Take a three-day breather
Sip a Margarita
Drift away beside the sea
Just Mexico, Tequila and me
1. How are you doing? How have you been? Feels like it's been a real long time since we last met even though it's been just seven days. In that time I've celebrated my forty second trip around the sun and I would like to thank those folks who took the time out to wish me a happy birthday this week. I am lucky to have such diamond people in my life and I do know that. This weekend, for Barfly Session 43, I've got a new drink to help set the mood too so I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes us. It's a Pisco Brandy from Chile and it's currently waiting patiently in my glass for our night to begin so lets do just that. I have the perfect song to start us off and it's a release from 1971 by Aretha Franklin. Featuring The Memphis Horns as well as Donny Hathaway on the organ, is it any wonder this song swings like it does? "Let's call this song exactly what it is." God Bless You Aretha. You made the whole world sit up and take notice.
1. Aretha Franklin
Rock Steady
2. There are certain times when life deals you a decent set of cards if only for a short time and many years back, when I was working for previous employers, I got just that. I arrived for my night shift to be told that my task for the next 2 or 3 nights would be to burn several thousands of archived documents that had been stored away for a few years. No questions. Just get rid of them. This was a dream job to me. My colleague for this task was an older fellow called Banjo. Together we built makeshift incinerators from old dustbins and spent the next few shifts sat on wooden pallets drinking coffee and feeding paper files and folders into the flames from 7pm until 7am. (I loved that job.) Now Banjo had a great thirst for knowledge and he knew more about this and that than anyone else I've ever met. As we worked(!) through the night, he pointed out the constellations in the sky and I listened intently as he explained how the pyramids had been built to line up precisely with the three stars of Orion's Belt. Some things you don't forget. Wherever you are and whatever you're doing now Banj, I wish you nothing but the best. This one's for you.
2. Field Music
Orion From The Streets
3. "Some things you don't forget." This leads us ever so nicely to our third song which I heard for the first time only a few weeks ago and it stopped me in my tracks. The original album version isn't available for me to put on here but I have found a live version of it which is equally as faultless. There are some beautifully phrased lines but "Standing like a dream in the morning sun/You can take me now lord, I’ve had a good run" is one I'm drawn to along with that bourbon soaked chorus. I love this to pieces. I hope you like it as well.
3. Jeffrey Martin
Golden Thread
4. I could well have mentioned that I am a complete sucker for the sound of the saxophone. If you're NOT it's time to reassess and reset. The opening saxo on this is dream worthy. It's ridiculous in it's awesomeness. I've had this on pretty much constant rotation for some time now and I feel it's only fair I share it. Maybe it's the slow dawning realisation that I'm pretty damn old now but there is hope in the words "Snap back to the youth in you/Feel the done days and you're pulling through." This might just need 2 or 3 listens but persevere to get your reward.
4. St South
Get Good
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5. The Fox was quick off the blocks with his choice for this Barfly Session. In fact he sent me a text with his link to this song on Monday of this week. It's one of thee defining songs of the 90's and made me ponder, were the nineties better than the eighties and the noughties for music? Yeah, It's subjective of course but I think they were.
5. The Breeders
Cannonball
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6. It has dawned upon me that it's Valentine's Day this weekend so we'll play a couple of songs with this in mind BUT if you're on your own with a can of Special Brew, I don't want you to be sad. This time next year who knows where you'll be or who you'll be with? You can still enjoy these tracks with us surely? I chose this as one of the songs at our wedding and it will always be one of my favourites. The Walker Brothers were just so damn classy. My Dad bought me a vinyl record of theirs a few years ago and it's like sonic velvet. This is from 1965 but the year doesn't really matter as it's timeless.
The Walker Brothers
My Ship Is Coming In
7. I thought we would finish with this stirling effort from Shuggie Otis from 1971. This song has been hacked to bits over the years with other musicians taking parts from it to use as samples for their own works but this original still stands strong. "Blue flowers echo from a cherry cloud." Think that Brandy is really kicking in now as that makes my head spin. Have a fine weekend good people. You know we'll be back here next week for session 44. Over and out. x
7. Shuggie Otis
Strawberry Letter 23
