Thursday, October 22, 2015

Stingray Music highlights X

Some of the stronger selections I heard yesterday:

Baroque 
  • Johann Sebastian Bach: English Suite No. 6 in D minor, BWV 811 (Glenn Gould, piano) (Gould's deft approach to the piano serves all eight movements of Bach's final, and largely brisk, English suite effectively.)
Cocktail Lounge
  • Je Pense A Toi-Paul Mauriat (For those who remember the more uptempo side of KEZK's easy listening format prior to the late '80s.)
Cool Jazz 
  • November-Catherine Russell (Lyrically suitable for times when Winter arrives earlier than usual.)
Flashback '70s
  • Thinking Of You-Loggins & Messina (Considering how universal the lyrics are and how happily they're sung, it puzzles me that I've only heard this song on the radio once.  I heard KCLC play it once, over a decade ago, and it baffles me that oldies stations don't play it, as well.  Inexplicably, this Loggins & Messina hit has been largely forgotten.)
Folk Roots
  • Firecracker-The Wailin' Jennys (An excellent trio of harmonious singers carries off a tasteful, heartfelt set of lyrics.)
  • Sleep On-Alison Krauss (In the same lyrical ballpark as "Firecracker," and one example, among many, of how consistent Krauss is from album to album.)
  • She Moves Through The Fair/Urge For Going-Seanachie (Two folk classics, sung and segued compellingly against a Celtic backdrop; what's not to like?  It's interesting to hear "Urge For Going" sung at a faster clip than it typically is; Joni Mitchell, Tom Rush, and Mary Black recorded effective slower versions of it, but Seanachie's interpretation also works.)
Jukebox Oldies 
  • Goin' Out Of My Head-Little Anthony & The Imperials (Everything's right there on the surface, lyrically.  The Lettermen also recorded a moving version of it.)
New Age
  • Don't Know Why-Pat Metheny (It's captivating to hear a great Norah Jones tune transferred so naturally to the guitar.  It's from one of Metheny's best releases, "One Quiet Night."  Also recommended: "Last Train Home" and "Over On 4th Street.")
Retro R&B
  • Last Night-The Mar-Keys (A memorable, of-its-time sax/keyboard instrumental.  If the title doesn't ring a bell, trust me; you've probably heard this riff used as background music.)
World Carnival
  • Tum-Tum-Tum-Jackson do Pandeiro (One of the most joyous musical pick-me-ups I've heard in some time.)