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.




77jovian

"One Hit Wonders Of The World Unite" by Badger. A "chimey" solo electric guitar opening is then joined with a guitar blasting a power chord, pounding drums, and a throbbing electric bass part. The opening leads to the first verse, a wonderful melody winding it’s way through an unusually good chord progression. A second verse follows, after which the song goes to a bridge (almost unheard these days in Pop and Rock music, but common in The Beatles’ songs), and then.....the bridge explodes into a glorious, thrilling chorus, complete with hair raising 3-part harmony!

If you love Power Pop by the likes of Big Star, Cheap Trick, Marshall Crenshaw, Emitt Rhodes, Matthew Sweet, Dwight Twilley, The Flamin' Groovies, The Rasberries, The Rubinoos, Shoes, etc., you have GOT to hear this song! Hard to find (I have it on a compilation given to performers at the 1997 Poptopia Festival in Los Angeles (I was a member of Emitt Rhodes’ band), but you can hear it on YouTube.

I may have mentioned it before, but "Essense" by Lucinda Williams bears repeating. My God, what a song (I just listened to it three times in a row). On the album of the same title, which is full of great songs and vocal performances. Great musical accompaniment (she has excellent taste), including the drumming of Jim Keltner.
Cold Turkey, John Lennon Live in New York City, cassette Dolby HX PRO
"Happy Day (Sister My Sister)"  Hiss Golden Messenger, feat. Tift Merritt
Dwight Twilley Band: "Did You See What Happened?", the B-side of the "I'm On Fire" 7" 45RPM single off the band's incredible Sincerely debut album. Power Pop at it's finest.