Yet another list of my favorite song pairings:
1. A Beginning Dream-Triste Janero
2. Misty Morning Ride-Taj Mahal
(Triste Janero's track is fit for the transition time between starting to wake up and waking up fully. Taj Mahal's song gets the day off to a promising start, as the instrumental arrangement suggests an optimistic outlook, despite the questions asked in the lyrics. Both songs feature appropriately sparse vocals.)
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3. Learn How To Fall-Paul Simon
4. Postcard From A Dream-Poi Dog Pondering
(Falling doesn't have to be dire, at least according to the outlook conveyed in both of these tracks.)
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5. Rockin' Roll Baby-The Stylistics
6. Working My Way Back To You-The Spinners
(The Stylistics are known mainly for their smash hit ballads, such as "You Are Everything," "You Make Me Feel Brand New," and "Betcha By Golly Wow." "Rockin' Roll Baby" provides a great driving rhythm, for a change of pace, and the singer's appreciation for his wife and young son shines through in the lyrics. Rhythmically, The Spinners provide a smooth segue for those sentiments.)
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7. When One Door Closes (Another Door Opens Wide)-Carrie Newcomer
(A cheerful reminder of keeping things in perspective from a talented, singer-songwriter with a great alto voice. Newcomer is one of the most consistent artists from CD to CD I've ever heard; if you like one of her CDs, you'll almost definitely like the others. She has a knack for finding everyday stories in life and turning them into poignant lyrics. Standout tracks include "Stones In The River," "Bare To The Bone," "The Love Letter," "Holy As A Day Is Spent," and "There Is A Tree." Her '80s albums with her previous band, Stone Soup, are also worth tracking down.)
8. I Don't Make Promises (I Can't Break)-Shannon Curfman
(An impressive debut of powerful, belting pipes. Curfman sings with conviction beyond her years; I would never have guessed, if I hadn't known already, that Curfman was a teenager when she recorded this. Lyrically, this is a refreshingly cynical take on keeping one's expectations realistic.)
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9. Frozen Love-Buckingham Nicks
10. Let's Get The Show On The Road-Michael Stanley Band
(Two sets of lyrics about wondering how to fix broken situations, and two compelling, long arrangements; "Frozen Love" is by two key Fleetwood Mac members-to-be, and "Let's Get The Show On The Road" is by a band that isn't as acclaimed as it should be.)
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11. Far More Blue-Dave Brubeck Quartet
12. Grandfather's Waltz (live)-Stan Getz
(If you enjoy Brubeck's classic, "Take Five," you'll probably enjoy the similar feel of "Far More Blue." "Grandfather's Waltz" furthers the blue-with-a-tinge-of-optimism mood. Two of the best representations of early '60s jazz.)
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13. Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me-Nat King Cole Trio
14. Satin Doll (live at The Blue Note)-Duke Ellington
(One of Cole's smoothest vocals followed by one of Ellington's most elegant, enduring compositions.)
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15. Silverwells-Natalie MacMaster
16. When Sonny Gets Blue-Saint Louis Brass
(It's easy to imagine amber waves of grain at sunrise when listening to either of these instrumentals. MacMaster provides stately fiddling, and Saint Louis Brass builds on the mood she establishes.)
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17. Peace Train-Cat Stevens
18. If I Had A Hammer-Trini Lopez
(Idealism with a catchy hook, in either case.)
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19. Bravado-The Aqua Velvets
20. Secret Agent Man-Johnny Rivers
(There's a similar goofy appeal to both of these tracks; The Aqua Velvets lay down a sense of urgency instrumentally, and Rivers socks it home vocally.)
