Tune of the Day
"Blue Rondo a la Turk" on the Two Generations of Brubeck album. Wow.
There are many fine versions of this tune, but this one gets me dancing, clapping, fist-pounding, whatever, every time....and it's not easy to dance in, what, 9/8? I love tunes that grow, build, develop, and move through changes. This one just picks me up and takes me right along with it. Great melding of jazz and rock idioms, too. It's fun to imagine Dave Brubeck setting the groove and then sitting back to hear where his kids and their friends take it.
You can continue exploring Dave and the kids on Two Generations of Brubeck, "The Great Spirit Made Us All". And Chris Brubeck's rock/jazz band Sky King on "Secret Sauce".
For extra credit, give a "spin" to Chase, "Bochawa" from their last album, Pure Music.
Anyway, that's my two cents today.
There are many fine versions of this tune, but this one gets me dancing, clapping, fist-pounding, whatever, every time....and it's not easy to dance in, what, 9/8? I love tunes that grow, build, develop, and move through changes. This one just picks me up and takes me right along with it. Great melding of jazz and rock idioms, too. It's fun to imagine Dave Brubeck setting the groove and then sitting back to hear where his kids and their friends take it.
You can continue exploring Dave and the kids on Two Generations of Brubeck, "The Great Spirit Made Us All". And Chris Brubeck's rock/jazz band Sky King on "Secret Sauce".
For extra credit, give a "spin" to Chase, "Bochawa" from their last album, Pure Music.
Anyway, that's my two cents today.
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The lyrics ain't much but the playing is. Can't argue with the sentiment... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6Y0dZQ3nYY |
Thanks @slaw and @tubegb, that LP is now in my search for notebook. Now here's one for ya'll: Nick Lowe is of course a member of Little Village, and in 1980 was a member of another super-group, Rockpile. I consider the lone Rockpile album (though the same group appeared on a number of Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds solo albums The 2nd guitarist was Billy Bremner---briefly in The Pretenders, the drummer Terry Williams---formerly in Man, later in Dire Straits.) much better than the Little Village. It was released on Columbia Records in the U.S.A., and on F Beat Records (get it? ;-) in the UK. A great, great album! |
@slaw: Jim McGuinn has said that when he heard "American Girl" on the radio he thought to himself "I don’t remember recording that song." He thought it was The Byrds! I unfortunately never managed to see The Byrds live. I’ve always wished I grew up in Los Angeles, as I feel much more aligned with the music of the 60’s made there versus the Bay Area. Fortunately I had relocated south in time to see the music explosion of the late-70’s and 80’s. For those who think California sucks: just try and imagine music without it. ;-) Speaking of Little Village, I can't come close to describing how great they were live. Think of it: John Hiatt singing, Ry Cooder playing guitar, Nick Lowe bass, and Jim Keltner drums. All singing and playing songs written by John and Nick. It don't get much better! |
Now THAT’S interesting, @slaw. Though originally a hit for Dave Dudley, the first version of "Six Days On The Road" I heard was that by Taj Mahal in ’69. The guys I was musically involved with then started performing it live shortly thereafter; always a hit with audiences! Steve Earle does a great version of the song. I admit I’m surprised to learn Petty and his boys were doing the song, most likely due to its ties to The Byrds (Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman did the song whilst in The Flying Burrito Brothers, another real good version). |