An overlooked cover tune CLXXXIX

After hearing Emily Scott Robinson's movingly sung "The Time For Flowers" on Community Radio St. Louis's "Backroads" show yesterday, I sought out other clips from her "Appalachia" recording.  One standout track from her January release, in addition to "...Flowers," is her cover of the traditional folk tune, "The Water Is Wide."  

Mary Black and Niamh Parsons sing two of my favorite versions of "...Water...," but I have yet to hear a subpar rendition.  Duncan Wickel and Robinson blend well vocally, and their subtle guitar and violin shadings enhance the melody appropriately.  Lyrically, the tune is idealistic and bittersweet--qualities readily apparent in Robinson's and Wickel's vocals. 

I'm not surprised that "The Water Is Wide" has survived in so many incarnations for centuries.  Its lyrics are universally relatable and timeless, and instrumentally, the melody is too heartfelt to be denied.

An overlooked cover tune CLXXXVIII

This will alienate a certain percentage of readers, but I don't care for most of Elvis Presley's music.  Three exceptions to this, however, are "Kentucky Rain," "Don't Be Cruel," and "Suspicious Minds."

Thanks to Community Radio St. Louis's show, "Backroads," I learned how well "Suspicious Minds" works as a guitar instrumental.  DJ Stacy began this morning's show with Laurence Juber's rendition, which stands up with his interpretation of Del Shannon's "Runaway." 

It doesn't surprise me that Juber captures the melody successfully on the guitar, as I've heard his graceful covers of everything from "The Tea Kettle Waltz" to various Christmas carols. 

It's said that there are Elvis people and Beatles people.  I am and always will be a Beatles person.  Nevertheless, I can still acknowledge a respectable song by an artist I mostly dislike--and a strong cover of such a song, as well.

On second thought... III

After hearing all the free associating Annie Lennox does at the end of the song, "Why," KNJZ's program director made the right call in asking DJs to fade out of the song early.  I used to be somewhat ambivalent about that, thinking that if we're going to play a song on the air, it ought to be played in its entirety.  While grocery shopping this morning, however, and hearing the "These are the contents of my head..." outro of "Why," I thought, "Yep, fading out before the end was the right call...Besides, KNJZ was a smooth jazz station, and 'Why' isn't a smooth jazz tune in the first place."

Can't hear everything II

Listening to Patty Larkin's "The Book I'm Not Reading" this morning reminded me that try as I might, I can't read everything I'd likely enjoy in this lifetime.  Similarly, it's impossible for me to hear every piece of music I might like.

This afternoon, however, another thought struck me.  I was listening to a station that was playing fairly decent singer-songwriter music.  After sampling multiple songs, however, I thought, "I don't dislike any of these songs.  Lyrically and melodically, they're all respectable.  None of them, however, are all that memorable."

I felt a little better, knowing that going back to sleep doesn't always mean missing out on the best music or books.  Sometimes, it just means missing out on some close-but-not-quite-compelling-enough-to-recommend efforts.

The allure of shuffle mode XCIII

When I want to hear music several hours before sunrise, I usually don't want to be startled with a barrage of high energy, manic tunes.  That's why I appreciated iTunes shuffle mode stringing these six songs together this morning, all taken from CDs I've bought over the years:

• I'll Come Over-The Kennedys
• The Week Before Easter-Martin Simpson
• Schlaff, Kindlein, Schlaff-Freyda Epstein
• Simple Gifts/Lovely Love-Barry Phillips & William Coulter
• One Place-Everything But The Girl
• Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most-Jane Monheit

Tasteful, subtle vocals and instrumentals get the morning off to a positive start, so I'm thankful that leaving my segues up to chance worked in my favor.

SiriusXM highlights CLXVIII

Seven standout tunes heard this afternoon:

Chill 

• Paradox-Nina Young (A steady midtempo beat and compelling vocals with echo propel this track.) 

Luna 

• Sierra Madre-Dave Valentin (Vibrant, upbeat jazz flute.)

Mosaic

• Be OK-Ingrid Michaelson (A frank acknowledgment that life takes its toll on everyone, and sometimes, you're just trying to get through the day.)

Real Jazz

• Moanin'-Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers (The compellingly sung Lambert, Hendricks & Ross rendition comes to mind first when I think of this tune, but this is Blakey's composition, which his band pulled off impressively.  The first 10 notes make up one of the most memorable jazz themes.) 

Smokey's Soul Town

• I'll Be Good To You-The Brothers Johnson (Instant atmosphere, from the opening notes.  Also recommended: "Strawberry Letter 23.")

The Village 

• Timberland-Tommy Emmanuel (A gripping downcast guitar instrumental.)

Watercolors

• Free To Be-Kim Scott (Sunny smooth jazz flute.)

Online radio sampler highlights CCXCII

Five standout songs heard this morning:

KCAT (Pine Bluff, AR) 

• Dry Your Eyes-Brenda & The Tabulations (Rhythmically and emotionally,. this 1967 R&B hit could segue with "It's Gonna Take A Miracle" by Deniece Williams.)

KCOU (Columbia, MO)

• Love Is Love-The Blackbyrds (The group's biggest hit, "Walking In Rhythm," has held up deservedly over the decades and is usually the track of theirs you're most likely to hear on the radio.  It was a pleasant surprise to hear this overlooked sunny keyboard/synthesizer instrumental for a change.) 

KUTX (Austin, TX)

• Major Tom-The Space Lady (Vocally and instrumentally, this is an impressively spacey rendition of Peter Schilling's 1983 hit.)

WAYO (Rochester, NY)  

• Molten Lava-Lord Echo featuring Leila Adu (An effective refrain, "walking by myself," anchors this well-sustained dance rhythm.)

WTJU (Charlottesville, VA)

• Big Earl's Last Ride-Jason Marsalis (This 2013 vibraphone track sounds like a throwback to a decades-earlier era of jazz.  Its compelling ending throbs.)