Can’t Find My Way Home by Blind Faith/Steve Winwood (1969)
(Blind Faith were an English supergroup featuring Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Ric Grech)
Lizzie And The Rain Man by Tanya Tucker (1975)
(Country. I’m no expert, I’ve heard it’s her best known tune. I wonder if is the origin for the movie title Rain Man ?)
You Should All Be Murdered by Another Sunny Day (1992)
(Would not have been out of place on a Morrissey or The Smiths album. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!)
Daydream Believer by The Monkees (1968)
(An iconic song that I somehow overlooked all these years)
Gabrielle by Nips (1980)
(Punk rock. Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan’s first group)
Kiss Me Deadly by Lita Ford (1988)
(Glam metal. A hit for the lead guitarist of The Runaways. I can’t explain why, just makes me happy when I listen)
Time To Pretend by MGMT (2005)
(I think I may have undervalued MGMT because I keep stumbling upon quality stuff by them)
In My Hour Of Darkness by Gram Parsons (1974)
Country rock. Because not every day is a happy one. Emmylou Harris provides backing vocal)
Identity by X-Ray Spex (1978)
(Thanks C. A good introduction to their approach to punk. Certainly an injection of energy. “Germfree Adolescents”. What an album name! )
Send in the Clowns by Judy Collins (1975)
(I heard Frank Sinatra’s version in the Joker end credits. Collin’s version I find more affecting. Thanks Rol)
That’s Life by Frank Sinatra (1966)
(Joker soundtrack)
Willow by Joan Armatrading (1977)
(The song Devendra Banhart wishes he wrote)
Sweet Little Mystery by John Martyn (1980)
(Thanks Aphoristical. Different to the folk material that Martyn was best known for. An emotionally charged divorce album. “It’s just that sweet little mystery that makes me try”)
If We Make It Through December by Merle Haggard (1973)
(The blogosphere usually provides a few Christmas/Winter song discoveries. Shout out to Thom Hickey who shared a bunch of posts in December)
In the Bleak Midwinter (Christmas Carol) by Gustav Holst and Harold Darke (1906)
(Was in a crossword clue, an alternative way to discover music. Found the words and sung it when we went round the tree. A beautiful melody. Good times)
What do you think? As always, comments are welcome
Have you heard Parsons’ other stuff? $1000 Wedding is a good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@Aphoristical: I haven’t gotten to Grievous Angel yet. Heard it’s a classic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s wrong to say that John Martyn was best known for folk material. While that was partly true of his 1st 4 albums, by 1971, he’d switched to amplified acoustic with jazz influences on his Bless The Weather album and from then on was mostly electric rock and jazz influenced music on several albums before “Grace And Danger” which includes the “Sweet Little Mystery” track. To me, Martyn is one of the most unique musicians of all time – if that makes sense!
LikeLiked by 1 person
@lynchie: I’ve never listened to Martyn’s albums so I was relying on info from others. Looks like I unfortunately oversimplified his music and discography. But thanks for making me wiser.
LikeLike
You should try “Solid Air” – one of the greatest albums of all time. The original has 9 tracks ranging from electric blues to ALMOST pop/rock and it has “May You Never”, a superb Martyn composition that helped resurrect Eric Clapton’s career.
LikeLiked by 1 person
1975’s Sunday’s Child is very much a folk album though? I wouldn’t have thought the major shift was until One World in 1977 – he got more electric and experimental, but I think it’s fair to still categorise him as folk before that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some fine choices there… 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
MGMT is awesome. I enjoyed their second album which was far out but many people for some reason I think were a little freaked out by it. It was produced by one half of Spaceman 3 in Sonic Boom.
I love that song by Blind Faith and yes, that song by Lita Ford does makes anyone feel happy whenever it’s played.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@ninvoid99: I’m not so familiar with MGMT’s or Spaceman 3’s discographies. I really liked Little Dark Age (2018) though
80s music (sometimes) has the ability to brighten your mood
LikeLike
It does as there’s a cheese factor to it but it’s quality cheese as it never takes itself seriously which is why I think people are fond of the 80s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great idea for a post!! I also just discovered That’s Life from JOKER, and I love the song SMILE used in their trailer too. It’s perfect for that film somehow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@Ruth: Joker didn’t get enough credit for its soundtrack. I agree Smile was a good choice for the trailer
LikeLike
Well said about Another Sunny Day – it was new to me, and yet instantly very familiar!
LikeLiked by 1 person
@stephen1001: I wonder if Morrissey approves, either way I enjoyed the Another Sunny Day track
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some great tracks Chris. Wish I could that blind faith song for the first time again
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jeremyjames: Thank you!
LikeLike
Quite a few here that I’m not familiar with, but I’d encourage you to delve into Gram Parsons’ stuff. Really great.
As for MGMT, I remember enjoying their first two albums at the time, but I don’t think they held up to repeat listens.
John Martyn has loads of good stuff, but I don’t listen to him nearly enough, so thanks for reminding me that I should spend some time listening to him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@J: Hopefully I’ll get to Parsons and Martyn soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You featured 3 of my all time favorites. Steve, Gram and Merle.
The link for ‘Way Home’ wouldnt play so I’ll attach a great solo version by Winwood. He’s one of the all time best. If you dig this solo cut check out his ‘John Barleycorn’ solo’ it’s a killer also. I enjoyed the Shane cut also.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@CB: The links all play for me. Sometimes a problem with copyright and which country you are in. Thanks for the share. I’ve got Shane’s albums with the Pogues to look forward to which I haven’t listened to yet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope the Pogues grab you. Lots of good music there. ‘Rum Sodomy Lash’ gets a lot of play at my pad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
is it bad that I haven’t heard of any of these artists? :S
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Jordan. Because of stress I’m taking a break from blog stuff but thanks to you (and others) for stopping by.
I can’t believe you’ve never heard of Frank Sinatra or Eric Clapton. Surely you missed their names in the post 🙂
LikeLike
Oh I did miss those two, yes I’ve heard of them, I don’t know any sinatra but enjoy the few songs I have heard with Clapton in them. The rest of those names tho just made me feel dumb! And I consider myself a music fan!! *shakes head*
LikeLiked by 1 person
@Jordan: I see it as a positive not knowing most of the artists. Then you can make discoveries and maybe broaden your horizons.
LikeLike
good point. I always have had an open mind, I’ll have to give all of these a proper listen and maybe find a new artist that I really like =]
LikeLiked by 1 person