British Comedy Songs

I do enjoy satire, intellectual comedy but sometimes I just want to let go with unrestrained belly laughs. Over the years I think the following work for me, unfortunately or not - I know most of the words.

I know that these are all white, middle-class humour but so what, they have a place.

The Ying Tong Song - The Goons changed humour in the UK for ever. This is a more complex song than might first appear. On another level its just silly - but easy to learn.


Benny Hill - nothing complex here either - but no swearing, just good fun.


Monty Python - whilst growing up I laughed and laughed and laughed.



John Shuttleworth - archetypal Northern English humour. My students think he is hilarious.



Goodies - there seems to be a thread here in inane unsophisticated humour.



Billy Connolly - a master - a very complex man - I recommend all to read 'Billy' by his wife Pamela Stevenson.



Victoria Wood - this is from a long time ago - she is so funny, so observant, breaking down barriers with careful, precise humour



Bill Bailey - brilliant - a classically trained musician, appears as a stand-up comedian and regularly on QI, if you haven't heard of the programme I recommend you to google it.

Simón Bolívar National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela.

The Sistema - the popular name for the Fundación del Estado para el Sistema Nacional de las Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela - was set up in 1975 by Abreu partly as a response to the dearth of Venezuelan classical musicians.

It was also from the beginning a social project using music as its means - stemming from Abreu's belief that every child, however poor, should have the opportunity to punch out of the poverty cycle.

About 250,000 children are now involved in the Sistema. They study from 2pm to 6pm every day, with work focused on the idea of the orchestra rather than the individual. As soon as they are able, older children are encouraged to help mentor younger students or to conduct ensembles.

Abreu told the Manchester Guardian in 2006: "The philosophy of el Sistema shows that the vicious circle of poverty can be broken when a child poor in material possessions acquires spiritual wealth through music. Our ideal is of a country in which art is within the reach of every citizen so that we can no longer talk about art being the property of the elite, but the heritage of the people."
Irresistable passion

The Sistema, Venezuela's radical music education scheme, has been seen as a means of improving the circumstances of young people trapped in poverty. With super-intensive music training at its heart, it has also produced some of the most exciting young musicians working today, including Gustavo Dudamel, music director of the Símon Bolívar National Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, and bass player Edicson Ruiz, who at 17 became the youngest ever member of the Berlin Philharmonic. Performances of the youth orchestra may not be technically perfect, but audiences find them irresistible, with the young people performing with an intensity of passion often missing from traditional symphony orchestras. As Dudamel says, they play as if they are playing each piece for the first - or the last - time.

Bandy Bandy

Joni Mitchell and others

Both Sides now
She has been singing gorgeous music for over 40 years - and I like her paintings. I like Clouds too


Dr John and Rickie Lee Jones
This is another favourite of mine, which is Joni'ish


Neil Young
She collaborated with csny for ages


James Taylor & Carly Simon - Close Your Eyes
I think Mud Slide Slim was my 3rd Cassette


I just need an excuse to post some favourite tracks.

Society's Child

You can't get too much Janis Ian

At the age of thirteen, Ian wrote and sang her first hit single, "Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)," about an interracial romance forbidden by a girl's mother and frowned upon by her peers and teachers; the girl ultimately decides to end the relationship, claiming the societal norms of the day have left her no other choice. Produced by melodrama specialist George "Shadow" Morton and released three times between 1965 and 1967, "Society's Child" finally became a national hit the third time it was released, after Leonard Bernstein featured it in a TV special titled Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution.[2] The song's lyrical content was too taboo for some radio stations, and they withdrew or banned it from their playlists accordingly; in her 2008 autobiography Society's Child, Ian recalls receiving hate mail and death threats as a response to the song, and mentions that a radio station in Atlanta that played it was burned down

Madden 09 Soundtrack - Songs and Videos

When I wrote the post on K'Naan, my intentions were to write a post about the Madden 09 Soundtrack. But as they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

So without further delay, I present the Sound Track to Madden 09, with a few helpful links where you can sample mp3s and / or listen and watch videos. Click on the letters "YTV" to see the YouTube Video.

Enjoy.

Artist "Song" - YTV(YouTube Link)

Airbourne Stand Up For Rock 'N' Roll - YTV

All-American Rejects Real World (Demo version) - YTV

Busta Rhymes (feat. Linkin Park) We Made It (Edit) - YTV

Disturbed Inside The Fire - YTV

The Fashion Like Knives - YTV

Franz Ferdinand Lucid Dreams (New Album Version) - YTV

From First to Last Worlds Away - YTV

Gym Class Heroes Home - YTV

Hollywood Undead Undead - YTV

In Flames The Mirrors Truth - YTV

Innerpartysystem Don't Stop - YTV

Izza Kizza Millionaire [Explicit] - YTV

K'Naan ABC's - YTV

Kardinal Offishall (featuring Lindo P) Burnt [Explicit] - YTV

Kidz in the Hall The Blackout ft. DJ GI Joe (clean) - YTV

Kovas Wax On Wax Off - YTV

Mindless Self Indulgence Never Wanted To Dance [Explicit] - YTV

The Offspring Hammerhead - YTV

Rev Theory Hell Yeah - YTV

Senses Fail Wolves At The Door - YTV

Shinedown Devour - YTV

Trivium Into The Mouth Of Hell We March (Album Version) - YTV

Tyga "Diamond Life" - YTV

Underoath Desperate Times, Desperate Measures - YTV

Wale (featuring Southeast Slim) "Breakdown"

Young Dre the Truth (featuring Good Charlotte) Workin' - YTV

Young Dre ft. Good Charlotte - Workin' FULL

Herbie Hancock

The progressive jazz pianist and composer.

He appears here onstage at the Grammy awards with Stevie Wonder, Howard Jones, and Thomas Dolby, in a famous synthesizer jam



His 2007 tribute album, "River: The Joni Letters" won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, only the second jazz album to win the award. This is a fantastic album!
1. Court And Spark 7:35 with Norah Jones
2. Edith And The Kingpin 6:32 with Tina Turner
3. Both Sides Now 7:38 Instumental
4. River 5:25 Corinne Bailey-Rae
5. Sweet Bird 8:15
6. The Tea Leaf Prophecy (Lay Down Your Arms) 6:33
7. Solitude 5:42
8. Amelia 7:26
9. Nefertiti 7:29
10. The Jungle Line 5:00 with Leonard Cohen

K'Naan The Somali Poet

Troubadour
For Christmas the wife purchased for me the video game Madden 09, it has over the last few months become my favorite video game. One reason that I like it so much, is the music.

One musician that I was introduced to by this game is K'Naan. I really like his music and his life story is very interesting also.

Check out the video below, it includes the song ABC's which is on the Madden 09 sound track. Or click on the image above to listen to sample mp3s.

Please also check out the links below, which include an interview with him from the Chordstrike blog.

Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, just as the civil unrest that rocked the country was beginning, rapper K'Naan spent the early years of his life trying to avoid death and listening to the hip-hop records that his father, who had left Somalia earlier, sent to him from America.

K'naan - ABC's (Album Version)


K'Naan Interview @ChordStrike

K'Naan @Wikipedia

K'Naan @Amazon.com

K'Naan: Hip-Hop's New Pop 'Troubadour' @NPR

Outlaw Pete

Bruce Springsteen - a very good new album, this is a good track. I'm not going to mention the Kiss response.



Outlaw Pete

He was born a little baby on the Appalachian Trail
At six months old he'd done three months in jail
He robbed a bank in his diapers
and his little bare baby feet
All he said was "Folks my name is Outlaw Pete"

I'm Outlaw Pete, I'm Outlaw Pete,
can you hear me?

At 25 a Mustang pony he did steal
And he rode her 'round and
'round on heaven's wheel
Father Jesus I'm an outlaw, a killer and a thief
I slow down only to sow my grief

I'm Outlaw Pete, I'm Outlaw Pete,
can you hear me?

He cut his trail of tears across the countryside
And where he went women wept and men died
One night he awoke from a vision of his own death
Saddled his pony and rode her deep into the West
Married a Navajo girl and settled down on the res.
And as the snow fell he held their beautiful
daughter to his chest

I'm Outlaw Pete, I'm Outlaw Pete,
can you hear me?
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

Out of the East on an Irish
stallion came bounty hunter Dan
His heart quickened and burdened
by the need to get his man
He found Pete peacefully fishing by the river
Pulled his gun and got the drop
He said "Pete you think you've
changed but you have not"
He cocked his pistol pulled
the trigger and shouted, "Let it start"
Pete drew a knife from his boot, threw it,
And pierced Dan through the heart
Dan smiled as he lay in his own
blood dying in the sun
And whispered in Pete's ear "We cannot
undo these things we've done"

You're Outlaw Pete, You're Outlaw Pete,
can you hear me?
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

For forty days & nights Pete
rode and did not stop
Till he sat high upon an icy mountaintop
He watched a hawk on a desert
updraft, slip & slide
Moved to the edge and dug his
spurs deep into his pony's side
Some say Pete and his pony
vanished over the edge
Some say they remain frozen
high upon that icy ledge
A young Navajo girl washes in the river,
her skin so fair
And braids a piece of Pete's
buckskin chaps into her hair

Outlaw Pete, Outlaw Pete, can you hear me?
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

Tom Waits: Glitter And Doom

Glitter And Doom: Tom Waits In Concert Hear A Stunning Performance, Recorded At Atlanta's Fox Theater.

Tom Waits mp3s @Amazon.com

Joe Walsh

Eagles
I hadn't thought much of the Eagles, but whilst staying with a friend in London in the 1970's we saw them at Olympia. These guys were totally into the rock superstar trip - limos, girls on each arem. The most important thing was they blew the stadium - particularly with Joe.



Dr John sheer class!


Ringo Starr & Clarence Clemens . Well I've seen Clarence 3 times with Bruce - this one is good though!

James Gang


Steve Winwood - Joe co-wrote and played on Split Decisions on the High Life album

Marc Broussard "Come In From The Cold" Video

Another young and up and coming musician form Louisiana is Marc Broussard.

According to Wikipedia;

Marc Broussard (born January 14, 1982) is an American singer/songwriter. His style is best described as "Bayou Soul," a mix of funk, blues, R&B, rock, and pop, matched with distinct Southern roots.

Marc Broussard is the son of acclaimed Louisiana Hall of Fame Guitarist and former member of The Boogie Kings, Ted Broussard. Broussard married the mother of his three children, Sonya, on The Rock Boat VII.

Marc Broussard "Come In From The Cold" Video


Keep Coming Back





References;
Marc Broussard @Amazon.com
Marc Broussard @MySpace
Marc Broussard @Wikipedia

Hip Hop Blues

Like Ron I don't really get all the labels that are used in music. I often read and hear people using and misusing labels. Having said that, I do understand the need to be able to name a thing. And I think some labels are descriptive and help us understand what the music is about.

I posted a video to my blues blog about Hip Hop Blues. Well you can guess that I got an earful from blues fans who hate Hip Hop. Which to me is kind of silly because the same people who hate Hip Hop are probably the grand-children of people who hated blues music before it became cool to like blues.

I think the the label Hip Hop Blues fits this video to a tee.

Mix Master Mike & Robert Johnson from Scratch

Trip Hop

I sometimes get bewildered by all the labels for different musical genres - they are usually invented by journalists who need a by-line for an article they are writing.

Taking some excerpts from Wikipedia 'Trip hop is a music genre also known as the Bristol sound. The trip hop description was applied to the musical trend in the mid-1990s of downtempo electronic music that grew out of England's hip hop and house scenes. Trip hop is known for its melancholy, surreal aesthetics. This is due to the fact that several acts were inspired by post punk bands; in the 1990s, Massive Attack and Tricky both covered Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Cure.

In some instances, the trip hop sound relies on jazz samples, usually taken from old vinyl jazz records. This reliance on sampling has changed the way record labels deal with clearing samples for use in other people's tracks.'

I like the following - it seems I was able to gather these together before I realised they were all 'trip-hop'. I enjoy them anyway.

Massive Attack- teardrop


Portishead - Machine Gun: Video

Morcheeba - Rome Wasn't Built In A Day



Faithless - Insomnia Live Glastonbury 2002

Hard Times come again no More

"Life Is Sweet" Natalie Merchant

I loved 10,000 Maniacs and love Natalie Merchant. The lyrics come up on the Video.

A Deep Voiced Singer: Tom Waits.

I sometimes answer questions on Yahoo Answers. Someone asked about singers who have a deep voice. Tom Waits came to mind. The below video is of him doing his song, Chocolate Jesus. It is a kind of fun song, this video is from an appearance on the David Letterman show.

Tom Waits - Chocolate Jesus

The Jungle Line - H. Hancock, L. Cohen, Joni Mitchell

New York Jungle I (The Jungle Line - H. Hancock & L. Cohen)


Herbie Hancock and Leonard Cohen from the superb 2007 tribute album, "River: The Joni Letters" which won the 2008 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, only the second jazz album to win the award. This is a fantastic album!

Safaris to the heart of all that jazz
Through I bars and girders-through wires and pipes
The mathematic circuits of the modern nights
Through huts, through Harlem, through jails and gospel pews
Through the class on Park and the trash on Vine
Through Europe and the deep deep heart of Dixie blue
Through savage progress cuts the jungle line

In a low-cut blouse she brings the beer
Rousseau paints a jungle flower behind her ear
Those cannibals-of shuck and jive
They'll eat a working girl like her alive
With his hard-edged eye and his steady hand
He paints the cellar full of ferns and orchid vines
And he hangs a moon above a five-piece band
He hangs it up above the jungle line

The jungle line, the jungle line
Screaming in a ritual of sound and time
Floating, drifting on the air-conditioned wind
And drooling for a taste of something smuggled in
Pretty women funneled through valves and smoke
Coy and bitchy, wild and fine
And charging elephants and chanting slaving boats
Charging, chanting down the jungle line

There's a poppy wreath on a soldier's tomb
There's a poppy snake in a dressing room
Poppy poison-poppy tourniquet
It slithers away on brass like mouthpiece spit
And metal skin and ivory birds
Go steaming up to Rousseau's vines
They go steaming up to Brooklyn Bridge
Steaming, steaming, steaming up the jungle line

River: The Joni Letters

Paul Weller (The Modfather)

I often think that Paul Weller has it all - being an icon for decades - ultra-hip/cool with consistently classy music

The Jam 1976-1983)

By the early 1980s, The Jam were one of the biggest bands in Britain, certainly in my friendship group. They became the only band other than The Beatles to perform two songs ("Town Called Malice" and "Precious") on one edition of Top of the Pops.



Style Council 1983-1989

The Style Council played in a wide range of musical styles, from pop and jazz to soul/R&B and folk-styled ballads.



Solo Career 1990 on
I download all of his albums - I particularly enjoyed the release of Stanley Road 1995 which took him back to the top of the British charts. The album was named after the street in Woking where he had grown up. It marked a return to the more guitar-based style of his earlier days.

Paul Weller - Town Called Malice
Uploaded by paul_weller

A Gem of a track

Kula Shaker

Tracks such as "Tattva" and "Govinda" were written in Sanskrit and featured traditional Indian instruments such as the sitar and the tamboura inter-fused with rock guitar, influenced by frontman Crispian Mills after his visit to India.

Kula Shaker Govinda
Uploaded by ronaldmacdonald33

On July 2nd 2008 the band announced they were back in the studio working on their fourth studio album with working title 'Pilgrim's Progress'. However soon after the band have been locked in a legal dispute with their label which resulted in most of the work for the next album being frozen. Work on the new album is not expected to recommence until 2009.

Takes me back to psychedelia though - quite sweet.

The Staple Singers Respect Yourself

the staple singers respect yourself

Punk

My faves

I remember how excited I felt when I first heard Velvet Underground & Nico. I remain a fan of Lou Reed and John Cale - surely one of the most influential groups in modern music?

Clash - "The Only Band That Matters"
I enjoy commitment


Siouxsie & the Banshees - one of my daughters was a punk with hair, dress and tats - we had to listen to Siouxsie ad nauseam.

Ramones - influential, terrific music - striven by internal strife.


Buzzcocks - important up where I live.

Stranglers - they produced songs that resonate in your head and stay for a long, long time.

Stiff Little Fingers

Dead Kennedys

The Damned - my daughters loved them. One of them lived nearby

Gogol Bordello - pre Madonna

Ian Dury - saw him a couple of times - magnificent.




Patti Smith Group

The Vandals

Mariee Sioux

She is a folk singer in the vein of Joni Mitchell and Joanna Newsom.

Her first studio album Faces in the Rocks which features her delicate acoustic guitar music alongside the Native American flute by Gentle Thunder, and mandolin played by her father Gary Sobonya. The album has a distinctly Native American theme to it, filled with references to nature and the Native American people.

Playing here with her dad

La session: Mariee Sioux
Uploaded by liberation

"no white man sings like Van Morrison."

Van Morrison - I have a stack of LP's, CD's and downloads from Van the Man. He is in his 5th decade of performing - I am sold on the man. I have seen him lots of times with all sorts of people - Chieftains, Georgie Fame,Ray Charles etc. The Ray Charles concert was very strange because they never appeared on the same stage at the same time - there seemed to be two separate sets of fans as well who were not really interested in the other guys' music.

His repertoire of songs is glorious - there are so many sublime songs.

He is a perfectionist on stage and I have seen him really grumpy with his band - but so what - his voice is great. Anyway, you can probably tell that I'm a fan - so rather than continue to gush I'll just post some of my favourite tracks.

With Them in the early days


Astral Weeks has often been placed on the most authoritative lists of best albums of all time. In the 1995 MOJO list of 100 Best Albums, it was listed as number two and was number nineteen on the Rolling Stone magazine's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003.


I saw this - Van Morrison and Chieftains

I have seen both of these separately - there is a video with Santana comparing the two of them as having the same characteristics.
John Lee Hooker

The all time love song - suitable for Weddings, Christenings, anniversaries and funerals.
Have I told you lately that I love you?


There are so many other good songs and albums - 'Days Like This' etc.

The Secret Machines

I missed them - shucks

The New York-based trio are something like a collision between Krautrock, David Bowie and Pink Floyd - the latter especially, since both bands have lost a key member. Where Floyd substituted David Gilmour for Syd Barrett, the Machines have replaced Benjamin Curtis, their departed guitarist, with Phil Karnats, who has brought a muscular, avant-garde sound reminiscent of Robert Fripp's "Frippertronics", and even more effects pedals.

I Feel Like Going To Church - Kanye West - Jesus Walks

According to wikipedia;

"Jesus Walks" is a hip hop song by American rap artist Kanye West. The song was released on May 25, 2004 as the third single from his debut album The College Dropout. It is built around a sample of "Walk With Me" as performed by the ARC Choir. The song was hailed by critics for its compelling sonic atmosphere and boldness in its overtly religious tone. The single was also met by widespread commercial success, as it peaked at number eleven in the United States on July 20, 2004, becoming West's fourth top twenty hit, while peaking at number sixteen in the UK.

Jesus Walks by Kanye West (MP3 Download)

Jesus Walks, Pt. 1 by Kanye West (Audio CD - Oct 26, 2004) - Single

Kanye West @Amazon.com

Latin Music

I have to thank Ry Cooder for giving me such pleasure over many hours. I remember seeing Buena Vista Social Club in a really old-fashioned cinema in Holmfirth many years ago. You sat in big chairs and could take a pint of beer and/or big mug of coffee to your seat. I have listened to Cuban Music on and off for years - I don't want to understand what he is saying - I am just transported by this..

I just wish I could dance merengue - mind you with such a partner I'd probably make an effort. I came across a salsa convention in San Sebastian a few years ago - marvellous.

I admire Shakira for her politics, vibrancy, youth and yes - it may be a guilty pleasure but I like the music!


... anyway back to men and flamenco guitar

... this one almost sounds Spanish - this is from a glorious album. I'd love to see these two live.

Travel makes one a better person

I've been to California a couple of times - LA I can take or leave, Hollywood a bit tacky for my taste. Santa Monica and Venice brill - Yosemite, San Francisco excellent.
"L.A. Woman"-The Doors, Carolina in My Mind"-James Taylor

Been to Egypt a couple of times, cruising down the Nile. The Egyptians are such nice people - seeing Karnak and all the other temples puts everything else into perspective. Cairo is a 24 hour city and so full of contradictions - 21st century alongside medieval.

I went down the Canadian Rockies a year ago - brilliant. The people are everything they are supposed to be - so friendly, food is brilliant, the wildlife is extraordinary. The scenery is stunning as are the trees.
Canada (by Joni Mitchell)

Our heart really lies in Greece - been many, many times.
The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks - Eagles

Been to Morocco - Marrakesh Express-Crosby, Stills and Nash - excellent seafood, Fez and the Atlas Mountains brilliant.

Barcelona - Queen. Gaudi architecture good, I've taken kids walking down the Ramblas.
Spanish Moon (Little Feat)

LONDON calling by the Clash - not been in years!

Been to Cuba a couple of times. Havana is wonderful.
Cuba--Gibson Bros.
Cuban Crisis - Atlanta Rhythm Section

France - Grateful Dead

Reaction to M.I.A. at the Grammy Awards

To be honest, I'd never heard of M.I.A. until the 51st Grammy Awards show. But her performance has got the Internet all abuzz. I'm still trying to figure out what I think about it.

On the one hand, I love to see women push the boundaries, you know make us think about what it means to be a woman. And I love to see strong pregnant women, my own mother likes to brag about how she worked through her pregnancies with my little brother and sister.

But on the other hand, I'm a child of the sixties, and back then a nine month pregnant woman was supposed to be some where laying down having pillows adjusted to make sure she is comfortable and not on stage at a music awards show rapping with some of the baddest of the bad boys.

I wanted to post some video of this performance, but it has all been removed from YouTube. Maybe later they will put it back up on some official channels. Below you will see a video of her performing her song Paper Planes live on the David Letterman Late Show.






Reference articles;

M.I.A.'s Pregnant Moment @TheRoot.com

M.I.A. Discussion @Slate.com's XXfactor blog

M.I.A. @wikipedia

Kwaito

I like this- introduced to me by a student! This very popular music is in a South African style, an ecletic brew of House music, R&B, Hip-Hop and Ragga influence. A difficult one to describe but one not easily forgotten - perhaps a product of a Rainbow Nation.

The Godfather - Mdu

Trompies Fohloza - no to size zero women!

Nomakhanjani- Brenda Fassie

Before all this stuff I enjoyed

Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens - Mbaqanga

and Ladysmith Black Mambazo

100 Greatest Romantic Albums of All Time 91-100

Well here we are at the end of the 100 Greatest Romantic Albums of All Time. I just want to acknowledge the bloggers who put the list together. I read and link to the Chordstrike Blog and those nice people put together this list.

R Kelly & If I Could Turn Back The Hand Of Time


This has been a lot of fun, getting suggestions, reading all of your comments. I'm kind of sad that this is the last part of the list. My favorites here include The Cure's Disintigration, Enya's Watermark, Rufus Wainwright's self named album Rufus Wainwright, and I can not say enough about how romantic I think R. Kelly's album 12 Play is.

91. Jens Lekman - When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog

92. Bebel Gilberto - Bebel Gilberto

93. The Cure - Disintigration

94. Enya - Watermark

95. The Postal Service - Give Up

96. Rufus Wainwright - Rufus Wainwright

97. The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs, Vol. 1

98. Astrud Gilberto - Look to the Rainbow

99. R. Kelly - 12 Play

100. Seu Jorge - The Life Aquatic Exclusive Sessions

Foot Stompers (Oldies)

These get me up out of my seat

Boz Scaggs - Lido Shuffle just look at the girls!


Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz

Hawkwind 1972

Bob Seger - Old time Rock and Roll

The Faces- Stay With Me (Live)

100 Greatest Romantic Albums of All Time 81-90

Here is another version of Me and Mrs. Jones that I really like. Yes we still got that thing going on, it is much too strong to let it go now.

Michael Buble - Me and Mrs. Jones


There is also some great music on this part of the list too, check out, Michael Buble's Call Me Irresponsible, Jill Scott's Who is Jill Scott?, and Shirley Horn's Travelin' Light.

Please click on the links below to get info on each mp3 album from Amazon.com.

81. Bjork - Homogenic

82. Patricia Barber - Modern Cool

83. Nicolai Dunger - Tranquil Isolation

84. Michael Buble - Call Me Irresponsible

85. Jill Scott - Who is Jill Scott?

86. Tricky - Maxinquaye

87. Goldfrapp - Black Cherry

88. Keren Ann - Nolita

89. Shirley Horn - Travelin' Light

90. James Moody - Young At Heart

100 Greatest Romantic Albums of All Time 71-80

I have always thought the words to the Roy Orbison song She's A Mystery to me from his album Mystery Girl are so true. I think if you have ever loved someone, this song will resonate with you.

Roy Orbison - She's A Mystery to Me - Mystery Girl


Other albums on that part of the list that I really enjoy listening to are, Erykah Badu's Baduizm, John Legend's Save Room, Dave Brubeck's Take Five, and Chris Isaak's Heart Shaped World.

Please click on the links below to listen to mp3 samples of these albums at Amazon.com.

71. Roy Orbison - Mystery Girl

72. Erykah Badu - Baduizm

73. Maxwell - Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite

74. John Legend - Save Room

75. Sarah McLachlan - Solace

76. Ray Charles & Milt Jackson - Soul Brothers / Soul Meeting

77. Jean-Yves Thibaudet - Satie: The Magic of Satie

78. Dave Brubeck - Take Five

79. Chris Isaak - Heart Shaped World

80. Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust

The rise of the 'songtage'

Songtages - montages set to pop songs - are all the rage on the television.

The denouement at the last Friends Ross and Rachel - With or without you

A tearful episode albeit too glossy for me to continue to watch continuing series. Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars (from Grey's Anatomy)

Skins - Wild World

The glorious West Wing - Brothers in Arms


Michelle Branch by Goodbye to you (Buffy)

The Sopranos Final Scene

Some heroic collaborations

Jeff Beck & Jennifer Batten - Blue Wind

Nick Cave and PJ Harvey - Henry Lee

Belle & Sebastian - Funny Little Frog

Marco Panascia Carol Kaye guitar bass duet

Wynton Marsalis and Sarah Vaughn Autumn Leaves


The Edge(U2), Sinéad O'Connor & Larry Mullen : Heroine (Theme from 'Captive')

100 Greatest Romantic Albums of All Time 61-70

I have always loved Willie Nelson's album Stardust. It truly is a thing of beauty and it is very romantic as well. Over the years I go through periods where I listen to it none stop, this time of year is a great time to listen to it with your lover.

Willie Nelson - Stardust


Other albums of note on this part of the list for me are Stivie Wonder's My Cherie Amour, John and Yoko's Double Fantasy, and Billy Ocean's Suddenly are all albums that get me into the mood.

Please click links below to listen to mp3 samples of the below listed albums at Amazon.com.

61. Cocteau Twins - Heaven or Las Vegas

62. Willie Nelson - Stardust

63. The Softies - It's Love

64. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

65. John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy

66. Stevie Wonder - My Cherie Amour

67. Billy Ocean - Suddenly

68. Judee Sill - Heart Food

69. Usher - Confessions

70. Red House Painters - Red House Painters I

Blowin' in the Wind

For those of you unlucky enough not to be British (lol) and have the BBC - I assume that this will be seen on BBC America in the near future. The whole series has been absolutely brilliant. I have copied the list they played and posted just a few songs I've not listened to for a while.


Episode 3 of Folk America brings the story to the 1960s with music from Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and the Grateful Dead.

Steve Earle Satellite Radio (title music)
Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited
Elvis Presley Mystery Train
Woody Guthrie This Land is Your Land
The Orioles Crying in the Chapel
Bob Dylan Corrina Corrina
Bob Dylan Masters of War
Joan Baez With God on our Side
Mississippi John Hurt Frankie
Robert Johnson Walking Blues
Roger McGuinn The Water is Wide
The Byrds Mr Tambourine Man
The Mamas & Papas California Dreamin'
Roger McGuinn Turn, Turn, Turn
The Grateful Dead Morning Dew
Phil Ochs I Aint Marching Anymore
Pete Seeger The Midnight Special
The Kingston Trio Tom Dooley
Peter, Paul and Mary If I Had a Hammer
Judy Collins Bob Dylan's Dream
Joan Baez The Virgin Mary Had One Son
Bob Dylan & Friends Blowin' in the Wind
Odetta & Friends We Shall Overcome
Bob Dylan & Joan Baez When The Ship Comes In
Pete Seeger, Jim Kweskin & Mel Lyman Greencorn
Mississippi John Hurt Candyman
Bob Dylan Maggie's Farm
Barry McGuire Eve of Destruction
Pete Seeger Oh Had I A Golden Thread
Johnny Cash There's A Mother Always Waiting At Home
Bob Dylan & the Band Like A Rolling Stone
Canned Heat Going Up The Country
The Band The Weight
Country Joe I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin-to-Die

100 Greatest Romantic Albums of All Time 51-60

My wife's maiden name is Jones. So back in the days when we were dating, this song had a very special meaning to me. And all these years later we still got that thing going on. Know what I mean?

Billy Paul Me And Mrs Jones


Many of the albums on this part of the list are just so sweet, songs by the O'Jays, The Spinners, Nina Simone, and The Dramatics go down like candy. If you are not familiar with any of these please click on the links below for more info about each album at Amazon.com

51. Paolo Conte - Reveries

52. Lou Donaldson - Lush Life

53. Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un M'a Dit

54. A Touch of Schmilsson in the Night - Harry Nilsson

55. The O'Jays - So Full Of Love

56. The Spinners - Mighty Love

57. Francoise Hardy - Ma Jeunesse Fout L'camp

58. Julee Cruise - Floating Into The Night

59. Nina Simone - Here Comes The Sun

60. The Dramatics - Me & Mrs. Jones

Chilled Out

I remember buying a collaboration with Tony Bennett and KD Lang - wonderful.

Nat King Cole - Mona Lisa

I have this Massive Attack Album - very chilled out!

Of course being of an age I like U2

Carlos Santana & Mahavishnu John McLaughlin-A Love Supreme does it for me!

100 Greatest Romantic Albums of All Time 41-50

There are so many songs that make me think of my wife of twenty-four years. Many of them are on the albums that I have been presenting in the last few days. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack has always been one that brings her to my mind.

Here is a recommendation for you, if you have someone during this Valentine season that you love, take their hand, put this song on, and dance with them. It is simply lovely. :)

Roberta Flack - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face


The other albums that made the list, like Boyz II Men II, We Are Love by Harry Connick Jr. and Faith by George Micheal always make me think of my wife.

All the memories of romantic music from the past that come up during this time of the year make it such an enjoyable time.

41. Roberta Flack - First Take

42. Boyz II Men - II

43. Enigma - LSD

44. Depeche Mode - Violator

45. Fiona Apple - Tidal

46. Harry Connick, Jr. - We Are In Love

47. Zero 7 - Simple Things

48. Mazzy Star - So Tonight That I Might See

49. Theivery Corporation - The Mirror Conspiracy

50. George Michael - Faith

More happy songs

Patti Smith - Because the Night every single word is crystal clear, a very sensual rendition. Written by Patti and Bruce Springsteen

Snow Patrol "You Could Be Happy" a lovely animation that you have to watch with a smile

Paul Weller - Wild Wood - effortless style and panache

Tina Turner performs Proud Mary live - I saw her on this tour - 20,000 people on their feet dancing for hours, superb. ... and the twins!

BB King, "The Thrill is Gone" - no it hasn't. I saw him 20 years ago twanging that Lucille.

Roy Orbison - Crying with K.D. Lang - two great singers.

100 Greatest Romantic Albums of All Time 31-40

February is the month for lovers. Here are the 31st - 40th on the list of the 100 Greatest Romantic Albums of All Time. I really like that Isley Brothers, Isaac Hayes, Jimmy Scott, Dean Martin, Air Supply and Prince made the list.

Little Jimmy Scott--Everybody Needs Somebody


31. Isley Brothers - Between the Sheets

32. Chet Baker - Chet

33. Isaac Hayes - Black Moses

34. Diana Krall - The Look of Love

35. Jimmy Scott - Falling In Love Is Wonderful

36. Dean Martin - Dino! The Italian Love Songs

37. Massive Attack - Mezzanine

38. Roxy Music - Avalon

39. Air Supply - Now and Forever

40. Prince - For You

Romantic Music : Inputs from the Peanut Gallery

I put the word out that I wanted to get a discussion going on the list of "100 Romantic Albums of All Time". You can see the first three post here >> 1-10, 11-20, 21-30.

But the cool part is some of my online friends have started responding, and their suggestions are too cool.

My online friend The Blues Blogger recommended some Sade, and I could not agree with him more that she should definitely be on the list. I started to post Lovers Rock, but decided that for me Diamond Life has got to be one of the most Romantic Albums of All Time.



Another online friend nicky187 mentioned Barry White who made the list, and Tony Bennet. Who did not, but when it comes to romance he has got to be on the top of your list.





My friend AAACopywriter who writes the cool blues blog A Copy Writer's Blues suggest Kris Kristofferson's Me and Bobby McGhee. The Essential Kris Kristofferson by Kris Kristofferson has that song and a few others that I would call romantic. I really like the song Me And Bobby McGee and think it is very sad and romantic.


My friend oneluv918 sent me a list that include many great musicians. She is always sharing the good stuff with me. Her list included so many that when I think about it should definitely be on the list; Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston (who we had fun making jokes about, but you have to love her music).










My online friend and food blog colaberator MochaCoffee suggested Luther Vandross and she is always sending me the coolest reggae links. There are quite a few reggae songs that I would consider romantic. Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry comes to mind.



My online friend RecordGroves went to the extra effort to start a disscussion thread over at the MusicGeeks Group StumbleUpOn Forums. Which was cool, as my last check we got about 50 suggestions. I will probably break those out separately. But RecordGroves' suggestion of Jimi Hendrix' album Axis: Bold as Love is a good one.


Hoeno an online friend that makes me laugh a lot and who shares my passion for boxers mentioned Al Green. But he is already on the list, but you can't really have too much Al Green when it comes to romance, can you?

My online friend MKWillis stumbled up several really cool and romantic videos; Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks - To Make You Feel My Love


You Are The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me


So these are some of the inputs that I have received so far. I thank everyone who has given input, and look forward to reading your comments and suggestions.