The Friday Music Shuffle (17.1.25)

by Rick Johansen

With just six weeks of the meteorological winter left, it’s time to play some music. And not just any old music but my Friday Music Shuffle music.

Every week, my music machine selects 10 random songs from my collection. As I listen along, I tell you, my loyal reader, what it’s chosen and I hope against hope that you listen, too. Just click on the song title to join in the “fun”.

I hope you find something you like.

  1. Saltwater by Danger Mouse and Black Thought. A banger from 2022’s Cheat Codes.
  2. Love Has The Power by Toto. What a great track this, from the greatest hits compilation Past To Present 1977 to 1990 even though it wasn’t even a hit single or in fact released as a single at all. Features Jean-Michel-Byron who was only with the band for short while.
  3. ABC by The Jackson Five. Things were so much simpler back in 1970 when The Jackson 5 released their patchy second album, called ABC. This is fantastic.
  4. A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You by The Monkees. A quite brilliant Neil Diamond song from 1967, on which he sings backing vocals. Davy Jones at his very best.
  5. Tonight by Phoenix Feat. Ezra Koenig. Simply magnificent by the French indie rockers, from 2022’s Alpha Zulu, and featuring the Vampire Weekend man, Mr Koenig.
  6. Ain’t No Hat 4 That by Robin Thicke. The controversy over the 2013 album’s title track, Blurred Lines, somewhat overshadowed what was actually was a decent soul and funk record. Nice.
  7. Take It All In by St Etienne. Well, this is lovely. From 2017’s Home Counties.
  8. What I Need by Pearl Charles. In 2021, Pearl made a fine, country-tinged album called Magic Mirror. The stand-out, truly great track was Only For Tonight, but this, too, is lush
  9. Let It be by Chrissie Hynde. From the otherwise excellent The Art of McCartney compilation LP. This is a bit of a waste of time.
  10. Dancing With A Ghost by St Vincent. The truly wonderful St Vincent AKA Annie Clark with a 46 second instrumental from her 2017 LP Masseduction.

This week’s Desert Island Disc was, by a very short head, A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You by The Monkees. It always takes me back to childhood and I still love the song today.

Have a good week till next week.

 

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