Songs I Didn't Skip (Part 37)

 If this goes on much longer, this series might have to be renamed, "Songs I Was Too Lazy to Skip (Part 1,834)". 

"West of Hollywood" by Steely Dan (2000)

This closing track to SD's comeback LP kind of reminds me of the old single, "F.M." in that it's just okay but ends with this long-ass (but good!) tenor sax solo. Wait, there are actually two versions of FM and it's the "alternate" version (if you care enough to read about all the variations, the series of tubes can assist) that has the sax solo on the end. Never mind.  

"Born Again" by Badly Drawn Boy (2002)

Does this, a 20+ year old song, sound dated today? Not in the way that an old A-Ha song might but it does have that early-2000s alt-rock, post-90s (would you like a side of cliche' with that?) combo of sparse, synthesizer-less (but often piano) guitar rock that is still smoothly produced. Smooth Grunge? 

"The Diary of Horace Wimp" by Electric Light Orchestra (1979)

Think Beatles tribute band song with some crazy Vocoder going on. 

"We Are the People" by John Mellencamp (1987)

A vague, lumpy anthem for the working people. JM does it again.

"We Got the Beat" by the Go-Gos (1981)

I could have sworn this is later than 1981; it sounds more like mid-1980s. Great retro-surf song.

"23rd Chromosome" by The Honeydogs (2003)

A Minnesota band that broke through (briefly) twenty or so years ago. A nice, pseudo Bossa Nova song. 

"Help Me Make It Through the Night" by Willie Nelson (1980)

Willie does a good cover of this Kris Kristofferson original in that it does kind of sound like a Nelson song.

"La Bamba" by Los Lobos (1987)

Another cover!  This must have been the one song that got Los Lobos into the mainstream. This track is good although their original material is better.  I like the little coda on the end of the tune, something that almost certainly wasn't on the Ritchie Valens original. 

"I Appear Missing" by Queens of the Stone Age (2013)

Wait, what's a song from 2013 doing here?!  Nice to see Dave Grohl in something other than a Crown Royal ad. 

"The Truck Song" by Lyle Lovett (2003)

Not your typical country song about a pickup.

"Out of Control" by The Rolling Stones (1997)

There's a pretty decent groove here for a 90s Stones song.

"Jump in the Line" by Harry Belafonte (1961)

RIP, Harry. One of his great songs:  "Somebody help me!"  

"Ain't That Asking For Trouble" by Stevie Wonder (1966)

Stevie in wiiiiide stereo!

"C'est le Vie" by Robbie Nevil (1986)

In the 1980s, there was a lot of synth bass and a lot of actual electric bass that *sounds* like synth bass (see also: drums). I think this is an actual bass that's been processed to sound like a synth but I'm not 100% sure. If it's from a keyboard, it's really good. Wikipedia does list a bassist for the album but who the hell knows (cares?). 

"Miserlou" by The Trashmen (1964)

A convincing cover/knockoff of this famous tune by everyone's favorite Minnesota surf rock band.

"Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix (1967)

Speaking of covers, I once heard a string quartet do a version of this song and it really works!

"Whatever Gets You Through the Night" by John Lennon (1974)

This is a classic song but man, I have a hard time with the intonation on this one. Lennon was probably fucking with us. 

"Hungry Like The Wolf" by Duran Duran (1982)

Keywords:  Deeply silly lyrics, 80s Disco, heavy breathing. Yeah, that's it.

"Diamonds Are Forever" by Shirley Bassey-Mantronik 007 Remix (1971/2000)

Not every track on this compilation of remixes is a winner but this one was fun and perhaps preferable to the original. 

"Another Day" by Paul and Linda McCartney (1971)

More interesting musically than lyrically with a cool middle/bridge section in 3/4 time.