Jam du Jour

Good songs that I've been listening to

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Artist: The Beatles

Song: Baby, You're A Rich Man

Album: Magical Mystery Tour

Ok, so let's be honest here.  The Beatles started hip-hop, right?  I am being completely serious here when I say that this album was the first trace of a funky boom bap beat but they didn't know what to call it.  I'm sure Ringo was just like, "Hey guys, these drums I'm playing are making you hop around and move your hips!"  #sillyringo

But really though, this track off of The Beatles 1967 often-disrespected Magical Mystery Tour, but it is one of my favorite outings by the group.  While yes, there are moments of psychedelia and brash guitar and lovie-dovie lullabies on the LP, this album is a hip-hop album (next time I'll do "Flying" to prove my point further).

Listen to it.  Love it. Repeat.

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Artist: Simon and Garfunkel

Song: Keep The Customer Satisfied

Album: Bridge Over Troubled Water

After a day like today, this is exactly what I need.  Maybe you need this too.  Incase you do, press play.  

If you need a laugh, the cover art for this album is hilarious.  Little known fact about the cover: Paul Simon's hair is actually Art Garfunkel's bitchin' mustache.  Laugh away.

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Artist: Penny & The Quarters

Song: You and Me

Album: You and Me 7"/ Numero Group's Eccentric Soul: Prix Label

When I first heard this song in the movie 'Blue Valentine' it was something special.  And today it is a great track that was a living room recording.  Just so sweet and simple and toward the end in the song the lead singer is being so gentle.  Exactly what you want in a love song.  

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Artist: Dirty Projectors

Song: Rise Above

Album: Rise Above

The title track off of Dirty Projectors' 2007 wonderful album is a steady jam that I have been whistling throughout my days recently.  

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Artist: Nas

Song: The World Is Yours

Album: Illmatic

From one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all times, this track is touted as one of the greatest hip-hop songs ever recorded.  I personally prefer some others from this album, but on a day like today, this song is exactly what I want.  

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Artist: The Beach Boys

Song: Student Demonstration Time

Album: Surf's Up

This is an underrated song off the 1971 underrated album Surf's Up by the Beach Boys.  This final track on side A is very politicized and not originally conceived by the Beach Boys.  Having been popular in concert, the band recorded it and threw it on the album. This is one of those songs that is riotous and bluesy and could be rewritten year after year, but usually when I play this song for people, they aren't aware that it's the Beach Boys.  If you haven't had a chance to listen to this album, it is quite unique.  Not only does it contain this great blues song, but it also includes a song thats lyrics are so depressing, the band asked their manager to record vocals.

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Artist: The Rolling Stones

Song: Loving Cup

Album: Exile on Main St.

"Loving Cup" comes off of The Rolling Stones' 1972 album Exile on Main Street.  I'm drawn to this song whenever I make a party playlist because of its memorable chorus.  The message of love is evident and I want you to love this song as much as I do.

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Artist: Gonjasufi

Song: Kowboys&Indians

Album: A Sufi and a Killer

When I first heard this album in March of 2010 streaming on Fader.com, I was hooked. I thought of it as hip-hop but at that time there wasn’t really a place for words like psychedelic, fuzzy, swirling, or sitar-filled to describe that genre. It was Gonjasufi’s work on one track off of Flying Lotus’ 2008 album Los Angeles that drew me to this guy. This song in particular, is just a sweet groove. The repetitive vocal sample builds throughout and the simple bass is funky. Gonjasufi’s fuzzed out voice is the star though, as it is on the rest of the album.

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Artist: Wilson Pickett

Song: Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)

Album: The Exciting Wilson Pickett

"Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)" off of The Exciting Wilson Pickett is a fantastic cut.  I think my favorite things Wilson Pickett's voice is exemplified in this song.  The unforgiving screech of his high notes, his syncopated rhythms at the tail end of each vocal phrase in the chorus.  Its a great song!  Plus, the walking bass line is simple and projects the song in motion. 

Finally, this song was covered a few years after this 1966 release by the band Fever Tree, which was then sampled by Madlib in his 2004 collaboration with MF DOOM on the great song, "America's Most Blunted."

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Artist: Portishead

Song: Only You

Album: Portishead

One of my first experiences with Portishead's song "Only You", a single off of their 1997 self-titled release, was when I saw the video that Chris Cunningham directed.  Each and every time I hear the song I can't get the visual component out of my head.    That kid in the water in reverse- it's just fantastic!  

This song also samples The Pharcyde, which is another reason to love this one.

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Artist: The Beatles

Song: I'm Looking Through You

Album: Rubber Soul

I have to confess that this is my favorite Beatles album and this song is an under-appreciated gem.  I pulled this off of their 1965 American release of Rubber Soul.  I once made a cover recording of it because I figured I could recreate a lot of the atypical instrument sounds you get from the band on this track, most noticeably is the absence of Ringo's kit drumming.  

I'll leave you with this: the version of the LP that I bought years ago has a small sticker in the upper left corner that has the words "Plastic Funk", which I've always thought was a quite funny take on the title of the record.

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Artist: Wreckless Eric

Song: (I'd Go The) Whole Wide World

Album: Big Smash!

If you have ever heard Wreckless Eric, you've probably heard this song.  I first heard of this song when Will Ferrell sang it in the 2006 flick 'Stranger than Fiction', which is a stellar flick filled with songs by Spoon and this song.  "Whole Wide World" was originally recorded in 1977 but milked for all it was worth on a ton of other releases; I snagged this off of 'Big Smash!' from 1980.  Good and simple song that is easy to learn and just as easy to drop the needle on track one of the C-side.

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Artist: The Velvet Underground

Song: Sweet Jane

Album: Loaded

This is the second track on The Velvet Underground's 1970 release 'Loaded'.  "Sweet Jane" is one of the singles off of this record and judging from the simple chorus and simple chord progression, that was the point.  What this song has that not a lot of other radio-ready tracks had of the time is Lou Reed.  It's a good one!  Throw this record on at a party and you're set.

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Artist: Stevie Wonder

Song: Hey Love

Album: Down To Earth

The inaugural post to Not-So Deep Cuts should actually be a deep cut, right?  

The final cut on Stevie Wonder's 1966 album Down To Earth is "Hey Love", which to me is one of the best cuts on the record, is a simply beautiful song with punchy background vocals that allow Stevie's 16 year-old voice float over with strength and maturity.  It's a head nodder from the first snare and tom hits.  It sticks out to me as a favorite Stevie track.  Enjoy!