Sound & Groove, Episode 71: "Songs of the Celestial" Part 1

Between 1969 and 1972, English folk musician Nick Drake only issued three, low-key, mainly acoustically performed albums on the UK label Island Records. He was 20 when the 1st (Five Leaves Left) was recorded and just 23 when the final one (Pink Moon, a followup to the middle companion, 1971's Bryter Later) was issued. However in subsequent years, more popular artists championed his unique, jazz-inflected but folk-based music and critics began to come around to praising an artist that had gone virtually unnoticed in his brief recording career- one marred by poor promotion, a reluctance to perform live and constant battles with depression that eventually led to him fading from the spotlight, albeit a dim one, after 1972. Drake never returned to his music, as a prescription drug overdose in 1974 ended his life (labeled suicide by the coroner and several others, though that verdict has been disputed ever since). Another piece of proof that unknowns in their era may come to prominence as a celebrated cult artist years later, Drake is included among the 8 songs including on this particular S&G Podcast episode.

This here is the 1st official episode of 2017 for the Sound & Groove Podcast but of course it's way overdue. Don't fret though. Another 5 will still follow here in the rest of 2017. This particular edition is the first of a 2-episode theme with songs of the celestial- ie dealing with or alluding to outer space and all the various orbital/flying objects found in it. 

And if you haven't been keeping up with S&G on Music of Evan's Mind and/or its newest home at www.notthepublicbroadcaster.com, here's the breakdown: Every month there will be a theme that the selection of music is centered around. It will be jam packed with my analysis, synopses, anecdotes and other witticisms you might enjoy while I played edited-down versions of each tune. And not to worry, each month will containe a different theme than the last. Got it? Get it? Good. Happy listening to you all!

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/cedandelivery85/episodes/2017-08-04T07_32_56-07_00

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podcast/id52303295

Track Listing:

1. What A Little Moonlight Can Do- Billie Holiday (1935)
2. Saturday Sun- Nick Drake (1969)
3. Galaxy- War (1977)
4. Stella By Starlight- Tony Bennett (1962)
5. Spaceship- Kanye West (2004)
6. Yellow Moon- Neville Brothers (1989)
7. Planet Telex- Radiohead (1995)
8. Unfunky UFO- Parliament (1975) 

Info of note:

Intro- "Fire And Brimstone" by The Neville Brothers (1989)

Outro- "Brother Jake" by The Neville Brothers (1990)

All comments, questions and feedback are greatly welcomed and appreciated! I encourage participation. Even though I drain an hour off your life by listening to the podcast then checking through the links, at least you don't have to fork over your money to me... though if you feel like, you know... But in all seriousness, let me now what you'd like to hear or see and I'll consider it. Popular approval doesn't always sway me but having fans or listeners get their input would be just grand!