Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Favorite pairs of segues V

More pairs of songs that I think segue well:

   1.  Ray Ray Rain-Bettie Serveert
   2.  All Come True-World Party
(The '90s meet the '80s in a compatible pairing.)
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   3.  Good King Bad-George Benson
(If "Saturday Night Live" had debuted in the morning, "Good King Bad" would have made a good opening theme.  Benson has been recording for 50 years, and his guitar instrumentals are just as commendable as his vocal standouts, "This Masquerade," "On Broadway," and "Turn Your Love Around.")
   4.  Miss U-Victor Wooten featuring The Lee Boys
("Miss U" builds on the energy level established in "Good King Bad.")
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   5.  Alberta Bound-Gordon Lightfoot
   6.  Big Wheel-Jim Croce
(Songs for hittin' the road...)
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   7.  But It's Alright-J.J. Jackson
   8.  Part Of Me-Tedeschi Trucks Band
("Part Of Me" builds on the strong riff that "But It's Alright" lays down and would also segue well with Sam & Dave's "Soul Man."  Susan Tedeschi's "Little By Little" also deserves a listen for its strong resemblance to Bonnie Raitt's most powerful vocals.)
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   9.  I've Just Seen A Face-John Pizzarelli
 10.  Sonny's Step-Alan Broadbent Trio
(Pizzarelli's brisk Beatles cover segues naturally with "Sonny's Step"'s jazzy piano.)
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 11.  After The Fall-Incognito
 12.  Tell Me The Truth-J. Thompson
(Smooth-to-the-point-of-slick soft jazz instrumentals.)
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 13.  Space Oddity (Live)-Natalie Merchant
 14.  Wise Up-Aimee Mann
(I never would have guessed that Merchant would cover a David Bowie tune, but it suits her voice well; Mann's direct request is an appropriately somber follow-up.)
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 15.  Jimmy Mack-Laura Nyro and Labelle
 16.  Born To Hum-Erin McKeown
(Nyro and Labelle pull off a strong cover tune; McKeown picks up its bounce and skips with it.)
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 17.  Stolen Car-Beth Orton
 18.  Tongue Behind My Teeth-The Staves
(Both tracks turn turbulent situations into memorable hooks.)
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 19.  Yesterday Girl-The Smithereens
 20.  That Voice Again-Peter Gabriel
(Two of the stronger uptempo '80s tracks.  Gabriel's "So" album includes so many standouts that are still played today--"In Your Eyes," "Big Time," "Sledgehammer," and "Red Rain."  Consequently, radio stations often overlook "That Voice Again," even though, lyrically and instrumentally, it deserves to be in that group of standouts.)