Sometimes the ‘pod spits out a track that makes me turn it off and get out a CD to listen to the whole album. Today it was Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues.” What’s Going On? is one of the great albums of all time. Elegant and searching as it chronicles a litany of social ills, it somehow manages to be hopeful.
It’s also depressingly relevant and timely today. I guess not much has changed since 1971 when Gaye looked at the state of the world and asked the album’s titular question.
Mercy Mercy Me.
Thinking about albums makes me think about the language that we use to describe recordings – words like track, album and record. I wonder what will happen to that language as digital replaces the tangible. I imagine a future music junkie conversation running like this:
“Yeah, What’s Going On? is a great folder.”
“Totally. What’s your favorite file in that folder?”
“‘Mercy Mercy Me’, dude.”
“Yeah. That’s an incredible file.”
“Totally, but what does he mean by ‘fish full of mercury?’ What are fish?”
Or something like that.
Oh, and here’s the ten…
- “Chasin Another Trane” – John Coltrane – Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings
- “Glamour Girl” – T-Bone Walker – Complete Imperial Recordings
- “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On?
- “Let’s Make the Water Turn Black” – Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention – We’re Only in It for the Money
- “His N.D. World” – Mary Lou Lord – KGSR Broadcasts Vol. 6
- “Antigua” – Antônio Carlos Jobim – Wave
- “Plowed” – Sponge – Rotting Pinata
- “Culver City Park” – Dave Douglas – Freak In
- “Can’t Find a Way” – Endochine* – Day Two
- “Careering” – Public Image, Ltd. – The Greatest Hits So Far
- “Mexican Blackbird” – ZZ Top – Fandango!
Okay, so that’s 11, but there is a star by the one I saw live.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
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