No introduction needed, further explanation at the bottom of the list, and so here is this week’s first installment of the List of the Moment Volume 10. I’m pleased to say that the List has become a regular feature and will be coming at you twice weekly from now on. As ever, I look forward to hearing from you all with such thoughtful comments and the amazing connections we always seem to find between artists (last weeks’ was Sia, I believe being the niece of an eighties group, though the name eludes me now). Still, six degrees of separation indeed! Here for you, and in no particular order (the order is not a ranking order).
"If You Gotta Go, Go Now (Or Else You Gotta Stay All Night)" by Bob Dylan – I prefer the live version of this song, Live, 1964 at Philharmonic. If you like Dylan, then this is one sexy and fun song. I know Dylan makes the list a lot, but why not try it? The version I have seems to be the best that I’ve come across. Not only is Dylan cheeky as ever, but he’s clever as ever, and the lyrics, albeit not brilliant or life-altering anthems as some of his songs have been held up to be, are still great fun.
"Young Americans" by David Bowie – I recently saw a video of this from the Dick Cavett show and that reminded me of how much I love Bowie. This particular song in not among his best, not like "Suffragette City" for example, which would have been a good and easy pick and is a great great song. Since there are too many by Bowie to list, I chose this one because the mood of it strikes me as we move into spring this song is full of promise. Obviously, with Bowie, there are so many songs to choose from that in some sense, I had to go with my gut. It was this or “Sound and Vision”, which is another great song, but not quite right for the beginning of spring. I like the optimism in the music here – whether the lyrics are optimistic or not, ehhhhh... that’s a toss up, but he certainly makes it sound good.
"Strange Currencies" by REM – Doesn’t love warp the mind a little? This song, along with "What’s the Frequency Kenneth", is the best on the record, in my view. "Strange Currencies" is a sad song, to be sure – the perfect song for break-ups in some ways or make-ups or the relationship that is indecisive and can’t seem to make up its mind. Hence the lyrics:
- You know with love come strange currencies
And here is my appeal:
I need a chance, a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance,
A word, a signal, a nod, a little breath
Just to fool myself, to catch myself, to make it real, real
These words, "You will be mine"
These words, "You will be mine" all the time, oh…
The whole album is good and worth buying, in my view, with songs like “What’s the Frequency Kenneth” and “Crush with Eyeliner” and “*69” all worth your time. “Strange Currencies” seems to me to be the most sincere of the lot, but take a listen and see what you think.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Steve
Ah, Sadi, been looking forward to this, thanks as always.
I would agree, I quite like "Young Americans", one of the few pre-80's Bowie tunes that weren't kinda weird.
Re. R.E.M., I must confess, the ONLY song of theirs I've ever liked was "Everybody Hurts", I'm just not crazy about their lead singer's vocals, and they don't use synths enough for my ears, but that's just me and my UK 80's upbringing.
Re. E.L.O., I've sort of been more interested in this band since a one hit wonder dance group (Lovefreekz) in the UK revamped their 1979 hit "Shine A Little Love" and turned it into an incredible dance tune last year.
Also, vis a vis songs about relationships, your E.L.O. tune reminded me of an excellent song by Leo Sayer (who just had another of his old 70's hits remixed and danced up which made #1 in the UK last month) called "Orchard Road" from 1983 (this one a top 20 UK hit), basically a song about him on the phone with his estranged wife, telling her about his new job he's starting up, then finishing the song with a reconciliation between the two...I'll have to look up the lyrics, it really melts your heart, apparently based on his own personal experience with his own wife...for some reason, the last hit of his career at the time.
I loved the Cyndi Lauper tune too, but it's kinda been played to death for me. But I like most of the stuff I've heard of hers, got her "true Colors" album and her 'best of' cleverly titled "Twelve Deadly Cyns" lol.
Yeah, the Foreigner tune was great too.
Finally, Kate Bush, yes, I do love the music for this song, though the lyrics are a little blasphemous and presumptuous for my tastes, but as you know, lyrics take a back seat to the music for me!! Her new album, "Aerial" which came out last year (her first for 12 years) is a double album, with "King Of The Mountain" the first UK hit from it. Definitely a unique talent that I think most people either love or hate.
2 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Sadi--have you or has anyone, heard the new Kate Bush, first album in 12 years? I have all her old stuff, but I'm curious about this new one.
And it's Dean and Weaniemania, all over again!
3 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Hey Steve -- Leo Sayer - god that brings back memories for me... didn't he do "When i Need You" and then Gilbert O Sullivan did "Claire" - i remember all of these bad/good seventies ballads that were really the hit at the the time... gosh, you brought back memories.
Kate Bush blasphemous? Really? I never saw it that way, but i suppose it's all a relative thing... i'm quite religious so i'm surprised but you must be even more so than i or we're hearing the same thing differently, i think...
explain?
I'd be curious.
ELO are just great in my view... you don't like Telephone Line? That surprises me... i would think you would like that.
Sorry i spelled Cindi as Cindy, i was sure it was Cindy and should have checked apologies right now to all for that error i was sure it was just Cindy but ah...
For some reason, your posts did not come through on my email; pardon the delay in response...
4 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Hey Gordon - actually , i haven't heard much from Kate Bush but i'm sure you could take a listen on Amazon.com and see; maybe i'll stop by and see what i can find....
Dean and the weanies or weenies, not sure how to spell, but am determined to find that one song "Fuck You" (Ed: name of song, apologies) - but i've been looking for it for ages and it's very hard to find... Any ideas... ????
Do you know this song? Or am i the only person in the world? i'm starting to feel like it.
5 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
oh, Steve Everybody Hurts by REM is a great song, but Losing My Religion is even better i think as is Strange Currencies. They're not hard or harsh in any way, but have more umph to them in some way... Have you read, on another note but related, a book called A Haiku Year published by Soft Skull Press? It's by Michael Stipe of REM and i forget who else but i'm sure it's available either through the publisher (whom i used to know when i was running my press) and prob. even easier through Amazon....
What's that REM sound about "i count your eyelashes, secretly...' "i call your answering machine just to hear your voice..." ... Those are some lyrics - do you know this song? I don't know the name of it and i used to... but can't think of it now.
?
Thoughts?
6 - Steve
Hey, Sadi,
Funny, I tried posting the lyrics for Orchard Road by Leo Sayer, but when I hit 'Preview' it was blank except for '144 banned word'...there are no swear words in it that I can see, maybe it was too long to post??? Strange, anyway...beautiful song, but not one of his US hits alas.
Well, I guess it sounded to me like Kate Bush was saying she could do a better job than God or something, just sounded like hubris to me, but maybe she was saying something else.
I'm not actually familiar with that E.L.O. tune but I kinda liked some of their other stuff, so I will check that one out.
I've only got about 4 REM tunes, Sadi, don't think I know that song you refer to.
And no, don't think I've ever read a book by a singer/musician, not into biographies much.
7 - Steve
Yes, leo Sayer did do "When I Need You", Sadi. Don't remember "Claire" but I only have a best of of his, so maybe he did.
8 - Scott Butki
The reporter/editor in me points out this:
It's Kurt Cobain, not Curt Kobain.
------------
I want to know what love is but if it means i have to suffer anything as painful as this song,well, i'll take lust instead, thank you very much.
9 - Sherri Hall
I love Cyndi Lauper, just saw her at Coda in NYC on Monday, she still looks great too!
10 - Steve
Have you enjoyed her most recent albums Sherri?? heard very little of her recently.
11 - chantal stone
ahhhhh Sadi! ANYTHING by REM is great, in my book...one of my favorite bands of all time! great pick!
and i LOVE LOVE LOVE Cyndi Lauper...."She's So Unusual" was one of the first albums (yes folks, on vinyl!) that i ever owned...along with Madonna's "Like a Virgin" and Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA".
and of course....Foreigner...i already told you on one of your other posts, that i've been listening to that one...GREAT song!
TOTALLY inspired by you, Sadi, i wrote a short piece about the music i've been listening to (you know what they say about imitation being the greatest form of flattery!....i think i mentioned before that my husband and i are compiling a bunch of 80's music for an upcoming road trip. i just posted it about 10 minutes ago, so it should be up sometime tomorrow i would imagine.
anyway...great list, as always.
12 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
i seem to be having a lot of trouble today spelling artists names correctly, so let me first apologize for that - it's actually more a function of a kind of dyslexia than anyting, so apologies all around on that front. I really do know who i'm writing about... i swear... just like i know how to spell...i just type too fast...
more tomorrow... ; )
glad you're liking this list but break out and try some new stuff... i think once you got into it you might like Dylan etc etc. and nobody ever mentions Nirvana - what is up with that? Am i alone in my absolutely love of Kurt Cobain's immense talent....?
Well, will post more tomorrow... i'm really glad you're liking this list... the next list we'll see what it brings... i'm hoping you all will try some of the more unknown territory... tho i may take a real trip back in time; we'll see..
s
13 - Rodney Welch
Some great ones this time, Sadi.
* The Dylan version you cite is indeed the best; he's clearly having a blast singing it.
* "Young Americans" is a masterful collage of images that makes a lot less sense than it seems to. What in the fuck is that song about? It starts with a poor young couple in love then it just fractures into images of Nixon and domestic abuse and John Lennon and whatever wandered into Bowie's head -- which is not a bad way to write a song.
* "Time After Time" is an 80s radio staple I never tire of listening to. It came on yesterday when I was in a car full of people and it knocked me out again. She's So Unusual was Lauper's masterpiece; it had everything, all sides of her, and it sounds today as fresh as ever.
* "I wanna know what love is, I want you to blow meeeee...." -- at least that's what I sing when that dreck pops up on the radio. Foreigner. Bleh.
* I love the Kate Bush song, too, although I'm relatively new to it.
14 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Agree with you Chantal - anything by REM is pretty much great - maybe you know the song i'm referring to in the comment a few comments prior in comment #5. I have the lyrics, but don't know the name of the song... any ideas? You might know it.
15 - Mark Saleski
damn. King Missile? for some reason i was not expecting that at ALL!
very cool sadi.
my favorite pairs of King Missile tunes both come from The Way To Salvation:
"The Story of Willy" - about the last day of the world and
"The Boy Who Ate Lasagna And Could Jump Over A Church", which is sort of about the title...and sort of not.
16 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Have not heard the Dean and the Weenies, but I will keep you posted if I come across something.
I most remember Leo Sayer for "Long Tall Glasses" the unlikely title for that "Yes I can dance, Of course I can dance" song.
A guilty pleasure for me is Gilbert O' Sullivan's quirky but still dark ode to suicide, "Alone Again, Naturally."
Mixed feelings about REM, mostly liked the early albums where Stipe was really indecipherable--but I must say that they gave one of my most memorable concerts I've ever been to for their show-must-go-on spirit in performing during a non-stop, heavy downpour. They could've cancelled but they didn't and they more than earned the crowd's appreciation.
Anybody remember the great pre-ELO group Jeff Lynne was in--the Move?
17 - chantal stone
Sadi....the REM song is called "At My Most Beautiful".....GREAT song....
At my most beautiful
I count your eyelashes, secretly,
With every one, whisper I love you,
I let you sleep...
I know you're closed eye watching me,
Listening....
I thought I saw a smile.
Michael Stipe is an amazing songwriter...love him! *sighhh*
18 - Steve
Well, Sadi, you are good at reading between the lines lol...Nirvana and the whole grunge movement made me abandon the top 40 music scene for a few years in the 90's, it reminded me so much of punk from the 70's which I hated and heavy metal that I had a very limited tolerance for. Sorry...
Yes, I have "Like A Virgin" and "Born In The USA" in my collection too, Chantal, but only on cassette. I don't think I would buy the Madonna album on CD now, maybe just a 'best of Madonna' one day.
No, Gordon, don't remember The Move at all, what did they sound like?? I have that Sayer song too, Gordon.
19 - chantal stone
Steve.....don't bother with getting "Like a Virgin"...just get the "Immaculate Collection". one of my favorite cds by far! It's a great compilation of her hits thru the 80's.
20 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Steve--the Move were a fairly important British band of the late 60s and early 70s who were largely unknown in the US. When they disbanded in 1972 the main creative forces, Jeff Lynn (more pop)and Roy Wood (darker songs), along with Bev Bevan formed ELO. Went through stages--Who-like rock, artsy, progressive, but an indicator of what they sounded like comes with the two Move songs that ELO recorded: "California Man" (Cheap Trick did a cover)and "Do Ya" ("do ya do ya want my love"). When Roy Wood left (after the first or second ELO album?) Jeff Lynne took it to a more pop-oriented orchestrated sound.
Damn, I sound like a walking talking encyclopedia--but I actually don't have extensive knowledge due to the fact that I only had a few of the Move's albums and they weren't that well known in America (they never toured here, etc.)
21 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Oh, and I forgot to mention one of their best songs, "Brontosaurus" a slow-sludge booming-bass song of total 70s-style heaviosity (I might be wrong but ELO might have also revived this, too):
Well her sister used to hate it,
So I never thought she'd make it.
But she threw you all
Supposing in a spangle wrapper.
She will let you stroke her head,
But if you move away your dead.
She just break you up
Before you realize it's happened.
Chorus:
But she can really do the brontosaurus
And she can scream the heeby jeeby for us.
Until you know what she?s really got
'cos she can do it loud
Well, she can do it, do it, do it!
Now her daddy's getting old
And he seemed to lose control
When the brontosaurus
Stormed into the house to trap her.
Well her sister used to hate it
So I never thought she'd make it.
Until she shook you up
Exactly like a firecracker
Chorus:
Really do the brontosaurus
And she can scream the hee-by jee-by for us.
Well you know she can really rock
So do it, do it now.
22 - Mike
I really disliked ELO, still do, but here's another "are they related?" link - Jeff Lynne was in the Travelling Wilburys with Dylan, Orbison, Tom Petty,and George Harrison. I really like Dylan and Roy Orbison so the TW's were listenable despite my being prejudiced by the fact that Jeff Lynne was in the line up. Dylan's Tweeter and the Monkey Man was the standout track of the TW's album for me.
I also can't stand Foreigner, but Cyndi Lauper's a great girl. She co-presented Top of the Pops here in the UK a couple of weeks ago and was pleasantly disoriented and dizzy. The various 12 inch remixes of Time after Time and Girls are classic slabs of 80s pop music.
I like Running up that Hill and especially like the beautiful "Don't give up" that she did with Peter Gabriel. I have the latest double album, someone sent it to me a while back but I've only listened to it once and obviously wasn't in the mood to chill enough to absorb it since I can't remember anything about it. I'll try to listen again...so much music, so little time.
Kurt's a star and his mum was right when she said "he's gone to the Stupid Club in the sky" (or words close to that).
I gave a link a while back on one of these lists to a soundtrack album (Mondo NY) available on Amazon with Dean and the Weenies track on. Did that come to nothing?
I like Young Americans too, it marked yet another incarnation of Bowie, another image transformation, a move to white boy soul type production with the help of Luther Vandross. If Madonna resembles anyone in her penchant for periodic reinventions of herself it's Bowie.
I haven't much got into a lot of REM though I thoroughly enjoyed Stipe's contribution to the One Giant Leap album.
Re Gilbert O' Sullivan I read in just the last week or so a thesis ( a newspaper article, not an academic one) that "Claire" has paedo undertones. I haven't been interested enough to look up the track to check out the theory though.
Thanks for the list Sadi, eclectic as ever.
23 - Scott Butki
Is ok, Said. I sumtimes hav troubl spillin 2.
I like Bate Kush too.
:)
24 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Mike heya - ! nice to see you -- pretty much agree with all that you say... not surprised about Cindi Lauper being a top hit in the UK or a mix at dance clubs (being from the UK myself, this does not surprise very much). I like v. much your description of her as "pleasantly dizzy" was it? however you worded it was great...just perfect for he and surely for the moment...
As for Gilbert O'Sullivan the song "Claire" in this day and age, could have the undertones you suggest or the article suggested(pedophile etc etc) though i think if you put in context of the time, it is less so. Like anything, if one takes it out of context well then... we screw it all up.
I remember thinking the same about Lewis Carroll's photographs when there were big exhibits and thinking that it was just wrong that people were not accusing him of being a pedophile when it was so many years later and htere is NO evidence of such thing (trust me on this; i'm working on a biography of Carroll...)
Young Americans indeed is white soul - great term for it too isnt' it... but yes... a super song, maybe not his best, but his best for me right now as we open up to Spring....
Cheers -- (kiss the british ground for me.... if you're near Tottenham or Finsbury Park, send my love...) xo
25 - sadi ranson-polizzotti
Mark S. - King Missile - i aim to please.. but more, i have such eclectic taste (sorry about above compliment, must have forgotten my forward slash there... whoops)...
I love King Missile, especially "Jesus Was Way Cool" which is one of the funniest songs i've ever heard in my life and had me rolling on the floor in tears practically... "Sensitive Artist" is just so full of whining sarcasm that i want to call the wahhhmmmmbullannnccee for this guy b/c he's such a freakin' pain in the neck and such a little delicate flower... but that, bien sur, is the point.
Oddly, i don't know the two songs you mention - now i'm on the hunt to find them... and to preview this comment ... :) nice to see you around!!!