Ignored, Maligned, and Forgotten Music

Facebook
Subscribe via RSS

Baby Likes to Rock It - The Tractors

As I was meandering through my music library yesterday, I bumped into The Tractors, by whom I have long been impressed. Their boogie woogie sound really makes me get up and dance, but the band remains true to their country and western roots. I know that Baby Likes to Rock It was a big hit quite some time ago, but I can't remember the last time I heard it anywhere. I completely forgot how much fun the video is, as well. I've actually got another of their songs in mind for a cover song post, but that'll have to wait until tomorrow. For today, enjoy The Tractors and have a little open-piano boogie, on the house. All aboard!

Mitsubitchi - Subs

Today, we need something interesting, something with a great beat and lyrics that are easy to remember. If I remember correctly, this song has about one word, it's a funky electro mess, and it's the best song I ever heard from Subs. I think that about fits the bill for a Saturday afternoon.

Breed - Steve Earle

In honor of the fact that, right now, Steve Earle is in town and will be performing tonight, I thought that I'd post something of his. As Copperhead Road has been done to death, I vowed to find something a bit more unusual to share with you all. I enjoy his style of country blues, but as soon as I heard Breed I knew it was the song for today. Between the bizarre lyrics about planting a house and building a tree, the excessive repetition, and the strangely hard-core guitar, I couldn't resist sharing the song. It's a whole new side to Steve Earle, and one that I hope he's been exploring. I'll listen to more from the "Sidetracks" album to see if it was more a one-off experiment, but in the meantime enjoy Breed and let me know what you think. I won't be seeing him tonight, but don't let that stop you from sharing.

Baby It's Cold Outside - Various Artists

For those of you who were not subjected to my holiday music playlist last month, you may not know that I own eighteen different versions of this song. Indeed, I love the tune so much that I wrote an entire Baby It's Cold Outside page to cover some of the hundreds of versions. Add that to the fact that we're slated to be under zero (Fahrenheit, if you're wondering) for days, and you've got a perfect song for this week. Rather than rehashing the versions I've already got, I'm including here performances that I don't have. In fact, I discovered a hysterical clip of what's labeled as Bing Crosby singing it with Jimmy Stewart. Even if you don't care for the song, I'd recommend having a listen to that one just for the entertainment. Lady Antebellum does a lovely version, Willie Nelson actually makes the song a little creepy, and Barry Manilow actually uses the term "Sweetlips" as an endearment. As an antidote for that, Royal Crown Revue swings it up a notch for you.

Ruby Soho and Tommy Gun - Rancid and The Clash

I must admit that, for quite some time, I thought Ruby Soho was simply a song by The Clash that I had missed somewhere along the way. Sure, I couldn't imagine how that was possible, but I never thought to look at the mp3 player my husband was using and determine the album. Finally, I took it upon myself to clarify. Imagine my surprise when the artist showed up as Rancid! Who are these copycats, I thought to myself. Once I'd listened to a bit more of the band's songs I realized that not all of them sound exactly like The Clash. Ruby Soho, on the other hand, does. As proof, I give you Tommy Gun for comparison. Tell me, do these songs not sound like they're from different albums by the same band? Whether or not you agree with that assessment, I hope that you'll agree that they're two great songs.

Blame It on the Pop - DJ Earworm

Some people make lists of top hits. DJ Earworm goes them all one better and makes a song out of them. Yet again, this talented mashup artists has taken the top 25 hits from the past year and made them into one enormous pop song - a real time saver for those of us who don't wish to appear "out of the loop" and yet have no patience with a vast majority of the over-produced crud that gets heavy radio play. Should you find that enjoy the top pop of 2009 a few seconds at time, you can download the whole mashed-up mess for free at DJ Earworm's fantastic site.

Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me?

As promised, today I'm sharing another of the songs that recently captured my attention. In this case, I'm including both the version that I first heard and the original that inspired it. What I find strange is that the song was a huge hit, the original and three covers, in 1949. Then Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me apparently sank beneath the waves of obscurity and there hasn't been a notable version released since. I sincerely hope that someone picks up the torch on this one. I would love to hear a really hardcore modern cover, perhaps from a woman. Pink, anyone?

Mumbles - Oscar Peterson feat. Clark Terry

A burgeoning cold has made me dissatisfied with everything this week, music as much as the rest of it. I've been taking musical solace in my favorite songs and generally not being too excited about much I hear. Imagine my surprise when I heard not one but three new-to-me songs today that I wanted to share with you all. Not only that, but I got the names and performers of all three. It was a musical trifecta the likes of which rarely happen when I'm feeling my best, much less when I'm stuffy and fuzz-brained. Of the three, Mumbles was the biggest stand-out to my ears. I've listened to it four times now, and I enjoy it as much each play. I hope you like it as much as I do. I'm going to add it to my page on scat singing and nonsense songs, as well. I'll share another of my newest discoveries with you tomorrow, as well.

Dance on Vaseline - David Byrne

Long ago, when I first started The NPJ, I posted about David Byrne's Dance on Vaseline. Then, of course, I knew nothing about the joy that is Grooveshark and their fabulous widgets that allow me to bring these songs to you so that you can hear them for yourselves. I've decided that it's about time to rectify the lack of having Dance on Vaseline available for your listening pleasure. The post-Talking Heads David Byrne is just as prickly and deep as he was with the band, while exploring his own difficult past and personal issues.

Simbi - RAM

I thought that, since people have been so focused of late on the plight of the people in Haiti suffering the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, I should share some music from the island nation. While the founder and namesake of RAM, Richard Auguste Morse, was not born in Haiti he has been a major force in bringing traditional Haitian folk music to a wider world audience. You can read about him at length in the Wikipedia article and in the information included with the various videos posted at YouTube. I admire Mr. Morse and his band members both for their musical talents and for their commitment to speaking out against abuses and for political change.

Great Atomic Power - Various Artists

Here's an example of what I find to be a classic country song, covered as both a great, energetic bit of fun by Southern Culture on the Skids and an odd, grumbly, world-beat sort of tune by the Belgian musician Roland van Campenhout. Had SCOTS never covered this song it's unlikely I would ever have heard of it. It's religious, it's old (The Louvin Brothers haven't released an album since the early 1960s), it's country, and it doesn't appear to have received much radio play ever. I thought these three songs were terrific examples of what can go wrong and very right with cover songs.

Dragon's Retort - Brobdignagian Bards

Honestly, my obsession with Dragon Age and my new fascination with the mandolin have come together in this song to make it (I'm sad to say) the perfect song for my Friday night, as I put away my instrument, pop the kids into bed, and prepare to start playing the video game. I can't help but think that I used to be a lot wilder, once upon a time. Then again, I had a whole lot less to lose and I never would have heard this song. I think it's been a good trade. In addition, kudos to the gents on the band name. It follows all of the best rules for folk music, particularly the obscure reference.

Arpeggio - Friska Viljor

I've been listening to the "radio" at Grooveshark, and have discovered that there are an awful lot of bands out there. I know, I know, you already knew that, but really I can't help but think that there's no way you can keep up with the world of music even in a particular genre. Today, for instance, I started with The Shout Out Louds. I got a fair set of rather draggy indie stuff and then something from Friska Viljor, which I have come to discover is a band from Germany. At any rate, I thought I'd share their Arpeggio because, well, I like the name and the song. If you haven't tried it, take a listen to Grooveshark and see what new bands pop up for your favorite songs. Share your discoveries with me, too, would you?

My Hooptie - Sir Mix-a-Lot

While almost everyone over the age of 20 once knew the words to Baby's Got Back (whether or not they'll admit it), My Hooptie always ranked as the best Sir Mix-a-Lot song, to me. This version doesn't quite have the panache of the song that I remember, but the verses still crack me up and make me remember fondly the hoopties that I and my friends have driven over the years. It also reminds of when rap seemed far more accessible to me. Beware, parental types and those at work, that you'll hear a rather explicit reference to why the crew was "rollin'" to the NCO club, but otherwise My Hooptie remains refreshingly free of drug references and profanity.

Vampire Weekend New Album, Finally!

Why didn't anyone bother to tell me that Vampire Weekend is finally releasing their second album on January 12th (the 11th for you lucky slobs in the UK)?! Sheesh, people. I'd have been so embarrassed when I found out that I'd completely missed it. Happily, I was paying enough attention that I caught the news and have already listened to the whole thing at the Vampire Weekend site. Take that! Oh, all right, you can listen to it, too.

The Coffee Song and Bus to Beelzebub - Soul Coughing

Imagine my shock and dismay at discovering that I had completely missed the Soul Coughing cover of The Coffee Song in my playlist of coffee songs a few months ago. I was going to post Bus to Beelzebub, because that song just kills me and I never hear Soul Coughing anywhere these days, but then I discovered this gem and couldn't believe I'd never heard it. Heck, I'll post both. I can have more than one song of the day, right? It's my blog. :P Happy Saturday!

Heat - RL Burnside

It's been a tough week for computer access, what with one distraction and another, so let me share with you this naughty little tune about the troubles of growing old. Until I picked up the album, "Come on In", I had intended to post Let My Baby Ride. Once I heard this little number at the end I knew it was the secret star of the set. Now I want to watch Heat to see if the two are related, but I can't remember when the movie was released. RL Burnside let this sack of goodies out in 1998, so if you happen to know when Pacino, de Niro, and Kilmer hit the silver screen please share whether the song could have been in the movie. Alternatively, you could just listen to, enjoy, and have a laugh at this song. Younguns, this one may not tickle your funny bone and you should probably have mom or dad listen and decide if they're comfortable with the subject matter.

Warm Heart of Africa - The Very Best w/Ezra Koenig

When I recently named Oxford Comma on of my Best Songs of the 2000s, I mentioned The Very Best and their version of Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. I have been wondering where on earth the Vampire Weekend "sophomore effort" was hiding, since we've been so long between albums. It turns out that Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend fame has been sitting in with The Very Best, at least long enough to combine their sounds into the toe-tapping Warm Heart of Africa. For a dreary Tuesday afternoon, enjoy this fun bit of fusion. Tell me if you hear about a new album from either of these great acts, too, please.

Gangster of Love - Johnny Guitar Watson

Unless you're a fan of both funk and the Steve Miller Band, you've likely never heard the inspiration for The Joker. Today, you can fix that personal failing by enjoying this fabulous performance of the real Gangster of Love by Johnny Guitar Watson in 1977. Sure, you have to enjoy three minutes of introductory goofiness before the song, but it's at least as fun as the song itself. Not only that, but you can enjoy the 70s jumpsuits at the same time. Once Gangster of Love begins, however, you no longer care what the band wears because you're too busy getting down and watching Mr. Guitar Watson justify his name.

The KNUX

This post must be prefaced with a Parental Advisory, as The KNUX tend to have relatively foul mouths and unenlightened attitudes toward the role of women in modern society. That said, I like these guys. I feel like I should be outraged but I still catch myself playing Bang! Bang! and cranking up the bass on the tiny subwoofer attached to my computer.

I was surprised to find that I hadn't added any songs from The KNUX to The NPJ already, but with the advent of a new album (none of which has yet been uploaded to Grooveshark but, heck, they don't even have the new stuff on their MySpace profile) I thought I'd rectify the oversight. Besides, it's high time I got some more unclassifiable hip-hop out to you all.

Mandolin Concerto in C Major - Vivaldi

I'm posting something a little unusual today, because I've done something unusual. I bought a mandolin. I'm going to be writing about my experiences, both in purchasing the instrument and the accessories I am certain to need and in learning to play a stringed instrument from complete ignorance. Facing a completely new way to read music intimidates me quite a bit, but watching things like an orchestra of mandolins, lutes, guitars, and other strings play the first movement of Vivaldi's Mandolin Concerto in C Major gives me hope that I can at least play Mary Had a Little Lamb in a recognizable way someday soon. I'll likely never be a bluegrass or classical pro, but I'm hoping that I can at least learn to sound like I know what I'm doing.

My Latest Music Page Updates