Center Of The Universe #31: Madcap
Giant Sand, “Center Of The Universe”
Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, “The Hooch Coochi Coo”
Maroon 5, “Love Somebody”
Nathan Fake, “CMD”
Welcome to the Center Of The Universe! This week's a little madcap. "The Hoochi Coochi Coo" did better for Hank Ballard than "The Twist" did, though not as good as "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go." I genuinely have no idea if this effervescent nonsense from Maroon 5, hooked around words that rhyme with "follow," qualifies as earlier Maroon 5 or late Maroon 5 at this point. This year's Crystal Vision is Nathan Fake's sixth album, but his first since I started paying attention to new music again. I gotta catch up!
Lady Sovereign, “Random”
Michael Hurley & Friends, “Slurf Song”
Brandee Younger, “Moving Target”
Jackie McLean, “Blue Rondo”
Ahhh, Lady Sovereign. Underrated. The Have Moicy! album, featuring Michael Hurley, Peter Stampfel and Jeffrey Frederick, probably isn't underrated, at least not by people who've heard it. Brandee Younger might be the first harpist I've put on this playlist (Joanna who?), and the following Jackie McLean song might feature the first vibraphone solo. McLean's playing sax, though.
Amy Rigby, “Are We Still There Yet”
Cabaret Voltaire, “In The Quest Of The Unusual”
Warren Zevon, “A Certain Girl”
Lisa Germano, “The Dresses Song”
Amy Rigby remembers a guy who makes her remember the '90s on 2018's The Old Guys. Cabaret Voltaire states their thesis on a track recorded years before they released an album. Warren Zevon covers Ernest K-Doe or the Yardbirds on 1980's Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School, earning his only Billboard Hot 100 appearance outside of his one hit. As a young teen listening to "progressive radio" in Bloomington, Indiana, I had a front row seat for the promotion of Lisa Germano's album Happiness for Capitol Records (she'd played violin for local hero John Mellencamp, after all). The station regularly played the single "You Make Me Wanna Wear Dresses" and a cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'." In less than a year, the album had been reissued by 4AD with some big changes, including removing the Nancy Sinatra cover and adding a far less radio-friendly mix of what was now called "The Dresses Song." If the station acknowledged the new version, I don't recall it.
Duran Duran, “Planet Earth”
The Waterboys, “December”
The Osmonds, “Girl”
Chuck Berry, “Anthony Boy”
Tracks from two self-titled debuts, one recorded in 1981 and released in 1983, the other released in 1981 and reissued in 1983. One of quite a few Osmond-adjacent songs with the word "Girl" in the title, this one possibly the frothiest. And then a sentimental favorite from Chuck Berry.
Placebo, “Chemtrails”
Zoon, “Awesiinh (A-Way-See)”
En Vogue, “Whatever”
Jesus & Mary Chain, “Reverence”
Placebo has been making albums for almost 30 years, and - based on last year's Never Let Me Go - Brian Molko's voice hasn't changed a whit. I'm not complaining. Zoon is yet another recent act whose discography I need to immerse myself in. If you've forgotten En Vogue's "Whatever," possibly the spookiest song Babyface ever wrote and produced, even before you bring in the post-Marilyn Manson music video, I'm happy to reintroduce it. I'm also happy to remind you of the sassiest Jesus & Mary Chain single. I really wish I could have seen them do it at Lollapalooza that year.
Jessie Ware, “Freak Me Now”
Gun Club, “She’s Like Heroin To Me”
Stephen Malkmus, “Post-Paint Boy”
Ashton, Gardner & Dyke, “Resurrection Shuffle”
So much good music I've yet to fully engage with this year. A new Jessie Ware album, for instance! I probably spend too much time listening to guys in the 20th century make dubiously grand claims about sex, drugs and religion, and guys earlier this century being all too self-aware about the lack of transcendence in their life. File the Gun Club and Ashton, Gardner & Dyke in the former club, Stephen Malkmus in the latter.
Kelly Clarkson, “Walk Away”
The Strokes, “The End Has No End”
Chris Knox, “Meat”
Thelma Houston & Jerry Butler, “Medley: If You Leave Me Now/Love So Right”
Kelly Clarkson really selling it in 2004, The Strokes almost selling it in 2003. Chris Knox really selling it in 1991, albeit into a 4-track, and I hope he's doing great. Finally, Thelma Houston & Jerry Butler dueting on a Chicago/Bee Gees medley. As I said, madcap. Thanks for your time!