Pop Open: Hi Dere From The Atom Age

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The fifties group - REVEALED:

TRACK ONE: Odetta - "All The Pretty Little Horses" - I first heard this song, which I think is a traditional one, in the version by English underground spooksters Current 93 - obviously Odetta's rich moan is a different beast entirely from David Tibet's hobgoblin sharpness so it took me a listen or two to even spot the song I knew. This is a grower - too hushed on first listen but it's wormed its way into a fight for my second place.

TRACK TWO: Pink Martini - "Dosvedanya Mio Bombino" - Apparently the title means "Farewell My Bumblebee"! Thematically fifties rather than authentically fifties, this choice - jaunty cabaret pop with plenty of wit and lift and a strong lead vocal, which if I liked the cabaret style even slightly would surely pick up a vote. (Also it goes on a bit).

TRACK THREE: Les Paul And Mary Ford - "Smoke Rings" - Gorgeous woozy lounge guitar, pretty recognisable as Les Paul if you've heard any of his other stuff I guess, and perfectly matched by Mary Ford's sultriness. One of my favourite tracks in the whole competition so far, and (for me) an easy winner.

TRACK FOUR: Esquerita - "Maybe Baby" - Busy, lively, throaty run-through of a Buddy Holly song - love the little chirrups he's putting in, but for some reason I've never been much of a Holly fan, the emotions in his songwriting never quite reaches me. Liking the piano a lot though, it's between this and Odetta for my second.

Voting is open until 12 noon on Monday - the poll is beneath the cut below and you can get the tracks streamed here: http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/09/pop-open-week-9/ . Voting has been pretty good so far - and is very close too - so do please play. (And don't be put off by the dreaded word "fifties"!)

[Poll #1060889]

Comments

[koganbot]

Isn't Esquerita famous for being wilder than Little Richard, or is that someone else? In this one his gruffness just makes him weak, which is too bad, because I love the New Orleans, er, bounce (and intricacy) he's accompanied by, and I like the idea of a wild shot at a Holly, who always sounded at ease and off-the-cuff, himself.

[martinskidmore.livejournal.com]

Not just wilder, but the man from whom Little Richard nicked his whole style - piano, look and all. Little Richard tones it down - drops the extraordinary dischords, shrinks the bouffant, less make-up.