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Shuffle of the week #13

This is an ode to the shuffle. How better to get a good insight in your digitized album collection than by a classic shuffle? Finally discover the albums you never got into, finally throw the ones away you will never get into and worship those classics that never grow old again. The Shuffle of this week:

 1. Alice Cooper – Halo of Flies (Killer, 1971) [singlepic id=146 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Fantastic start this week with this classic prog attempt by Vincent Damon Furnier, performing as Alice Cooper. Still a very popular song in the Netherlands, as this was the only country where it was originally released as single. In fact the whole album, Cooper’s fourth, is very strong. As it is the only one in my collection it may be time to get a follow-up, Billion Dollar Babies perhaps?

2.  Robert Johnson – If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day (King of the Delta Blues Singers, 1936) [singlepic id=152 w=80 h=50 float=left]

To the absolute roots of blues, with this archaic classic. Clapton of course covered it, and you can clearly hear that the cradle of the sound of all Clapton’s later bands stays on that mountain with Robert.

3. Talking Heads – Seen and Not Seen (Remain in Light, 1980) [singlepic id=153 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Quite a transmission then, with this to the last detail polished new wave from Talking Heads. The album is an absolute gem and perfectly suited to bring along on holiday, as it gives you a lot to talk about, without even necessarily playing it.

4. Pixies – Gouge Away (Doolittle, 1989) [singlepic id=24 w=80 h=50 float=left]

One of the few songs out there that reaches absolute perfection within such a short time. And another great album, this is becoming one of the best shuffles until today…

5. Otis Redding – Pain In My Heart (Pain In My Heart, 1964) [singlepic id=151 w=80 h=50 float=left]

… reaching status ‘epic’ halfway with this classic from Otis. Second week in a row for Otis, which  deserves a place on the mobile playlist for the upcoming weeks.

6. Manu Chao – Le Rendez Vous (Próxima Estación: Esperanza, 2001) [singlepic id=150 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Sounds very weird when it’s meanwhile snowing outside.

 

7. X – Back 2 the Base (Wild Gift, 1981) [singlepic id=154 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Another short intermezzo from a total different world, it’s becoming a strange medley in this way. American punk rock band from LA (after which they called their debut album), with this being one of the many short songs on their second album. Not that I’m a big punk fan, but I can certainly enjoy it when it comes with such vocal harmonies.

8. Jimi Hendrix – Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Electric Ladyland, 1968) [singlepic id=148 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Turn down the medley then and clear the stage for this demonstration by the master. From the last part of the magnificent album trilogy, after Are You Experienced (1967) and Axis: Bold as Love (1967). The trilogy lifted guitar playing to another level, and Hendrix decided to finish it in a legendary way. After his interpretation of Dylan’s ‘All Along The Watchtower’, Ladyland  is closed with this mindblowing track.

9. Lou Reed – Strawman (New York, 1989) [singlepic id=149 w=80 h=50 float=left]

A very acceptable sequel I have to admit, with a fairly delicious opening riff. This album once more showed the genius songwriting capabilities of Lou Reed, containing some of his best work. With Maureen Tucker back on drums of course, but on this song it’s above all that pounding guitar riff that keeps coming back over and over again that does the trick.

10. The Avalanches – Two Hearts in ¾ Time (Since I left you, 2000) [singlepic id=147 w=80 h=50 float=left]

It pro definition had to be a disappointment after those 10 minutes of pure power rock, and in fact it is. I’ll give it one more try (update: ok, they’re out).

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Shuffle of the week #12

This is an ode to the shuffle. How better to get a good insight in your digitized album collection than by a classic shuffle? Finally discover the albums you never got into, finally throw the ones away you will never get into and worship those classics that never grow old again. The Shuffle of this week:

 1. White Stripes – I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself (Elephant, 2003) [singlepic id=145 w=80 h=50 float=left]

About time that I was going to put this album on again. Didn’t hear this for a long time although it was one of my favorites a few years ago. One of those albums from the past ten years that can easily be classified ‘classic album’ already. This is the only song from it that was not written by White himself, but by Burt Bacharach (with Hal David), who was recently honored with a lifetime achievement award for his tremendous contribution to pop music. Released earlier in 1964 by Dusty Springfield.

2.   Beach Boys – Sail On Sailor (The Beach Boys in Concert, 1973) [singlepic id=136 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Opening track of the Beach Boys’ second live album, which had just been released as a single at the time this concert was recorded. It originally appeared (or in fact it didn’t, as it was added after the official recordings due to the lack of a potential hit on the album) on their album Holland, as the group tried to find some inspiration there during the early seventies. Brian Wilson, who co-wrote the song, had (temporary) left the band during this tour.

3. Eels –Going Fetal (Blinking Lights and Other Revelation, 2005) [singlepic id=139 w=80 h=50 float=left]

From a double album that I should give another try one day. Later, maybe.

 

4. Beatles – Birthday (The Beatles (White Album), 1968) [singlepic id=137 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Talking about double albums, this one probably being the most famous one of them all. This song is of course the uptempo kick-off of side 3, with a great guitar/bass riff. Described by Lennon as a piece of garbage, but highly recommendable to those who like Macca best with an occasional scream.

5. Marvin Gaye – Wholy Holy (What’s Going On, 1971) [singlepic id=141 w=80 h=50 float=left]

A song about Jesus of one of music professor Hofmeijer’s all-time favorite albums.  However, when Marvin would have sung about a gnu in this song, many people would have believed him too. Great album.

6. Otis Redding – Mr. Pitiful (The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads, 1965) [singlepic id=143 w=80 h=50 float=left]

More soul this week with one of Otis’ best known songs, two and a half minutes of pure joy I have to admit. The song was written by Otis and his guitarist Steve Cropper (one of Booker T.’s M.G.’s), after a disc jockey had described Otis’ voice as sounding pitiful when singing his ballads.

7. Fats Domino – Honey Chile (This is Fats Domino, 1957) [singlepic id=140 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Fats Domino then! Gotta love an occasional shuffle.

 

8. Steve Earle – Down the Road (Guitar Town, 1986) [singlepic id=144 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Time for something completely different then. One of my favorite tracks from this country rock album, which was Earle’s debut as well as breakthrough album.

9. Mogwai – The Precipice   (The Hawk is Howling, 2008) [singlepic id=142 w=80 h=50 float=left]

Finally time to catch a breath then, after all those short songs after another. This track guarantees you seven minutes of dark, mystic atmosphere from the sixth album by Mogwai. Time to compare this one to Rock Action, released 7 years earlier, which I listened elaborately after a previous shuffle.

10. Creedence Clearwater Revival – I Heard It Trough the Grapevine (Cosmo’s Factory, 1970) [singlepic id=138 w=80 h=50 float=left]

And we’re also taking our time to fade out easily this week, after such a rush. And there’s Marvin Gaye again, as he gave this song its fame of course with his 1968 version (however, the song was written by Norman Whitfield and Barett Strong for Motown). It sounds kind of weird to say that those eleven CCR-minutes are pure nostalgia, when you were only born 15 years after the record came out. One of the first albums I met that contained music instead of sound…