Maine - John Linnell

If you think the voice sounds familiar, you are probably making the connection to one half of They Might Be Giants. John Linnell and his co-TMBG colleague John Flansburgh have been working together as TMBG for 35 years, but have each embarked on individual projects during that time.

One of these solo projects was Songs of the Fifty States. As part of this project, which released in 1999, "Montana" was released as a single, the format of which was a green vinyl record cut into the shape of the 48 contiguous states, and featuring the non-album track "Louisiana" as the B-side.

Crazy stuff, but GREAT fun.

Happy listening!

John Linnell – Maine

Louisiana Saturday Night - Mel McDaniel

Getting back of songs across America with a little something about Louisiana.

Since I grew up out in the boondocks of Wisconsin, I heard music in only one of two places: either on the bus to and from school or from the oversized boombox in our kitchen. And we had one kind of music on that boombox - country.

This particular song holds sepia-tinted images of me dancing around the kitchen and word games with my mom while we did the dishes.  I am sure there were a number of other songs that could fill that space (I am sure that the radio played more than just a loop of this song) but this is definitely one of them.  

Happy listening!  

Mel McDaniel – Louisiana Saturday Night

Barry Morgan

In honor of the last day of the American Guild of Organists Convention, I thought I would share one of the great finds (for me) from the convention. Barry Morgan is an Australian organist who shares his love of artful music with a whole new generation.

Thanks to John and Jeff for sharing this gem!

Organ Music (like you've never heard before)

This week I am at the American Guild of Organists convention, and I thought I would share something from the organ genre with you.

This is from an album Engleskyts, and this whole album is a collection of folk psalm settings reimagined. Everything on this album is organ and soprano, and it is really wonderful, mesmerizing work.  Anne-Lise Berntsen is the amazing vocalist,, and you have never heard the organ quite like this before.  

Even if you don't know Norwegian, you can certainly appreciate this unique work.

Happy listening!

America - Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond, two days in a row! How lucky are you?

For the Fourth of July, I tried to find a patriotic song to feature.  I dug through a number of them (and there are some great ones), but I rediscovered this one.

Happy listening, and Happy Fourth!

Neil Diamond – America

Kentucky Woman - Neil Diamond

Born Neil Leslie Diamond (yes - that is his real name), the artist known for his soft, dulcet tones hails from Brooklyn, New York.  With a career that spans half a century, few musicians can claim the professional staying power of Mr. Diamond.

With his own singing hits like "Song Sung Blue", Sweet Caroline" and "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", it is a little known fact that he wrote a number of other songs made famous by other groups, like "I'm a Believer" by the Monkees, and even had some of his early songs recorded by the likes of Elvis Presley.

Happy listening!

Neil Diamond – Kentucky Woman - 2011 Remastered Mono

Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison

I know, I know - this isn't really as song about the state, but that's OK.  My blog, my rules.

I couldn't find much info about the singer, Wilbert Harrison.  I did learn that this song was a #1 Billboard hit in 1959, although it was written in 1952 by the songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

A classic, and a golden one at that.

Happy listening!

Wilbert Harrison – Kansas City