Doin' the Friday Shuffle

1. "The Long, Long Day (New Jerusalem Reprise) - Alan Menken and Tim Rice - King David (World Premiere Recording)
Solemn, in a big Broadway way.

2. "Over the Rainbow/Wonderful World" - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Meet Joe Black
Hasn't everyone heard this little slice of heaven by now? A blissful recording.

3. "Talk of the Town" - Jack Johnson - Curious George
Mellow, wide-eyed , and innocent. I don't know though, shouldn't the incessantly curious Curious George's movie music be a bit more . . . energetic?

4. "Experiment" - Cole Porter, sung by Mandy Patinkin - Experiment
This short gem of a song contains such a pithily put, germane life lesson that I can not resist posting the lyrics in their entirety:

Before you leave these portals
To meet less fortunate mortals
There's just one final message
I would give to you
You all have learned reliance
On the sacred teachings of science
So I hope, through life, you never will decline
In spite of philistine
Defiance
To do what all good scientists do.
Experiment.
Make it your motto day and night.
Experiment
And it will lead you to the light.
The apple on the top of the tree
Is never too high to achieve
So take an example from Eve
Experiment
Be curious
Though interfering friends may frown
Get furious
At each attempt to hold you down
If this advice you always employ
The future can offer you infinite joy
And merriment
Experiment
And you'll see

5. "More" - Stephen Sondheim - Sondheim at the Movies
An ingenious turning inside out of that old standby "Who Could Ask for Anything More?" Sondheim answers the question, writing for Madonna in Dick Tracy.

6. "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - Bob Dylan - Bringing It All Back Home
Dylan in skittery, acoustic, full-on sarcastic mode.

7. "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own (Live)" - U2 - Live from the Brooklyn Bridge
Not as powerful as it would get on tour, but still a damn fine live interpolation.

8. "Could I Leave You?" - Terry Trotter Trio - Follies in Jazz
The Trotter Trio did a bunch of albums featuring jazz trio interpretations of Sondheim scores. This is piece has a nice, exceedingly gently swinging vibe.

9. "Creating 'Governing Dynamics'" - James Horner - A Beautiful Mind
I like this Horner mode - kind of minimalist but not. This is the sound that's been swiped for those Allegra commercials.

10. "I Wish I Were in Love Again" - Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook
Sprightly and plucky, if a bit heavy on the strings.

Until Whenever