Three for the Ride: Aimee Mann, Led Zeppelin, The Eric Gales Band

Some days, I take the train to work. Other days, I drive. Either way, I listen to music on the way. I put the iPhone music player on shuffle, and off I go. Calling my collection eclectic would be an understatement. It's often an interesting mix. There are songs though, that I really wish the world could appreciate as much as I do. Songs that make me say, "Ooh, listen to THIS! Isn't it great?!"

Here's what I heard this morning:

Aimee Mann: "I Should've Known"
Formerly of 'Til Tuesday fame ("Voices Carry"), lead singer Aimee Mann has gone on to a solo singer/songwriter career that has led to her songs appearing in movies like Magnolia, Jerry Maguire and on the cult t.v. hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In a word, she's fabulous. I love her music. Great songs, great lyrics, great hooks, and a great voice. This song is the opening track from her first solo record, 1993's Whatever. The production on it is killer. If you listen to this and don't fall in love with her stuff... I've added a link to the original video, which I can't embed here ;(

Here's a link to a video of the song as it should be heard!

The only version I could find on YouTube that wasn't corrupted was a live version from the Jules Holland show- the band's a little flat on this one, so listen to the other version, if you can.



Led Zeppelin: "Bring it on Home"
Yeah, I've done Zeppelin recently. But this is such a great song. and can you ever really do too much Zeppelin? I didn't think so. The intro and outro is based on the 1964 Sonny Boy Williamson version of the song Wille Dixon wrote, but the rest is all Page and Plant. When the band comes in at 1:43, it just doesn't get any better and John Bonham's drums on this song are crazy. Tied for my favorite track on 1969's Led Zeppelin II, I give you...



The Eric Gales Band: "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"
I was standing around waiting for King's X to take the stage in Tempe, AZ, listening to what their sound man was playing on the sound system, when I heard Eric for the first time. It is rare that I will go out of my way to find out who an artist is. His guitar playing is incredible. I have since seen him live and can tell you, the dude is the real deal. He does a Hendrix tribute that will leave you amazed. He's also teamed up with King's X's Dug Pinnick recently in Pinnick, Gales, Pridgen. This cover of the Beatle's song is from 1993's Picture of a Thousand Faces. Just listen to the guitar work.



Until next time...

Three from the Train: Brand X, Chris Whitley, Dread Zeppelin

Every morning that I decide to drag myself to the city, I have a little over an hour to listen to music on the train. I put the iPhone music player on shuffle, and off I go. Calling my collection eclectic would be an understatement. So it's often an interesting mix.

Here's what found its way into rotation today:

Brand X: "Sun in the Night"
From 1977's Moroccan Roll, this track features Phil Collins singing Sanskrit and Percy Jones on what I can best call Sitar Bass - a weird phased and chorused out the wazoo fretless bass part that dominates the song. If you've never heard this album in it's entirety, you're missing some of the best British fusion ever made.



Chris Whitley: "Can't Get Off"
1995's Din of Ecstasy is the follow-up to Chris Whitley's amazing debut, Living with the Law. I love the guitar on this track. I can't say enough about how much I love Chris's work. The world lost him to lung cancer almost a decade ago - tragic. If you don't know about Chris Whitley, check him out.



Dread Zeppelin: "Nobody's Fault But Mine"
What DO you get when you reboot Zeppelin as a Reggae band and hire an Elvis impersonator as your lead singer? Dread Zeppelin, of course. From their second album, 5,000,000* (*Tortelvis Fans Can't Be Wrong). Nothing I can say can prepare your for this if you've never heard them before.



Until Next Time...

Three from the Train: Pat Benatar, Stone Temple Pilots, Led Zeppelin

Every morning that I decide to drag myself to the city, I have a little over an hour to listen to music on the train. I put the iPhone music player on shuffle, and off I go. Calling my collection eclectic would be an understatement. So it's often an interesting mix.

Here's what found its way into rotation today:

Pat Benatar: "We Live for Love"
This is the third single from 1979's In the Heat of the Night. The song, written by Pat's future husband, Neil Geraldo, was the first that I'd heard from her. I actually caught it on a Saturday afternoon music video show, long before MTV had birthed. That soaring, breathy mezzo-soprano and the classic 80's progression - I have to admit that I fell in love with her instantly.



Stone Temple Pilots: "Long Way Home"
Shangri-la-di-da is the band's fifth album. It's woefully underrated and "Long Way Home" is the last track on that album. I was a late comer to STP. I loved their second album, Purple. And then, in 2001, I bought No. 4 and rediscovered them. The band is so talented. I'm particularly fond of Scott Weiland and am saddened that he's been ubable to stabilize his life and that he's no longer a part of STP. There's also no denying Jimmy Page's influence on Dean DeLeo's guitar playing. This song is a clear example of that. The riff could have come off any later Zeppelin album and the solo is classic Page-like stuff.



Led Zeppelin: "Song Remains the Same"
So, how do you follow up from an album like Led Zeppelin 4? Hard to top "Stairway to Heaven," "Black Dog," "Rock and Roll," and "When the Levee Breaks." The answer is, Houses of the Holy. Personally, I think this is their weakest outing (until In through the Out Door) yet there are some good songs on the album: "Over the Hills and Far Away," "Dancing Days," and this track in particular. Great guitar work on this track. One could say Jimmy definitely matured as a guitarist on this album. Fortunately, they followed up with Physical Graffiti, my favorite Zeppelin album.


Until Next Time...