Archive for May, 2009

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The Muppet Show – "Buddy Rich vs Animal" (1978)

2009/05/31

I am late on posting my album of the week because…

I BOUGHT A DRUM SET!!!

The set I've been playing is a Pearl set I borrowed from my cousin. Good for beginning, but I knew early on it didn't sound the way I wanted it to. My cousin wants his set back, so I was forced (*wink wink*) to acquire another set. I promptly found a Ludwig Accent CS Combo in Wine Red (used) purchased it, set it up and was beating on it into the night!

Ludwig Accent CS Combo

Ludwig Accent CS Combo

This particular drum set was recommended on several websites as a decent set that would at least take you through "beginner drummer" into "intermediate drummer". The Pearl set was not doing it for me. It was also way too high in pitch for my liking.

I should add I was also interested in Ludwig drums in particular because they are used by The Killers' drummer, Ronnie Vannucci Jr., and I like their sound. (Click here to listen to some of The Killers' songs.) Also Ludwig drums were a favorite choice of the great Buddy Rich, who drummed with the likes of Artie Shaw, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong, among others.

In honor of this purchase, this bonus song features a drum duel between Buddy Rich and Animal on The Muppet Show. Clearly Buddy Rich creams Animal!

Click here for more info on legendary drummer Buddy Rich.

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Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs – "Stay" (1960)

2009/05/31

At 1 minute and 37 seconds, this is the shortest song to ever hit the top of the US charts. I almost always listen to it two times in a row when can. "The song was written by Williams in 1953 when he was only 15 years old. He had been trying to convince his date not to go home at 10 o'clock as she was supposed to." …and that is how music is made.

By the way, if you haven't seen Dirty Dancing, do it already. Although it is an 80s movie many of the songs are "oldies" including this song.

Click here for more info on Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs – "Stay".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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The Supremes – "You Can't Hurry Love" (1966)

2009/05/30

While I'm in a Motown mood, here is a bonus song of the day from The Supremes.

Some trivia for you… their name was changed to "Diana Ross & The Supremes" the following year, not because of anyone's ego. It was all about the money. "Motown could demand more money for live bookings (because they would be providing two acts—a lead singer and a group—instead of just one)."

Click here for more info on The Supremes – "You Can't Hurry Love".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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Marvin Gaye – "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (1967)

2009/05/30

Who knows why, but this song was stuck in my head as I woke up this morning. My favorite version is the one by Marvin Gaye, though it is good to also listen to Gladys Knight & the Pips', a close runner up in my book:

Marvin Gaye's has more of the emotion of a guy who has just had his heart broken, and really match the lyrics. Gladys Knight & the Pips' version it is harder to believe "Losing You Would End My Life You See" because she sounds more like she is ready to move past it and go out dancing. Angry and sad perhaps, but not broken. Marvin has a bit more of a soul feel, where as Gladys has a bit more gospel and maybe a touch of funk.

Neither of those two versions were the original recording though. They were 3rd and 4th (or 4th and 3rd depending on your point of view), both recorded and released in around the same time. The first version was by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles but was not released at the time. It was rerecorded and released in 1968. Click here to listen to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rv9ZA8GOIw This version has a more "oldies" kind of feel and is actually kind of between the other two stylistically I think, but perhaps without as much emotion as either the Gladys Knight & the Pips or Marvin Gaye versions.

Of course the real heroes here are the song writers, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, who not only wrote this song and several others for the likes of The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and others, but were truly two of the fathers of the "Motown Sound". Before this was released by any artist, they were asked to change the song by the CEO of Motown Records, Berry Gordy, because it was not strong enough and "horrible", but they refused. True artists and inspirations forever. (Hey, Berry, founder of Motown Records, couldn't be right 100% of the time.)

Click here for more info on Marvin Gaye's, Gladys Knight & the Pips' and other versions of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine".

The Marvin Gaye MP3 may be purchased here…

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Pulp – "Disco 2000" (1995)

2009/05/29

As the millennium approached this was the song my friends and I played to mark the occasion. At least that is how I remember it. It also happened to be the night G and I decided we were more than just friends. (Makes remembering the anniversary easy.) It makes this song a fantastic keepsake, though it is also an excellent song to run and exercise to.

Click here for more info on Pulp – Different Class – "Disco 2000".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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Chairlift – "Bruises" (2008)

2009/05/28

I got to see Chairlift a few weeks ago open for The Killers in Cleveland. I was impressed with how each of them played multiple instruments and there was no distinct "lead", though I really think the energy of Caroline Polachek outpaced both Aaron Pfenning and Patrick Wimberly. Also without her voice I don't know if they would be distinctive enough to have made it as far as they have. I liked several of their songs, today's song being their prize jewel. Most of you have probably heard it a gazillion times already on iPod commercials.

G made an interesting observation about the "ooo"-ing of Caroline, which occurs in several songs. G thought she must have grown up listening to a lot of Björk. It does make for a distinctive sound, but hopefully they won't over do it and make it their shtick. I did love the use of the cowbells. "I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!" (Click for SNL video of Christopher Walken and the cowbell skit.) Given how passionate Caroline seemed, I think we can expect a lot more out of her, Chairlift, and definitely her cowbell.

Click here for more info on Chairlift – Does You Inspire You – "Bruises".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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MGMT – "Kids" (2007)

2009/05/27

Only recently have I realized how much I love this song despite hearing it on the radio for over a year now. It was like an awakening and will result in further exploration of MGMT's two albums. MGMT is set to release a third album this year too, "Congratulations". I love that they are an "accidental" sort of band. "We weren't trying to start a band. We were just hanging out, showing each other music that we liked."

Just so you know the video is fan-made but perfect for the song. I was totally confused at first because there is a woman in the video, but MGMT is two guys, Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser. At first I thought maybe one of them was very feminine in face paint or something, until I found the truth.

Update 2009/05/29: This post has immediately become my most viewed in two days. It is understandable because MGMT is so addictive once you have tasted how delicious they are. "Kids", "Time to Pretend", and "Electric Feel" are all stuck in my head now, playing on repeat like a radio station with only three songs. MGMT is so addictive I had to hunt down their demo album "Climbing to New Lows" which is not for sale but was leaked on the Internet, and I found a link to it here, and it is FREE though who knows for how long.

UPDATE 2009-06-14:

Apparently MGMT has made an "official" video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R53bXHMSkk) and it probably took a lot more effort, time and money to produce, but it just isn't as good as the fan made one that is so popular. Sorry MGMT! Stick to the music. Maybe you could do as M83 did and run a contest on YouTube!

Click here for more info on MGMT – Oracular Spectacular – "Kids" (2007).

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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