Sound & Groove, Episode 57: "Traveling the Globe Musically"

King Sunny Ade has made a long, respected career out of bringing his Nigerian musical roots to the world stage. Born into a royal family, Ade has nonetheless gone a different direction than his privileged status would expect him to. Along with several other singers from all over Africa he helped bring attention to the thrilling, organic sounds of the Third World- a burgeoning subset of record collectors that hit the mainstream when Western artists such as Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel but especially Paul Simon began incorporating it into their own works in the 1980s.

There are artists from all over the world who've made their dent internationally and not only singing in that language that us in the West are fortunate is the current common tongue spoken: English (but watch out for when the Chinese take over!) but also in their native tongues. A mix of both is the focus of this, the 4th of 12 podcasts in 2015 from yours truly Evan Dowbiggin. From France to Nigeria to Switzerland to Senegal to Iceland to Holland, it's a potpourri of sounds for your virgin North American ears ;)

So sit back and soak in another  musical journey through yet another themed podcast for your listening enjoyment. And if you're new to this podcast: Every month there will be a theme that the selection of music is centered around. It will be jam packed with my analysis, synopses, breakdowns, anecdotes and other witticisms you might enjoy while I play edited versions of each tune (to make room for talk and for a good 8-9 songs per 45 minute episode). And not to worry, each month will contain a different theme than the last. Got it? Get it? Good. Happy listening to you all!

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Edowrimple

Hear it on itunes now! http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/evan-dowbiggins-

podcast/id52303295

Track Listing:

1. Le Poinconneur des Lilas- Serge Gainsbourg (1958)

2. Ja Funmi- King Sunny Ade (1982)

3. Nice- Kleenex (1978)

4. Wiri Wiri- Youssou N'Dour (2000)

5. Frozen Warnings- Nico (1969)

6. Human Behaviour- Bjork (1993)

7. Ne Me Quitte Pas- Jacques Brel (1972 version)

8. Radar Love- Golden Earring (1974)

Info of note:

Intro- "Rain on the Scarecrow" by John Cougar Mellencamp (1985)

Outro- "Between a Laugh and a Tear" by John Cougar Mellencamp (1985)

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!

Sound & Groove, Episode 56: "Marriage in Music"

Sparks, a quirky duo supplemented by other musicians over the years, is actually brothers Ron and Russel Mael. Their on-stage look and presence couldn't have been more different especially after Ron had his long locks shorn and began dressing like a pastiche of conservative stuffy killjoys while sporting a pencil mustache. Russell meanwhile dressed like a flamboyant rock pin-up idol with a nerdy touch, sort of like if Mick Jagger had gone to study chemistry instead of economics in his educational pursuits. Though American, Sparks have proven most popular in more glam-friendly UK. Coming off like the more bizarre bastard twin of Queen, they employed an operatic rock sound then gradually shifted to more dance-oriented electronica which has been their main calling card ever since. Once in that style they finally broke through to some success in their native USA in the 80s. But Europe has always dug Sparks more for their daring odes to opera, classical and techno. One of their typically campy classics is featured in this 56th all-time episode of Sound & Groove.

There are always those traditional songs played at a wedding, ie "Here Comes the Bride" or "Ave Maria" or "Air on a String in G" but what about the contemporary lexicon? Here on the S&G Podcast we thought why not put them out there and highlight the artists who did the work. Running the gamut from tunes about marriage to those about weddings and those about the ups and downs of it all, this episode provides an array of styles to hopefully perk up your ears and send you out into the world looking to discover more. Repeated listening always helps. Enjoy while thinking of your significant other!

Sit back and soak in another  musical journey through yet another themed podcast for your listening enjoyment. And if you're new to this podcast: Every month there will be a theme that the selection of music is centered around. It will be jam packed with my analysis, synopses, breakdowns, anecdotes and other witticisms you might enjoy while I play edited versions of each tune (to make room for talk and for a good 8-9 songs per 45 minute episode). And not to worry, each month will contain a different theme than the last. All killer, no filler... other than when I talk and introduce the tunes and recap the ones before it. But aside from that? 100% juicy meat! 100% juicy tofu if you happen to be a vegetarian.

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Edowrimple

Hear it on itunes now! http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/evan-dowbiggins-

podcast/id52303295

Track Listing:

1. The Wedding List- Kate Bush (1980)

2. Wedding Bell Blues- Laura Nyro (1966)

3. When Will We Be Married?- The Waterboys (1988)

4. Will I Be Married?- The Jayhawks (1989)

5. Marry Me- Sparks (1974)

6. It Should Have Been Me- Gladys Knight & the Pips (1968)

7. My Wife- The Who (1971)

8. Let's Get Married- Al Green (1973)

9. All My Ex's Live in Texas- George Strait (1987) 

Info of note:

Intro- "Hejira" by Joni Mitchell (1976)

Outro- "Refuge of the Roads" by Joni Mitchell (1976)

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!

Sound & Groove, Episode 55: "Banned by the BBC"

Serge Gainsbourg with his then wife Jane Birkin. In a perfect example of the tortured genius with the brilliance to overcome his unsightly looks to land many a gorgeous woman, Gainsbourg became the pop poet laureate of French contemporary music for around three decades before his smoke like a chimney, drink like a fish ways finally caught up to him. Their worldwide hit "Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus" managed to break language barriers to find success in spite of- or some may argue because of it- its several moments of heavy moaning and breathing.

Back in the day it was considered quite the honour to be banned by radio. In the 1960s the more the musical establishment cowered in fear of your music and sought to ban it from the airwaves, the better your hipster credibility. And in those days, that credibility translated to record sales which only got larger in the 70s as the hippies straightened out or the Boomers got some greater cash flow. The BBC was England's vanguard for taste and stuffiness musically and from the very start used its position of influence to adjudicate the standards of songs in the popular consciousness. This podcast collects some of my faves that the BBC decided were immoral, inappropriate, controversial or merely thinly veiled consumerism aimed to advertise items one could buy.

So sit back and soak in another  musical journey through yet another themed podcast for your listening enjoyment. And if you're new to this podcast: Every month there will be a theme that the selection of music is centered around. It will be jam packed with my analysis, synopses, breakdowns, anecdotes and other witticisms you might enjoy. And not to worry, each month will contain a different theme than the last. All killer, no filler... other than when I talk and introduce the tunes and recap the ones before it. But aside from that? 100% juicy meat! 100% juicy tofu if you happen to be a vegetarian.

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Edowrimple

Hear it on itunes now! http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/evan-dowbiggins-

podcast/id52303295

Track Listing:

1. Leaving it Up to You- John Cale (1975)

2. Eve of Destruction- Barry McGuire (1965)

3. The Battle of New Orleans- Johnny Horton (1959)

4. Glad to Be Gay- Tom Robinson Band (1977)

5. God Save the Queen- The Sex Pistols (1977)

6. Je T'aime Moi Non Plus- Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin (1968)

7. Ebony Eyes- The Everly Brothers (1961)

8. The End of the World- Skeeter Davis (1963)

9. My Friend Jack- The Smoke (1967) 

Info of note:

Intro- "Hanky Panky Nohow" by John Cale (1971)

Outro- "Chinese Envoy" by John Cale (1982)

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!

Sound & Groove, Episode 54: "Blame it All on the Alcohol"

Gil Scott-Heron, mainly in is partnership with Brian Jackson, performed cutting edge, socially aware music in the 70s that could have been classified as R&B or funk but owed just as much to the improvisational nature of jazz. Owing to his poet background, Scott-Heron was able to meld that with musical ambitions and marry those with musicians who helped him see through his unique sound. The oeuvre he left many credit to paving the road for hip-hop's arrival in the 80s. But just as his truly authentic reportage of the streets approach was paying dividends with a younger crowd of artists, Scott-Heron's recorded output began to slow as he became more like a subject of his old musical portraits of the drug-addled, disenfranchised aspects of society. With a long rap sheet built up due to a debilitating addiction to crack-cocaine, Scott-Heron became a cautionary tale of what happens when an artist forgets to practice what he/she preaches. After a late career renaissance and multiple samples from hip hop giants, Scott-Heron fell ill with pneumonia and died at age 65 in 2011.

Ahhh yes, alcohol. The cause of and solution to all of life's problems. Also a central part of the rock and roll mythology and lifestyle. Several greats were drunk off their ass performing live or in the studio with their best material. Often times the good times could not keep rolling and these artists had to face those demons or ended up succumbing to them. Other artists never let the bottle get the better of them and could sing about it from a critical viewpoint or caution their listeners to its tempting dangers. Also some artists sang about its celebratory and social importance in the world. Cause booze and good music can often go well together, especially in a live setting.

So sit back and soak in another  musical journey through yet another themed podcast for your listening enjoyment. And if you're new to this podcast: Every month there will be a theme that the selection of music is centered around. It will be jam packed with my analysis, synopses, breakdowns, anecdotes and other witticisms you might enjoy. And not to worry, each month will contain a different theme than the last. All killer, no filler... other than when I talk and introduce the tunes and recap the ones before it. But aside from that? 100% juicy meat! 100% juicy tofu if you happen to be a vegetarian.

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Edowrimple

Hear it on itunes now! http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/evan-dowbiggins-

podcast/id52303295

Track Listing:

1. Drunk Kid Catholic- Bright Eyes (2001)

2. Gin Soaked Boy- Tom Waits (1983)

3. Jesus and Tequila- The Minutemen (1984)

4. Bottle of Red Wine- Eric Clapton (1970)

5. Empty Glass- Pete Townshend (1980)

6. Please Mrs. Henry- Bob Dylan & The Band (1967)

7. The Bottle- Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson (1974)

8. Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-o-Dee (Live)- Richard Thompson (2003)

9. Twilight Alehouse- Genesis (1972) 

Info of note:

Intro- "Heartbreak Hotel" by John Cale (1975)

Outro- "Chinese Envoy" by John Cale (1982))

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!