The Year in music: A Titular Playlist
It’s time for my annual listing of the songs from which I borrowed my post titles. And in keeping with an old C-90 era custom I’ve also provided a Spotify playlist.
This year, I toyed with the idea of adding a blurb to each song listed below. But I think some things ought to just speak for themselves. These are all really great albums, though, so I encourage you to explore.
I don’t get overly personal in this space but it’s been a rough year and the new one approaches with great challenges and great opportunities. I hope, if you’re a reader, you’ve enjoyed some of what you’ve found here.
And I hope you dig the music. Happy 2017.
Night Vision—Suzanne Vega, Solitude Standing (1987)
I Ran—A Flock of Seagulls, Self-Titled (1982)
The Real Me—The Who, Quadrophenia (1973)
Charm School—Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Punch the Clock (1983)
Summertime—D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Homebase (1991)
History Never Repeats—Split Enz, Walata (1981)
Mickey—Toni Basil, Word of Mouth (1982)
The Hungry Wolf—X, Under The Big Black Sun (1982)
Fever—Peggy Lee, Things are Swingin’ (1958)
Indian Summer–Mose Allison, Ever Since the World Ended (1987)
The History of the World—Gang of Four, Songs of the Free (1982)
Ripple—Grateful Dead, American Beauty (1970)
White Man in Hammersmith Palais—The Clash, Self-Titled (1978)
Plastic Fantastic Lover—Jefferson Airplane, Surrealistic Pillow (1967)
Down Under—Men at Work, Business as Usual (1982)
America—Keb Mo’, Bluesamericana (2014)
In My Hour of Darkness–Gram Parsons, Grievous Angel (1973)
Memorial Day—James McMurtry, Childish Things (2005)
I Think You Get What I Mean–Nat King Cole, The King Cole Trio (1947)
Running on Empty–Jackson Browne, Running on Empty (1977)
Boppin’ the Blues–Robert Gordon, Robert Gordon w Link Wray (1977)
Jumping Jack Flash--The Rolling Stones, Shine a Light (1968/2006)
California Love—Tupac Shakur & Dr. Dre, (1995)
And Your Bird Can Sing—The Beatles, Revolver (1966)
Upside Down-–Diana Ross, Diana (198)
Summer’s Cauldron—XTC, Skylarking (1986)
Burning Sky—The Jam, Setting Sons (1979)
Summertime–Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong,Porgy & Bess (1958)
Garageland—The Clash, Self-Titled (1978)
In Walked Bud-–Carmen McRae, Carmen Sings Monk (1988)
North to Alaska—Johnny Horton, Single, (1960)
Hello Old Friend-–Eric Clapton, No Reason to Cry (1976)
What’s So Funny (About Peace Love and Understanding)—Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Armed Forces (1979)
Temptation–Screaming Jay Hawkins, At Home with Screaming Jay Hawkins (1958)
Proud Mary—Ike & Tina Turner, Workin’ Together (1970)
Frederick-–Patti Smith Group, Wave (1979)
Rappers Delight—The Sugar Hill Gang, 12 inch (1979)
Razzle Dazzle Bing Crosby, At my Time of Life (1976)
Everybody Hurts—REM, Automatic for the People (1992)
Relating to a Psychopath—Macy Gray, The Id (2001)
Boxing Day Blues (Revisited)–Courtney Barnett, Sometimes I sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit (2015)
Peace, friends.
An Honest Con 