The 500 - #456 - Marvin Gaye - Here, my Dear

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My plan (amended). 

• 1 or 2 records per week & at least 2 complete listens.
• A quick blog post for each, highlighting the important details and a quick background story.
• No rating scale - just an effort to expand my appreciation.

Album # 456

Album Title: Here, my Dear
Artist: Marvin Gaye
Released: December, 1978
My age at release: 13
How familiar am I with it: I knew one song
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: Is that Enough? 
Great Lyric:
"Suddenly it occured to me it did not matter,
Whether I was mad at her
Or she was mad at me."
(You can Leave, but it's Gonna Cost You)

Once again, I have encountered an artist who has multiple titles on Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.  Marvin Gaye's 1973 offering, Let's Get It On, appears at #175 and, at #6 is the iconic What's Going On? from 1976. 

The legendary artist who left us far too soon. He was murdered by his father, in April of 1984. Shortly before his tragic death I discovered Marvin's music. In the early 80s I attended Saunders Secondary School in London, Ontario. School band practices were held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30 am. This necessitated a ride on the dreaded "early bus" which traveled from my subdivision in Byron to the school...about 8 km away.

With frequent stops the trip took about 25 minutes and, unlike typical high-school bus excursions, it was an almost entirely silent journey. Teenage sleep patterns have been well documented by physicians and scientists who specialize in adolescent physiology. Teens run on a different bio-clock than adults or children. They experience a melatonin release late in the evening, a wolf-phase which keeps them awake and energized. A subsequent drop in this hormone overnight results in the mumbly, grumpy disposition that parents dread, particularly when they need to rouse the household zombies. Consequently, it is a bit of cruel joke that they are expected to attend school as early as 8:00 in the morning - doubly cruel when they have to catch the earlier bus to band practice. 

Our driver probably loved this low-octane sojourn. He was young, likely mid-20s, and would play the local FM radio station to replace the silent gloom. It was during one of these trips that I first heard Marvin Gaye. I suspect it would be about 1982 when his last record, Midnight Love, was released and the single, Sexual Healing, was a hit on the charts. There was no way a song that provocative was going to escape my hyper-sexed teenage radar. Everything about it caught my attention. The low throb of the bass guitar, the relentless tinny precision of the drum-machine, the whispery voices of the back-up singers and, of course, those suggestive lyrics.

I just spent a relaxing Saturday afternoon listening to Here my Dear as I prepared lessons for the upcoming week of school. This album is incredible. Just the saxophone groove on Is that Enough? was worth my monthly Spotify charge . Give it a listen - it is perfect background music for writing, cooking, entertaining or relaxing.

The 500 - #457 - My Morning Jacket - Z

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My plan (amended). 

• 1 or 2 records per week & at least 2 complete listens.
• A quick blog post for each, highlighting the important details and a quick background story.
• No rating scale - just an effort to expand my appreciation.

Album # 457

Album Title: Z
Artist: My Morning Jacket
Released: October, 2005
My age at release: 40
How familiar am I with it: Not at all
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: Lay Low 
Great Lyric:
"You had me worried, so worried
That this would last
But now I'm learning
Learning this will pass."
(Dondate)
One of my great pleasures on this journey through Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums is the discovery of an unknown gem. This album marks the 16th record on this list with which I had little to no familiarity. Much like Manu Chau's Proxima Esatacion: Esperanza, Aquemini by Outkast and I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight by Richard and Linda Thompson, this record by My Morning Jacket is an unexpected treasure and a great addition to my playlists.

I didn't think I knew anything by the band. This was one of many artists whose name I knew but whose work I had not explored. As I listened, a few songs sounded familiar and I realized that they were a staple on Radio Paradise.

For those not familiar, Radio Paradise is a commercial-free, listener supported internet radio service. It has been operating since 2000, originally out of Paradise California (hence its name) and now out of the Borrega Valley near San Diego. It describes itself as "eclectic rock radio". I first learned of it from my friend James who played it regularly. It always seemed like the perfect mix and fit every occasion. My wife and I have been supporters for over ten years and it can be heard playing throughout our apartment during most of our waking hours. I encourage you to try a free listen and, if possible, subscribe for a few dollars a month.

I listened to Z by My Morning Jacket about eight times this weekend as I was writing progress reports for my students. This was an ideal choice for background music. Music writers have been unable to accurately identify a single genre for this band's sound, calling it art-rock, jam-rock, psychedelia, space-rock and indie. The record flows together seamlessly so selecting a single track was tough. In the end, I reached out to a friend who is a fan - I offered my two suggestions, Lay Low and Dondante and this is what he sent back.

Guest Blog Contribution from Nick B.

Lay Low is my favourite track. I just love the guitars that harmonize during the solo. It's like I’m listening to a bootleg Allman Brothers record and I want to grab my fishing rods, hop in the car, hit the back roads and drive until I find a river.

That’s what my dad and I listened to when we went on fishing trips - The Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore. When I heard this album I immediately sent it to him. I started with this song. Naturally, it’s now one of his favourites. 

I love when bands can take their influences and combine them with their own sound. It’s a nice blend of old-meets-new and it gives me hope for music in the future. Create your own music but don’t lose the sounds that influenced you. 

The 500 - #458 - Elton John - Tumbleweed Connection

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My plan (amended). 

• 1 or 2 records per week & at least 2 complete listens.
• A quick blog post for each, highlighting the important details and a quick background story.
• No rating scale - just an effort to expand my appreciation.

Album # 458

Album Title: Tumbleweed Connection
Artist: Elton John
Released: October, 1970
My age at release: 5
How familiar am I with it: I own it on vinyl, purchased 1985
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: Amoreena
Great Lyric:
Bring your family down to the riverside,
Look to the east to see where the fat stock hide.
Behind four walls of stone the rich man sleeps.
It's time we put a flame torch to their keep.
(Burn Down the Mission)

I went through a heavy Elton John phase from 1985 to 1987. During that time, I regularly stalked the aisles of our local used record shop (Dr. Disc) and purchased nearly every studio release the store had on vinyl. Tumbleweed Connection was one of the first I found.

Initially, it didn't win me over. It's a concept album based on American Country and Western themes and, at that time in my life, I wasn't a fan of that genre. I absolutely loved the albums Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy, which we will get to eventually at #91 and #158, respectively. However, over time, this album grew on me and I would often regularly play Side Two in order to hear Burn Down the Mission, which remains one of my Top Ten Elton John songs.

 This version of Burn Down the Mission is from a BBC television appearance in 1970, the same year Tumbleweed Connection was released. It includes an introduction of Elton's band mates Dee Murray and Nigel Olson, both of whom would play with him for decades - Murray until his untimely death in 1992 and Olson, who still performs with John today.

Although I settled on the song Amoreena, my initial plan was to put Burn Down the Mission on my Spotify The 500 Playlist. The version on this record is great but I adore the Phil Collins' Cover from the tribute album Two Rooms - Celebrating The Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin. If you haven't checked out this collection, it is absolutely worth the investment. The name, Two Rooms, is apt. After all, lyricist Taupin writes the lyrics and delivers them to John who puts them to music. An incredible catalogue this was literally constructed in two locations. 

I have a few Elton John related stories but I'll save them. He has four more records on this list. 

Things I learned...

• Rod Stewart covered the song Country Comfort on his record Gasoline Alley the same year as Tumbleweed Connection (1970). Which is strange, usually artists cover material from farther back in time.
• Dusty Springfield of Son of a Preacher Man fame sings back-up on this record.
• Elton John and Bernie Taupin shared a mutual fascination with the American West. They loved cowboy movies and their common interest was at the core of this record's creation.
• The wrap-around artwork for the record was taken at a railway station outside London. It features John and Taupin on either side. It is intended to represent rural America but they intentionall decided to use an English location to highlight their nationality.

The 500 - #459 - The Drifters - Golden Hits

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My plan (amended). 

• 1 or 2 records per week & at least 2 complete listens.
• A quick blog post for each, highlighting the important details and a quick background story.
• No rating scale - just an effort to expand my appreciation.

Album # 459

Album Title: Golden Hits
Artist: The Drifters
Released: 1968
My age at release: 2-3
How familiar am I with it: Fairly-to-Well
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: Save the Last Dance
Great Lyric: 
Oh I know that the music's fine,
Like sparkling wine, go have your fun.
Laugh and sing but while we're apart,
Don't give your heart to anyone.
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms your going to be.
So Darlin', save the last dance for me.

Arriving on the heels of my two-week immersion into the improvisational anarchy of Metal Box by P.I.L. and the grungy discontent of Live Through This by Hole, The Drifter's Golden Hits was like a calming breeze. 

I enjoyed my first listen through this record on a pleasant Sunday evening drive through the Ontario countryside with my wife. At one point, between songs, she turned to me and remarked, "It's just such gentle, lovely music - it makes you feel like everything is going to be fine." 

Although this compilation record is made up of hits from the late 50s and early 60s, I am most familiar with this sound from the 80s revival. It seemed that, during the late 80s, multiple big budget movies were heavily influenced by doo wop, R&B and early Rock and Roll music. It was a weird phenomenon. I suspect it is because film makers and writers, who were likely 40-50 years old, were feeling nostalgic. 

Dozens of movie released during this time were...

• Set in the 50s or 60s - Good Morning Vietnam, Dirty Dancing
• Named after a 50s or 60 song - My Girl, Lean on Me
• Featured a revival of a song from that period - Top Gun, Ghost
• Was a combination of all three - Stand by Me

Consequently, when I hear this music it transports me to my late teens and early 20s, even though I wasn't alive when most of it was released. I like that. It's as if I get to share in an emotional memory that truly belongs to people twenty years my senior. 

Things I learned.

• The Drifters were really just a product of the studio system. There were over 60 vocalists who were part of the band and many of them were grossly underpaid for their work.
• Billboard's R&B Charts were called The Top Black Albums until 1978.
• Carole King wrote "Some Kinda Wonderful"