Saturday

The Pretty Things: Get The Picture?

[purchase]

According to All Music Guide, The Pretty Things are the most under-appreciated British Invasion band. Do you agree?

Discuss...

Friday

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble: Texas Flood

[purchase]

Thanks to Matt for the nice comment yesterday. The "ribbon of continuity" (nice phrase) is the goal, but we hit a dead end yesterday. So today we are starting a new ribbon with some hard-ass 1980s blues. Dig it.

Well there's floodin' down in Texas, all of the telephone lines are down
And I've been tryin' to call my baby, Lord and I can't get a single sound

Discuss...

Thursday

The Kinks: Mr. Churchill Says

[purchase]

Here is a great song about some great speeches.

All the garden gates and empty cans are gonna make us win...

Discuss...

Wednesday

The Jam: In The Crowd

[purchase]

The Jam are one of the great rock bands of the 1970s/1980s, but you don't hear much about them anymore. Too bad. Maybe they'll have a resurgence like The Kinks?

Speaking of The Kinks, the section of this song from 0:45 to 0:55 (and repeated later) really reminds me of a Kinks song, but I can't place which one it is. Am I making this up? Or do you know what song I'm thinking of? Help me out Kinks fans...

Discuss...

Tuesday

Lucinda Williams: Crescent City

[out of print]

Lucinda Williams has one album that I really love, her self-titled album from 1988. The songwriting is sharp and the delivery is heartfelt without going over the top. The only "problem" is the 1980's-style production in spots, but it's definitely worth tracking down.

This town has said what it has to say. Now I'm after that back highway, and the longest bridge I've ever crossed, over Ponchartrain...

Discuss...

Monday

Elvis Presley: If You Talk In Your Sleep

[purchase]

We don't need much of an excuse to play the Fat Elvis card here at Six Songs. Culture Bully's comment last week in favor of the 1970's version did the trick. So kick back in your jungle room and enjoy Elvis at his peak.

Love is so much sweeter when it's borrowed...

Discuss...

Saturday

Elvis Presley: Mystery Train

[purchase]

Does his music still matter today? Why or why not?

Discuss...

Friday

Wilco: When The Roses Bloom Again

[purchase]

Speaking of Billy Bragg and Wilco's Mermaid Avenue, which is a truly excellent album, brings to mind this song. Originally recorded for Mermaid Avenue, it was pulled at the last minute when it was discovered not to be a Woody Guthrie composition. If anybody has a copy of the Carter Family version, feel free to post it in the comments...

Discuss...

Thursday

Billy Bragg: The Short Answer

[out of pint]

Well, apparently yesterday's selection was a real stinker. No comments and almost no downloads. (Compare to Neil Diamond which nobody would admit to liking, but which still generated a heavy amount of downloads.) Remember, we want NEGATIVE comments too, if you are so inclined.

Anyway, today's fine tune is our attempt at redemption.

"If she wanted to be a farmer's wife, I would endure that muddy life..."

Discuss (please)...

Wednesday

David & David: Welcome to the Boomtown

[purchase]

OK. Big change of pace here. Need to shake things up a bit. Does anybody remember this one-"hit" wonder from 1987? It's pretty poppy. It's VERY eighties. And I really like it. So sue me.

"Miss Christina drives a nine four four. Satisfaction oozes from her pours..."

Discuss...

Tuesday

Handsome Family: Tin Foil

[out of print]

This post honors rockrobster23 for listening to "Handsome Family radio" on last.fm. Its probably somewhere south of "Radiohead radio" in terms of popularity, but full of surprises, like yesterday's feature, Jim White.

Remember when Skylab fell? Remember Evel Knievel? It's all here in the lead track off of Invisible Hands, released in 1997 by Chicago's leading neo-traditional folk rockers: Handsome Family.

Discuss...

Monday

Jim White: Book Of Angels

[purchase]

Jim White is a great artist that way too many people have never heard. His music is sometimes called "country," but it's a whole lot more than that. The closest analogy is probably to Bonnie Prince Billy. Anyway, Wrong Eyed Jesus from 1997 is a great album, especially if you find yourself driving at night through the panhandle.

Discuss...

Saturday

Prefab Sprout: Faron Young

[purchase]

Faron Young was an American country music singer popular in the 1950's and 1960's.

Discuss...

Friday

Tom Waits: Ice Cream Man

[purchase]

I scream, you scream, we all scream for...



[purchase]

Discuss...

Thursday

Neil Diamond: Forever In Blue Jeans

[purchase]

Money talks, but it don't sing and dance, and it don't walk.

Discuss...

Wednesday

Iggy Pop: Repo Man

[purchase]

"There's fuckin' room to move as a fry cook. I could be manager in two years. King. God."



[purchase]

Discuss...

Tuesday

Television: Guiding Light

[purchase]

Gus and Natalia try to get Olivia a heart, but is it too late?

Bill tries to convince Lizzie that he is the man for her.

Beth tells Alan that she wants to be with him.

Discuss...

Monday

Bob Dylan: Tombstone Blues

[purchase]

Bob Dylan's name came up a few times in Saturday's comments, giving us an excuse to post one from the master. This song, which comes from maybe the greatest ever rock album, has many brilliant and amusing lyrics. A favorite part is Bob's look at sexual frustration:

The geometry of innocent flesh on the bone
causes Galileo's math book to get thrown
at Delilah who's sittting worthlessly alone
but the tears on her cheeks are from laughter

It's funny that Galileo would have a math book, let alone throw it (and then get laughed at).

Discuss...

Saturday

The Replacements: Alex Chilton

[purchase]

Today’s pick was inspired by the first comment to yesterday’s post. It's Paul Westerberg’s homage to Alex Chilton. The lyrics don’t always make much sense, but the attitude is just right. Can you think of any other songs by one artist about the work of another?

Discuss...

Friday

Big Star: I'm In Love With A Girl

[purchase]

On Wednesday, Loudersoft suggested Big Star as a place to look for folks who want more stuff like the Emitt Rhodes track. We couldn't agree more. So here is a taste of Big Star. If you don't have the Big Star two-fer, which has their first two records on one CD, you need to get it in your collection ASAP. It's an incredibly influential and fun album.

Discuss...