Time to kiss April goodbye and ring in the month of May with a iPod shuffle post!

“Like An Arrow”, Blackberry Smoke Like An Arrow

Sounding a bit like an old school Joe Walsh riff, Blackberry Smoke toss a nod to a likely influence via this cut with its lazy as a slow rolling river riff and strong chorus.  If you’ve not bought into the Smoke hype, hop on the train and enjoy the greasy goodness that this band rolls out album after album.  Classic rock grooves or country throwbacks, they aim to please.

“I Go Swimming”, Peter Gabriel Plays Live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz524Cm4YRw

Kind of a fun Gabriel tune a la “Sledgehammer” or “Steam”, “Swimming” kind of presages those cuts with a fun and bopping new wave-y riff that never appeared on a studio album.  This version is from his early Plays Live LP and offers a bit of a stark contrast against some of the typically dark Gabriel material.  “I go swimming in water”…  well…  where else would you swim? 🙂

“The Blacker The Berrie”, Isley Brothers It’s Your Thing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zYzZT1M5E0

Yeah man, some awesomely cool R&B/funk/soul for the head per the late 60s period of the great Isley Brothers.  Lead voice Ronald Isley is on fire here singing about something other than fruit (come ON, you know) over top an insistently smooth and groovy riff.  The horn arrangement here is off the charts (pun intended), all blasting trumpets and honking sax.  A fine, fine tune.

“A Different Drum”, Peter Gabriel Passion: Music From The Last Temptation Of Christ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUF_3oKlX_U

Two Gabriel cuts this post and they couldn’t be more polar opposites.  I don’t have a whole lot of soundtrack music on the iPod but this CD is a nice change of pace from the heavies.  Built around an insistent percussive pattern, this song weaves in bits of Middle Eastern exotics with Peter’s occasional beautiful melodies and synth work.  If you’re up for something different with a world music vibe this’ll do.

“Sucka”, Lynch Mob Sun Red Sun

Call me a hair metal blasphemer, but Lynch Mob stands just a shade taller than George Lynch’s original day job as lead guitarist in Dokken.  Granted, that band had some fantastic songs but my preferences lean to the harder, bluesier tones with the Mob plus singer Oni Logan has some fantastic pipes.  “Sucka” is prime Lynch riffing, nice and chunky and some always tasty lead work.

“I Have The Skill”, The Sherbs The Skill

A few posts ago I had “Obscurities Playlist” filled with goodies like this one from the early 80’s.  This is really a great tune, a nice mix of poppiness and semi-proggy keyboard tones with a sing-songy chorus and some punchy guitar, almost like a riffier late period Genesis that ends with a bash a la The Who.  These Aussies had a few other great cuts that deserve your attention as well.

“Rockin’ All Over The World”, John Fogerty Premonition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFs9YAH9Q_c

John Fogerty, American songwriting icon, leaves Creedence Clearwater Revival for solo career superstardom and releases this mid-70s classic which would have fit on any earlier CCR album with ease.  Really no more than a rockin’ boogie with a feel good riff and a joyfully shouted lyric that we all can relate to and sing along with as well.  You want a great rock song with non-stop danceability?  Look no further!

“Jeepster” T. Rex Electric Warrior

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IseXQNVdSBw

Immense fun and bopping grooveability here, kind of akin to the aforementioned Fogerty in level of fun but with more of a glammy playfulness via the rockabilly bop, lyrical content, and handclaps.  Everyone knows “Bang A Gong” in the Stats but Bolan had a slew of hits in Britain before meeting an untimely demise in the mid 70s.  Bowie, T Rex, Slade…  all originators of that early glam sound.

“No Line On The Horizon”, U2 No Line On The Horizon

Confession here… I didn’t realize this was on my iPod and this is the FIRST time I’ve ever listened to it.  So… first take, it’s not bad; as always with U2 they take more changes than other bands and aren’t afraid to stretch out.  Bono has a great vocal here and this was likely a live favorite on this tour.  Musically a rides an Adam Clayton bassline with solid band playing and different sound effects mixed in to color the tune.

“Tired Of Travellin'”, Ronnie Dawson Just Rockin’ And Rollin’

Thank God I got exposed to the great Ronnie Dawson’s music-  over the last ten years or so I’ve had a slight rockabilly itch and this cat has scratched it sufficiently.  The Texas musician passed away almost fifteen years ago and left some excellent music for us to enjoy, with “Tired Of Travellin'” as good as anything he’s put out.  A great groove, chickin’ pickin’ guitar, and some killer stand up basswork.  Thumbs up!

Wow, wow, wow…  cut of the week is VERY HARD.  I might have to go with “I Have The Skill” but any other day it might be “Tired Of Travellin'” or “Sucka”.  “Jeepster” and “Rockin’ All Over The World” are up there too.