Get In the Car, Loser

June 21st
4:00 PM EST

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Music Talk: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

Album: “Green Onions” by Booker T. And The M.G.s (1962)

Bit of Background: 1001 Albums states that in 1962, Booker T. and the M.G.s “were the most soulful bar band in the whole world.” The album’s title is also the title of its most highly recognized song, which was supposedly recorded on a whim while the band was waiting to start a recording session.

Favorites:

01. Green Onions

02. Rinky Dink

06. Twist & Shout

Must you hear it before you die? Not necessarily, but it is a pretty cool sounding album. The best part about it is that you can hear bits and pieces of the title track in every song. It creates a nice consistency that pulls the whole album together. “Green Onions” (the song) has been featured in an endless amount of television shows, movies, and commercials so unless you’ve never been exposed to any form of mass media before, you’ve heard the first track to this album at least once in your life. Also, it’s nothing like Bossa Nova, but some of the songs might sort of make you want to dance like this:

1:01 PM EST

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Music Talk: OFD Pick

Song: “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell (1969)

This week Old Fart Dad wouldn’t stop talking about Joni Mitchell. He tried to go so far as to tell me that her lyrics are better than Bob Dylan’s. Better than Bob Dylan’s. I was like, “OFD, please! Don’t even go there. Do you know me? If you want to convince anyone of that, it’s most certainly never going to be me.” Plus, apparently this girlie called out my man Bob back in 2010, saying he is a fake. So, I have to hate her a little for that.

She is good though. Girl can sing. And though I’ll never concede to the fact that her lyrics are better than Dylan’s (psh!), I will say this: Uh, yeah, they’re good. She knows folk. She tells a darn good story through song, and I really like this one because she wrote it while she was on a plane. She said she had been reading a book by Saul Bellow, in which the first few pages describe the author’s experience of looking out at clouds through an airplane window. Joni put down the book, looked at the clouds outside of her plane window and then wrote the song. Hell yeah to clouds as inspiration.

10:00 AM EST

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Music Talk: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

Album: “Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music” by Ray Charles (1962)

Bit of Background: Recorded in 1962, this album was groundbreaking on several levels, but mostly so because Charles had tackled the challenge of recording songs by white artists like Hank Williams and Don Gibson. However, he did it well and the album has continued to live on as one of the best R&B, soul albums ever recorded.

Favorites:

01. Bye Bye Love

02. You Don’t Know me

12. Hey, Good Lookin’

Must you hear it before you die? If you’re a fan of blues and jazz, then yes. This type of album isn’t going to be for everyone, but I would say that everyone should hear at least one or two Ray Charles songs in their lifetime. His voice will get you. So, even if you’re not a blues-y, jazzy person, if not for anything else, listen to it for the vocals. Most of the songs were written with sorrow and Charles beautifully conveys that in his voice on this one.

June 14th
8:12 PM EST

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Music Talk Tuesday: OFD Pick

Old Fart Dad’s music recommendation for this week is Grateful Dead’s “China Doll” off of their album From the Mars Hotel. He likes it because of its “haunting melody.” He said he was never a Dead Head but that when he lived in Vermont after college he would come home and crank up this song on his stereo. Isn’t it weird when you realize your parents existed and had a life before you were born? Yes. Anyway, enjoy the song. It’s a good one for sure.

3:00 PM EST

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Music Talk Tuesday: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

Album: Muddy Waters At Newport by Muddy Waters

A Bit of Background: This album is a recording of Muddy Waters’ live performance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1960. In making the decision to record the performance, his record label was taking a huge chance. It was his first introduction to a white, mainstream audience and the first time that the label would market him as an “album-based performer.” Luckily it was received quite well and is marked down in history as having introduced some of rock and roll’s most beloved musicians, like Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, to the authentic blues that represent American’s urban sound.

My favorites:

04. Soon Forgotten

06. I Feel So Good

07. I’ve Got My Mojo Workin’

Must you hear it before you die: If you care anything about popular rock music (or even just music in general) and its evolution over time, then yes. Absolutely. This is raw, authentic blues at it’s best. It might not be the type of album that you’ll want to listen to over and over again, but I say give it a listen at least once.

June 7th
8:09 PM EST

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Music Talk Tuesday: Old Fart Dad Picks

OFD Picks will be a part of the Music Talk Tuesday series where my Dad will tell you what to listen to. You’re welcome.

Earlier this week Old Fart Dad heard “Two Against One” by Danger Mouse and Daniel Luppi. The track is off of their album Rome and it features Jack White and Norah Jones. Old Fart Dad said to me, “I want you to check out this song that I heard on the radio. Oh man. I can’t remember the name of it but it’s by… Jack White, I think his name was. Have you heard of him?”

Hmmm, I might have heard of him. I think he might have worked on a couple of small music projects over the past few years. I’d just have to check up on that though…

Joking! Joking! O.K. so maybe Old Fart Dad is not completely up to date on the past 15 or so years of relatively popular music, but that’s why this will be fun! And at least now he knows who Jack White is. Anyway, he nailed it with this one, so just press play already.

11:04 AM EST

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Music Talk Tuesday

I’m cracking open the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die book that I started exploring on The Most Music and bringing it on over this way, since my plan is to turn this blog into a one stop shop for all of my creative projects. (AKA: The Most Music and all that it is will still exist in spirit, just in the form of Music Talk Tuesdays here!)

I’m starting in the 1960’s! This Tuesday, the album that you must hear before you die is Joan Baez’s self-titled debut album.

Bit of Background: The album was released in 1960 and according to 1001 Albums “it is still one of the highest selling solo female folk albums of all time.” Since, Baez has released 17 albums and in the history books she has been crowned as “Queen of Folk Music” alongside the “King,” Bob Dylan.

I loved:

01. Silver Dagger

04. All My Trials

10. Mary Hamilton

Must you hear it before you die?: I’m partial to folk music, so this could be a tiny bit biased, but I still say yes. It can be hyperbolic to describe someone’s voice as angelic. Yet the word is used to describe Baez’s voice time and time again and there really couldn’t be a more accurate word. So if only for that, I would say at least check out one or two tracks. What really sold it for me though, is the lyrics and the storytelling element. With each song she brings a story to life and you can feel that she means every heartfelt word she sings. So yes, before you die, hear this album!