Bart – Last Summer’s song for Bart. The Hollies – “The Air That I Breath” – Also the verse that Radiohead and Lana Del Ray pay for borrowing. They are not really the same songs, but enough similarities of melody and harmony to be considered derivative legally. The songs really separate on the bridge, as does the meaning/feeling. I think purpose should be considered, both in the lyrical and conceptual meaning, it makes a difference on the judgment of copying of a song. Most early American songs are borrowing liberally from other cultures song.
Travis – Donald Fagen – “I’m Not the Same Without You” – I thought this could be a Steely Dan song I had not heard, but never did Becker join in. Tthis is not Fagen solo material that I am familiar with. I’m surprised at how recent it is, 2013, and how genuinely Dan-ish it sounds. Great tune and great album title – Sunken Condos.
Matt – Don Byas & Slam Stewart – “I Got Rhythm” – A legendary solo, hot tempo and a duet with bass = scintillating. Byas gets very little credit these days, probably because he left America and was not on the scene during those prime Bop years. His recorded output, outside of his Big Band sides, only shows flashes of his brilliance, but he is worthy of re-discovery.
& Sara Bareilles & Rufus Wainwright – “She Used to Be Mine” – I don’t know this song, though I am familiar with the source material – Waitress: The Musical that it is drawn from. Matt and Bart are both fans of Wainwright and this is musically perfect and seamlessly performed. I’m not sure I get it, though I appreciate hearing them nerd over their favorite songs of his.
Dan – Allen Toussaint – “Electricity” – I got a 3-fer of Toussaint albums recently and they are new favorites. They parade personalized versions of his Funk, Soul and R&B concepts and it sounds like lost treasures – every song on them. I think NOLA was working in a parallel reality for an extended period and the music evolved into its own world. It is just waiting to be discovered.
& The Dixie Hummingbirds – “Somebody” – The voices just drip and the message feels relevant. Though I am not a follower, I am a big fan of Gospel Vocal groups and the Hummingbirds are probably my favorite. As for the message, money in our world is definitely corrupting everything and I wonder about all these god fearing people being so far away from a message which 30-40 years ago seemed so fundamental to being Christian. I really can’t fathom the degree of greed overwhelming our country today.
Found Sounds 