The livin' is easy

I was hoping to find some footage of 'I Loves You, Porgy' with Louis Armstrong and there may well be some. But I've got a weird fascination with this song so I always grab it when I find it. With the drums almost inaudible and the piano and bass filling in only the barest outlines of back-up, she is absolutely in charge here, a spare, moody performance. This is good stuff.

Ella Fitzgerald -- 'Summertime'

Aaaaarrrrrrrrggghhhgghhh!

Footage circa 1970 of Floyd getting all that psychedelic-ness inside of them out for the world to see. The paintbox applications are primitive but editing tools are fun and they always were. This is what angst-ridden noise used to sound like (and look like) before punk rock came along.

Pink Floyd -- 'Careful with that Axe, Eugene'

West Xylophone

Like 1000 monkeys with a 1000 typewriters (and isn't that what the internet is?), the pairing of Google Earth with They Might Be Giants was a predictable occurrence. This is why God invented the internet. If only all geography were this tuneful.

They Might Be Giants -- 'Alphabet of Nations'

Faster than the speed of sound

I always dug this song. A good performance, just a little speedy the way live performances always are. Good audio.

Smashing Pumpkins -- '1979'

Get up in the morning

Some vintage footage of Dekker performing his signature tune. Look how skinny and young he looks! The crowd is young and hip and in love with ska. (clip cuts off unfortunately)

Desmond Dekker -- 'The Israelites' (and some interview footage)

You put on the gloves

Tom Russell is a singer-songwriter that's been doing it for a long time. He's from LA but he luxuriates in all kinds of western styles from cowboy folk to Tex-Mex delicacies. He may or may not be your cup of tea but I dig him, he likes to tell stories in his songs and they're usually funny and clever. The audio is pretty good here from a live show last year. (The poster is having fun with his titler)

Tom Russell -- 'Tower of Song'/'The Pugilist is 59'

Won't somebody tell me

For some reason Bruce Cockburn is not universally loved and respected. In fact, you're likely to find him dissed and dismissed. I don't understand why. He's a superior singer-songwriter who's been putting out good solid records for 30 years. He's one of those political-type folkies which I suppose some people pigeonhole as self-absorbed and clueless (well, I usually do) but Cockburn is far from typical. He's Canadian, deeply Christian, a helluva guitar player, a clever lyricist and brings a perspective that is holistic and completely unique, a tough combo to pull off in today's fast-paced world. He's the kind of joe who says what he means and then he moves on. We've created a culture where attacking is easier than defending and Cockburn is one of the unfortunates in that scenario. Often he performs by his lonesome but here he's got some support. Good tune.

Bruce Cockburn -- 'Soul of a Man'

I found a dream I can speak to

Before Robert Altman, before Richard Avedon, before Hugh Hefner (though well after Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec) there was Man Ray lovingly capturing the female nude. He was a 'surrealist' which was an art movement that revolved around splattered paint, blurry photos and hot naked chicks--just a few of my favorite things. Here someone has taken a collection of Man Ray's stills and arrayed them to a lush Etta James classic. An interesting combination.

Etta James -- 'At Last'
(NSFW -- Lots o' nudity)

I'm not judging you, I'm judging me

This is one of the all-time classic songs of the alternative '80's (that was back before 'alternative' meant 'gay' for you history buffs). Here's a homemade vid that is occasionally clever, usually pointless.

Mission of Burma -- 'Academy Fight Song'

Kinda desperate but still kinda cute

I love Bongwater. I had a total crush on Ann Magnuson when I was kid and I was never a guy that really had crushes on actresses or singers. They only existed to me as plastic images but not Ann. She was something special. Now I'm older and I have more respect for her music than I even did back in the day but I've grown prudish enough to think she wears too much make-up. (Ann, it makes you look cheap--and I know you're not cheap!) In a way that's what this song is about: the disillusionment that comes when the people you watch on TV go through major changes in their lives that you know will come to you some day. I know I was never the same after Greg Brady moved into the attic.

Bongwater -- 'Psychedelic Sewing Room'

Just a come on from the whores on 7th avenue

A touching reunion by the harmonizers on an early SNL episode which begins with an errant attempt at 'Still Crazy After All These Years'. These guys are deep in the heart of the '70's here, so if you're into well-groomed facial hair you may want to look away.

Simon & Garfunkel -- 'The Boxer'

And by the way Art Garfunkel is quite the reader

That's all you gotta do

I grew up on the Monterrey Pop footage of this song so its cool to see a different performance from around that time. Redding's genius was his smooth vocal presence within the all-out reckless abandon of his stage performance. He consistently ratchets up the intensity here--dude, he's raw energy!--and the band (is that Booker T & the MG's?) behind him is totally game. This is good stuff right here.

Otis Redding -- 'Try a Little Tenderness'

Cello, man

I always dug Dvorak. He was a Czech composer who came to America in the 1890's and became enchanted by American folk music. You can hear a lot of jazz pre-figured his compositions, which often feature flowing styles. And I just dig the cello too. Big strings, big sound, powerful instrument and in the hands of a player like Ma it lilts like no other instrument (that's right--it lilts!). That's Seiji Ozawa is conducting behind him so I assume they're in Vienna.

Yo-Yo Ma -- Dvorak's 'Silent Woods'

Got a new face for the boys on MTV

I was never much of a Michael fan myself but I always dug this song (one of the only singles I ever owned) and the video features many, many beautiful scantily-clad ladies. George Michael has fallen so far into oblivion at this point that you may not remember just how fucking huge this guy was for a while. He was huge! Hey, John Travolta was huge and then disappeared and then came back (and is well on his way to disappearing all over again), so maybe Mr. Michael can make a comeback. (Was this song originally this long? I think this might be some remix version)

George Michael -- 'Freedom'

He'll play til he goes off to sleep

Kiko was the album that turned me on to Los Lobos back in the day. Its moody and introspective at times, bar rockin' groovy at others, ranging from traditional south of the border folk tunes to Crazy Horse-esque rockers. They've been cranking out good records for years, better than ever lately. The title song is a moody number with their telltale use of percussion for emphasis. And check out David Hidalgo rockin' the squeezebox.

Los Lobos -- 'Kiko and the Lavendar Moon'

Get me off the ground

It was 4th of July, the public library was the scene of the happening-est, throw-ing-est downiest band this side of the Appalachians. But it wasn't to be. The tech guys blamed it on the rain but I know better: it was the man keeping us down. 'Lift' was the second song that day, the Belts opened with a pretty cool take on the 'Star Spangled Banner'. Why isn't in this video? I blame the man.

You know, some of the earliest film that still exists comes from the 1901 Pan-American Fair in Buffalo where President McKinley was to give a speech. The cameraman in Buffalo (kinda like the cameraman here), is patiently waiting for the president to appear but little does he know that McKinley was busy being assassinated on the other side of that wall. You know who took down McKinley, don't you? That's right, it was the man. The Yellow Belts have had their President McKinley moment and if it were to happen again it would be like jumping the shark.

Yellow Belts -- 'Lift' (shortest Yellow Belts show ever)

(Incidentally, the music editor is just off-camera, if you could imagine the cameraman turning sharply to his right, you might imagine catching a glimpse of the music editor, who is probably imagining himself looking cool on the scene)

When there's danger all around

Dude, you gotta love You Tube! There are people out there who have nothing better to do with their lives than take clips from the '70's action flick The Wild Geese and set them to obscure Joan Armatrading tunes. I have dedicated myself to the search for these items. I'm like Indiana Jones over here. Richard Harris, Richard Burton, Roger Moore--I kept looking for Leslie Nielson!

Joan Armatrading -- 'Flight of the Wild Geese'

Check what I'm seein'

Cool, so Nas liked Casino too. I thought I was the only one. Why do rappers lift so obviously from their favorite filmmakers? Scorsese, a notorious cinematic klepto, would never produce a hamfisted effort such as this and yet this is Nas's tribute to him. At least Nas digs good flicks.

Nas -- 'Sweet Dreams'

Now we got a new machine

Deep Purple is one of those great underrated bands of the big hair '70's. They're loud and dumb and they rock with all their hearts and you can't front on that, man. The jam is a noodlefest, I won't lie, but they've got energy. Just look at how that crowd is a-rockin'! They look mesmerized, like they've drifted in from a George Romero film. (Dude, are they in a high school gymnasium?)

Deep Purple -- 'Space Truckin''

Nothing like NPR hipping you to the shiz-nit!

Here's a preview of the South by Southwest Music Festival which gets underway for real down in Austin on Friday. Rene Montaigne (sp?) is her typical NPR self: blandly condescending while trying to be oh so cool. But the dude knows what he's talking about. Funny: as uptight and white bread (self-delusionally thought of as 'open minded' and 'in touch') as NPR is, I tend to dig their musical discoveries.

NPR talks SXSW

Can it be mine?

Magic Sam is wildly underappreciated these days, I guess its because he died young and only put out a handful of records. I wholeheartedly recommend his dream-y solo stuff: they're upbeat, poppy almost folky songs of joy. Simple electric blues here but its effective and highlights his vocals well. And the following boogie breakdown has a nice drive to it.

Magic Sam interview and 'All of Your Love' for German TV

Ain't got no records to play

The Heads at their best were one of the all-time great energetic, entertaining bands with a churning rhythm section. This clip from Rome 1980 shows them in peak form. There's a load of clips from that show--looks like the whole show. (Is that Adrian Belew on guitar?) Good quality stuff.

Talking Heads -- 'Life During Wartime'

Stop before you begin

Louis yucks it up, Keely plays it straight, the bass skips along, the audience loves them, the camera loves all of it. (Seriously, though, doesn't it look like Keely really can't stand this guy? She plays nice at the end but for the first 2 minutes she looks like she's contractually obligated to be there)

Louis Prima & Keely Smith -- 'I've Got You Under My Skin'

Action from the Boom Boom Room

This jams meanders a bit early on but once it settles in it rocks well. Wooten is flat-out the top bassist out there and though he never really has that throwdown moment I was hoping for, he fits in nicely with this crew, a conglomeration of players from Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. Live from John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom Room in San Francisco, which incidentally has the finest jukebox I believe I've ever seen.

Blusirkut w/Victor Wooten

Yellow Belts LIVE if you want it

If I was going to be in Austin, TX, on Thursday, March 15, I'd go check out The Yellow Belts at Headliner's. The Yellow Belts play some quality bar-rockin' throwdown punk, they're not malcontents, just dudes that like loud-ass power chords. I won't be there but I would if I could. And stick around for Nine Pound Hammer on Friday. They do the '12 Oz. Mouse' theme song and they, like the Yellow Belts, bring it to you raw.

'How are your songs coming?'

This clip doesn't feature any of the kids from the documentary (at least none I recognized). But this crew is throwing down with King Crimson just as strong as that crew did with Zappa. And here they've got Adrian Belew (an alumnus of Crimson and Zappa) sitting in with them. There's a minor stumble through the guitar solo but otherwise they tackle a complicated piece with some mf-ing gusto!

Paul Green's School of Rock w/Adrian Belew -- King Crimson's 'Red'

We here to stay

LKJ was a popular reggae singer for years (is he still around?) but before that he was the Caribbean's poet laureate. Here's a taste of his standup power. Interesting stuff, very rhythmic, idiosyncratic. The language is tough to handle but a rewarding performance.

Linton Kwesi Johnson -- 'It Dread Inna Inglan'

This ain't the country I had in mind

This is a sweet little tune and his chops are still strong after all these years. Strong solo with a melancholy tone. A subtle comment on our times--that alone is appreciated--but it gets to the heart of the problem rather than the politics.

Robert Cray -- 'Twenty'

Harder than a heartbreak

Beth Orton -- 'Concrete Sky'

When its raining, I don't miss the sun

Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis and Coleman Hawkins all sitting in here. Yipes!

Nat King Cole -- 'Sweet Lorraine'

Get your taiko on

I'm a sucker for percussion from anywhere in the world. You just can't beat the child-like joy of beating the crap out of something and the superior practitioners can draw out the underlying rationality at work, as well. See, like soccer, its important to play the drum and not let the drum play you--sorry to drop a little koan on ya, but when you hear a bad drummer only then can you appreciate what it is a good drummer does. The Japanese drum technique, Taiko, is a big loopy style that relies on that deep bass sound. Here's a dude that's clearly having fun with it.

Sosuke Komori with a Taiko-style improv

I know a treasure is waiting for me

The Doors had one of the greatest quality control problems of any band I can think of: at times they were edgy and cool, at others they were laughably silly. This clip veers from one to the other, as Krieger's licks give way to Morrison's incessant need for poet-ness. Man, this is why people hate poetry!

The Doors -- 'Spanish Caravan'

Bonus! The Doors Interview
Manzarek and Morrison seem to be having a contest to see who can be the most annoying. Manzarek by a nose, though Morrison's cigar makes it a tough call.

I got a reason to believe we all won't be received at Graceland

Living Colour was an underappreciated group back in the day. Their riffs were unique, their stylings were edgy and occasionally abrasive and their lyrics didn't jive with the needs of suburban boys seeking identity fulfillment. And, okay, Vernon Reid did most of his best work with Bill Frisell, DJ Logic and Graham Haynes rather than his home group. But these guys were musicians, professional players who knew exactly what they were doing and it’s a shame they haven't gotten their due over the years.

Living Colour -- 'Elvis is Dead'

Fuck it, man, just check it out

I'm a film lover, I love all types of films from all time periods from all over the world. Except…Bollywood. I must admit Bollywood makes no sense to me whatsoever. All that endless sexually sublimated dancing! Give me Charulata or Jalsaghar any day. But this is worth looking at just to see what the Hindu version of Michael Jackson looks like.

Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Bollywood Style

No way nein nyet

Ah, back in the day this was where you went if you wanted a little lightheartedness in your heavy metal. You can't find this album any more, incidentally, it has disappeared.

Scatterbrain -- 'Don't Call Me Dude'
Scatterbrain -- 'Down With the Ship' (audio's not great)

Propaganda from way back when

A sweet little dirge featuring multiple clarinets. I was hoping for something a little more lively but this is a lovely piece, nicely understated.

Don Byron w/Bang On a Can All-Stars -- 'He Wore a Pair of Silver Wings'

You can bring your guitar along

I don't know this song but I came across the video and I dug it. Van always had the big booming voice and this vid would seem to be before he succumbed to typical excesses of the coming disco era. He still had a taste for horns and thumping basslines to back his silky smoothness. Dig that jacket too. Just think: if they could've figured out how to make cars run on hair, the 1970's would've been very, very different. Think about that.

Van Morrison -- 'Warm Love'

Not like the story

Once you've acquired your taste for her, every song will seem like it was created just for you. I don't really have anything eloquent to say about her, she's just beautiful, what else is there? Here she is rocking Seattle before Xmas. Good video and audio.

Joanna Newsom -- 'Peach, Plum, Pear'

'I played your song 'Try Suicide' right before I tried suicide!'

The Music Editor's favorite band is Titanica, just in case you were wondering.

'Yeah, your fucking parents sued us'

Almost bonus! Wycked Scepter's tour video was deemed 'inappropriate' by You Tube users. Jeez, how bad does something have to be to be shunned by the Internet community?

Doctors huddle up and call a flea flicker

Mash-up artists clearly have lots of time on their hands. This is one of the better mash-ups I've seen, video and audio are both high quality. And it is an interesting juxtaposition of songs.

Blues Traveler/Public Enemy mash-up -- 'But Anyway/911 is a Joke'

I'm not a burden anyone should bear

Tool is perhaps the most frustrating band of all time: loads of talent, clearly a unique vision, but there's something strangely hollow about their posturing (I mean more than the usual metal band). The visual doesn't really match the aural and the 'darker' elements of their albums seemed tacked on and indiscriminate. Like most of the cinema of David Lynch, it reaches for something and doesn't quite get it but if you're into weird then you're going to think you've seen a success when you've actually seen a failure. Weird failure may be more interesting than ordinary success but it invariably leaves me cold. All that aside, here's one of Tool's tunes that works for me (though the video is still firmly planted in the Svankmajer-derived grosteque pointlessness).

Tool -- 'Stinkfist'

Vlad the ivory tickler

I was hoping to find some video footage of Rachmaninoff but no such luck. I did come across this piece of Rachmaninoff's countryman playing a little Mozart. The great players are so simple in their movement and Horowitz's technique reminds me of Mozart's compositional technique: intricate but playful. Great quality video, I believe this is from 'Horowitz in Moscow', the video that captured his return to Russia in the mid 80's.

Vladimir Horowitz -- Mozart's Sonata in C Major, K.330

No audio, poor video, virtually impossible to tell that this is actually Vladdy Daddy, but I'll take the poster's word for it. Nice to see that the 'crappy amateur home video' movement is actually older than my grandmother!

BONUS! -- Vintage Vladimir Horowitz home movie

'Modern playing and its real crazy!'

These guys are throwing down. There used to be an appreciation of complexity in music that seems virtually gone now.

Lionel Hampton Big Band -- 'The Big Shave'

He moved with some uncertainty

Classic song from a classic album. Not sure where the video came from, its kooky.

Carole King -- 'Tapestry'

No words

Good video, good audio, classic band performing one of their signatures.

Allman Brothers (w/Phil Lesh) -- 'Jessica'