Fingers crossed for official releases

After attending Erin Bode's concert at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center this morning, I'm hoping she'll eventually release these four cover tunes she sang today:

• No Moon At All (KPAC's house band of keyboardist, bassist, and drummer accompanied Bode throughout the concert smoothly, but it would have been interesting to hear "No Moon At All" with Spanish guitar backing.  I've come to look forward to this rendition at Bode's concerts, as her voice suits it well, and rhythmically, I think it could segue with Swing DeVille's "Only Fools Are Positive.")
• Pick Yourself Up (Who doesn't feel better after hearing this standard's bouncy, encouraging lyrics?  I enjoy hearing Bode sing it in her lower register.  I last saw her perform this outdoors in 2019, where her band and she had to compete with police car and fire engine sirens for the audience's attention.  It was better this time to see a respectful audience at KPAC's indoor venue give her rendition its due.)
• Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (If you like the feel of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "The Girl From Ipanema," you'll probably like this similar-sounding tune of his, as well.  Its subtle, heartfelt elegance is why I've never heard a subpar rendition of it.  Just by selecting this tune, a vocalist is already halfway home with an audience.)
• You're Driving Me Crazy (This was a fun, unexpected way for Bode to close today's concert.  Not having a sore throat, as she did at last December's concert, allowed her to belt this out, and the song's cold, declarative ending was a satisfying way of conveying, "See?  What did I tell you?  You're driving me crazy!  So there!"  I understand why Bode said this song comes to mind when she's in traffic.)

It was gratifying to see a full house turn out for an enjoyable, confidently performed set list of nearly all covers and standards.  Here's hoping Bode chooses to release these four tunes on CD and/or digitally.

Segue suggestion XIV

While listening to an early Seals & Crofts tune, "Tin Town," last night, I had an epiphany.  A noncommercial station worth its salt ought to segue it with "Fortune Teller" by Troubadours Of Divine Bliss.  In addition to sporting compatible vocals and guitar parts, both songs appeal to the consciences of  sensitive souls.  To prevent a city from falling into the decay described in "Tin Town," it's wise for people to put their hands to good use by building structures that need to be built, planting trees, and simply being the good citizens that "Fortune Teller" encourages.

There's nothing like a good cause-and-effect segue--especially when it inspires people to improve things in their own backyard. 

SiriusXM highlights CLXXI

Sunday afternoon standouts:

Lo-Fi Cafe

• Valencia Street-Lofi Coffee (Well-placed keyboard notes sustain this riff.)

Outlaw Country

• The Wheel-Patty Griffin (Good lyrics about justifiable angst that an unjust world causes.)

Real Jazz

• Take The L Train (To Brooklyn)-Brooklyn Funk Essentials (I knew I was in good hands upon hearing the opening interplay between between bass and trumpet.)

Record Store

• Alone Again Or-Love (This is still one of the best heart-on-sleeve tunes I've ever heard.  Calexico recorded an equally strong cover of it.) 

The Village

• Sweet Sixteenths-Alison Brown/Sierra Hull (This instrumental would segue seamlessly with Willie Nelson's version of Bach's Minuet In G.  Yes, really.)

Willie's Roadhouse

• I'll Do It All Over Again-Crystal Gayle (I like that these lyrics have the resolve of the attitude in Gerry Rafferty's "Get It Right Next Time.")

Yacht Rock Deep Cuts

• World Leave Me Alone-Ambrosia (There's a confident swagger in the lyrics, vocals, and instrumentation here.)

Yacht Soul

• I Can't Help It-Michael Jackson (This track, among others, shows why Jackson's "Off The Wall" album holds up better than "Thriller," in my opinion.  You can tell right away that these are Stevie Wonder's lyrics.)

What are the odds...?

In 1996, I brought in Herbie Mann's version of "The Peanut Vendor" to play on WEW.  Less than 10 minutes after playing it, someone called the station and requested that song.  He didn't specify any particular version, but I was stunned.  I was sorry to tell him I'd just played it recently, so I couldn't play it again that day.

After I hung up, I thought, "It's refreshing that in 1996, anyone is still thinking about that whimsical melody, let alone calling a radio station and requesting it."

I still wonder if that caller was related to the listener in this first memorable conversation.

Persistent earworm alert CDXXX

As I searched for a cat photo to post on my other blog, generallyrandommusings.blogspot.com, today, the lyric, "I seem to lean on old familiar ways," from Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years" ran through my mind.  It applies, at least subconsciously sometimes, when I'm choosing photos I've taken for my Watchcat protocol posts.  During a pleasant season, such as Fall or Spring, I'm often inclined to seek out photos from previous Autumns or Springs.  Similarly, during the Christmas season, I often search for cat photos that tie in with the holiday.

Consequently, I sometimes return to the same photo files for inspiration more than I realize.  I'll think, "Ah ha!  This photo would make a good post, so I'll use it today.  Wait...No, I won't.  I've used it already."  Other times, I'll think, "This is a good photo of (this particular cat or these particular cats), but surely, I must have posted it already.  Wait...I haven't?   There's today's post, then."

That second reaction led to today's posted photo of Sammy the cat from May 2010, striking a dignified pose in front of a bookcase.  Sometimes, "old familiar ways" yield a result you didn't anticipate.

A murky verdict X

How did Lily feel about one member of a choir leading the singing during the replay of an Easter Mass on April 5, 2026?  I'm still not sure:

Actually, I'm still not sure how I feel about it, either.  I'll just say diplomatically that the lead vocalist's singing was...adequate and leave it at that.  I understand why Lily maintained an ambivalent poker face during the hymns.

Context? CDXXXIV

Taking a cue from the unusual Carpenters cover tune I've written about, my cat, Collette, has instructed me to tell visitors, "Collette, she no home."

I don't feel right phrasing it that way.  Besides, who's in charge of this residence anyway?

I'm not going to answer that.