Your Guilty Pleasure: Hang a sign upon the door

Oh, it's back.

And this is a YGP in, like, triplicate, since the men behind the music in The System created the synth arrangement and programming for some big hits circa 1983-85. I submit (with absolutely no authority) that, without these guys, we wouldn't have had Tony! Toni! Tone! 

I've always loved this song (a familiar refrain); I remember hearing it while in a swimming pool at a family and friends-of-family bbq party in somewhere out in the country on the way to Richmond from Lexington. The lush synths, the detail (which is why they were called in by the big guns), the...groove.

I love how the video (or its initial scene) was clearly inspired by the metaphor of hanging a Do Not Disturb sign. Yeah, let's have the guys playing the song in a hotel room, just set them up with a microphone and whatever that keyboard/stick thing is.

Oh, 1986, you were so simple. You were, too 1990

And the feeling's so real.

(Also: this video and song makes me want to totally 1986 my hair one day for the hell of it, now that I have bangs again for the first time since then. I think with enough product I can get them to make that cascade I was always trying to get them to do.)

Make me understand.

WHY DIDN'T I GO SEE JAMES BROWN WHEN I COULD HAVE

The best I got was watching video of JB (and it was what I believe is, or included, this particular concert/clip; I remember the red suit) with my parents under a tent during a rainy afternoon stroll through Blues Fest in Grant Park. Of all the performances at the festival, his--on a shitty teevee screen--was the one we lingered longest to see.

Anyway: this




is focusing on the future, so that I shall do.

All things grow.

Surprising play on Internet radio station today. This is really the only SS song that I remotely care for--but it is gorgeous and germane.

With a thousand smiles she gives to me free

This was the first music I heard today, so it struck me full-force how much I love it. Even when sitting in that legs-dangling middle seat at the back of the bus.

In fact, it's even better from there, because you can see the steam rising from all the tall peaks of your city, and the sun filtering through that, and geese arcing through both that steam and sunshine, and the river winks a thousand times at you, there in your seat, legs dangling, on the 72 bus.




And, for the record, I will never, ever care that Sting is not what he once was. Or is allegedly not what he once was. I have seem him perform three times in two different decades, and the man will music your face off. I don't care that his recent and current output is primarily heard in TJ Maxx and that he seems to perform only in Italian castles or has been adopted by PBS pledge drives as pledge-driving programming.

And I have to add this album to my still-as-yet-unplayed-but-growing vinyl collection.

Today's Shuffle: I'm movin' past the feeling and into the night

Wherein (once again) I respond to Shuffle:

Neil Young, Broken Arrow Decade
This track led me to an interview at Neil's Broken Arrow Ranch--where I can finally see the damn Lionel trains and maybe get back into his memoir that I started at Christmastime.

Angie Stone, Come Home (Live With Me) Stone Love
A beautiful thought about moving forward from the past. Not so sure about the headspace girl is in when she's singing it.

Sweetback, Round & Round Stage 2
Once again, Sade's backing band. I need to play this album all the way through this week.

Mary J. Blige, Not Looking Mary
I'm not looking for no player shit.

Royaal, I Ain't Stoppin' (feat. All Rize) Hed Kandi World Series Miami
If I lived another life, I'd be at all of these (now designated as EDM) events, the biggest of which in the States appear to happen in Miami. Ultimately, the lifestyle that goes with this music is a bit too shallow. Or I'm a bit too much of the cynical generation to be in the jet set.

Alex Dolby, Hazy Way Hernán Cattáneo Renaissance: The Masters 
One of my favorite running songs, especially suited to night or sunless days.

Electric Light Orchestra, Telephone Line All Over the World: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra 
I always think of this observation when this song comes on. (Gawd, I am self-referencing). Funny, though, since today I noticed that the work phone system has new feature whereby I'm notified by email of the crazies who call every 15-30 minutes and don't leave a voicemail.

Paul Westerberg, Good Day Eventually
Paul remembers Bob.
  
The Roots & Cody Chestnutt, The Seed (2.0) Phrenology
One of Kerri's favorites!

Missy Elliott, Work It Under Construction
Ahem. I like Missy, and this track is one of her best.What happened to her? I like the manifesto at the end of the album version. It's hip-hop, man, this is hip-hop.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions, The World And His Wife Punch The Clock
...followed by the world's worst Elvis Costello song. Sorry, but he has one, and this Shuffle is insistent on playing me every track from Punch The Clock, my least favorite EC album. I mean, I like Goodbye Cruel World better.
 
LCD Soundsystem, Beat Connection LCD Soundsystem
That's it. The LCDS is coming off the 'pod. You've tried one too many times to get me to care. SKIP.
 
The Jam, Smithers-Jones Extras: A Collection of Rarities
Oh! That cruel turn at the end! There's no longer a position for you! Sorry, Smithers-Jones. Work and work and work til you die.
 
Led Zeppelin, Immigrant Song  Led Zeppelin III
What the---did Youtube change the rules or is there a dispensation for honoring a Kennedy Center Honoree? In any case, watch this. It was silenced for four years. SILENCED.
 
Smashing Pumpkins, Soma Siamese Dream
Not in the mood. SKIP.
 
Fleetwood Mac, Gold Dust Woman Rumours
Pick up the pieces and go home! 

Arcade Fire, The Suburbs The Suburbs
Sometimes I can't believe it.

   
   
  

I am in paradise

...starting at 18:18, specifically. But throughout the whole thing, really.

Now it's ten years later but he still keeps up the fight

I remember watching this broadcast. Happy birthday, Warren.

Enjoy every sandwich.

Today's Shuffle: Out the blue, life's energy

The Brand New Heavies, Dream Come True The Brand New Heavies
The Cure, Lullaby Disintegration
Elvis Costello, TKO Punch The Clock
Gadjo, So Many Times (Club Mix)  Hed Kandi: Disco Heaven
India Arie, Beautiful Acoustic Soul
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, I'll Still Be True I Learned The Hard Way
David Bowie, Hang Onto Yourself The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
MGMT, Time To Pretend Oracular Spectacular
David Bowie, The Man Who Sold The World  The Man Who Sold The World   
Duran Duran, Secret Oktober The Singles 81-85
Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Outside Your Door Plantation Lullabies
Beck, Where It's At Odelay
Size Eight, Baby Crying Soundtrack from The Age of Entitlement
Stephanie Cooke and Diephuis feat. Han Litz, Beautiful Life Hed Kandi: Beach House 2011
Crowded House, Weather With You Woodface
Wynton Marsalis, Melancholia Hot House Flowers
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Me And Mia Shake The Sheets
Iron and Wine, Faded From the Winter The Creek Drank The Cradle
John Lennon, Out Of The Blue Mind Games

Thank you for this big heart sandwich, Shuffle.



      

     

Well, I'm in a daze

This is my favorite track from Jessie Ware's new release. This performance of it from Sunday night's show at Lincoln Hall reveals Jessie herself exactly as she was: intoxicating, classy, normal, charming and so, so earnest and genuine.

The motor of emotion

Well, I'd taught myself a pretty good version of this song tonight--until I got to the key change at the end. I don't have the dexterity to do all those flats (Ab Fm Bbm Eb--come on), so this'll be a version that repeats the third verse exactly.