Art is the music we make from the bewildered cry of being alive. ~Maria Popova
31 Aug 2024 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: la india, seduceme
La India: “Seduceme” (2002)
Puerto Rican salsa singer Linda Bell Viera Caballero (La India) had her first number one hit on the Latin charts with this romantic salsa/ballad (it was released in two versions).
The ballad is included below for comparison. I do prefer the uptempo arrangement myself.
My only gripe is that, released as it was at the height of music’s compression-mad “loudness wars”, there’s not a lot of subtlety in the dynamic mix.
But La India’s vocals are perfection.
19 Aug 2024 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: baby on her mind, roger klug
Roger Klug: “Baby On Her Mind” (1997)
When we last looked in on jocular power pop songwriter Roger Klug he was regaling us on the topic of his easily-distracted daughter.
This time it’s the wife who seems preoccupied. Domestic tranquility may elude Klug. But not a tuneful yarn.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/02/11/songs-you-may-have-missed-327/
18 Aug 2024 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: dentures out, the proclaimers
The Proclaimers: “Dentures Out” (2022)
Scottish duo the Proclaimers will seemingly never lose the knack for punchy, pointed, succinct, quasi-political musical manifestos like “Dentures Out”.
From 2022’s LP of the same name, which the Reid brothers describe as an “anti-nostalgia album”, a reflection on the terminal decline of Britain. Says brother Craig, “I don’t think anybody could seriously argue that Britain is a stronger, better or happier society now than it was 10 years ago. The decline seems to be accelerating, which is part of the feeling behind.”
Still, strictly from a musical point of view, it’s like listening to ABBA sing about their own marital disintegration in addictively catchy numbers like “SOS” and “Knowing Me, Knowing You”. No one made the demise of a relationship sound so sublime.
The Proclaimers are the political equivalent. No one makes cultural malaise sound so miraculously joyous.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2016/11/26/songs-you-may-have-missed-600/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2022/03/13/ten-great-proclaimers-songs-that-arent-im-gonna-be-500-miles/
17 Aug 2024 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: madeleine, original cast
Original Cast: “Madeleine” (1968)
From the 1968 Off-Broadway revue Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, for which French songwriter/singer/actor Brel himself provided music and French lyrics, which were (brilliantly) translated to English by Eric Blau and cast member Mort Shuman, one of only four vocalists featured in the musical.
The original Off-Broadway production lasted four years, spawned a film version, and led to even greater stage successes around the globe.
Paris, Dublin, Sydney, Copenhagen and Amsterdam were among the cities that had successful runs. And a production in Johannesburg, South Africa became the longest-running theatrical production in that country’s history.
Perhaps most importantly, this musical gave the world definitive English-language versions of many fine Jacques Brel compositions, making the soundtrack a great primer on the work of one of the era’s greatest songwriters.
New productions of the musical have continued be presented from New York to Canada to Dublin to Singapore and as recently as 2017.
To the uninitiated I recommend adding this soundtrack to your collection or playlist. Jacques Brel hasn’t been with us since 1978, but the revue that features his brilliant work is indeed still alive and well.
10 Aug 2024 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: lindisfarne, taking care of business
Lindisfarne: “Taking Care of Business” (1973)
No, it’s not Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s done-to-death 1974 classic rock anthem. It’s comparatively obscure Alan Hull-led British folk rock band Lindisfarne–from one of their lesser-known albums at that.
Hull’s genius–given rightful consideration in this video–was seldom reflected by record sales. 1973’s Roll On Ruby didn’t even tickle the chart’s nether parts in the UK, much less America.
But somehow this jaded little ditty about the manipulation of artists by the industry seems both painfully autobiographical and kind of fun.
That’s what a good writer does: turns his own pain into our pleasure.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2022/03/12/recommended-albums-85/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2022/03/12/video-of-the-week-lindisfarnes-geordie-genius-the-alan-hull-story/
21 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: jefferson starship, st. charles
Jefferson Starship: “St. Charles” (1976)
Got six or seven minutes to spare? That’s all it takes to come to an appreciation of what distinguished Jefferson Starship from Starship.
Before the Mickey Thomas-fronted corporate rock of “We Built This City” and “Find Your Way Back”, Jefferson Starship, as you might expect of a band that arose from the ashes of 60’s San Francisco psychedelic rock outfit Jefferson Airplane, operated like a harmonious musical commune.
All seven band members shared in the writing credits on Spitfire, 1976’s follow-up to the massive Red Octopus album, and vocals too were a democratic affair.
The vocal and writing styles of Marty Balin, Paul Kantner and Grace Slick, though distinct from each other, came together in a wondrous stew, their layers of vocals weaving with instrumental virtuosity aplenty to create magic on songs like “St. Charles”.
David Freiberg, Pete Sears and lead guitarist Craig Chaquico (who joined the band as a teenager) are the unsung heroes in the musical mix. There’s a lot to listen to, and listen for, in a Jefferson Starship song.
There is nothing like this in the catalog of the band’s 80’s incarnation. But “St. Charles” was actually released as a single in ’76, peaking at #64.
And it’s 6+ minutes of bliss.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/10/03/songs-you-may-have-missed-185/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/06/08/recommended-albums-19/
Every Moment Has A Song 