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The Friday Five: February 22, 2013

Michael Parr February 22, 2013 38

The Friday Five

Friday Five : |ˈfrīdā – fīv| : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button in iTunes and share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up the media player of your choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

The Five:

“Chafe’s Ceilidh” by Great Big Sea (from Something Beautiful*, 2004)

Kicking it off with an instrumental bit jig from Newfoundland and Labrador’s own, Great Big Sea. These tunes sound much better live.

“The (After) Life of the Party” by Fall Out Boy (from Infinity on High, 2007)

Well that’s an abrupt transition. I’m ever the Fall Out Boy apologist, as I do really enjoy their tunes.

“Mahini Me” by Ali Farka Touré (from The Source, 1992)

Ouch! I do believe that is a first order U-turn, right there. This is the legendary Ali Farka Touré with the equally esteemed Taj Mahal, and I could just sink into this tune.

“Mother Dear” by The Supremes (from The Complete Motown Singles, Volume 5: 1965 (disc 25), 2006)

One day I will force myself to sit and listen to this entire box set.

“It’s Probably Me” by Sting (from Pavarotti & Friends, 1993)

Do you remember when everyone and your mother ran out to buy a Pavarotti record? I do! I even have the record to prove it. Actually, I’m just noticing that this is the only version of this song I have in my iTunes at the moment. Strange.

What’s on your shuffle today?

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About the author: Michael Parr View all posts by
Husband, Father, Writer, Musical Voyeur, Pop Culture Glutton, Gourmet in Training. I'm the tall guy behind all these short guys. You can find me on the Twitter.


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  • http://www.clangandclatter.com/ Phil

    KISS – “I Stole Your Love” (Live at the Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA, 1977)
    “You wanted the best, and you got the best!”

    Hayseed Dixie – “Heaven’s on Fire” (Kiss My Grass: A Hillbilly Tribute to KISS, 2003)
    Ha, ha! Very funny, iTunes!

    The Cure – “Jumping Someone Else’s Train” (Boys Don’t Cry, 1980)
    Great song from a period in the Cure’s history that I am unfortunately way too unfamiliar with.

    The Damnwells – “H.C.E. (Here Comes Everyone)” (PMR (Poor Man’s Record) + 1, 2002)
    I find that I either love a Damnwells song, or I don’t like it at all. There’s not much middle ground for me. This one I love.

    Al Stewart – “Time Passages” (AM Gold: 1978, 1978)
    A Popdose contribution to my collection. Didn’t realize I had hung onto this one. Thanks a lot!

  • MC_Snocap

    “Pavarotti and Friends”! Wow. Any awkward duets with pop stars du jour?

    1) “Something in the Way” by Nirvana (1991, Nevermind)
    My most salient memory of this song is, sadly, Jerry McConnell’s rendition in “Jerry Maguire”. Sorry, Kurt.

    2) “I Dig Go-Go Girls” by Cheap Trick (1977, Cheap Trick)
    Bonus track from the reissue CD.

    3) “White Lines” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (1983, off Thumpin’ New Wave)
    Per Wikipedia, Grandmaster Flash had no part in this record, but Sugar Hill mislabeled records to milk his name value. Also, this was co-written by Sylvia, half of the “Love Is Strange” duo. Whoosh – The more you know.

    4) “Teen Titans Theme” by Puffy AmiYumi (2004, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi)
    I don’t dislike this song (or Puffy, or Andy Sturmer), but doing the theme to a teenaged superhero cartoon threatens to strand you on Novelty Act Island.

    5) “Magnetizing” by Handsome Boy Modeling School feat. Del The Funkee Homosapien (1999, So…How’s Your Girl?)
    Kind of love that Del is Cube’s cousin when you can’t imagine either on a track by the other.

  • MC_Snocap

    Phil, you’ve just unlocked the world of Hayseed Dixie for me. Gracias!

  • http://www.facebook.com/agentofatlas Matthew Underhill

    Rowlf & Kermit – “I Hope That Something Better Comes Along” – The Muppet Movie – This was always my favorite song on the Muppet Movie soundtrack as a child, topping even “Rainbow Connection”. I may blame this song for some failed relationships in my youth.

    Radiohead – “Fake Plastic Trees” – The Bends – One of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever written. I know it’s cliché to say this, but I liked Radiohead when Pablo Honey came out, but “Fake Plastic Trees” made me love Radiohead.

    8 Stops 7 – “Question Everything” – In Moderation – A great song about messed up relationships with fathers.

    Fleetwood Mac – “Dreams” – Rumours – One of the best pop songs ever written.

    The Smashing Pumpkins – “Quasar” – Oceania – After the horrible, horrible Zeitgeist, I had almost completely given up hope on the Pumpkins, but then Teargarden by Kaliedyscope a bit of hope was restored. I dragged my feet on picking up Oceania for a while, but when I did, I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe it was having zero expectations for it to actually be good, but it was. This song kicks off the album with something that would sound right at home among tracks from Siamese Dream. And if you ask me, that’s a good thing.

  • jhallCORE

    1) Iris Dement — “That Glad Reunion Day” (Lifeline, 2004).
    2) Joe Lovano — “Duke Ellington’s Sound Of Love” (Quartets: Live At The Village Vanguard, 1995).
    3) James Carter — “Red Rooster” (Out Of Nowhere, 2005).
    4) Betty Carter — “All Or Nothing At All” (Feed The Fire, 1994).
    5) Indigo Girls — “Welcome Me” (Nomads, Indians, Saints, 1990).

    Enjoy the weekend.

  • http://www.clangandclatter.com/ Phil

    De nada.

    These guys are really funny, but very good at what they do. I especially like their cover of Sabbath’s “War Pigs.”

  • http://twitter.com/jcb7472 jcb7472

    1) Damian Marley: “Keep On Groovin’ (Mr. Marley, 1996) – just saw him on the Grammys recently. Damian is my favorite of the Marley sons…he seems like the most versatile and has the most energy. This is an update of the Wailers’ “Keep on Moving”. That being said, I like the others sons too, and actually just won free tickets to see Ziggy in Miami this weekend. What a coincidence this song came up!

    2) Wolf Parade: “What Did My Lover Say (It Always Had To Go This Way)” – (Expo 86, 2010) – My favorite song from their last album, and these Canadians announced in 2010 that they were breaking up to pursue other projects. The members are in so many other bands, and they are so talented, that we won’t hear the last of these guys.

    3) Tokyo Police Club: “If It Works” – (A Lesson in Crime, 2006). Another awesome Canadian indie rock band.

    4) Regina Spektor: “Samson” (Begin To Hope, 2006). Soft ballad from her breakout album.

    5) The Police: “Contact” (Reggatta De Blanc, 1979). Another band with “Police”? The originals and the best, of course. And Sting was just on stage at the Grammy’s with Damian and others doing a tribute to Bob Deja Vu Friday 5!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/arylwatson Aryl Watson

    1. Modest Mouse – Missed the Boat – James Mercer signs backup & one of my favorite lyrics of all time ‘Our ideas held no water, But we used them like a damn’

    2.Atoms for Peace – Dropped – Thom Yorke songs half way between RadioHead and his solo stuff. Love this! Flea’s baselines are a great compliment to the music.

    3. Foreigner – JukeBox Hero – I loved this song in 5th grade. Nearly 30 yrs later, I still like it. Kinda sad that my kids have no idea what a jukebox is.

    4. Spinnerette – Ghetto Love – Brody Dalle’s 2nd band (after Distillers). Now married to Josh Homme. This song is pretty straightforward rock – you can hear QOTSA on this.

    4. Wheat – Can’t Wash It Off – I’ve always loved the singer’s voice. They’ve put out some great stuff. Good song, but not representative of their best stuff

  • http://www.facebook.com/arylwatson Aryl Watson

    I hated Pablo Honey & Creep, but was converted by the Bends and became a fanatic with OK Computer. Amazing how great The Bends was & then overshadowed by their other work.

  • Rock_dawg

    Damn, Michael. Your iTunes is having some serious moodswings. I wanted to hate Fall Out Boy, but just can’t ’cause their tunes are just so damn catchy.

    “Angel From Montgomery” – Bonnie Raitt with Bryan Adams, Jackson Browne, Bruce Hornsby and Kim Wilson, Road Tested
    I’ve loved this song since the first time I heard it when I saw Bonnie open for Eric Clapton a few years back. Bought Road Tested the next day – one of the best live albums in my collection. I checked and jhallCORE had the other showstopper ballad from this set last week.

    “If It Wasn’t For The Nights” – ABBA, Voulez-Vous
    I’ve long held that I prefer late period, melancholy ABBA (The Visitors is an amazing album), but I’ve been slowly going backwards. This, from their pure disco album, brings back a lot of childhood memories.

    “Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey” – The Beatles, Beatles For Sale
    How long have I been contributing and this is the first time the Beatles have come up in my Five?!? And it’s one of my least favourite Beatle tracks! Of course, The Beatles are like pizza: even when it’s just ok, it’s still pizza. Unless it’s “You Know My Name…”, the all anchovie pizza of the Beatles catalogue.

    “Magic” – Delirium ft. Juliee Cruise, Chillout ’04: The Ultimate Chillout compilation
    Pretty much all of the electronic music I have comes from my CD store years. If I didn’t work there, I probably never would have been exposed to it and enjoyed quite a bit of it. But in the years since I haven’t bought any more of it.

    “Free” – Chicago, Chicago III
    Courtesy of that guy in the sharp gray outfit. I have this on a CD somewhere, but getting it off Popdose was much easier. Thanks.

    Have a good weekend, Fivers.

  • Rock_dawg

    That Marley tribute was the highlight of an otherwise pretty dull Grammy show.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    Their version of “Fat Bottomed Girls” is as much fun as a barrel full of moonshine.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    I’m going to have to go out and buy myself a copy of Road Tested. I also appreciate that I’m not the only ABBA fan in the house.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    Oh! Track number 6 on my shuffle was from Chill Out! Volume 1, from my record store days.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    I haven’t checked out the Atoms for Peace record yet, it’s on my shopping list.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    I’ll spare you my usual *grumble* where the Smashing Pumpkins are concerned. Welcome aboard!

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    Oh, but of course! You have Sting, Zucchero, and at least one (or more) of the Neville Brothers all trying to get in on the action. It’s horrifying. At train wreck that everyone must suffer through at least once.

  • Rock_dawg

    I spent a lot of years resisting ABBA, but yeah, gotta call myself a fan again. But I’d still rather have my fingernails pulled out one by one than listen to “Dancing Queen” again.

  • http://twitter.com/jcb7472 jcb7472

    I actually liked the tribute to Levon Helm from The Band better. Mavis Staples & Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes) killed it. Jack White’s performance was pretty good too. The rest of the show was dull, I agree.

  • MB

    Eric Burdon – Red Cross Store (Soul Of A Man, 2006)

    Doors – Moonlight Drive (Strange Days, 1967)

    Counting Crows – Start Again (Underwater Sunshine, 2012)

    Mudcrutch – Lover Of The Bayou (Mudcrutch, 2008)

    Grateful Dead – Blues For Allah (Blues For Allah, 1975)

  • Rock_dawg

    Oh, the performance of “The Weight” was the other high spot of the night for sure. I thought Elton was a little too busy on the keys, but otherwise it was fantastic. I felt the need to watch The Last Waltz a couple of nights later because of it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/agentofatlas Matthew Underhill

    Feel free to grumble away as much as necessary regarding the Pumpkins. I grumble about them more than my fair share. I did see in last week’s Five that you were a fan of James Iha’s album last year so that scores some immediate cool points in my book (I was a gigantic fan of “Let it Come Down”).

  • http://www.facebook.com/agentofatlas Matthew Underhill

    Agreed 100%. I have been a little cold on their most recent stuff, but I think their stuff up through “Hail to the Thief” is golden.

  • http://www.facebook.com/agentofatlas Matthew Underhill

    I haven’t heard Hayseed Dixie’s version of “War Pigs”, but I can imagine it. I would also highly recommend Kevin Hearn’s cover of “War Pigs”. It’s almost a combination of prog-rock and bluegrass. There’s no way I can adequately describe the bizarre awesomeness.

  • keith

    I’m with you guys on the late-era ABBA. “Voulez Vous” was the first album I ever bought with my own money. Super Trouper and The Visitors are near perfect pop albums (same goes with their final four tracks from the ill-fated Visitors follow-up; three of which made the box set, one made the second Gold collection). A Spanish version of “Waterloo” made my Five today (the other four were so boring or jarring I can not even share).

  • jhallCORE

    If you haven’t checked out Bonnie’s Slipstream album from 2012, definitely do so. I think it’s her best album in decades. In particular, her covers of material from Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind album are amazing.

  • jhallCORE

    You’ll enjoy it Mike. A lot of great stuff on there.

  • http://www.clangandclatter.com/ Phil

    Just listened. Definitely interesting, but there’s almost too much going on. I think you might like Hayseed Dixie’s version better.

  • Rock_dawg

    Thanks for the tip. I’ll check it out for sure.

  • mc3

    1. Lindsey Buckingham – “I Want You”, Go Insane (1984)
    This same track came up on my January 11th Five… from among 12,000 tracks on this iPod… leading to my normal irrational suspicion about “is iTunes random really random?”. Anyone else do that?

    2. Van Morrison – “Keep it Simple”, Keep it Simple (2008)

    3. Van Halen – “One Foot Out The Door”, Fair Warning (1981)

    4. My Morning Jacket – “One Big Holiday”, It Still Moves (2003)

    5. North Mississippi Allstars – “Goin’ Down South”, Beacon Theater 2006-12-30

  • Rock_dawg

    Since I tend to shuffle the same playlist all week, I wonder how certain songs seem to come up more often than others and some never seem to come up at all. I find that any of my really long tracks only seem to come up later in the week. Does it take the star ratings into account? And if not, what am I assigning these ratings for? And how the hell did “Steal Away” by Robbie Dupree get over twenty plays? So yeah, I guess I have similar irrational suspicions…
    Great Five by the way!

  • http://twitter.com/mordalo Mordalo

    Starting off with Rowlf and Kermit? Now that’s a way to kick off a Five.

  • http://twitter.com/mordalo Mordalo

    ABBA. Love ‘em. Anytime Waterloo comes on, I’m happy.

  • http://twitter.com/mordalo Mordalo

    Ever get the chance to check out Cake’s version of War Pigs?

  • http://twitter.com/mordalo Mordalo

    Long day at work. Hell, this is the second 20 hour day in a row for me. I want nothing more to curl up in a ball, put my earphones in, and wish the world away. Let’s see if this week’s Five can help with that…

    1) Beastie Boys – The Rat Cage

    I swear I’m the only one who loved The Mix-Up. Anyone who ever doubted the ability as musicians should go listen to this disc. Great instrumentals from an amazing band.

    2) Blues Traveler – Canadian Rose

    Oh, I haven’t heard this song in years, and I love it so. It evokes such memories in me, much like the tale Popper et., al tell. I’m so glad this popped up. Like an old friend I haven’t seen in years, I’ve missed it so.

    3) Vince Guaraldi Trio – Cast Your Fate to the Wind

    Oh, my Walkman knows what I need tonight. Just something simple, soothing and relaxing. The timeless beauty and elegance of this song just makes me smile.

    4) Queen – Killer Queen

    Freddy Mercury always makes for an excellent Five. I swear, they don’t write music like this anymore.

    5) The Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated.

    How fitting, since I think I’m due for a nap. Let’s see…I’ve got 45 minutes until I have to make dinner. G’nite, kids. Have a good weekzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

  • http://www.clangandclatter.com/ Phil

    Yeah, that’s a great version. I’ve had that one in my library for awhile.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    I heartily second this recommendation. Slipstream was one of my top records last year.

  • http://www.popdose.com/ Michael Parr

    You are not alone in your love of The Mix-Up. I’m a fan of the Beasties when they drop the mics.