Sunday, June 14, 2020

Songs Of The Week, 2020: 6/6/-6/12



That's How I Got To Memphis- Kelly Willis
Let's Pretend- Raspberries
Jokerman- Bob Dylan
Satellite- Nine Inch Nails
Soul Drums- Count Ossie & Leslie Butler
Looped- Tommy Ridgley
Harm's Swift Way-  Robert Plant

zip

That's How I Got To Memphis- Kelly Willis
A great Tom T. Hall song that is even greater by Kelly Willis

Let's Pretend- Raspberries
I was in a very short-lived power pop band in 1990. We did a few originals, and a few covers, including what I still think is a brilliant idea---Bananarama's "I Heard A Rumour" in the style of John Waite's "Missing You (think about it and you're welcome)--- and this Raspberries track, which I tried singing, but ruptured my clavicle on first take. One of the great vocals of all time, courtesy of Eric Carmen.

Jokerman- Bob Dylan
Satellite- Nine Inch Nails
These two played back to back while the iPod was shuffling and I thought it was quite a terrific one/two punch. I love when two unlikely artists sound good together.

Soul Drums- Count Ossie & Leslie Butler
You know I love those reggae appropriations. This one is called "Soul Drums," but it's really "It Was A Very Good Year."

Looped- Tommy Ridgley
In the late 70's and early to mid 80's, Imperial Records with Pathe Marconi in France, released a series of LPs covering New Orleans, Texas, and southern R&B and blues. These records all had striking covers, just the right amount of songs and excellent sound. I picked up another this week, a Tommy Ridgley collection and this fun track opens things up.

Harm's Swift Way- Robert Plant
Am I the only one who prefers the songs of Townes Van Zandt performed by others?

4 comments:

JAYESSEMM said...

Nice -- Thanks Sal.

I know what you mean about Townes. I always figured that Townes was so self destructive -- consciously or not -- that whenever he had the chance to make "proper" recordings of his songs he'd fuck it up. My "go to" Townes record is a live 2 disc. Still, like you, I more often listen to other people sing his songs.

Robin said...

Sal- I love Kelly Willis but somehow never heard her version of one of my favorite songs. Not sure how I missed it. Thank you!!! And what JAY said about Townes, but I also think some artists are (or were in this case) truly songwriters and not meant to be performers or singers.

dogbreath said...

Love the SOTW zips; there's always something there to remind me (that'd be a good song title) of a good time (usually had by somebody else!). Dying to hear the segue from one of my favourite Dylan songs into the NIN track. Cheers!

heartsofstone said...

Wow - I wouldn't have the guts to try to sing early Eric Carmen.