What's the last musical purchase you made? Yesterday, I picked up a used copy of the 1973 Krautrock classic Future Days by Can. It was $6.99 at Academy Records in New York. What a deal! And, like our recent posts about the Grateful Dead, Can's at heart a jam band. Check out the title track of Future Days.
For today, I tried to go with a band that has such a vast catalog that we wouldn't share a song. I had a very hard time picking the three songs to go with. Here is what I came up with (and I'm still debating #3 as I type.)
1. Jack Straw. Something tugs at my heartstrings as we learn of two forced outlaws where one has to kill the other just to be able to stay on the run. It is one of the few Dead songs that have Jerry and Bob trade the lead vocals. I still love the line "We use to play for silver, now we play for life." The slow start which picks up pace is the best opener to get moving.
2. Brown-Eyed Women. Another song that tells a story of a time and place of the American past, that sounds romantic. So much to like here. The band gets into a nice groove that allows Jerry to freestyle in between verses. It has a catchy chorus to sing along with and a nice, soft ending. A very underrated Dead song.
3. Box of Rain. A masterpiece. Written by Phil Lesh to his dying father. I melt with this song. So emotional. The harmonies following Phil's lead are just a thing of beauty. The sweeping slide guitar of Jerry, and the drum fills just make this, in my opinion one of the greatest songs of all time. I almost didn't go with this, for it's not truly a car song. I debated "U.S. Blues," "New Speedway Boogie," "Ramble on Rose," among so many other gems. Good luck!
When people begin their foray into Jazz, they go to Coltrane, Armstrong, Holliday, Gillespe, Monk, or even Miles Davis. For me, it was Dave Brubeck. The first time I heard "Take Five" I was mesmerized. Something about it just screamed cool. I even remember Infiniti using it to sell cars early on in their birth. The Quartet made many great songs like "Take the 'A' Train," "Blue Rondo a la Turk" & "Unsquare Dance" which have been used in countless movies. Dave was 91.
I enjoyed today's balmy weather by taking the day off. I'm owed a lot of time at work after what has been a busy year, and it was just luck of the draw that I took off on a December day when temperatures reached the 60s. In any case, I was driving by the local high school during their lunch hour -- this was not planned, I'm not one of those pathetic losers -- windows down and "How Soon is Now" playing loudly in my sensible family station wagon. And that little anecdote leads to my Three for the Road, Smiths edition:
1) "Hand in Glove" - It fades up on Marr's guitar riffs and then that harmonica kicks in and it's gold. Johnny Marr at his finest.
2) "Half a Person" - "Sixteen clumsy and shy" pretty much sums up the Smiths for me.
3) "The Headmaster Ritual" - A song after your own heart -- about public education.
As a middle school teacher, I am surrounded by kids who love Beiber, One Direction and Ke$ha. I usually am listening to music on my prep period while I work. As my sixth period shuffles in, they usually are curious as to what I am listening to. They also love to give requests - mostly to songs I would never be playing. But, for some strange reason, this class loves to request RUSH. Guys, girls, you name it. Strange to see a 12 year old girl ask for "Tom Sawyer." So, if you need three by the Canadian trio, here is what I would go with:
1. "Spirit of the Radio": It is a great wake up song as it tells of getting in your car and starting your day, only to be influenced by commercialism. It also features Geddy Lee hitting astronomical high notes with the words, "...of salesmen."
2. "Closer to the Heart": name anotehr song that uses bells so well. It interrupts the song only to bring it back to the next verse. I actually think it's a nice song.
3. "Fly by Night" : Is there an automobile company that better implements music than Volkswagen? From "Da, Da, Da" to this gem, which is, by far, my favorite commercial of the year.
I happily read the feature article in this Sunday's New York Times about the reunification of Graham Parker with his old band-mates, The Rumour. And yet I can probably only name one friend of mine who actually likes Graham Parker - and he's over 60.
According to the Times, Parker "anticipated the energy of punk and set the bar for smart, literate lyrics married to a danceable beat." And while critics here in the States compared the band to Bruce Springsteen, American record buyers didn't. And Parker - at least in this country - faded into oblivion.
But now Graham and his mates are back together thanks in large part to Judd Apatow, who cast them in the new movie "This is 40" as a once-famous band whose career is revived -- no stretch there.
And that got me singing one of Parker's best and best-known songs, "Discovering Japan". If you're unfamiliar with Parker's work, or the great 1979 album Squeezing Out Sparks, I encourage you to listen to it.
