An atypical standout X

To most listeners, Boz Scaggs is best known for catchy radio hits such as "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" or ballads like "We're All Alone" and "Look What You've Done To Me."  An atypical closing instrumental on his 1971 "Moments" album also deserves recognition, however.

"Can I Make It Last (Or Will It Just Be Over)," is a moving guitar, piano, and orchestra instrumental that keeps a subtle melody flowing for over five minutes.  Sometimes, a melody matches its album cover design perfectly; "Can I Make It Last..." could easily underscore the "Moments" cover painting of an onlooker observing the sunset.

Just when you think you know an artist, exploring the musician's catalog and underplayed album cuts reveals a facet that you wouldn't glean from the greatest hits.

I'm 47, not 87.

This morning, on my 47th birthday, the first ad that Yahoo showed me was for a company called Elderly Instruments.  I don't recall that coming up before.  A few minutes later, I turned on KYKY and heard the Phillips & Company morning crew discussing a list of "signs you're getting older."  Apparently, if I take my search engine-triggered ad and radio seriously, I'm now supposed to purchase a banjo and start saying, "Back in my day," or "Back in the day..."

I haven't done either of those things yet.  Then again, it's still early in the day.

SiriusXM highlights LXXIV

Monday through Thursday highlights:

Deep Tracks

• Wooden Ships (Live)-Crosby, Stills & Nash (Despite a bit of talking through formerly sung lyrics, this is a captivating rendition of one of the band's most gripping, ominous songs.  The blistering, expansive guitar runs are particularly impressive.)

The Loft

• Autumn Song-Van Morrison (Morrison captures Autumn's essence well in his ode to the season.  I "(took) a walk when Autumn (came) to town" yesterday, per his advice, and was glad to see as many hints of Fall colors as I could take in.  No doubt, they'll be more prominent in a few weeks.)
• I Love You More Than Words Can Say-Otis Redding (Anyone who sings with such conviction, grit, and sincerity in this situation has clearly been pining for someone.  It's puzzling that this wasn't a hit.)

Real Jazz

• Desafinado-Steve Nelson (A week ago, I praised Karrin Allyson's vocal rendition of this famous Antonio Carlos Jobim tune.  Nelson shows that a vibraphonist can tackle this melody just as effectively.)
• I Thought About You-Christian McBride (Fine bass underpinning from McBride and resonant trumpet from Brandon Lee on this cover of the Jimmy Van Heusen-Johnny Mercer tune.  It segues well with "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning," another highlight of McBride's new release, "Bringin' It."  Other recommended cuts: "Gettin' To It" and "Optimism.")

SiriusXMU

• Moontalk-Laurel Halo (Strangely compelling processed vocals and laughter.  The recurring use of the three tones that typically precede the "You have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service" announcement isn't out of place in this spacey sound collage, released in June.)
• Moving On-Anna Of The North (The ethereal, airy vocals in this lyrical pep talk, released last month, remind me of The Cocteau Twins.)

Soul Town

• Hip Hug-Her-Booker T. & The MGs (If the backing track of the Otis Redding/Carla Thomas track, "Tramp," appeals to you, this instrumental likely will, too.)

Spa

• A Pillow In The Sky-Ann Sweeten (A warm, serene melody for piano and flute.  Given the flourishes in the piano part, this instrumental's title could just as easily be "Ripples In A Stream.")

20 questions but no correct answers

From time to time, my high school German teacher would start a game of Botticelli.  A student or he would think of a famous person, and the rest of us would guess, by asking yes/no questions, who it was.  When a student deduced that the person I was thinking of was a musician whose last name started with W, Mr. D. asked, "Is it someone I would know, too?"  I said it was.  Neither the students nor Mr. D. guessed that the musician in question.  When I announced it was Stevie Wonder, Mr. D. exclaimed, "Oh!  Even I've heard of Stevie Wonder!"

I hadn't expected to stump the class, but surprisingly, I did.

In memory of Tom Petty

It's chilling to realize how many influential musicians have passed away since I started this blog.  Sadly, Tom Petty became a member of that group yesterday.  Here are six of his best songs, in my opinion:

• Breakdown (In his debut top 40 single, Petty assumes an accent that you wouldn't hear in any of his subsequent hits.  Coming from almost anyone else, the lyrics might sound like an unwelcome come-on.  Coming from Petty, however, the attraction between the man and woman in the song comes across as mutual.)
• Feel A Whole Lot Better (Petty cited Roger McGuinn, lead singer of The Byrds, as an influence, and this Byrds tune, known originally as "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better," is a great fit for his voice.  The word, probably, in the chorus, "And I'll probably feel a whole lot better when you're gone," makes all the difference in the song's attitude.  This is my second favorite Petty recording.)
• A Higher Place (Jangling guitar, sing-along verses and chorus, humility in the lyrics, and an infectiously brisk tempo make this my favorite Petty tune.)
• Learning To Fly (Who doesn't feel uncertainty like this at one time or another?)
• My Back Pages (Live with Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn & Neil Young) (Contains one of my favorite Dylan lyrics, "...I was so much older then.  I'm younger than that now."  I especially enjoy how The Byrds covered it, so it's good to hear McGuinn as part of this quartet.  In terms of vocals and attitude, all four artists are logical choices to tackle this song.)
• Runnin' Down A Dream (One of the most instantly recognizable, get-in-the-car-and-go guitar riffs, coupled with Petty's assured vocals.  It, and "Feel A Whole Lot Better," are still two of the best standouts on the "Full Moon Fever" album 28 years later.)

Stingray Music highlights XLV

Standout tracks heard this morning:

Adult Alternative

• All Downhill From Here-Lyle Lovett & His Large Band (An honest expression of gratitude for a good life while fearing that things might deteriorate.  As Lovett says in concert, "It's a sobering thought.")

Alt Country-Americana

• Perfect-The Mastersons (Endearing vocal harmonies in this request for reassurance.  Also recommended: "Cautionary Tale.")

The Chill Lounge

• Mirror-ORG Lounge (A somewhat spooky, trance-inducing instrumental.)

Cocktail Lounge

• On A Clear Day You Can See Forever-The Peddlers (The ideal cross-section of organ-based jazz and orchestral accompaniment, paired with laid-back vocals, make this a strong cover tune.)

Everything '80s

• Who's Zoomin' Who?-Aretha Franklin (Still a good driving tune; the synthesized, overtly '80s backing vocals and instrumental touches serve the song well.)

Folk Roots

• My Old Brown Coat And Me-Tim O'Brien (There's a commendable lesson in the lyrics about not being too snobbish.)

Jazz Masters

• I Got It Bad-Sonny Criss (Appealingly airy production values allow the tender yet forceful saxophone melody to breathe.)

Persistent earworm alert LXXIV

For the past week, a St. Louis radio commercial jingle has been stuck in my mind.  I don't know how many years have passed since I used to hear it.  Does anyone else remember the jingle, "We care about your smile at Dental North...Dental North...Dental North?"  I've never gone to that dental office.  The jingle, however, left a positive impression.  Its main singer and the vocalist who echoes him elongate the r in North somewhat and end each North on an upward inflection, making an appointment there sound like a pleasant experience. 

Not every dentist could pull that off.