slightly late christmas greetings

generally i find christmas songs kitschy, annoying, and i cant freakin' get them out of my head. there is one however that i love hearing again and again and am happy to hum whatever i may be doing.

this version is sung by the ever beautiful zooey deshcannel with the male vocal sung by leon redbone for the film "elf". their voices dont actually gel as well together as most versions do, but each singers voice in their own right is absolutely delicious.

baby its cold outside
zooey deschannel & leon redbone (MP3)

you can also watch her sing it with will ferrell

by
PUSSY GALORE
[MP3]

A NIGHT WITH THE JERSEY DEVIL
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN [MP3]
seriously amazing

THE DEVIL HAD A HOLD OF ME
GILLIAN WELCH [MP3]
one of my fave songs of all time

RUN DEVIL RUN
JENNY LEWIS & THE WATSON TWINS [MP3]
beautiful

DEVIL GOT MY WOMAN
SKIP JAMES [MP3]
blues + devil + love

THE DEVIL
PJ HARVEY [MP3]
girls & devils

THE DEVIL NEVER SLEEPS
IRON & WINE [MP3]
not usually an i & w fan but i dig this

DEVIL INSIDE
INXS [MP3]
classic rock schlock

FEAR SATAN
MOGWAI [MP3]
devils noises

DEVILS NIGHT
D12 [MP3]
reprazentin' american psycho soundtrack

apologies for not updating sooner! Its been a crazy month.

i actually have a stack more devil songs by artists such as brian jonestown massacre, black rebel motorcycle club, robert johnson, diplo, the pixies, tv on the radio, charles mingus... but i just dont have time to add them all. ill do a devil second edition post soon. please forward any suggestions of devil songs to me. or any themes you would like me to cover. i aim to please.

lover lover
songs from the past

1. bo diddley - she's fine - mp3
2. etta james - i'd rather be blind - mp3
3. five royals - standin' in the shadows - mp3
4. the ronettes - be my baby - mp3
5. bobby hebb - sunny - mp3
6. al greene - let's stay together - mp3
7. johnny cash & june carter - if i were a carpenter - mp3
8. patsy cline - i go walking after midnight - mp3
9. wanda jackson - hard headed woman - mp3
10. sakura & the quests - my boy lollipop - mp3
11. fontella bass - hold on - mp3
12. diana ross - upside down - mp3
13. dolly parton - jolene - mp3

bonus - elvis costello - my funny valentine - mp3

People have been singing love songs since the begining of time. Here is a bunch of songs that I happened to have handy that fall into two categories, love & old.

Some, older than others starting with Bo Diddley singing "She's Fine", his voice is amazing, husky, pained and strong it sounds a bit like an instrument in itself, a horn (much like Billie Holliday, who I didnt include in this compilation for some reason).

Second up, a song that was on a compliation given to me recently by a friend, Etta James doing "I'd Rather Go Blind". Beautiful & heart wrenching all in one.

Five Royals up next with "Standing in the Shadows", keeping in the theme of seeing your loved one with someone else, these guys croon about watching your baby kissin' on someone else.

"Be My Baby", by The Ronettes, a classic and slightly lighter than the heavy stuff we have delved into so far, which brings us to "Sunny" the 1966 hit, another "you've made my world an amazing place yay!" song.

After Bobby Hebb clears the rain and pain, Al Greene croons "Lets Stay Together" arguably the most romantic song in the history of the world. One day someone is going to sing this to me and I am going to marry them instantly (that and the Charles in Charge theme song I have just been reminded).

How can there be a compilation of songs about love without an inclusion from the late great loved up couple that was Johnny Cash and June Carter?! I chose this one because its about long standing love, I'll stick by you through the shit or yay moments of life...

"I Go Walking After Midnight" is probably about the girl who is probably in love with a guy like The Man In Black (the aforementioned Johnny Cash) I contemplated a whole heap of Patsy Cline songs to throw in here, she was the Queen of Unrequited Love (as crowned by me) but for some reason this one called out to me.

Wanda Jackson takes us into some real rock'n'roll babe stuff - "Hard Headed Woman" is I daresay one dedicated to most women by their exes heh.

I couldnt resist including Sakura & The Quests doing a cover of "My Boy Lollipop" in Chinese fron 1967 (I am totally obsessed with her, you can download a whole album here).

Next up, some smooth soul stylin' from Fontella Bass (famous for the 1965 hit "Rescue Me") doing "Hold On". Maybe not the most innovative lyrics (Hold on, hold on, hold on baby dont let go) but they certainly drive the point home.

Second to last, the amazing Ms Diana Ross doing "Upside Down". Those of you that know me will have some understanding that this song makes me happy, I cant sit still when its on and it makes me want to shake my butt.

Last on the list is "Jolene" by Dolly Parton. This song is probably the saddest love song in the world. Ever. Period. It sounds all boppy and twangy but listen up to the lyrics and your heart just breaks for this woman begging for Jolene to not take her man.

Bonus track isnt on the offical list because technically its not old, but its a cover of an old song. Elvis Costello doing a cover of "My Funny Valentine". This is another one of those amazingly hopelessly romantic songs, essentially he is telling his lover that they are far from perfect but he loves them just the way they are. Gag + loveheart.

please feel free to leave me any thoughts comments etc!

(ps - apologies i made the mistake of using rapid share to host the files, this makes you wait for 60 seconds before starting the download. I will use something else next time, in the meantime let me know if there are any problems or if you want me to burn and post you the compilation instead!)

morning after songs

1) Betty Davis - If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up
2) Liz Phair - Fuck and Run
3) PJ Harvey - Who The Fuck
4) Carissa's Wierd- One Night Stand
5) Sonic Youth - I Love You Golden Blue
6) The Go Betweens - Bachelor Kisses
7) Steely Dan - Reelin' In The Years
8) The Shirelles - WIll You Love Me Tomorrow
9) Billie Holliday - Good Morning Heartache
10) Martha Wainwright – Bloody Motherfucking Asshole
11) The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning
12) Iggy Pop - I Wanna Be Your Dog
13) AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long
14) Motorhead - One Night Stand

(unfortunately at this stage im having trouble finding mp3s of all these songs, so you will have to settle for youtube vids for some)

1) Betty Davis - If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up
You're still kind of drunk. You think its funny that you just had a one night stand. You are still in this strangers room (or even worse, a friend, so this is going to be really awkward) and this song comes on the radio. You cant help but laugh. This hot piece of lady style was married to the late great Miles Davis, and was muse to many a fucked up composition. She IS sex.

you can download a couple of other Betty Davis tracks here


2) Liz Phair – Fuck and Run
The title really says it all with the first track. You pop your headphones in before you even walk out the bedroom door, hair disheveled, and hopefully Ms Phair's singing will drown out any good mornings from roomates that are making breakfast. As one random blogger said about this song " Its from a time when Liz still had balls". May take a couple of listens, but you'll soon find you wont walk out of a one night stand without thinking of this song.

You can download a the mp3 of Fuck and Run free and legally here. Or you can watch a live version of it on youtube

3) PJ Harvey - Who The Fuck
You've made it to the front door without any awkward interactions. You walk to the front gate and the sun hurts when it first hits your pupils and you wish you had your sunglasses. This is when your first hint of regret starts to really kick in. Listening to PJ repetitively scream "who the fuck do you think you are
get outta my hair"
makes you remember at some point in the evening you managed to pull a "Theres Something About Mary" and get that stuff through your luscious locks.

4) Carissa's Wierd - One Night Stand
In at number four was going to be Janis Joplin's - One Night Stand, while I was looking for it I stumbled across this little gem that I hadnt heard in years. Carissa's Wierd formed in Seattle in 1995, and created some beautiful harmonies and shoe gazey goodness before members formed solo projects and Band Of Horses. Together for a short time, this beautiful piece is for when you have finally gotten into the cab, or on the bus, or into your roomates car as they picked you up from the corner and you just want to close your eyes and drift off nodding along to the lyrics...

"This really isn't like me at all....."

MP3 can be found here

5) Sonic Youth - I Love You Golden Blue
While this song doesnt literally denote the one night stand, its dreamy regret tinged vocals seem to seep into your brain with lyrics like

"Is it time to go, Its a place I know,
I cant read your mind,
I cant find the time,
I cant feel the thrill,
I cant find the will...."

The perfect song to get dragged into your own thoughts.

6) The Go Betweens - Bachelor Kisses
Bachelor Kisses is for when you've just gotten home and youre thinking about your ex. Its dreamy, pretty and hits you with imagery of love, lust and promises made with lyrics like

"The world of men don't mean a thing,
when all they give you is a diamond ring,
don't believe what you've heard,
"faithful" is not a bad word"

You can feast your senses on this one here

7) Steely Dan - Reelin' In The Years
While you're feeling nostalgic "Reelin' In The Years" will take you back to everything you've done, never done, wanted to do. A contemplative classic.

8) The Shirelles - Will You Love Me Tomorrow
I mean now you are full of regret. That person you slept with is never going to call. You probably dont even want them to. Your ex keeps popping up into your head and your whole body is sore. You walk up the driveway to your front door and turn the key hoping that the soothing sounds of these beautiful ladies who are feelin' your pain will make it all seem better....

9) Billie Holliday - Goodmorning Heartache
You've made it to bed. Your own bed. Sweet, sweet bed. You are ready to crash. Billie Holliday sings you to sleep, all those emotions coming up... Goodmorning Heartache indeed...

I found an mp3 of this song on the beautiful motel de moka music blog... you can download it here

10) Martha Wainwright - Bloody Motherfucking Asshole
You wake up two hours later. Everything hurts... You press play on the stereo and Martha greets you with lyrics like
"Poetry has no place for a heart thats a whore,
And I'm young and I'm strong
But I feel old and tired,
Over Fired"
Punctuated with "You bloody Motherfucking Asshole" every second verse over and over you get up and make some coffee..

You can download this track here

11)The Velvet Underground - Sunday Morning
As you drink your first coffee for the day and light that much needed cigarette, you settle into a haze of reflection on the last 24 hours. You wonder, did I really go home with *that* person? And your brain here has three options
1) I wonder if I like this person. Am I ever going to see them again? (and yes, I realise I could have inserted "The Angels" here but I've chosen not to, it just wouldn't keep the right mood)
2) Oh my god this is going to be so fucking awkward when we see each other again...
or
3) What was his/her name??!?

The Velvet Underground's Sunday Morning will surely help facilitate these thoughts. You can download the track here or you can watch the youtube below.

12) Iggy Pop - I Wanna Be Your Dog
At some point, possibly somewhere between your first and fouth cigarette things start looking up. But you the memories of the possibly depraved things you did the night before start creeping in... and what better track that Iggy Pop's I Wanna Be Your Dog to help ease those memories in.

You can download this one here


13) AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long
As you get out of the shower, you realise that its kinda hysterically funny that you slept with "Insert Person" here. And you start to enjoy the memories of the night before. You walk into your room and the radio is playing this song. Perfect. Hahaha.

You can download a copy of this one here.

14) Motorhead - One Night Stand

Finally, after being washed and dressed you're ready for the day. Tinged with regret? Hardly. You head out for afternoon beers with these lyrics in your head
"Love, at first sight, love with a travelling man,
I been a slut all my life,
Wish every night was a one-night stand."

for some reason the go betweens youtube link is posting twice. i think it just means youre meant to enjoy it again!