basement jukebox
three by Randy Newman
“I Don’t Want To Hear Anymore” (AKA “I Don’t Want To Hear It Anymore”), Jerry Butler, 1964
*****
“I’ve Been Wrong Before,” Cilla Black, 1965
*****
“Just One Smile,” Gene Pitney, 1966
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lagniappe
found words
Best of the Web: Celebs Who Are Older Than You Think
Chicago: 1970s
Junior Wells (vocals, harmonica), Buddy Guy (guitar), et al., live, Theresa’s, 48th & Indiana, Chicago, 1970s
keep on dancing
Hieroglyphic Being (AKA Jamal Moss), Imaginary Soundscapes (B1), 2013
Who knew electronic music could be so warm, so joyous?
late yesterday afternoon
After a court hearing and a client meeting, I stopped at the Chicago Cultural Center, where this piece—on a scale many times larger than this—is installed through May 5th. One-word review: go.
Shawn Decker, Prairie
*****
As with an outdoor prairie, what the current installation looks like—and sounds like—depends on where you’re situated. Here’s one view:
He knocked me out with his concept of space, his lightness of touch, his understatement.
Ahmad Jamal Trio (AJ [1930-], piano; Israel Crosby [1919-1962], bass; Vernel Fournier [1928-2000], drums), “Excerpts From The Blues” (not “Ahmad’s Blues”), TV show, 1959
A friend, forwarding a link to this clip, writes:
If anything, even better than John Lee . . .
Lightnin’ Hopkins (1912-1982), “Lightnin’s Blues,” live, England, 1964
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lagniappe
more Lightnin’
From The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins (1967) by Les Blank, who was remembered here last week:
*****
free music
Another friend, with whom I worked, thirty-some years ago, at Alligator Records, writes:
Hi Richard,
I continue to receive these [notices of new blog posts] and explore them as I can. I wonder if you might share this with your email list?
It’s a free, downloadable sampler from Alligator Records to celebrate Public Radio Music Month! Seventeen soulful free blues, roots rock and R&B performances by some of the stars of Alligator Records’ current artist roster and a few of our beloved heritage artists. From Chicago to Texas, from New Orleans to California, a collection of some of Alligator’s best “Genuine Houserockin’ Music.” Join us in celebrating Public Radio Music Month! Download it here: http://tinyurl.com/AlligSampler.
Thanks. Of course you’ve heard this music yourself, but there might be some good things you had forgotten.
See you down the road.
Bruce [Iglauer]
back to church
Heavenly Gospel Singers, “Let Jesus Fix It”
Live, St. James Missionary Baptist Church, Canton, Miss., 1978
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
Music, the greatest good that mortals know,/And all of heaven we have here below.
—Joseph Addison (1672-1719), “A Song for St. Cecilia’s Day”
last night
At the University of Chicago (Mandel Hall), I heard this played by the Keller Quartet, wonderfully.
Ludwig van Beethoven, String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Orion Quartet, live, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, 2008
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
Music, like sex, is an immersive experience—you go to be engulfed.
*****
Intermission. Men’s room. Old man, with a cane, at the urinal. I hope I still go out to hear live music when—if—I’m his age.
2n
D’Angelo (vocals, keyboards) & Questlove (drums), live, New York, 2013
“Africa”
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“Tell Me If You Still Care”
sounds of India
Vilayat Khan (1928-2004), sitar, with Kishan Maharaj (1923-2008), tabla, Raga Bhairavi, live, London, 2002
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lagniappe
reading table
Sun and moon, sun and moon, time goes.
—John Updike, Rabbit, Run
music clip of the day 