Reckless - Australian Crawl

I might say this a lot, but I really mean it when I say that Reckless by Australian Crawl is one of my favourite songs of all time. The lyrics left me always wanting to catch the Manly Ferry to Circular Quay the next time I was in Sydney, something which is not as glamorous as this song makes it sound.

From its simple start featuring nothing but fretless bass, kick drum and a gated snare, the magic of this song is largely in the gaps between notes ; teasers, if you like, or pregnant pauses filled with anticipation. (Gosh, that's poetic for a Friday!) The bowed cello parts are complemented beautifully by a lightly plucked nylon acoustic guitar, which comes to the fore and steals the scene during the classical style solo and outro. Pure magic.

Mary Had A Little Lamb - Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

I was taught to enjoy Stevie Ray Vaughan by my musician father, who has every one of SRV's albums, copies of which have made it onto both of my iPods over the years. There is almost too much to say about Stevie Ray Vaughan, the roller coaster lifestyle he led and his massive contribution to modern blues guitar playing. Like many, I vividly remember being touched by the news that SRV had met an untimely death in 1990.

The guitarist in my former band was the ultimate SRV fan and it showed in his playing. On the tragic day of SRV's death, his wife set up his guitar in the lounge, arranged candles, flowers and all his SRV albums around it, creating a little shrine for the man. Apparently that was going a step or two too far (the emotions were pretty raw) but it's a story we've all dined out on for years. However, thanks to him and my father, I have an ongoing love of all his music today.

There's another story in our musical circles about the time that SRV played a concert in Wellington several years ago (still the loudest concert my father has ever been to). Another guitarist from our band insists he was jamming in The Rock Shop, or whatever it was called in those days, alongside an American guitarist who had wandered in. It turned out to be SRV himself. How cool is that!

Mary Had A Little Lamb, released in 1983, is not my favourite Stevie Ray Vaughan song but is incredibly memorable for me, my family and our bands. We played this version of Buddy Guy's arrangement as part of our fourth bracket for years for purely indulgent reasons; it was our excuse to play long and loud, with each of us enjoying a solo or two on a simple bed of twelve bar blues. Hearing it again today takes me right back to those late nights and good times. Once again, listen to this one loudly.

Nightswimming - R.E.M.

I went through a stage of really liking R.E.M. back in the 90s before I reached saturation point with their music a few years ago. I still occasionally enjoy spinning the odd R.E.M. album but listen to them a lot less these days. Nightswimming was released in 1993 and is so very different to the usual R.E.M. sound, which is what first caught my attention.

As a pianist, I love how this entire song is built around a single, circular piano line (and a few of its variations) played repeatedly. The string arrangement was done by the legendary John Paul Jones and Songfacts tells me that it was written and played on the same piano featured in Derek and the Dominos' Layla; that's a pretty cool.To be honest, I've barely ever listened to the lyrics or much beyond the piano part and orchestration, but I'm allowed to be biased. ;-)

Zoot Suit Riot - Cherry Poppin' Daddies

Zoot Suit Riot is a ska swing song by Cherry Poppin' Daddies. It is big band style swing music with a definite ska twist. In the late 1990s, swing music was yet to experience the renaissance of recent years and I remember noting this song as something distinctly different from other music of the day.

Zoot Suit Riot is more memorable than a particular favourite for me. Around the time it was released in 1997, my mother was in hospital. As she was in the process of waking up after her operation, she kept mumbling something about a bottle of beer. As someone who doesn't drink and had just had surgery, we thought this was a really strange thing for her to say. It wasn't until we'd got her home and she was listening to the radio that she said, "that's the song the doctors were listening to!". Hopefully she meant before theatre, and not during her surgery when she should have been well and truly anaesthetised!

Monday, Monday - The Mamas and the Papas

Like most people, I'm not a huge fan of Mondays. The plethora of songs lamenting the start of another week indicates that many songwriters also agree. That's where Monday, Monday, released by The Mamas and the Papas in 1966, is a gem. It gets the point across with such gentle perfection that the listener couldn't possibly hear the song without smiling, even if they are reminded of what day it is.

In primary school, I had an eccentric teacher who was a brilliant pianist and musician. I remember one afternoon him playing Monday, Monday repeatedly while we were working in class. He'd point out interesting things to listen to, much to the chagrin of my classmates: "... and now another harmony comes in", "oh, beautiful" and "wait for the break - ahhh!". Years later, when I fell in love with this song for myself, I realised he had a point. Several, in fact.

The harmonies are indeed superb. I've practised each harmony line individually and still find myself choosing one to sing whenever I hear the song played. It's fun to listen to in stereo; just block off a side and you get either male or female parts. Monday, Monday. Can't trust that day.

Dream Police - Cheap Trick

Dream Police is the title track from an album released in 1979 by Cheap Trick, a highly underrated American rock band. It is a very cleverly organised aural represenation of a nightmare. (That doesn't sound quite right; I know plenty of other songs that are aural nightmares, but they're not clever at all. The key word here is: organised.)

Dream Police is a feast of orchestration, integrating driving string lines with an intense rock sound. The lengthy solo sequence has a definite pattern if you listen closely before the ongoing nightmare resumes when the chorus come crashing in again. I've listened to that bridge over and over and over and was chuffed when I eventually clicked on the 2:1 phrasing. Once again, this is a song best enjoyed repeatedly and loud.

She's Not There - The Zombies

She's Not There was released by English rock band The Zombies in 1964. The tone is distinctively different to your usual 60s pop sound, even if the image of the band remains somewhat sanitised and respectably scrubbed up.

The song pumps up during each verse before abruptly stopping and letting the bass calm things down again. Listen for the lower harmony; it's what defines the tone of the song at any given point as the chords modulate between major and minor keys. Add a distinctively melodic bass line and a superbly anticipated electric piano solo (there is a complete stop before the solo begins) and you have the makings of something really different.

There are a few versions of this song floating around, some of them pretty good, but The Zombies' original composition remains my favourite.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John

A group of workmates get together at 3 o'clock every afternoon to do the Capital Day quiz from the Dompost. One of today's questions was about a #1 Beatles song released by Elton John in 1974. Easy: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. "No way!" someone said. "Yes way!" I replied. "It can't be," they retorted. "Why not?" I asked. They gave up, accepted my answer and we got it right.

This is an excellent cover version of an already excellent song. Elton John not only does it justice but his arrangement adds both strength and originality. It naturally features a dominant piano underlined by some pretty decisive drumming and flavoured with distinctive guitar riffs. The verses, chorus and bridge provide a range of dynamics and variation that beautifully exploits the original song's structure and phrasing.

Rumour has it that when John Lennon was playing on this recording, he had to ask Elton John's guitarist what some of the chords were, even though he wrote the song himself. (And you still think the song was about a girl in a little boy's painting?)

Make Yourself Comfortable - Sarah Vaughan

A few years ago, I went through a phase of exploring the great female jazz singers. This was initially kicked off by the Lady Sings the Blues compilations released around 2004 but led me to uncover some absolute gems and my CD began to grow substantially. I converged on a few favourite artists and completely fell in love with the smooth, sophisticated sound of Sarah Vaughan.

Make Yourself Comfortable was released in 1954. It's both brazen and sassy, something which Vaughan can pull off in elegant style while still leaving the listener with a raised eyebrow. This is a woman on a mission. She has planned her romantic encounter down to the last detail and is not leaving anything to chance. This was pretty bold for the time; reputable women just didn't behave like that back then! I love the dual vocal parts during the chorus - two perfectly formed harmonies which also independently stand up for themselves. Mmmmm ...

She Believes In Me - Kenny Rogers

I have always said that if you're doing to do country music, there are only two ways to do it: Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. I stand by that statement and you'll come to see why I have such respect for these two musicians as this blog evolves.

She Believes In Me was released by Kenny Rogers in 1979. It's technically not a country song and more of a pop ballad in style but, for me, almost anything associated with Kenny Rogers becomes synonymous with country music. From the gentle piano introduction to the sad, heartfelt vocals, this is a love story of the sincerest kind and that is the essence of country music. A woman supports her man night after night to achieve his dream of being a musician, even though success is constantly eluding him. I know first hand how hard it is to be in a relationship with a musician so this is truly admirable. Even when he begins to secretly doubt himself, her faith in him keeps him going. Isn't that the stuff dreams are made of?

Why is this song playing on Café Chick's Jukebox today? I was catching up on some tv this afternoon and watched Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years. I'm not usually big on tribute shows (give me the original any day, I say) but was really impressed with Tim McGraw's version of She Believes In Me. McGraw captured the sincerity of Rogers' original while adding his own stamp to it. Hear for yourself:

Rolling in the Deep - Adele

Today's song is more of an earworm than a favourite, although I am growing increasingly fond of it. I have had Rolling in the Deep by Adele on high rotate in my head this morning, probably because 21 is the current album in my car's CD player. It is a poignant breakup album with soaring emotions set to a quality soundtrack but without the anger and bitterness of Alanis Morisette's Jagged Little Pill.

Adele's sound is unique and I hope it remains that way. Even at just 21, she already shows excellent mastery of her voice as an instrument. Personally, I think Adele is still too young to have her style categorised, even though labels like soul, blues and country roots have been applied. While she credits the late Amy Winehouse with helping to make her style of vocals acceptable, she is thankfully not another Amy but is certainly an artist to watch in the next few years.

What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong has to be one of the most beautiful songs of all time and instantly brings a smile to my face. The perfection is in its simplicity along with the pure optimism of the lyrics. 1968 was a time of political unrest and a cultural revolution; this song reminds us to bring everything back to basics by celebrating the simplest things in life.

This live version captures all of the essence from Armstrong's original recording with some extra flair provided by the piano and horn section (in place of the string orchestration). It is a monumental way to cap off Armstrong's extensive musical career and a wonderful tribute to his overall contribution to music.

Little Sister - Ry Cooder

A song that always seems to have been in the background for me is Little Sister by Ry Cooder. (There is also a great, but faster, live version here.) Even though I could never quite pinpoint what it is that appealed to me about the song, I remember it vividly from my childhood radio listening days.

Fast forward to the 1980s when I was first learning to play the piano. Dad said I could learn a couple of songs to play with his band one night and his keyboard player (my piano teacher) and I worked out what was manageable for me to play. We settled on the dreadful Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves and this number by Elvis Presley:



It was a long time before I realised that these were actually versions of the same song. In fact, it was only the lyrics that made me think about it. Now I wonder how I could have possibly missed it! There have been several versions of Little Sister released over the years, but I remain most impressed with Ry Cooder's fun arrangement.

Breezin' - George Benson

My iPod selected Breezin' as background music for my lunch time walk yesterday. It was a great choice; I enjoyed it three times in a row before returning to my desk. This instrumental is from the album of the same name and released in 1976 by jazz guitarist George Benson. It is pure listening pleasure as the main theme cycles over and over, with each iteration adding a tiny variation, an embellishment or a full on guitar jam.

Breezin' was naturally one of many highlights of George Benson's concert in Wellington a few years ago, and he pretty much played it note perfect. It's hard to tell what comes first with Benson's improvisations: vocals or guitar lines. His style of singing along to the improvised solos he plays shows that a guitar is as much a natural extension of Benson himself as his voice. It was absolutely delightful to see and hear all this from our seats just six rows away from the stage. It was even better when Benson introduced Stanley Banks, the original bass player from Breezin' who had been playing with Benson since the 1970s and is still a member of his backing band today.

The Ballad of Lucy Jordan - Marianne Faithfull

At a social function the other day, a workmate commented that "at the age of 47" he had his first child. "Isn't that a song?" someone asked, half in jest. She was out by ten years but, in amongst all the blank stares, we shared a sly smile; I knew exactly what she meant.

Written by Shel Silverstein and originally recorded by Dr Hook, I love Marianne Faithfull's 1979 take on The Ballad of Lucy Jordan. This haunting song is so very different to almost any other that I like and I was hooked (pardon the pun) the very first time I heard it; it was appealing and grotesque all at the same time. Faithfull's voice broke at the most crucial parts and the unusual instrumentation leave an air of mystery about this song. I wonder how many housewives can relate to the lyrics and have dreamed similar dreams of escape for themselves?

At the age of 37, she realised she'd never ride
Through Paris in a sports car with the warm wind in her hair

What happened to Lucy Jordan? The unfinished cadence leaves open endless possibilities. Did she actually jump from that rooftop? Was her eventual ride through Paris in a sports car actually a hearse? (I know it wasn't, but the question remains). Did the stranger that helped her down and release her back to the very life she'd been trying to escape, or was she about to start another life sentence altogether?

Lucy eventually got her ride through Paris in a sports car with the warm wind in her hair, but it remained in her imagination. Tragic, haunting and ever so poignant.

War - Edwin Starr

I was watching a dreadful version of Gulliver's Travels (2010) last night and heard an equally dreadful version of a song I absolutely love. I had to banish that version from my mind with the original. Here is the result.

War is a protest song released by Edwin Starr in 1969 under the Motown label. A less intense version was originally recorded by The Temptations but, in response to public demand, was instead released as a single by Starr in order to not risk the image of Motown's most popular male vocal group.

I was first introduced to War via the first (and best) Tour of Duty soundtrack album; it opened my eyes and ears to a whole genre of music from a very specific era. The lyrics speak for themselves, but so does the instrumentation. Listen to the busy rhythm section kept in line by a repeated horn theme and punctuated by a baritone sax.

War is another song best enjoyed loud.

Summer Nights - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

Grease is my all time favourite movie (yes, I'm a female of a certain generation) and you can read about how I went along to the singalong version of the movie last night. Here is one of the many highlights from the night, right from the start of the movie and pure pop kitsch.The karaoke lyrics were colour coded pink and blue so that the audience knew which parts to sing, but everyone ended up singing every line on top of each other - awesome!

I'll get you started ...

Summer loving had me a blast

Summer loving happened so fast ...

There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart) - Eurythmics

I've been going through a bit of a pop resurgence lately. There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart) from 1985 typefies the 80s sound and presents it in an upbeat, positive package sans cheese. Eurythmics (not The Eurythmics, as they are commonly yet incorrectly called) were far better musicians than their synthesised demeanours suggest. One thing's for certain, no-one else has a voice like Annie Lennox; no-one even comes close, but that's not all there is to this duo. 

There Must Be An Angel is my favourite Eurythmics song (but a few of their other numbers are not far behind). To me, it is a complete package which builds from the instantly identifiable intro right through to when it fades out while still on such a high. Hear how the bridge into the solo builds and builds - more of a stairway to heaven than another cliched songs I could name. I have listened over and over (and over) to the chunky piano octaves leading into the superbly spine chilling harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder, who also jams an amazing outro. *drool*

Hold On Tight - ELO

Hold On Tight was a major single for the band ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) in 1981 but I don't remember being really aware of it until sometime during the 1990s. To me, this is a very different sound to any of their other material. Hold On Tight is the first ELO song that doesn't feature strings, but it's more than that; I love the throwback to rock and roll with a chunky piano part that punctuates each line. Nostalgia kicks in as I hear the guitar during the chorus; for some reason, I can envisage the guitarist from my old band leaning back with his eyes closed and strumming those long chords, even though I don't think he/we ever played this song.

This has to be one of the most uplifting songs EVER, lacking even the tiniest touch of cynicism. The lyrics have got me through some tough times; this song always seems to play at just the right time and place for me. It was several years before I looked up the lyrics for the third verse and discovered that it is the first verse repeated by in French. Très intelligent!