One of the pleasures of the Traveling Wilburys was hearing the different combinations of lead and supporting singers on each of the tracks.
On ‘Last Night,’ it’s Tom Petty taking the lead vocals and Roy Orbison dropping in elegantly on selected verses. A great match. I also love the lyrics, which describe a one night stand that turns into a mugging at knifepoint.
Today’s random iTunes selection is a nice ironic fit for Valentine’s Day.
An acoustic bonus track on Ron Sexsmith’s 2013 album Forever Endeavour, ‘Life After a Broken Heart’ is about getting over a break-up. It does hint at a new relationship — or maybe just the presence of a supportive friend — in its bridge and final verse.
It’s Throwback Weekend with a focus on uncompromising female artists, as the Random iTunes Fairy follows Madonna with Sinead O’Connor.
I know she became a nut known more for her Twitter battles than her music, but once upon a time Sinead O’Connor was one of the most exciting, sexy and artistically unique singer-songwriters around.
I’ve never been the biggest Madonna fan. I’ve always considered her a better self-marketer than a singer, songwriter or performer.
But it’s hard to deny the pop appeal of a song like ‘True Blue,’ even in this overlong “Color Mix,” which adds nothing worthwhile to the original.
Looking at Madonna’s early output — those undeniable hits that helped launch MTV — you can trace a line to Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Carly Rae Jepsen and a handful of other modern hitmakers who owe more than a little of their success to Ms. Ciccone.
The deluxe edition of Lucinda William’s 2001 album, Blessed, was accompanied by a companion CD called The Kitchen Tapes. It features the same 12 songs, in the same order, but recorded as demos by Williams sitting in her kitchen with a guitar and a tape recorder.
Some of those songs ended up with similar acoustic treatments on the final album, but others (like today’s SOTD) became hard-edged rockers, highlighted by excellent supporting guitar work by Elvis Costello.
Meet Me In Montauk 