Sometimes, I think that only music keeps me (partially) sane. And every Friday, I disappear to the man cave to let my iPod do its best (or worst) to produce a random shuffle played through my half a house brick sized sound system. It’s LOUD.
I’ve reached my cave now, so let’s rock.
1. Lady Marmalade by LaBelle (featuring Patti LaBelle). “Giuchie, Giuchie, ya ya dada (Hey hey hey), Giuchie,Giuchie, ya ya here (here), Mocha Chocalata ya ya (oh yea), Creole lady Marmalade” is all I can say about that.
2. Night Nurse by Gregory Isaacs. The late, great Gregory Isaacs in a tune from…OMIGOD…1982.
3. Goin’ Home by Toto. Brilliant track from the excellent 35th anniversary live album, featuring then Toto members Nathan East (bass) and Simon Phillips (drums). Criminally underrated band, but not by me.
4. I’m in Great Shape by Brian Wilson. His ‘solo’ version of Smile came out before the Beach Boys original finally appeared four decades late and it’s not good by comparison (the Beach Boys’ version is won-won-wonderful).
5. In My Room by Albert Hammond Jr. From the excellent ¿Cómo Te Llama?, the Strokes’ axeman accidentally (?) borrows huge chunks of Spanish Harlem in this neat little rocker.
6. The Verb (to love) by Todd Rundgren. Well, he’s a genius, isn’t he?
7. Top of the Stairs by Skee-Lo. Love the I Wish album.
8. Anthem for a Lost Cause by the Manic Street Preachers. From Rewind the Film, this has more than a hint of the Beautiful South about it. Very good.
9. How Do You Do by Shakira. Mrs Pique warbles through one of the tunes from Oral Fixation Vol.2.
10. All I Need by Air. Moon Safari is one of those records everyone should own.
