Saturday, March 27, 2004
"And just a little pinch of soda"
A trio of great songs that I recently purchased from iTunes:
"Too Close for Comfort" sung by Sammy Davis, Jr.
I've never been all that interested in the Rat Pack, though I know they've been considered hip again recently, esp. since Ocean's Eleven. And I've never been interested in Sammy Davis before, probably because I'd been turned off by wretched imitations (by the likes of, ugh, Billy Crsystal at the Oscars) and "Candy Man" jokes. But I recently heard this song, a jazzy number about the dangers and thrill of sexual attraction, showcased in a wonderful local production called Pulp. I didn't even recognize Davis' voice. His performance is mellow and smooth, with a cool jazzy style that never overwhelms the material.
"Love has Got Me Crying Again" by Denise James
I heard this on a listening booth and had to have it. James sings in a
50s/60s vein and in that way reminds me a little of Holly Golightly, only Golightly is a covers artist, whereas James writes her own material. This song is a wistful gem and melodically it reminds me of my favorite Zombies songs, the guitar work reminiscent of the early Beatles & The Byrds.
"The Hideout" by Sarah Harmer
A lovely post-breakup recovery song, my favorite of the moment. I can't get it out of my head. The beginning of the verse reminds me a little of Victoria Williams in the conversational freedom of its melodic shape and in the lush, folksy setting of the story (green grass after rain, clothes on the clothesline), but Harmer's voice is a bit more in the crooner vein of her compatriot Sarah McLachlan. The chorus is very catchy, and reminds me a bit of a Shins song I heard recentlty. A folk-acoustic number, this heartfelt song reminds me why I loved so many of the female singer-songwriters who were pushed out of the spotlight in the late nineties when the media got bored with them.
