Here's a question that came up today as the family and I were driving to the grocery store. If you had to limit your musical listening to exactly one band (or artist), who would it be?
The question came up as we backed out of the driveway with Squeeze's "Another Nail in My Heart" on the radio. It's not the first (or second or third) Squeeze song that comes to mind, but it's a darn good song. My wife went one further, saying that -- now that she's thinking of it -- if she had to only listen to one band for the rest of her life, it would be Squeeze.
Now, Squeeze wouldn't be my choice. I'd probably go for The Clash for sheer variety -- there's garage rock, punk, ska, dub and pop in The Clash catalog. So I throw it out there -- if you had to listen to one artist -- and only one artist -- forever, who would it be?
Christmas songs fascinate me. Hundred of thousands of songs are recoded and played for 30 days straight, and then disappear until the next year to do it all over again. I like Christmas songs. There are good ones and bad ones, originals, and poor covers of songs. For today's Three for the Road, I choose three that you probably know, but are not radio mainstays. Don't get me wrong, Springsteen, Sinatra, Andy Williams,Vince Guaraldi, and even the Waitresses are special, but I thought, why not look at three that I would be glad to sing along with in the car.
"I Wish it Was Christmas Today." - Julian Casablancas
Originally written and performed on Saturday Night Live by Horatio Sanz, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan, and the dancing styles of Tracy Morgan, this song has been a reoccurring skit that has been done live several times. The Strokes voice, Julian Casablancas obviously got the joke and covered it. Something about it is catchy.
"Mele Kalikamaka" - The Puppini Sisters
An odd holiday song, but the cover by the "Swing Punk" trio (they are not really sisters) is clean and peppy. Their influences range from the Andrew Sisters and Fred Astaire to the Smiths and Tom Waits. I couldn't even tell you how I found them.
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings" - Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan
There is something pure and simple in this version from our neighbors up North that I really like. Funny, for neither the group of the founder of the Lilith Fair do much for me otherwise, but this version lakes me back to, what I imagine, are simpler times.
The most recent Rolling Stone magazine came up with their 25 best live albums (in no particular order.) They did a decent job covering a pretty wide spectrum. Before looking, I tried to come up with my five favorite (not saying best) live records. I specifically took into account some that were major influences to my musical tastes, or that I still listen to live. Great records like "Live at the Fillmore," "Kiss - Alive!" "Live at the Apollo" or "Stop Making Sense" do not make the cut for these reasons. Feel free to post whatever you feel is deserving or was omitted.
Neil Young - Live Rust.
A favorite of mine. So many great songs. Much like many great live records (Cheap Trick's Live at Budakon, or Frampton Comes Alive comes to mind), the performance of these are better than their studio versions. CD's might not do this record justice, as it came out with side A being acoustic, and side B being electric. So many great performances. "Powderfinger," "Like a Hurricane," and even "Lotta Love," just make this record such a classic.
Grateful Dead - Live Europe '72
You cannot discuss live music without including the Dead. I know, with all the Dick's picks, and vast catalog of liver recordings, to go with this one makes me look like a poser. This record turned me on to so many great Dead songs. Dead worlds collided on this record as it was the last one with Pigpen, but also the first to feature the Godchauxs. A true classic.
Bruce Springsteen - Live '75-'85
This one is kind of a cheat, but I must include it. Christmas 1985 my parents bought me a cd player. I was the first kid I knew to have one. With it I received this box set. I wasn't a hug fan of Springsteen at the time, but my parents (my mom, who helped form my musical tastes) felt it was an essential set to have. I must have listened to it in its entirety and shuffled for a few years. I can still do Bruce's "rap" before the River" or "Growin' Up." Cannot say I play much off of it anymore, but boy, did they create a serious foundation for my musical tastes.
Nirvana - Unplugged
Never has an album, so stripped down, shown the true talents of a band like this "unplugged." Kurt Cobain was struggling with drug withdrawal and nervousness at the time, and things were very tense going into that performance. What made this special and different than all the other "unplugged" shows, Nirvana did these song sin one take, like a true live show. I love that Nirvana shied away from the "hits" and played 6 covers. The songs with the Meat Puppets really showed the talents of the group.
Not a true, live concert performance, but a live recording, none the less. The Stones put out various live recordings, but this 1968 Jagger-based concept is something most causal Stones fans have never seen. Based off of a circus theme, the Stones gathered up some strong acts such as the Who, Jethro Tull, and the Dirty Mac to perform. The performance was supposed to air on the BBC, but the Stones felt it was substandard and fought its release until 1996. Their performance of "Sympathy for the Devil" alone is worth this recording.
When I was in college, I was heavily into the Doors. around the same time, the Oliver Stone movie came out, and Val Kilmer put on a performance truly becoming the lizard king. I own every record they put out. I have read countless biographies on them. Yet, I rarely listen to them now days. Picking three songs is not an easy task, but it should be a fun one.
1. "The Soft Parade." On their fourth album, Morrison is deep into his poetry and alcoholism, and Robbie Kreiger has to step forth and really give a presence to the album. This one is all Jim. From the sermon at the beginning to the poppy middle and odd lyrics, to the heavy blues based ending. It is a bizarre masterpiece. The band did not perform this song live often, but did record it for a PBS special. Organist Ray Manzarek later called the performance "A mother... all four Doors in perfect sympatico". It also features a rare bearded Morrison. "The Monk...bought...lunch!"
2. "Hello, I Love You."
Surprisingly, my last two come from Waiting for the Sun, my least favorite album from the Doors. The songs are fine, it just doesn't flow conceptually as well as Morrison Hotel, or the self titled Doors. This to me, is their best radio friendly single. A cool groove, a spacy, slow motion bridge, and Morrison screaming "HELLO!" to end the song. the video, shot on a Paris street, was one that caught my attention to the coolness that is Jim Morrison.
3. "Love Street." A contrast to "The Soft Parade" and the radio-friendly, "Hello, I Love You," is this nice little ode to his wife, Pam, and a simple moment of happiness he found while sitting on the front porch of his Laurel Canyon home. A simple little poem that features a little spoken-word. Pleasant, and what I feel, was the closest to a love song Morrison has gotten.
Congratulations go out to Rush & Public Enemy for their acceptance into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Both groups have led to a few discussions by the boys of the Discordants.
Rush, although eligible since 1998, were only put on the ballot for the first time. The Canadian trio are something that girls just cannot understand, but seems to resonate with most 30+ men. The master drummer & lyricist, the quiet guitar soloist, the bass, playing, keyboard playing high pitched lead singer make up a group that has spanned almost 40 years. They deserve their moment in the limelight.
Public Enemy was just discussed in our Three for the Road: Hip-hop post. I will share this little anecdote. About 20 years ago, my father was flying (1st class.) when he returned home, I remember him telling this story that he sat next to this strange man. He was African-American with gold teeth. He had a baseball hat with a top hat on top of it, and he wore this giant clock around his neck. He was on a cellular phone (before it was common to have one) the whole time. My mother cracked up, and I was floored to know my dad brushed with a legend - only he thought the guy was crazy. Keep on fightin' the power boys!
Has there been an artist who has had more relevance for as long as David Bowie has? He's been pushing the envelope on many levels -- music, visual arts -- for decades. But having said that, my picks all come from the 1970s -- here goes:
"Heroes" - We had a German language version of this song growing up ("Helden") and even that was good.
"Starman" - I always love Bowie's soaring choruses -- like on this track and also on "Life on Mars" (which admittedly I probably like because of its inclusion in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou).
"Kooks" - Always a fan of this one -- and even more so now that I'm a dad.
Notice, no inclusion of "The Laughing Gnome." And that wasn't an oversight on my part. By the way, Bowie's five-borough tour in New York City a few years ago was one of the highlights of my concert-going life.
As I was taking care of me weekly grocery shopping, I strolled through the magazine department to look at my usual favorites (Car & Driver, Men's Health, Rolling Stone, etc.) when I saw the cover of the newest Rolling Stone magazine featuring the 50 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. The top portion of the chart is filled with many old school rap, which, like most Rolling Stone charts, plays ode to pioneers and ground breakers. So this led me to my "Three for the Road" for today. Three hip-hop songs. I excluded all Beastie Boys songs, out of an unfair bias. Still, I had a hard time whittling down the list to just three. So, with all respect to Jay Z and Kanye West, who both JUST missed out with "Jesus Walks" & "Big Pimpin'" respectfully, here are my three.
"Peter Piper" - Run-DMC.
I practically wore out my Raising Hell cassette, not because of "Walk the Way," but because of this song. So much of the newer hip-hop owes respect to Jam Master Jay for sampling so many classics that show up in today's rap world: the bell, video games, and some fine scratching. Awesome!
"Can't Truss It" - Public Enemy
Truly one of the pioneering hip-hop groups. So powerful. Chuck D.'s vocals are so booming, intertwined with the playful interjections of Flavor Flav. Mix that with the live presentation of Professor Griff, and the mixing of Terminator X, and this group was the coolest around. I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb listening to this, but you cannot go against greatness. Most people do not choose a song form their later catalog, but it's quality. The video was also a solid and striking one. I still get ticked when I see the baby, and it's the slave masters!
"My Mind's Playing Trick's on Me" - Geto Boys
In my mind, this is the greatest hip-hop song of all time. Gald to see it got soem respect form RS, coming in at #5. Scarface tells about how he is delusional and cannot handle his new day to day life. He was supposed to do all three verses, but then Bushwick Bill comes through with a gem. This group was so hardcore, that when Bill suffered a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the eye, the boys met him at the hospital and posed for a photo that would later become the cover art for the album.
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