Sunday, December 3, 2023

Songs Of The Week, 2023: 11/25-/12/1


 

Fopp- The Ohio Players
The Devil Made Me Say That- Danny James
Don't Be Sad- Traffic
I Get High On You (Version 2)- Sly & The Family Stone
So What- John Cale
Packing Up Ready To Go- Tal Mahal & Ry Cooder
Rainy Night In Soho- The Pogues

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Fopp- The Ohio Players
I was so obsessed with the intro to this song, I named a cat "Fopp."

The Devil Made Me Say That- Danny James

Some greasy swamp music from Sulphur, Lousiana, here is Danny James, an in-demand session guitarist mostly heard on the Goldband label playing behind someone else.

Don't Be Sad- Traffic

How many versions of Traffic's debut do you have? I have four and I play them all, though not at the same time. (at least not yet)

I Get High On You (Version 2)- Sly & The Family Stone
I am about 2/3 of the way through Sly's memoir and have been listening to the Family Stone on and off while reading. I highly recommend his book "Thank You." It was written with Ben Greenman, but it sure as hell sounds like Sly's voice. It's brilliant and clever and all I hoped it would be. Let's hope Ben Greenman was there just to say "Uh, crack pipe is two words, Sly." This alternate version of "I Get High On You" from the "Higher" box is fantastic

So What- John Cale

I haven't listened to Cale's "Walking On Locusts" since it was released. I don't remember loving it. As a matter of fact, I do remember hating the first track. That hasn't changed in all these years, but if you begin with track two, this is a terrific record, and this track is a fave. "Walking On Locusts" is a pleasant surprise all these years later.

Packing Up Ready To Go- Tal Mahal & Ry Cooder

Talk about getting the sound of the room. What a vibe!

Rainy Night In Soho- The Pogues

An absolute beauty to wrap things up. See ya Shane.

6 comments:

Noel M said...

My best friend has run the book shop at Emory University here for 30+ years, and I picked up the Sly book from his shop. Haven't been able to move it up in my book-stack yet, but this is a reminder that it needs to be next!

Sjm said...

Great list! You seem to be implying 'Don't be sad' is from their debut album, but it's on the second one...

Sal Nunziato said...

@sjm,
You are correct, Sir.
I was listening to one of my four copies of the debut, so it must have been on my mind.
I need a fact checker. Or a smack.

Anonymous said...

@Sal--why not both? :)

Rainy Night in Soho is possibly my favorite Pogues song. I like their bouncing-off-the-walls stuff, but the slower songs really strike a chord.

Bill

steve simels said...

I'm embarrassed to admit the only one of those I'm familiar with is the TraFFIC SONG.

I guess I have some homework to do...

Anonymous said...

Didn't know I had Fopp, but I found it in the Ohio Players folder in my hard drive. It is a great intro though I don't know that I like it enough to name my cat after it. Years ago I did name a cat Nipit in honor of Barney Fife.

Sure dug the Danny James and Sly songs - I saw the Sly book in a book store yesterday, I'll have to check it out.

I know what you mean about Dancing Undercover off the Cale album - So What is a good one though I'm partial to Indistinct Notion Of Cool.

Great mix, thanks!

Randy