Albert King stood 6 foot 4 feet tall and weighed at least 260 pounds. He was born Albert Nelson in 1923 on a Mississippi cotton plantation and would later change his surname to King, forming an informal triumvirate of “Blues Kings” with B.B. and Freddie. As a child King sang gospel in church and made his first guitar out of a discarded cigar box.

Also known as “The Velvet Bulldozer” Albert King was one of the most influential blues guitarists of all time whose distinctive style was emulated by both Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. King’s genius on the guitar is made even more impressive by the fact that he played his guitar backwards–that is to say that he played a right handed guitar left handed. Many left handed guitarist are known to do this, however they usually will switch the strings around so the low E remains at the top. King kept his guitar stringed for a right handed player. Here’s allmusic.com’s take on how that affected his sound.

Allmusic.com:

Albert King plays guitar left-handed, without re-stringing the guitar from the right-handed setup; this “upside-down” playing accounts for his difference in tone, since he pulls down on the same strings that most players push up on when bending the blues notes. King’s massive tone and totally unique way of squeezing bends out of a guitar string has had a major impact. Many young white guitarists — especially rock & rollers — have been influenced by King’s playing, and many players who emulate his style may never have heard of Albert King, let alone heard his music. His style is immediately distinguishable from all other blues guitarists, and he’s one of the most important blues guitarists to ever pick up the electric guitar.

Oh, Pretty Woman is a song off of King’s Born Under A Bad Sign. Most of the songs were initially recorded and released as singles but then compiled by Stax in 1967 into what has been described as one of the greatest electric blues albums ever made. The backup band behind King is Booker T. & The MGs - little wonder the result is a soulful southern funk sound that provides a perfect canvas for King’s single string leads.

How a Electonica artist transforms himself into a bona-fide soul singer is one of the many things I don’t understand. But there is one thing that I know…Jamie Lidell has done it. Rope of Sand is off Lidell’s latest release Jim and is admittedly not really a soul sounding song at all, however it does show how many types of moods Lidell is capable of creating and exists as a haunting and hypnotic finale to an album that is primarily soulful and upbeat.

Jamie Lidell will be performing at the Opera House on June 5th. Tickets are currently on sale and quite affordable at $17.50. Word on the street is that he is touring with a live band that includes a horn section. Watch OUT!!!

I dedicate this posting to SNAX! SNAX! SNAX!

Green Grass - Tom Waits By Harlyn Weijs

There are many reasons to put a song on repeat.

I am a repeat Queen and I am dating the repeat King and so a lot of songs get played over and over again.

There is no better way to torture oneself than to listen to a Tom Waits song on repeat.

Though I would be damn careful to limit your exposure to his stuff. I consider myself seasoned in the art of the melancholic music session. I have a very high tolerance but maaaaaaann some people don’t know when to quit!

Tom Waits is the Barry White of Folk Soul. Vocal chords like bass strings delivering to us in his smoky gruff, the penetrating weight of his words.

And so tonight before sleep, I invite you to put this song on repeat and in your dreams pat off the dust from that horse by the saloon, swing your arms around his neck and let him take you on a long, slow, gloomy ride into morning…

“Come closer don’t be shy

Stand beneath the rainy sky

The moon is over the rise

Think of me as a train goes by…”

The Ramones have been called one of the greatest bands of ALL TIME. In fact, Spin Magazine put them at number two on their all-time list behind only The Beatles.

Judy Is a Punk is a song off The Ramones 1976 self-titled debut album.

Now lets do some trivia!

Two of The Ramones albums were co-produced by Tony Bongiovi who is the second cousin of what American rock star?

I’m not sure who this song is by. All I know is that its produced by 9th Wonder and one of the emcees really sucks. He sounds awkward the whole time and busts out lines like “You best fear, cause we don’t have nothing to lose, so just like security you better ‘move move move”. What the??

Theres nothing deep about this track at all. Its bubblegum rap, but it makes me bounce and gets stuck in my head.

Changing Opinion - Music: Philip Glass / Lyrics: Paul Simon / Vocals: Bernard Fowler Songs From Liquid Days [1986] By Adam Collier

Back when I was in high school when it got warm out, I would stay up all night writing things in chalk on my street. Sometimes I drew pictures, like from Calvin and Hobbes but mostly it was words. When cars drove too fast over the chalk, it would smear or rise like steam, but if they were going slow, the chalk would crush into the blacktop. One of the first things I copied down were the lyrics to this song. I only found out later its words were by Paul Simon; it was originally the minimalist music by Philip Glass that drew me to this song. Minimalism stresses small changes over big ones, and Simon’s lyrics, well, they build to a fairly profound thought…

Maybe it’s the hum Of changing opinion Or a foreign language In prayer Maybe it’s the mantra Of the walls and wiring Deep breathing In soft air

…but gets there gradually. (I like that). The marriage of polyrhythms–the sequence of changes of note emphasis in the chords we hear on the piano and flute–and Simon’s subtle lyrics, is a good one. I’m in no position to critique the singing. What I can tell you though, is that playing the piano that quickly, making slow variations is technically challenging. When I wrote this out on the street I had also hoped that this girl I had a crush on, who lived just a few houses down the street, would see it and we would have something to talk about. But when I asked her about the lyrics on the street, she said she hadn’t noticed them.

I hope this letter finds you well. I have an urgent matter I need to discuss with you. I am fully aware that you’re a neo-soul artist who followed in D’Angelo’s vootshteps (props to Young Frankenstein right?) but you don’t have to make us wait a lifetime between albums too, do you? Listen Bilal, you are a virtuoso, nobody disputes that, at least no one who counts and you’ve got a fantastic unreleased album circulating around the internet. This unreleased album is even further proof that that you are a completely unique and beautiful weirdo, kind of like me, except you sing for a living. I understand that you probably have some sort of distribution issues or label issues or maybe you’re a perfectionist, and I know you’re pissed that your album leaked, but lemons to lemonade, right? The longer the album sits on the shelf after getting leaked the less likely that it will ever get released at all, and that would be a big time shame. Take advantage of the buzz created by the leak. Release the album any way you can, generate more buzz and then bask in the glory of all the major distribution offers that come down the metaphorical pipe. In this age of unconventional music distribution and promotion there’s always a way to get a finished product to the masses. I’m no marketing expert, but neither are you-you’re and artist-so focus on that and let the music speak for itself.

Let me conclude with Make Me Over a song from your leaked album.

Sincerely,

The Sentiments of Many

Allmusic.com, which is a website I actually hold in very high regard, say that the reggae album “Mellow Dubmarine: Tribute to the Beatles” is a worthless piece of garbage–”misguided” and “laughable” are the terms they actually use. Perhaps they were snoozing when this cover by John Holt was on. I love the idea that I found the beauty where others did not. Kanye spotted it too.

Hazy Jane I - Nick Drake By Tony Bitzionis

Again with the Nick Drake. What can I say? I love the Drake!

In my previous post, the one where Dave made me out to be a pirate for whatever reason[1], we raised an interesting discussion about Drake’s ability to write stirring, soft, simple, ‘dreamy soundscapes’. It’s true; the man had the rare ability to write songs whose sounds surround you, like some kind of surrounding sound thing surrounding you, not unlike the sound of dinosaurs in the forest, coming for you and you know it. I should point out that my only resolution this year is to mention dinosaurs a lot more.

Onward! Hazy Jane I is a gorgeous song that I hold close to my heart [There is a Hazy Jane II, much different and maybe better (in my opinion) than this one, but I’ll be posting that one later].

Everybody knows the feeling of having a song you love made even more special when you associate it with a certain person, event, or place. I first really noticed this song a couple of summers ago when I was in Greece. My cousin, friends, and myself would take a bus every morning from my dad’s village to the beach; about an hour each way. I was listening to this song one day, my mates asleep in the back, and me staring out the bus window, stunned as usual by the rolling hills and mountains. The music fit in perfectly with the early morning sunlight cutting its way through the clouds and into the eyes of the old wrinkled farmers already putting in their fifth or sixth hour of work that day. Then I noticed the lyrics:

“Do you feel like a remnant Of Something that’s past? Do you find things are moving Just a little too fast?”

Now I know this is a song about a girl or maybe drugs, but I just appreciated the way it all fit into that particular moment, which I can’t help but think of every time I hear this song.

In 1999 Pharoahe Monch released his solo debut album, Internal Affairs, on the now defunct Rawkus record label. The album peaked at #41 on the Billboard Top 200 and #6 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Charts–quite impressive considering that Monch’s previous album while a member of Organized Konfusion peaked at 141 on the Top 200. Internal Affairs was at once both a commercial and critical success, producing club hits such as Simon Says and The Light while at the same time solidifying Monch’s reputation as one of hip hop’s most talented emcees.

Hidden at the end of Internal Affairs is what I consider to be one of the albums forgotten gems, a brilliant collaboration with fellow ‘conscious rappers’ Common and Talib Kwali entitled The Truth. Monch is an absolute technical wizard on Internal Affairs, constantly exhibiting his enormous skill and dexterity–and out of the dust of Monch’s lyrical whirlwind rises The Truth. A harp slowly fades in, and the string-laced production rises effortlessly only to float by in an instant. A track that is in its message unlike any I have ever heard, The Truth is not only about the beauty of truth, but also the difficulty we all have facing it.

Despite Monch’s brilliant work on Internal Affairs it is Common, an emcee know for his insight and thoughtful lyricism who is the highlight of The Truth, delivering what I believe to be one of the most profound verses of his career:

See it everywhere, gotta recognize it Let the truth be told from young souls that become old From days spent in the jungle, where must one go To find it, time is real, we can’t rewind it Out of everybody I met, who told the truth? Time did We find kids speakin cuz it’s naturally in us But the false prophets by tellin us we born sinners Venders of hate, got me battlin my own mind state At a divine rate, I ain’t in this just to rhyme great See the truth in the thighs of a stripper, the eyes of my nigga If it’s only one, then why should it differ So constantly I seek it Wonderin why I gotta drink a six pack to speak it Took a picture of the truth and tried to develop it Had proof, it was only recognized by the intelligent Took the negative and positive, cuz niggas got to live Said I got to get more than I’m given Cuz truth’ll never be heard in religion After searchin the world, on the inside what was hidden It was the truth

Bad - U2 By Andrew Hawks Bryce

Everybody knows U2, one of the biggest bands currently recording. You’ve got the politically active humanitarian, Bono and the crazy wicked guitarist, The Edge. Then there’s those two other guys. In 1985 at Live Aid (if you don’t know about Live Aid check this out, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Aid, absolutely crazy event) U2 took the stage as one of the lesser acts. Queen were the headliners and apparently stole the show with their rendition of Radio Ga Ga. Each act was given exactly 18 minutes to perform, no soundcheck, nothing. U2 came out and did Sunday, Bloody Sunday and then followed it up with a 12 minute rendition of Bad. The song was released along with the well known Pride (In the Name of Love) on the album The Unforgettable Fire. This album is noteworthy in terms of U2’s development. It was the first time they worked with the producers Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, who they also collaborated with on Joshua Tree, a monster of an album.

I saw Pearl Jam in September 2005 and U2 were in the audience having just played a show at the ACC. The PJ show was full of short U2 musical references, and Eddie sang snippets of U2 lyrics during some of the jam sessions. For the encore Bono came on stage and joined Pearl Jam for a rendition of Neil’s Rockin in the Free World, it was magical. Nonetheless, introducing a PJ song called Habit Eddie played the opening lick to Bad to loud cheers from the crowd. He stopped and said, “that’s one of the best songs ever written about addiction, but this is the one we wrote, it’s called Habit.” Stories aside, I can’t believe I didn’t know this U2 song, I’ve been a fan for years, and it’s not like U2 has lots of hard to find, rarely heard material. If this is nothing new to you and know what’s coming, my apologies, but if you don’t know it, save the drama for ya mama and prepare to be stunned. I also highly recommend checking this out if you’re into the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPyhYczii8I&mode=related&search=. Au Revoir.

Joell is a musicmanicforsure. His tastes are wide, varried, diverse, and further synonyms for wide. He loves his music like I loves my Club Soda with Lime, and you know I loves me some Club Soda with Lime.

Joell doesn’t do sleeves, or cops, but he does do Songstory submissions. However this might be the only time–something tells me he doesn’t have the patience for these kinds of things.

4% Pantomime - The Band By: Joell Spiros Ikonomou

This is my first posting and probably my last. I really don’t have the patience for these kinds of things. I figured since this would probably be my only chance to spread some of my musical tastes I might as well share a couple of my favourites.

About five years ago I was having a typical vancity moment, chillin inside on another wet day toking on some chron at my crummy apartment, when my roommate brycester suggested we check out this concert video his moms had picked up for him. I figured what the hell. The Last Waltz, which was the last concert The Band ever played together. Of course they had a whole slew of friends playing with them including Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Muddy Waters, and many more well established rock stars. I instantly became a fan of The Band. Actually I remember the exact momment when I thought to myself this band is tight. Ophelia. The horns just about gave me an orgasm. Anyway, at one point this awkward bald man wearing a tight velvet suit came out and gave a performance that left a huge imprint on my CD wallet. Not to mention my desire to learn karate. Of course i knew a few of his classics, but it took both Brycester and I a few minutes to realize who this man was. Actually I don’t think we realized it until he leaves the stage and Robbie Robertson turns to the audience and simply says “Van the Man”. I’d have to say that since that performance my favourtie artist has been Van Morrison. No doubt about it, and thats for sure. And although it didnt happen quite as instantaniously, as much as i dont want to admit it, The Band replaced Boyz II Men as my favourite band.

Richard Manuel and Van the Man became instant friends when the latter joined the Woodstock party following the release of Moondance. The two apparently enjoyed the bottle and interestingly enough this is a song about two musicians who are stranded in L.A. with nothing but a bottle of Johnny Walker Red. The song is by no means a classic, but the two feed off each other really well and the vocals are great. I hope you all enjoy.

Inside & Out - Feist By Harlene Weijs

It has been many, many, many moons since a song has managed to pull at the heartstrings in the way this one has.

I discovered the original “inside & out” in it’s disco form on Feist’s first album and it caught me then as a catchy number with pretty clever lyrics and besides, I love disco. Many months later this live acoustic version discovered me and not only am I caught, I am tangled.

In my books there is nothing that can beat the archetypal brave and lonesome singer/songwriter on stage with their instrument. When they are good they can shake the melancholy loose in even the most unsentimental of people. When they are great, their voices and their style haunt you forever.

Feist’s sweet longing in her simple and pure lyrics lay bare those raw love moments of awe, fear, struggle, vulnerability, doubt, power, relentlessness and truth.

“You figure it’s the love that keeps you warm let this moment be forever we won’t ever feel the storm.”

Inside & Out is not only a ballad of the resilience of the heart, it is a tribute to the passionate intensity of love’s sickness. It is about the naivety, or shall I say invincibility we wear like armor when we charge into love. It’s for those happily in love, trapped by love, longing to love, longing to be loved, and for the ambiguity within it all.

Whether we are enmeshed in a relationship or cocooned in the idea of one it is the very preciousness of this affection for another that keeps us fearing the question she askes in this song: “what are we gonna do if we loose that fire?”

Arrrrr, its time for the Blue Beard to update his evil blog. I’m a pirate mateys! Yes, my first mate Tony B., or the ‘Plank Pusher’ as we pirate folk like to call him, loves nothing more than to dance a jig while listening to the music streamed off his favourite pirate blog, Songstory. Arrrr, being a pirate is tough job, but things on our ship have started to improve since we got wireless internet installed. Plank Pusher has been taking a break from…. feeding the sharks, HAR, HAR, HAR, HAR, HAR, HA COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH….cough. Sorry…has taken a break from feeding the sharks, to write his very own evil pirate submission. Arrrrr, now read Tony’s posting and listen to the song as us pirates disappear into the murky mist of a haunted moonlit sky, arrrr.

Northern Sky - Nick Drake By Tony Bitzionis

Nick Drake is great. Great great great. But Nick Drake is dead. Dead dead dead. I once asked a guy at a used record store on the Danforth if he had any Nick Drake records and he got mad at me and said “What the hell! When this guy was alive you all didn’t give a shit about him, and now that he’s dead you’re all asking me for his record! No I don’t have it!”. See the thing is, Nick Drake died in the 70’s, so I would have to be around 45 to have not given any of my shit about him.

Anyhow, Adam introduced me to Nick Drake about 5 years ago with his album ‘Pink Moon’. Most of you might recognize the title track to that album because it was in some car commercial. No Seany, it wasn’t the Suzuki Areo, so stop singing. I loved his style right away, though I admit that ‘Pink Moon’ is too quiet to enjoy all the time. I like a lot of Drake’s other stuff, the stuff with horns and the like, but his melancholy songs do it for me too.

Northern Sky is one of these quiet love songs, beautifully soft but with an uplifting piano, and no choly melons to speak of. Man, I really love the piano in this song. Garret, is this good piano? I only ask you cause I know you grew up with, like, 40 pianos in your house. Also, this song is featured in Joell’s favourite movie of all time people…… Serendipity. Yeah yeah yeah, and I love Clueless–there Joey, I saved you a post.

Enjoy the song, but try not to cry if you haven’t found you’re true love.

Tony aka The Plank Pusher

Garret Keown aka ”Garret” has submitted a Songstory entry all the way from KOREA where Garret is currently living with Garret’s wonderful girlfriend Harlene and teaching English. Check out Garret’s entry below the pics.

Damn Girl - Justin Timberlake By Garret Keown

Damn Girl,

I remember the time when Timberlake dropped his first solo album and Ben Young called me from a payphone in the middle of Gerrard Square.

“Garret, there‘s something I gotta tell you.“ “Yeah, what is it? You know you can tell me anything, right?“ “Okay, but you can‘t tell anybody.“ “Okay, Ben, what the hell is it?” “I like the Justin Timberlake album.“

At that time, I hadn‘t heard it, so I fell to the floor laughing and banged my forehead off the counter top on the way down. I still have the scar. Ben‘s masculine persona suddenly (sheded????) itself for a tighter t-shirt wearing, dance floor obsessed ”preno” and I thought I was seeing a new side of him. I did, however, know that the Neptunes had their fingerprints all over this Michael Jackson-esque project, which transformed little Justin into a credible pop star (in my opinion any ways). Do I like Justin Timberlake? The answer is sometimes. It‘s every grown man‘s guilty pleasure. I haven‘t really heard the new album, but this track, Damn Girl instantly made me say damn! Why the fuck does he have to make tracks that I like? But, the fact is, I like this song, a lot. It‘s produced by the sometimes incredibly talented WiLL.I.AM of BEP. There are definitely some similarities between this song and Amerie‘s 1Thing, but the funky drumming and organ riff bite is fine with me. I am not sure if Justin would be as well received as he has been if he wasn’t working with such creative producers, but having said that, I think this is a fine effort and a quality pop song.

Way to go Timberlake!

This track is short but sweet.  When I listen to it I want to go to a cool, busy, outdoor market and strut-dance around.  Ideally the strut-dancing would manage to incorporate a lot of solid high fives with strangers along the way.  I could also picture this being the soundtrack to a video of a cute little mouse’s adventures looking for cheese.  Or maybe a combination of the two.  The theme song for me when I eat cheese and dance–which happens pretty often.  But I’m lactose intollerant.  I dance alone.

I dedicate this song to Edward Norton.  I watched American History X the other night.  That movie is HILARIOUS! 

Tony “The Adonis Strangler” Bitzionis gives us a submission about legendary Country music artist Hank Williams.  A man who died in the back of Cadillac on the way to a show at the age of 29.  Unlike Ja Rule, Williams’ music actually did reflect his real life.  Take it away Tony.

You Win Again - Hank Williams Sr. By Tony Bitzionis

“The news is out All over town That you’ve been seen Out runnin’ round I know that I Should leave but then I just can’t go You win again.”   Ah, it’s just not the same without Hanks cuuurvy voice.  If this man doesn’t make you want to cry, then I’ll deal with you later.  I’ve gotta admit, I don’t know much about Hank Williams Sr. at all, but I love the way he sings his songs.  Another thing I love is the era in songwriting this guy is from.  They used to write some hilariously straightforward songs, like perhaps his most famous number “There’s a Tear In My Beer”. Lovely song.   You Win Again is a classic, and a lot of covers have been done, but Hank’s voice is so perfectly smooth, that you either have to do it your own way, or you’re going to end up sounding foolish trying to imitate him.  I’m no country expert, but a lot of country singers today sound like asses.  Shania Twain, give me a break she’s from Timmins, and I’m pretty sure she’s turning into a robot.  I hate you Shania, but you’re hot…call me—I don’t have a cellphone and my dad doesn’t speak much English, so call Dave’s cell and he’ll call me and then I‘ll get in touch with you. 416-554-7845 

  Tony

This chick is fucking crazy, but in a good way–I mean, I’m kind of in love with her and after only 2 days of exposure.  The first single off her latest album “Back to Black” is called Rehab.  Not only is it a rediculous song on a variety of levels, its also the exact kind of song I wanted to post on Songstory precisely because there is an interesting story behind it.  Winehouse released her first album Frank in 2003 at the age of 20 and it went PLATINUM!  During this time she appeared on several tv shows drunk off her ass.  I’ve seen one clip that is particularily amusing where Winehouse is doing a duet of Beat It with this British Late Nite talk show host named Charlotte Church.  Winehouse is obviously drunk–she yells her lines more than sings them.  You can tell Church is distracted by the young drunk girl staggering next to her and is struggling to stay composed.  Here’s the link  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vfdl7-E80Q.  So after several of these drunken tv appearences Winehouse’s management company confronted her and told her she had to go into rehab.  She told them to fuck off and found new management.  Then she wrote Rehab.  I love this girl.  She totally reminds me of Babe-raham Lincoln.  

The video is also awesome.  I love the guy in the blue bathrobe and want to learn his various handclap dance moves.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKVbgkfFygY&eurl=

End of the Line - The Traveling Wilburys By Tony Bitzionis

I’m trying really hard to not do any Dylan songs until I’ve sufficiently proven that I do listen to other music.  This one doesn’t count though, cause he doesn’t actually have a verse in the song, so Garret, Joell, and DaveNam, fuck off this isn’t a Dylan song.

Quickly, and for those of you who don’t know, The Travelling Willbury’s were a family of musicians.  The members were: Clayton Wilbury (Jeff Lynne– from Electric Light Orchestra), Muddy Wilbury (Tom Petty), Lefty Wilbury (Roy Orbison), Spike Wilbury (George Harrison), and Boo Wilbury (Bob Dylan).  They released 2 albums in the 80’s, The Travelling Wilbury’s: Volume 1, and The Travelling Wilbury’s: Volume 3.  There is no Volume 2.

End of the Line is probably their most recognizable song, even made a music video for it.  The odd thing about this song is that though it’s such an up-beat, feel-good song, the music video is kind of somber (sombrero!).  That’s because Roy Orbison (‘Pretty Woman, La Da Doo Dee Doo’) died of a heart attack just after Volume 1 was recorded, and he’s not in the video (which shows the band members performing the song on a train).  When Roy’s verse comes up, the lights dim and we see his picture on a rocking chair with the rest of the Wilbury’s looking on. Also, I stole Roy Orbison’s sunglasses.   I think it’s impossible to not love this song, so if you don’t love it, go to hell.   Tony

I declare Sample Week a failure. 

Let us segue quietly on to other things and never mention it again. 

Today’s song is off Busta Rhymes’ 2000 album “Anarchy”.  Appropriately Busta, who can be seen below asking his hands why oh why they insist on tearing holes in all of his best shirts, put exclamation marks in the name of almost every track on the album.  This song is an exception–it’s called Show Me What You Got.  Listen to how many times he rhymes ORE.  Luckily for Busta everything rhymes with exclamation marks!!  This track was produced by James Yancy, Jay Dee, Dilla Dawg, J Dilla.  It’s never enough.