I must apologise for my lack of blogging over the past few weeks but the third book has taken up the majority of my time as I edge it towards publication.
I thought that today I will take you on a quick guide of new music that I have enjoyed in the first two months of the year.
First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar
This is an unashamedly nostalgic album that could easily have been recorded in the seventies. The sound is at the country end of folk but it reminds me most of the music that came out of Laurel Canyon in California in the post-sixties haze. Carole King and Neil Young appear to be major influences on these Swedish sisters and their songs are filled with beautiful melodies and gorgeous close harmonies.
Gotye - Making Mirrors
Another album with an older feel but this moves forward a decade and borrows influences from XTC, Talk Talk and The Police to give it an eighties vibe. Those influences are particularly evident in the feature track 'Someone I Used To Know' and 'Save Me'.
This month I'm joined by my first guest from across the Atlantic. Gae-Lynn hails from East Texas and she is the author of the crime novel "The Devil Of Light" featuring Detective Cass Elliot. When Gae-Lynn is not writing the second novel in the series, she is looking after her herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle. You can learn more about her and her work at http://www.gaelynnwoods.com.
Thanks for letting me visit your blog,
Sinclair, and especially to talk about music! I always, always have a song in
my head (at the moment, it’s Saturday Night at the Duck Pond by The Cougars). Even
my dreams have a soundtrack. I’m married to a jazz musician, so our house is
full of tunes by Joe Pass, Lennie Tristano, Charlie Christian, Nat Cole, and many
other jazz giants.
I’m a moody creature when it comes to music
while I write, and quite variable in what I select. But there are a few old
stand-bys that help me put words to paper on almost any occasion:
1. Lola
by The Kinks: There’s such innocence in Ray Davies’ delivery of this song
that I can’t help but smile every time I hear it. It’s the perfect antidote to
an overcast day.
2. Deepest
Darkest by Patti Plinko and Her Boy: My husband and I saw Patti and her boy
perform at a club in Covent Garden. To my ear, she’s the female Tom Waits.
3 Goin’
Southbound by Stan Ridgway: Lyrics are important to me, and Ridgway is a
great storyteller. Listening to him is an education in delivering a full story about
a heist where even the cops are on the take in just a few verses.
4. Mozart:
The String Quartets performed by the Hagen Quartett: They say that Mozart
is brain food, and when played by the Hagen Quartett, I agree. Their box set,
Mozart The String Quartets, is brilliant.
5. Right
Through You by Alanis Morissette: When I think of the number of times a man
has symbolically patted me on the head, dismissing me as he assumed that I was
a sweet little gal with no potential – I could scream. Morissette’s answer to
such condescending behavior is so sweet: phenomenal success. This one reminds
me to keep the violence on the page.
6. Baby
Did A Bad Bad Thing by Chris Isaak: Isaak’s voice is pure sex in this one –
a great backing track for a hot scene.
7. Goody,
Goody by Julie London: I listen to the “Julie is her Name” album for peace.
London’s voice, Barney Kessel on guitar, and Ray Leatherwood on bass. Gorgeous.
8. Creeque
Alley by The Mamas and The Papas: This song describes the lineage of The
Mamas and The Papas, and reminds me that you never know where life will take
you.
10. One
Vision by Queen: Freddie Mercury’s voice is one of my all time favorites. As
is Brian May’s guitar. And May’s hair. This song and its ‘fried chicken’ ending
lifts me!
11. My
Funny Valentine by Chet Baker: In honor of the holiday of love this month,
here’s Chet’s vocal version. His ‘Deep in a Dream’ album is balm for the troubled
soul.
Guilty
Pleasure:
Tom
Sawyer by Rush. Geddy Lee’s bass line, his unique
voice, Neil Peart’s drums. Mmm. Makes me giddy every time I hear it.
Thanks to Gae-Lynn for an eclectic mix of music that I'm sure everyone will enjoy. Your love of music is clear in every track and your comments. Also a big public thank you for all your kind retweets and the conversations we've had on Twitter.
I am not a huge tennis fan but I do like to watch the Grand Slam finals. I was very glad that I tuned in to the Australian Open Final yesterday and witnessed one of the greatest sporting encounters of all time.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal served up an amazing match that lasted nearly six hours. It was not only the fact the the match ebbed and flowed between the two players, it was the quality of tennis throughout. Over five sets and fifty-five games the pair served only six double faults. The exhausting rallies were filled with amazing recoveries, stunning winners and super human effort.
The psychology of sport was also there for all to see. Two sets to one down, trailing by four games to two and forty love down, Nadal looked doomed to defeat. He produce five stunning points in a row to win the game and Djokovic seemed to deflate. Nadal stormed back and won the set.
Then in the fifth set with Djokovic stranded, Nadal had the half the court free to make a winner but found the wrong side of the sideline and suddenly Djokovic was given a new lease of life. The energy was back in his legs and he came roaring through to take the title.
Britain's Andy Murray had taken Djokovic all the way in a five-hour epic only two days previously, which made the defending champion's achievement all the more remarkable.
What struck me most was how the belief that both players meant they never gave up even when the odds were stacked against them. They are magnificent examples of what skill, courage and self-belief can achieve. It was a privilege to watch two young men at the peak of their powers bring credit to their sport with their ability and sportsmanship.
Back to my top ten playlists and this week I'm concentrating on the classic soul of the sixties. I have decided to follow the example of my guests and include videos where I can. I hope you enjoy these classic tunes.
Ray Charles - Hallelujah, I Love Her So
Soul music artists came from either a gospel background or like Ray Charles, a Jazz/Blues background. Charles is regarded as the originator of the soul sound. This song is a joyous declaration of love and in it you can hear both the roots of what was to follow and the reason it's called soul.
Sam Cooke - Bring It On Home To Me
Sam Cooke's smooth vocal style is one of the greatest in soul music, it is also the inspiration for many of the male artists that followed. He was roundly condemned for deserting gospel and starting a career in secular music. This plaintive plea to a departing love shows his talent at its best.
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
I could fill at least three of these playlists with songs by Aretha. She has the voice of angel driven with controlled power. Aretha is a singular talent and there may never be a voice like hers again. She is simply a legend and the first lady of soul.
James Brown - It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World
Master showman, wild man, incredible voice are all apt descriptions of the Godfather of Soul. Brown pushed soul into new areas and is one of the genre's greatest innovators. This song is not politically correct but it shows the range and sheer raw power that Brown could control.
The Supremes - Stop! In The Name Of Love
At the other end of the spectrum was the more commercial sound of Motown. The Supremes were Berry Gordy's premium act and they were one of the most popular groups that soul has ever produced. Stop! is the perfect example of both the amazing songwriting that Gordy had his disposal and the very distinctive sound of his studio.
The Four Tops - Standing In The Shadow Of Love
Motown's male equivalent of the Supremes, the Four Tops were themselves spectacularly successful. They are another of my favourite soul artists and this song is the perfect example of the close harmony singing, fantastic arrangements and sheer joy of Motown at its best.
Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Marvin Gaye began singing the pop/soul songs that were so characteristic of the Motown recordings but he grew into a substantive artist with both critical and commercial success. This song is from early in his career and showcases his apparently effortless vocal style.
Otis Redding - These Arms Of Mine
Atlantic records was the other major record company that produced fantastic soul music. Otis was another man who made singing the most emotionally charged songs sound like it required no effort at all. This is another plaintive love song charged with pain. Otis bares his soul as he declares his sense of loneliness to his absent lover.
Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Stevie Wonder is probably the soul artist who has endured more than any other. If you saw him at Glastonbury a few years ago you would have seen a master of his art with the audience in the palm of his hand. From the late sixties through the early seventies there were very few people pushing the boundaries of music the way Stevie was. This song is an early classic.
Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music
If ever a song expressed the sheer joy of being alive, this is it. From the first blast of horns this song grabs you by the feet and makes you want to dance. If you don't want to move then you might want to make an appointment with your doctor.
There are so many artist and songs that I have had to leave out, it's quite amazing. The sixties saw an explosion of original music and soul was at the very forefront of it. I hope that I have inspired you to investigate some of it for yourself.
As you are all well aware,
I have a great love of music. I have music playing continuously and blog about
my passion regularly. I thought I would invite some of my fellow authors to
share the ten songs that they like to play while they are writing. I have also
requested their guilty pleasure to add a little bit of fun.
My first guest is fellow
Scot, Allan Guthrie. Allan is an award-winning Scottish crime novelist, a
literary agent, and co-founder of Blasted Heath. His latest book is Bye Bye Baby, a police thriller novella,
published in paperback by Barrington Stoke in December 2011. A
self-published ebook edition was an Amazon Kindle top
ten bestseller earlier in the year, selling over 35,000 copies.
Many thanks, Sinclair, for the invitation to supply a playlist of songs
I listen to while writing. I'm afraid I have to cheat a little, since I can't
write when I'm listening to music. I've tried many times but I'm the world's
worst multi-tasker.
So here's a list of the ten songs I listened to most whilst not writing
over the last few months.
Maria Solheim: Different Seasons
Norwegian singer-songwriter of off-kilter pop songs.
Amanda Palmer: Leeds United
In a world where it's hard to be decadent any more, Amanda Palmer
manages to succeed. Btw, this is the video where her record company wanted the
images of her belly removed cause it was too fat. She refused and was dropped
for being uncommercial.
NIN: Something I Can Never Have (live studio version)
Best version of the best song ever written.
The Blue Nile: I Would Never
Paul Buchanan has that same haunting edge to his voice that Trent Reznor
has, and the kind of emotional intensity to their voices that means they could
be telling you the sky is red with yellow spots and you'd believe them without
queston.
Fresh Mud: Make The Devil Mad
Nothing quite like a bit of hard funk, now, is there?
Kimbra: Good Intent
I didn't know noir pop existed till I heard this.
Niki King: Wild Is The Wind
Scottish jazz singer with a great voice.
Julia And The Doogans: Come Home
Another Scottish singer with a great voice. Love the cello. In an idea
world, Bye Bye Baby would be adapted for TV and the end credits would roll over
Julia Doogan's vocals.
Rubberbandits: Song For Willie O'Dea
This should probably be my guilty pleasure, but I think it's such a
great piece of musical parody that I don't feel guilty listening to it. It's a
song about an Irish politician I'd never heard of. Doesn't matter.
The dancing's great. Reminds me of me.
Fiona Apple: Fast As You Can
A good song to play when your deadline's approaching.
Guilty Pleasure:
The Baseballs: Chasing Cars.
Well, um, yeah. Be happy!
Thanks Allan for this fantastic list of songs. There are a few favourites and one or two tunes that are new to and I
love to discover new music. I hope you enjoy Allan's playlist and that you will
support his writing.
I
will be inviting some more authors to contribute their musical favourites in
the near future.
Next year will be the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. I have been a fan of the great man since reading Christmas Carol when I was quite young. I have read it more often than any other book I own and have now added it to my e-book collection. It has also been in my thoughts as my daughter made her first appearance in a school show on Monday, as Scrooge.
What I love about the story is the way Dickens uses the supernatural to make the reader realise the real meaning of Christmas and the way it appeals across generations. It is populated by people that exemplify Dickens' own genius for creating characters and are the secret of the novella's continuing popularity.
Scrooge begins as the very epitome of avarice and greed, the Victorian 'man of business' exposed as heartless and uncaring. Christmas is a day that costs him money, he cares nothing for and knows nothing of his employee Bob Cratchit.
Bob is the antithesis of his employer. He is a dedicated family man and someone who sees Christmas as a joyous time to spend with his family. He must suffer Scrooge's mistreatment for the sake of his wife and children.
Marley's Ghost
Jacob Marley's ghost is the spectre of what may happen to Scrooge if he does not mend his ways. Dickens' perfect use of the chains as punishment for the people who have ignored their duty to their fellow human beings is brilliant. The links they should have made with other people have become they chains binding them to earth.
The ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet to come, each have their own characteristics. The first two ghosts throw Scrooge's own words back at him and as a result make him look in the mirror and begin the transformation to the man he should be.
The characters shown to Scrooge on his journey include the effusive Mr and Mrs Fezziwig who are everything that Scrooge isn't. Scrooge defends them vehemently when the ghost of Christmas past dismisses what they did for their employees at Christmas. It is a glimpse at the person Scrooge used to be before money became his obsession.
It is a short book and there isn't the range of less sympathetic characters that normally populate Dickens' novels. Scrooge is the only 'nasty' character until the final ghost shows him the future. Scrooge's character is reflected in the 'men of business' discussing whether to go to his funeral and the vagabonds arguing over the bed clothes that were stolen while he lay still warm on the bed. Scrooge does not realise who they are talking about until the spirit shows him his own headstone and the transformation is complete.
Scrooge then becomes the spirit of Christmas himself and embraces his responsibility to humanity not just at Christmas but all through the year.
The story was published in 1843 and is one of Dickens' most enduring and best-loved stories. It is also the most filmed story ever with over 60 movies made over the years. Despite that, if Dickens came back for Christmas 2011 he would see child poverty in Britain on the rise once again and the 'men of business' going on their merry way. I wonder what he would he think.
If you haven't read Christmas Carol, you should, it is a masterpiece. If you prefer to watch it with your family, I recommend the 1951 version starring Alastair Sim which was called Scrooge and Patrick Stewart's TV version from 1994.
You can see more of the magnificent original illustrations to the book here.
No matter your faith or if you have none, I wish you all a peaceful and happy holiday period.
Born from the pain of slavery, the blues is the single most important musical genre in American music. The blues gave birth to Jazz, Soul and Rock 'n Roll. Its finest artists inspired many of the great British artists of the sixties and without it there would be no rock, R&B or indie.
I discovered the blues by tracing the origins of the artists like the Rolling Stones. What was revealed to me was music so rich in emotion that I couldn't help but be captivated. So let's go on a short trip to the Mississippi Delta and beyond.
Robert Johnson - Crossroad Blues The legend of Johnson meeting the devil at the crossroads to sell his soul is surely one of the greatest in all of music. As the story goes, Robert Johnson was a poor exponent of the blues until that fateful meeting. When he returned to the circuit he was a guitar virtuoso, an emotive singer and was the new king of the delta blues. The song's a perfect example of the raw sound of those original blues men.
Elmore James - Dust My Broom Producer and consumer of moonshine whisky, Elmore James had the colourful life that made for a great blues man. 'Dust My Broom' is the typical subject matter for blues singers, a cheating woman.
John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom John Lee Hooker's staccato style of delivery is distinctive and unique in the blues. In 'Boom Boom' he tells a girl that he's going to knock her off her feet and take her home by the sheer power of his personality.
Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy The main inspiration for the Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters is one of the very best blues artists. The lyric of this song includes the line 'I'm a rollin' stone'. This is about as good as the blues gets.
Bessie Smith - Me And My Gin Bessie Smith is one of the all-time great singers and was a huge influence on a number of jazz artists who followed her. In this song she covers a popular subject for the blues, alcohol. She plaintively tells anyone who will listen that 'any bootlegger sure is a pal of mine.'
Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning A giant of a man with a powerful voice, Howlin' Wolf was another huge hero of British acts like The Animals and The Faces. This song with its hypnotic rhythm of passing train is his finest work.
Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup - That's Alright Mama The fact the first song that Elvis Presley released was a cover of this song speaks volumes about his influence of 'Big Boy'. Crudup was one of the black artists that helped to create Presley's style.
Sonny Boy Williamson - Don't Start Me Talkin' He was one of the best harmonica players of his generation and also a fine singer. In this song he comes across as the town gossip as he regales us with tales of infidelity, violence and scandal.
B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone Riley 'Blues Boy' King is possibly the most famous bluesman on the planet. Now well into his eighties he still loves to strap on his old guitar 'Lucille' and play for audiences. His distinctive way of bending a guitar string and mellow voice have made him popular with artists such as Eric Clapton and U2.
The end of another list that was way too short, I could probably have created a top 100 of my favourite blues songs. I hope I've inspired you to discover the blues for yourself or if like me, you're already a fan then I hope you will be pressing play on your favourite blues tracks again.
My next musical blog will be about another of the blues children, the classic soul of the 1960's.
You can listen to my Blues Top Ten if you are a Spotify subscriber.
