First up in today's random assortment of my iTunes library tunes is...
...1. Churchill-Samantha Crain
(Contemplative lyrics, including, "My whole life, I thought I was an opportunist, but I'm not.")
2. Goodnight And Go-Imogen Heap
(Heap's most captivating track, lyrically and vocally.)
3. The Crow's Nest-Laurence Juber
(One of Juber's best, most memorable uptempo guitar instrumentals.)
4. Ill Wind-Charlie Haden Quartet & Norah Jones
(A perfect synchronicity of material, singer, and rhythm section.)
5. Everyone's In Love With You-Marshall Crenshaw
(A strong, tuneful demo that brings Todd Rundgren's '70s output to mind.)
6. Little Town-Cliff Richard
(Richard's impressive rendering of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" elevates it above most versions of this carol.)
7. Young-Nickel Creek
(Chris Thile handles this should-be-better-known track with a great hook from the band's outstanding "This Side" CD with considerable confidence.)
8. Something Wild-Maia Sharp
(As I mentioned previously, this is Sharp's most gripping, powerfully sung track from a strong CD, "Fine
Upstanding Citizen." A forceful set of lyrics about thinking you want
something and realizing, when you get it, that you don't want it so
much.)
9. Different Drum-Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs
(These two voices fit this cover well.)
10. Pack Up Your Troubles (In Your Old Kit Bag)-David Wall
(Intended as the backing track for a sing-along; I was inspired to look this up after seeing it mentioned in a "Peanuts" comic strip.)
11. Tangerine-Chet Baker
(Cool, straight ahead trumpet-and-rhythm-section jazz; what's not to like?)
12. Little Song-Sarah Jarosz
(One of many impressively sung tracks from Jarosz's debut CD, "Song Up In Her Head.")
13. Take Five-Herb Drury Trio
(An appealing Vince Guaraldi-style approach on this cover of the Dave Brubeck classic.)
14. Alabama Jubilee-Chet Atkins
(There's an admirable consistency to Atkins' picking; you can choose basically anything in his discography and know that it will be played impeccably.)
15. More Than This-Lucy Kaplansky
(Kaplansky slows this Roxy Music song down, sings it from the heart, and makes it her own.)
16. Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore-The High Kings
(A fitting tribute to one's homeland, sung with epic grandeur.)
17. Runaway-The Hello Strangers
(Endearing lyrics about being a loner.)
18. Fall Right In-Beach Fossils
(A favorite from 2011, with an arrangement that segues well with "California Blue" by The Orange Peels.)
19. As Time Goes By-Ron Carter
(Carter's bass anchors this standard.)
20. At Your Best You Are Love-Aaliyah
(Compellingly sung, and a sad reminder that Aaliyah's time on this planet was much too brief.)
21. Stanford: Three Motets, Op. 38: II. Caelos Ascendit Hodie (Winchester Cathedral Choir & David Hill)
(Evidence of why Symphony Hall on Sirius makes worthwhile Sunday morning listening.)
22. Strangers-The Urge
(A good, fast social conscience track from 1990.)
23. Either Side Of The World-Crowded House
(Inviting vocals float above a spacy instrumental arrangement.)
