Song Musings

Happy Wednesday and I hope you’re cool, especially if you also live in an area with near record high temperatures like central New Jersey – perhaps an early sign of an abnormally hot summer weather forecasters have predicted for much of the U.S. this year. Wednesday is also the time when I’d like to take a closer look at songs I’ve only mentioned in passing or not covered at all to date.

Today’s pick is Golden Down by Willie Nile. I first covered the New York rock & roll singer-songwriter this February with This Is Our Time as part of a Sunday Six installment. Golden Down is the title track of his sophomore studio album, which came out in April 1981.

In addition to appearing as an album track, Golden Down became the B-side of the single Les Champs Élysées. The great song never gained any traction, which I find surprising. The album wasn’t exactly a smash either, reaching no. 158 on the Billboard Hot 100, though I’ve read it has become a favorite among Nile’s fans.

Apart from Nile (vocals, guitar, piano), the studio recording featured Television bassist Fred Smith and Patti Smith drummer Jay Dee Daugherty, among others. Here’s a live version, which was captured in September 2014. According to the accompanying description, Nile was backed by Matt Hogan (guitar, vocals), Johnny “Pi” Pisano (bass, vocals) and Alex Alexander (drums).

Following are additional tidbits from Songfacts:

In this rock ‘n roll number, Nile finds comfort in the arms of a woman that many listeners assume is a prostitute. He told American Songwriter in 2013 that he was partly inspired by the 1954 movie The Barefoot Contessa, which stars Ava Gardner as a nightclub performer who becomes a Hollywood star and the multitude of men who desire her.

“And I think also just New York street life,” he added. “People I’d see on the street – from prostitutes to the rich to the poor. The thing that fascinates me about New York is the extremes. You know, you’ve got very poor people, sleeping on the street. And you’ve got the very rich. When I first moved here, I thought ‘This reminds me of Dickens.'”

He continued: “The music came to me, and the idea. It was very much a street song. Someone played it the other day on the radio and he said, ‘It’s a song about a prostitute.’ It’s actually about a woman who men desire and don’t respect. What’s the line in the second verse: Street princess/on a throne of cream. I remember writing that and going, ‘Okay. That’ll work.'”

The frenetic guitar work was provided by Clay Barnes and Peter Hoffman, both of whom played on Nile’s first album.

Sources: Wikipedia; Songfacts; YouTube

The Sunday Six

It’s Sunday again, and I’d like to invite you to accompany me on another fun music time travel trip. As always, the itinerary features six stops taking us to music with different flavors from six different decades. Come on and let’s get out of here together!

John Coltrane/Blue Train

Our little excursion today starts in January 1958 with jazz saxophone great John Coltrane, who rightfully has been called one of the most influential artists in the history of jazz. He’s credited to have helped pioneer modal jazz and been on the forefront of free jazz. During his 22-year career, Coltrane has played with the likes of Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Red Garland and Paul Chambers, among many others, as you’d expect from a player of Coltrane’s caliber! This brings me to Blue Train, the title cut of his January 1958 studio album. Coltrane (tenor saxophone) was in fine company with Lee Morgan (trumpet), Curtis Fuller (trombone), Kenny Drew (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Jesse Colin Young/Ridgetop

Next let’s head to September 1973 to visit a true ’70s gem by Jesse Colin Young. The singer-songwriter first gained prominence as a co-founder of American folk rock group The Youngbloods. Among others, Young sang lead on their sole top 40 hit Get Together, a rendition of a song penned by Chet Powers, of psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service. After the break-up of The Youngbloods in 1972 Young resumed his solo career he had first started in the early ’60s. Ridgetop, written by him, is a fantastic yacht rockish track from his fourth solo album Song For Juli. I love the horn work on this song, giving it a cool jazz vibe.

Big Head Todd and The Monsters/Bittersweet

Time to head to the ’90s with a neat track by Big Head Todd and The Monsters, which is right up my alley and hopefully yours as well. This Colorado rock band was formed in 1986. After two albums in 1989 and 1990, they hit it big in February 1993 with Sister Sweetly, which went Platinum in the U.S. and remained on the Billboard 200 for more than a year, though curiously, it only peaked at no. 117. Off that album, here’s the lead single Bittersweet. Like all other songs on Sister Sweetly, it was solely penned by the band’s vocalist, guitarist and keyboarder Todd Park Mohr. Big Head Todd and The Monsters are active to this day and are currently touring, with Mohr remaining part of the current line-up. They also have a great new single out with a cool John Hiatt vibe.

Willie Nile/This Is Our Time

Are you still with me? Coz this is our time, this is our place, this is our journey to jump to June 2013 and the eighth studio album by New York rock & roll singer-songwriter Willie Nile, American Ride. Nile’s recording career started in 1980 with his eponymous debut album. After his 1981 sophomore release Golden Brown, he was dealing with legal problems that bogged him down for the next few years, but eventually, he was able to resume his career. In addition to his solo work, Nile has performed and recorded with the likes of Ringo Starr, Tori Amos, Elvis Costello and Lucinda Williams. From the aforementioned American Ride, let’s listen to This Is Our Time, written by Nile. Yeah, baby, that’s rock & roll!

Anita Baker/Sweet Love

After some blistering rock & roll, let’s take a breather with smooth and soulful vocalist Anita Baker. Sweet Love, a song I’ve always dug, is from Baker’s March 1986 breakout album Rapture, her sophomore release. The album’s first single not only became a top 10 hit on the U.S. pop chart, but also won a Grammy for Best R&B Song at the 1987 Annual Grammy Awards. Sweet Love was co-written by Baker, Louis A. Johnson and Gary Bias. Rapture ended up selling more than 8 million copies worldwide and going 5X Platinum in the U.S. alone (5 million certified sold copies), making it Baker’s biggest commercial success. Man, that’s what I call a great captivating voice!

The Rolling Stones/Under My Thumb

So, what’s missing as we once again reach our final destination? Of course, a ’60s tune – simply a decade I cannot miss. Let’s make it count with one of my longtime favorite songs by the greatest rock & roll band in the world, who just keep on going like the Energy Bunny after more than 60 years! Of course, I’m talking about The Rolling Stones. Under My Thumb, co-written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, appeared as a single in April 1966, coinciding with the release of the UK edition of the Aftermath studio album. The song, which features marimba played by the one and only Brian Jones, was also included on the record’s U.S. edition, which came out in July of the same year. Take it way, boys!

Last but not least, here’s a Spotify playlist of the above goodies. Hope you had as much fun as I did being your conductor. See you ya!

Sources: Wikipedia; YouTube; Spotify