To celebrate this momentous occasion I was originally going to play 50 Cent, but then I had a change of heart and I decided to play a song from the 1950's instead. Here is one of the two best Vibraphonists ever (Cal Tjader is the other).
Behold, the wonder of Lionel Hampton and his Quintet with one of his classics, and just under that, a bonus Jam Session from the Apollo Theater in 1954... Enjoy the epic, 17 minute, scream filled album version of Flying Home that will have you coming back through the next 50 songs.
Song #50: Lionel Hampton Quintet - Flying Home (buy)
BONUS SONG: Lionel Hampton Jam Session, The Apollo, 1954
Not since the Mighty Mighty Bosstones have I seen a group with a dance squad that was so awesome and plentiful, yet musically unnecessary. Anyway, enjoy the Tighten Up.
Also I feel like I'm falling just the littlest bit behind (or ahead actually) lately. I have a few extremely good pieces on some of my most influential artists coming soon, and in the near near future, I will be opening EDAS to some rarer, un-youtube-able songs and genres. Thanks for sticking around, things are about to get awesome here.
Re: Last Week... Get it? Today's reggae jam is off possibly the best soundtrack of all time, and definitely one of my favorite movies of all time, The Harder They Come. But seriously this song is twice as nice.
I am a huge fan of The Beatles and when I say huge, I mean astronomicallyHUGE! In High School I went through a John Lennon phase (as we all do), especially being from the Upper West Side near The Dakota. Then in College, I became enamored with the incredible George Harrison in all his spiritual glory. My Ringo phase, as expected, was anti-climatic, being shorter and less exciting than even my Billy Preston phase. Finally that leaves Paul... The one who died, the Walrus, Michael Jackson's former friend, The Simpsons character (Actually everyone but John was on it).
The McCartney's with my favorite philosopher Lisa Simpson
For most of my life, Paul and I had a love/hate relationship. I feel that he represented the early Beatles very well, but as the Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles emerged, with their more abstract, psychedelic sounds and themes, Paul, and his fiction novel-esque storytelling style was sort of left behind (see Strawberry Fields Vs. Penny Lane). It was not until earlier this year when somebody turned me on to McCartney's first Post-Fab Four album, Ram, that my rocky opinion turned into sheer admiration.
It is interesting to see how the seperate parts of the biggest band ever chose to cope with the break-up. The parting of the talents produced some of the biggest solo albums of the time, John Lennon's Imagine and (the watershed first ever triple album by a solo artist) George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, but amongst all the praise, Macca's Ram is often forgotten. It is an incredibly solid record top to bottom and features Paul and his amazing late-wife Linda's take on the world front and center, without compromise. The final product is a view into the strength of Paul's songwriting and musical prowess, combined with the fact that although he may not be the martyr of the Beatles, but he is still cooler than any of us will ever be. His lyrics might not be as rebellious, or metaphysical, but Paul McCartney is a world treasure, and any time he says anything... everybody should shut up and listen.
Speaking of Led Zeppelin... This is the only non-album track ever released by them during their existence. And to think it was only a B-side. Gotta love that Mandolin.
I have a very vivid memory of driving through non-gentrified Soho in 1995 with my father, and my friend at the time, Andres (aka Gonzo) listening to this song on Z100. If I were to try to remake that entire scene, to quote Led Zeppelin, only "the song remains the same." None of those things are anything like they were back then, except the song.
I have also heard rumblings that this 90's alternitive classic will be featured in an upcoming Guitar Hero game, which is also awesome because Bassist/Lead Singer/Liv Tyler's Ex Husband Royston Langdon, lays down one of my favorite bass grooves of the pre-lennium. Good luck with the Lyrics though. Anyway here is one of top cult favorite bands, Spacehog, with their biggest hit "In The Meantime."
Even though the gender gap has been slightly equalized, it's only fair for a little bit of Boy Pride. Listening to this song, I can really empathize with the demasculinization of boys in society. Apparently if they like running around, or being at all rambunctious, they are labeled as Bad or during my adolescence, ADD Positive. As an attendee of NYC public schools I can safely say, most teachers would have been happier in a class full of Girls. Obviously I am not a leading mind on the subject, but I can say from experience, that being a rough and tumble kid never got anyone into any real trouble. Plus we all have to grow up someday, why does it matter so much what we grow up from?
Anyway, here are a few blokes who were troublemakers far into their adult lives, trashing hotel rooms, smashing guitars, and blowing up drum sets. Actually maybe boys (myself included) are too much trouble.
Song #39: The Who - I'm a Boy
P.S. Sorry about Rasta Monday. I felt like this song was a more appropriate first song back from Ladies Week, plus I kinda just wasn't feeling it. Tune in next week for a reggae post twice as good as usual.
Ladies Week has been a great success in terms of decreasing the gender gap here at Every Day, Another Song. Obviously there are still many many women that have not yet been represented, but Marcia, Amy, Janis, Dolly, Nina and Yoko, have all had a large impact on my life, as well as many others, by helping to liberate women from any form of musical subjugation they may have endured. As a small token of my appreciation, today (01/10/10) EDAS is exclusively made up of the fairer sex.
Our final female has done the same for a different sphere of music, and in fact there could not be a more appropriate song to come on Biggie Sunday. Christopher Wallace's first hit came by piggybacking on the success of Mary J. Blige's song "Real Love." In 1993, a remix version was released with a short verse by Biggie Smalls (a name he would have to give up when he discovered it was already in use, probably because it's the name of a fictitious Gangster in Bill Cosby's 1975 Film, Let's Do It Again, which I HIGHLY recommend) which helped Blige's Whats the 411 sell millions of copies. It also put a little known rapper, newly named The Notorious B.I.G. and his scrappy producer, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs on the map. Within a year, Biggie released his eternal masterpiece Ready to Die and took his place atop the throne as the King of Rap forever. Not to be outdone, Mary Jane Blige continued her success, blossoming into what Diddy dubbed, "The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul." She has won 9 grammy's and sold over 65 million records worldwide. Even though she now spends more of her time as a producer and Actor, you can still hear that great voice that was bestowed on this little girl born in the Bronx. This one, as they all do, goes out to Big.
Song #38: Mary J. Blige featuring Biggie Smalls - Real Love Remix
, but then I had a change of heart and I decided to play a song from the 1950's instead. Here is one of the two best Vibraphonists ever (Cal Tjader is the other).
that will have you coming back through the next 50 songs.
, Aretha.
have I seen a group with a dance squad that was so awesome and plentiful, yet musically unnecessary. Anyway, enjoy the Tighten Up. 
. But seriously this song is twice as nice.
and when I say huge, I mean astronomically HUGE
! In High School I went through a John Lennon
phase (as we all do), especially being from the Upper West Side
near The Dakota
. Then in College, I became enamored with the incredible George Harrison
in all his spiritual glory. My Ringo
phase, as expected, was anti-climatic, being shorter and less exciting than even my Billy Preston phase. Finally that leaves Paul... The one who died, the Walrus
, Michael Jackson's former friend, The Simpsons character (Actually everyone but John was on it).
, that my rocky opinion turned into sheer admiration. 
, but amongst all the praise, Macca's Ram
of the Beatles, but he is still cooler than any of us will ever be. His lyrics might not be as rebellious, or metaphysical, but Paul McCartney is a world treasure, and any time he says anything... everybody should shut up and listen.
from 2005; and below, Al Green Gets Next to You with his amazing 1971 album. 
. If I were to try to remake that entire scene, to quote Led Zeppelin, only "the song remains the same." None of those things are anything like they were back then, except the song. 
and The Black Crowes
, I am in a constant state of regret that I didn't bring my teenage behind to see them at Radio City Music Hall
. 
's Ex Husband Royston Langdon, lays down one of my favorite bass grooves of the pre-lennium. Good luck with the Lyrics though. Anyway here is one of top cult favorite bands, Spacehog, with their biggest hit "In The Meantime."
, Amy
, Janis
, Dolly
, Nina
and Yoko
, have all had a large impact on my life, as well as many others, by helping to liberate women from any form of musical subjugation they may have endured. As a small token of my appreciation, today (01/10/10) EDAS is exclusively made up of the fairer sex.
, which I HIGHLY recommend) which helped Blige's Whats the 411
sell millions of copies. It also put a little known rapper, newly named The Notorious B.I.G. and his scrappy producer, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs on the map. Within a year, Biggie released his eternal masterpiece Ready to Die
and took his place atop the throne as the King of Rap forever. Not to be outdone, Mary Jane Blige continued her success, blossoming into what Diddy dubbed, "The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul." She has won 9 grammy's and sold over 65 million records worldwide. Even though she now spends more of her time as a producer and Actor, you can still hear that great voice that was bestowed on this little girl born in the Bronx. This one, as they all do, goes out to Big. 
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