Stingray Music highlights XIII

Appealing tracks heard this morning:

Alt Country-Americana 

• Vicksburg Stomp-Hot Tuna (A fun acoustic instrumental romp; I can imagine "A Prairie Home Companion" returning from intermission with this tune playing.)

The Chill Lounge 

• Isla Maria (Sine remix)-Josete Ordonez (An appropriate soundtrack for floating weightlessly through the cosmos.)

Classic R&B And Soul 

• Te-Ni-Nee-Ni-Nu-Slim Harpo (A tight, fast blues riff with vocals that say all they need to say in two minutes.  It would undoubtedly be a blast to play any lead or rhythm instrument on this tune.)

Folk Roots

• Banks Of The Roses-The Barra MacNeils (Do you like "The Unicorn" by The Irish Rovers?  If so, you'll also enjoy this tune's upbeat feel.)
• Sir Eglamore-Kate Rusby (Rusby's best song, in my opinion.  Her vocal delivery here is serious, which suits the tale, yet breezy, in keeping with the music.)
• Wildflowers-Ana Egge featuring The Stray Birds (If you enjoy the harmonies of The Wailin' Jennys, you'll probably enjoy "Wildflowers.")

Gospel 

• Hallelujah, You're Worthy-Daryl Coley (If the choir and Coley don't lift your spirits, I'm not sure who would.)

Indie Classics 

• Cannonball-The Breeders (Distorted vocals, seemingly wrapped in gauze, set to a propulsive riff that runs all the way through the tune; this was the sound of alt-rock in 1993.)

Jazz Latino

• Hijita Mia-Daniel Lopez Infanzon (An appealing uptempo, piano-based rhythm.)

Jazz Masters 

• Speak Like A Child-Herbie Hancock (One of Hancock's most compelling piano melodies; it's difficult not to feel transported to a relaxing destination as you listen.)

Jazz Now

• Tickle Toe-Marian McPartland (A fine piano-anchored rendition of a big band melody that cooks.  For a horn-based take on it, check out Lyle Lovett and His Large Band's rendition.)

Popcorn

• Fame-Irene Cara (When you're young and ambitious, this is the level of confidence you need to succeed.  Looking back, I'm amused that our eighth grade chorus class never actually got around to singing the tune's lyrics.  One day, Mr. B. played the opening of the tune on the piano repeatedly while the class sang, "La-la-la, la, la-la-la-la-la," over and over.  That was as far as the class progressed.  Inexplicably, we never got past the intro.)