The Sunday Six

Happy Sunday and hope you’re in the mood to join me in the magical time machine to visit music of the past and the present. As always, our trip will have six stops, and it starts right now!

Chet Baker Quartet/Tasty Pudding

Today, our journey begins 1955 with some delicious jazz by the Chet Baker Quartet. The American jazz trumpeter and vocalist, aka “Prince of Cool,” is renowned for major innovations in cool jazz. The recording of Tasty Pudding, which is included on a 1956 album titled Chet Baker in Paris Vol. 3 1955, falls into the period, during which Baker earned much attention. Due to heroin addiction and frequent incarceration, his career subsequently declined before Baker enjoyed a resurgence in the late ’70s and ’80s until his untimely death in May 1988 at age 58.

Naked Eyes/Always Something There to Remind Me

This next pick may surprise some of you. Yes, it’s an ’80s synth-pop tune, but I’m a sucker for memorable melodies, and to me, this song is an earworm. In January 1983, British new wave act Naked Eyes released their debut single, a version of Always Something There to Remind Me. Co-written by songwriting powerhouse Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the tune was originally recorded as a demo by Dionne Warwick in 1963. American soul vocalist and pianist Lou Johnson releases the first charting rendition in 1964. Later that year, English pop singer Sandie Shaw took the tune to no. 1 in the UK. Naked Eyes’ rendition, which also appeared on their first album Burning Bridges, didn’t do badly either, especially outside the UK: No. 2 in New Zealand, no. 7 in Australia and no. 8 in each the U.S. and Canada.

The Lemon Pipers/Through With You

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: No Sunday Six trip can be without a stop in the ’60s as long as I’m the conductor of the time machine. The Lemon Pipers were a short-lived rock band from Oxford, Ohio. They only issued two albums during their less than 3-year run. Through With You is the hot closer of their February 1968 debut album Green Tambourine, which is best known for its title cut. The psychedelic extended track we’re visiting today was written by lead guitarist Bill Bartlett. Yes, it’s long, but it’s a pretty cool tune with a Byrds vibe.

The Front Bottoms/Punching Bag

Time to go back to the present with New Jersey rock band The Front Bottoms. Since their formation in 2007, they have released eight albums to date. Off their latest, You Are Who You Hang Out With released on August 4, here’s Punching Bag. The tune was co-written by the group’s current core members and co-founders Brian Sella (vocals, guitar) and Mathew Uychich (drums).

Mink DeVille/Spanish Stroll

Next, we shall go back to 1977 and a great tune by Mink DeVille. The group around singer-songwriter Willy DeVille blended elements of punk rock, roots rock, soul, R&B, Cajun, Blues and Latin – how’s that for trying to stick them into a genre? Spanish Stroll, penned by DeVille, is a track from the group’s debut album Cabretta, which appeared in the U.S. as Mink DeVille. They would go on to record five additional albums before disbanding in 1985. DeVille subsequently launched a solo career and continued to record until February 2008, about 1.5 years prior to his early death at age 58 from pancreatic cancer.

Tom Faulkner/When You Call Upon the Heart

Once again, we’re reaching our final destination. This time, our trip ends in April 1997 with great music by American singer-songwriter Tom Faulkner. If you’re a frequent Sunday Six music time traveler the name may sound familiar. Otherwise, maybe not, since Faulkner isn’t exactly a household name. To date, he has only released two albums. His most recent one, Raise the Roof, appeared in 2002. For the most part, Faulkner has made his living with commercial music for radio and TV. When You Call Upon the Heart is a tune from his first album, Lost In the Land of Texico, a true treasure trove!

Of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without a Spotify playlist. Hope there’s something for you!

Sources: Wikipedia; YouTube; Spotify