Friday Music

First things first. With the discussion of “Mahna Mahna” that occurred on several friends’ journals yesterday, I had to track this down: It’s a mash-up of Cake’s version of “Mahna Mahna” with Kanye West’s “Golddigger.” It’s goofy, it’s silly….and it oddly works. DJ Lenlow – “Kanye Mahna”

Now, we move on to a couple of songs which make me think of Summer….now that we’re in June (4 days from my birthday, in fact), it’s Summer to me (despite the fact that it’s still Spring until the 21st). The first song is a brilliant piece by Norman Cook (AKA Fatboy Slim). He took a snippet of Jim Morrison vocals (from Morrison’s “American Prayer” solo poem recordings) and worked it into a phenominal electronic track. It starts slow and builds…and once the tempo kicks in, I was hooked. Fatboy Slim – “Sunset (Bird of Prey)”

The second summer-track is my favorite song from the Rolling Stones. Featuring what I consider to be Keith Richards’ best guitar work, and a stand-out performance by back-up singer Merry Clayton (who was a Gospel-trained singer who had once been one of Ray Charles’ Raylettes), which manages to eclipse Jagger’s main vocals. Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter.”

While we’re on the “classic rock” stuff, I’ll post this, which is my favorite song from Harry “I can’t live, if livin’ is without you” Nilsson. Most of you probably know this song from its appearance in Martin Scorcese’s Goodfellas, where it formed part of the “Henry tweaking hard on Coke” montage. (That’s where I first discovered it, in fact) Nilsson – “Jump Into The Fire”

I discovered this recording this week, and of course, with the week I had, it turns out that this is from a group that has since broken up. Naturally. I love this, though. It’s part of a Peel Session from the BBC, so this was recorded live in the studio. Field Mice – “Annoint.” I’ll need to track down some other stuff. At least with the band now defunct, there’s a set limit of what’s available. :)

A few weeks ago, I posted a track from the forthcoming album by Midlake — a song called “Young Bride”, which quite a few people liked, based on comments and emails. Here’s another track from the same album, and it’s just as beautiful. I need to get this album. Midlake – “We Gathered In Spring.”

A really cool, jazzy downtempo electronica track by Skopic, who apparently is somebody like me, who just produces stuff out of his house. This is very nifty. Skopic – “Allow.”

Lastly, for fans of the non-English stuff, I have another francophonic delight for you, from the French group, Prototypes. Punky, electronic-tinged pop, in French. I like it. Prototypes – “Je Ne Te Connais Pas.”

There you go…another 8 tracks for you to enjoy. More next week.