Tuesday Tunes

It's November and this month is about giving thanks, tell us a few of the musical things that you are thankful for, be it albums, shows you've seen, electronics you've bought etc. Whatever has made your musical life better in the last year.

This year it's been all about Amy. It took me a while (too long) to get into her because her life is such a tabloid-magnet/train wreck. But I love her voice, her lyrics and her sensibility. I love Frank and Back to Black is on right now and my favorite songs are "F-Me Pumps" and "Tears Dry on My Own." I hope she gets it together and keeps it together and makes more music soon.

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Tuesday Tunes

What is the oldest album in your collection? (oldest as in you've had it longer than the others) Meet the Beatles. I still have it on vinyl somewhere.

What albums have you bought recently? Frank by Amy Winehouse, Love Is the Answer by Babs, and I Look to You by Whitney Houston.

Where do you buy the most downloads? iTunes

If you were to get a gift card from one music store, which one would it be and why? Border's, because I could change my mind and get a book. I can't wait to lay my little hands on the new bio, Paul McCartney: A Life.

What do you have more of; physical albums for downloads? If you add the vinyl to the tapes and the CDs, the answer is albums by far.

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Tuesday Tunes

Tell us about one album you purchased that you were seriously disappointed in and why? And do you still have that album in your collection?

The first one that springs to mind is Nebraska. Sorry, Boss, but I just wasn't ready for your depressed world view at that point. To be honest, I still don't like those songs when you do them in concert. Many fans agree with me -- the auditorium is almost lit from within as the crowds heads for the exits to use the restroom and buy more beer when he goes Nebraska on us. But I admire Springsteen for continuing to perform songs he feels a profound, artistic connection to, even if we don't (and even if I gave the album away back when it was still on vinyl).

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Tuesday Tunes #24

Tell us about the first album you ever bought.

Here it is. I was 6. I paid for half and my dad paid the other half.

In every job that must be done there is an element of fun. You find the fun and SNAP! The job's a game. And every task you undertake becomes a piece of cake. A lark, a spree, it's very clear to see …
A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down


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Tuesday Tunes #23

The weather's heating up so lets do a little "hot" related word association. Songs/Bands/Artists/Albums you think of when you see these words.

Steamy -- "I'm on Fire" by Bruce Springsteen. Oooh, that song completely captures lust and yearning for me. Sooo steamy.

Heat -- "Heat Wave" by Martha and the Vandellas.

Hot -- "Rocky Racoon" by The Beatles. Daniel was hot, he drew fast and shot, and Rocky collapsed in the corner.

Summer -- "Hot Fun in the Summertime" by Sly and the Family Stone

Dry -- "Soon It's Gonna Rain" by Barbra Streisand. Smell how the velvet rain is falling, out where the fields are warm and dry.

Desert -- "Band on the Run by Paul McCartney & Wings. The night was falling as the desert world began to settle down. In the town they're searching for us everywhere but we never will be found.

Beach -- "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel. Take a holiday from the neighborbood. Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood.

Sweat -- "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen. In the day we sweat it out on the streets of a runaway American dream ...

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Tuesday Tunes #22 -- Mix CDs

Have you ever made a mix CD for someone or had one given to you? My niece, currently in high school, is a newly-minted Beatle fan and her favorite is George. For Christmas, in an attempt to convince me that he was as talented as Lennon-McCartney, she made me a pair of CDs -- All Things Must Past and a mix of her favorite songs from other George albums (as well as the Willburys). I appreciate the gesture and enjoy the songs, but I'm still a Paul Girl.

What way do you share music with friends? Mix CDs, tapes or other means? Just yesterday I sent an email to my best friend with Martha Reeves' version of Van Morrison's "Wild Night" as an attachment.

Why do you usually make a mix CD? I've only ever made three mix CDs:
1. to re-introduce said best friend to Bruce Springsteen. Back in the 1980s, when Bruce hit it big, my friend was going through one of those "if it's commercially successful, it can't be good" phases that we all have fallen victim to. (Back in the 1970s I resisted Elton John for the same reason, so I don't judge.)

2. A 15-song overview of Paul McCartney's career for my best friend's little girl. She discovered that they shared a June 18 birthday and wanted to know as much about him as she could, as fast as she could. I think Sir Paul may have since been displaced for the Jonas Brothers.

3. a collection of my friends' favorite songs for my uncle. He's ill, stricken Parkinson's, so I thought I'd expand his world a bit with music he may not be familiar with. My friends are an eclectic bunch, and it was reflected in their contributions -- from Laurie Anderson to Johnny Cash to the Doors to Cesaria Evora.

If you could make one person a mix, who would it be and why? Hmmm ... I can't think of anyone. Is that bad?


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Tuesday Tunes #16

It's time for recents ...


Name your most recent:

concert: Paul McCartney, his "Chaos & Creation" tour (2005)

song you listened to: "I Can Help" by Billy Swan. I was listening to the 70s playlist on my iPod. I'm glad it wasn't something more embarrassing, like Helen Reddy or Barry Manilow (shudder).

album you bought: Working on a Dream (Brooooooce)

artist you discovered: Marcia Ball (Love that bluesy piano)

song you downloaded: "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" by Johnny Rivers. My 70s playlist again.

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Tuesday Tunes #20 -- St. Patrick's Day Edition

Tell us your favorite Irish band/album/song and why you like them.

I am going to completely manipulate this week's meme to suit my purposes. For one of my favorite people in the history of the planet is the oldest son of Mary Patricia Mohan and her husband James ... McCartney. Both Jim and Mary were Irish-Catholic, children of immigrant stock. And so I am devoting this week's Tuesday Tunes to James Paul, or Paulie, or Junior, or Macca. Or, as he is known in some circles, Sir Paul.

Favorite Irish Band: The Beatles. Today, they are so an Irish band! For their genesis was at the Woolton Parish Church picnic ("Garden Fete") in 1957 when Mary Patricia's and James' boy was introduced to some slightly inebriated older kid who was performing there that day. Perhaps you've heard of him. Last name was Lennon.

Favorite Irish Album: Of his solo work, I like Flowers in the Dirt (1990). So many of the songs have become quite dear to me. "My Brave Face," "Put It There," "My Brave Face" ... and two of Sir Paul's sexier songs appear here -- "Rough Ride" and "You Want Her, Too" (with Elvis Costello).

Favorite Irish Song: I like both "My Brave Face" and "Fine Line" from Chaos and Creation (2005) better than the unicorn song by the Irish Rovers.

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Tuesday Tunes #19

Pick one album you remember the most about every 5 years of your life and tell us why its important to you.

My music-loving life didn't begin until the Beatles in 1964, so I'm starting there.

1964-1969: A Hard Day's Night by The Beatles. I've heard it said that AHDN opens with the most recognizable chord in recorded history, and I believe it. This movie and album defined the individual Beatles' personalities for us, helped us to feel that we knew them, and those impressions of The Lads remain with me to this day.

1970-1975: The Way We Were by Barbra Streisand. The 1970s were not that great a decade for music, and these were my isolated, defiant high school years, which were not that great for me. Babs' persona, her vocal style and her success around this time (and especially of this album) meant so much to me. Her adult contemporary stuff was so listenable, so good, that I was introduced to a lot of the great American songwriters by her. She was a role model who showed that you can be a woman of integrity and spirit and still make it ... big time.

1976-1980: Wings Over America. This was the concert tour when I finally saw MY Beatle, Paul, live, and so this was a terrific keepsake. It also shows Macca coming into his own -- finally and comfortably -- post Beatle.

1981-1985: Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen. At a time when the US seemed to be entrenched in wealth-worship, Dallas and Dynasty and Reaganomics, here was The Boss, speaking for me. God bless him.

1986-1990: Tunnel of Love by Bruce Springsteen. A somber examination of love gone wrong. Of the "dirty little wars" that can erode a relationship. I went through a big, confusing break up at this time, and it was enormously comforting to know that Bruce didn't know any more about making love work than I did.

1991-1995: The End of the Innocence by Don Henley. Again, all about love, and a reflection of what I was going through. Songs about scarred and scared people risking their hearts. That was me.

1996-2000: Negotiations and Love Songs by Paul Simon. This album almost always suits my mood, whatever my mood may be, and I especially love "Rene and Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After the War," a song that completely escaped me before this compilation.

2001-2005: The White Album by The Beatles. Not that I had ever forsaken this gem, but at some point early in this new century I decided it was the funnest album I've ever owned and hardly a day goes by that I don't listen to something from it.

2006 to present: Peace, Love and Barbecue by Marcia Ball. My favorite new artist (meaning new to me -- she's been recording for decades). Love her bluesy piano, and love the wink she manages to put into her vocals. A unique voice and I love listening to her.

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Tuesday Tunes #15

Wednesday would have been George Harrison's 66th birthday, for our Tuesday Tunes, we're going to have a George theme.

What are 5 things that you like about George Harrison?

1. He was the funniest Beatle onscreen. By far. Remember the scene in A Hard Day's Night when he refers to the spokesmodel as "the posh bird who gets everything wrong? She's a drag. A well known drag. We turn the sound down on her and say rude things." Or when teaching Norm to shave, George instructed him to, "Put yer tongue away, it looks disgustin' hangin' out, all pink and naked." If these words don't look funny on the page, wait for them next time you watch the movie. George's timing was impeccable.

2. He didn't like Madonna, either. I have always believed all the best people dislike Madonna. His Handmade Films made Shanghai Surprise, possibly the worst movie Sean Penn will ever make, starring ol' Madge. I know this will shock you, but George regarded her as a difficult personality and a bad actress.

3. "Savoy Truffle." An ode to candy and a cautionary tale about toothaches.

4. He loved to play the ukulele.

5. The Concert for Bangla Desh. He originated the supergroup fundraiser.

Happy Birthday to George Harrison, The Scouse of Distinction.

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Tuesday Tunes #17

What music can cure whatever ails you, and why?

The most reliable individual day-brightener in this Gal's world is "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire. It's about nostalgia, so the lyrics are upbeat without being too heinously cheerful, and I just love the sound of it. Hearing this has been known to make me smile at my worst moments.


- Earth Wind & Fire Lyrics

A distant second is "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5, because it's evocative of something I undoubtedly wish I was doing (lolling around in post-coital bliss with a man I love) instead of ailing.

If I needed lots of curing, instead of a just a jolt of song, I'd turn to Sir Paul. Beatle Paul, Wings Paul, solo Macca … it's all good for what ails me. Paul McCartney has provided the soundtrack to my life, and there's always a good memory attached to his music.

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Tuesday Tunes #16

Word association time again! Give us the artist/album/song etc that you think of when you see the following words:

Country: Reba

Break: I'll Be Back by the Beatles ("You know, if you break my heart I'll go, but I'll be back again.")

New: Another Girl by the Beatles ("You're making me say that I've got nobody but you. But as of today, well, I've got somebody that's new.")

Instrumental: Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (I hate instrumentals)

Horrid: 70s soft rock (Air Supply, Barry Manilow and Tony Orlando, I'm talkin' to you!)
Bells: Tubular Bells (another instrumental that I hated)

Cute: I Don't Want to be Alone Anymore by Billy Joel ("You're a sad sight, Honey, but you look so cute.")

Cat: Cat Power

Mother: The John Lennon song of that name

Inspirational: "Imagine" (John again!)

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Tuesday Tunes #14

Holiday Word Association

Holly: Holly, Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives (I never thought I'd include Burl Ives in Tuesday Tunes)

Tree: River by James Taylor ("It's coming on Christmas/they're cutting down trees ...")

Hug: I'm Happy Just to Dance with You by The Beatles ("I don't need to hug or hold you tight/I just want to dance with you all night ...")

Ice: Baby, It's Cold Outside -- as done by so many, many artists ("I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice")

Give: Bubbly by Colbie Caillat ("Under the covers staying dry and warm, you give me feelings that I adore")

Take: Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While) by the Isley Brothers and/or the Doobie Brothers

Try: Try (Just a Little Bit Harder) by Janis Joplin

Drink: Heart and Soul by Marcia Ball ("You take a drink, then pass the bottle around/You give a wink, and my heart hits the ground ...")

Party: I Don't Want to Spoil the Party by The Beatles

Rest: Sunday Morning by Maroon 5 ("Come and rest your bones with me …")

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Tuesday Tunes -- The Thanksgiving Edition

What musical things are you the most thankful for? My iPod springs to mind. Before that, my Walkman. Before that, a transistor radio and earpiece. (I never had a boombox.) I'd feel as naked leaving home without my tunes as I would leaving home without my pants. Like the website says, "without music, life would be a big mistake," and I'm thankful that technology allows me to carry it with me.

If you could say thanks to one artist/band who would it be and why? I'd thank Paul McCartney for providing the soundtrack of my entire life, but not in person. I never want to meet him. There's no way he could live up to the fantasy, the 40+ years of foreplay.

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Tuesday Tunes #15

November 10th was the anniversary of the day The Edmund Fitzgerald went down during a storm on Lake Superior. So we're going to have a nautical theme meme, word association style:

Ocean: "Out on the ocean, sailing away. I can hardly wait to see you come of age." (Which, of course, he didn't because some bastard murdered him before Sean grew to adulthood.) "Beautiful Boy" by John Lennon.

River: "Ain't no river deep enough to keep me from you." You may call her, "Miss Ross." (I love divas!)

Sea: "I'd like to be under the sea in an Octopus' Garden." The Beatles

Sailor: "Sail on, Sailor." The Beach Boys

Ship: "There's a port on a western bay and it serves 100 ships a day." Brandy by Looking Glass

Wave: "Changing my life with the wave of her hand." Here, There and Everywhere by the Beatles*

Sand: "Along the sand, let's walk together now, just hand in hand." California Nights by Leslie Gore

Sail: "Till every fear you've ever felt bursts free and goes tumbling to the sea." Janey, Don't You Lose Heart by Bruce Springsteen

Navy: "In the Navy" by the Village People

Deep: "How Deep Is Your Love?" The Bee Gees*

*OK, so they aren't nautical. But they're the first lyrics that came to my mind.

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Tuesday Tunes #14

This week we want you to do a mini review of your favorite album of the moment. Talk it up, tell us why you love it and why we should listen!

My current favorite CD is Peace, Love and BBQ by Marcia Ball. It's her latest album, just came out this spring, and it was my introduction to her.

She's a piano-based boogie-woogie blues queen. These songs take her through a variety of moods -- festive ("Party Town"), sexy ("My Heart and Soul" and "Falling Back in Love with You"), even evangelical fervor ("Miracle in Knoxville").

Her sound is unique, her band is tight, her lyrics are witty. After I committed this one to memory, I went out and got her performance CD, Live! Down the Road. I look forward to catching up on more of her work. (Though when she does it, it definitely sounds more like "play.")

To read more reviews, and play along yourself, click here.

Tuesday Tunes #13

Word associations this week: Tell us the first, song, band/artist, album or anything music related that comes to mind when you see these words:

Space: 2001 (Also Sprach Zarathustra) -- and Elvis, of course
Party: like it's 1999 (Prince)
Darkness: on the Edge of Town (Bruce)
Reading: "If You're Reading This" (Tim McGraw)
Touch: "Human Touch" (Springsteen again)
New: "You Make Me Feel Brand New" (Stylistics)
Gone: "Already Gone" (Eagles)
Jazz: "All that Jazz" (from Chicago)
Song: "The Song We Were Singing" (Paul McCartney)
Bag: "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (James Brown)

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Tuesday Tunes #12

Just tell us what artist/band/song comes to mind when you see these words:

Storm: Riders on the Storm by The Doors
Rain: Rainy Day Women by Bob Dylan
Old: Dirty Old, Egg-Sucking Dog by Johnny Cash
Magic: Magic by Colbie Caillat
Angst: Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin
Trust: If I Fell by The Beatles ("If I trust in you ...")
True: More, More, More by the Andrea True Connection
Broken: For My Broken Heart, Reba McIntire
Cheesy: Helen Reddy
Family: The Partridge Family (I'm not proud of this answer, but it was the FIRST response that came to mind)

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Tuesday Tunes #11

Word associations: You tell us what musical, band/artist, song, album etc each word makes you think of:

Technology: "Video Killed the Radio Star" Buggles
Exercise: "Physical" Olivia Newton John
Punch: Nada. Zip. Zilch. I'm coming up with nothing here.
Temperature: "(Love Is Like a) Heatwave" Martha and the Vandellas
Fire: "We Didn't Start the Fire" Billy Joel
Clothes: "Dress You Up in My Love" Madonna
Doll: "Rag Doll" Aerosmith
Sweet: "How Sweet It Is to be Loved By You" Sweet Baby James Taylor
Makeup: "Lipstick on Your Collar" Connie Francis (and I HATE Connie Francis, so I'm just thrilled to have this one playing over and over in my head now!)
Drunk: "Tequila Sunrise" Eagles

To play along yourself, and see if other bloggers do better with"punch" than I did, click here.

Tuesday Tunes #10

Google or use a photo from your collection of something that involves your summer. Then tell us what music figured in the most on your summer playlist this year.

The reason for the beer bottle is two-fold:

1) The team I love with every fiber of my being -- that would be the team with the best record in the National League, The Chicago Cubs -- is having a storybook season. Whether I'm at a Cubs game, or watching a Cubs game, or listening to a Cubs game through my headphones, it's better with a cold beer.

2) "You take a drink, then pass the bottle around …" The first line from "Heart and Soul," my favorite song on my favorite new CD, Peace, Love and BBQ by Marcia Ball. Something tells me this bluesy Texas girl is singing about something stronger than beer, but never mind. This works for me and my summer.

To play along yourself, or to see how other bloggers responded, click here.