Doin' the Friday Shuffle

Into the wild blue yonder.

1) "If I Should Lose You," Nina Simone, Nina Simone: Compact Jazz

Classic heartbreak from Nina. The woman had a voice that dripped sorrow.

2) "Bookends Theme," Simon & Garfunkel, Bookends

Such a delicately haunting yet simple bit of music. Almost Greensleeves-like in its simplicity and classic nature.

3) "You spotted snakes," Benjamin Britten, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Opera)

Children's choir, starts off as a shimmering bit of business before getting all jaunty and sprightly on us.

4) "Mos Eisley Spaceport," John Williams, Star Wars: A New Hope (Film Score)

Includes an almost foreboding rendition of the force theme as our heroes approach Mos Eisley. The "wretched hive of scum and villainy" cue.

5) "Hear My Song," Jason Robert Brown, Songs for a New World (Original Cast)

This is a beautiful song, the finale to this revue of songs by Brown; it basically served as his calling card into the musical theater world. Optimistic without being cocky.

6) "And that Right Soon," Thomas Newman, The Shawshank Redemption (Film Score)

Andy's escape is discovered. One of the finest film scores of the last twenty-five years.

7) "Fortress Around My Heart," Sting, Dream of the Blue Turtles

One of the Stingster's first solo hits. The metaphor is a little songwriting 101, and overworked in the song, but that chiming guitar figure is insinuating.

8) "Full Force Gale," Elvis Costello, Kojak Variety (Bonus Disc)

Van Morrison cover. A bit of group all-male spiritual style a capella singing.

9) "VIII--Zaporozhye Cossacks' Reply to the Sultan of Constantinople, Allegro," Dmitri Shostakovich, Symphony 14

Some good angry baritone singing, over some slashing, pissed-off strings.

10) "Hidden Charms," Elvis Costello, Kojak Variety

Covering the Howling Wolf classic (Kojak Variety was an album of all-covers). Shuffling bit iof rockabilly.

Until Whenever