Eight of the better songs I've heard today:
KEWU (Cheney, WA)
- Michelle-Al Hood And The H2 Jazztet (Prominent trumpet and saxophone mesh with elegant piano backing in this appealing ballad.)
- 'Til There Was You-Cassandra Wilson (The intro led me in a direction I didn't expect. Based on the tune's opening, I thought the stage was being set for an instrumental blues riff. When Wilson started singing, I was surprised. The Beatles recorded my favorite version of this, but this is yet another solid cover of Wilson's. Another recommended Wilson cover: Shelter From The Storm; on Bob Dylan's birthday, this is an appropriate time to spotlight it.)
KILJ (Mount Pleasant, IA)
- Runaway Train-Rosanne Cash (Honest sentiments about a relationship taking off and not knowing what the future holds.)
KNBA (Anchorage, AK)
- Raised On Robbery-Joni Mitchell (This is one of Mitchell's more whimsical, fun tracks. I still maintain that it segues well with the "Schoolhouse Rock" tune, "Interplanet Janet.")
- Shadow-The Ballroom Thieves (What should you do when your demons follow you? The backing vocals are particularly appealing.)
KVMR (Nevada City, CA)
- Mood Indigo-Nina Simone (An excellent swingin' take on the Duke Ellington standard. If the first minute and twenty seconds of piano playing doesn't perk you up, I'm at a loss.)
WWWS (Buffalo, NY)
- Harvest For The World-The Isley Brothers (I'm predisposed to like this type of rhythmic piano and guitar backing in the key of G major. Unfortunately, the lyrical plight of not being able to feed everyone is as timely now as it was in 1976.)
WYRZ (Brownsburg, IN)
- What You Won't Do For Love-Bobby Caldwell (Caldwell passed away March 14. This tune speaks well of his vocal abilities, as it grabs the listener right from the beginning. It's also one of the best cross-categorical songs I've heard, as it fits well into R&B, smooth jazz, and oldies playlists. Also recommended: "My Flame.")
