An early reggae classic that would not have been out of place on the Stax-Volt labels back in the late 1960s. As Toots himself sang later in his career, “Reggae got soul.”
“54-46 Was My Number” – Toots and the Maytals
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Monthly Archives: August 2012
“Down By the Water” – PJ Harvey
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Aside from Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, PJ Harvey was arguably the most influential “alternative” artist of the 1990s. While not as commercially successful as Alanis Morissette or Courtney Love, Harvey kept it frighteningly real for most of her career and unlike a certain critically acclaimed alternative sister who will go unnamed, never compromised to get a commercial “hit” she would regret later. Harvey’s music still has the power to unnerve even to this day.
“One” – Johnny Cash
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I’m not a huge fan of U2, but “One” from 1992’s “Achtung Baby” is one for the ages. An almost perfect song / performance. Except Johnny Cash’s cover tops it. Breathtaking, emotional, brilliant stuff.
“Out of Time” – The Rolling Stones
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An alternate, Phil Spectorish-take on the Stones classic from 1966. As much as I love the original from “Aftermath,” this alternate mix is heavenly and available on “Metamorphosis” and “The Singles Collection.”
“It’s So Easy” – Willy DeVille
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Seriously, aside from Martin Scorsese and Wes Anderson, Quentin Tarantino has the best taste in pop music of any living director. Who else but QT would remember (and use) this stellar rocker that was first heard in director William Friedkin’s notorious (and underrated) gay slasher film “Cruising”? Anyway, the song was impossible to find for years, but is now easily available on the “Death Proof” soundtrack. Thanks, Quentin for not only your great taste in music, but for making so much of it available on your soundtracks.
“Israelites” – Desmond Dekker and The Aces
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If you need further proof that the Top 40 is sometimes the safe haven for terrific songs that don’t fit in anywhere else, here we go again. Before Bob Marley … before Jimmy Cliff … this reggae song hit the U.S. Billboard Top Ten back in 1969. A great, classic song. Effectively used in Gus Van Sant’s 1989 film “Drugstore Cowboy.”
“Nightswimming” – R.E.M.
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A truly lovely song from 1992’s “Automatic for the People,” arguably R.E.M’s finest hour as a recording band. Yes, they have had many peaks in their distinguished career, but this is the album I always come back to and a rare album that sounds just as fresh today as the year it came out (which was, yikes, 20 years ago!).
“Pills” – New York Dolls
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From their killer 1973 debut album, the New York Dolls re-imagine Bo Diddley’s classic about a rock and roll nurse who’s a little too generous with the medication. While I believe Bo’s original is using “medication” as a metaphor for the “garden of Earthly delights,” I’m not so sure the Dolls aren’t taking the lyrics … well … a little more literally.
“Tallahassee Lassie” – The Flaimin’ Groovies
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One of my favorite covers of all time and my favorite Flamin’ Groovies song (which I realize is a bold statement, considering their oeuvre contains “Shake Some Action,” “Teenage Head,” and “Slow Death.”) I especially love the fact that the “video” made for this uses this terrific old animation from either the 1920s or 1930s.
“Mama Said Knock You Out (acoustic)” – L.L. Cool J.
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Don’t call it a comeback!!!!!! To paraphrase Melvin Van Peebles, “A baadasssss suburban blogger is coming back to collect some dues!” RIP, Dave’s Waste of Time. Long live Dave’s Strange World!!!!!!!!
Dave's Strange World 