MIKE PERCIACCANTE
This morning I was listening to iTunes set on shuffle this morning and thought to myself, lets see what fun and interesting songs pop up. What songs jump out at me — what songs that I haven’t heard in a while make me smile. The songs that do that are fun and have the magical ability to bring you back in time. They make you feel — happy, sad — it doesn’t matter. Yep those are the songs that no iPod should be without.
The following are some of the songs that I heard this morning. Hope you like ’em!
176. Elvis Is Everywhere – Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper
It’s been said that before Elvis there was nothing. So then Elvis is everything. If so, Elvis is everywhere. Seriously though, this is a great psychobilly song. The song is sung by Roper with an earnest, yet breakneck delivery reminiscent of a traveling preacher at a prayer meeting.
When I look out into your eyes out there,
When I look out into your faces,
You know what I see?
I see a little bit of Elvis
In each and every one of you out there.Lemme tell ya…
Weeeeeeeeeellllllll…
Elvis is everywhere
Elvis is everything
Elvis is everybody
Elvis is still the king
If that doesn’t sound like it came right out of the revival tent, I don’t know what does. When it was released in 1987, Mojo and Skid were everywhere (pun intended). The video is also hysterical in all of its low rent primitive glory (it kinda looks like a High School AV class project circa 1985). This may be another instance where if your mp3 player has video capabilities, get the video.
And, yes, for those of you who know the song, Michael J. Fox is truly the anti-Elvis.
Recommended versions can be found on: Bo-Day-Shus!!! (Enigma, 1987, re-released on Capitol in 1990 and By Mojo, himself, in 2004).
177. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
Why, you may ask. Because Neil Diamond is the man. Because he went to Boston and led the Fenway crowd in a sing-a-long in the first game following the marathon bombing. Diamond has announced that he will donate all royalties from sales of the song since the marathon bombings to the One Fund Boston to help the people most affected by the bombings. It’s also here because it’s a great feelgood song. That’s why! C’mon I dare you to think of the lyrics without adding in the “bomp, bomp, bomp.” Its simple. Its sweet (no pun intended) and its good.
Where it began,
I can’t begin to knowin’
But then I know it’s growing strong
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who’d have believed you’d come along.
Hands, touchin’ hands
Reachin’ out, touchin’ me touchin’ you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I’ve been inclined
To believe they never would
But now I, look at the night
And it don’t seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two.
Recommended versions can be found on: Neil Diamond: Gold (MCA, 1971), numerous greatest hits collections including: The Very Best of Neil Diamond (Sony/Legacy, 2011), The Essential Neil Diamond (Sony, 2001) and the live albums Hot August Night (MCA, 1972), Hot August Night II (Columbia, 1987) and Live In America (Columbia, 1995). It can also be found on the Hot August Night NYC DVD (Columbia, 2009).
178. Goin’ Back To Louisiana – Davell Crawford
This one is so new; I guarantee that virtually none of you know it. The CD (My Gift to You) won’t be released until June 11th. That doesn’t concern me. The song is great and it’s on the first Crawford album in 14 years. On this song Crawford (The Piano King of New Orleans) turns the vocal over to another piano king, Dr. John who makes it all his own.
I’m going back to Louisiana…back to where I’m from
To see the Indian dance and hear the Big Chief beat the drum
The second-line be on the street all day
The choir singing in a gospel way
I’m going back to Louisiana…back to where I’m from
Mississippi water, Louisiana mud…
Creole country life
Black man, white man, red man
We all together intertwined
All together intertwined
We all together intertwined
I’m going back
Back to Louisiana, back to where I’m from
I’m going back
Back to Louisiana, back to where I’m from
I’m going back
Back to Louisiana, back to where I’m from
It drips of Louisiana, specifically New Orleans and will undoubtedly be a featured song in both Crawford’s and Dr. John’s live performances.
Recommended version can be found on: My Gift To You (Basin Street Records, 2013).
179. While You See A Chance – Steve Winwood
First of all, get the album version, not the edited version that was released as a single. Not only is it longer, its infinitely better. It’s here because it is an optimistic song about taking chances. An old friend of mine once told me, “Nothing beats a failure but a try.” He was right. Thank you, Lamar. This song echoes that sage advice.
Stand up in a clear blue morning
Until you see
What can be
Alone in a cold day dawning
Are you still free
Can you be
When some cold tomorrow finds you
When some sad old dream reminds you
How the endless road unwinds you
While you see a chance
Take it
Find romance
Fake it
Because it’s all on you
I guess Winwood took his own advice. He imagined it and it came true. He took a chance, played all the instruments on the song and it became his first solo hit.
Recommended versions can be found on: Arc of A Diver (Island, 1980) and the greatest hits collections: Ultimate Collection (Universal, 2005), Revolutions: The Very Best of Steve Winwood (Island, 2010), Icon (Island, 2011)
180. These Things – She Wants Revenge
Its danceable. Its full of angst. Its dark. The band sounds like what you’d get if Depeche Mode and Joy Division had a baby. If those bands are the parents, then Interpol, Bauhaus, and the Cure would be its cousins. Heck, the video for “These Things,” featured Shirley Manson from Garbage. What’s not to like?
Recommended version can be found on: their debut She Wants Revenge (Geffen Records, 2006).
I want to hear from you. Please write me and tell me some of your favorite songs. Tell me what you like and why. Send me an e-mail and tell me what music you love. Tell me what music you can’t live without. I’ll feature your song(s) in a future column. E-mail me at: [email protected]. Type Can’t Live Without in the Topic. Til Next time!
