bill withers

Playlist #278

/ xeyeti / Leave a comment

Happy Monday and happy first day of school, folks! Well, first day for me, anyway. I know the kids out in Oklahoma have been at it for a week or two already. But hey, at least I get to have…(*checks notes*)…three weeks of school more than they do? Yeah, that’ll show ’em. Here’s a playlist.

  1. The Call, “Let the Day Begin”: I’ve told this story several times now. How this was the song they played every morning on the classic rock station out of Oklahoma City. How I heard it on my way to school throughout high school. How it is now forever ingrained within my memory as the song that starts off school. So, here it is, once again, ushering in the first day of the new school year. My 22nd year of teaching. Wild, right?
  2. Charlie Cottrell, “Burnt Offering (Fancy Version)”: Hey, I released a new EP last week! It features this song. I’m pretty proud of the EP and this particular version of the song. It’s all Clyde’s fault.
  3. The Postal Service, “Such Great Heights”: A classic of the indie rock genre.
  4. Dire Straits, “Walk Of Life”: The draw of this song, to me, has always been that organ riff. It’s just bouncy an fun and you ignore the lyrics about the knife and violence. Good times.
  5. The Wallflowers, “How Good It Can Get”: The latest Wallflowers song I’ve learned. It’s remarkably easy to play, which is nice. I’ve always been kinda down on Red Letter Days as an album, but it’s grown on me over the years.
  6. Johnathan Edwards, “Sunshine”: This is apparently an anti-Vietnam War protest song? Who knew!
  7. Marty Robbins, “You Gave Me A Mountain”: God, the way Marty sings this one just kills me. The weariness, the exhaustion, is evident in every single line.
  8. Bill Withers, “Ain’t No Sunshine”: I wish I could make it through every single “I know” in one breath. It’s amazing.
  9. Bob Seager, “The Fire Inside”: The longing and yearning in this song still grab me every time I listen to it. I think Bob Seager was a better songwriter than we gave him credit for.
  10. The Eagles, “Take It To The Limit”: I feel like I’m already at my limit with my first period class, and I’ve only had them once.

Playlist #27

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Good evening! As we roll into November, I have a new playlist full of tasty treats for you.

  1. Drive-By Truckers, “Daddy’s Cup”: When I saw these guys live about 15 years ago, they played this song, and damn if it didn’t blow me away back then. Who knew racing cars could make for compelling family drama?
  2. Yo La Tengo, “Deeper Into Movies”: I always feel like I should listen to these guys more. They’re very good at what they do, and what they do is quite nice.
  3. Wilco, “Handshake Drugs”: I enjoy playing this one on the guitar. It’s only got four chords and two verses, so even my tiny brain can remember it all.
  4. Rockwell, “Somebody’s Watching Me”: One of my freshman students was singing this song the other day. “How do you know that song?” I asked, as she did not strike me as the sort to listen to music that was more than six months old. “TikTok,” she replied, and a little piece of my curmudgeonly heart died.
  5. Bill Withers, “Ain’t No Sunshine”: When he repeats the “I know” over and over and over again, two thoughts run through my mind: (1) he forgot the next line and (2) how did he not pass out?
  6. Bruce Hornsby, “The Great Divide”: This guy writes good songs. I should probably listen to more than just this one and “That’s Just The Way It Is.”
  7. Bush, “Glycerine”: First of all, Bush is pretty terrible. Second, while this isn’t necessarily a good song, it’s at least entertainingly bad.
  8. Carole King, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?”: Still one of the best, most underrated songwriters out there. Is there a bad song on Tapestry? No, no there is not.
  9. Charlie Sexton, “Burn”: Charlie Sexton, 80s heartthrob, Dylan guitarist, guy who puts out an album every decade or so. We’re way past due for a new one, Charlie. Let Bob spin his wheels behind a guitar for a few months, go record something for us.
  10. Courtney Barnett, “Pedestrian At Best”: Australian musician who has a wonderful off-the-cuff, relaxed lyrical style that I enjoy listening to, even if her voice is an acquired taste (and one the Wife has yet to acquire).

Playlist #6

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I had some trouble putting together this week’s playlist. At first, I wanted to do all delta blues-type stuff, but I kept adding songs that weren’t in that style/genre. Then I finally deleted all of that playlist and put together what you see below, an R&B/soul set that I think is pretty good.

  1. Aaron Neville, “Everybody Plays the Fool”: Dude’s voice is very distinctive, and I like this song mostly for the little keyboard flourish at the end of the chorus.
  2. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”: This song just rules, plain and simple. The vocal delivery from both Gaye and Terrell is magnificent, and this is just one of the best R&B/soul songs ever.
  3. Aretha Franklin, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way That I Love You)”: Aretha is the queen, and this song is just one of many reasons why. Honestly, I could’ve put any Aretha Franklin song on this list and it would’ve slapped. She’s just that good.
  4. Nina Simone, “Strange Fruit (Live)”: Shivers. Every damn time. This woman…just…damn.
  5. Ike & Tina Turner, “Proud Mary”: No one does a rave up like Tina Turner. Ike can go to hell, though.
  6. Jackie Wilson, “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher”: Damn, but this guy’s voice. Just listen to him hit those high notes. It’s great.
  7. James Brown, “I Feel Good”: You can’t help but sing along with the Godfather of Soul when this one comes on.
  8. Ray Charles, “Hallelujah I Love Her So”: Ray just knocks it out of the park on this one. And every one. He’s just so good.
  9. Sam Cooke, “A Change is Gonna Come”: This man. This voice. This song. God damn.
  10. Bill Withers, “Ain’t No Sunshine”: The repeated, “I know,” over and over, long past when you’d think he’d run out of breath…so good. And fun to play on the guitar, too.