Shuffled Wednesday - Weather Whiplash

After the balmy temps last week, we got about 4-5 inches of heavy, wet, snow overnight. Travel wasn't advised, so we chilled at TWDQ HQ until it stopped. The sun came out and there was just enough charge left in the blower's batteries to clear things out.

The slim blue iPod Touch had plenty of battery, so Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

Van Morrison - Crazy Love
Neko Case & Her Boyfriends - Furnace Room Lullaby
Bruce Springsteen - The Power of Prayer
Uncle Tupelo - I Wish My Baby Was Born
Peter Himmelman - Between the Damage and the Dust
The Jam - Down In the Tube Station at Midnight
The Hold Steady - Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night
Boz Scaggs - Miss Sun
Slim Dunlap Band - Breeder's Cannonball
Bryan Ferry - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Bonus 11
Bruce Springsteen - Girls In Their Summer Clothes (Winter Mix)

A Van tune from "Moondance" kicks things off this week, Neko wails on the title track from her second album, mid-tempo Bruce from 2020's "Letter to You", then three harrowing tales from Tupelo, Himmelman and The Jam. After that, The Hold Steady preaches, Boz brings some groove, the recently-departed Slim Dunlap giddily mashes up The Breeders with "Wabash Cannonball" and Brian Ferry croons to close it out. The bonus track is more Bruce, a bit more understated than the version on his fine "Magic" album.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question ("So he really does run DOGE after all?"), already in progress. Please keep the discussion civil and do not wander off into "How do you 'support the troops' while you're laying off VA workers?")  

Discuss.

Shuffled Wednesday - February, We Hardly Knew Ya

February is going out like a lamb here. We had enough snow to plow early in the month, then a lion-like week of below zero F temps, but are now in the middle of a run of 40s and 50s that have melted nearly everything. 

Anyway, Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

Sly & The Family Stone - Brave & Strong
Billy Joel - I've Loved These Days
Mary Chapin Carpenter - Quittin' Time (Live - Ryman Auditorium)
Steve Goodman - City Of New Orleans
Bobby "Blue" Bland - Don't Cry No More
Marti Jones - Living Inside the Wind
Crosby/Nash - Immigration Man
Dolly Varden - Girl In A Well
Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness
Erik Brandt - Don't Let It Happen to You

Bonus 11
Bob Dylan - Not Dark Yet

The Slim Blue Touch kicked off this week with a reminder to watch Questlove's Sly Stone documentary on Hulu. Long Island's favorite son follows from the "Turnstiles" album, during the tour for which we saw him *open* for Hall & Oates. MCC delivers a lovely, delicate rendition of one of her up-tempo hits, then Steve Goodman does his classic train song in a live version from "Artistic Hair", his first album on his Red Pajamas label. On the cover, he poses in front of the album's namesake barbershop, smirking with his short post-chemo do. Then we get some early 60s blues, some early 90s jangle, and Graham Nash's border protest tune that seems downright adorable in these days of administrations deporting random brown folks. Chicago alt-rock veterans Dolly Varden check in, then Otis from that Atlantic R&B 1966-1969 collection that I harp about endlessly as Pound-for-Pound The Best Record I Own. 

From the Apple Just Knows Stuff Department:  The closing track is from the Urban Hillbilly Quartet ringleader. His day job is teaching at the HS we graduated from five decades ago, and the reunion details of said class were announced yesterday. And in the bonus eleventh, Bob, yeah, it sure is gettin' there.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question (Would we feel differently about February if our CEO's birthday wasn't in the middle of it?), already in progress. 

Discuss. 

Shuffled Wednesday - How Did It Get to Be Friday Already?

Well, we shuffled these up on Wednesday afternoon while on the way to and from therapy, so how the hell is it Friday already? (Also, our therapist hasn't yet listened to 

Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

The Swell Season - Feeling the Pull
The Waterboys - A Life Of Sundays
The Red Clay Ramblers - Three Guys
Mavis Staples - Pops Recipe
Electric Light Orchestra - Eldorado Finale
Elvis Presley - Treat Me Nice
Ray Charles - You Don't Know Me
Al Green - Belle
The Who - The Kids Are Alright
David Bowie - Your Turn To Drive

Bonus 11
SlipJig - Atholl Highlanders/A Hundred Pipers/Smash The Windows

We start off with a Swell Season track that made our 2009 Faves compilation mainly because it was under two minutes and it fit under the 80-minute CDR limit, but we really did like it. The Waterboys' track is the centerpiece of their "Room to Roam" album that was the follow-up to their huge "Fisherman's Blues" record. The Red Clay Ramblers piece is pianist Mike Craver turning in a delightful baroque tune about Byron, Shelley, and Goethe out on the town that brings to mind Tom Lehrer and Randy Newman. ("I'll pay the waiter, you'll leave the tip / Goethe, for certain, will hide in the curtain and think up a jolly good quip.") Mavis sings about her father, a minute-and-a-half of ELO, then three of the greatest voices ever, Elvis, Brother Ray, and Reverend Al. Roger and Pete vouch for the kids, and we close with a very cool David Bowie bonus track from the "Nothing Has Changed" compilation. The bonus track is from a friend's fiddle/guitar duo.  

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question ("So who IS the Top Dog at DOGE?"), already in progress.

Discuss.

Shuffled Wednesday - Happy Birthday Abe!

Lincoln's probably somewhere in the Great Beyond weeping inconsolably, but we hope he has a happy birthday anyway. 

Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

Todd Rundgren - Sometimes I Don't Know What to Feel

Bruce Springsteen - Darlington County

Jim Walsh & The Dog Day Cicadas - Bucket Brigade

The Replacements - Takin a Ride (Live at Maxwell's 1986)

Ray Charles - Ain't That Love

The Cars - Good Times Roll

Bruce Cockburn - Grim Travellers

Neko Case & Her Boyfriends - Furnace Room Lullaby

The Bee Gees - Spicks and Specks (Live)

Elvis Presley - I Beg of You

Bonus 11

Ivy - How's Never

Todd leads off today from the sprawling "A Wizard, A True Star", followed by my favorite song from "Born in the U.S.A.", followed by local writer Jim Walsh, who's written wonderful words about Bruce as well as a book about the 'Mats, who show up next. Then Brother Ray, something from The Cars' debut, and another Bruce, from his fine "Humans" album. Next up is Neko Case, who recently appeared on John Moe's delightfully-named and highly-recommended podcast on mental health, Depresh Mode, available wherever you get your podcasts. (I get mine via the Overcast app.) We have a live version of the Bee Gees' first hit single, and The King takes us home. 

The bonus track is from the late, great Adam Schlesinger's groovy side project Ivy, and we are thrilled with last night's announcement that Fountains of Wayne will be playing live this summer with Max Collins, the bassist and lead singer from social media heroes Eve 6, filling the huge shoes Adam left behind.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question ("Why isn't that guy in handcuffs yet?"), already in progress. Please keep the discussion civil and do not wander off into "Which guy? You're going to need to be more specific."

Discuss.

 

Shuffled Wednesday - Monkeeing around with Bruce

Happy Wednesday! 

Another busy day today, so thanks again for your patience. 

Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

Steel Mill - He’s Guilty (The Judge Song)

Lake Street Dive - Saving All My Sinning

Little Richard - Directly From My Heart

Linda Ronstadt - Poor Poor Pitful Me

Howlin' Wolf - Who's Been Talkin'

Albert King - Get Out Of My Life Woman

The Monkees - Daily Nightly

Bruce Springsteen - Come On (Let's Go Tonight)

The Monkees - Last Train To Clarksville

Big Star - Give Me Another Chance

Bonus 11

The Beatles - Morning Camera (Speech - Mono) / Two Of Us (Take 4)

Not surprising that a couple of Springsteen tunes would come up on this iPod. That the Monkees did too is a lot more random. Anyway, Steel Mill is one of Bruce's early bands and this track is from the "Chapter and Verse" album that accompanied his autobiography. Lake Street Dive checks in from the great "Side Pony" album, Richard gets his Ray Charles on, followed by Linda covering Warren Zevon. Then we get some blues from Wolf and Albert King, who does an Allen Toussaint tune. The Monkees sandwich the second Bruce song, which would become "Factory" on "Darkness on the Edge of Town" and Memphis pop legends Big Star close things out for today. The bonus track, from the 2021 "Let It Be" reissue reminds me that I forgot to watch the rooftop concert from the "Get Back" DVD on its anniversary last week.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question ("Why aren't these guys in jail?"), already in progress. Please keep the discussion civil and again do not wander off into "What fresh hell today?"

Discuss.

Shuffled Wednesday - Unfrozen

Happy Wednesday! 

Had a lot of important dogsitting going on today, so thanks for waiting patiently for this. 

Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

Jeff Tweedy - Warm (When The Sun Has Died)
Robert Preston, Ensemble - Ya Got Trouble
Bob Dylan - The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
The Pretenders - Message Of Love
The Rutles - Let's Be Natural
Fairport Convention - Poor Will & The Jolly Hangman
The Beach Boys - Let's Go Away For Awhile
Jonathan Rundman - Armyman
Harry Van Walls - Tee Nah Nah
George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Who Do You Love?

Bonus 11
Talking Heads - The Big Country

We open with Jeff Tweedy from an album I have yet to Warm up to, then Professor Harold Hill warns us about the perils of Pool with a capital P, before Bob reminds us laws didn't really apply to rich folks in 1963 either. Listened to a podcast the other day that featured the story of how the Violent Femmes were busking outside a Milwaukee theater and guitarist James Honeyman-Scott went out for a smoke, heard them, and invited them in to come in and open for The Pretenders that night. If you've never heard The Rutles's excellent Beatleish tunes, do yourself a favor and go look 'em up. It's fun figuring out which tunes they're referencing. This one has a lot of "Across the Universe" in it. Then we have some British folk-rock, a Pet Sounds instrumental, and Jonathan Rundman, who's now an ELCA pastor and still rockin' around these parts. The great Atlantic R&B collection checks in again, followed by Thorogood covering Bo Diddley. The bonus track reminds me that "Stop Making Sense" is playing on the big screen at the venerable Heights Theater in March.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question ("Is he memorizing JOKES...from Cap'n Billy's Whiz Bang?"), already in progress. Please keep the discussion civil and do not wander off into "What fresh hell today?"

Discuss.

 

Shuffled Wednesday - What a week, huh?

It's Wednesday, Lemon. 

Forgot to bring the iPod Touch along on this morning's grocery run, so we did this on the afternoon errands.

Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

Wilco - EKG

The Belfast Cowboys - When I Deliver

Fountains of Wayne - Elevator Up

Peter Case - Rise And Shine

XTC - Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)

Golden Smog - Friend

La Vern Baker - Jim Dandy

Santana - No One To Depend On

Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing

Fleming & John - That's All I Know

Bonus 11

The Beatles - Things We Said Today (Live at the BBC)

Bonus 12 (because it flowed seamlessly out of 11)

The Beatles - I'm Happy Just To Dance With You

Bonus 13 (because it's funnier than hell that a 19-minute song came up after this all led off with a 1:16 track)  

Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant

It's like the iPod knew I needed my favorite bands this week, so right out of the chute, we have a brief Wilco instrumental, The Cowboys blazing through an unreleased Van Morrison rave-up, a Fountains of Wayne b-side, Peter Case from his finest album, some old XTC, and tune from Golden Smog's first full-length album. Then La Vern Baker from the indispensible Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974 box, my favorite Santana single, the song that put Dire Straits on the map, and the vocal prowess of Fleming McWilliams. At first, I thought the two Beatles songs were part of a medley. 

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question ("What do you think of a felon pardoning violent felons, Senator?"), already in progress. 

Please keep the discussion civil and do not wander off into "How exactly will this bring down the price of eggs, Congresswoman?"

Discuss.

Shuffled Wednesday - The Ides of January

Had a cold start to Wednesday here, so let's see what kind of warmth the Blue iPod Touch has to offer.

Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

Steve Earle - Someday

Neko Case & Her Boyfriends - Guided By Wire

Carrie Newcomer - The Season Of Mercy

The Dave Brubeck Quartet - The Way You Look Tonight

Del Amitri - Don't Come Home Too Soon

The Dukes Of Stratosphear - The Mole From The Ministry

Steve Earle - N.Y.C.

Los Lobos - River Of Fools (Live)

The Beatles - Let It Be (Album Version - 2021 Mix)

SlipJig - St. Anne's Reel/The Musical Priest

Bonus 11

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Wait Until Tomorrow

We begin with Steve Earle from his debut and later, a rocker from the excellent "El Corazon" album. Neko Case's barroom twang leads into Carrie Newcomer's Midwestern folk. The Brubeck is from the "Jazz at Oberlin" album, when college students were being bitten by the jazz bug, recorded in Finney Chapel (designed by MN capitol architect Cass Gilbert #LocalAngle). We were in that room several times while the younger son was attending there. Picked up a Del Amitri Best of recently and boy, can they deliver the tuneful rock. The Dukes are the cool XTC psychedelic-rock side-project, Los Lobos--the Greatest American Rock 'n Roll Band--check in with a live cut from a Best of collection. Sir Paul and the boys sing about Mother Mary, and we get one from a friend's fine fiddle/guitar duo album. 

Jimi's the bonus, from an album that was released ON THIS VERY DAY in 1968.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question ("How many gin & tonics constitute a healthy breakfast?"), already in progress.

 

Shuffled Wednesday - Week Two

Happy Wednesday! Time to see what the ol' iPod Touch serves up this week.

Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

R.E.M. - Nightswimming
Graham Parker - Hotel Chambermaid
Prince & The Revolution - Anotherloverholenyohead
Los Straitjackets - Popotitos (Bony Maronie) (Starring Cesar Rosas)
Crowded House - I Can't Keep Up With You
John Denver - Leaving, On A Jet Plane
Steve Dawson - Leadville
Robin Lane and The Chartbusters - It'll Only Hurt a Little While
The Jayhawks - Big Star
The Ventures - Cruel Sea

Bonus 11
Bettye LaVette - No Time to Live

"Nightswimming" usually winds things down, but nicely opens the list up today. Graham Parker's solo set followed by The Belfast Cowboys on the bowling lawn on the roof of Brit's Pub in mid-July has been my favorite show for the last decade. Prince checks in from the fine "Parade" album. Los Straitjackets' "Rock en Español Vol. One" is a blast and Rosas's bandmate Louie Perez's liner notes are worth the price of admission. Unlike last week, there's a couple of tracks from this past year and the devastating "Leadville" is on my list of 2024 favorites. Denver's song was a hit for Peter Yarrow, who left us yesterday, and his bandmates. Some fun Jayhawks, surf guitar from The Ventures, and the bonus is a Traffic song from Bettye LaVette's excellent album of British rock covers.   

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question ("The Gulf of America? What the...?"), already in progress. 

Please keep the discussion civil and do not wander off into "Greenland? What the...?"

Discuss.

Shuffled Wednesday - New Year's Day 2025

Happy New Year! I figured we'd help deal with the fresh hell that 2025 will be serving up regularly by reviving this blog. 

(I originally planned to do this on Mondays, starting next week, but hit upon a great idea last night thanks to my favorite bit from "Ted Lasso" so Wednesdays it is.)

What does the Little Blue Touch have in store to kick off the new year? Let's...Hit...Shuffle!

The Decemberists - June Hymn
Aretha Franklin - Who's Zoomin' Who
Laura Nyro & Labelle - Jimmy Mack
The Beatles - In My Life
Wilco - In a Future Age (Alternate Version)
Ray Charles - Here We Go Again
Jason Isbell - 24 Frames
The Belfast Cowboys - Precious Time
The Monkees - Sunny Girlfriend
Ivy - Twisting

Bonus 11
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - My Love Will Not Let You Down (Live in New York City)

Weird that it's such an old mix, with nothing newer than Isbell's tune, which turns ten later this year. Go check out the Laura Nyro & Labelle (before "Lady Marmalade" made the latter famous) album if you haven't already. Been listening to a lot of Wilco lately since I was unable to attend their recent three-night stint in St. Paul. Brother Ray sings some Country AND Western. The Belfast Cowboys are a local band that's been playing mostly Van Morrison covers for a couple of decades and are a ton of fun live. Ivy was the side project of Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger, and dammit, it's coming up on five years since the early days of COVID took him.

We now return you to This Week's Discussion Question ("We gotta play 'em twice in the same WEEK?"), already in progress.