SUNSHINE BABY

Freezing your ass off? Buried in snow? Here's a handful of tropical head scratchers and semi-easy listening (along with a new free album download by the Gorillaz), to help you keep warm. As always, it began with just kind of poking around online. I ran into a song by Clout, a band from South Africa that I was only vaguely familiar with (years ago someone gave me a single by them called "Substitute" because I had a fanzine with the same name). Not expecting much, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a reggae-ish song with a little wah-wah and some wicked strings and horns. Seriously, with the exception of the lyrics (which reference "my disco dancing baby"), this sucker sounds it could have been released last month. It kind of sounds like the Gorillaz, with a female lead vocal. (Which reminds me, if you like the Gorillaz, they just released a free album, The Fall, recorded in hotel rooms and such, while on tour last fall. You can get it here. Note: email address required.)

So, I started looking around at the other posts on this German blog and found a bossa nova ditty by some lady named Sophia Loren. After a little more digging, I figured out that this blog really has a thing for mid-sixties semi-easy listening (amongst other genres). I say "semi-easy" because this type of music was hip to a certain young adult demographic back then. Think of it as the Hai Karate generation. (For those who understand only hipster points of reference, just consider it as the source material for Pizzacato 5.) So, a dozen or so downloads later, I found myself halfway into a playlist for a swinging New Year's Eve party (that I'll never have). Here's the highlights (more links below): I liked the cover of Burt Bacharach's "The Party" by the Smart Set, an Italian outfit. And you'll want to dig the happening bossa-Hammond of Walter Wanderley's "Batucada." The cow bell guy in the cover of "Grazing In the Grass" sounds like he's had about six pots of coffee. (He shows up in spots, then there's long pauses where I think he's catching his breath.) The rest are various semi-easy listening songs from all over, that all happen to fall under the category of "way more interesting than elevator music."

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~

Clout - Sunshine Baby mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
Sophia Loren - De Jour En Jour mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
The Smart Set - The Party mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
Walter Wanderley - Batucada mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
Roberto Delgado - Grazin' In the Grass mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
Towa Tei - Obrigado mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
Quarteto Em Cy - Canto de Ossanh mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
The Gimmicks - Roda mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
Klaus Wunderlich - Baby Elephant Walk mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
Santi Latora - The Look Of Love mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
Nino Ferrer - Mirza mp3 at Muzic-Kurier
Corisco E Os Sambaloucos - Bal mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
Bela Sanders - Brazil mp3 at Muzik-Kurier
Astrud Gilberto & Walter Wanderley - Tristeza mp3 at Muzik-Kurier

The Gorillaz - The Fall, free album download (email address required) at TheFall.Gorillas.com. Recordings made on the road, with limited equipment, in the fall of 2010.