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

[mackromackro.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Kingston Trio, had I been in this group, my 50s-and-before choice would have been "Coocoo-U" (from 1959 I believe.) It would have been worth the risk of heard-before notches because the song continues to turn frowns upside down on anyone who hasn't heard the song before, with or without Kingston Trio familiarity. The song is, mysteriously enough, one of their rare single-only tracks that's only available on only one of a gazillion greatest hits and the ginormous The Kingston Trio: The David Guard Years box set, and not on any of their albums.

[koganbot]

I don't know if I've ever heard it!

My favorite is "Little Maggie," from their very first album. One of their rushing banjo numbers, energetic and high-pitched.

[mackromackro.livejournal.com]

t0m, is there a policy on comments containing download links? I realize they are fine in the subject of a thread, but I don't want to cross any lines if they were drawn.

I'd love to link the song, and I don't want to go too much into details about "Coocoo-U" because there are many. In brief, the song is quite an esoteric departure for the Trio (and I already consider the Trio intrinsicly odd in the Guard years.) "Coocoo-U"'s very much rooted in Latin and African beats, especially made clear in the bridge. The vocals (which I think are done by Nick Reynolds aka "the short one" here) sound very nervous, sung/spoken in an odd meter that predates Devo's singing style 20 years or so. All said, "Coocoo-U" is very much a Kingston Trio song. Unfortunately, they barely have any other songs quite like this.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The best way to link a song is to put it in its own post and friends-lock the thread - it'll get more attention that way too!