News for August 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Chopin: Polonaise In A Major, No. 3, Op. 40-1 “Military”” by Arthur Rubinstein
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Chopin: Polonaise In A Major, No. 3, Op. 40-1 “Military”” by Arthur Rubinstein
Not really a “Song” of the Day by Eric Berman, but rather a gorgeous piece of music.
The “Military Polonaise,” “Polonaise in A major, Op. 40, No. 1” specifically, was composed by Frédéric Chopin when he was 28 years old in 1838. It is his one of his most popular pieces because of its stoic melodicism and loud and then even louder presentation, making it one of the most dramatic classical piano pieces ever composed.
During the German invasion of Poland in 1939, this Polonaise was played on the radio daily as a national protest to inspire the Polish people.
Nobody could play Chopin and especially today’s Song Of The Day by Eric Berman better than pianist Artur Rubinstein whom NPR’s Ted Libby called “The supreme Chopin poet….His recordings of Chopin can be recommended without hesitation for their warmth, lyricism and expressive point. Never overwrought, the music emerges with spontaneity and freshness.” (http://www.npr.org/2011/07/18/ 101426302/arthur-rubinstein-the-supreme-chopin-poet)
Edited: August 28th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Light My Fire” by Bob Thiele and his New Happy Times Orchestra with Gabor Szabo
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Light My Fire” by Bob Thiele and his New Happy Times Orchestra with Gabor Szabo
It was the year of Sgt. Pepper’s and Are You Experienced. Rock was becoming jazzy…and jazz was taking on the current crop of rock greats. Hence today’s Song of the Day by Eric Berman.
Credited to Bob Thiele and his New time Happy Orchestra with Gabor Szabo on guitar, here we have one of the great lost guitar jazz albums of the 1960s.
Just look at this line up!
You’ve got Bob Thiele who was head of Impulse Records between 1961 and 1969. Producer of such artists of great renown as John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Archie Shepp, Albert Ayler, Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus and many others. Gypsy guitar great Gabor Szabo laying out the slabs of psychedelic sound on the guitar, Bill Plummer on raga sitar, plus the sturdy backing of fellow Wrecking Crew regulars Carol Kaye on bass, Mike Melvoin on keyboards and the drummer on hundreds of ‘60s rock singles, Jim Gordon.
But that’s not all. There’s also the legendary Tom Scott on saxophone very early in his career. Scott and Szabo’s interplay throughout this necessary platter is essential. And how can you beat covers of then-current hits “Light My Fire” by The Doors, The Byrds’ “Eight Miles High,” Simon & Garfunkel’s “Fakin’ It,” and Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Woman # 12×35” (with some of the corniest sixties vocals credited to The California Dreamers who soound very middle of the road and very Ray Conniff).
Capping things off is a Charles Lloyd cover “Forest Flower” and two very swinging Szabo originals, including “Sophisticated Wheels “ and “Krishna” that provide the necessary raga interplay between Szabo and the rest of the ensemble.
Edited: August 27th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “I Got You” by Split Enz
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “I Got You” by Split Enz
Like Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, Split Enz started out as a visually stunning progressive rock band that dressed up in wild costumes and performed elaborate stage shows. The original lineup of Phil Judd, Tim Finn, Mike Chunn, Robert Gillies and Noel Crombie formed in 1971.
However, it wasn’t until 1980 that the band found success outside of their native New Zealand and in the USA after Tim Finn’s brother Neil, who barely knew how to play the guitar, joined the band as their lead guitarist replacing Phil Judd. At the time, Neil started taking on second lead vocal duties and writing songs that led to the band adopting a modern new wave sound.
After becoming a big sensation in their native New Zealand and Australia, they released today’s Song Of The Day by Eric Berman on the laser-etched album True Colours, bringing the band a bona-fide international hit.
After several years of non-stop touring and no huge follow-up hit, Tim Finn left in 1983 and Paul Hester was added to the lineup on drums. The band soldiered on as Split Enz for one more year before Neil Finn and Paul Hester went on to form Crowded House.
Edited: August 26th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Cry Me A River” by Joe Cocker
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Cry Me A River” by Joe Cocker
Like most people my age, my first exposure to this Arthur Hamilton-penned track was this rocking Joe Cocker version from Mad Dogs And Englishmen. You can imagine my surprise when I later discovered that the song was originally a sultry ballad that had been a top-ten hit in 1955 for Julie London. The song was originally written for Ella Fitzgerald to sing in the 1955 film Pete Kelly’s Blues, but it was dropped from that production. Fitzgerald didn’t get around to recording it until her 1961 album “Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie!” By that time, the song became closely associated with London.
Which brings us toToday’s Song Of The Day by Eric Berman, the Mad Dogs And Englishmen version of the song. Cocker and company totally recast the song as a barroom rocker on their 1970 tour. The “Mad Dogs” band consisted of Leon Russell, Chris Stainton, Don Preston, Carl Radle, Jim Keltner, Bobby Keys, Rita Cooldige, Jim Price and many others. The group was assembled by Leon Russell after Cocker found out that instead of a few weeks off after a grueling tour, he was booked for another several months on the road and needed a band.
After a few days rehearsal, it was decided that they should film and record the tour for release. The album was recorded over four shows in two days at the Fillmore East in New York City on March 27-28th 1970. Hip-O Select released all four shows in their entirety eight years ago as a limited edition six CD set which is well worth seeking out.
Edited: August 24th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “She’s Crafty” by Beastie Boys
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “She’s Crafty” by Beastie Boys
From their not-so-humble beginnings as a truly awful Hard Core band who I had the privilege to see as an opening act at Big Audio Dynamite’s first U.S. show at a club called “The World” in New York City in 1984…to the juvenile hardy partyers who opened for Madonna on her “Virgin” tour the following year riding on an inflatable penis…to the Brooklyn Dust masters who came into their own with Paul’s Boutique in 1989 and followed with iconic Spike Jonze-directed videos in in 1994…to the elder statesmen of Hip Hop today…the Beasties managed to invent and reinvent Rap and Hip Hop in their own image many times over.
Today’s Song Of The Day by Eric Berman comes from The Beasties The Beasties (Michael Diamond/”Mike D. ,” Adam Yauch/”MCA” & Adam Horovitz/”King Ad Rock”) debut Def Jam album License To Ill which was produced by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons.
It’s a record that could not exist today because of the prohibitive cost of samples by the likes of Led Zeppelin on this tune and The Beatles’ song “The End” on which they sampled for the song “The Sounds Of Science” from this record’s follow up. Such were the early days of hip-hop.
Edited: August 21st, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Tahitian Moon” by Porno For Pyros
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Tahitian Moon” by Porno For Pyros
Prince…Jack White… Jerry Garcia…Bruce Springsteen…David Byrne…Curt Cobain…Perry Farrell…all world-class performers with charisma to burn. The type of performer you can’t take your eyes off of when on stage.
Some like Jerry Garcia didn’t have to do much but just show up and play to be the focal point of their band…but the others worked their tails off honing their stage craft and earning the well-deserved adulation they received. Now, I’m sure some of you are thinking that Perry Farrell doesn’t belong in that heady company, and my answer to you is that you never saw him front Porno For Pyros.
Out of the ashes of Jane’s Addiction rose Porno For Pyros with Stephen Perkins (also from Jane’s) on drums, plus guitarist Peter DiStefano and bass player Martyn LeNoble. For some, Jane’s Addiction were the be-all and end-all of Farrell’s music career, but I’ve always found Porno For Pyros’ two albums to be far more interesting and musically satisfying than anything from Jane’s Addiction.
Today’s Song Of The Day by Eric Berman hails from Porno’s second and final album Good God’s Urge released in 1996. By then they had established themselves with “Pets,” a bona-fide hit that was a MTV staple and a highlight of the Woodstock ’94 festival.
Of course, Farrell will always be linked with the Lollapalooza festival he founded 25 years ago which has found a home for the last decade here in Chicago where you can see him either fronting a band or spinning a DJ set most years.
Edited: August 20th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Ducks On The Wall” by The Kinks
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Ducks On The Wall” by The Kinks
Today’s Song Of The Day by Eric Berman comes from The Kinks’ 1975 concept album Soap Opera. The album’s muddled tale focuses on the star-making machinery and the perils of stardom itself with the Starmaker character changing places with the utterly normal Norman. While the story is hazy at best, the album does provide several Kink Klassics.
Like the two Preservation albums before this one, the Kinks were still in big band story-telling mode and in concert; the album was originally presented as a stage show.
The song took on even more meaning for me because the first time I met my wife’s family in upstate New York, I was blown away by the ceramic ducks they had hanging on their living room wall…
Edited: August 19th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Up The Neck” by Pretenders
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Up The Neck” by Pretenders
On the surface, today’s Song Of The Day by Eric Berman exudes pure sexuality in its imagery. Listen a little closer and the lyrics tell a much different story…”Lust turns to anger, a kiss to a slug…”
Chrissie Hynde was just amazing during this era and The Pretenders’ self-titled debut album remains a solid 5-star classic to this day. Here is the original line up of the band caught live in Paris from 1980 featuring the essential guitar work of James Honeyman-Scott.
Edited: August 18th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “I Don’t Want To Hear It Anymore” by Dusty Springfield
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “I Don’t Want To Hear It Anymore” by Dusty Springfield
This record has a complete feel to it and the production values really make this Randy Newman-penned track come alive.
Great song and all the production in the world wouldn’t matter if there wasn’t that voice…smoky…sultry…Dusty!
Matching Dusty with the talents of Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin, not to mention the Memphis mob, was genius. Today’s Song Of The Day by Eric Berman hails from one of the greatest pop albums of all time, Dusty In Memphis.
Edited: August 17th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Eye Know” by De La Soul
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Eye Know” by De La Soul
With samples from Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” and Steely Dan’s “Peg,” De La Soul unleashed this bouillabaisse of good times onto a hip-hop public in 1989 with today’s Song Of the Day by Eric Berman. The 3 Feet High And Rising album is one of two stone-cold sample-delic masterpieces that came out that year along with The Beastie Boys’ classic Paul’s Boutique, and they both sound as fresh today as they did when they were newly minted.
I was fortunate enough to see them perform shortly after the album’s release during the New Music Seminar in New York City opening for none other than George Clinton and the P-Funk All-stars. Not only was it a very late evening of music with the funksters doing their usual for then four hour set, but it was very memorable even after all these years.
If you’ve never heard the album…it is surely your loss…
Edited: August 14th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Our Day Will Come” by Ruby And The Romantics
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Our Day Will Come” by Ruby And The Romantics
The magical ingredient of today’s Song Of The Day by Eric Berman that sets it apart from all others is the ear-gasmic, swirling roller rink organ.
“Our Day Will Come” was Ruby & The Romantics’ first hit and only million seller from way back in 1963. While many think the group was a one hit wonder, their follow-up single, “My Summer Love,” rose to #16 on the charts.
Ruby And The Romantics were also responsible for the original version of the song “Hey There Lonely Boy” which became a hit for Eddie Holman in 1969 as “Hey There Lonely Girl,” and “Hurting Each Other” which did the trick for The Carpenters in 1972.
The group featured Ruby Nash on lead vocals with Ed Roberts, George Lee, Ronald Mosley and Leroy Fan on support vocals. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons brought “Our Day Will Come” back to the charts in 1975 with their remake of the song which just missed the top ten at #11.
Edited: August 13th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Silver Train” by The Rolling Stones
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Silver Train” by The Rolling Stones
Today’s Song Of the Day by Eric Berman hails from one of the most maligned albums in the entire Rolling Stones’ catalog, Goats Head Soup, and I’ve never really understood why.
Certainly, its proximity as the follow up to the mighty Exile On Main Street has something to do with it, however Exile was not well received upon its release either. But while Exile has risen to the top of the Stones’ pops in critical acclaim, Goats Head Soup still remains the black sheep of the family.
My age has much to do with my affection for this album since it was the first Stones album I purchased as a new release. Most folks older than I generally dismiss the record as pretty awful, however any album that includes this songs, “Dancing With Mr. D,” “Star Star,” “100 Years Ago,” “Coming Down Again,” “Heartbreaker,” “Winter” and “Angie” can’t be all bad.
“Silver Train” was also the B-side to the aforementioned “Angie” single and was originally worked up as a demo during the Sticky Fingers sessions in 1970. I have also provided the demo version here for your listening pleasure. I’m not sure where the official clip comes from, but it sure looks like it was prepared for The Midnight Special” TV show.
Edited: August 12th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Buckets Of Rain” by Bette Midler with Bob Dylan
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Buckets Of Rain” by Bette Midler with Bob Dylan
Today’s Song Of The Day by Eric Berman is a great Bette Midler/Bob Dylan duet from Midler’s 1976 album Songs For The New Depression. The session came about because Dylan had hoped Midler would join him on the 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour with an eye towards her being a part of his Renaldo And Clara movie which was filmed on the tour.
The duo’s original intention was to cut a new version of the Moogy Klingman song “Friends” that Midler had recorded on her The Divine Miss M album several years earlier. When that didn’t work out, they worked up this rough and ready version of a song that was from Dylan’s then-current Blood On The Tracks album.
While there’s no topping Dylan’s own version of the song, I’ve always thought this one had a lot of personality and it sounds like they were both having a hoot recording it. Dylan and Midler would find themselves together in the studio one more during the USA For Africa sessions in the 1980s for the charity record of “We Are The World.”
Edited: August 11th, 2014
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Electricity (Drugs)” by Talking Heads
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Electricity (Drugs)” by Talking Heads
One of the musical highlights of our 16 hour car trip from The Outer Banks of North Carolina back home to Chicago was listening Talking Heads’ live double album entitled The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads. The second half of the album features recordings from the 1980-81 Remain In Light tour when Talking Heads expanded from a quartet of David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth and Chris Franz to a 10-piece band adding Adrian Belew on guitars, Busta Cherry on bass, Bernie Worrell on keyboards, Joe Rossy on percussion and Dolette McDonald and Nona Hendryx on vocals.
By 1979, Brian Eno’s influence was felt all over the Heads’ music, especially on more atmospheric songs like today’s Song Of The Day originally from their Fear Of Music album. Eno’s input was beginning to create a chasm within the band because the rest of the group felt that he was monopolizing David Byrne’s attention. Today’s song’s title was changed from “Drugs” to “Electricity” by the time it was released on the album in 1979. Whatever tension Eno’s presence created also resulted in the band taking off in a far more interesting direction with a brand-new funkified line-up. The video portion of today’s posting shows the expanded Heads in action (particularly Belew) from a show broadcasted on TV from Rome in 1980. (Today’s Song of The Day begins at 20:00 into the 64-minute clip.) Having seen this version of Talking Heads several times in concert, it is well worth watching if you have the time.
By the time we got around to hearing the The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads album at the tail end of our trip it was as a follow-up to a most-enjoyable spin of XTC’s Black Sea. And it was just the tonic we needed to wield our way through Saturday night Chicago city traffic and back up to the northern suburbs. Home Sweet Home!
Edited: August 10th, 2014