"Enjoy our background music randomizer..."

Recently, while grocery shopping, I heard Al Jarreau's rendition of "Carol Of The Bells," followed immediately by the Genesis tune, "I Can't Dance."

Programming music for shoppers must be easy when you have no regard for segues.

Multiple Carols Amalgamation Central

Looking for a carol that sounds original but simultaneously familiar?  Listen to The Four Freshmen's version of "And The Bells Rang!"  It covers most of the secular basics you'd expect in a carol--bells ringing, obviously, but also children singing, tinsel on a tree, reindeer, and snow.  I was surprised to read that it's a traditional Swedish carol, as it sounds like an in-studio answer to the question, "How do we come up with lyrics that capture a lot of the things people like about Christmas while saying them in a relatable way that hasn't been said before?"  It's sung pleasantly, though, so I let play it out when it came up frequently on WRTH years ago.  If you get to the end of the tune and find it doesn't do much for you, it's only two minutes out of your life.

Three other notes about The Four Freshmen's "Freshmas!" CD:

• If you like the unhurried way The Beach Boys approach their vocals on "We Three Kings," you'll probably enjoy The Four Freshmen's similar take on the carol.
• The Four Freshmen's version of "The First Noel" approximates what The Beach Boys might have sounded like performing before a church's congregation in the '60s. 
• When iTunes pulled up the "Freshmas!" CD, it misidentified the group as Fat Beat Soundsystem.  I'm still having trouble imagining how a group by that name would approach "And The Bells Rang!"

Favorite music of 2018

Overall, I'd characterize 2018 as a commendable year for music, particularly for indie rock and tunes with echoes of the 1970s in their step.  There were also some gems in the singer-songwriter, jazz, and R&B genres.  I always find it somewhat challenging to rank music, as it requires making apples-and-oranges comparisons.  Nevertheless, here are my 25 favorite songs of the year:

25.  Lovely Day-Shamie Royston
(A fine piano cover of my favorite Bill Withers tune; despite its title, Royston's interpretation brings a contemplative rainy day to mind.)
24.  Short Court Style-Natalie Prass
(This is one of 2018's more pleasant melodies.  If I didn't know otherwise, I might have thought this was a '70s R&B track.)
23.  This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)-Dave Koz featuring Kenny Lattimore & Shelea
(This strong cover of Natalie Cole's hit replicates the original version's exuberance compellingly.)
22.  Lash Out-Alice Merton
(A cathartic track from Merton's EP, released in April.  If you usually hold your tongue and let your anger well up inside, you might feel like this.  Merton's forthright vocals mesh well with the bubbling undercurrent of bass that would have fit in on either of Joe Jackson's 1979 albums.)
21.  Whistle On Occasion-Kim Richey featuring Chuck Prophet
(Released in March, this is a highlight of Richey's "Edgeland" release.  Two voices and a guitar illustrate how  satisfying it is to savor life's pleasant, so-called minor moments.  This could segue with Shawn Colvin's version of Bob Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go.")
20.  Happy Unhappy-The Beths
(Catchy power pop lead and backing vocals in this appealing tune for driving, released in August.  Cruiserweight's "Slack" could segue with it.)
19.  Whatever It Takes-The James Hunter Six
(Hunter and company capture the spirit and vocal stylings of Sam Cooke impressively.)
18.  Smilessence-The Reggie Pittman & Loren Daniels Quartet
(How the Beatles tune, "You Never Give Me Your Money," would sound as a trumpet-led, tropical fiesta instrumental.)
17.  Sidekick-Soulive
(Jazz meets R&B in this smooth, steady instrumental groove, with more than a hint of the '70s in its arrangement.)
16.  General Thunder-Julian Lage
(This uptempo guitar instrumental made an immediate impression upon me.  There's a general consistency throughout Lage's "Modern Lore" album, released in February.  Much of it fits under the smooth jazz banner, but if you're looking for a more experimental track, check out "Earth Science.")
15.  Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays-Unknown Mortal Orchestra
(1978 meets 2018 in this dance track with a motif late in the track that reminds me of 7 Worlds Collide's "Reptile.")
14.  Can't Run But-Paul Simon with yMusic
(It's ear-catching to hear Simon sing this reworked version with backing that's reminiscent of "Peter And The Wolf.")
13.  The Paradise Within (Paradise Found)-The Manhattan Transfer
(I had a preconceived notion while listening to the group's release, "The Junction."  I expected their version of US3's "Cantaloop (Flip Out!)," which WSIE has played numerous times, to be the standout track.  While it's a fun rendition, the grace and sensitivity with which the group sings, "The Paradise Within...," made an even stronger impression on me.)
12.  All This Love-Take 6
(As with The Manhattan Transfer, I had certain expectations before hearing Take 6's latest release, "Iconic."  I was expecting this longtime a cappella group's cover of Al Jarreau's "Roof Garden" or Christopher Cross's "Sailing" to be my favorite track.  Although they sing solid versions of both songs, their rendition of this DeBarge hit is, to my ears, the best fit for their voices.)
11.  Sovay-Low Lily
(This strong, brisk rendition of a traditional English tune, released in March, features excellent Celtic-style singing, mandolin, fiddle, and guitar.)
10.  I Was A Fool-Sunflower Bean
(This track from the "Twentytwo In Blue" release combines at least four strong elements; Julia Cumming's vocals remind me of Blondie and Harriet Wheeler from The Sundays, there's a definite resemblance to Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams," the guitar arrangement brings the best of Real Estate to mind, and the alternating vocals between Nick Kivlen and Cumming remind me a bit of The Human League.)
  9.  Nobody-Mitski
(I have to respect any song that can combine such disparate elements as Isaac Hayes's "Theme From 'Shaft,'" ELO's "Livin' Thing," and Keren Ann's "Not Going Anywhere," while still sounding fresh and original.  These are some of 2018's most endearing vocals and piano playing.)
  8.  Old Stuff, New Glass-The Orielles
(Great jangly synergy between the guitar, bass, and vocals; a power pop highlight of 2018.)
  7.  Have Faith-Sloan
(Another power pop highlight of the year; pairing encouraging lyrics for someone going through a rough time with a melody similar to Tom Petty's "A Higher Place" is a winning formula.)
  6.  Golden Ticket-The Bamboos
(This release from July is a catchy blast of positivity; who couldn't root for someone who finds happiness this way?  This sounds like an early '70s R&B groove, to its credit.  Swing Out Sister's "Am I The Same Girl?" would sound great before it, and Natalie Prass's "Short Court Style" would fit well after it.)
  5.  Move-Milo Greene
(Mysterious, breathy vocals; lyrically, this haunting track could segue with Karla Bonoff's "Somebody's Eyes" or Snow Patrol's "Shut Your Eyes.")
  4.  A Little More Love-Juliana Hatfield
(Back in 1992, when I was playing Hatfield's music on KCOU, I never imagined she'd release an album of Olivia Newton-John covers.  She did, however, in April, and it suits her vocal range well.  Unfortunately, "A Little More Love" didn't usually receive radio airplay here after it dropped off the charts.  Hatfield sings one of Newton-John's stronger hits with appropriate resolve, and the crunchy guitar underpinning makes it sound as if Hatfield wrote it.  Also recommended: "Have You Never Been Mellow" and "Magic.")
  3.  High Horse-Kacey Musgraves
(With a hook reminiscent of late '70s Bee Gees tunes and Luscious Jackson's "Here," "High Horse"  doesn't leave a listener's mind easily.  The tune's hook, combined with direct lyrics about someone who has an inflated opinion of himself, make this one of 2018's standouts.  It's one of the most tuneful ways of conveying that you can't stand someone that I've ever heard.  Turning such Carly Simon-like, "You're So Vain"-ish irritation into a groove this danceable warrants respect.)
  2.  The Duke's Message-Tommy Emmanuel featuring Suzy Bogguss
(One of the year's most beautifully sung tunes; Bogguss approaches the vocals as she does in "Shenandoah.")
  1.  See You Around-I'm With Her
(Generally, it isn't easy to break up with someone and bid that person farewell.  This excellent trio of singers and acoustic players--Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O'Donovan--captures this heartbreaking difficulty perfectly in their vocals, with the most movingly sung chorus of the year.)

An overlooked cover tune XLV

I praised The Bamboos recently for pulling off an appealing early '70s R&B sound on this year's "Golden Ticket."  I discovered recently that they also nailed a late '60s sound on their instrumental cover of the Archie Bell & The Drells tune, "Tighten Up."  As catchy as the original version is, The Bamboos make the tune work equally well with a flute and rhythm section.  If this doesn't get you moving or at least shaking your head in time, people might justifiably wonder if you're a cyborg.

"A field trip? Bah humbug!"

During my junior year of high school, I had the privilege of playing with a national string orchestra in Indianapolis.  I asked each of my teachers to sign a permission slip.  All of them congratulated me--except one.  My Algebra II teacher initialed the form grudgingly, saying, "I don't promote things like that (i.e. field trips.)  If the (principal's) office says I have to, though, I'll sign this."

Wisely, I just thought my response instead of saying it.  As the teacher initialed the form, I thought, "Let's see...A once-in-a-lifetime chance to play with other musicians from around the country at an advanced level or drawing lines on graph paper and finding x and y-intercepts.  I think the choice is clear."

Caught up in the moment II

Years ago, I had a dream about a square dance.  That surprised me, as it was out of character.  I was even more surprised, however, when the square dance caller cried out while playing a fiddle, "Dance around!  Dance around!  Dance around with a calico!"  The dancers didn't question this.  Each of them picked up a conveniently stationed calico cat and started dancing around with her.  In the dream, I asked one of the cats, "Doesn't it startle the other calicos and you to have people pick you up and dance around with you?"  She replied, inexplicably in English, "It does sometimes, but I don't question it.  After all, 'Dance around with a calico,' is a decree I could have written."

It's interesting, in the spirit of a song, how people--and calicos--will sometimes respond.

One hip Santa

I've written previously that The Mills Brothers, in my opinion, sing the best version of "Here Comes Santa Claus."  My pick for best instrumental rendition of it, however, goes to the Ramsey Lewis Trio.  Lewis replaces the somewhat stately nature of most renditions with a cool, syncopated rhythm on the piano.  I'd like to think Santa would leave an extra present--or at least a note of appreciation--for anyone thoughtful enough to have this playing when he arrives.