Art is the music we make from the bewildered cry of being alive. ~Maria Popova
03 Mar 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: asa branca, david byrne, forro, forro in the dark
Forro In The Dark with David Byrne: “Asa Branca” (2006)
Forro (pronounced “fo-ho”) is a style of very percussion-based Brazilian dance music. Forro In The Dark, a New York-based group of Brazilian ex-pats who were playing a weekly gig at a club called Nublu, came to the attention of fellow New Yorker David Byrne, who then collaborated with them on their 2006 album. Here he sings the vocals in English of Brazilian standard “Asa Brance”.
02 Mar 2012 1 Comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: blow wind blow, dzintars, latvian women's choir
Dzintars: The Latvian Women’s Choir: “Blow, Wind, Blow” (1983)
Here’s a palette cleanser. From an album entitled Songs of Amber, another of Mickey Hart’s World Music projects (“Dzintars” is the Latvian word for “amber”, which is richly symbolic in Latvian culture). This collection of traditional and modern Latvian, Yiddish and Russian songs was recorded during the Dzintar choir’s 1989 US tour, when they were an opening act for AC/DC (kidding).
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/03/02/songs-you-may-have-missed-349/
02 Mar 2012 2 Comments
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: once blue, stardust and snow
Once Blue: “Stardust and Snow” (1996)
From the one and only album by the duo of Rebecca Martin and Jesse Harris known as Once Blue. If you like the Rickie Lee Jones-Lite sound and Martin’s smooth vocals, you can pick this album up for about 3 bucks on Amazon. Used copies sell for literally pennies. Well worth it. Perfect mellow-mood jazz-tinged pop.
02 Mar 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: a hit in sweden, say hi to your mom
Say Hi To Your Mom: “A Hit In Sweden” (2004)
Say Hi To Your Mom play ubersimple guitar-and-synth tunes that make Weezer sound like Steely Dan. They can’t, or at least don’t, sing on key. They’re not exactly pushing the musical envelope. But the lyrical point of view is amusingly skewed. And the melodies can be catchy. “A Hit In Sweden” just has a chorus I never get tired of hearing:
But it’s never been clearer, just dance in the mirror/And the party will look twice as big//And you can DJ if you bring that record/You said was a hit in Sweden.
If that brings a smile, you might like this band. If you think it’s stupid, well…of course it’s stupid. That’s the point.
01 Mar 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: beg borrow and steal, ohio express, rare breed
Rare Breed/Ohio Express: “Beg, Borrow and Steal” (1966/67)
This is one of those songs which actually did hit the top 40 and still many people have no recollection of it since it’s been all-but-forgotten by oldies radio.
Originally released by the Rare Breed in 1966, “Beg, Borrow and Steal” was a chart flop. Then the same recording was remixed and re-issued on another label in ’67, credited this time to bubblegum band Ohio Express (known for such think-pieces as “Chewy Chewy” and “Yummy Yummy Yummy”). This time it hit #29 on the charts.
Ohio Express were, like 1910 Fruitgum Company and The Music Explosion, part of Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz’ Super K Productions, an interchangeable stable of musicians who recorded a good number of hits during the late 60’s peak of bubblegum pop.
Sometimes an entirely different group of musicians would go out on tour under one of these band names than had actually recorded the songs. In this case the members of Ohio Express never had anything to do with recording the song.
“Beg, Borrow and Steal” comes much closer to garage rock than their bubblegum hits. Whatever it is, it’s certainly a good song that fell through the cracks. And I have no problem with its ripping off the opening riff from “Louie Louie” either.
01 Mar 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: tally hall, you & me
Tally Hall: “You & Me” (2011)
I’m an absolute sucker for the ear candy.
Every Moment Has A Song 