Ok...so it's a weird collection. I'll admit that ahead of time, and save you the trouble.
It comes as a result of trying to find obscure songs I like, versus finding songs I like that are obscure. It's a subtle difference, but worth noting.
Track listing:
1) Fanfare/You Know It - Tower of Power. Album: "Prime Cuts".
Most of my best sampler albums came from the Logos Earthquake Emporium,
(where I had many chances to buy (but didn't) "Y Kant Tori Read)" and this
album is one of them. Sheffield Labs records everything live to two-track
tape, with no overdubs or any fancy recording tricks. Just musicians
performing together, creating a live-ish album in the studio. I like the
exuberance of the song, and it's no coincidince that both I and Sheffield
Labs led off with this song.
2) The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul - Ruben Blades. Album: "A Testimonial
Dinner".
This album is an XTC tribute album. I'm a sucker for tribute
albums for artists I know, generally enjoying other interpretations of
songs I know. This version of the song is in English, but still has an
unmistakable Latin beat.
3) Orange Blossom Special - Glenda Faye. Album: "All-Ears Review, Vol 5".
The song is a bluegrass standard, and it's one of those songs where, if you
can play it, you're playing it well, and she plays it well. All-Ears Review
tried to be a CD magazine of obscure music. I have volumes 2-5, and, no
surprise, picked these up at Logos, at the old location.
4) Sleeping Through Heaven- Game Theory. Album: "Distortion of Glory".
Game Theory is one of my favorite groups. This is a fun little song,
reasonably reflective of the rest of their material. Describing their
sound as "jangly guitar-pop" probably wouldn't be inaccurate. This song
is from a compilation album of the original EP's, and was recorded in
Scott Miller's bedroom. A more cleaned up version can be found on the
album "Tinkers to Evers to Chance", which is a best-of album. I chose
this version simply for obscurity.
5) BB King Was Wrong - John Gorka. Album: "All-Ears Review, Vol 3".
I just like this song. A nice "dig" at a classic song, with good
energy.
6) Love You Till Tuesday - David Bowie. Album: "Alterno-Daze".
The title track to a Bowie album I never heard of, it's a song I'd never
heard before I found it on a sampler album I picked up at half price at
a Longs. To me this song is David Bowie imitating Ray Davies. Research
shows this was originally a video, released in 1969, which accounts for
it's obscurity and style. In any case, it's a fun Bowie tune that only
the hardcore fans are familiar with.
7) The Alta Virago, or Vargus Barking Spider - Nick Cave. Album: "Smack My Crack".
Nick Cave reading from _And the Ass Saw the Angel_. A nice, if eerie
track, from an album compiled by John Giorno. The album was released in
England, and is another Logos find for me. I originally picked it up for
the Tom Waits track on it, with all the other tracks being gravy.
8) On the Nickel - Tom Waits. Album: "Heartattack and Vine".
A fantastic song from my favorite artist. I thought I had a bootleg version
of the song somewhere, but was only able to find the studio version of any
length - the one bootleg I found was considerably condensed. To be "On the
Nickel" is to be on skid row; living under I-5 in Los Angeles. Or so the
story I couldn't find goes.
9) Going to California - Never the Bride. Album: "Encomium".
"Encomium" is a Led Zeppelin tribute album that I've had, but never really
listened to. I found this track and fell in love with it. A discovery
for me, as well as probably many other people. A pity that Never the Bride
only made one album in 1995 and then disappeared.
10) In a Crisis - World Entertainment War. Album: "World Entertainment War".
Rob Breszny, before he became famous for his Freewill Astrology became
famous in the Santa Cruz area for his band World Entertainment War. They
eventually released an album, and then a CD, and then, almost inevitably,
broke up. There is, apparently, a new album out, available on his web
site, but it seems to feature most material on this album from 1990.
Probably worth seeking out.
11) World's Famous - Malcolm McClaren. Album: "Duck Rock".
Malcolm McClaren and Trevor Horn's (producer) look at and interpretation
of African music, combined with one of the first instances of rap/scratchin'
music on a major album. This track features the World's Famous Supreme Team,
and could only come at the end of the album.
Hope you enoy the songs.
David (or Dave), aka Dr. Seuss