The Velvelettes* – Needle in a haystack
This is 2 minutes and 30 seconds of pop perfection.
The Velvelettes were one of a cadre of amazing female vocal groups that were releasing records on Motown around this time, along with The Supremes and Martha and The Vandellas amoungst others. I’m not sure it gets much better than this…
/RjK
*Artist #518
I thought I would get caught up with a couple of tracks that came on my iPod while in transit over the past couple of days that I hadn’t thought about for a while.
Lucky Soul are from London but I first heard them while drunkenly riding in the back of a taxi around Chicago. It’s strange how global music has become. They make great pop tunes, that have a great retro sounds. Apologies for the video here, I couldn’t track down anything better.
/RjK
Van Morrison – It’s all in the game / You know what they’re writing about
I have been meaning to post Van for a while. Firstly I am a self confessed devotee of his music but also because I nearly saw him play in Dublin a few weeks ago before inclement weather intervened (why even bother with gigs in parks in Ireland?).
This pair of tracks closes out the 1979 album Into the music. They aren’t his most iconic work but I have listened to them relentlessly over the past few months. I think they are classic Van; starting with a spacey, meandering cover of an obscure 50’s tune then building and building to a crashing, heartfelt crescendo (see about 6:30 onwards).
Meet me down by the pylons...
/RjK
Third Eye Blind* – Semi-charmed life (GPF)
Apologies for the interruption to normal blogging service. I am back from Barcelona and just about in one piece. It’s a fun city, if a little sketchy. I did manage to find some time to relax too, which was welcome. I could get used to chilling by the water and enjoying the sunshine!
This is a song that reminds me of school. If the mark of a good song is that it makes you want to hum the tune after hearing it then this qualifies in spades.
/RjK
*Artist #517