"P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)" by Parliament

from P-Funk Earth Tour

An old friend who's a major fan of the funk visited me this weekend, and when he left this afternoon I pulled out the "Earth Tour" album for the first time in ages. This particular track is a fine way to get moving, rain or shine. The chorus always gets in my head and stays there for a while, and I never mind it one bit.

"Trinkle, Tinkle" by Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Wilbur Ware and Shadow Wilson

from Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane

During my continuing self-education about jazz, I stumbled across this jewel that Monk and Trane recorded in New York in 1957. Monk and Trane take music apart, put it back together and make it sound easy. Monk's piano and Trane's tenor sax range from erratic to harmonious, and Wilbur Ware's incredible bass solo goes right along for the ride. Gmail.

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Nouvelle Vague

from Nouvelle Vague

Bossa Nova meets '80s pop/post-punk, via France. The whole album is great fun, but this track is a heck of a way to kick it off. Gmail.

"Voyages" by Michel Polnareff

from Polnareff's

This is one of my favorite Polnareff songs, perhaps because it's such an unexpected way to kick off an album. Clocking in at just under 3 minutes, it's like a mini-soundtrack that gives you an idea of what's coming up but doesn't give away too much. And Polnareff's arrangement is incredible. Name an instrument; it's in here somewhere. mp3 TK.

"Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin

from Led Zeppelin (IV, or Zoso, or whatever)

I borrowed this from a friend on Thanksgiving Day because my old taped copy was nowhere to be found. Then, I got a cold and had to lie low for a while. After I got over the cold, I put on this disc, turned up the volume and rocked out. And I realized that if I had only listened to "Black Dog" in the first place, I might not have needed all those cough drops and cups of tea. This tune (and the rest of them) is strong enough to whoop just about anything.

"Baby Got Back" by Jonathan Coulton

from via jonathancoulton.com

This is the best cover I've heard in a long time. It must be heard to be believed. Sir Mix-a-Lot would be proud, I think, or at least impressed at the effort.

Here 'tis.

"Agent Orange" by Depeche Mode

from Music for the Masses

Depeche Mode was always a bit dark, but this track (an extra at the end of "Music for the Masses") turned the darkness up a notch. Its ominous electronic bass, overlaid with a solemn piano refrain and mixed with helicopter-rotor effects, keenly reflected some of the unease felt during the final years of the Cold War. The reflection is no less clear today.

"all" by Serge Gainsbourg

from Histoire de Melody Nelson

Sooty and I are heading to Paris soon, and in preparation I've been listening to this classic by Serge Gainsbourg. It clocks in at 28 minutes but mixes and matches whimsy, sex, grief, euphoria, sleaze and love with incredible style and substance. Youth meets age, and both meet destiny. It doesn't matter if you don't understand a word of French; the music speaks for itself. And if you do speak French, you're in for a treat. Gainsbourg's scratchy, smoky voice delivers poetry masquerading as pop lyrics.

"Want a Danish" by Van Morrison

from Bang Records Contractual Obligation Session

In 1967, Van Morrison was trying to leave Bang Records, an early label. He whipped up 31 songs about things like wanting a danish and whistling when someone says the word France. He made his point, I suppose, but I don't think he expected those songs to come out later on.

Nor, I suspect, did he think those songs would make it onto the Internet for the whole world to hear. The incomprarable WFMU, broadcasting from Jersey City, NJ, has made all those tracks available on its blog. Without further ado, here is "Want a Danish." You're welcome. P.S. The rest of the tracks, including the classic "Ring Worm," may be found here.

"Ricky's Theme" by Beastie Boys

from Ill Communication

One of those tracks that shows how all-around gifted the Beasties really are. Part jazz, part rock, part funk, part hip-hop, all instrumental.