The Rules: I reset the play counters for all the songs currently on my iTunes. Then at the end of every week, I check to see what the top five most played songs are. Whatever happens to be in this top five are then presented in order here from most played to least. If I have posted a particular song in the past, then I will bypass that song and post the next in line. If one artist dominates the list, then I will write about that artist in lieu of a Top Five list.
Man alive I didn’t think I’d make it through this week. I’m sorry, but four quizzes and an exam are simply far too many quizzes and exams to be doing in a week.
I’ll tell you, though, I can draw out the Kreb’s Cycle for you now and explain how the Electron Transport System works. It’s pretty neato-mosquito… I can even tell you (theoretically) how many ATPs you can generate from a triglyceride with 20 Carbon tails. Yes, it’s this kind of information that keeps me on the edge of my seat with every day of class.
I don’t know how I did on my Microbiology exam, but I’m kind of dying to know. Do you think this means that I feel pretty confident or pretty crappy about it? I swore to everyone in my study group that if I got an “A” on my test, I’d kiss the professor. Somebody even offered $5 to see it happen regardless. Hmmmm… I could use $5…
Anyhow, here’s This Week’s Top 5 Most Played Songs From Swap’s iTunes. Most of it is funky stuff for some reason… I guess Microbiology brings out the funk in me.
Mother Popcorn – James Brown
James Brown was at the top of my playlist this week. I needed the funk and he always delivers.
“Mother Popcorn” has always been one of my favorites. I remember blasting this on a stereo in a San Diego beach house with the windows wide open. The neighbors never complained because who the heck would ever complain about James Brown? Only people who aren’t fans of James Brown and people who think that Premonition was a good movie.
I am neither of those, so when I needed a quick-pick-me-up, I played “Mother Popcorn” and boogied on down. The interesting thing here is that I don’t exactly know HOW to “boogie on down” because I suck at dancing. The best I ever managed at my high school prom was a really, really, REALLY bad Cabbage Patch… but that made my date laugh and I got to smooch… so it all worked out for Ol’ Swap.
But I know that if James Brown saw me try to boogie, he’d punch me in the face on principle alone.
But I ALSO know he’d pat me on the back right afterwards for spinning “Mother Popcorn” 18 times this week.
Your Dig-It Download:
Download: Mother Popcorn
It’s Your Thing – Cold Grits
I’ve had this Cold Grits song in my iTunes for quite a while now… I listen to it every now and then, but didn’t really play it that much until this week. Man ALIVE I dig it, and so will you once you play it loud and proud. Go on and hit “play” below! You’ll be glad you did!
Just the beginning of the song gets my blood going! That double snare intro sets up the groove so well… I tell ya, there’s nothing like a funky drummer (say… don’t James Brown have a song called that?)… and that B3 organ is just as sweet as velvet cake with cheesecake frosting smothered all over Linda Carter dressed up as Wonder Woman.
I can’t find much info on the group Cold Grits… I do know that this track “It’s Your Thing” (along with many more funky grooves) can be found on this collection: What It Is! Funky Soul And Rare Grooves [1967-1977]. If you’re into the funk, you have GOT to pick this up.
“It’s Your Thing” was played 13 times.
Your Dig-It Download:
Download: It’s Your Thing
Pixie (Live At Montreux – The James Booker Session)- James Booker
This James Booker live recording is so good that I’m going to have to post the entire bootleg soon. His New Orleans style of piano has been a fascination of mine ever since my brother played some of it for me a few years back. “Pixie” is off his 1976 record Junco Partner, and like I said, it sounds GREAT here.
I remember trying to learn the New Orleans piano style but could never quite get it right. Sure, if I had a transcription, I could play what was on the page, but improving in this style always eluded me. Booker has some pretty unique left hand patterns that I couldn’t figure out. Maybe someone out there can give me some idea on how to get it right?
Great Caesar’s Ghost! On a whim I looked to see if any of Booker’s transcriptions are out there, and whaddyaknow? You can find selections of his music in The James Booker Collection. AMAZING!
If you dig what you hear, go pick up more Booker albums… or listen to some Dr. John.
I played “Pixie” 10 times this week… so cool!
Your Dig-It Download:
Download: Pixie (Live At Montreux – The James Booker Session)
You Know What I Mean – Jeff Beck
I remember the first time I heard Jeff Beck‘s album Blow by Blow… yes, my oldest brother, John, played it for me because he knew my growing fascination with the Fender Rhodes keyboard. I could not BELIEVE how much this album made me want to get together with a bunch of guys and just jam for hours. I used to put headphones on and groove along with the record… I never quite sounded as good as the keyboardists on the recordings (Max Middleton and Mr. Stevie Wonder, but I gave it my best shot… and sometimes that’s all you can do… unless you can do more.
The opening track, “You Know What I Mean,” taught me a lot about how the Rhodes keyboard can sound… the farts, the dynamics, and especially how it sat so well in a rock band setting… if you can, try to focus on just the Rhodes and you’ll find that it actually has it’s own riff underneath everything. It’s not just playing the same chords or riffs as everything else… it can actually stand on its own as the backbone for the song if need be.
TOTALLY cool.
I only played “You Know What I Mean” six times this week, which meant that I did not play it enough.
Your Dig-It Download:
Download: You Know What I Mean
Old Landmark – Aretha Franklin
“Old Landmark” is an Aretha Franklin recording that I return to time and time again for positive, uplifting energy. It’s off one of my most played cd’s, Amazing Grace… Franklin’s voice sounds incredible here, and if you haven’t heard it yet, you are missing OUT.
Actually, the first time I ever heard the song “Old Landmark” was from one of the greatest “band” movies ever, The Blues Brothers. Mr. James Brown sang it… yup… he did. And he did it live because he wasn’t able to lip-sync it correctly… plus, he’s James Brown, and James Brown don’t lip-sync.
So if you’re feeling kind of down or blue, I would highly suggest playing “Old Landmark” immediately. Without haste. Like, right now, man.
I played it five times this week. Once a day from Sunday to Thursday… tried to make it the first song I played in the morning. It didn’t always happen, because I see dead people.
Your Dig-It Download:
Download: Old Landmark
Popularity: 1% [?]
You funkadelicized cuz, face it, the Kreb's Cycle secretly gets you in the groove. You be GROOVIN' ON and LUVIN' you some o' dat.
and “I know that if James Brown saw me try to boogie, he’d punch me in the face on principle alone.”… THAT'S funny :) and also not true. He'd be too busy trying to pick himself off the floor where he was collapsed laughing. JK :)
Seriously cannot wait to hear what you've picked out up above. I need me some o' dat.
What ever happened to funk, BTW? who still does it?
You funkadelicized cuz, face it, the Kreb's Cycle secretly gets you in the groove. You be GROOVIN' ON and LUVIN' you some o' dat.
and “I know that if James Brown saw me try to boogie, he’d punch me in the face on principle alone.”… THAT'S funny :) and also not true. He'd be too busy trying to pick himself off the floor where he was collapsed laughing. JK :)
Seriously cannot wait to hear what you've picked out up above. I need me some o' dat.
What ever happened to funk, BTW? who still does it?