Reversing the Numbness

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Friday Music

It's Friday. I need music.

But I'll be on a plane to Portland, Oregon, so I've asked my blog buddy Helen Mansfield to fill in for me this week, and she's graciously accepted. Here's a note from Helen:

This Friday, I am asking readers to build their own super group, as I did on this old post.

Doesn't matter if members are living or dead, gather your dream together.

Think Judy Garland should be lead singer for The Buggles? Cool, but give me some links so we can all get an idea of what they would sound like.

Also, give me a short play list of what you think your super group would perform.

Enjoy!
Wow, Helen Mansfield is taking Friday Music to a whole ... nuvva ... level. It'll be interesting to see what everyone comes up with for this.

Link and let link, I always say. Link and let link.

24 comments:

d said...

I think Elvis should come back from the grave and sing David Bowie songs:

Like "Heroes" or "Ashes to Ashes" or "Let's Dance."

Just keep that fool Jeff Lynne away from the King.

More people wateched Elvis's live concert in 1973 rom Hawaii than watched the 1969 moon landing.

josh williams said...

Wow, I am just proud I showed up before it was to late.But I got nothing. However my props to Helen and the idea so more later, but probably to late which is my usual schedule.

Helen Mansfield said...

Mumgerphut: Yes! I like where you're going with this! Yes, I can hear the King snarling his way through "Heroes," and I like it. I don't know if The Jordanaires would bring anything to the table with their "aaaahhhhhh" and "ooooohhhhh" es, do you? And I also agree, Jeff Lynne didn't do anything for those "new" Beatles songs, other than make them sound like ELO tunes.

Josh: What can I say? So what if you showed up at the cocktail party with a costume on? You showed up, and in the "That's Some Good Business" business model, that is 90 percent of it.

Unknown said...

My supergroup would have Toni Halliday from Curve (here's Horror Head) and Martina Topley-Bird (here's Too Tough To Die) sharing vocal duties. Alan Wilder from Recoil would be responsible for sampling and programming (here's Strange Hours), and Johnny Marr from the Smiths would be on guitar (here's How Soon Is Now).

Now if I could play the ressurrection game, Anita O'Day and Dusty Springfield would do vocals for Massive Attack!

moneytastesbad said...

I am a little short on time to put together a Supergroup right now, but This is by a Supergroup. Well, sorta anyway. This one also goes out to To Sleek for his plane ride.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Supergroup? they are on tour right now ;)

Helen Mansfield said...

Hunter: Te amo TEOH! I always thought Shirley Manson from Garbage was the poor man's Toni Halliday. I still pull out my Curve cassettes. I wasn't familiar with Martina, but now I will be totally consumed by her. Yes, I think this Alan Wilder cat and Johnny Marr could rock some serious noise. And well played on the "late ladies." The more I hear this growing crop of young British chanteuses, it makes me yern for Dusty. I've always loved Massive Attack for their ethereal quality.

Money: OK. You kinda cheated here, but I'll give you points. If you had suggested Tom Jones and Art of Noise, or William Shatner with, well anyone, I'd deduct points. This was a tremendous collaboration, it highlights the talents of both Jack White and Loretta Lynn so perfectly. I wish I were in that bar with the pair of them, but then I'd want to make out with them both ...

Raol OK, this is full-on cheating. Winkyface indeed! Yes, Thom Yorke did a stiring dendition of Carly Simon's Nobody Does It Better, but I could too if I were as bombed out of my skull as he appears to be.

John Sheppard said...

Elvis has always, and shall forever, be.

Proof: http://www.nypost.com/seven/07252008/news/worldnews/hunka_stone_121432.htm

John Sheppard said...

My supergroup: George W. Bush backed up by the Residents with Mike Gravel directing and starring in the video.

shy marsupial said...

I am thinking along the lines of Joe Elliott from Def Leppard going the more serious route...lyrically, and teaming up with Jason Wade's band Lifehouse for some background music. Maybe the song You Belong to Me featured, yes, on the Shrek Soundtrack.

Helen Mansfield said...

John: I was afraid this was going to spiral into some weird Elvis thing, and I find it's been instigated by my own husband! Oy! I hope the corporate suits at Graceland International get the rights to that sculpture, replicate it and sell copies at Graceland. That's Some Good Business!

Shy Marsupial: I like. I actually bought The Shrek Soundtrack because I liked that song (and was stunned that is was performed by the dude from Lifehouse) and for Rufus Wainwright's version of Leonard Cohen's song"Hallelujah."
Like master song writer Bob Dylan, I think ANYONE can sing Leonard Cohen's songs better than he can. Teenage Helen LOVED Def Leppard, and saw what I affectionately call "The One-Armed Man Tour" (or Hysteria) in college. I believe Cinderella opened ... ? Icky. Anyway, might I suggest instead of Joe Elliott, Ed Kowalczyk of the band Live; I'd pay to listen to him sing pages out of the phone book.

SleekPelt said...

helen mansfield: Do you like sticking daggers into my heart? Nobody can do this song like Leonard.

SleekPelt said...

Oh, and welcome, John. I borrowed your book from Josh Williams and am really enjoying it.

Shy Marsupial: No need to be bashful around these parts -- all are welcome.

Anonymous said...

I'm too late for this week and pretty sure that I wouldn't have come up with a suitable entry anyway, but I have a suggestion for a later music post.
The Law, you could start with Highway Patrol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_wLVCLPx0M&feature=user

SleekPelt said...

wildflower: It's never too late for Friday Music -- it never closes.

Helen Mansfield said...

Wildflower: Junior Brown plays steel guitar like nobody's business!

josh williams said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87P-1t_8aWU

Ray Charles sings Sail on Sailor. Hows that! Now I have a race to win tomorrow, NASCAR is in town and I'm going to enter my bike, rules be damned!

SleekPelt said...

It's a Saturday night of super-duos, Helen Mansfield. One night only, and you've got a front row seat and backstage passes.

We start in grace and style with a stirring rendition of Ave Maria sung by the incomparable Edith Piaf and Jeff Buckley. Next up is Joan Jett and Chrissy Hynde trading vocals on a little number by Cheap Trick. Finaly, the grand finale, and the reason you've come tonight: Carlos Santana and Bjork meet up for an entirely original version of this classic duet.

Helen Mansfield said...

Sleek: Sorry man. I appreciate the genius that is Leonard Cohen, but I just don't dig that cat. And, with that example you cited, I found Antony Hegarty and he sings that tune WAY better. Plus, Antony he sings a number with our beloved Bjørk, so "circle gets the square."

I sure miss Jeff Buckley. Downed in the Mississippi. What was he thinking? Jamie Cullum does a beautiful version of that tune.

Joshy: Be careful when playing with those NASCAR people. They carry rabies and they're covered with crystal.

josh williams said...

Well I do not know who won the brickyard 400 in Indy today when they refused to allow me to enter my KTM 640 Adventure I guess I became a little irrational and just zoomed it to work. So work was slow because of the race but I suppose the race brings in as much or more revenue than a Super Bowl game so I am waiting for the trickle down economic effect.
Now the Moto GP coming up in Sept is more of an international event and I dare them to disqualify me and my bike, I would ♥ to show those darn GP riders what one man can accomplish on a elderly 640 dual sport bike. Boy I bet the underdogs would support me, and this globe is full of underdogs. I think I am fishing in the right pond, maybe I have to possibly make my sales pitch a little more sophisticated?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfIuDAe95xo

Eric Clapton seems (yes I know this is not Eric playing but under Roger Waters direction he performed like a real artist) I had lost faith in Eric and still do not have much faith in his choice of style or songwriting but if directed well and plays to his strengths it is wonderful. So here is the original song with Eric, taking the helm from David Gilmore who is in my mind a great blues guitarist, I just wish Eric would find a agent who set him up with real music, real blues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9QL7qo69fo

josh williams said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16XiNyX0C4U

OK this is the style of guitar I would like to see from Eric Clapton. The chorus is a bit annoying but well worth the admission to listen to Eric given some release. Jack Palance also makes an appearance along with David Sanborn on the sax. A curious mixture, but somehow it works, or it does if you want it to.

Rob Zero said...

I've been having trouble assembling a hypothetical supergroup, so I am just gonna post links to some genuine ones:

One

Two

Three

d said...

Finally-- a good real super group is the Hindu Love Gods: R.E.M. w/out Michael Stipe but w/ Warren Zevon singing. They only did one album as far as I know, and they do a great version of Raspberry Beret, the Prince tune.