(I'm off work today because a crew from Helitech is scheduled to seal a couple of cracks in my basement walls and it's also time for the all-day experience of renewing my car's license plates. Thanks to the new Show Me Proof law I had to gather up: my passport, 2 years of property tax receipts, a social security card and a recent utility bill. What, no note from my mommy?)
Today's inspiration comes from Sarah Lane, she of the "The Screen Savers," a popular show on the old ZDTV/TechTV network. She stayed on for a while after G4 swallowed up TechTV but has since moved on and is doing other things. She copied another blogger's idea of writing about the first ten songs that come up when I put my iPod on shuffle. Now I copy that idea and here, dear readers, is my list:
First Song: "Coracão Vagabundo (My Vagabond Heart)" - Karrin Allyson
Karrin Allyson is one of my very favorite jazz vocalists. The native of Great Bend, Kansas sang in Minneapolis and Kansas City before making her jump to New York City a few years back. This song is from her 1999 CD of Brazilian and French standards, "From Paris to Rio." She sings Portuguese and French lyrics with equal aplomb and she really shines on this CD.
Second Song: "Strays" - Hem
Ah, yes. From "Eveningland" comes this simple song about marriage and settling down. The song's protagonist remembers dalliances with old flames and looks forward to his wedding where he will "teach them not to stray."
Third Song: "I'm So Glad Jesus Lifted Me" - Dave Boyer with the Ralph
Carmichael Big Band
A stellar 1995 release from the old Brentwood Jazz record label. I bought this during my college years when I still bought CDs at Christian book stores. Dave Boyer is a Nashville-area jazz vocalist who never quite hit the big time. Ralph Carmichael is a legend of Gospel music who has written many chestnuts of the church choir repertoire. Put the two artists together with a swingin' big band and you get a very listenable set of jazzy gospel music. Carmichael's arrangement of this old gospel standard is really great. Out of print, unfortunately.
Fourth Song: "A Different Kind Of Light" - The 77s
This is from The 77s' "Echoes O' Faith" concert in 1992, released on CD in 1996. It was recorded during the "unplugged" craze that hit the music business about that time. The song was one of the first they ever recorded as a band back in the early 1980s when they had dreams of teenage stardom. The lyrics are simple and could've been written by a new Christian.
Fifth Song: "Keep Your Monster On A Leash" - Tower Of Power
TOP was preaching anger management way back in 1991 on their CD of the same name. Serious message, but a cheesy, almost comical execution of lyrics and song.
Sixth Song: "Worry About You" - Ivy
Simple song; the singer worries about her lover while he's gone. The music is pure Ivy; an acoustic guitar accompanies the verses, a thumping bass track bridges them, and a dreamy synth-pop vibe pervades the chorus. Luscious, delicious ear candy.
Seventh Song: "There You Are" - Lost Dogs
Was it Yogi Berra who first uttered the immortal phrase "no matter where you go, there you are?" I don't know but the Lost Dogs take it and turn into a metaphor for the wayward Christian. "No matter where you you go, still there you are/you can run but God's love won't be denied."
Seventh Song: "Airstream" - Pat Metheny Group
This ballad from "American Garage" is all about the 70s sound for me. It would have been all over smooth-jazz radio if there had been such a thing in 1979. The ECM Records stamp is all over this track, pastoral and understated.
Eighth Song: "ValGreen" - Fold Zandura
Jyro Xhan's classic paen to a lost lover. The song is a musical mix of his former band Mortal's synthy industrial sound and mid-1990s alternative grunge. Jyro's vocals on this track are at once emotive and heartbreaking.
Ninth Song: "Shucks" - Bill Frisell
This is a track from the jazz guitarist's countrified album "Nashville". I must have heard a song from it on the radio which would have prompted me to buy it. This album finds Frisell collaborating with many of Music City's finest pickers and it's a delight to listen to. Notable also for his version of Neil Young's "One Of These Days," nicely sung by Robin Holcombe.
Tenth Song: "Intermission At The Wonderama" - Randy Stonehill
Stonehill collaborated with old friend Terry Taylor on a Beatles-esque song cycle called "Wonderama" in 1992. Brave souls, these, releasing an album like this to the Christian music market. I bought this CD after hearing the its signature song, "Great Big Stupid World" on my local Christian music radio station. The announcer came on after the song was done and begrudgingly announced the song title and artist. I knew it was a CD I had to own, like, immediately. This track is a classical string quartet piece meant to evoke, what else, an intermission. The crowd noise under the music is a nice touch.
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