Songs I Didn't Skip (Part 44)

 I'm definitely encountering more repeats as I randomly work my way through my library, as expected, but here are more tracks that made me linger.  Spotify playlist

"Sky Blue" by Peter Gabriel (2002)

One of the stronger tracks from this mid-late LP. The vocals from The Blind Boys of Alabama put this over the top.

"Ticket to Ride" by The Beatles (1965)

I love the drum figure that Ringo does on this song.

"I Walk Away" by Crowded House (1986)

Unlike a good chunk of 1980s pop music, this band's material doesn't need a haze of nostalgia to still work. How do I know this? Crowded House wasn't something I was listening to very often during the 1980s, so I don't associate the band with my Glory Years (LOL), such as they were.

"Standing on Higher Ground " by The Alan Parsons Project (1987)

"...I'm Alan Parsons and this is my Project!"  A deeply inside joke. If you don't get it, don't worry, just imagine Mike Myers saying the band's name as an alternative joke.

"Venus" by The Shocking Blue (1970)

It's funny, but like most people, I have long been aware of this track along with the 1980s Bananarama cover and assumed the original was sung by a guy and the cover sung by a gal(s). It turns out, that the singer on the original was *also* a gal. "Fun" fact. And yeah, the original is still better.

"Ramblin' Man by The Allman Brothers Band (1973)

There's some great guitar work going on here and I didn't realize that this is not in fact a cover of the Hank Williams song.

"This Ole House" by Rosemary Clooney with Buddy Cole and His Orchestra (1954)

Hey, there's Thurl Ravenscroft in a song again! And, another Clooney song slathered with Mitch Miller's production sound. 

"Monty Got a Raw Deal" by R.E.M. (1992)

Uh yeah, I don't know what this song is about. Typical.

"Familiar Love" by William Shatner and Ben Folds (2004)

I still appreciate how the album this came from so deftly balanced the self-deprecating and earnest qualities that Shatner exhibits. I can get behind that!

"Excitable Boy" by Warren Zevon (1978)

Another WZ song that has aged so well. Plus, backing vocals by Linda Ronstadt and Jennifer Warnes.

"Perspective" by Peter Gabriel (1978)

A very different song from 1978, back when PG would feature a sax solo. It was a different time.

"Don't Pay the Ferryman" by Chris de Burgh (1982)

There's this soft voice over in the middle of this song that's delivered by Anthony Head (RIP) from Buffy and most recently, Ted Lasso.

"Fragments of Time" by Daft Punk (2013) 

A decent cut from this monster album from (gulp) 13 years ago, even if it's overshadowed by some of the other material. 

"Don't Worry Baby" by The Beach Boys (1964)

A decent song that was the "B" side of the hit, "I Get Around". The stereo mix is super wide, as was the way in those days. Like some of the Beatles stuff of the era, this one might be better in mono.

"Midnight Cowboy" by Henry Mancini (1969)

A kind-of cool lounge/easy listening tune from the famous movie. It seems really ironic. This was one of several instrumental versions of this song that popped up in the wake of the movie. Unlike most of Mancini's hits, ht didn't write this one (John Barry).

"Tomorrow's Gonna Be a Brighter Day" by Jim Croce (1972)

 A classic apology song.

"The Chamber of 32 Doors" by Genesis (1974)

The strong closing song of the first half of this prog-rock epic that doesn't quite add up to the sum of its parts.

"The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel (1982)

From the "Central Park" live album, this version, while nice, lacks the drive of the studio recording. 

"You Don't Miss Your Water" by William Bell (1961)

A lesser-known but still solid classic Stax record.

"Those Were the Days" by Cream (1968)

Damn, this short and over-the-top track really cooks! This was Cream at its peak. 

Dad's Movies: "Stanley and Livingstone"

 Today we have the 1939 safari/adventure movie, Stanley and Livingstone.

These kinds of classic Hollywood history movies often don't age well and while there are aspects here and there that are above average, this movie as a whole is pretty rough sledding here in the 21st Century. 

The show does look more impressive and authentic as it did send a second unit to African locations, but the principal cast was not there and as well done as the process photography is, you still see where the location footage and the studio-bound actors meet.  Fox really wanted to make use of the likely-expensive location shoots, so there are lots scenes where we see the line of guys walking through scenery with Spencer Tracy's narration droning on. It's a bit slow. 

Tracy does well carrying the movie and the supporting cast is fine, though Hardwicke isn't super inspiring as Livingstone. He's.....fine. Walter Brennan is there for some fairly weak coming relief and is underused. 

Considering how many classic movies were released in 1939, this one falls a bit short, though I can't imagine how well this kind of story would have been told at the time. I really wonder what Dad would have thought of this one when/if he watched it in his later years.