Thursday, February 25, 2010

Gimme a Bowl of Atlantic R&B

I can't remember which volume of the Atlantic R&B series I got first back in the late 80s, but I doubt it took me more than a year to collect all seven. They're all great (though I think I'm just a tiny bit partial to Volume 4) and even though there's more than 25 years between Volume 1 and Volume 7, there's a seamless quality when you listen to all of them on shuffle. So here are 21 of favorite songs from the Atlantic R&B series (3 from each volume).


You Don't Miss Your Water William Bell
Just One Look Doris Troy
Teardrops From My Eyes Ruth Brown
Sweet Soul Music Arthur Conley
Love, Love, Love The Clovers
Mess Around Ray Charles
Compared to What Les McCann & Eddie Harris
Spanish Harlem Ben E. King
A Beggar For Your Kisses The Diamonds
Fools Fall In Love The Drifters
See-Saw Don Covay
Midnight Special Tiny Grimes
Rainy Night in Georgia Brook Benton
Where is the Love? Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
I'm in Love Wilson Pickett
Tee Nah Nah Harry Van Walls
Soul On Fire Lavern Baker
Cool Jerk The Capitols
A Lover's Question Clyde McPhatter
Gee Whiz Carla Thomas
Love Won't Let Me Wait Major Harris

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Don't Start Him Talking - The Songs of Paul Kelly


Paul Kelly and the Messengers' 1992 album Comedy is one of those classic under-appreciated gems - just about a perfect hour of music. While Kelly's records since then have been a little inconsistent, his body of work over the last 25 year is pretty impressive. He put out a greatest hits (Songs of the South) collection in 2008, but it's only available as an import in the United States so here's 30 of my favorite Paul Kelly songs.


Don't Start Me Talking
From St Kilda To Kings Cross
Before Too Long
Dumb Things
She's Rare
Shane Warne Song
Somebody's Forgetting Somebody (Somebody's Letting Somebody Down)
Khe Sanh
Luck
Little Kings
Let's Fall Again
The Foggy Fields Of France
Moon In The Bed
I Had Forgotten You
Big Heart

Last Train to Heaven
Your Little Sister (Is a Big Girl Now)
Special Treatment
Difficult Woman
Young Lovers
Careless
Little Decisions
Same Old Walk
Ball And Chain
You're So Fine
The Ballad Of Queenie & Rover
Yil Lull
Ghost Town
Adelaide
Pidgeon/Jundamurra

Thursday, February 11, 2010

I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself - Volume 2


As I mentioned last year, I used to do an anti-Valentine Day show every year when I had my alternative country radio show. While those days may be an increasingly a distant memory, it's still, um.....I don't know if "fun" is the right word, but I still like doing them. In that spirit, I present this year's batch of songs of recrimination, remorse, revenge, and regret.


I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself Isaac Hayes
Streets Of Baltimore Charley Pride
The World Of Broken Hearts Elvis Costello
The Grand Tour George Jones
Patch My Heart The Mad Lads
Cry Me A River Caetano Veloso
I Wake Up Crying Chuck Jackson
Drown in My Own Tears Percy Sledge
How Can I Go On Without You Jimmy Scott
No Easy Way Down Mark Eitzel
Love Is A Losing Game Amy Winehouse
Woman Left Lonely Cat Power
That Other Woman Got My Man And Gone Margie Joseph
Tears Don't Care Who Cries Them k.d. lang
All Blue Cheri Knight
About the Blues Julie London
Cry On The Detroit Cobras
Don't Forget To Cry Mandy Barnett
It's All Over Now Holly Golightly
Tracks of My Tears Aretha Franklin

Thursday, February 4, 2010

A Cavalcade of Kelly Willis

It's kinda hard to believe that it's been 20 years since Kelly Willis' first album came out. I always thought she'd become a bigger star, but maybe that cliche "too country for rock, too rock for country" really did hinder her career. But I'd rather not dwell, so here's a great little homage to Ms. Willis put together by blog readers Al (the A sides) and Jerald (the B sides). Though I did pick out the picture. :)


Bang Bang
Reason to Believe
The More That I'm Around You
Sincerely (Too Late to Turn Back Now)
Take Me Down
Heaven's Just a Sin Away
Easy (As Falling Apart)
Cradle of Love
I Don't Want To Love You (But I Do)
River of Love
Wrapped
Hidden Things
Not What I Had in Mind
What World Are You Living in?
Get Real
If I Left You
Whatever Way the Wind Blows
Drive South
Teddy Boys
Success


It's A Cheatin' Situation
Little Honey
Your Cheatin' Heart
Parallel Bars
Ride Me Down Easy
That's How I Got To Memphis
Rex's Blues
The Only One
When My Baby's Beside Me
Golden Ring
Shine
Lady Yesterday
When I Loved You
Absentee Rag
Truckstop Girl
The Circle
Friendless Marriage
We Always Fight When We Drink Gin
Take Me
Me And Mr. Jones