One of the rewards of putting in the time on this blog, is getting suggestions from you. You’ve showed me new things I had never heard, and reacquainted me with music I had not thought about in a long time. I’ve also enjoyed the discussions and debates over what makes great music. I’ve been collecting your suggestions, so here are a few of them. I will keep doing these as long as you keep sharing your favorite ideas with me!
Eva Cassidy: Over the Rainbow
A lot of you responded to my Eva Cassidy post, and why not? Her voice is a wonder. Most people who discover her have the same reaction I did: I want more! …And then we find out she died long ago at the age of 33. It’s weird to fall in love with someone only to discover they’re already gone. Here is her most famous track—thank you Ed W. for suggesting it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rd8VktT8xY
Marc Almond: Tears Run Rings
Marc Almond was involved in a lot of early 80’s synth-pop and new wave acts, including Soft Cell. I was posting some of those groups, and Mitch R. suggested this one. When I played it, I realized I had heard it in dance clubs (in the day), but always wondered who did it. So thank you Mitch for solving that one for me, all these years later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAGyH_EYXeQ
Allman Brothers: Blue Sky
The Allman Brothers were part of my college soundtrack. They were virtuoso musicians, and in Duane Allman and Dickey Betts, they had the rare luxury of two true virtuoso lead guitarists. This song was written by Betts; it’s one of the last things recorded by Duane Allman before his death in a traffic accident. Thanks to Alan Y. for the recommendation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwyXQn9g40I
Theme from “A Man and a Woman”
After posting the theme from “Once Upon a Time in the West”, by Ennio Morricone, I got a lot of suggestions for movie themes and soundtracks. Here is one you have heard before, whether or not you ever saw the movie—it even appears in the background in other movies. Thanks Ed W.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J00jr868okc
Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso
Turns out everyone is an Ennio Morricone fan. It also turns out that a lot of people love “Cinema Paradiso”. It’s certainly on my list of top-ten films of all time, and I seem to have company. Think of it as a “chick flick” that guys love too. Thank you Karon M. and Jodi W. for recommending this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSkyoyyvnAY
Esperanza Spalding: Wild is the Wind
As I said in my original post on her, Esperanza Spalding may be the coolest person alive. She is multi-talented to an extreme, writes catchy but edgy music, and does things in live performance that seem impossible. This was one I had not heard before, so thank you Bob F. for the suggestion!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IqcmhkfJRE
Steve Winwood: John Barleycorn Must Die
Steve Winwood was another ubiquitous presence in our college soundtrack. He was a songwriting genius and member of several short-lived but impactful bands, the two best known being Traffic and Blind Faith. Here, he does an unplugged solo performance of one of Traffic’s biggest hits. I was not aware of this version of the song until Russ S. suggested it. Thank you Russ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8878chOvfI
David Sanborn: The Dream
David Sanborn has had a long career as a session musician with many of the top rock, blues, funk, jazz and pop artists of the past four decades. His first break came when he played with the Brecker Brothers, where he picked up on their hard-driving mix of jazz and funk. He only put out a few albums under his own name but among musicians he is considered top-drawer. Thank Alan Y. for recommending this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWh9V36gVv4
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