Wednesday, October 30, 2024: Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You

I mean, Screamin' Jay Hawkins is cool, and I dig the version that CCR put out, they're cool, but this will always be Sub Zero Cool.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024: Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells

 

I think my first Halloween post is probably still my favorite. 

I spoke about Tubular Bells on that post, and now I think it's finally time for it to have it's own space.

Born in 1953 in Reading, England, Mike Oldfield was a talented multi-instrumentalist from a young age.  He started playing music with his siblings and soon became involved in the burgeoning progressive rock scene. He played bass guitar in Kevin Ayers’ band, which was part of the Canterbury scene—a blend of rock, jazz, and experimental music that came from the university town of Canterbury. Oldfield’s style blended rock, folk, and classical influences in his compositions, which led him to experiment with long, continuous pieces rather than conventional song structures.

Tubular Bells was released in 1973, when Oldfield was just 19. He recorded the album mostly by himself, playing nearly every instrument. The album began as a kind of musical experimentation, partly influenced by the stresses in his life, including a challenging family background and the lack of control he had over his music in his previous band work. The album became iconic for its complex structure, genre-blending, and haunting atmosphere, and it played a significant role in launching Virgin Records, which was then a fledgling label started by Richard Branson.

Funny thing is, Oldfield was reportedly surprised by its inclusion in the movie The Exorcist, as he hadn’t intended the piece to evoke horror. William Friedkin, the director of The Exorcist, was in post-production, he was searching for music that would fit the eerie, supernatural atmosphere of the film. Friedkin happened to come across Tubular Bells in an office at Atlantic Records and was captivated by its unsettling, hypnotic quality. He decided to use a small section of it in the film’s opening scenes, where it perfectly captured the ominous, creeping dread of the movie.

And now you know the rest of the story.

Monday, October 28, 2024: Frank Sinatra - Witchcraft

 

Oh, it's "Spooky Season", you say? So, I'm guessing that everyone wants me to play those traditional "Spooky Season" songs, then.

Well, no can do, mi amigo.  No, most spooky season songs are cute, funny, weird, maybe off-puting, but let's be real, not many of them are actually "cool".

And, as you know, this blos is not Off-Puting Song Of The Day, or Weird Song Of The Day.

This is COOL Song Of The Day.  So, sure, I can do a week of Spooky Season songs, but they first and foremost, must be cool.

And we can take our example from the Chairman of the Board himself, the King of Cool, Mr. Frank Sinatra. 

Run for cover.

Sunday, October 27, 2024

No blogging on a Sunday.

See you Monday!

Saturday, October 26, 2024: Thelma Houston - Don't Leave Me This Way

 

Don’t Leave Me This Way was originally recorded by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, but Houston's rendition took on a life of its own, especially within the emerging 1970s disco scene. 

The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. 

So, here's to Saturday Night.  And how only your good lovin' can set me free.

Friday, October 25, 2024: The Lemon Twigs - How Can I Love Her More?

 

“Good poets borrow, great poets steal.” 

This quote is usually attributed to the great T.S. Eliot, however it's bunk, he never said this.  Well, he didn't say EXACTLY that, but he did ponder on some ideas about where creative people source their ideas from that, frankly, is not that far off from the actual incorrect quote. 

If you want to go down the T.S. Eliot rabbit hole, here you go: Good Poets Borrow, Great Poets Steal

Regardless of who did or didn't say it, I've always felt that was great advice.  And, especially, if you're going to steal, steal from the greats.  Mold yourselves after the giants in your craft.

If you are a pop/rock vocal band in the 2020s, you should absolute steal from The Beach Boys.  Because why not.

The Lemon Twigs have followed this great advice, to their great advantage. 

Formed by brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario, The Lemon Twigs are a pop/rock band from Long Island, New York.  They are known for their eclectic style that blends elements of 1960s and 1970s pop, rock, glam, and baroque pop, The Lemon Twigs have developed a reputation for their throwback sound, theatrical live performances, and multi-instrumental talents.

Their music is totally influenced by all the right classic rock influences like The Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Beatles and many other nods to the original British Invasion bands. 

The Lemon Twigs are not just about cheap and shallow, nostalgia, they create intricate melodies, lush harmonies, and the blend various classic rock and pop influences, and I'm here for it. By God do we need cheery, upbeat, gorgeous and breezy pop music right about now. 

We all have a fever.  And the only cure, is more Lemon Twigs.

Thursday, October 24, 2024: Lainey Wilson - Country's Cool Again

I mean, it's always been cool, hasn't it?