Saturday, November 26, 2011

On the Right Side of Christmas 2011

It's a little late coming (hey, I was travelling for Thanksgiving), but here's my annual Christmas music compilation (you can still download 2010 and 2009, btw).



Merry Christmas Baby Otis Redding
No More Pretty Presents Rod Piazza And The Mighty Flyers
Don't Believe In Christmas The Sonics
Come All Ye Faithful Surfer Girls The Chevelles
Rudolph The Manic Reindeer Los Lobos
Xmas Curtain My Morning Jacket
Maybe this Christmas Ron Sexsmith
Old Toy Trains Roger Miller
Gonna Wrap My Heart In Ribbons Hank Thompson
The Christmas Song Jose Feliciano
Perfect Gift Natalie Hemby
Got Something for You Best Coast and Wavves
What Christmas Means To Me Stevie Wonder
Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers The Crystals
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Eddie Dunstedter
All I Want For Christmas Is You Mandy Barnett
I Wish You A Merry Christmas Big Dee Irwin
The Holy Babe Mahalia Jackson
Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern) Miles Davis
Carol of the Bells The Bird and the Bee
Christmasey Brian Wilson
Christmas Means Love Sam Cooke
Christmas In Harlem (ft. CyHi Da Prynce) Kanye West
Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday The Sweet Inspirations

Thursday, November 17, 2011

More Mark Eitzel and George Jones

Hopefully, the first Mark Eitzel-George Jones comp didn't make folks too morose, because here's Volume Two.


I'm Just Blue Enough George Jones
The Boy With the Hammer in the Paper Bag Mark Eitzel
Cleopatra Jones Mark Eitzel
4033 George Jones
Hello Amsterdam American Music Club
The King Is Gone George Jones
I Broke My Promise American Music Club
Who Will I Be Loving Now George Jones
Diary of My Mind George Jones
Take Courage Mark Eitzel
We Loved It Away George Jones
The Decibels and the Little Pills American Music Club
Then It Really Happens Mark Eitzel
Tomorrow Never Comes George Jones
Everything Is Beautiful Mark Eitzel

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Mark Eitzel and George Jones: The Kings of Broken Hearts


When I saw Jim Lauderdale open up for Lucinda Williams back in 1998 (he was also singing backup vocals for Lu), he played the song King of Broken Hearts (from his very fine debut Planet of Love). I can't remember if he said it wrote it as an homage to George Jones or if he wrote it with the intention of George Jones covering it. Either way, I thought of the song when I was putting tonight's Mark Eitzel - George Jones comp. Now Mr. Eitzel may not be quite the king of broken hearts that Mr. Jones is, but I think he'd put up a pretty good fight. :) I'll post Volume two next week.


How Many Six Packs Does it Take to Screw in a Light Bulb American Music Club
I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Livin' George Jones
You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave) George Jones
Queen Of No One Mark Eitzel
Big Fool Of The Year George Jones
Sleeping Beauty Mark Eitzel
She Knows What She's Crying About George Jones
What Holds the World Together American Music Club
I've Been A Mess American Music Club
I'm A Fool For Loving Her George Jones
Live Or Die Mark Eitzel
Wine (You've Used Me Long Enough) George Jones
I'm All She's Got George Jones
What The Pillar Of Salt Held Up American Music Club
Things Have Gone to Pieces George Jones

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Gladys Knight and the Pips: Everybody Needs Love/ If I Was Your Woman

Back in 1977, Richard Pryor hosted his own comedy-variety show on NBC. It only lasted for four episodes, in large part because it was up against Happy Days (or maybe it was Laverne and Shirley). And it even if it hadn't been, it's kind of doubtful Pryor would have wanted to do it for much longer since he wasn't too crazy about NBC's censors. Anyway, on one of the shows, the skit has the Pips singing backup sans Gladys Knight - i.e., the joke is that you have this silence in between brief bits of harmonizing by the Pips. And no, the execution wasn't much funnier than it sounds. :)

I invoke this brief moment of popular culture only because I think that Gladys Knight probably would be remembered more fondly if her backing band hadn't been named the Pips. No offense to any of the Pips (who were good backup singers), but the name, well, I just think it ultimately diminished her status as a soul singer. Which is too bad, because as you can hear from the two out of print albums posted (it was a twofer cd put out by Motown in the early years of cds before they realized they could sell their old stuff as single albums), she has a darn fine emotive style.


Everybody Needs Love
I'll Be Standing By
Since I've Lost You
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
You Don't Love Me No More
Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone
Take Me In Your Arms And Love Me
He's My Kind Of Fellow
Yes, I'm Ready
My Bed Of Thorns
Do You Love Me Just A Little Honey
Just Walk In My Shoes
If I Were Your Woman
Feeling Alright
One Less Bell To Answer
Let It Be
I Don't Want To Do Wrong
One Step Away
Here I Am Again
How Can You Say That Ain't Love
Is There A Place (In His Heart For Me)
Everybody Is A Star
Signed Gladys
Your Love's Been Good For Me