Brute Force - King of Fuh

And you wonder why people don't worship butane...

New Viva show (#136) in the archive, featuring works by W.A. Mozart, G. Rossini, F. Chopin, D. Scarlatti, C. Debussy, E. Grieg, M. de Falla, R. Sakamoto, I. Stravinsky, E. Van Halen, K. Stockhausen, J. Lennon/P. McCartney, and H. Dacre, performed on acoustic, electric, and electronic instruments. Streamable here.

Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin - Henry and James

The other day a musical couplet popped into my head -- "Henry and James / Remember their names" -- and I thought oh, that's an old '80s song, but who's it by? So I Googled to find this. I think I must have heard it once on the radio in the '80s. I'm certain I haven't heard it since. And the moral of the story is: if I "remembered their names" for 25+ years, it must be a good song. 

Good for a November Sunday where it's getting dark at 2 PM. There's more good songs on the album, too; I may post them soon.

Legendary longtime commenter and playlist contributor is back with another hour of sound for your pleasure. Enjoy anytime in the Viva archives.

Bill Withers: I Don't Know

Hey folks, please join us in the Viva archives for a special new "episode" (#134). We'll be waiting for you! x

The Field Mice - Let's Kiss and Make Up

Most mp3 blogs have posted this already, but it's new to me, so whatevs.

I love that the chiming guitar figure in the right channel isn't just "dum Dum dum", etc., but is (sometimes? always?) "dum DA-DUM dum", etc. Feel me?

What I'm talking about can perhaps most clearly be heard at the 1:27 mark.

Ian Hunter: Just Another Night

Cocteau Twins - Watchlar

Here's one of the songs I enjoyed "discovering" for the 1990 project. Fortunately it's a B-side so I can post it! :) This track proves once again that if you have Elizabeth Fraser in your band, you are instantly better than every other band. Does the melody remind anyone else of Big Yellow Taxi?

Thanks to all for your help with the 1990 project. The playlist is now streamable here.

Sorry about the imagery above, BTW. It's not my fault.

Pintura Fresca - Tiritando

Dusty Springfield - Arrested By You

Eternal gratitude to new Viva Radio contributor Wombleton Records for introducing me to this enchanting Rupert Hine cover. This track has inspired me to once again turn to you, dear readers, and ask for suggestions for an all-1990 playlist. This is admittedly a pretty obviously bad idea. (What am I going for here, anyway? Vaguely dated adult contemporary? And if so, why?)

In any case, let me know if you have any tips for hot tracks from the MCMXC, and enjoy the Dusty in the meanwhile.

There was never any chance that there wouldn't be a key change in this.

Gang of Four: Love Like Anthrax

MARGINAL SOUND QUALITY UPGRADE!

Carole King - Porpoise Song (publisher's demo)

I took the trouble of acquiring a recording of indeterminate origin entitled The Monkees Archives Volume 5 in order to present you with a new rip of this track (originally posted back in July), in slightly less wretched fidelity (though of course the lo-fi is part of the charm).

A biographical note: we've moved back into the apartment after a renovation, and I've finally gotten the turntables hooked back up, and work promises to slow down a bit after a uniquely hellish September, and I should have a free hour or two soon to set about reälphabetizing my records and CDs, and in all likelihood I'll be able to start posting some songs again soon. No major life changes scheduled for the next six months. It's on.

Blur: Resigned

The Maytals: I Alone

Grateful Dead - KY Jam

I'm closing a chapter and turning over a new leaf, and in these moments one turns to Jerome.

Recorded "live" on Friday, July 6th, 1990, at Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky. Thanks to Brent for ultimately arriving at pure vacuum cleaner sounds at the 7:15 mark.

Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso: Tradicao
"It's August 1970 and there are 600,000 people in a field..."

Art Tatum - Lullaby Of The Leaves

Recorded on Thursday, February 22nd, 1940. Hall Of The Mountain King quote at 1:36.

Nick Drake: Place To Be

Skeeter Davis - Give Me Death

I heard this on the radio this summer in arguably the best possible conditions: driving around the foothills of Santa Fe at night.

Words & music by Skeeter Davis and Marie Wilson. Produced by Chet Atkins. This is from a 45 on the RCA Victor label, in "New Orthophonic" high fidelity. To simulate the sound of AM radio, listen through your computer speakers.

Gotta love Skeeter's pronunciation of the word "sentence."

Stay tuned for an action-packed autumn on A.D.!

Jr. Walker & The All Stars - (I'm A) Road Runner

August 19th? Time to party.

Featuring two of my all-time favorite "whoa!"s, at 1:07 and at 2:08. Kudos also to the baritone saxophone (bass clarinet?) part and the bass drum sound. Written by Holland-Dozier-Holland.

New London Children's Choir - The Useful Plough

Credit where credit due to Wes Anderson, that track The Cuckoo is a sick crate-dig. So I had to pick up a copy of this CD, which I (mistakenly) believed to include the performance featured in the film. Anyroad, this track The Useful Plough is another standout from the same Benjamin Britten suite (Friday Afternoons) whence The Cuckoo is drawn.

Britten wrote Friday Afternoons for his schoolmaster brother, Robert, and the boys of Clive House preparatory school, Prestatyn. (Choir practice used to take place on Friday afternoons.) The text of The Useful Plough is anonymous, and Britten set it to music on May 14th, 1934, which was (appropriately) a Monday. He was 20 years old.

No courtier may

Compare with them who clothe in grey,

And follow the useful plough.

Mellow Candle - Silversong

I was never expecting that note at 0:46.

New Viva show (#132) in the archive. Thanks to all who offered suggestions for the 2003 project. For some reason on the playlist I erred on the side of technicolour trip-hop. Hope you like it.

P.S. This is the 5th anniversary Viva show!

The Incredible String Band - Air

Gentlemen, I'm beginning to feel something!

Tim Maia: Where Is My Other Half

Anyone else dig Existential Soul?

Lemon Jelly - Nice Weather For Ducks

A troll trawl through the UK charts of 2003 turned up this one, which I like partly because it's the 2K3 equivalent of a bubblegum novelty single. My all-MMIII playlist, such as it is, is due to air on Friday. If anyone has eleventh-hour suggestions to add to the mix, fire away...

new Viva show (#131) in the archive

Nick Nicely - Psychotropia

Yes, it's a blatant hommage to Tomorrow Never Knows, but since the part at 1:23 popped into my head the other day (unbidden), I reckon it must be worth sharing. More Nicely available here.

The Kinks - Celluloid Heroes (live excerpt)

Recorded "live" at The Volkhaus, Zürich, Switzerland, 11th November, 1979. I'm posting just the opening guitar solo because to me, this is rock'n'roll nirvana, and more than enough to keep you rocking down the highway for the remainder of summer and beyond.

Someone explain to me how portamento works on a polyphonic synth.

P.S. We're still welcoming suggestions for out hotly-tipped "2003 Project"...

Bent - Stay The Same

Is this good? I can't tell, but it's definitely weird. Does anyone have suggestions on more intriguing music released in 2003?  Please send me your picks early and often.  I'm hoping to crystallize the zeitgeist of an undefined age, obliquely, with an hour's worth of half-forgotten "hits." Any music in any genre released in 2003 is fair game.

Thanks as ever,
Emmett

Lemonheads - It's A Shame About Ray (demo)

A nice way to re-enjoy a super-good song. I can still picture E. Dando performing this at Keene State College Spring Fling '93 (long story), how the intro seemed to go on forever, and how the chords on the second four bars are different from the chords on the first four, which I'd never noticed before.

Thanks again to everyone who sent ideas for the 1980 project. The new Viva show (#130) was assembled out of those suggestions. I tried to include as many reader picks as I could, while still leaving room for a few of my own ridiculous selections. Hope you enjoy it. We'll do another year soon!

Listen to the mix here.

Modern Eon - Choreography

Special thanks to Wharf99 for pointing me towards the "Hicks From The Sticks" compilation LP, on which this appears. The change into the chorus at 0:47 is a nice surprise. Unsure on the artwork.

Lori and the Chameleons - The Lonely Spy

One of the fruits of the ongoing 1980 project. The surprising brevity of the intro is a nice touch. Thanks, Chameleons.

New Viva show (#129) in the archive, comprised entirely of tracks released in 1980. Thanks a mill for all the suggestions. Due to the high volume of submissions, I've decided to do one egocentric mix (see above) and a separate mix, to air next week, featuring Readers' Choice selections. So, if anyone has further recommendations from 1980, please do send them along.

There was one reader's suggestion which was judged to attain to such a high degree of aesthetic excellence that it was included in this playlist - namely, the Prats' Disco Pope. Thanks to Ramone for the tip.

The Teardrop Explodes - When I Dream*

Folks, I need some recommendations on obscure tracks released in 1980. This is for the next Viva playlist. I'm not looking for "That Was The Year That Was"-type stuff, just good, somewhat obscure songs or pieces of music released in the year 1980. The deadline is this Thursday at midnight. Please send your recommendations early and often!

Your friend,
Emmett

*produced by Mike "Fingers" Howlett

new Viva show (#128) in the archive

Carole King - Porpoise Song (publisher's demo)

The Kinks - I Go To Sleep (demo)

I turned this one up while casting about for demos and other such drumless tracks for a (mostly) drumless mix, which is now streamable here: #127.

Carlos Paredes - Canção Verdes Anos

Things are finally starting to get languid around here.

Neil Young - The Bridge

There's a new Viva show (#126) in the archive; the second installment in our hotly-tipped Summer Playlist Series.

There's a new Viva show (#125) in archive. More importantly, school's out for summer, and I've made a solemn vow to do a new playlist every week for the next eight weeks or so. Plus, as of next Thursday, I'll be in Caribbean exile in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., for a month. So you can expect selections inspired by heat exhaustion, no turntable or records, and a dodgy Internet connection. Let the games begin.

Isaac Hayes - Hung Up On My Baby

A rare groove classic since at least the age of the Geto Boys. Today's projected high in NYC: 96° Fahrenheit. Open up the fire hydrants.

Portrait - Honey Dip

There's just one thing that never ceases to amaze me.

China Crisis - No More Blue Horizons

Breezy sophisti-pop for your Monday, from the pride of Liverpool.   

Hey folks... rare melody connoisseur and rustic troubador Dave Lerner, one half of Trummors, has kindly compiled another tasy guest mix for us, entitled "Where I'm Bound." Hear the mix here, and check out the brand-new Trummors LP, available on LP, CD and mp3. Settle in...

Prince Far I: Bendel Dub