Monday Morning Music — #7
Music
Food Stuffs
Big ups to Nicole Brown for hosting last nights Album of the Month discussion on The Sign by Ace of Base. She’s got good stories. Thank you for sharing them Nicole.
Join us on September 12 for the next one …more info to follow.
Ah yes, food songs. Why the fuck not?
A friend of mine is consistently amazed (and bewildered) by my complete lack of knowledge with food. When she first heard that I worked in restaurants for close to ten years, she was aghast that I had no idea that a zucchini is a squash. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg (which I DO know is a lettuce) of what I don’t know.
She’s great in the kitchen and has a much deeper appreciation for food than I do. I’m learning more, but it’s slow going. Arguably, it’s moving rather glacially…but it’s moving.
That being said, I could probably tell you who produced each Pearl Jam record or what record label has had the most commercial success with rock music. But I still don’t know bupkis about food.
And I will concede that food can be just as much fun (and sexy) as music. If you doubt that, we can set up a Zoom meeting and you can watch me eat ice cream. It will be very far from sexy, but it will be fun!
Despite what the makers of Soylent want you to think, we need food.
I’ve had many moments in my life where I have only eaten because I know that I must. Often it happens if I get in “the zone” writing or creating and lose track of time. It’s usually one of the animals that remind me it’s time to eat because they don’t have a zone so much as a schedule. And if I deviate from their schedule, there will be hell to pay.
I’ve also lost track of eating after a couple of bad break-ups. My heart is broken, the last fucking thing I want is food; but I know I have to eat something. Sushi is my go to bad break-up food. It’s light enough to provide just enough sustenance so I can continue to be miserable.
As I always do, I emerge from that pain to live and love again …and eat more ice cream. Because really, that’s what it’s all about — love and ice cream.
And there are SO many food songs, it’s impossible to compile a comprehensive list; but it didn’t stop me from trying.
Now I know some of you will look at these songs and think “Good Christ, that is an AWFUL song,” and you may be right. I may be crazy. Or it just may be a lunatic you’re looking for.
But good and bad are subjective terms, right? And some of these aren’t even songs I like, but I can appreciate their qualities. I mean “Milkshake” is an awful song …an awfully great song!
So, be sure to drop a note and let me know what I have forgotten.
FOOD STUFFS — A PLAYLIST
“Day-O (the Banana Boat Song)” — Harry Belafonte
Derived from a Jamaican folk song, this is a work song about guys loading bananas on to boats (imagine that). Please don’t be shy about singing it if you are only metaphorically slinging bananas on to boats.
“Pour Some Sugar on Me” — Def Leppard
Obvious choice here and a special shout-out to Chris Zappa. I mean it leaves very little to the imagination, but it’s got a great hook. Interestingly, it peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was held off from the top spot by “Hold On to the Nights” by Richard Marx — I have terribly mixed emotions about this.
“Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” — Hank Williams
And this is only ONE of the songs that proves Hank Williams was a genius.
“A Cup of Coffee, A Sandwich, and You” — Jeff Healey
Now some of you may not know who Jeff Healey was. He was a blind jazz and rock guitar player who was pitched as the next big thing in the late 80’s. It never really happened, although he and his band did play the house band in Roadhouse (that’s two Roadhouse mentions in one week). For me, what could be better than a good cup of coffee, a sandwich, and a special person. It’d be even better if it was a breakfast sandwich.
“Hot Dog” — Led Zeppelin
This is off their last studio album, In Through the Out Door, which many Zep purists don’t much care for. Jimmy Page was deep into his addiction at this point so much of the record’s guidance came from John Paul Jones and Robert Plant. So it does sound different than their earlier work. This song has got some great Page guitar playing and despite the song’s title, this song isn’t about food at all. It’s about a woman breaking a man’s heart.
“Red Red Wine” — The Replacements
Obviously. And nope. Not the Neil Diamond song.
“Peeled Apples” Manic Street Preachers
This one is for Reuben Salsa because I know he loves the Manics. I kid, I’m fairly certain he hates them, it’s me who loves them. This is the opening track of the band’s 2009 album, Journal for Plague Lovers, which was produced by Steve Albini. This song contains posthumous lyrics by the band’s Richey Edwards, who had gone missing 14 years before.
“Milkshake” — Kelis
I’m not exactly sure what this song is about.
“Ice Cream Man” — Van Halen
I wonder if there is a mash-up to be had between the previous song and this one.
“Candy Shop” — 50 Cent & Olivia
Obviously. Come on!
“Sugar Mountain” — Neil Young
I think this song is about getting older because “you can’t be 20 on sugar mountain.” Perhaps we can get Terry Barr to explain it to us?
“Candy” — Paolo Nutini
You’re thinking with a name like that, he’s gotta be Italian or something. He’s not, he’s Scottish. And a fine talent who marches to the beat of his own drummer. This is a great song, but if you’re looking for a way in, listen to “New Shoes” which I would bet dollars to donuts that you’ve heard in a commercial or show by now.
“Dixie Chicken” — Little Feet
A band that time has forgotten. After the great Lowell George died, they just never got back on track, IMHO. And I went with the live version here because it’s just fantastic. Lowell George is in the same category as Terry Kath, wickedly overlooked guitar players and singers. That should change.
“Hot Dogs and Hamburgers” — John Mellencamp
From Mellencamp’s The Lonesome Jubilee, this is a fun little song about hanging out with his kid. It’s a side not often associated with him.
“My Bologna” — Weird Al Yankovic
The song that introduced America to Weird Al Yankovic. Recorded when he was still a student at California Polytechnic State University he mailed it to the famed DJ Dr. Demento. He aired the song on his nationwide radio show, The Dr. Demento Show. And the rest, as they say, is history. This goes out to S.W. Lauden who is a fan of The Knack, so I couldn’t let this one slip by.
THE PLAYLIST
What’s for dessert Rob Janicke Kevin Alexander Paul Combs Alexander Briseño David Acaster Christopher Robin Jessica Lee McMillan If Ever You’re Listening Pierce McIntyre Bonnie Barton and all the other folks I have mistakenly forgotten to give a shout out to!