The allure of shuffle mode LXXIII

Sometimes, a compatible key and a similar uptempo vibe are enough for a smooth segue.  I discovered that this morning when iTunes shuffle mode faded out of The 5th Dimension's "Up, Up, And Away," and the Sara Watkins version of Willie Nelson's "I'm A Memory" began.

I'd imported the two CDs with those tracks at least a decade apart and had never thought to pair those songs up.  Upon hearing that segue, however, I thought, "These songs were recorded in distinctly different eras and genres, and that makes the pairing sound even fresher."  Their beats per minute are close enough to keep the momentum flowing, and the G minor key of "...Away" dovetails into "...Memory"'s G major key easily.

Just when I thought I'd heard every unlikely but successful segue I could possibly hear... 

A function of age XXXVIII

While getting a ride back to campus during my first semester of college, the driver, who lived on my dorm floor, turned on the car radio.  Upon reaching 97.1 FM, he exclaimed, "Hey, this is a new radio station."

Indeed, it was.  The new station, KHTK, launched its Top 40 format in August 1989.

I'm not sure how many years have passed since I heard someone announce the discovery of a new local radio station that way.  Alas, it probably happens much less frequently today than it did 36 years ago.

The allure of shuffle mode LXXII

Sometimes, I'll import one of my CDs into iTunes, not realizing how smoothly certain tracks will segue with other tracks on another CD I imported months or years earlier.  iTunes shuffle mode reminded me of this three days ago when the elegant vocals of "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" by Charlie Watts featuring Bernard Fowler faded into the elegant guitar-led rendition of "I'm A Fool To Want You," performed live in 1959 at The Village Vanguard by The Kenny Burrell Trio.

There's one pairing I wish I'd thought of when choosing the music I played on WEW.

Not his agenda to set, but...

As catchy as I found "Castle On The Hill" by Ten Hands when playing it on KCOU, I had a quibble about the lyrics.  I interpreted them as someone trying to coax his girlfriend or wife to stop being so reclusive and get out more often.  While that might have been to her benefit, whenever I listened, I thought, "While this is a scenario crafted for the song, people should respect others' boundaries.  If she wants to be a hermit, that's her prerogative.  It might not always be the best idea, but that's still her choice to make."

That said, the strength of the song's rhythm, construction, and commitment to its vocals should have made it a hit.  So many catchy songs never get their due, unfortunately. 

FM dial scan highlights CCLXXIV

Some of the better tunes I've heard today:

KDHX 88.1 FM 

• Hourglass-Squeeze (This sounds firmly of its time, i.e. 1987, and the energetic "take it to the bridge..." chorus makes me wish this received more radio airplay.)

WSIE 88.7 FM 

• Meet Me There-SoulCity Organ Trio (A smooth, upbeat organ groove with a bounce.)
• Callie-Joyce Cooling (A guitar-driven groove best suited for late nights.  Down To The Bone's "17-Mile Drive" could segue with this.)

KCFV 89.5 FM 

• Everything Has Changed-Best Coast (Honest lyrics about conquering a demon or bad habit and hoping that you stay on the better path you've chosen.)

KWUR 90.3 FM 

• Swinging At The Stars-Claire Rosinkranz (I like this tune's carefree, head-in-the-clouds vibe.  On the next mix CD I craft for myself, I'll have "Daisy" by Phoebe Rings lead into it.)

WFUN 96.3 FM 

• Let's Groove-Earth, Wind & Fire (A reminder that the dance tune stylings of the late '70s lingered into the early '80s.)

Context? CCCLXXIV

Today, after hearing a representative tout the new hot dog offerings at Busch Stadium during baseball season, a radio personality said she'd heard that each hot dog you eat shortens your life by 30 minutes.  She said she could live with that concession, however.

She said she was willing to sacrifice an hour of her life to eat a couple of hot dogs per year.

Her rationale reminded me of a co-worker's reasoning 30 years ago.  When he announced he was going to go light up a cigarette, someone across the room reminded him that each cigarette you smoke takes 11 minutes off your life.

"Yeah, but it's the last 11 minutes," he responded.

As long as you're not harming anyone else, that's an individual's choice to make--unwise as it might be.

Context? CCCLXXIII

I haven't been to a public aquarium in decades, but I've enjoyed watching the fish swim.  On Sunday, I'm pretty sure I heard a radio commercial for a local aquarium that included the incentive, "Let them snack on your dead skin."

Apparently, aquariums have become more interactive since I was a teenager.

FM dial scan highlights CCLXXIII

Late Sunday night/Early Monday morning highlights:

KDHX 88.1 FM 

• White Christmas (Live)-Charlie Parker (I'm concerned about KDHX's future, but the one silver lining of repeating previous shows is getting a second chance to hear music I missed the first time.  This is perhaps the peppiest version of "White Christmas" I've heard.  It's an impressively improvised saxophone rendition, with a bit of "Jingle Bells" for good measure.)

WSIE 88.7 FM 

• Fields Of Gold-Eva Cassidy (A strong, emotively sung version of one of Sting's most thoughtful hits.)
• A Little Moxie-Cindy Bradley (A steady, uptempo trumpet groove.  If I programmed a smooth jazz station, I'd play Avenue Blue's "Stockholm" before this.)

KWMU 90.7 FM 

• Avalon-Harry Connick, Jr. (According to the JazzWorks announcer, Connick is "showin' off a bit here" on the piano, but it gives the melody a fun kick.  I also recommend John Pizzarelli's version.)
• These Foolish Things-Count Basie (With its elegant sentimentality, it's no wonder that so many artists have covered this tune.  Lester Young's saxophone tone is particularly smooth on this rendition.) 

KSHE 94.7 FM

• Reminiscing-Little River Band (Offhand, I think this might be the only song I've ever heard on KSHE and our former music-of-your-life station, WRTH 1430 AM.  The lyrical references to happy memories of enjoying Glenn Miller and Cole Porter tunes with one's beloved make it a natural fit for both formats.  Also, not every song can make nostalgia and looking ahead to a long, happy marriage sound equally appealing.  The trumpet outro is one of my favorite endings to any pop hit.)

Context? CCCLXXII

Recently, after doing laundry, I discovered a small hole in the back of a shirt.  I confronted the offender that I suspect caused the hole--my cat, Collette.

I asked, "Who caused this?"  Inexplicably, I then sang my theory to the tune of Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle's "A Whole New World," I song I don't own or even think about ordinarily.

"A cat with clawwwwwws," I sang. 

Why I sang that, I'm not sure.  All I know is Collette neither confirmed nor denied my accusation.

Cue the wacky hijinks music...

Two nights ago, I put a small bag of banana peels and empty yogurt containers I was about to toss on the kitchen counter.  It hadn't been there even three seconds before my cat, Collette, jumped on the counter and poked her head in it.  I shouted, "No!  Stop it!" and sprinted after her.  I chased Collette into the living room, where she ran around with the bag around her neck.  When I snatched it from her, I thought, "I'm not sure if 'Yakety Sax' or Billy Joel's 'Root Beer Rag' is the best underscoring for a scene this silly."

Actually, I think either song would suffice.

SiriusXM highlights CLI

Today's noteworthy tunes:

1st Wave Deep Cuts 

• Obscurity Knocks-Trashcan Sinatras (An honest admission about not having life figured out yet.  Lyrically, "Obscurity Knocks" is compatible with...)

'80s To Now Alt Rock 

• Arrow-The Head And The Heart (...this track, which explains with conviction why it's necessary to depend on yourself.)

Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals 

• Daybreak-Tobias Wilden (There's a serene music box quality on this track.)
• Virginia Roads-Lucy Duclos (A contemplative, bittersweet melody.)

The Bridge Deep Cuts 

• The Caves Of Altamira-Steely Dan (A somewhat overlooked track with thoughtful lyrics about early, primitive forms of record-keeping.  Not just any group could pull this off, lyrically or melodically.)

Carolina Shag 

• Instant Love-The Monzas (How was this 1967 release not a hit?  It has an immediately accessible Motown-meets-Archie Bell & The Drells vibe.)

Outlaw Country 

• City Of New Orleans-Willie Nelson (Although I'm more accustomed to the Steve Goodman and Arlo Guthrie versions of Goodman's tune, Nelson's voice suits it well.)

Real Jazz 

• Moment's Notice-Keith Jarrett (Cookin' piano combo jazz.)

SiriusXMU Discovery 

• Ends Meet-Panda Bear (This February release offers a strong argument for living in the moment, appreciating one's life, and accepting that some elements of it will always be mysterious.  It's a lot to swallow, so it's impressive how well Panda Bear takes the edge off of things melodically.)

Smokey's Soul Town 

• Sideshow-Blue Magic (Blue Magic's vocal harmonies are similar to The Stylistics, which is always a compliment.)

The Village

• Hold Everything-Julie Fowlis, Karine Polwart & Mary Chapin Carpenter (This January release is Polwart's well-written tune about the challenges of living in our current era.  The vocal harmonies are strong, as expected.)

Watercolors 

• Seven Years Of Good Luck-Joe Sample (There's an accessible, slightly eerie quality to this melody, which made it appropriate theme music for KNJZ's "Lights Out, St. Louis" program in the mid '90s.)

Online radio sampler highlights CCLXVI

Today's standouts:

KSER (Everett, WA) 

• Les Fleur-Minnie Riperton (I've played Ramsey Lewis's version of this many times, but after hearing Riperton's commanding vocals on this rendition, I ought to play it, as well.)

KZUM (Lincoln, NE) 

• #5 Shomeda Way-Brent Laidler (Cool straight ahead jazz for brass section, guitar, and rhythm section.  The organ playing reminds me of Joey DeFrancesco.)

WAIF (Cincinnati, OH) 

• I Am The Conductor-The Seedy Seeds (Catchy indie roots rock with good use of banjo to underscore the lyrics.)
• Thanks To Gettysburg-Equipment Pointed Ankh (An interesting uptempo instrumental, with compelling piano and clarinet parts, enhanced with sound effects that become progressively spookier.)

WJMR (Milwaukee, WI) 

• Free-Deniece Williams ("Free"'s appealingly spacey intro would segue smoothly after Flora Purim's "Dindi.")

Can't unhear that, but...

I wish my college Jazz, Pop & Rock class instructor hadn't told us that despite Chuck Mangione's commercial success as a jazz flugelhorn player, "there are some intonation problems on his recordings."

Decades later, my reaction is still, "I wish he hadn't told us that.  Now, I'll be more likely to notice the imperfections, even though I don't want to."

Then again, "Feels So Good," "Give It All You Got," "Children Of Sanchez," "Can't We Do This All Night," and "Chase The Clouds Away" still appeal to me as much as they always have.  Luckily, a captivating melody doesn't always have to be perfectly pitched.

FM dial scan highlights CCLXXII

Six noteworthy selections heard today:

WSIE 88.7 FM 

• It's A Funky Thing To Do-Hank Crawford (An aptly titled groove that must have been a blast for Crawford to play on sax and for the rhythm section to underscore.)
• The Sermon-Hampton Hawes (If I programmed a jazz station, I'd play "Doodlin'" by Ray Charles before this.  That way, listeners could hear two engaging piano melodies with compatible bounces in their phrasing.)

KCLC 89.1 FM 

• Ship To Wreck-Florence + The Machine (The lyrics offer a sound cautionary tale about the dangers of substance abuse.)

KWUR 90.3 FM 

• Blue Sky/Mirrored Glass-Ellen Reid (Accessible avant-garde organ playing with an apparent Philip Glass influence.)
• lowcountry-more eaze & claire rousay (Suitable electronica underscoring for a turbulent--or at least mysterious--backdrop at night.  And, no, those aren't mistakes; the artists and this song title go by lowercase handles.)

KEZK 102.5 FM 

• We Belong-Pat Benatar (When this was a hit in late 1984 and early '85, I thought it was OK but overexposed.  These days, since it isn't played constantly on the radio, I hear it in a better light.  Lyrically, it's a direct admission that a couple might not be perfect but they still click, and they're still a team.)

SiriusXM highlights CL

Ten of the better tunes I've heard today:

'60s/'70s 

• Everlasting Love-Carl Carlton (Robert Knight's original 1967 version is perfectly respectable. Carlton, however, upped the tempo and energy level just enough to make this into an even more infectious hit seven years later.)

North Americana 

• You Never Know-Iron & Wine (Good lyrics about a world full of possibilities and the inevitability of not always following the wisest paths.  This is yet another strong acoustic number from Iron & Wine.)

SiriusXMU Discovery 

• Enything-quickly, quickly (No, that song title isn't a typo.  This is some strangely compelling new indie rock.  The lyrics suggest disturbing eagerness to shapeshift into the person the subject's beloved desires, but the contrast in vocal styles and surprising instrumental transitions kept me listening.  Thirty-seven seconds from the end, I thought a new song was starting.  Surprisingly, it was an unconventional fadeout.)

St. Paddy's Day Radio 

• Granny Quinn's/The Lilac Reel/Sporting Pat-Solas (Solas excels in spirited reels like these and boisterous fiddling like this.  This medley is one example of why it's fun to hear St. Paddy's Day Radio take over The Spectrum, i.e. Channel 28, every St. Patrick's Day.)
• The Musical Priest-Cora Smyth (Natalie MacMaster's "In My Hands" or "Man Of Arran" by Niamh Parsons would sound right to me after this round of catchy fiddle playing.)
• Danny Boy-The Irish Tenors (What ensemble is more qualified to sing this standard with orchestral backing?)
• The Rocky Road To Dublin-The Chieftains (What ensemble is more qualified to play and sing this rousing, much-covered uptempo number?  The High Kings and The Irish Descendants also recorded strong renditions.)
• The High Reel-Horslips (An interesting blend of traditional fiddling, hard rock guitar, and prog rock organ.)

Yacht Rock 311 

• You Can't Change That-Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio (Another way of conveying the sentiments about which Billy Joel sings in "Just The Way You Are."  The pleasantly sung hook has stood up to repeated listening since its 1979 heyday.)

Yacht Soul 

• Remind Me-Patrice Rushen (Lyrics and a vibe fit for late night dedication shows.)

A function of age XXXVII

When I was younger, DJs routinely asked listeners to call in their song requests.  Today, however, with music more accessible than ever online, phoning in requests isn't as common.  

On Friday, it surprised me when a noncommercial DJ who sounded like he was in his 60s asked listeners to phone in requests.  He said he was "ready to write them down" and that he'd play them.

I wonder how many song requests he received.  Even if there were few requests or none, it's refreshing that someone still values the human connection aspect of radio. 

FM dial scan highlights CCLXXI

Seven standout selections heard yesterday:

WSIE 88.7 FM 

• For Real-Carl "Guitar" Watkins (Uptempo, bittersweet smooth jazz guitar.)
• Astrud-Basia (One of Basia's most compelling tunes.  Its dance-like rhythm makes it accessible, and its E minor key gives it an appropriate level of tension.  I'm glad I got to play this so often on KNJZ.)

KCLC 89.1 FM  

• In Love With A Memory-Sasami featuring Clairo (Honest lyrics about appreciating what a relationship has given you shortly before it ends.)
• Ghost-Sierra Spirit (A forthright way of admitting, "You know me so well, and yet, this relationship just doesn't work.") 

KCFV 89.5 FM

• I Wish-Stevie Wonder (Right from the thumping opening bass line, it's obvious this is an infectious rhythm.  It's one among scores of Wonder's excellent chart-toppers.)
• Sunland-Marc Antoine (Pleasant, energetic smooth jazz guitar playing that could glide smoothly into Acoustic Alchemy's "Trail Blazer.")

K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. WFUN-HD2

• Claude Debussy: La Mer (Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner, conductor) (It puzzles me that audiences didn't receive this piece enthusiastically during its 1905 premiere.  How could this rendering of the sea, especially in the strings and winds, not have resonated with listeners immediately?)

Context? CCCLXXI

Once, while listening to a new Celtic track, I was puzzled to hear the lead vocalist singing what sounded like, "A night in the nicotine, oh, oh, oh..."

Then, as she continued singing the first verse, I realized, "Oh, of course, she's not singing in English.  She's not singing cheerfully about the health detriments of an evening spent in a smoke-filled room."

That would be an odd subject for a jig or reel to tackle.

Online radio sampler highlights CCLXV

Seven tunes that caught my ears today:

KCMU (Napa, CA) 

• Hawaiian Chance-Yello (This fast, foreboding, percussive instrumental builds tension effectively.)
• Wash.-Bon Iver (Stark piano and vocals bring out the resonance of the lyrics.  We're all products of our environment.  For some of us, that's a plus.  For others, it's a hindrance.)

KZLX (Maryville, MO) 

• Flowers-Miley Cyrus (Cyrus's music isn't usually on my radar, but this is a sound reminder that life goes on after a breakup.)

WROW (Albany, NY) 

• Lady (You Bring Me Up)-The Commodores (This hook doesn't leave a listener's mind easily.  No wonder it was all over the radio in the Summer of '81.)
• Five O'Clock World-The Vogues (Some of the most cathartic lyrics about leaving the pressures of work behind when you head home.)

WXNA (Nashville, TN)

• Basically Yours-Thad Jones (This bluesy big band number has a saunter in its step.)
• You And The Night And The Music-Renee Rosnes with strings (Cookin' piano from Rosnes.  Every track on the "Without Words" release is excellent, but Rosnes's versions of "Misty" and "I've Got You Under My Skin" are especially stellar.)

SiriusXM highlights CXLIX

Wednesday's standouts:

Classic Folk 

• Ring Them Bells (Live)-Joan Baez (Baez's rendition of the Bob Dylan tune is a timely reminder that not everyone has their priorities in order.  The piano accompaniment adds gravity to lyrics that people in this ethics-and-empathy-challenged political climate could stand to internalize.  Sarah Jarosz and Erin Bode recorded strong covers of this, as well.)

The Coffee House 

• Patterns-Laura Marling (Warm musings on how parenthood might pan out.  Voice-and-acoustic-guitar pairings like this usually captivate me.)
• One And Only-Michael Kiwanuka (A reassuring way of conveying, "Not every decision we make will live up to our ideals, but as a couple, we're in this for life, and we'll always be there for each other.") 

Deep Tracks Just Music

• Crying In The Rain-Rockpile (Vocally, this cover matches the emotional depth of the original Everly Brothers hit.  Crowded House's "Better Be Home Soon" would sound compatible after it.)

Lo-Fi Study 

• Sixth Station-Anbuu/Blue Wednesday (Pleasant piano playing anchors this otherwise somewhat spacey instrumental.)

Piano Instrumentals 

• Flight From The City-Johann Johannsson (This poignant, dramatic melody could underscore someone receiving life-changing news.)

Real Jazz 

• Sunflower (Little Sunflower)-Milt Jackson (An imaginative fantasia for vibraphone, trumpet, piano, and drums.  Freddie Hubbard shines on trumpet in his own composition, and Herbie Hancock's piano wizardry is another key ingredient in the tune's ambience.)

The Village 

• Boom-Sierra Hull (Vocally and instrumentally, this is a different style than I'm used to hearing from Hull.  It's successful, in part because rhythmically, the melody reminds me of Nilsson's "Coconut.")

Context? CCCLXX

This morning, one testimonial about why someone listens to NPR impressed me.

"I don't even drive, but I still tune into 'Car Talk,'" the listener wrote. 

That speaks well of a program's entertainment value and the host's communicative abilities.  It's commendable when people are motivated to listen, knowing they won't hear any applicable advice.

A petty fixation XL

Sometimes, I get concerned when my cell phone rings.  It moves to the side when ringing on a flat surface, so I'm concerned that it might fall off of a table or desk if I've accidentally left it too close to the edge.

Today, however, I thought, "I should ease up.  Usually, I can keep the phone in a more stationary location or give it plenty of room to move.  The default ringtone, after all, has a calypso rhythm, so why shouldn't the phone dance when it rings?" 

Why not be flexible when it's reasonable?

FM dial scan highlights CCLXX

Six noteworthy tracks heard today:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• Get The Hell Outta Dodge-Walter Hyatt (Despite the unhappy subject matter, this rhythmically compelling tune could flow right into Watkins Family Hour's "Remember Me (I'm The One Who Loves You)," setting up a "Point-Counterpoint" scenario lyrically.)

WSIE 88.7 FM 

• Spanish Grease-Willie Bobo (So, this is the tune that Santana reworked in a slower tempo as "No One To Depend On."  "Spanish Gease"'s infectious, uptempo, sung hook has run through my mind for years, but I couldn't remember the song's title or artist.  Mystery solved.)
• S'Wonderful-Carolbeth True Trio (A fine piano-anchored rendition of the Gershwin tune, with a modern kick.)

KCLC 89.1 FM 

• The Wheel (Live on eTown)-Patty Griffin (Inarguable lyrics about injustices people face for no good reason.  I'm glad KCLC reran this edition of eTown, as the interview segments enlightened me about Griffin's progressive sensibilities, and I got to hear strong live renditions of her songs that I'd missed during the first airing.)

KWUR 90.3 FM 

• Voyager-Daft Punk (Not every techno instrumental that conjures up images of a hamster on a treadmill leaves a lasting impression.  For me, at least, this one does.)

KSHE 94.7 FM 

• You Don't Want Me Anymore-Steel Breeze (Since this was a hit in the Fall of '82, I've never tired of this tune's sing-along chorus.  This is how you build a driving pop tune around a strong hook.)

The allure of shuffle mode LXXI

One guitar-propelled tune in D major flows well with another, I think.  That's why I was pleased to hear iTunes Shuffle Mode segue Batdorf & Rodney's "Caught In The Rain" with Kenny Rankin's "After The Roses" on Wednesday.

In memory of Roy Ayers

In memory of jazz artist Roy Ayers, I recommend these five tracks:

• Everybody Loves The Sunshine (On cold, bleak days, it's only natural for this tune to dominate one's thoughts.  Instrumentally and vocally, this is 1976 fusion in the best sense)
• Funk In The Hole (Ample proof that funk can mesh smoothly with orchestral backing.)
  
• Mystic Voyage (A compelling vibraphone hook and orchestral strings for added lushness.)
  
• Running Away (Rhythmically, this has a McFadden & Whitehead feel.)
• Searching (A laid-back vocal groove with of-its-time trumpet punctuation.)

Linguistic bemusement VII

Today, after the conclusion of Beethoven's eighth symphony, a radio announcer said we'd just heard the Berlin Philharmonic "going at it."

I thought, "That's interesting phrasing.  It sounds like the orchestra was going into battle against the piece."

Then, after thinking a little more, I concluded, "That was an especially commanding performance of the last movement, and the orchestra wasn't holding back.  'Going at it?'  Why not?"

The thing about equilibrium...

...is that one side of it might not be to your liking.  Two visits ago, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Crowded House's "Weather With You" playing in the grocery store.  Lyrically and melodically, "Weather With You" has been one of my favorite songs since first hearing it decades ago.  The song reminds listeners eloquently that no matter where you go, you always take your personality.  It wasn't an American hit, so it isn't the most obvious choice for in-store music.

Alas, during my next visit to that store, "Wannabe" by The Spice Girls was playing.  To be fair, "Wannabe" was a huge hit in 1997, so it's a more obvious choice to play for customers.  Also, the song's message about maintaining lifelong friendships is a positive one.  To me, however, the tune wears out its welcome quickly.  Whenever I hear the intro, I think, "OK, just tell each other what you want, what you really, really want, and please do it quickly, preferably in a soundproof room."  Because the song grated on me, I finished my shopping in record time and bought hardly any food.

Thus swings the pendulum of grocery store ambience. 

Persistent earworm alert CCCLXVII

Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," which has been on my mind since yesterday, is one of the best earworms to ever grace my brain.  I feel a tad sheepish, however, admitting what sparked it.

Yesterday, when I saw it was 12 minutes past the hour, I accelerated my typing.  I was determined not to publish a post at 13 minutes past the hour.  When I made my self-imposed deadline with a few seconds to spare, I thought, "Why did I do that?  What's so terrible about a time that ends in 13?  What bad luck would I have invited?"

I doubt that anything negative would have happened, and yet, somewhere in the back of my mind, 13 is a taboo number.  That's an awfully silly thing to believe, even subconsciously.

On the other hand...

Online radio sampler highlights CCLXIV

Standout tunes heard today:

KCRW (Santa Monica, CA) 

• Magic Or Medicine-Hope Tala (Tala's talked-sung lyrics come at the listener rapidly in this new release, but they're universal sentiments of not knowing how to handle it when some of your life choices are misfires.)

KMNO (Wailuku, HI) 

• Mr. Thomas-Donald Byrd (An infectious jazz groove with 1973 stamped on it in the best ways--a funk-infused rhythm section, trumpet playing that commands attention, and a flute arrangement that glides over the proceedings.)
• Train #2-The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (This heavy guitar sludge made me think late '60s rockers Vanilla Fudge were about to sing.)

WJAB (Huntsville, AL) 

• On My Way-Carol Albert (Bouncy smooth jazz piano augmented with horns and sporadic vocals.)
• Marimba Island-Paula Atherton (Sunny, uptempo smooth jazz flute with a prominent guitar part and bass undercurrent.)

WXAV (Chicago, IL) 

• All Or Nothin'-Nikki Lane (This tune's Bonnie Raitt-like bite made me take notice.)

SiriusXM highlights CXLVIII

Sunday standouts:

'40s Junction 

• Blue Is The Night-Duke Ellington (An unusually uptempo, melancholy big band melody.)

Bluegrass Junction 

• If I Didn't Love You-Jana Mougin (A direct way of saying, "I could live without you, but I'd rather not.")

Classic Folk 

• Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream-Pete Seeger (Seeger's idealistic vision is laudable, but an end to war is unlikely, to say the least.  I would have understood if SiriusXM had played any version of "The Impossible Dream" after this.)

Coffee House Classics 

• Perfect World-Indigo Girls (A tuneful, justifiable appeal to one's conscience that the land you occupy might have been obtained at someone else's expense.)

The Covers Channel 

• New Slang-Pickin' On Series (I never imagined this tune by The Shins in a bluegrass style, but it works, vocally and instrumentally.)

Deep Tracks Just Music 

• How Far-Manassas (A sound lyrical reminder of how lucky you are when you click with someone.  Stephen Stills & company also shine on "Anyway" and "Both Of Us (Bound To Lose.)"

Lo-Fi Cafe 

• Sidewalk Rhythm-Second Harbor/Beyond Moments/Yani (The piano and the guitar play equally important roles in sustaining this instrumental's loping groove.)

ONEderland 

• Suavecito-Malo (The vocal harmonies and mood of this 1972 hit remind me of "Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Tommy James & The Shondells.)
  

A linguistic irritant XXXV

I gnashed my teeth yesterday when a radio personality said she'd have "more deets" about a Mardi Gras event coming up.

Please refer to deets as details, info, or information on the air--at least if you're my age or older.

Not all slang abbreviations sound right coming from every age group.