Today's Do-You-Know-This-Band-That-I-Know?
Artificial Joy Club.
Simon: Captain's a good fighter, he must know how to handle a sword. Zoe: I think he knows which end to hold.
'Shindig'
Buffista Music II: Wrath of Chaka Khan
There's a lady plays her fav'rite records/On the jukebox ev'ry day/All day long she plays the same old songs/And she believes the things that they say/She sings along with all the saddest songs/And she believes the stories are real/She lets the music dictate the way that she feels.
Polter-Cow - Jun 11, 2004 7:35:46 am PDT #3071 of 10003
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
DavidS - Jun 11, 2004 8:07:49 am PDT #3072 of 10003
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
I disagree. (I know Hec is just stunned by that...)
Naw, I know I'm taking the heretical stance. I just never go to Ray for down and out stuff, except maybe "Hard Times."
If you want Hank Williams or George Jones-level desolation Ray comes up a little short, but those guys are the gold-standard for bottoming out songs and they had the "advantage" of being incredibly fucked up people.
I'd agree with you there. I do think Ray's relative mental health keeps him from getting all the way to the severely cracked bottom.
Anyway... back to RC. Listen to "Just for a Thrill" or the live versions of "Drown in My Own Tears" and "A Fool for You" and its gutwrenching penultimate scream and tell me he can't sound desolate. "Crying Time" is great, but it's a Buck Owens song and Buck is a fundamentally happy guy so I don't think it's the best place to look for torn up Ray.
I did mean the whole Crying Time album and not just the Buck song, but I'll take your recs to heart. This is really more a matter of personal taste than me charting any deficiency in Mr. Charles blues balladeering. Personally though, I'm still more likely to listen to Bobby Bland or Sam Cooke's Night Beat or Charles Brown if I'm in the mood for a man alone with the blues. With Ray I'm more likely to listen to something like "Greenbacks."
Jon B. - Jun 11, 2004 9:03:34 am PDT #3073 of 10003
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!
Ha! I played "Greenbacks" this AM!
joe boucher - Jun 11, 2004 9:20:27 am PDT #3074 of 10003
I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve. - John Prine
Ha! I played "Greenbacks" this AM!
If Lincoln don't get it, Jackson surely will!
Jen - Jun 11, 2004 10:27:04 am PDT #3075 of 10003
love's a dream you enter though I shake and shake and shake you
"Hey Judas" by Carmaig De Forest
Damn.
WBUR (the Boston NPR affiliate) is replaying a 1998 Fresh Air interview with Ray Charles right now. Streaming audio is available, natch.
Jon B. - Jun 11, 2004 11:06:54 am PDT #3076 of 10003
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!
Do you know that song, Jen? Or did you just read the lyrics?
Jen - Jun 11, 2004 11:08:45 am PDT #3077 of 10003
love's a dream you enter though I shake and shake and shake you
I just read the (brilliant) lyrics.
Hayden - Jun 11, 2004 11:45:28 am PDT #3078 of 10003
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."
And "That Lucky Old Sun" is pretty much perfect, even with the JAck Halloran singers.
I was about to say the same thing. Makes me well up just about every time.
Jen - Jun 11, 2004 11:48:41 am PDT #3079 of 10003
love's a dream you enter though I shake and shake and shake you
hayden, thanks for all the alt-country recommendations you gave me a while back. I've been slowly working my way through them; most recent purchase was the Mekons' "Fear and Whiskey," which is really wonderful. I love Neko Case, too.
Hayden - Jun 11, 2004 11:50:53 am PDT #3080 of 10003
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."
My pleasure! Especially if you're enjoying them.