Music: What are you listening to today?
In the spirit of the books and movies threads, here's one to talk about what you're listening to lately and what you have discovered. Tell us if you like it, what it reminds you of, anything you like, short or not, simple or not.
Like the books thread, I'd ask that we keep it mostly to stuff we are listening to or going to listen to soon, or have just finished listening to (that is, like a log more than a resume).
Below is my first entry.
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Bonnie Raitt, by Bonnie Raitt.
My understanding is that this was her first record, which she made when she was 21. Nine out of the eleven songs are covers; the two she wrote are "Thank You" and "Finest Loving Man," and both are good.
I really liked this album. Bonnie's voice is much sweeter here than I've heard her before, and very warm, traveling between notes more fluently, and not yet as raspy sounding as it became. (Which I also like in its own way.) Despite the sweetness of her voice she manages to put some heart into the bluesy material, and sings with what sounds like a real love for the lyrics. It's great to hear someone who doesn't just walk through lyrics. She sounds like she really thought and felt her way through the songs. Many of the most gifted and popular singers out there don't, winding up leaving a lot of a song's power still on the table, so to speak.*
From an Amazon.com review:
Bonnie wrote two of the songs here (Thank you, Finest loving man) but relied mainly on covers, beginning with a cover of Bluebird (written by Stephen Stills, famous as a member first of Buffalo Springfield then of Crosby Stills and Nash). One of Bonnie's major influences, Sippie Wallace, is represented by two songs (Mighty tight woman, Women be wise) while Bonnie also covers Any day woman (Paul Siebel), Walking blues (Robert Johnson) and Since I fell for you (Bud Johnson) among others.
I really enjoyed Walking Blues a lot and wanted to hear it immediately again, but decided to let the rest of the album play out instead of interrupting its flow. The album is good enough that I think I'm going to listen to it again.
By the way, it's in the Rhapsody's catalogue, if you have that service. It's also at Amazon, and the MP3 256kbps download is on sale there for $2.99. You can listen to samples there too.
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*This reminds me of a biography of John Denver that I saw on PBS the other day. I'm not a big Denver fan, but the biography was so good that this is the second time I felt compelled to watch it. Anyway, in it his manager said that at a particular concert Denver sounded exceptionally good, and it seemed like the audience noticed it. His manager recalls saying something like, "Your voice was incredible today. How did you do it?" Denver replied that he was trying to do what he learned from Placido Domingo when they worked together. He said he was amazed by how deep Domingo's art was; he didn't just sing a line, but put the right emotion into it word by word. If he was going to sing about a piece of steel, his voice would sound like steel. Every line was emotionally full, clear, and precise.
I got a bit of a feeling of that in this Raitt album. Raitt very much inhabited those songs when she sang. Unlike some spoiled divas, the newly emergent Raitt got across the feeling that she was glad to be there.
woah, cui jian did tiny desk, need to watch that in full
btw he's a super chill guy flew next to him on a plane when I was 16 and had no idea who he was until mid flight a few people stopped to ask for his autograph and then his music was awesome so he was easy to remember
my buddy goes to all his concerts in the USA and wears some kind of loud Chinese clothing usually so cui jian recognizes him from that and will then have a beer with him after the concert
woah, cui jian did tiny desk, need to watch that in full
btw he's a super chill guy flew next to him on a plane when I was 16 and had no idea who he was until mid flight a few people stopped to ask for his autograph and then his music was awesome so he was easy to remember
my buddy goes to all his concerts in the USA and wears some kind of loud Chinese clothing usually so cui jian recognizes him from that and will then have a beer with him after the concert
He's got one of the best voices in rock afaik.
https://youtu.be/gM6kZabHf4w?si=VGX_4gWh...
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Way ahead of its time.
Just finished watching the Gershwin center tribute to Elton John and Bernie Taupin (long overdue imo)
It was hit and miss for the performers singing their songs.
Garth Brooks. Just terrible. He gets a D- for Daniel and a solid F for Sorry Seems to be the hardest word.
Never heard of Marin Morris but she sang an extremely bland version of I guess that's why the call it the blues - C-
Another one I haven't heard of - Charlie Puth - Stuck to the script on Don't let the sun go down on me - B
I like Annie Lennox, but sheesh - Border Song just didn't work - C+
WTF getting 200 year old Joni Mitchell up there. She reminds me of my mother. I don't even want to grade this one.
Billy Porter on a ridiculously over the top version of Bitch is Back - B+ for the energy.
Never heard of this one either - Jacob Lusk? Absolutely killed Bennie and the Jets. So much fun. Solid A
Metallica??? Really???? Funeral for a friend, Love lies bleeding. A+
But the best rendition of the night by far was Brandi Carlisle (yep, haven't heard of her either) with Madman Across the Water. Absolutely nailed it.
A+++++
I'm now a huge fan.
Couldn't find the Gershwin version, but here's a live version.
I've seen the Highwomen, group that features Marin Morris and Brandi Carlisle, and Brandi Carlisle separately at the Newport Folk Festival.
Brandi Carlisle was also instrumental in bringing back Joni Mitchell to Newport for her first appearance in nearly twenty years. Oh, and Joni Mitchell was one of those surprise guests often featured at Newport.
https://youtu.be/9evpH6yjxrI?si=FLPGf5JY...
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https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-mamas-a...
For over two decades, The Ed Sullivan Show was a flagship television show known for showcasing various forms of entertainment, mostly music, and introducing new acts to a fresh audience. Over the years, it saw a young Michael Jackson grace its stage, along with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and many more of the biggest names in music.
Every Sunday at 8pm, American audiences would gather around their television sets to catch the show in action. “We’ve got a really big show for you tonight!” Sullivan would famously quip, more often than not, delivering on his promise as various acts took centre stage. Even after its run ended in 1971, The Ed Sullivan Show remained a symbol of entertainment excellence and a significant part of American television history.
Of the many memorable occurrences on the show, the episode that included a special performance by The Mamas & The Papas remains one of the most prominent. The Ed Sullivan Show apparently rarely resorted to relying on playback during its performances but had to every so often due to technical issues. In 1967, when The Mamas & The Papas were due to perform, the band were informed they would have to lip-synch their hit ‘California Dreamin”.
This didn’t go down well with the band, who decided that instead of delivering a serious performance at the request of the producers, they would poke fun at the entire idea. In protest, therefore, vocalist Michelle Phillips took a banana on stage and proceeded to chow down during the whole set. At the end of the song, she began to sing into the banana instead of her microphone.
Amusingly, her husband, John Phillips, can also be spotted conversing with his wife mid-performance. At the time, rebellious acts within folk and rock music were on the rise, and so this occurrence could be seen as a part of the burgeoning rejection of social values at the time. However, on the surface, it effectively does what it says on the tin — pokes fun at shows that insist on removing the authenticity from live performances.
Featured on The Mamas & The Papas’ 1966 album If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears, ‘California Dreamin” captures the radiant essence of the Western hippie culture. Williams explained that the song took shape in 1963 when she had recently married John, and they were enduring a harsh New York winter.
During their early marital days, John would pace their apartment, crafting lyrics. One morning, he presented the first verse of ‘California Dreamin” to Michelle. Reading the lyrics, a West Coast native herself, she felt her own yearning and homesickness mirrored in the words.
side note, i can see how easily she broke so many hearts
By weird coincidence, I've just finished watching Chunking Express for perhaps the 100th time. This movie is 30 years old, which I find mind-blowing.
That scene needs a banana reference.
Woman should not eat bananas; they should suck them.
You all know this is true but only a minority will publicly admit it!
I'm not sure "I was not thinking, it didn't mean anything and there was wine involved" is the best way to go if you're trying to apologize for your infidelity, but it makes for beautiful music.
I have a bad case of VD. I suppose it’s my own fault but it is nothing that I’m embarrassed about. Life is all about risks. No risks; no fun.
never heard of this band before and pretty sure never heard this song before either, which is surprising because it's such a banger, just came on randomly in the background while working
