King Sunny AdeA while back I promised (threatened?) to add some cultural diversity to this blog by adding a more structured music segment outside of Fan posting some stuff about his basement band and some various Kiss and Rush related items... and of course his occasional blues promoting. So in my attempt to stimulate dialogue here, here goes.
So starting this first week of 2009 I'm going to post some things that pump out of my speakers or flow out of my new Bose noise cancelling headphones and pour into my ears. It's going to be very free form. I'll post any number between 5 and maybe a dozen or so of artists I'm currently listening to.
What I'm looking for is to find out what anybody who reads this blog and these posts specifically is listening to themselves. So please put in some comments. You can even make fun of my stuff or ask questions about it. I'll reply as best I can. I am always astounded at what passes for popular music and others probably scratch their heads at what I listen to. So here's what I've been listening to this past week with any applicable comments:
1. The number one thing I'm listening to is a huge variety of African Music. In fact it's what I've got on right now. I put together a play list called Musique Afrique that is a mix of all kinds of African songs. A couple prominent artists in my list that you might want to check out on your own are: King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, and Zaiko Langa Langa.
2. Earl Scruggs Revue - In my vain attempt to locate an album by Earl Scruggs called Live at Austin City Limits, I ran across the Earl Scruggs Revue Anniversary Special Vol. 1. So I've been listening to it instead.
3. Little Walter (Jacobs) - I can just put this on and listen to that Chicago blues all day long.
4. Squirrel Nut Zippers - Hot. I've had this album since it came out in 1996. And I don't remember liking it as much as I do now. Never throw out those CD purchases you think you went wrong with. Just listen to them 12 years later!
5. Guns N Roses - Chinese Democracy. It's pretty good. Can't see why it took 10 years to release. Nor why all the fuss about it being prematurely released on some internet site.
6. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown - Just came across an album of Gatemouth's from 1977 that I thought was out of print called Black Jack. This is like finding a brand new release to me. Never heard any of this before.
7. Dave Edmunds - A DJ on the old WHFS in Annapolis named "Weasel" used to play this guy all the time back in the mid-80s. I just acquired a bunch of his albums and have enjoyed rehearing a lot of this stuff.
8. The Doors - Got ahold of a bootleg of a Doors concert in Pittsburgh in 1970. When Jim Morrison was still alive and the Civic Arena was called the Pittsburgh Ice Arena.
9. The Del McCoury Band - Had a buddy of mine go to the big Christmas Jam down in Asheville, NC that Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule & the Allman Bros. puts on every year. And he was talking about Warren jamming with bluegrass/country legend Del McCoury. So I thought I'd bust out some of Del McCoury and give it a new listen.
10. Todd Rundgren - Just picked up the bigger part of his discography that I didn't already own.
Just realized I should have done this in reverse (10-1) order like Letterman. In a week or two I'll do this again and I'll do it that way. Until then, what are you listening to?
11 comments:
i'm about to watch the new Batman in HD with noise canceling earphones on! does that count? lol. today at work, i had my office to myself as my officemate was out. i used deskspeakers and actually broke the day up according to what i listened to. first, i played some classical on shuffle play for about an hour starting at 7:30 AM. went to some meetings, came back and kicked my "Drinking Blues" mix on shuffle as well. I specifically remember some Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Witherspoon and Led Zeppelin in the mix. That lead to a pure Buddy Guy shuffle for an hour or so and after lunch I went back to my college roots.....I played some Cure, Depeche Mode, New Order and Psychodelic Furs. As Dog barked, I will go through periods of listening to nothing but KISS or RUSH for days on end! I have to tell you Dog, I absolutely LOVE that Alabama Thunderpussy stuff you gave me. A young intern at my office told me about "Down" and said they are a lot alike.....Southern Metal. He gave me some, I haven't checked it out yet.
True confessions here...the only thing I seem to listen to these days are the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus. However, occasionally at work (when I'm in my office for more than an hour or two at a time - very rare), I will pop in some Billy Joel. Kevin used to always say he liked the older Billy Joel stuff better, and I used to like the newer stuff (maybe the last four albums). But the older that I get (and the more removed from Billy's last album), I think I appreciate the older stuff more. Prelude/Angry Young Man is still my favorite, and I think Turnstiles has become my favorite album, although Songs in the Attic ranks up there too.
I also tend to listen to a lot of musical soundtracks - Rent, Phantom, and an occasional "classic" show like My Fair Lady or Music Man.
That's it for now.
Oh, and I like the Squirrel Nut Zippers too! My friend turned me on to them when that 96 album came out...
When listening to the radio it is usually classic rock (DVE) when I'm alone.
Tonight we just came from a musical festival at church and I really enjoyed a young organ student who played a Bach solo. "Prelude and Fugue in e minor" I love Bach.
Now i'm listening to Lyle Lovett.
It's funny, around the holidays I always listen to Big Band and swing. I have a couple box sets of it -- and it's simply awesome because it's so light and such a great change of pace from modern music (which tends to focus on bad stuff). Of course, it was funny that recently I was also playing Fallout 3, which features a 40s/50s soundtrack.
But now, now I'm diving into my new workout routine to get in shape for mountain biking season. This means lots of White Zombie/Rob Zombie, Ministry, Iron Maiden, etc. -- anything to get my blood flowing. But after working out, I'll probably cool down to Johnny Cash.
Oh, and if I'm doing anything artistic -- I have to listen to Delerium. Just puts me in the right frame of mind to tackle whatever it is I'm doing.
I mentioned before that I am country now - mostly Keith Urban.
But I love the Eagles, Neil Young, James Taylor and CSN.
I attribute that to sneaking into my brothers bedroom while he was at work and playing all his records.
I also love Harry Connick Jr and Michael Buble.
Hey Fan, how about a post about Christmas toys and how the princess likes them.
I got the Wii Fit for Christmas and my kids wont let me near it.
I am thinking of getting Guitar Hero for the husband for his birthday.
I will be waiting for a rating of the toys.
Dog, if I understand correctly - this isn't for what kind of music you like in general - you're to post what you're listening to now. I, like you, go through phases.....One week is nothing but acoustic blues and then i'll go on a binge where I listen to nothing but System Of A Down, Disturbed and stuff like that.
Yes Fan, that's correct. I just wanted to see what people were listening to in the last couple weeks. And how our listening patterns evolve over time.
We all have our favorite genres and artists. But I think everybody goes through phases where they listen to more of one thing or another. Especially when one is discovering new music. Like in my case it's this African stuff... right now. By February, who knows what might be on my list?
Fan: Glad you liked that Alabama Thunderpussy. Anything on that mix of blues I sent your strike your fancy?
Sis: I got all the Billy Joel I need except for one song, The Root Beer Rag from Streetlife Serenade. Anybody could hook me up?
Dad: What's a good Lyle Lovett album? I have only one of his albums and it sucks. I can't remember what the title of it is though. Joshua Judges Ruth maybe?
Three: Man, you listening to Rob Zombie and Iron Maiden... you ought to be able to do more than mountain biking. You're certified to kill terrorists after that stuff! And when they dead, you can sing them some Johnny Cash. Nice diversity! Can you be more specific on the Swing stuff you listen to also? We talking Benny Goodman or Cherry Poppin' Daddies?
While: You ever check out Poco or the Flying Burrito Brothers? Those would be keeping within your general taste while still expanding your library.
Dog..........
I like the album "Pontiac" because of 3 songs.
Give Back My Heart
Black & Blue
She's Hot To Go.
The other album I like is "Lyle Lovett and His Large Band". It favors jazz and Texas swing.
Texas Swing's not dead...
It's Asleep At The Wheel!
@Dog: The big Band stuff I'm listening to is a collection, so it's all over the place -- anything from Glen Miller to Count Bassie to Duke Ellington to Tommy Dorsey. It's really all over, and I love it. The 1940s Christmas compilation I have has Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and a host of others -- and the funny thing is, every other song is about getting drunk. My all time favorite on that set is "Baby, it's cold outside" by Frank Loesser -- where the woman is trying to go home from their date, and he's trying to get her drunk and keep her there by saying, "But baby, it's cold outside." He even has a refrain of "What's the use of hurting my pride?" Absolutely hysterical to hear as an adult.
A friend just loaned me some old Guns and Roses, so I'm sure to be flashing back to my youth here soon...I may even go pick up Appetite of Destruction, just for kicks and giggles.
Three: If you can also get ahold of the old Christmas songs by Gene Autry, you'd like them. He did the original versions of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and Here Comes Santy Claus.
I recently located an awesome Count Basie album called "Kansas City 6" which I also highly recommend.
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