Part 6 – Switching up on ya!

Today’s selection is a tune I consider one of the greatest hooks in musical history. I honestly believe that Marilyn Manson, Meatloaf and possibly even Rosanne Barr could record this tune and it would still be addictive to at least 75% of the people that heard it.

I’ve got a copy of it by the pop/punk band Strawberry Switchblade that is one of the more prized additions to my collection, even if it one of the least listened to.

To my knowledge it was originally recorded by a woman as famous for her physical attributes as she is for her voice and musical talent. I speak of the one and only, Dolly Parton.

The version offered up today is rendered by Bluegrass talent, Rhonda Vincent. While Dolly’s recording is very heartfelt with her actually sounding as if she believes the goofy bastard that is ‘her man’ will be gone in the morning, I much prefer the arrangement on this version.

So listen up, it’s a winner.

Jolene – Rhonda Vincent

Maybe next week I’ll post the original hook that is probably older than most of the readers of RNS.

Part 5 – Freshman Year

Going from junior high to high school pretty much sucks all the way around. You don’t know where you are, where you are going or the vast majority of the people around you.

Hell, it might as well be France; because after all that, you don’t really speak the language and you’re treated like shit.

But at least you have your music.

1987-88 was my freshman year. Bon Jovi’s ‘Slippery When Wet’ was huge and I was listening to today’s album for months on a near constant loop on my Sony Walkman cassette player.

I actually have my original cassette of this album, though it doesn’t play anymore. I also have three other copies of it; one also on cassette and two on CD.

Today’s artist is New Order and today’s album is their epic ‘Substance’

Today’s tuneage: Subculture

If there was an album that I would have to admit to having trouble deciding on which tune to post, it would be this one.

Enjoy!

Part 4: Mood Music

I was having one hell of a time figuring out what to play this week as I’m both saving certain stuff for later and waiting for some newer stuff to arrive. But after careful review of the CD rack, I decided that we’ll get into hooky mood music this week.

I’m sure that most of you have heard of the group Portishead. If you haven’t, just go to your local disc-slinger and buy their album Dummy . Don’t worry, they’re not talking about you for buying their album. Just go buy it and listen to it 4 or five times straight through. Works best on days that aren’t really nice enough to spend outside, also known as Typical Seattle Weather.

Today’s track follows very closely along the lines that Portishead lays down. But since the album it was pulled from is a debut album by the artist, it doesn’t have the flow that they’re albums do.

Don’t get me wrong, it is still very good, and definitely worth the gamble of $15. Especially the track Black Steel, but that track isn’t a mood setter unless you’re looking to get into a race war.

But enough babbling. The artist goes by the name of Tricky and the album is his first major release titled Maxinquaye. If you’ve seen the movie “The Fifth Element”, you may remember Tricky’s character as the guy who gets remotely exploded by Gary Oldman’s character at the terminal for the space cruise.

Remember that album title, you need it in a couple weeks for reference.

Overcome – Tricky