dxlv. GRATEFUL DEAD: Saint of Circumstance

dxlv. GRATEFUL DEAD

Saint of Circumstance (1980)
Jerry Garcia, guitar, vocals
Mickey Hart, drums
Bill Kreutzmann, drums
Phil Lesh, bass
Brent Myland, keyboards, vocals
Bob Weir, guitar, vocals
(5:40)

from Go to Heaven

The fans didn't dig the album. The cover turned them off; it reminded them of the fading Disco Era perhaps, and they avoided it in droves. But sometimes a turkey is really a peacock.

Personally, I think it's one of their best since Workingman's Dead and American Beauty.

**

This song just thrills me. The lyrics are by John Barlow, Weir's ghost to Garcia's Robert Hunter.

"Sure don't know what I'm goin' for
But I'm gonna go for it for sure"

dxliv. THE BEATLES: It's Only Love

dxliv. THE BEATLES

It's Only Love (1965)
John, vocal, guitars
Paul, bass
George, guitars
Ringo, drums, tambourine
(1:58)

from Anthology 2

As was frequently the case, John dismissed the song as rubbish in later years. "The lyrics were abysmal. I always hated that song."

Paul helped him finish it; credit is assumed to be 60/40 for John.

dxliii. COLLIER, Jacob: Every Little Thing She Does is Magic

dxliii. COLLIER, Jacob (1994-       )

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic (2018)
JC, everything
Metropole Orkest
Jules Buckley, cond.
(4:38)

from Djesse Vol. 1

the original Police video

dxlii. METHENY, Pat: Jaco

dxlii. METHENY, Pat (1954-       )

Jaco (1978)
PM, guitars
Lyle Mays, keyboards
Mark Egan, bass
Danny Gottlieb, drums
(5:36)

from Pat Metheny Group

From the first PMG album, this tune just swings funk. Dedicated, of course, to Jaco Pastorius, who forever challenged the prospect of playing the bass.

dxli. THE BEACH BOYS: Catch a Wave

dxli. THE BEACH BOYS

Catch a Wave (1963)
Al Jardine, bass, vocals
Maureen Love, harp
Mike Love, vocals
David Marks, rhythm guitar
Brian Wilson, keyboards, vocals
Carl Wilson, guitar, vocals
Dennis Wilson, drums, vocals
(2:20)

from Surfer Girl

I never surfed. Sounds fun.

dxl. HANCOCK, Herbie: Stars in Your Eyes

dxl. HANCOCK, Herbie (1940-       )

Stars in Your Eyes (1979)
HH, keyboards, vocals
Wah Wah Watson, guitar
Freddie Washington, bass
Alphonse Mouzon, drums, keyboards
Sheila Escovedo, percussion
Gavin Christopher, vocals
Bill Champlin, backing vocals
Julia Tillman Waters, backing vocals
Luther Waters, backing vocals
Oren Waters, backing vocals
Maxine Willard Waters, backing vocals
(7:04)

from Monster

At the height of the Disco Era, Herbie made some terrific funk, complete with smooth vocals. His licks are not the high-wire rivers of technique from his days with Miles. They are simple, but appropriate.

Herbie always gave the public what it seemed to be into at the time -- but kept the originality of his basic vision intact.

This shit's funky as hell. Great album cover, too (Gahan Wilson) ...

dxxxix. HARRISON, George: Rocking Chair in Hawaii

dxxxix. HARRISON, George (1943-2001)

Rocking Chair in Hawaii (2002)
GH, vocals, guitars
Jeff Lynne, bass
Jim Keltner, drums
(3:07)

from Brainwashed

I'm going down to the river gonna take me my rocking chair
Going down to the river gonna take me my rocking chair
And if those blues don't leave me
Gonna rock on away from here

If you want me woman please don't act so shy
If you want me woman please don't pass me by
I love those sideways glances
Your shoulder and your thigh

I see inside your eyes, the Baba's Sai
The reasons why I love you

So if you're still busy hiding
What is is you've got
And if you're frightened of losing
What you like a lot
You may be cruisin' backwards
While thinking that you're not

I see inside your eyes, the Baba Sais
The reasons why I love you

So if you don't get the picture
You won't know what I feel
If you don't get the picture
Then you won't have a depth of field
You may be going someplace
Someplace you've already been

dxxxviii. WONDER, Stevie: Tell Your Heart I Love You

dxxxviii. WONDER, Stevie (1950-       )

Tell Your Heart I Love You (2005)
SW, everything except
Bonnie Raitt, slide guitar
(4:30)

from A Time to Love

You look me to the sky
When I'm flat on the ground
You put me on a high
When I'm all the way down
And when trouble comes around
Tryin' to blow up the spot
You look it in the eye and say "I think not"

Tell your heart I love you
I love you, yes I do
Tell your heart you need to
You need to know its true
Well nobody in the world love you the way I do

You make me feel like a trillion bucks
When I don't even have a dime
You put a smile on my face
In a time I could be cryin'
And when negative comes around
With nothin' good to say
You give it a stare that makes it get the hell away

Tell your heart I love you
I love you, yes I do
Tell your heart you need to
You need to know its true
Don't nobody in the world love you the way I do

Long before my mind believed
My heart could not help but conceive
That I love you, yeah
And when my head did suggest
My heard had already confessed
That I love you, love you, love you

Tell your heart I love you
I love you, yes I do
Tell your heart you need to
You need to know its true
Don't nobody in the world love you the way I do

dxxxvii. ZAPPA, Frank: The London Cab Tape

dxxxvii. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

The London Cab Tape (1992)
FZ, voice
Howard Kaylan, voice
Mark Volman, voice
Jeff Simmons, voice
(1:24)

from Playground Psychotics

November 29, 1970

Howard: Fuckin' guy has flipped out, man! Ought to be locked up!
Jeff: Who, me . . . ?
Howard: Yeah, you too!
Jeff: It was antisemitic of me to bring it up.
Mark: What, you don't like Jews, man?
Jeff: Let me make it perfectly clear, Volman. I don't mind that you're a Jew. Stay out of my way. Take your Bar Mitzvah, man, and shove it.
Mark: I never had a Bar Mitzvah.
Jeff: You have a yarmulke, man?
Mark: No, I wore one once, though . . .
Jeff: I knew it.
Mark: What's wrong? You don't like 'em, man?
Howard: Probably don't like cowboy hats, either.
Jeff: Just keep it out of my way, man, I don't wanna see that yarmulke on stage ever . . .
Howard: Uh . . . well, I don't know, man, that'd be sorta neat. Not in this group of course,but tomorrow.
Jeff: Howard Kaylan World!
Mark: The Yarmulke.
FZ: Ha ha ha!
Jeff: Dear Frank, thanks for paying a hundred twenty three dollars for my meal in Amsterdam.
Mark: . . . which I didn't want anyway.
Howard: I hated!
Jeff: I really enjoyed playing in your little own ensemble.
Howard: For a day or so.
Jeff: Thanks for bringing a little slice of sunshine into my life.
Howard: Thanks for showing me how sh . . . shitty the music business could really be. I thought I knew.
Jeff: Thanks for making me the worst bass player in the world. After six months with the Mothers I figured I've lost everything I ever had.

**

Despite their unhappiness, Mark and Howard stayed with the band for several more years. Jeff left The Mothers mid-movie during the chaotic filming of 200 Motels. He was replaced by Martin Lickert, Ringo Starr's chauffeur.

Zappa forgave him. He even re-hired him a few years later, and co-wrote a song with him (Wonderful Wino) and featured a Simmons composition on Joe's Garage (Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up).

dxxxvi. ZAPPA, Frank: Uncle Remus

dxxxvi. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

Uncle Remus (1974)
FZ, guitar, vocals
Sal Marquez, trumpet
Ian Underwood, saxophone
Napoleon Murphy Brock, saxophone
Bruce Fowler, trombone
Don "Sugarcane" Harris, violin
Jean-Luc Ponty, violin
Ruth Underwood, percussion
George Duke, keyboards
Tony Duran, rhythm guitar
Harper May, bass
Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski), bass
Aynsley Dunbar, drums
(2:49)

from Apostrophe (')

co-written with Duke.

Zappa loved making merry with Black racist stereotypes (see Thing-Fish [1984]). You won't find Disney's racist Song of the South (1946) anymore, but for those who know satire when they see it ...

Transcription by Andy Aledort.

Duke's version

dxxxv. DAVIS, Miles: Dr. Jekyll

dxxxv. DAVIS, Miles (1926-1991)

Dr. Jekyll (1958)
MD, trumpet
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, alto saxophone
John Coltrane, tenor saxophone
Red Garland, piano
Paul Chambers, bass
Philly Joe Jones, drums
(5:51)

from Milestones

1/4-note = 350! Are you kidding me? Most metronomes don't even go up that far. Time to sub-divide!

This just might be Miles's most happenin' album. The energy -- this track in particular -- is outrageous.

Miles begins his solo with flare and subtlety. He cheekily quotes the first four notes of When the Saints Go Marching In a few times. Towards the end of his solo, he leaves bars 9-12 to Jones.

Adderley's solo is a river of 1/8th-notes, occasionally interspersed with a few  soulful jabs.

Chambers delivers a very thoughtful solo, bluesy but with coherent phrasing.

Miles come back briefly, leading to a break by Jones.

Head and out.

dxxxiv. THE BEACH BOYS: Hang on to Your Ego

dxxxiv. THE BEACH BOYS

Hang on to Your Ego (1966)
Al Jardine, vocals
Mike Love, vocals
Brian Wilson, vocals, keyboards
Carl Wilson, vocals
Hal Blaine, tambourine
Glen Campbell, guitar, banjo
Barney Kessel, guitar
Al de Lory, tack piano
Steve Douglas, clarinet
Bobby Klein, clarinet
Jim Horn, alto flute
Paul Horn, alto flute
Larry Knechtel, organ
Jay Migliori, bass clarinet
Tommy Morgan, bass harmonica
Ray Pohlman, bass
Lyle Ritz, piano
Julius Wechter, timpani
(3:03)

from Pet Sounds

Peace & Love? Drop some acid, maybe?

Brian was on his own in the latter category. Co-writers Terry Sachen and Mike Love (Love had to sue to get songwriting credit) were not happy with the lyrics to the song. The whole "ego" thing had to go. BW agreed, and the lyrics and title were changed to "I Know There's an Answer" for the album, but the original version popped up on the 1990 CD release.

See what all the controversy was about. The changed lyrics are in bold:

I know so many people who
Think they can do it alone.
They isolate their heads
And stay to their safety zones

Now what can you tell them
And what can you say
That won't make them defensive

Hold on to your ego / I know there's an answer
Hold on, but I know that you're gonna lost the fight / I know now that I have to find myself

They come on like they're peaceful
But inside they're so uptight
They trip though their day
And waste all their thoughts at night
Now how can I say it / Now how can I come on
'Cause how can I come on when I know I'm guilty / And tell them the way that they could be better

Great bass harmonica solo by Morgan.

dxxxiii. DAVIS, Miles: Joshua

dxxxiii. DAVIS, Miles (1926-1991)

Joshua (1966)
MD, trumpet
George Coleman, tenor saxophone
Herbie Hancock, piano
Ron Carter, bass
Tony Williams, drums
(9:28)

from Four & More

This exciting Victor Feldman tune. Live at Philharmonic Hall, February 1964. Miles is in rare form and what a responsive rhythm section! His solo is full of guts and fire.

Coleman is also en fuego. Listen as Williams drop out occasionally, leaving the soloist in mid-air!

Hancock is next and shines and glistens, and a few times completely confounds the beat, coming back in perfectly. His left hand is a thing of beauty.

Head and out.

dxxxii. RADIOHEAD: Videotape

dxxxii. RADIOHEAD

Videotape (2007)
Colin Greenwood
Jonny Greenwood
Ed O'Brien
Philip Selway
Thom Yorke
(4:39)

from In Rainbows

In addition to his work with this incredible band, Jonny has scored four Paul Thomas Anderson films: There Will Be Blood, The Master, Inherent Vice, Licorice Pizza; and Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog.

The lyrics magically float over an eerie, simplistic piano part ... eventually a drum part enters, simple 1/8ths, then becomes more complex, like a rattle in your brain ...

dxxxi. ZAPPA, Frank: Stink-Foot

dxxxi. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

Stink-Foot (1974)
FZ, guitar, vocals
Sal Marquez, trumpet
Ian Underwood, saxophone
Napoleon Murphy Brock, saxophone
Bruce Fowler, trombone
Don "Sugarcane" Harris, violin
Jean-Luc Ponty, violin
Ruth Underwood, percussion
George Duke, keyboards
Tony Duran, rhythm guitar
Harper May, bass
Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski), bass
Aynsley Dunbar, drums
(6:36)

from Apostrophe (')

A nifty song about bromodrosis, loaded with conceptual continuity clues.

Transcription by Andy Aledort

dxxx. ZAPPA, Frank: Directly From My Heart to You

dxxx. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

Directly From My Heart to You (1970)
FZ, guitar
Don Preston, organ
Roy Estrada, bass
Jimmy Carl Black, drums
Don "SugarCane" Harris, electric violin, vocals
(5:17)

from Weasels Ripped My Flesh

Direct
Directly from my heart to you
Direct

Directly from my heart to you

Oh, you know that I love you
That's why I feel so blue

Oh, I pray
Our love will last always
I pray
That our love will last always
Yeah, we'd be so happy together
But you're so far away

Well, I need
(Oh, baby, need you baby)
I need her by my side
Well, I need
Yes, I need her by my side
Oh, I loved you little darlin'
Your love I could never hide

dxxix. CAPTAIN BEEFHEART: Nowadays a Woman's Gotta Hit a Man

dxxix. CAPTAIN BEEFHEART (Don Van Vliet 1941-2010)

Nowadays a Woman's Gotta Hit a Man (1972)
CB, vocals, harmonica
Zoot Horn Rollo, guitar
Rockette Morton, rhythm guitar
Ed Marimba, drums, percussion
Oréjon, bass
(3:46)

from Clear Spot

Men you been lookin' all around for the women
But they always been right there
Nowadays a woman has to haul off and hit a man
T' make him know she's there
Other night a woman came up 'n hit me
Like I wasn't even there
Yeah, mmm dawned on me, man
That a man been doin' a woman unfair

Y' gotta wait for your woman
Let her know you're there
I knew I had to go out 'n tell all of the women
That I knew they were there
Now ev'rywhere I go the women all know that I know
Mmm, there ain't no other place to go but there
I'm talkin' about women
Yeah, I'm talkin' about women, man
They don't have to hit me
To make me know it's there
None o' my women have tears in their eyes
You can ask 'em about me I swear
'N they'll tell you
That's one man I swear
Yeah that's a man
'Nuff about tellin you this

Mmm, y' gotta wait for your woman
Let her know you're there
I knew I had to go out 'n tell all of the women
That I knew they were there
Now ev'rywhere I go the women all know
That I know
There ain't no other place to go but there

I'm talkin' about women
They don't have to hit me, man
To make me know it's there
None o' my women have tears in their eyes
You can ask 'em about me I swear

dxxviii. WONDER, Stevie: Sensuous Whisper

dxxviii. WONDER, Stevie (1950-       )

Sensuous Whisper (1995)
SW, everything, except
Branford Marsalis, saxophone
Terence Blanchard, trumpet
Anita Baker, background vocals
Stephanie Andrews, background "Uh"
(5:47)

from Conversation Peace

I've seen you, I saw you, I see you
Without little notice, if any at all
Of you knowing me watchin you
You walking, you talking, you smiling
Your styling in everything your body wears
And that's not just a point of view
They're panting, they're ranting, they're raving
About Miss Lovely got it going on
From head down to her toes
And no one knows better than I know
Cause I've been listening to the spirit of
Your body, mind and soul

It's that sensuous whisper
That makes my body weak
It's that sensuous whisper
That's sweeter than the sweetest sweet
It's that sensuous whisper
That makes my psyche say
Ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we

Can feel you, can smell you, can taste you
Though my senses never had the pleasure of
That lovely wonderment
But I start to shaking, I shiver, to think that little sparkle in your eye
Means you're giving me some kind of hint
I'm ready, I'm willing, I'm able
In fact those words are at the tip of my tongue
Eagerly awaiting for me to say
Then you smile and whisper "how are you?"
But when I move my lips and try to speak the words just go away

It's that sensuous whisper
That makes my body weak
It's that sensuous whisper
That's sweeter than the sweetest sweet
It's that sensuous whisper
That makes my psyche say
Ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we

It's that sensuous whisper that's got me trippin' out
It's that sensuous whisper
That I don't wanna do without
It's that sensuous whisper
That makes me want to shout
Ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we

I don't even care how long it takes
As long as I have you lying next to me
Cause to wait forever and a day
Is a small price to pay if it's you I'm getting
If it's you I'm getting, I'm not quitting, and quitting
And that is how I'm living

I'm clinging, not dreaming, but scheming
With my nose against the grind and both my eyes focused upon the prize
I think it, I trust it, I know it
Your love that I've longed for is gonna be mine
Good things do come in time
I'm right on the rhythm you're givin
But this is more than giving up some casual mental telepathy
The music, the candles, the champagne and all that's needed
Is one thing to give it authenticity

It's that sensuous whisper
That makes my body weak
It's that sensuous whisper
That's sweeter than the sweetest sweet
It's that sensuous whisper
That makes my psyche say
Ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we

It's that sensuous whisper that's got me trippin' out
It's that sensuous whisper
That I don't wanna do without
It's that sensuous whisper
That makes me want to shout
Ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we

It's that sensuous whisper
That makes by body rock
It's that sensuous whisper
That makes me beg baby don't ever stop
It's that sensuous whisper
That always gets me hot, baby
Ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we

It's that sensuous whisper
That makes me feel alright
It's that sensuous whisper
That keeps me wanting you morning, noon and every single night
It's that sensuous whisper
Don't want you out of my sight, baby
Ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we, ooh we

dxxvii. VARIOUS ARTISTS: Cheek to Cheek

dxxvii. VARIOUS ARTISTS

Cheek to Cheek (1934-35)

7 versions

Irving Berlin could write a song. This one's a doozy -- and from its original version for the film Top Hat to Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, it never loses its kick:

1. Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers (1935)
(5:02)

2. The Boswell Sisters (1935)
(2:48)

Thanks to Donald Fagen for hipping me to these gals.

3. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong (1956)

EF, vocals

LA, vocals, trumpet

Oscar Peterson, piano

Herb Ellis, guitar

Ray Brown, bass

Buddy Rich, drums
(5:54)

4. Frank Sinatra (1959)
(3:06)

5. Diana Krall (2008)
DK, piano, vocals
John Clayton, bass
Anthony Wilson, guitar
Jeff Hamilton, drums
Paulinho DaCosta, percussion
(6:23)

6. 11-year-old trumpet prodigy (2012)
Geoff Gallante, trumpet
Rossano Sportiello, piano
Nikki Parrott, bass
(7:45)

Wow.

7. Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett (2014)
(2:50)

Quick analysis:

After the usual I/vi/ii/V/I in the first four bars, Berlin climbs up to B-Flat7b5, a suspension to the next chord A7 (V of ii) -- which doesn't resolve, but moves around to E7 (V of vi) which resolves to a Major A7 dominant, which finally correctly resolves to ii, initiating V-I-vi-ii-V -- back to the tonic.

The B section is ii/V/I/VI with no tonic resolution until the 2nd ending. He then -- astonishingly -- adds a C section, switching to the minor tonic, before a vi/ii/V brings it around again to C Major.

dxxvi. KENEALLY, Mike: Freezer Burn

dxxvi. KENEALLY, Mike (1961-       )

Freezer Burn (2016)
MK, guitars, keyboards, lap steel
Ben Thomas, trombone, trumpet
Pete Griffin, bass
Kris Myers, drums
(5:23)

from Scambot 2

See Buzz for further details ...

Scambot meets Mike Barno and is forced to conclude that, for all his hatred of the Campland character, Barno himself is not a bad guy. They are tasked with composing a propaganda song that will help sway public opinion against Ophunji and all other tyrants, despots and the like. They knock one together, called "Scores of People"; the QC record it and post it online.

But it's not entirely necessary, as it happens. Public opinion has been against Ophunji for decades. Everyone knows he's a schmuck. People enjoy the song anyway.

Kootch sees that the best course of action for him is to get away on his own and into a new life. He finds an ad online for a rodeo in a nearby town and decides to see if they can make use of an additional clown; the QC give him a spare rowboat, and he makes his way across the sea.

Wrangthorn has managed to struggle his way over to the suitcase, has reversed the wiring again, and is going to town on Ophunji.

God are somewhat humbled by the dressing down Scambot gave them. The TV show has been a means of blowing off steam, but clearly not the best use of their time. They take a hard look at what's happening on the planet. This is currently represented by the absurd and violent activities of Ophunji and Wrangthorn. God tires of both of them and turns them into tiny red gnats.

Then God decides to save mankind.

**

A little background ...

SCAMBOT    

Composer with no finished compositions. Grump. Remembers only glimpses of his earlier life. Doesn't remember that his real name is IAN McPLANT.

BOLEOUS T. OPHUNJI

Evil industrialist. Interested in the control of mass consciousness. Kidnapped Ian's soul as a child, renamed him Scambot (Serial Consciousness Agent: Military Bringer of Truth), and has manipulated Scambot's brain ever since.

GOD

A committee of enlightened beings on the edge of the universe. Fans of strangeness and television, they've created a reality show called Scambot.

WRANGTHORN

Rogue component of God. Evil manipulator. Able to pose as various earthlings, e.g. Ophunji's childhood friend, SAM.

KOOTCH

Scambot's best friend. Got Scambot involved with Ophunji when they were kids and is wracked with guilt about it. Works as a rodeo clown.

THE QUIET CHILDREN (QC)

The band known for the hit song "Cold Hands," whose members are Ember, FlightRisk, Baum, Bedelia, Verity, Tumbler, Humbler, and Dan the Football Fan. Secretly, the band are part of a subversive organization (also called The Quiet Children) who create anti-Ophunji propaganda.

CAMPLAND STANDISH

A popular, folksy newspaper/radio personality, played by actor/writer MIKE BARNO. (Previous incarnations were Campland Staniel, Campland Stanford, and Campland Standoff.) A subversive at heart, he works in cahoots with The Quiet Children to stop Ophunji. Knowing this, Ophunji has persuaded Scambot that Standish must be killed.

You need to get Scambot 1 and 2 to get the full story!

dxxv. HAWKWIND: Hall of the Mountain Grill

dxxv. HAWKWIND

Hall of the Mountain Grill (1974)
Dave Brock, guitars, synth, organ, harmonica, vocals
Nik Turner, saxophone, oboe, flute, vocals
Lemmy (Ian Kilmister), bass, vocals, guitars
Simon House, synth, Mellotron, violin
Simon King, drums, percussion
Del Dettmar, keyboards, kalimba
(2:22)

from: Hall of the Mountain Grill

A nod to Grieg.