Seven spring songs, 2009

The other day I was luxuriating in the sunshine in Peckham Park, and my heart was lifted further by the sight and sound of a host of little green parrots (or parakeets? Daniel would know). In the last few days, I've taken to running in Ladywell Fields, a public space which has been greatly improved over the last couple of years, and is now full of life. (Yep, any local readers, that's me: the sweaty, unfit, balding guy in the sneakers that look "retro" but actually have been mouldering in some cupboard since the distant time I last did any running.) Yes, it's that time of year again.

Here's TNC. Here's the rules:
List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they’re listening to.

I tried not to put too much thought into it, but chose some of the things that have enhanced my Ladywell runs and my drives to and fro the park.

Dean Martin "Volare"

What's not to love?

Asiko Rock Group "Lagos City"

Funky rocking Nigerian post-highlife from the 1970s. Supercool.

From Nigeria Disco Funk Special: The Sound Of The Underground Lagos Dancefloor 1974-79. Listen at Last.fm or at 8106.tv.








Astrud Gilberto "Brazilian Tapestry"

Dreamy, heavenly. Stanley Turrentine on tenor. Buy at Amazon.

The Clash "The Magificent Seven"/"The Magnificent Dance"
"The Magnificent 7" was Mick Jones at the end of the 1970s discovering the joys of black New York, of hip hop, electro and pirate radio. "The Magnificent Dance" was the stretched out, even cooler version. Download [mp3] at CubikMusic. There fantastic covers out there by Kokolo and The Black Kids if you care to find them.


The Neptunes Remix of The Rolling Stones "Sympathy for the Devil"
My favourite Stones song, but lately I've been digging this remix. Go watch the YouTube at Martin's place. Here's The Neptunes homepage.

Rod Stewart "What Made Milwaukee Famous"
Rod Stewart is one my guilty pleasures (if not as guilty as fried chicken), and has been since I was a kid. For British readers, what made Milwaukee famous is beer. A great maudlin country got soul drinking song, by the great Glenn Sutton. Listen at last.fm.

Scott H. Biram "The Long Fingernail"
Dirty, sultry, dark, gospel-soaked hillbilly rock. This live YouTube is too fuzzy soundwise, but gives you the idea. From Graveyard Shift.
Last.fm. MySpace. Homepage. Bloodshot Records. Nine Bullets.


I'm tagging: Hak Mao, Ms Scribbles, George S, Daniel Z (even though too busy to blog these days), Richard S, Transpontine, Graeme.

By the way, last year I tagged Jams, Roland, Noga, Martin in the Margins, Darren (who I'm never tagging again!), Richard, and Incognito (the weak link, unless I missed it). Here's the musical journey we took.