Doin' the Friday Shuffle

1. "Broadway Baby" - Stephen Sondheim (sung by Elaine Stritch) - Follies in Concert - 1985
Probably my favorite performance of "Broadway Baby." And I've heard a lot of them

2. "Honey Are You Straight or Are You Blind?" - Elvis Costello - Blood & Chocolate
Love the see-sawing organ bit. Steve Nieve rules.

3. "The First Goodbye" - William Finn - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Original Broadway Cast)
I got this probably a good year ago and haven't really listened to it. Not sure why.

4. "Somewhere" - Leonard Bernstein - West Side Story (Original Broadway Cast)
Quite simply one of the purest, most achingly beautiful melodies ever composed.

5. "Madman across the Water" - Bruce Hornsby - Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin
A very nice cover. Hornsby is a natural fit doing Elton John's music.

6. "Chasin' the Train" - John Coltrane - Ken Burns JAZZ Collection: John Coltrane
Epic, at times seemingly atonal saxophone piece by the master.

7. "Boy with a Problem" - Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom
This pretty, bittersweet ballad sounds like prom music. Not sure why, but, yes. Prom music.

8. "Ship of Fools" - Elvis Costello - Kojak Variety
From the bonus disc that came with the Rhino reissue. Piano-based bar tune.

9. "Queen Amidala and the Naboo Palace" - John Williams - Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Score)
Mood setting piece, with a lovely quote of Anakin's theme.

10. "Wanting Things" - Burt Bacharach - Promises, Promises (Original Broadway Cast)
Bacharach's score is very underrated - a canny blend of Broadway and his own instantly identifiable sound. If Tom Jones hasn't covered this he damn well should.

Until Whenever