Art is the music we make from the bewildered cry of being alive. ~Maria Popova
28 Apr 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: dave edmunds, warmed over kisses
Dave Edmunds: “Warmed Over Kisses (Left Over Love)” (1982)
While never known for his songwriting–and never prolific in that regard–Dave Edmunds is a preeminent and extremely reverential cover artist.
His stomping bluegrass take on Brian Hyland’s 1962 hit “Warmed Over Kisses (Left Over Love)” is a gem from a guy whose musical career path is littered with them.
24 Apr 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: breakin' up, cowbell, jenny lewis, rilo kiley
Rilo Kiley: “Breakin’ Up” (2007)
The original video is entertaining. Much more so are several on YouTube that feature Jenny Lewis making the cowbell unexpectedly sexy:
“Ooh!…it!…feels good to be free!”
24 Apr 2012 1 Comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: owsley, power pop, the hard way
Owsley: “The Hard Way” (2003)
It was only when I was in the process of posting this that I found out that Owsley (William Reese Owsley III) died in April of 2010 at age 44 of an apparent suicide. The power pop songwriter and guitarist earned great admiration from fans despite limited recorded output.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/03/30/songs-you-may-have-missed-376/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/01/11/recommended-albums-36/
A song he wrote, “Threaten Me With Heaven” was recorded posthumously by Vince Gill and was nominated for a Grammy. See Gill perform it here:
21 Apr 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: inner circle, not about romance
Inner Circle: “Not About Romance” (1998)
Inner Circle (or whomever created this single mix at least) seemed to feel the gravitational pull of pop giants the Backstreet Boys in 1998, sweetening the chorus here with smooth harmonies and blending the reggae sound with mainstream pop instrumentation. Personally, I think they came up with an irresistible reggae-pop one-off. I used this song as a sound check for years, just because I loved it and it seemed ideal for taking the measure of a room’s acoustics. And I have never tired of it.
Note: the more widely-available LP version is a much different mix.
21 Apr 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: country rock, low down ways, marshall tucker band
The Marshall Tucker Band: “Low Down Ways” (1974)
Another mid-70’s country rock gem, with a profoundly simple and relatable chorus:
I ain’t ever seen a woman/Who could love me for a day/I ain’t never seen nobody/Who could take my low-down ways.
Country rock ain’t rocket surgery, and it doesn’t need to be–just has to have a feel.
Sometimes a song’s success is all about timing. This album track nails the same vibe as Marshall Tucker’s massive 1977 breakthrough hit “Heard it in a Love Song”, which was the band’s only song to crack the top twenty. Had “Low Down Ways” come a few years later than it did it might have made a nice follow-up single.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2020/03/23/songs-you-may-have-missed-658/
21 Apr 2012 4 Comments
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: jellyfish, that is why
Jellyfish: “That Is Why” (1990)
Jellyfish were a short-lived psychedelic-tinged power pop band who only recorded two studio albums but cast a long shadow on the genre. Their McCartneyesque harmonies and sweet melodic pop might have found a wider audience in any era other than the early 1990’s.
Their two highly-regarded albums, 1990’s Bellybutton and 1993’s Spilt Milk are touchstones of ambitious power pop and well worth seeking out for fans of bands like XTC and Crowded House.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2015/06/07/songs-you-may-have-missed-535/
Every Moment Has A Song 