If I were a television executive, I'd be telling myself to create a spinoff of Verse Chorus Verse; a spinoff dedicated to all the times I reference music I discovered or re-discovered while watching The West Wing. Yesterday, I talked about hearing "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits for the first time. Earlier this week, I got a new CD because of a song I heard playing in the background of a different episode of the once great series.
I've seen nearly every episode of The West Wing multiple times by now, especially the first four seasons when it was at its height. A couple weeks ago, I was sitting in our living room working on a project for work. I put a West Wing DVD in the player and had it on in the background to keep me company. I've seen this particular episode (the two part "Manchester" episodes at the beginning of Season 3) many times but it wasn't until this particular viewing that the song playing in the background of a scene at a Manchester, N.H. bar caught my attention.
I once again thanked the heavens that I live in the time of Google. After about five minutes of research, I found out this song was called "Instead" and was by a band called Abandon Jalopy. A few more minutes of research revealed Abandon Jalopy wasn't so much a song but was actually an album by former Blind Melon guitarist Brad Smith. Most of the surviving members of Blind Melon make a guest appearance on the record Mercy at one point or another. I was intrigued. I was frustrated. The album was available on iTunes but was long ago put out of print. I stewed about whether to download it or try and find it used somewhere online. After a week or two of listening to the 30 second soundclip on iTunes, I broke down and bought the CD through an Amazon seller for $5. Money well spent.
Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
We need to get Phillip to work out some sort of deal so that these VCV songs can be streamed in your articles. I'd very much like to hear this one now.
2 - Matt Dingledy
Brad Smith and all of the members of Blind Melon are amazing artists. I am glad you found this album. Remember though that part of the beauty of it is that it hasn't been played ad nauseum on the radio since its release. There is plenty more material out there by these guys. I encourage you to seek it out.