Tune of the Day


"Blue Rondo a la Turk"  on the Two Generations of Brubeck album.  Wow.

There are many fine versions of this tune, but this one gets me dancing, clapping, fist-pounding, whatever, every time....and it's not easy to dance in, what, 9/8?  I love tunes that grow, build, develop, and move through changes.  This one just picks me up and takes me right along with it.  Great melding of jazz and rock idioms, too.  It's fun to imagine Dave Brubeck setting the groove and then sitting back to hear where his kids and their friends take it. 

You can continue exploring Dave and the kids on Two Generations of Brubeck, "The Great Spirit Made Us All".  And Chris Brubeck's rock/jazz band Sky King on "Secret Sauce".

For extra credit, give a "spin" to Chase, "Bochawa" from their last album, Pure Music.

Anyway, that's my two cents today.




77jovian

@slaw 

That Tom Rush is his version of a phenomenal song by Joni Mitchell.

I probably heard his version before hers. 

Bil Lloyd - Back to Even

Great power pop.  Clever word play.  The opening track:

Back to Even

Thanks to Pokey77 for turning me on to Bill and Lyric Genius for the words....

"My life hit the curb knocked my wheels out of whack
But I made it back to even
It all re-alligned as a matter of fact
It took me straight back to even

From a Dom Perignon to a brown paper sack
It’s good to be back to even

Chorus...
How I got from there to here
Isn’t exactly clear
But that’s all behind me
And now you can find me
Dancing on air...

Wth only LOVE to hold me up there."

 

(Back to even and truly thanking God for that.)

 


 

Very cool @ghosthouse on the Tom Rush. Similar to the folk of Fred Neil to my ear. Thanks!

@slaw 

I pretty much stopped paying attention to EJ probably after Honky Chateau (well, Yellow Brick Road at the latest) but THAT is a GREAT song.  

One that's been on repeat in my head the last couple of days...

Tom Rush doing Urge For Going

 

 

@slaw 

Nope...not familiar with Joan Shelley, but I take it you suggest I remedy that ;-)

Thanks.  Will check her out.

@ghosthouse 

When I think of Jesse Sykes, I'm reminded of Joan Shelley. Are you familiar with her?

"We’ll Get By" Gary Louris

The backup singers on this album "Vagabonds" are: Chris Robinson, Susanna Hoffs, Jenny Lewis, Jonathan Rice, The Chapin Sisters, Andy Cabic, Jonathan Wilson, Farmer Dave. The are called The Laurel Canyon Family Choir.

Post removed 

@slaw 

Nice to have a dialog with someone about the music.  I will follow up on your Jessie Sykes recommendations.  Found the first Third Mind album on Tidal and listened to a good bit of it late last night into early this morning.  Will return to it.  I am usually not big on covers but what a selection Dave Alvin chose there.  Great songs and they've definitely brought something fresh to them taking a page from Miles' book.  ALSO, "Dolphins" led me to Fred Neil and that opened up a whole new area.  So more thanks for that.  

Yup...the original "Sally Go 'Round the Roses" goes back to '63.  Had a Japanese made transistor radio glued to my ear in those days listening to 77 WABC out of NYC playing all the hits.  I remember that song very well.       

It’s good to hear from a fellow Big Head Todd fan @ghosthouse. Their music still seems fresh to me. Haven’t checked into any of their output in a couple decades.

Jesse Sykes is absolutely wonderful. I have a couple of albums by Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter. Check out "Like, Love and Lust and the Open Halls of the Soul" & "Marble Son". Her contribution to The Third Mind is brilliant.

I’ve been a Dave Alvin fan forever and think he’s a wonderful guitarist. When I first read about TTM’s first album, I knew I was gonna get it. Have their second (live) disc on preorder. I’ll be a completest for sure.

Never occurred to me to check out the origin of Sally Go Round The Roses, so thanks for making me aware. I can here some similarities in the was the music’ pace varies. So far the album is my favorite of 2025.

 

@slaw 

Greetings again.  At one time, thought I was the only one knowing Big Head Todd.  Haven’t followed them much lately but back in the ’90s...Another Mayberry, Midnight Radio, Sister Sweetly, Stratagem, Beautiful World...spent a lot of time with those.

Thanks now for Third Mind.  Knew Jessie Sykes a little but otherwise no clue.  Checking them out.  Sally Go Round the Roses. Think they have enough guitars in that band? ;-).  Great tone though.  Way different than the original...

Jaynetts - Sally Go Round the Roses

(from YouTube so skip the ad ASAP)