New Songs On Sunday

 

I must admit that I haven't listened to much music in recent weeks and am behind in discovering new music. But that doesn't mean I won't continue this series. The intention was actually to present songs here that were released recently and don't have a musical focus or are subject to any dogma.

I was quite surprised when I read that Brinsley Schwarz had released a new album called Shouting At The Moon. His band was the spearhead of the so called pub-rock era in the mid 70's and the kind of music I enjoyed much before punk started. Brinsley Schwarz made a unique sound of classic rock and incorporated a whole lot of funk and soul in their sound.

And the essence of their sound you will find on this record. Most of the time, the tempo has been slowed down and a warm bass dominates the songs to make room for guitar and organ. The fact that Brinsley's voice cannot compete with Nick Lowe's does not detract from the songs. For many, this album will be too boring, but for me it's like an old friend dropping by after a long time.

Doctors

 

After a good three weeks, I returned from my annual vacation in Sri Lanka at the beginning of the year. It was relaxing, but unfortunately I had problems with my back and my spinal discs the whole time and couldn't enjoy myself as much as usual, so I came back early to see my family doctor at the beginning of next week to locate the cause of my complaints and take countermeasures. I don't want to complain here, as dengue fever has been rampant in Sri Lanka since the cyclone a few weeks ago. During this time, I have seen enough people who have contracted this disease and had to be hospitalized with high fever.

For this reason, here are some songs about doctors.

UFO - Doctor Doctor

Dr. Feelgood - Down At The Doctors

Robert Palmer - Bad Case Of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)

Doctor and the Medics - Spirit In The Sky

Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

Happy New Year, happiness and joy to all who follow this blog, which will continue to provide you with music and thoughts in its 14th year. To start with, I will continue a series that I launched in the middle of last year. Songs that have been in the charts in recent decades or that the writer simply likes will be presented as usual in a completely subjective selection and without comments for your enjoyment. Enjoy.

1966: Sonny and Cher

194: Otis Redding

1967: Cat Stevens

1968: Creedence Clearwater Revival

1976: Al Stewart

1974: Terry Jacks (the first song I had to translate when I was in school)

1987: Bruce Springsteen

1989: Fine Young Cannibals

1976: Paul Simon

1981: David Bowie

1964: The Marketts

1979: Blondie

1983: Huey Lewis & The News

1984: Talk Talk

Singles Released This Week Years Ago

 

This will be the last post of this series for a couple of weeks because leave today for my annual trip to Sri Lanka. Probably I will find the time to post a few blogs but I can't promise. Until then, I wish you all good health, a merry Christmas with your loved ones, and a happy New Year. See you again in mid-January.

1965: The Mamas & The Papas

1967: John Fred & His Playboy Band

1966: Cream

1983: Bob Dylan

1989: The Smithereens

1971: Sly & The Family Stone

1963: Lesley Gore

1969: The Kinks

1972: David Bowie

1974: Stevie Wonder

1975: George Harrison

Monday's Long Song

 

I've been running this series for several years now, and there are still plenty of songs that could be featured here. When I think about overly long songs, I always come back to one song in particular: Sister Ray by The Velvet Underground. 

Even in 1968, it wasn't exactly common to write longer songs, so it was surprising that this band recorded a song that was more than 17 minutes long. The early Velvets' songs were always at their best when they were built on a simple basic structure. Thus, “Sister Ray” developed from a very simple funk riff into seventeen minutes of sparse sound structures of incredible complexity.

What makes the song so special is the interplay between a simple riff, John Cale's Vox organ, Lou Reed's vocals, and Moe Tucker's drums. Sister Ray builds momentum minute by minute into a frenzy that seems to end only to pick up speed again. A masterpiece that has rightly served as inspiration and motivation for many subsequent musicians.

The Velvet Underground - Sister Ray

New Song On Sunday

 

Another new name in music appeared this week. Sofia Isella is a 20 year old American singer/songwriter and producer. From her early childhood days she was trained in violin and wrote her first lyrics at the age of eight. Her lyrics broadly revolve around female equality/recognition. This is also the case in Above The Neck, in which hard-boiled spoken word lines criticize the omnipresent sexualization of young women's bodies, which, according to her words, can never be young enough.

Musically, she has set her words to a post-punk and industrial-oriented sound that lies somewhere between moderate Nine Inch Nails, Dry Cleaning, and PJ Harvey. One of the better songs in the run-up to Christmas.

Has it stood the test of time?

 

Last weekend an old friend of mine played with his band a gig in our local pub. They are all amateurs, but have been playing together in various bands for years. Since they haven't written any songs of their own, they have focused on reinterpreting classics from recent decades. It's pure nostalgia to hear these old songs again and be reminded of times long past. One of the most impressive cover versions was Bob Seger's Turn the Page, which prompted me to listen to his 1975 live album again.

Live Bullets was pretty much the last classic rock album I enjoyed listening to back then, before punk and new wave changed everything. Nowadays, I find it difficult to listen to the double album in one go. There are still some great tracks on it, but overall the sound is too undifferentiated and no longer blows me away. I'm considering whether I can turn this into a small series.

Bob Seger - Turn The Page

Bob Seger - I've Been Working

Bob Seger - Get Out Of Denver