Song of the Day

Song of the Day (245): All My Ex’s Live in Texas – George Strait

There are plenty of downhearted songs about past loves, but not this gem from George Strait. It’s as breezy, graceful and fun as a spring day on the porch with a cold beer. Everything works together to create a gem of a country song: the well-honed craftsmanship of the songwriting, the consummate musicianship that skips […]

Song of the Day (244): Cleaning Windows – Van Morrison

One of my favorite Van Morrison Songs, “Cleaning Windows” captures memories of Van Morrison starting out in Belfast, working as a window washer and playing in bands on the weekend. He pays tribute to the music and books filling his mind: Jimmy Rodgers, Leadbelly, Blind Lemon, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Muddy Waters, Jack Kerouac and […]

Song of the Day (243): In These Shoes – Kirsty MacColl

A fun tune for the slaves to fashion. There’s always a choice between adventures and the shoes. Kirsty MacColl came from British folk music royalty, her father is Ewan MacColl. She drifted in and out of various bands, made her mark singing with Shane MacGowan on the Pogues “A Fairytale of New York” and her […]

Song of the Day (242): I Killed Sally’s Lover – The Avett Brothers

You’re in a beer-soaked, sweaty North Carolina bar, three guys on the stage and wham: One-Two-Three-Four, guitars, banjo and upright bass blast off like the amuck offspring of speed metal and bluegrass, think Appalachian Ramones. In one breath, we get the whole story: Somebody get my shot gun Somebody get my blade Sally’s been laying […]

Song of the Day (241): Smokestack Lightning – Howlin’ Wolf

Imagine sitting in a small dark club on the Southside of Chicago. Gaze upon Howlin’ Wolf in all his raging glory, six foot six and three hundred pounds, eyes wide as hubcaps and shining bright as headlights, mouth like a junkyard dog, smiling like a man about to have his way. A nasty guitar note […]

Song of the Day (240): Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed

In 1972, Lou Reed paired a memorizing bass line by Herbie Flowers with a stylish sax by Ronnie Ross, and he throws in his version of the Rayettes to back him up, all to tell the story of Andy Warhol’s superstars. It may have been shocking to some, but it was just the way certain […]

Song of the Day (239): I Kissed a Girl – Jill Sobule

In 1995, Jill Sobule released this song with light, bouncy music, some puff pop that made it to the charts. Oh, and it’s about the burgeoning relationship of two women. Sobule told Lilith Magazine, “We knew that the only way to get that song on the radio was to make it light and funny, so […]

Song of the Day (238): Androgynous – The Replacements

Paul Westerberg (and the Replacements) are not writing protest songs and not trying to change the world. He writes what he sees: people trying to find their way, trying to make sense in an often nonsensical world, people seeking relationships and love. Now, something meets Boy, and something meets Girl They both look the same, they’re […]

Song of the Day (237): Lola – The Kinks

Boy meets girl in a Soho club. Or does he? And what does it matter? In 1970, I was 12 years old living a sheltered life and then I heard this song on the radio. I put it on a cassette tape (anyone else remember recording songs off the radio?). Music was opening the world […]