me to wind down when bedtime beckons. If I was driving, I'd have to skip it but it works fine on this chill Sunday afternoon.
5. "Something That We Do" by Clint Black (1997, RCA Nashville)
Keeping it on the slow romantic tip, this is a country love song of the finest kind. I've attended two weddings where its been prominently featured rather than just played at the reception. The true test for me is whether or not I could say these words to my lovely wife without irony or that sickly sweet aftertaste and "Something That We Do" passes that test. (Those two weddings, costing thousands of dollars each, have seen both marriages end rather quickly in divorce. Meanwhile, our $50 justice of the peace ceremony at the courthouse wedding will see us celebrate 30 years next year.)