–The Caffeinators

It already feels like summer throughout much of the Continental U.S.  BUT…the songs of spring can really hang you up the most.  Click on the play button to the left and enjoy.

‘Seasons Of My Soul,’ the debut album by Rumer.  Her real name is Sarah Joyce, she’s a Brit (although born in Pakistan) and she sounds a bit like one of the great voices of all time, Karen Carpenter.  She’s huge throughout Europe and is appearing at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC on the 9th of February.  Go see her. OOPS.  Too late, the show is sold out.

‘Old Ideas,’ the brand new CD from Leonard Cohen.  He’s touring and recording because a trusted agent embezzled millions from him, so you kinda get the sense that he’s purely in it for the money.  But hey, he’s Leonard Cohen.  He can do whatever he wants.  Amazing that he’s not well known in the States.

Seal‘s latest, ‘Soul 2.’  Faithful arrangements of some of the best soul songs of all time, including “Let’s Stay Together,” “What’s Going On,” “Backstabbers” and “Love Won’t Let Me Wait,” which was a huge 1975 hit for Major Harris.  The ’75 version was perhaps the first hit  song to have that much moaning in it.

You Don’t Have To Be Jewish and two other comedy albums from the 60′s.  For The Tribe.

Also:  More comedy from Steve Allen (the FIRST host of  The Tonight Show), and an amazing album called ‘Voices Of The Dead‘ that features the earliest known recordings…dating back to the 1860′s!

Plenty more, but it’s time for the Super Bowl, gotta run.  Giants/Patriots??  Win win!!

• The soundtrack to ‘Here At The Water’s Edge,’ a cult movie that was released in 1963.  The ‘music’ was recorded in and around Manhattan.  If you would like to learn more, CLICK HERE.  Back in ’63, liner notes were really something.
• ‘Corned Beef Confucius,’ a comedy LP recorded at the Stage Deli in the early ’60′s.  The MC was the deli’s owner, Max Asnas, but lots of recognizable voices can be heard (if you’re 40 or older) and there’s plenty of old-time laughs, some of it highly inappropriate.
• ‘The New York Taxi Driver‘ (1956) and ‘A Dog’s Life‘ (1958), two recordings by the genius Tony Schwartz.  Tony, who died in 2008, was an ad guy who created thousands of spots.  In his spare time, he walked around the city and recorded…life in New York.  Mind you, this was back in the 50′s and 60′s, before digital hand-held recorders,  before cassettes.  He schlepped around all five boroughs with a Wollensak reel-to-reel, captured the energy of a golden era, and shared it on the radio and through these and other recordings.  There’s more to come from this legend.

Special thanks to The Count, creator of Booptrax, for sharing these gems with us!

Oh yeah, because we play music, we also added:

• Three albums by Laura Marling.  The 21-year old from Hampshire, England is wise beyond her years.  This is what is usually called indie-folk music, but with Laura, it’s all about the lyrics. Pay attention when she starts singing.

2012.  Whew.

And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days
Cause I don’t need boxes wrapped in strings
And designer love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again

I need someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And thats faith and trust and peace while we’re alive
And the one poor child who saved this world
And there’s 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again

I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again

Sally Oldfield Night Of The Hunter\’s Moon

“Let Them Talk” by Hugh Laurie.  Look, even if Dr. House wasn’t the most interesting character on television, this album would be worth a listen.  It’s a glorious celebration of the music of New Orleans and even if he couldn’t sing and play the piano (he does both, well) he’s a good enough actor to fake it.  How can you not love someone who says the novels of P.G. Wodehouse saved his life?

We’ve trimmed more than we’ve added lately (still well over 14,000 songs) and your feedback is always welcome at vermontmornings (at) gmail (dot) com.  Keep in touch, and thanks for listening!

The colors of Autumn are getting ready to burst out here in Northern Vermont; you can see the difference in just the past two or three days. Shorter days, cooler nights, leaves. It’s the greatest time of the year to come and appreciate this miracle.

And when the Autumnal Equinox arrives, we’ll spend a couple of hours playing songs to celebrate the season. Get up early and enjoy. ‘Tis Autumn.