I haven’t played this game in a while1, so I’ll participate today. Apparently this is a joint France/Los Angeles joint. My notes in clover, duh…
- Beastie Boys– Flute Loop
Ill Communication
Saddened by MCA’s death, the Beastie Boys were my age, basically, so having one of them die is a reminder that we have a short brutish time on the planet, and why wait? Smile now, there might not be a tomorrow. Two minute song from one of my favorite Beastie Boy albums, built off a funk/jazz flute loop. Rock the Nation, indeed. - Lowe, Nick– No Reason
Basher -The Best of Nick Lowe
No reason in the world…song originally from the Jesus of Cool album which every self-respecting hipster already owns. - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers– Blues March
Paris 1958
I’m ready to march around the office, coffee cup in hand. I’ve never been to Paris, this might be close enough. Originally part of an 11-song three-LP set. - Johann Sebastian Bach – Bach: Partitas, BWV 825-827, Vol. 1
Bach: Keyboard Partita #2 In C Minor, BWV 826 – Courante- Gould, Glenn
ahh, Bach… - Beltuner– De Rien
Beltuner
speaking of France, this is French folk music, with accordions, acoustic guitars and what not. Not sure how I got this, but it is fun. Unfortunately, too early to have a glass of wine with my coffee… - Sun Ra– Love In Outer Space
Purple Night
not the best Sun Ra album, if you have never heard Sun Ra, start elsewhere. The vocals seem to be coming from outer space, appropriately. - Love– A House Is Not A Motel
Forever Changes
I love this song. I’ve heard it hundreds of times and am still not absolutely sure what is about, other than Arthur Lee’s drug influenced weirdness. Another Los Angeles reference. - Mekons– Learning To Live On Your Own
The Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll
A great album, oft called country punk-esque, though this particular track is more sweet than crunchy. Robert Christgau’s note on the Mekons is worth reading - Watson, Doc And Clarence Ashley– God’s Gonna Ease My Troublin’ Mind
Original Folkways Recordings 1960 – 1962 (Disc 2)
you can’t play guitar nor banjo this well, and neither can I. Allegedly, Doc Watson didn’t even own an acoustic guitar at the time of this recording, though that could be apocryphal legend. - Gram Parsons & The Flying Burrito Brothers– Sin City
Gram Parsons Archives Vol. 1: Live At The Avalon Ballroom April 4th, 1969
I’ve never to Los Angeles either, though I lust after photographing the vintage neon there. A slice of country rock from the master of the Cosmic American genre, created in San Francisco a couple of days before me. - Kings Of Leon– Holy Roller Novocaine
Youth & Young Manhood
debut album of this middle of the road “Southern Rock” band. Nothing special, but good in certain moods, especially if played loudly. Irritatingly, there is a multi-minute long silence in the middle of the song. - The Saints– The Prisoner
Prehistoric Sounds
punk rock with saxophones. Awesome! How come no one told me about the Saints years ago? Love this album. - Soul Brothers– Heyi Wena
Jive Soweto (The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume 4)
From Allmusic: “Jive” is the generic term used to refer to South African pop music, and is often modified by reference to the featured instrument — hence sax jive and pennywhistle jive. If you’ve never heard South African jive, seek it out, you are in for a treat. Bouncy, happy music. The very first international album I got (or one of the first) was an earlier edition in this series, The Indestructible Beat of Soweto, volume 1 & 2. - The Full Treatment– Just Can’t Wait
Where The Action Is!: Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968 [Disc 3]
Garage pop from Los Angeles. Another Rhino collection of single from another era. This song is a little too Beach Boys-esque for my taste, but there are a few seconds of psychedelic fun near the end. - De La Soul– Talkin’ Bout Hey Love
De La Soul Is Dead
Built off of a nice sample (Stevie Wonder maybe?), but disposable otherwise.
Ok, I can’t count. Fifteen is not ten, a house is not a home, black is not grey…
Footnotes:A Little Wine With My Dinner
So I’m In My Grape Ape
I Feel Like A Winner When I Make A Mix Tape
Because I Get Ill
When I’m On The Pause Button
And I Get My Fill
And You Can’t Say Nothing
More Soul On This Train Then Don Cornelius
Got The Mad Subwoofer Pumping Bass For Your Anus
Just Getting On The Mic
At The Monthly Function
Wires Hitting Switches
Connecting At The Junction
Perlman’s Got Beats
And It Ain’t No Secret
Dante Found His Shit
But You Know He Freaked It
And So The Story Goes On
And On Down In S. D. 50 ’till Early Morning
- the rules are simple, shuffle your music by song, pick out the first ten songs, list ’em [↩]