continued from last post
7) I Remember You- U2
A Ramones song in tribute to Joey Ramone. Sometimes you don't know how beautiful a song is until U2 slow it down and sing it for you.
8) No Woman No Cry- The Fugees
"I remember when we used to rock in a project yard in Jersey,
And little Georgie would make the firelight,
As stolen cars passed through the night"
Bob Marley's live version is one of the greatest records ever made, and Wyclef, Pras and Lauren Hill's version is the best rap cover that's ever been done. Wyclef has a great voice, he should sing more; but only good songs like this one.
continued next post
Showing posts with label 10 Greatest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 10 Greatest. Show all posts
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The 10 Greatest Covers Ever (Part 3)
continued from last post
5)Time is on My Side- The Rolling Stones
The first top ten U.S. hit for the Rolling Stones. Irma Thomas had released a version of the song a month before as the B side of one of her singles when the Stones released theirs. (They actually cut two versions of the song in 1964 but one is much better than the other. The better one is the version that's always played, the other one is on their 12 X 5 album). Irma Thomas has a beautiful voice but on this song Mick's voice cuts through like a fire bell in the night. And Keith's guitar playing is Keith at his best, and actually this song is the whole band at it's best. Driven soul from the heart by British boys in love with soul and who just happened to be white.
6)Where Did You Sleep Last Night- Nirvana
From their 1993 unplugged album, and about 5 months before he killed himself, Kurt Cobain played a century old folk song most commonly associated with Huddie Ledbetter. So here's why he was good, past all the eulogizing and past the martyrdom, at his best he howled on MTV and resurected Huddie Ledbetter. And that's how to be haunted, not by making ghosts out to be more than they were, but by resurecting their spirit back to life on this Earth.
continued next post
5)Time is on My Side- The Rolling Stones
The first top ten U.S. hit for the Rolling Stones. Irma Thomas had released a version of the song a month before as the B side of one of her singles when the Stones released theirs. (They actually cut two versions of the song in 1964 but one is much better than the other. The better one is the version that's always played, the other one is on their 12 X 5 album). Irma Thomas has a beautiful voice but on this song Mick's voice cuts through like a fire bell in the night. And Keith's guitar playing is Keith at his best, and actually this song is the whole band at it's best. Driven soul from the heart by British boys in love with soul and who just happened to be white.
6)Where Did You Sleep Last Night- Nirvana
From their 1993 unplugged album, and about 5 months before he killed himself, Kurt Cobain played a century old folk song most commonly associated with Huddie Ledbetter. So here's why he was good, past all the eulogizing and past the martyrdom, at his best he howled on MTV and resurected Huddie Ledbetter. And that's how to be haunted, not by making ghosts out to be more than they were, but by resurecting their spirit back to life on this Earth.
continued next post
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
10 Greatest Covers Ever (Part 2)
continued from last post
3) Red Cadillac and a Black Mustache- Bob Dylan
Warren Smith was a singer and guitarist signed to Sam Phillips's Sun Records in the 50's. Never as popular as his label mates Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins or Roy Orbison, he nevertheless releasead some great records. This was one of them and Bob Dylan covered it on a Sun Records tribute album in 2001. Dylan, if anything, has always had great taste in music, and with this song he finds the poetry in every rockabilly line.
"Who you been loving since I've been gone?
A long tall man with a red coat on,
trifling baby you been doing me wrong,
who you been loving since I've been gone?
Now who's been playing around with you?
A real cool cat with eyes of blue
Good for nothing baby why can't you be true?
Who's been playing around with you
Who's been playing around with you
Somebody saw you at the break of day
Dancing and a dining at the cabaret
He was long and tall he had plenty of cash
He had a red cadillac and a black moustache
He held your hand and he sang you a song
Who you been loving since I been gone
Who you been loving since I been gone?"
And to paraphrase Samuel Johnson, "If this be not poetry, then where is poetry to be found?".
4) Mountain Of Love- Bruce Springsteen
Mountain of Love was originally written and recorded by a rock singer named Harold Dorman in 1960 and it went to number 21 on the charts. Four years later Johnny Rivers re-recorded it and it went to number 9. In 1975 Bruce and the E Street Band played a show at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania that was broadcast on the radio and the second song they played was Mountain of Love. It's a widely bootleged show that was never released, but here's why John Landau called him the "future of rock and roll". "Standing on the mountain looking down on the city" you can't help but have visions of saviors and prophets.
continued next post
3) Red Cadillac and a Black Mustache- Bob Dylan
Warren Smith was a singer and guitarist signed to Sam Phillips's Sun Records in the 50's. Never as popular as his label mates Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins or Roy Orbison, he nevertheless releasead some great records. This was one of them and Bob Dylan covered it on a Sun Records tribute album in 2001. Dylan, if anything, has always had great taste in music, and with this song he finds the poetry in every rockabilly line.
"Who you been loving since I've been gone?
A long tall man with a red coat on,
trifling baby you been doing me wrong,
who you been loving since I've been gone?
Now who's been playing around with you?
A real cool cat with eyes of blue
Good for nothing baby why can't you be true?
Who's been playing around with you
Who's been playing around with you
Somebody saw you at the break of day
Dancing and a dining at the cabaret
He was long and tall he had plenty of cash
He had a red cadillac and a black moustache
He held your hand and he sang you a song
Who you been loving since I been gone
Who you been loving since I been gone?"
And to paraphrase Samuel Johnson, "If this be not poetry, then where is poetry to be found?".
4) Mountain Of Love- Bruce Springsteen
Mountain of Love was originally written and recorded by a rock singer named Harold Dorman in 1960 and it went to number 21 on the charts. Four years later Johnny Rivers re-recorded it and it went to number 9. In 1975 Bruce and the E Street Band played a show at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania that was broadcast on the radio and the second song they played was Mountain of Love. It's a widely bootleged show that was never released, but here's why John Landau called him the "future of rock and roll". "Standing on the mountain looking down on the city" you can't help but have visions of saviors and prophets.
continued next post
Monday, May 18, 2009
The 10 Greatest Covers Ever (Part 1)
1) All Along The Watchtower- Jimi Hendrix
A dark, supremely powerful rendering of Bob Dylan's 117th nightmare. The apocalypse, the colapsing sixties, the jungles of Vietnam, heroin, pot, lsd, LBJ, Richard Nixon, Herbert Hoover, Watts and Harlem, RFK, they're all in there. The monsters of the sixties in the form of two riders approaching, and the howling in the wind is the dreams fading away.
2) Twist and Shout- The Beatles
It was a top twenty hit for the Isley Brothers in 1962 but before that it was recorded by a rising white R & B band from Philly called the Top Notes the year before. And they got Phil Spector to produce it, but it was before he was good and the record went nowhere. In 1963 the Beatles recorded it for their first album and John gave the best vocal performance he'd ever give, unseating Little Richard and everyone else who'd ever screamed good off their thrones.
continued next post
A dark, supremely powerful rendering of Bob Dylan's 117th nightmare. The apocalypse, the colapsing sixties, the jungles of Vietnam, heroin, pot, lsd, LBJ, Richard Nixon, Herbert Hoover, Watts and Harlem, RFK, they're all in there. The monsters of the sixties in the form of two riders approaching, and the howling in the wind is the dreams fading away.
2) Twist and Shout- The Beatles
It was a top twenty hit for the Isley Brothers in 1962 but before that it was recorded by a rising white R & B band from Philly called the Top Notes the year before. And they got Phil Spector to produce it, but it was before he was good and the record went nowhere. In 1963 the Beatles recorded it for their first album and John gave the best vocal performance he'd ever give, unseating Little Richard and everyone else who'd ever screamed good off their thrones.
continued next post
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The 10 Greatest Doo Wop Songs (Part 5)
continued from last post
9)I Wonder Why- Dion & The Belmonts
They recorded this song in 1958 and it was their first hit, going to number 22 on the billboard charts that same year. Dion would go on to some make some of the greatest records ever, with and without the Belmonts, but it all starts here. Listen to the opening of this song and it's just like Sonny says to the bikers before they're massacred in A Bronx Tale, "Now you's can't leave".
10) Duke of Earl- Gene Chandler
When the drum changes rhythym at the start of the chorus it's one of the greatest moments in popular music. This rightfully went to number one on the charts in 1962 and held that spot for three weeks. The lyrics aren't serious until at the chorus when he goes "Yes and I, oh I'm gonna love you, oh oh, Come on let me hold you darlin' 'Cause I'm the Duke of Earl". And after that it's all ok and everything in the world makes sense.
Epilogue) Goodnight Sweetheart- The Spaniels
I hate to leave you but I really must say goodnight sweetheart goodnight.
9)I Wonder Why- Dion & The Belmonts
They recorded this song in 1958 and it was their first hit, going to number 22 on the billboard charts that same year. Dion would go on to some make some of the greatest records ever, with and without the Belmonts, but it all starts here. Listen to the opening of this song and it's just like Sonny says to the bikers before they're massacred in A Bronx Tale, "Now you's can't leave".
10) Duke of Earl- Gene Chandler
When the drum changes rhythym at the start of the chorus it's one of the greatest moments in popular music. This rightfully went to number one on the charts in 1962 and held that spot for three weeks. The lyrics aren't serious until at the chorus when he goes "Yes and I, oh I'm gonna love you, oh oh, Come on let me hold you darlin' 'Cause I'm the Duke of Earl". And after that it's all ok and everything in the world makes sense.
Epilogue) Goodnight Sweetheart- The Spaniels
I hate to leave you but I really must say goodnight sweetheart goodnight.
Friday, May 15, 2009
The 10 Greatest Doo Wop Songs (Part 4)
continued from last post
7)Morse Code of Love- The Capris
Released in 1982, it sounds like it was written when the first group convened on the first street corner. The last great doo wop song, and one of the best ever.
8) Everyday of the Week- The Students
Sometimes a song gets used in a movie or a tv show and it gets hard to seperate it away from that. This song from 1958 was on an episode of the Sopranos that, like Scorsese often does, opened up the brilliance and depth of a 2 minute and 26 second song that I had managed to look past. Tony beats the shit out of somebody to show that nothing's changed and nothing changes. On Sunday, on Monday, on Tuesday or Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, Saturday or Sunday; it's still a vicious world and it's still a brilliant song.
continued next post
7)Morse Code of Love- The Capris
Released in 1982, it sounds like it was written when the first group convened on the first street corner. The last great doo wop song, and one of the best ever.
8) Everyday of the Week- The Students
Sometimes a song gets used in a movie or a tv show and it gets hard to seperate it away from that. This song from 1958 was on an episode of the Sopranos that, like Scorsese often does, opened up the brilliance and depth of a 2 minute and 26 second song that I had managed to look past. Tony beats the shit out of somebody to show that nothing's changed and nothing changes. On Sunday, on Monday, on Tuesday or Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, Saturday or Sunday; it's still a vicious world and it's still a brilliant song.
continued next post
Monday, May 11, 2009
The 10 Greatest Doo Wop Songs (Part 3)
continued from last post
5) Since I Don't Have You- The Skyliners
The Skyliners came from Pittsburgh and had a #12 billboard hit with this song in 1958. The arragement is beautiful, strings were invented for teenage hooks like this. It was covered by Guns 'N Roses, but don't bothering listening to that; their Live And Let Die is good but you can't fuck with Pittsburgh. At the end of this song the lead singer, Jimmy Beaumont, makes a lasting commitment of faith to that which has gone forever, and Janet Vogel (who would later commit suicide in 1980) sings the beautiful high notes underneath it all just to let you know a pop song can be sincere.
6)Daddy's Home- Shep & The Limelites
Shep was James Sheppard, the main singer in the group and hailing from Jamaica, Queens, where my grandparents used to live. "Daddy's Home" was released in 1962 and went to number two on the billboard charts. Since then it's been covered by, among other, Jermaine Jackson, the brother of Michael, who had a top ten hit with it in 1973. All the youthful romance for the girls we love, and the longing to get home to them. "Your best friend wrote and told me you had teardrops in your eyes". Well I'm back honey, and I want to let you know that I can really shake 'em down.
continued next post
5) Since I Don't Have You- The Skyliners
The Skyliners came from Pittsburgh and had a #12 billboard hit with this song in 1958. The arragement is beautiful, strings were invented for teenage hooks like this. It was covered by Guns 'N Roses, but don't bothering listening to that; their Live And Let Die is good but you can't fuck with Pittsburgh. At the end of this song the lead singer, Jimmy Beaumont, makes a lasting commitment of faith to that which has gone forever, and Janet Vogel (who would later commit suicide in 1980) sings the beautiful high notes underneath it all just to let you know a pop song can be sincere.
6)Daddy's Home- Shep & The Limelites
Shep was James Sheppard, the main singer in the group and hailing from Jamaica, Queens, where my grandparents used to live. "Daddy's Home" was released in 1962 and went to number two on the billboard charts. Since then it's been covered by, among other, Jermaine Jackson, the brother of Michael, who had a top ten hit with it in 1973. All the youthful romance for the girls we love, and the longing to get home to them. "Your best friend wrote and told me you had teardrops in your eyes". Well I'm back honey, and I want to let you know that I can really shake 'em down.
continued next post
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The 10 Greatest Doo Wop Songs (Part 2)
continued from last post
3) I Only Have Eyes For You- The Flamingos
Recorded a number of times, like you'd expect a song this great to be, The Flamingos version came out in 1959, 25 years after the original version by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler. There's a whole world inside here, just like there are inside certain pairs of eyes. "You are here, and so am I". And thank God you are. We all disapear from view, it was so lonely without you to look at.
4) In The Still Of The Night- The Five Satins
From 1956 and written by the lead singer of the group, Fred Parris. Nothing lasts forever but in the still of the night I promise to never let you go. Those self deceptions are what make life worth it, "so before the light, hold me again with all your might, in the still of the night". I hope this song made you rich beyond your wildest dreams Fred.
continued next post
3) I Only Have Eyes For You- The Flamingos
Recorded a number of times, like you'd expect a song this great to be, The Flamingos version came out in 1959, 25 years after the original version by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler. There's a whole world inside here, just like there are inside certain pairs of eyes. "You are here, and so am I". And thank God you are. We all disapear from view, it was so lonely without you to look at.
4) In The Still Of The Night- The Five Satins
From 1956 and written by the lead singer of the group, Fred Parris. Nothing lasts forever but in the still of the night I promise to never let you go. Those self deceptions are what make life worth it, "so before the light, hold me again with all your might, in the still of the night". I hope this song made you rich beyond your wildest dreams Fred.
continued next post
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The 10 Greatest Doo Wop Songs (Part 1)
1)Gloria- The Cadillacs
The original version is by the Cadillacs and it's one of the greatest records ever made. A lot of groups have covered it but the message is always the same. In the words of Robert Zimmerman, "Life is sad, life is a bust, all you can do is do what you must. You do what you must do and you do it well. I do it for you honey, baby, can't you tell?" And if you can't tell with this song honey you've got a tin fucking ear. Sherie and Marie mean nothing.
2) Who's That Knockin'- The Genies
Martin Scorsese's first full length movie was called Who's That Knocking At My Door, and I assume it was named after this song because it plays in the last scene. I can't embed the original version of it by the Genies but here's the opening minutes of the movie and a link to the original version. Scorsese's the best ever and he uses music in his movies better than anyone. The best songs from that era suggest a world of possibilities that songs in later decades felt the need to narrow down until they could be seen in just one way. But songs like this leave in room to breathe; Whos That Knockin' is about the demons in your heart that won't ever be escaped, and also the girls who throw bricks through window panes. And just for the hell of it here's the opening to Mean Streets, by a man who fucking gets the Ronettes.
Link to the original Version of Who's That Knockin'
continued next post
The original version is by the Cadillacs and it's one of the greatest records ever made. A lot of groups have covered it but the message is always the same. In the words of Robert Zimmerman, "Life is sad, life is a bust, all you can do is do what you must. You do what you must do and you do it well. I do it for you honey, baby, can't you tell?" And if you can't tell with this song honey you've got a tin fucking ear. Sherie and Marie mean nothing.
2) Who's That Knockin'- The Genies
Martin Scorsese's first full length movie was called Who's That Knocking At My Door, and I assume it was named after this song because it plays in the last scene. I can't embed the original version of it by the Genies but here's the opening minutes of the movie and a link to the original version. Scorsese's the best ever and he uses music in his movies better than anyone. The best songs from that era suggest a world of possibilities that songs in later decades felt the need to narrow down until they could be seen in just one way. But songs like this leave in room to breathe; Whos That Knockin' is about the demons in your heart that won't ever be escaped, and also the girls who throw bricks through window panes. And just for the hell of it here's the opening to Mean Streets, by a man who fucking gets the Ronettes.
Link to the original Version of Who's That Knockin'
continued next post
Friday, May 8, 2009
The 10 Greatest Grateful Dead Songs (Epilogue)
Some of the best songs in their shows were covers. I didn't want to leave these off the list because they're two of my favorite songs they did.
1) And We Bid You Goodnight
My favorite cover ever, it's an old folk song/spiritual that was written to be sung at funerals as they lowered the body into the ground. Early on in their career they would close their shows with an accapella version of it. A song written for closing out our Earthly existence employed at the end of rock concerts; here's an example of the band's unspoken vision. Life is short, but not as short as the best moments or the best shows; if you've got a beautiful vision look upon it until it's over, if you've got to say goodbye say it now and I can kiss you as you cry.
2) Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad
Another ancient song, covered by, among others, Woody Guthrie. "Going where the water tastes like wine"; and it's on the journey that it turned. The Dead were always headed to that wedding party in Canaan; it's the end that's unescapable, what matters only is how you're going down the road.
1) And We Bid You Goodnight
My favorite cover ever, it's an old folk song/spiritual that was written to be sung at funerals as they lowered the body into the ground. Early on in their career they would close their shows with an accapella version of it. A song written for closing out our Earthly existence employed at the end of rock concerts; here's an example of the band's unspoken vision. Life is short, but not as short as the best moments or the best shows; if you've got a beautiful vision look upon it until it's over, if you've got to say goodbye say it now and I can kiss you as you cry.
2) Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad
Another ancient song, covered by, among others, Woody Guthrie. "Going where the water tastes like wine"; and it's on the journey that it turned. The Dead were always headed to that wedding party in Canaan; it's the end that's unescapable, what matters only is how you're going down the road.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
The 10 Greatest Grateful Dead Songs (Part 5)
continued from last post
9) Ramble On Rose
"Just like Jack the Ripper, just like Mojo Hand", "Just like New York City, just like Jericho". A song that connects all the dots. New York city really is just like that ancient biblical town, the bible got the name's wrong, Mary Magadalane's Christian name was clearly Ramblin' Rose.
10) Deal
"If I told you all that went down it would burn off both your ears". And if you heard all that's gone down since you've been gone it would probably burn off both yours too. Or maybe not, it would proably have taken a lot to do that. Here's a mediocre version of a great song by a great band. And here's a website somebody sent me where you can download Grateful Dead songs. Inspiration, Move Me Brightly And we bid you goodnight.
9) Ramble On Rose
"Just like Jack the Ripper, just like Mojo Hand", "Just like New York City, just like Jericho". A song that connects all the dots. New York city really is just like that ancient biblical town, the bible got the name's wrong, Mary Magadalane's Christian name was clearly Ramblin' Rose.
10) Deal
"If I told you all that went down it would burn off both your ears". And if you heard all that's gone down since you've been gone it would probably burn off both yours too. Or maybe not, it would proably have taken a lot to do that. Here's a mediocre version of a great song by a great band. And here's a website somebody sent me where you can download Grateful Dead songs. Inspiration, Move Me Brightly And we bid you goodnight.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The 10 Greatest Grateful Dead Songs (Part 4)
continued from last post
7) St. Stephen
An awesome song, and here it is played for Hef on Playboy After Dark in 1969. An example of one of Jerry's great riffs, and it's hardcore rock and roll, forget the off key singing, it doesn't matter. They were a powerhouse at their best, knocking down walls and doors all the way straight up to Hugh Hefner's castle. Listen to the version on "Live Dead" for the best version of this song that I've heard.
Here's a link to "Live Dead" on Itunes.
8) Dire Wolf
Robert Hunter is alive and well, "don't murder me, I beg of you don't murder me. Please don't murder me". The Dead have released a ton of live albums over the years, and my favorite one of them all, and the one that got me into them in the first place was "Dick's Picks, Volume 8; Harpur College". It's a show from 1970 and they do a stripped down acoustic version of a bunch of their songs, including this one, and they just sound awesome. Dire Wolf's one of the best tracks on the cd and also one of their best songs ever. It's catchy but not stupid, Jerry was great at writing beutiful melody's and Robert Hunter was great at making them shine. And shine on it does; shine on you crazy dire wolf.
Here's a link to "Dick's Picks Vol. 8" on Itunes
continued next post
7) St. Stephen
An awesome song, and here it is played for Hef on Playboy After Dark in 1969. An example of one of Jerry's great riffs, and it's hardcore rock and roll, forget the off key singing, it doesn't matter. They were a powerhouse at their best, knocking down walls and doors all the way straight up to Hugh Hefner's castle. Listen to the version on "Live Dead" for the best version of this song that I've heard.
Here's a link to "Live Dead" on Itunes.
8) Dire Wolf
Robert Hunter is alive and well, "don't murder me, I beg of you don't murder me. Please don't murder me". The Dead have released a ton of live albums over the years, and my favorite one of them all, and the one that got me into them in the first place was "Dick's Picks, Volume 8; Harpur College". It's a show from 1970 and they do a stripped down acoustic version of a bunch of their songs, including this one, and they just sound awesome. Dire Wolf's one of the best tracks on the cd and also one of their best songs ever. It's catchy but not stupid, Jerry was great at writing beutiful melody's and Robert Hunter was great at making them shine. And shine on it does; shine on you crazy dire wolf.
Here's a link to "Dick's Picks Vol. 8" on Itunes
continued next post
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The 10 Greatest Grateful Dead Songs (Part 3)
continued from last post
5) Scarlet Begonias
This song is Hunter and Garcia firing on all cylinders. An awesome guitar riff (he wrote some of the most original ever) interspersed with Robert Hunter's bursts of genius. "I knew without asking she was into the blues", "She wore scarlet begonia's tucked into her curls" and "Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right". And at the end of the song the band finally gets to the promised land,
"The sky was yellow and the sun was blue,
Strangers stoppin' strangers just to shake their hand,
Everybody's playing in the heart of gold band, heart of gold band".
This was one of the first songs that made me realize how good they were. I originally heard the cover of it by Sublime, which is really good and easy to like; you don't have to be into 22 minutes of jamming on a 3 minute song to hear that it's great. I wasn't into long jams at the time and I'm still not. But once you see that at the core of what their playing is a great rock song it all makes a lot more sense. Strip it down boys, there's something at the bottom worth seeing.
6) Uncle John's Band
They could write hooks, this should have been a hit. Even in highschool when I didn't like them I still liked this song. The melody is so pretty you can lose track of how the words are, once again, tinged with Robert Hunter's saddness and sense of fate.
"Cause when life looks like Easy Street, there is danger at your door"
"I live in a silver mine and I call it Beggar's Tomb;
I got me a violin and I beg you call the tune"
"Goddamn, well I declare, have you seen the like?
Their wall are built of cannonballs, their motto is "Don't tread on me".
Come hear Uncle John'n Band playing to the tide,
Come with me, or go alone, he's come to take his children home"
"It's the same story the crow told me; it's the only one he knows.
Like the morning sun you come and like the wind you go.
Ain't no time to hate, barely time to wait,
Wo, oh, what I want to know, where does the time go?"
It's like all along the watchtower the hour was getting late, but when the two riders who were approaching got there the place was empty; and the children all gone home.
continued next post
5) Scarlet Begonias
This song is Hunter and Garcia firing on all cylinders. An awesome guitar riff (he wrote some of the most original ever) interspersed with Robert Hunter's bursts of genius. "I knew without asking she was into the blues", "She wore scarlet begonia's tucked into her curls" and "Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right". And at the end of the song the band finally gets to the promised land,
"The sky was yellow and the sun was blue,
Strangers stoppin' strangers just to shake their hand,
Everybody's playing in the heart of gold band, heart of gold band".
This was one of the first songs that made me realize how good they were. I originally heard the cover of it by Sublime, which is really good and easy to like; you don't have to be into 22 minutes of jamming on a 3 minute song to hear that it's great. I wasn't into long jams at the time and I'm still not. But once you see that at the core of what their playing is a great rock song it all makes a lot more sense. Strip it down boys, there's something at the bottom worth seeing.
6) Uncle John's Band
They could write hooks, this should have been a hit. Even in highschool when I didn't like them I still liked this song. The melody is so pretty you can lose track of how the words are, once again, tinged with Robert Hunter's saddness and sense of fate.
"Cause when life looks like Easy Street, there is danger at your door"
"I live in a silver mine and I call it Beggar's Tomb;
I got me a violin and I beg you call the tune"
"Goddamn, well I declare, have you seen the like?
Their wall are built of cannonballs, their motto is "Don't tread on me".
Come hear Uncle John'n Band playing to the tide,
Come with me, or go alone, he's come to take his children home"
"It's the same story the crow told me; it's the only one he knows.
Like the morning sun you come and like the wind you go.
Ain't no time to hate, barely time to wait,
Wo, oh, what I want to know, where does the time go?"
It's like all along the watchtower the hour was getting late, but when the two riders who were approaching got there the place was empty; and the children all gone home.
continued next post
Monday, May 4, 2009
10 Greatest Grateful Dead Songs (Part 2)
continued from last post
3) Ship of Fools
"I won't slave for beggars pay, likewise gold and jewels. But I would slave to learn the way to sink your ship of fools". It's one of their best lines ever, he says he wants your ship to sink and would be a slave to make it happen. There's a darkness to the Grateful Dead that's often smothered in the flood of peace and drugs and love that their image conjures them up to be. But the whole thing is more complex than that, in the summer of love we were in Vietnam too. And in sunshine daydreams we're also drowning ships of fools. God bless the edges beneath the surface; like Ringo Starr once said, peace and love, peace and love, stop sending me your shit.
4) Casey Jones
What other great songs came out in 1970 with the phrase "high on cocaine" in the first 10 seconds. They weren't a bunch of pussies; this was standing right the fuck out there. And it was also doing something as brilliant as Bob Dylan has ever managed to do. Take an ancient American folk song, in this case "The Ballad of Casey Jones", and make it relevant forever. (Or until I die at least). On Bob Dylan's new album he says "some people say I have the blood of the land in my voice"; maybe, but here's the blood of the land too; and it's the original blood on the tracks.
continued next post
3) Ship of Fools
"I won't slave for beggars pay, likewise gold and jewels. But I would slave to learn the way to sink your ship of fools". It's one of their best lines ever, he says he wants your ship to sink and would be a slave to make it happen. There's a darkness to the Grateful Dead that's often smothered in the flood of peace and drugs and love that their image conjures them up to be. But the whole thing is more complex than that, in the summer of love we were in Vietnam too. And in sunshine daydreams we're also drowning ships of fools. God bless the edges beneath the surface; like Ringo Starr once said, peace and love, peace and love, stop sending me your shit.
4) Casey Jones
What other great songs came out in 1970 with the phrase "high on cocaine" in the first 10 seconds. They weren't a bunch of pussies; this was standing right the fuck out there. And it was also doing something as brilliant as Bob Dylan has ever managed to do. Take an ancient American folk song, in this case "The Ballad of Casey Jones", and make it relevant forever. (Or until I die at least). On Bob Dylan's new album he says "some people say I have the blood of the land in my voice"; maybe, but here's the blood of the land too; and it's the original blood on the tracks.
continued next post
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The 10 Greatest Grateful Dead Songs (Part 1)
They don't get the credit as songwriters that they deserve. Garcia/Hunter should be spoken of in the same breath as Jagger/Richards, Lennon/McCartney... Great, great songwriters whether you like taking drugs or not.
1) Ripple
"If I knew the way I would take you home" sang Jerry. I believe him; and he may not have known the way but he did the best anyone can ever do to try and get you there.
2) He's Gone
"Steal your face right off your head". I'm not sure why it means a lot but people would cheer at this line, and rightfully so. Like there usually is with The Dead, there's something intangible here, suffused with good vibrations. And deep ones also. The kind that now are gone but still haven't been forgotten.
continued next post
1) Ripple
"If I knew the way I would take you home" sang Jerry. I believe him; and he may not have known the way but he did the best anyone can ever do to try and get you there.
2) He's Gone
"Steal your face right off your head". I'm not sure why it means a lot but people would cheer at this line, and rightfully so. Like there usually is with The Dead, there's something intangible here, suffused with good vibrations. And deep ones also. The kind that now are gone but still haven't been forgotten.
continued next post
Saturday, May 2, 2009
The 10 Greatest Springsteen Songs (Part 5)
continued from last post
9) Rosalita
I hesitated to put this on the list because I've never liked it as much as I'm supposed to. But what the hell, it does have one of my favorite Springsteen moments ever, and it's one of my favorite moments in all of rock and roll too. It's the bridge up through the whole third verse and I'll quote the whole fucking thing because I'm from the swamps of Jersey too. We're talking to a girl named Rosie;
Now I know your mama she don't like me 'cause I play in a rock and roll band
And I know your daddy he don't dig me but he never did understand
Papa lowered the boom, he locked you in your room
I'm comin' to lend a hand
I'm comin' to liberate you, confiscate you, I want to be your man
Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny
But now you're sad, your mama's mad
And your papa says he knows that I don't have any money
Tell him this is last chance to get his daughter in a fine romance
Because the record company, Rosie, just gave me a big advance
My tires were slashed and I almost crashed but the Lord had mercy
My machine she's a dud, I'm stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Hold on tight, stay up all night 'cause Rosie I'm comin' on strong
By the time we meet the morning light I will hold you in my arms
I know a pretty little place in Southern California down San Diego way
There's a little cafe where they play guitars all night and day
You can hear them in the back room strummin'
So hold tight baby 'cause don't you know daddy's comin'
What more can you say. Rosie where'd you go.
10)Backstreets
He wrote too many songs that mean a lot to ever fit on just one list. What about Badlands, Tenth Avenue Freeze Out, So Young And In Love, The River, No Surrender...but "laying here in the dark you're like an angel on my chest" is a line I'm not willing to leave off this or any other list. What can you do? Terry left him on the backstreets when she said they'd always be together, and now she's back and Bruce looks her in the eyes and says, "You lied, didn't you? You lied". No, don't leave it off the list, take the song to heart instead. (I can't embed my favorite version of the song but I can link to it underneath the video here. It's from Winterland in '78, the classic song from the classic show).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDctqRZq7pg
Epilogue) The Wrestler
I'll put this one on here too just because I just saw the movie and it's a hell of a fucking movie. And the song makes me like the movie more and the movie makes me like the song more too. (Except the "have you ever seen a one legged dog trying to make his way down the street" line. One legged dogs don't try to make their way down any streets. They just lay there. But he makes up for it with "Have you ever seen a one legged man trying to dance his way free" line, and yes I have, and here you go).
9) Rosalita
I hesitated to put this on the list because I've never liked it as much as I'm supposed to. But what the hell, it does have one of my favorite Springsteen moments ever, and it's one of my favorite moments in all of rock and roll too. It's the bridge up through the whole third verse and I'll quote the whole fucking thing because I'm from the swamps of Jersey too. We're talking to a girl named Rosie;
Now I know your mama she don't like me 'cause I play in a rock and roll band
And I know your daddy he don't dig me but he never did understand
Papa lowered the boom, he locked you in your room
I'm comin' to lend a hand
I'm comin' to liberate you, confiscate you, I want to be your man
Someday we'll look back on this and it will all seem funny
But now you're sad, your mama's mad
And your papa says he knows that I don't have any money
Tell him this is last chance to get his daughter in a fine romance
Because the record company, Rosie, just gave me a big advance
My tires were slashed and I almost crashed but the Lord had mercy
My machine she's a dud, I'm stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Hold on tight, stay up all night 'cause Rosie I'm comin' on strong
By the time we meet the morning light I will hold you in my arms
I know a pretty little place in Southern California down San Diego way
There's a little cafe where they play guitars all night and day
You can hear them in the back room strummin'
So hold tight baby 'cause don't you know daddy's comin'
What more can you say. Rosie where'd you go.
10)Backstreets
He wrote too many songs that mean a lot to ever fit on just one list. What about Badlands, Tenth Avenue Freeze Out, So Young And In Love, The River, No Surrender...but "laying here in the dark you're like an angel on my chest" is a line I'm not willing to leave off this or any other list. What can you do? Terry left him on the backstreets when she said they'd always be together, and now she's back and Bruce looks her in the eyes and says, "You lied, didn't you? You lied". No, don't leave it off the list, take the song to heart instead. (I can't embed my favorite version of the song but I can link to it underneath the video here. It's from Winterland in '78, the classic song from the classic show).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDctqRZq7pg
Epilogue) The Wrestler
I'll put this one on here too just because I just saw the movie and it's a hell of a fucking movie. And the song makes me like the movie more and the movie makes me like the song more too. (Except the "have you ever seen a one legged dog trying to make his way down the street" line. One legged dogs don't try to make their way down any streets. They just lay there. But he makes up for it with "Have you ever seen a one legged man trying to dance his way free" line, and yes I have, and here you go).
Friday, May 1, 2009
The 10 Greatest Springsteen Songs (Part 4)
continued from last post
7) Born To Run
Of course it's on the list. This and Thunder Road are probably his two most perfect songs; the danger though is that if a song is too perfect it gets played too much and it's effect gets dulled. So usually if I hear Thunder Road or Born To Run playing on the radio I'll turn them off, try to save them for the right time. I want to die with you Wendy on the beach tonight, not drive to CVS with you Wendy.
8)From Small Things
This one shouldn't really be on the list, but I can't help it, I really love this song.
"Back home dear Johnny prays for his baby's parole
He waits on the hillside where the Wyomie waters roll
At his feet and almost grown now, a blue-eyed daughter and a handsome son
Well from small things, mama, big things one day come".
It was originaly recorded during his sessions for "The River" but not released on it and eventually given to this guy Dave Edmunds who recorded and released his version of it in 1982. Bruce's original version didn't officially come out until 2003. From a heavily bootlegged unreleased song to number 8 on this list, Bruce you should have put this on The River, it's better than "I'm a Rocker" and "Ramrod" combined.
continued next post
7) Born To Run
Of course it's on the list. This and Thunder Road are probably his two most perfect songs; the danger though is that if a song is too perfect it gets played too much and it's effect gets dulled. So usually if I hear Thunder Road or Born To Run playing on the radio I'll turn them off, try to save them for the right time. I want to die with you Wendy on the beach tonight, not drive to CVS with you Wendy.
8)From Small Things
This one shouldn't really be on the list, but I can't help it, I really love this song.
"Back home dear Johnny prays for his baby's parole
He waits on the hillside where the Wyomie waters roll
At his feet and almost grown now, a blue-eyed daughter and a handsome son
Well from small things, mama, big things one day come".
It was originaly recorded during his sessions for "The River" but not released on it and eventually given to this guy Dave Edmunds who recorded and released his version of it in 1982. Bruce's original version didn't officially come out until 2003. From a heavily bootlegged unreleased song to number 8 on this list, Bruce you should have put this on The River, it's better than "I'm a Rocker" and "Ramrod" combined.
continued next post
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The 10 Greatest Springsteen Songs (Part 3)
continued from the last post
5) Born In The USA
This one's a cliche at this point but like always with this song you need to listen to the words. As explosive as the drums, they pull no punches and deliver right up to your face what you deserve. "The first kick I took was when I hit the ground. You end up like a dog that's been beat too much till you spend half your life just covering up". It tells a story about those left cold. "Down in the shadow of the penitentiary out by the gas fires of the refinery, I'm 10 years burning down the road, no where to run, ain't got nowhere to go". The synthesizers sound dated but the message will not be as long as we still fought in Vietnam and Ronald Reagan had the presidency.
6) The Promised Land
My favorite Springsteen hook ever and my favorite song with a harmonica too. Bruce dances on the grave of every asshole down in Utah in a town full of loser's across the Waynesboro County line. (On a side note there is no Waynesboro County in Utah. There are assholes though).
continued next post
5) Born In The USA
This one's a cliche at this point but like always with this song you need to listen to the words. As explosive as the drums, they pull no punches and deliver right up to your face what you deserve. "The first kick I took was when I hit the ground. You end up like a dog that's been beat too much till you spend half your life just covering up". It tells a story about those left cold. "Down in the shadow of the penitentiary out by the gas fires of the refinery, I'm 10 years burning down the road, no where to run, ain't got nowhere to go". The synthesizers sound dated but the message will not be as long as we still fought in Vietnam and Ronald Reagan had the presidency.
6) The Promised Land
My favorite Springsteen hook ever and my favorite song with a harmonica too. Bruce dances on the grave of every asshole down in Utah in a town full of loser's across the Waynesboro County line. (On a side note there is no Waynesboro County in Utah. There are assholes though).
continued next post
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The 10 Greatest Springsteen Songs (Part 2)
continued from last post
3) The Promise
If Bruce had never made it. A song that was never released in it's original version, it's one of his greatest ever; in another world Jon Landau writes "I have seen the future of rock and roll and it's dying down on the highway tonight". Mick Jagger became an acountant, Elvis Presley drives a truck, and Jim Morison sits behind a desk with kids at home and an ageing wife. They're all around you, so close they're see through, and "everyday it just gets harder to live the dream you're believeing in"; until you disapear completely to everyone but Bruce, who in a flash in the late 70's called "The Promise" saw them all for just a moment before they vanished once more in the night.
4) Incident On 57th Street
Bruce's first two albums don't really sound like him. He hadn't found a consistent voice yet and he wouldn't find one until his fourth album, "Darkness on the Edge of Town", in 1978. But that's not to say his first two aren't great, just because something doesn't last for long doesn't make it worse than the parts that do. His second album in particular is like no other album I've ever heard. Those beautiful opening piano notes set a scene one step from Born To Run, where you're still too young to question if you're not that young anymore or if there's magic in the night. A shot of the youth that ends too quickly, right before you go to fight and stand or fall defeated in the badlands where you'll spend the rest of your life.
continued next post
3) The Promise
If Bruce had never made it. A song that was never released in it's original version, it's one of his greatest ever; in another world Jon Landau writes "I have seen the future of rock and roll and it's dying down on the highway tonight". Mick Jagger became an acountant, Elvis Presley drives a truck, and Jim Morison sits behind a desk with kids at home and an ageing wife. They're all around you, so close they're see through, and "everyday it just gets harder to live the dream you're believeing in"; until you disapear completely to everyone but Bruce, who in a flash in the late 70's called "The Promise" saw them all for just a moment before they vanished once more in the night.
4) Incident On 57th Street
Bruce's first two albums don't really sound like him. He hadn't found a consistent voice yet and he wouldn't find one until his fourth album, "Darkness on the Edge of Town", in 1978. But that's not to say his first two aren't great, just because something doesn't last for long doesn't make it worse than the parts that do. His second album in particular is like no other album I've ever heard. Those beautiful opening piano notes set a scene one step from Born To Run, where you're still too young to question if you're not that young anymore or if there's magic in the night. A shot of the youth that ends too quickly, right before you go to fight and stand or fall defeated in the badlands where you'll spend the rest of your life.
continued next post
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The 10 Greatest Springsteen Songs (Part 1)
1) Thunder Road
I fell in love to this song. It was back in highschool, lost and alone, I met the most beautiful girl I've ever found and Bruce had already found her first. Everyone leaves you but this one; they'll all lie to you but her. Cry if you want to, play it loud if you want to, hold her close if you want to; down from here it's almost tragic; everything else that once was great from now on compared to this will never be as great as it was and will come up looking a little bit worse. If you're going to give your life than give your life to something special; here's making the greatest record ever and keeping the magic on this Earth.
2) Devils And Dust
Some people will think this is a bad choice for number two on a list of Bruce's best songs. But if they do then they must know something that I don't. "Devils and Dust" is the best song about terrorism, civil liberties, being a soldier and being a human that's ever been written as far as I can find. It's almost the exact same melody from one of his other songs ("Blood Brothers") but that means nothing. "What if what you do to survive kills the things you love". When this song first came out I played it in my car for weeks, and I just heard it for the first time in a while and got chills at "we're a long long way from home Bobby, home's a long, long way from us" just like I did in 2005 when it was released. Bruce was 55 when it came out; this is no country for old men but here's how old men stay alive as all the young become deceased.
continued next post
I fell in love to this song. It was back in highschool, lost and alone, I met the most beautiful girl I've ever found and Bruce had already found her first. Everyone leaves you but this one; they'll all lie to you but her. Cry if you want to, play it loud if you want to, hold her close if you want to; down from here it's almost tragic; everything else that once was great from now on compared to this will never be as great as it was and will come up looking a little bit worse. If you're going to give your life than give your life to something special; here's making the greatest record ever and keeping the magic on this Earth.
2) Devils And Dust
Some people will think this is a bad choice for number two on a list of Bruce's best songs. But if they do then they must know something that I don't. "Devils and Dust" is the best song about terrorism, civil liberties, being a soldier and being a human that's ever been written as far as I can find. It's almost the exact same melody from one of his other songs ("Blood Brothers") but that means nothing. "What if what you do to survive kills the things you love". When this song first came out I played it in my car for weeks, and I just heard it for the first time in a while and got chills at "we're a long long way from home Bobby, home's a long, long way from us" just like I did in 2005 when it was released. Bruce was 55 when it came out; this is no country for old men but here's how old men stay alive as all the young become deceased.
continued next post
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
