Song Of The Week Archive

Nov 7, 2018 — Make A Change by Durand Jones & The Indications

Sounds like circa-1970 soul jazz, but it's new-- good musicians with old souls. From their self-titled 2016 debut album.

"How long, baby how long?

Will this madness be here to stay"

----

Ten years ago today, I sent out the first song-of-the-week email, and although I've really enjoyed sharing musical discoveries (and/or questionable taste) with you all, it feels like a good moment to conclude the project. In other words, you no longer have to politely filter these emails.

Here are the final stats:

369 songs sent, including today's. There were stretches of neglect but it still averages out to about one every ten days, across the decade.
Played start to finish, the whole list runs just north of 24 straight hours of listening time.
A third of the selections were less than about a year old, and half were less than five. (Not just oldies!!)
Oldest track was from 1876, but that was an outlier. Songs otherwise ranged from the 1940s to present and got more numerous by decade, except for the 1990s which was notably underrepresented at just 26 songs.
There were several artist three-peats, but the surprising winner for most appearances was Mike Doughty, with six songs over the years. Runner up with four was Taylor Swift, less surprisingly.

A few highlights of this adventure:

When I accidentally stumbled across that Gotye song 7 full months before it hit #1 on the billboard charts and everyone got super sick of it. #blessed

That time that Sarah narrated a crossover episode and explained Cuban Timba music.

I wrote maudlin (but heartfelt!) elegies for two of my favorite bands: Harvey Danger and Bishop Allen.

Thanks to you all so much for subscribing, and being kind enough to occasionally listen, offer feedback, thoughts, and your own recommendations. (Please continue to send me your music recommendations!). Full archive will remain here for time being: http://decaf.co/sotw

Until next time, it seems apt to close this email as I did the very first:

Have a hopeful and changeful week,

Ben

Oct 31, 2018 — Science Fiction/Double Feature by The Rocky Horror Show cast

Some terrible thrills for Halloween-- the opening number from the Rocky Horror Show. This recording is from the 1974 Roxy (LA) stage company production, which is the best version of the soundtrack, more honky-tonk than the movie which came after. Wikipedia has a rundown of the classic films referenced in the lyrics.

"Then something went wrong

for Fay Wray and King Kong,

they got caught in a celluloid jam"

Oct 24, 2018 — Nobody Wants To Rock N Roll No More by Becky Warren

Would have loved to hear Tom Petty cover this, it sounds like one of his. Warren's new album of country rock flirts with some welcome modes outside of it, without dropping the twang or beer tales. From "Undesirable", just out.

"We camped out for the record release

Head full of music and axle grease"

Oct 17, 2018 — To Love Somebody by the Bee Gees

A standard that's been recorded by many artists-- this is the original, as written and performed by the Brothers Gibb a full decade before their disco dominance, and it's worth a close appreciation. I've been listening to a podcast about the group and am amazed at how extensive their career was both before and after Stayin' Alive. I think this early one might be their most pure and durable composition. They wrote it for Otis Redding, who died before being able to record it.

From the Bee Gees' 1967 international debut record, "Bee Gees 1st".

"In my brain, I see your face again"

Oct 11, 2018 — Green Eyes and a Heart Of Gold by The Lone Bellow

The kind of assured country rock that can only be made by a trio from Brooklyn. They sure do seem to lean into the title refrain a whole lot in this song, which is catchy but vapid, or maybe vapid but catchy? Off their self-titled 2013 album. Hat tip to Katie for the band recommendation.

"It's harder than we thought it'd be

We're losing blood with every beat"

Sep 26, 2018 — The Gambler by Mike Doughty

Rogers did it before Doughty here but Schlitz did it first. This song is so very much better than the maudlin karaoke staple it's become. Economical storytelling good enough to mean something and simple enough for a teenager to quote in a yearbook. This cover version off of 2005's "The Gambler EP".

"And somewhere in the darkness, the gambler? He broke even."

Sep 5, 2018 — Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So) by The Chi-Lites

Hit play and wait for it-- an exaltation of horns later made iconic via sample in one of Beyoncé's best. The Chi-Lites were a soul group out of Chicago and this was a minor hit on its release in 1970, written by their aptly named frontman/producer Eugene Record. The familiar riff + break recur a couple times under the prechorus. Off their second album, "I Like Your Lovin' (Do You Like Mine?)".

"You know my life is in your name"

Aug 30, 2018 — Tarzan Boy by Baltimora

Curious Italodisco artifact from the mid 1980s. It was a minor hit then, and you may recognize the quite memorable "oh oh oh oh..." melody it's based around. The best part of the thing is not that tarzan motif but the recurring bridge bit with the lyrics "night to night, give me the other, give me the other..." (first occurrence at 1m48s).

It's not so much a coherent song as a grab bag of ideas, and is more than a little bit inspired by the earlier "Self Control" (Laura Branigan's version and originally by Raf). Baltimora-- which was really just a collaboration between an Italian producer and an Northern Irish vocalist whose previous career had been as a Red Cross EMT-- dissolved shortly after. From the 1985 album "Living In The Background."

"Jungle life, you're far away from nothing"

Aug 22, 2018 — Nobody by Mitski

Emodisco from Mitski, currently the "most advanced American songwriter" in the words of Iggy Pop (!). She breaks down the lyrics in a video in Genius' great "Verified" series; the chorus done acappella sounds to me like Astrud Gilberto doing Girl From Ipanema. From her new album "Be The Cowboy".

"Venus, planet of love,

Was destroyed by global warming"

Aug 15, 2018 — Right On by OMC

Breezy little summer jam from the Otara Millionaire's Club out of Auckland, NZ. OMC is known mainly for their one enormous single "How Bizarre"-- this is another track off their sole 1996 album.

"Watching all the P’s and Q’s, nothing can go wrong"

Aug 11, 2018 — Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Robert Hazard

Cyndi Lauper's towering 1983 debut "She's So Unusual" had ten tracks, six of which were covers of (mostly) then-recent material by other artists. We've had two of the original recordings (by Prince, and the Brains) on this list in the past that Lauper turned into hits-- here's a third. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" always seemed like Lauper's signature song, so I was surprised to learn that it, too, is a remake.

Robert Hazard was a new wave songwriter and performer, spent some time with his band on MTV rotation in the early 80s. But before even that small measure of celebrity, he recorded this demo of a song he allegedly came up with in the shower. That was in 1979, and it was never officially released, presumably just circulated on tape. The attachment here is a rip from YouTube (itself ripped from tape), which is all I can track down: the sound is lousy and the first and last seconds are cut off.

On display here is a scrappier, punkier, guitar-driven song that lacks the recognizable bouncy riff of the later hit. Lauper's rearrangement is cleaner pop, and she reframed the lyrics slightly to anchor it as the 80s feminist anthem it went on to become. (Lauper seems to have had a great ear for diamonds in the rough, but as an aside, I'm pleased to report that her actual best song, "Time After Time", was one of the few originals on that record.)

"All my girls have got to walk in the sun"

Aug 1, 2018 — A Real Hero by College (feat. Electric Youth)

A classic from the (great, moody, nostalgia) soundtrack to 2011's "Drive"--done by a fairly obscure French synthpop musician collaborating with a Canadian synthpop duo, and predates the movie by a couple years. It either illuminates the song or maybe sort of ruins it to notice that the lyrics are at least in part about Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who successfully landed the plane in the river.

"Your pursuits are called outstanding,

Though emotionally complex"

Jul 26, 2018 — Cannibal Queen by Miniature Tigers

Quickie catchy I'm-so-mature-now-that-i'm-25 paean anchored on a Stevie Nicksesque chug. This one has been kicking around my "maybes" list for nearly the whole time I've done this email and I guess its number is finally up. It's got that sort of mid-2000s Brooklyn twee pop sound, which is exactly what Miniature Tigers is (was). From 2008's "Tell It To The Volcano".

"It's good having somebody good for a change"

Jul 18, 2018 — White Gloves by Khruangbin

From Houston TX, but adopting the Thai word for airplane as a band name-- influenced by vintage Thai funk and surf guitar, their music mostly has an chill ambient soul sound. This song is from 2015's "The Universe Smiles Upon You".

"She was a queen"

Jul 11, 2018 — I Like It Like That by Pete Rodriguez

Cardi B's current chart-topper "I Like It" is a Latin trap track built around a sample of this Nuyorican boogaloo standard from 1967. This original was written all in English as a deliberate crossover vehicle -- notable then that it's finally topped the charts in 2018 in an interpolation that's half Spanish.

"Just commence your feet to skate"

Jul 5, 2018 — Teenage Head by the Flamin' Groovies

A San Francisco band in the late 60s and early 70s, but unlike their contemporaries famous for psychedelic jams, the Groovies had blues and rockabilly foundations. This is the punchy hormonal title track from their 1971 album, most of which is pretty excellent and a lot more like similar-period Rolling Stones than e.g. Jefferson Airplane or the Dead. After three unsuccessful albums, the frontman eventually took off and the band moved to England to align with the power pop scene there, which explains why this song is so wildly different from the their later hit "Shake Some Action" that was on this list last spring.

"Half a boy and half a man
I'm half at sea and half on land"

Jun 27, 2018 — Fisherman by Chrissy Zebby Tembo & Ngozi Family

Zambia had a great fusion psych rock scene in the 70s (known as "zamrock") and Tembo, along with the Ngozi Family group, were near the center of it. Heavy guitar riffs sound like Hendrix and bands out of the UK at that time. This is from 1976's "My Ancestors".

"Life is good, full of joy

You can't die so soon, fisherman please."

Jun 21, 2018 — Mother Maybe by Kadhja Bonet

Opens with a soul blast like a classic sample unfolding in real time. Slips in and out of what you expect, ethereal voice set against the pulse. Since we last heard her on this email list, the music has tightened up some; I wonder where she'll navigate to next. From her just-out sophomore album "Childqueen".

"You're the deep and secret sea"

Jun 13, 2018 — The Fire by Natalie Prass

Compelling track from interesting singer songwriter Prass. There's more than a little of the Haim vibe on the tight chorus, touching back to an 80s feel throughout. Off the just-released "The Future and the Past".

"A sparrow within all of the noise"

Jun 6, 2018 — Africa by Weezer

A 15-year old girl insisted on Twitter that Weezer cover the 1982 Toto classic, and a few days ago... they did. A Weezery but faithful version, with as much joy as the transcendent original. Listen for some background harmonies foregrounded here and vice versa. Thanks to Aditya for the heads-up.

"As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti"

May 14, 2018 — Sepheryn by Curtiss Maldoon

Would you believe that Madonna's dance track "Ray Of Light"-- twenty years old this month! -- was a reworking of 1971 tune by a British folk duo? I didn't either, but here's that older song, by Curtiss Maldoon. The whole first verse and chorus were recycled verbatim (along with other fragments), but where Madonna's chorus explodes with energy, this one quaaluuuuuudes out. Learned the connection from (again) the Hit Parade podcast that went deep on the backstory of the whole Ray of Light album.

"Quicker than a ray of light, then gone,

for someone else shall need them"

May 4, 2018 — Someday We'll Be Together by Boogaloo Joe Jones

Have really been digging this guy's music lately. Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones is a soul-jazz guitarist-- put out a series of records on Prestige, chiefly late 60s and early 70s. He worked in a fusion genre that sits somewhere between jazz, blues, rock, funk. I find it much more listenable and accessible than more traditional jazz. Only some of his stuff is even available digitally-- this track is an interpretation of the Diana Ross & Supremes #1 hit "Someday We'll Be Together", off of Jones' 1970 album "Right On Brother". It was recorded by the legendary engineer Rudy Van Gelder as was most of Jones' work for Prestige.

Apr 18, 2018 — I Feel Love by Donna Summer

The first fully electronic disco track, this song is arguably the starting point of a genre that evolves into today as EDM. Created with frequent 70s collaborators Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, and released on Summer's 1977 album "I Remember Yesterday". Only Summer's ethereal vocal is organic-- the rest is synthesized-- at a time when most dance music used live string orchestras. She apparently wrote the starry-eyed lyric on the heels of a particularly promising first date.

I learned a lot about Donna Summer's ranging and influential career from Chris Molanphy's deep podcast Hit Parade. Runner up personal faves if you want more Summer cuts are "Dim All The Lights" (in a more traditional disco mode and structurally similar to other of her big hits) and "Romeo" a later poppy track from the soundtrack to Flashdance.

"Ooh, fallin free fallin free fallin free"

Apr 5, 2018 — Mr. Henri Rousseau's Dream by Midori Takada

Semi-lost 1980s ambient debut by Japanese percussionist Takada exhumed and reissued to great fanfare in 2017. This is the first, long, track from "Through The Looking Glass" and sounds to me like spa music today, but it was avant-garde in 1983 and feels no worse for the connection. Tune in and chill out.

Feb 28, 2018 — Super-God by Som Imaginário

Brazilian psych rock from 1970. Som Imaginário ("Imaginary Sound") practiced a kind of fusion including bossa nova inflections and mixed English/Portuguese that distinguished its sound from the anglo-american axis of most similar rock at the time. This is a wild trip off of their self-titled debut.

"I drink coffee, you drink milk."

Feb 21, 2018 — Crapa Pelada by Quartetto Cetra

Fun 1945 tune from early in the run of Italian vocal group Quartetto Cetra. The title is the name of the song's protagonist, who seems to be a tragic bald guy. Give it a minute to get to the good bit. Thanks to Emily for the recommendation.

"Bidibadi bidibadi bidiba bidiba bidibà bidibà bidibà bidibà"

Feb 15, 2018 — The Long Goodbye by John Williams

Just before kicking off his long, career-defining partnership with Steven Spielberg, composer John Williams scored this 1973 Robert Altman neo-noir. The theme recurs throughout the film in various different genre incarnations. This jazz version was uncovered recently in the tape vaults, featuring a rare treat: John Williams himself playing the lead piano.

Williams has been an incredibly prolific musician. In addition to personally scoring 8 of the top 20 grossing films of all time and creating the iconic themes for the Star Wars and Indiana Jones series (plus Jaws, Harry Potter, and countless others), Williams was the regular conductor of the Boston Pops for 13 years. At 86, he's still pulling down Oscar noms for new work and touring to conduct symphonic productions of his own music and classical canon material. What a remarkable fellow. (Who knew that little Johnny Williams would go on to such greatness?)

Feb 8, 2018 — Curious by Hayley Kiyoko

New pop with an exhilerating, killer chorus. Put it on repeat.

Then, if you want to go beyond pure danceability, here's commenter Alex Ostroff writing at The Singles Jukebox:

A few years ago, I wrote, “I don’t want well-meaning political anthems or pity; I want more people hearing engaging, intelligent, desperate, emotional, angry, frustrated, happy queer voices writing damn good pop songs.” After gritting my teeth through the Great Gay-Pander-Off and Macklemore, this well-executed lesbian take on a typical ‘my ex found someone new’ pop narrative is exactly that. Sure, the beat is standard post-MustardWave, and the first verse opens with a hell of a clunker, but “Curious” is all about its impeccably-constructed chorus. [...] And as for that couplet? “I’m just curious / Is it serious?” cheekily subverts the titular adjective that’s too often deployed to undermine queer women’s sexuality. There’s nothing ambiguous or uncertain about Kiyoko’s interest. Might I be overrating this? I doubt it. It won’t replace “When U Were Mine” or “Dancing On My Own,” but it rewrites the latter as queer more successfully than Calum Scott’s cover, and I’ve been listening to it compulsively for two weeks ~~straight~~ gay.

Recent single from her forthcoming album "Expectations".

"Did you take him to the pier in Santa Monica forget-to-bring-a-jacket-wrap-up-in-him-cause-you-wanted-ta?"

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