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.
Maybe it's because I'm putting together my Christmas list and this is on it: A box set featuring 5 glorious CDs from the English Beat. There probably the only band featuring a saxophone that I'd actually want to listen to. In any case, here are the three English Beat songs I'd want to hear in the car:
1) "I Confess" -- "No it's not a joke, it's cards on the table time"
2) "Ackee 1 2 3" -- to get you in a happy mood
3) "Save it for Later" -- just a classic
And I realize that -- despite mention of the box set -- all three of my tracks come from the same album, 1983's Special Beat Service. I know I may be living in the past, but Dave Wakeling is still touring as the English Beat, and word is he puts on a great show. Meanwhile, Ranking Roger tours as the Beat in England and -- like most partnerships that have gone south -- you can't help but wish there would be a reconciliation that would bring both partners together.
Ok, here's the game. On the road, driving in the car. You get to hear three songs in a row from a specific artist. What three do you choose? It could be their best, or something that just resonates with you. Seven days - seven artists - back and forth. Feel free to comment on your three from "said" group.
Today, let's start easy - The Clash.
1. "Clampdown" - I love the workingman's anthem. Gets me fired up!
2. "Police on My Back" - a cover, I know, but such a great version. The siren-like guitars, and the chours "What have I done?" I always end up speeding when driving listening to this song.
3. "Death or Glory" - We're gonna raise some hell...
I'm going on the second day now with "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers stuck in my head. And while it's a great song, it's a highly unusual one. For starters, it's built around a harpsichord riff... AND it's in a really weird time signature: it's waltz-like, but with an extra beat so it ends up being 6/8 for one measure and then 7/8 for the next (which makes it impossible to dance to).
The song was released as a single in England in 1981, and it was a huge hit -- peaking at #2 (while The Jam's "A Town Called Malice" locked down the top spot.) It was tacked onto the Stranglers' 1982 album Feline in this country and I distinctly remember listening to it in my family's Cadillac Coupe De Ville (what a car) as we drove to look at colleges for my older brother. I'm quite sure we were the only ones on the entire length of Interstate 81 listening to Feline back in those days, or any days for that matter.
