Recommended music for July 4

Here, in my opinion, is some of the best music to listen to on Independence Day:

• America-Simon & Garfunkel (This tune about looking for America doesn't get much radio airplay these days, so it was refreshing to hear KDHX play it on July 4 one year.)
• America The Beautiful-Ray Charles (Charles puts his unique stamp on arguably the most beautiful of American anthems.)
• America The Beautiful-Nathan East (Jazz bassist East and the accompanying choir do America proud with this dignified rendition.)
• America The Beautiful-Pete Seeger (A succinct guitar and harmonica version.)
• American Tune-Paul Simon (or Simon & Garfunkel from the concert in Central Park) (Considering how thoughtful and moving these lyrics are, it's puzzling that this wasn't a bigger hit.  Both versions warrant repeated listening, not only on July 4.)
• But, Mr. Adams-"1776" movie soundtrack ("1776" is a captivating movie and stage production about the struggles that led up to the Declaration Of Independence being adopted.  You know that Thomas Jefferson will write the Declaration, but hearing the supposed account of how he becomes the author is amusing.)
• God Bless America-Beegie Adair (A stirring piano rendition that takes just enough liberties without overdoing them.)
• National Anthem-LeAnn Rimes (A soaring, well-sung, respectful rendition.)
• William Schuman: New England Triptych, "Chester" (St. Louis Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin, conductor) (The orchestra conveys the brassy, powerful patriotic themes of this movement.  The orchestra's rendition of John Philip Sousa's "The Stars And Stripes Forever" is also recommended.)
• Shenandoah-Ferrante & Teicher (Two pianos, a flute, and strings pull off a lyrical, moving instrumental.)
• Song For America-Kansas (Ten minutes of orchestral rock; a respectful, powerfully played salute to America's beauty.)
• This Land Is Your Land-Peter, Paul & Mary (Few ensembles can match Peter, Paul & Mary's sincerity here.)

Persistent earworm alert IV

I don't know what triggered it, but Art Of Noise's "Close (To The Edit)" has run through my mind numerous times in recent days.  Released in 1984, it's a mostly instrumental track with occasional vocals.  Whenever I hear it, I imagine robots in a factory assembling cars.  I can't say that about any other song offhand.  I still think, all these years later, that it would work as a theme song for a sitcom about soulless worker bees.

A conductor's backhanded compliment

The conductor of one of the ensembles in which I used to play once said this about a new piece, after the composer left the room: "Within those 20 minutes is a brilliant 10-minute piece."

In memory of Ornette Coleman

In memory of jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman, who passed away today, these are three of his best tracks that I recommend:

• When Will The Blues Leave? (Released in 1958, this is solid straight ahead jazz, with Coleman's alto sax leading the way.  I also recommend Kenny Kirkland's version.)
• Una Muy Bonita (Articles written today are citing this 1960 track, for good reason.  Its central theme conjures up images of a joyous festival.)
• Bourgeois Boogie (I discovered this 1988 tune at KCOU and played it on the air several times.  It proves that a melody doesn't have to be precisely on the beat at all times to be infectious.)

WEW playlist flashbacks: The first half-hour

It's exciting to be the person who sets the trend for the day.  During my time at WEW 770 AM, I especially enjoyed the times when I got to turn on the transmitter, sign the station on, and choose the first 4 1/2 hours of music played that day.  I enjoyed being the only person in the building before sunrise, selecting my first group of songs, and waiting for the clock to strike 5:30.  There were few or no commercials between 5:30 and 6 a.m., so I got to set the mood musically and break in occasionally to back announce music and give a weather forecast.  When selecting the music, I kept in mind that a large percentage of the audience was at least three times older than me.  My goal was always to play the best mix of big band music, oldies, and jazz that would draw a wide-ranging audience while not being overly predictable.  Here were four of the first half-hours of my shows that I thought flowed well:

Sunday, June 16, 1996 (possibly the most mainstream mix I ever programmed:)
   1.  Feels So Good-Chuck Mangione
   2.  Love's Theme-Love Unlimited Orchestra
   3.  Yesterday's Songs-Neil Diamond
  --- 
   4.  Love Is Blue-Paul Mauriat
   5.  Love Theme From "Romeo And Juliet"-Henry Mancini
   6.  Carousel Dreams-April Stevens
  ---
   7.  There's A Kind Of Hush (All Over The World)-Engelbert Humperdinck
  ---

Saturday, June 29, 1996
   1.  I've Got You Under My Skin-Renee Rosnes Trio with string orchestra
   2.  Cool Blue Stole My Heart-Joan Armatrading
  ---
   3.  God Bless America-Kate Smith
   4.  Dream A Little Dream Of Me-Mama Cass
   5.  Out Of This World-Mary Cleere Haran
  ---
   6.  Laura-Erroll Garner
   7.  Lullaby-John Pizzarelli
   8.  In My Life-The Beatles
  ---

Saturday, July 6, 1996
   1.  Good Morning Heartache-Laura Fygi
   2.  In A Sentimental Mood-Vanessa Rubin
  ---
   3.  I've Got The World On A String-Mel Torme
   4.  You Stepped Out Of A Dream-Lee Konitz
  ---
   5.  Goin' Out Of My Head-Little Anthony & The Imperials
   6.  Suspicious Minds-Elvis Presley
   7.  Lisbon Antigua-Nelson Riddle
  ---

Saturday, July 13, 1996
   1.  When Lights Are Low-Herbie Mann
   2.  Deep Purple-Artie Shaw with Helen Forrest
  ---
   3.  Moanin'-Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
   4.  I Need You Now-Eddie Fisher
   5.  Wimoweh-The Weavers
   6.  Lazy Mary-Lou Monte
  ---
   7.  Here's That Rainy Day-Bill Evans
   8.  Crying-Roy Orbison
  ---
--- indicates a short break for a slogan and time check or a longer break for back announcing the music.

FM dial scan highlights XXXII

Some of the better selections I've heard since Saturday:

KDHX 88.1 FM

• When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around-The Police (This isn't usually the first song most listeners think of in connection with this band, and that's a shame.  In addition to its strong title and lyrics conveying one of the most accurate truisms about life, it's one of the best driving rhythms the band ever played.)
• Greet The Day-Beth Bombara (Listeners should find Bombara's lyrics about the grind of life relatable.  She reprises the tune as an instrumental at the end of her self-titled release, due out in two weeks.)
• False Hope-Laura Marling (Another highlight of Marling's latest release, "Short Movie."  If I didn't know otherwise, I would have guessed Fiona Apple was singing.)

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Steppin'-McCoy Tyner (Smokin' piano and rhythm section.  Talk about needing to let the instruments cool off...)

K297BI 107.3 FM, a.k.a. KNOU-HD2 

• Sky Dive-Freddie Hubbard (A great trumpet and rhythm section jam.  Even after 7 1/2 minutes, I wanted to hear more.  No surprise there, when you have a lineup of heavy hitters such as George Benson, Ron Carter, Keith Jarrett, and Hubert Laws.  It was good to hear this track on "The Jazz Collective" Saturday.)
• In The Still Of The Night-Aaron Neville (For a minute this morning, I wondered if Radio Arts Foundation had changed the station's format abruptly.  They hadn't; Jim Doyle played this in honor of Cole Porter's birthday.  Neville sings it with just the right amount of vibrato.)
• J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048 (San Francisco Saxophone Quartet) (This is a piece for strings, so I never expected to hear this instrumentation.  The four saxophones carry it off quite well, however.  For anyone who has only tiptoed into Classical music waters, I recommend this concerto.  I remember playing it on the bass in middle school, and it was the first piece I played that made me truly appreciate good music.  The melodies of its first and third movements are particularly memorable.)

SiriusXM highlights XIII

Some of the best tracks I heard yesterday morning:

'60s On 6

• Angel Of The Morning-Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts (This isn't played a lot on the radio these days, but it's a well-constructed, well-sung oldie that was also a hit for Juice Newton in the '80s.)

'80s On 8

• Total Eclipse Of The Heart-Bonnie Tyler (An '80s hit that doesn't skimp on emoting; Meat Loaf would have done a credible version of this, as well.)

Enlighten

• Take My Hand, Precious Lord-Chet Atkins (A moving guitar and harmonica rendition.)

The Loft

• Everything Waits To Be Noticed-Art Garfunkel with Buddy Mondlock & Maia Sharp (Garfunkel's voice shines, as always, while conveying lyrics suggesting that "Yes" is clearly the right answer to the philosophical question, "If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"  Also strongly recommended: "Perfect Moment.")
• Walk To The Point-Dave Mason & Cass Elliot (An overlooked deep track from a pair that harmonizes well in the style of Crosby, Stills & Nash.)

Real Jazz

• Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me-Johnny Griffin (I can't imagine anyone topping Nat King Cole's interpretation, but Griffin's sax-based instrumental is certainly recommended.)

Soul Town

• I Can't Stop Dancing-Archie Bell & The Drells (If the vibe of the band's biggest hit, "Tighten Up," appeals to you, you'll probably enjoy this hit, as well.  Also recommended: "There's Gonna Be A Showdown.")

Spa

• Last Train Home-Pat Metheny (Conjures up exactly the image the title suggests; one of Metheny's strongest '80s tracks.)