Hello, partygoers! We hope you like music and we hope you like Disney movies because those are the two things you’re getting this week! Also, the Vatican’s list of banned books.
Three things!
What we’re saying is: it’s the usual Listening Party – a bunch of music and a bunch of yakking between Mary and her dad. So come on in to the contagion-free rumpus room, take the bean bag chair over by the fireplace and join in the fun!
Let’s listen to:
- The Vines – “Mary Jane” – Highly Evolved, 2002 – 39:42
- The Stranglers – “(Get a) Grip (On Yourself)” – Rattus Norvegicus (aka Stranglers IV), 1977 – 57:28
- The Rose Garden – “Here’s Today” – 7” single b/w A-side “If My World Falls Through”, 1968 – 1:16:10
- Generationals – “Spinoza” – Heza, 2013 – 1:33:45
- Caribou – “Eli” – Andorra, 2008 – 1:51:09
- The Clientele – “Since K Got Over Me” – Strange Geometry, 2005 – 1:59:43
- Off Broadway USA – “Stay in Time” – On, 1979 – 2:09:31
- The High Speed Scene – “In the Know” – The High Speed Scene, 2005 – 2:15:50
- No Fun – “Blue Lust” – Snivel, 1984 – 2:28:26
- The War on Drugs – “Under the Pressure (Edit)” – Lost in the Dream, 2014 – 2:36:37
And we also listened to:
- The Rose Garden – “Long Time” – The Rose Garden, 1968 – 1:31:24
Thanks for listening.
Mary wanted us to post these covers to some of Dave’s “mixtapes”.:
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I enjoyed the music this episode, but I also enjoyed your dive down the Disney rabbit hole. Maybe you could do a music of Disney edition of the Listening Party at some point. By sheer coincidence, I ended up back in Disney territory after listening to this episode. I was researching old timey covers of “It’s Only A Paper Moon” on YouTube and ran across a charming 1933 version by Cliff Edwards. I learned he performed in vaudeville, theatre, radio and film under the name Ukulele Ike. The Disney connection is that he was the voice of Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio and one of the crows in Dumbo. His life ended sadly, but he left behind some influential songs including his 1929 version of “Singin’ in the Rain” which has a cheerful bridge I’d never heard before.
Why am I smilin’ and why do I sing?
Why does December seem sunny as spring?
Why do I get up each morning to start…happy
And get up with joy in my heart?
Why is each new task a trifle to do?
Because I am living a life full of you.
The answer could also be…because there’s a new episode of the Sneaking Dragon Listening Party.
Thank you , Louise! I knew the Ukulele Ike connection to Pinocchio, but I didn’t know he was also in Dumbo!
I’ll get Mary on that Music of Disney episode. There’s nothing she likes doing better than combining work with pleasure!
Some more on your comments about Oak Park, Illinois. Since I’m originally from Chicago, I have a huge family all over the Chicagoland area. A cousin of mine once worked the Frank Lloyd Wright tour and offered me an open invitation to take it in if I ever went home for a visit. Sadly I never took her up on it but I have seen many of Wright’s architecture in and around Chicago. My Brother lived in Jefferson Park for about five years, walking distance from Oak Park, which is celebrated as the birthplace of Hillary Clinton.
Overall, a particularly enjoyable mix this time around. Dave, your fake album covers are terrific, both in concept and execution. I also got a kick out of your description of Paradise Lost (which I like) as ‘biblical fanfic’.
The Vines – Another fine opener. Beautiful song with a lovely stoner vibe that I guess makes Mary’s yawn afterwards kind of a compliment. Top class production and playing from the band. Loved the bass especially.
The Stranglers – This band can be hit or miss with me, but Grip is an absoute favourite. Nice to hear it again, particularly as a reminder of Dave Greenfield, whose keyboards totally burst out of the radio back in the day.
The Rose Garden – I enjoyed the weird fade out and felt it could have gone longer. Overall, a good song, although I’d have liked to hear a brighter mix.
Generationals – A lovely blast of sunshine pop.
Caribou – Ditto. Not a place holder for me – I loved this one.
The Clientele – They had me from the first arpeggio. And, yes, the ‘vivid and creepy’ line is great.
Off Broadway USA – Liked the chorus, but this wasn’t a standout. Maybe that says more about the high quality of the rest of the mixtape.
The High Speed Scene – Fantastic, fun pop that gets better with each listen. The line, ‘we live like junior executives’ made me laugh out loud.
No Fun – Genius! Totally loved the song, singing and playing. Drums were fantastic, guitar too. What more can I say about this wonderful band?
The War on Drugs – Started well and was pleasant enough. I could see myself getting into this live. It grew on me with repeat listens and worked well as a ‘dying fall’ kind of closer, but I was grateful Dave chose to fade it early.
This biweek’s extra: I do love Gene Clark (of Dillard and Clark fame) so the additional Rose Garden track was a real treat. Opening bassline was reminiscent of Band of Gold, which is a good thing.