Follow on TwitterWatch: Curtis Mayfield Performs ‘Move On Up’ Live @ The Hague, 1987
‘Move On Up’ is one of the best songs ever written. Curtis Mayfield was the master of socially-aware, inspirational music, and his live performances were as tight and emotional as his studio recordings. His music was and still is loved and covered by artists from all over the world. Here he was in 1987 playing in The Hague, Netherlands. Enjoy!:
‘Move On Up’ or the full length album, Future Shock, can be downloaded here: 
Watch: Everything But The Girl Perform ‘Before Today’ Live In London ’99
I’ve been a long-time fan of Everything But the Girl. They have an endless discography of great songs; always managing to keep it fresh by allowing their sound to evolve quite dramatically with the times. Their early sound had a jazzy, French Cafe-ish feel — not unlike the Style Council (another favorite of mine) — but absolutely nothing like the electronica music they would become famous for in the years to follow.
I’ve gone through periods — especially in the mid-to-late 90s — virtually addicted to their electronica/dance albums; never quite getting enough, never tiring of them.
Here they are performing their song, ‘Before Today,’ live at The Forum in London, England (November 1999).
The single, ‘Before Today,’ or its full-length studio album, Walking Wounded, can be downloaded here:
Watch: Jesus & Mary Chain w/ Hope Sandoval “Sometimes Always” Live – 1994
If you were told The Jesus & Mary Chain were attempting to pen a love song — a duet — this is EXACTLY what you’d hope to get from them. Somehow they managed to incorporate their signature detached (brooding) style — something unheard of in a traditional love song — and yet it works here on so many levels. They found the perfect female counterpart to Jim Reid in Hope Sandoval — ex-lead singer of Mazzy Star.
For me the song conjures up images of the American west — I’m thinking desert tumbleweed blowing around, Budweiser beer, Marlboro cigarettes, a young couple overcoming typical male indiscretion and indifference — both projecting the energy level of two junk addicts. Wait a minute, am I simply recalling the treatment for the original promo video? But there IS beauty lurking behind this lifelessness.
Over the years, I’ve continued to come back to this song, ‘Sometimes Always,’ whenever I contemplate dusting off one of the old J&MC CDs. Here they are with Hope Sandoval performing live on the David Letterman Show in 1994. Enjoy!
The single, ‘Sometimes Always,’ or their full length greatest hits album, 21 Singles, can be downloaded here:
Watch: Paul Weller Performs One Of His Best Hits, “Wild Wood,” Live
Paul Weller does an incredible live version of his amazing single, “Wild Wood.” Enjoy!:
Watch: Mundy Performs His Awesome Hit “July” @ Trinity College, Ireland
This song by Mundy is very catchy — extremely popular throughout Ireland — yet, I doubt more than a half-dozen people in America have ever even heard it. It’s really shocking how so much great music across the world remains local, and never gets ushered onto the world stage. What a waste… Mundy’s own independent [...]
Watch: The La’s Perform “There She Goes” On David Letterman – 1991
Here’s an old favorite of mine by Liverpudlian group, The La’s . I was fortunate to have seen these guys play live twice — once at the Town & Country in London, England (early 1991) and again the following year at a festival in the Washington, DC area. They’ve got a great sense of melody– [...]
Watch: From 1980 — Boomtown Rats Perform Hit ‘Banana Republic’
Here’s a fabulous song by Bob Geldof’s old band — from Dublin, Ireland — The Boomtown Rats. For those unfamiliar with this track, it’s got a great reggae-infused melody that will leave you humming it over and over again, all day and night. Songs like these make me miss the 80s something terrible: Enjoy!: The [...]
Watch: Lily Allen Does Her Pop — Reggae Hit, ‘Smile’
I understand this song was a hit in the UK/Europe, and as a result Lily Allen is pretty big there. For some reason it didn’t happen here, and therefore most Americans aren’t too familiar with Allen or this song. The song ‘Smile’ from her album Alright, Still has got a great melody — pop / [...]
Watch: Tuomo “Don’t take it too hard” – BEST SONG OF 2008!
This is my favorite song from 2008. In fact, it’s one of my favorite tunes written in the new century. This talent, Tuomo, is largely unknown, and I believe he’s still unsigned. For those of you in the American Music Industry, he’s hiding out in Finland. FIND HIM, AND SIGN HIM! This song stands up [...]
Watch: Colin Newman’s latest Band, Githead, perform “Drop”
For those of you who followed the band, Wire, back in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as Newman’s solo efforts in the 80s, you’ll love his latest band, Githead. Here they are performing an acidic-trip, house-hop number entitled “Drop”. Very catchy: The Githead single, “Drop,” or the full length album, Art Pop, can [...]
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