Weekend Playlist - Put Your Records On

There is something about music that can brighten the most dismal of days. That's the message at the heart of Corinne Bailey Rae's hit Put Your Records On. This is a really nice tune that helps set the perfect mood for the weekend. Enjoy.

Weekend Playlist - Fallin' For You

This weekend's song is a really sweet song from songwriter Colbie Callat. It's a great picture of what happens when you meet that special someone. It's not always easy to express into words what it feels like but she does a great job encapsulating those emotions in this song. Enjoy.


Colbie Caillat - Fallin' For You (Official Video) by luanabochechinha

Weekend Playlist: Upside Down

This week's selection is just pure fun. Jack Johnson was not well known until the release of this song which also happened to be featured in the movie Curious George. Although he has recorded a lot of songs since this one it remains my favorite.

Weekend Playlist: If I Could Build My Whole World Around You

This week's song spotlights one of the outstanding duos of Motown's heyday: Marvin Gaye and Tammie Terrell. During the couple of years during the late Sixties they recorded together they had numerous hits and performed live together on tour. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You would mark the third top 10 record for the duo and is (at least in my opinion) their best record. Unfortunately the partnership would not last very long as Terrell collapsed in Gaye's arms during a performance at Hampden Sydney College in October of 1967. Less that three years later she was dead at age 24 having succumbed to a brain tumor. Still, they made some wonderful music together and this has to be one of the finest examples of this outstanding pairing.

Weekend Playlist: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

When it comes to classic show tunes it's hard to beat George and Ira Gershwin. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off was originally introduced in the 1937 film Shall We Dance starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Noted for the different pronunciations of different words throughout the song, it was meant to highlight class differences between the two singers rather than just a disagreement over how to say "tomato". Like many songs in the Great American Songbook, there are numerous versions of this song. This particular version is my personal favorite as you can hear in the singing how much Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong obviously enjoyed working together on this song.

Weekend Playlist: Fare Thee Well

This week we go old school with a new cover of an old song. Fare Thee Well is an English ballad dating back to the 18th Century. It's been covered numerous times by a wide variety of artists. The latest cover was featured in the Coen Brothers' movie Inside Llewyn Davis and features Oscar Isaac and Marcus Mumford on the vocals. This is a wonderful rendition of the song. Enjoy.

Weekend Playlist: King of Anything

I don't normally link to pop songs but this one is so catchy and has such a great underlying message that it was worthy of linkage here. The song is by singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles and is primarily written from the point of view of a woman who has been in a relationship with a guy who is a control freak. In breaking off the relationship, she poses the question "who died and made you king of anything?" It's an interest point that she makes: too often we try too hard to live our lives pleasing others particularly people that will never be pleased with anything that we do. It can be a stifling way to live. The song is a good reality check for us to ask ourselves if we are really living the way we should or are we allowing others to rule over us in a way that they shouldn't be allowed.

Weekend Playlist: Raincoat

This week's song is another find courtesy of Pandora. Raincoat is one of Kelly Sweet's signature songs. It's easy going, jazzy beat conveys a feeling of hope in spite of hurt. Listen closely to the words and you'll hear the voice of a woman who has been hurt in a relationship but won't let her life be defined by that hurt. In fact, she's ready to start fresh by discarding the things that characterized that prior relationship. That's the real beauty of this song.

Weekend Playlist: Christmas TV

Here's another track from my favorite TV show Chuck. One of the amazing things about the show is the selection of the background music. This particular song played during a beach wedding scene and only enhanced the romance and sweetness of the sequence. Enjoy this track from Slow Club.

Weekend Playlist - Hang on Little Tomato

This week's song is another one of my Pandora finds. I had never heard of Pink Martini or this particular song. However, the more I have listened to it the more it has grown on me. I imagine the song as advice from a parent to a child. Somehow that makes it a little sweeter. It's a song filled with hope. As depressing as sometimes things can seem to be, a song like this can brighten one's day.

Weekend Playlist: A Girl, A Boy and a Graveyard

I'm always on the lookout for artists to listen to. I discovered Jeremy Messersmith through my favorite TV show Chuck. The show always did a great job of picking music to fit the mood of the show. This song is no exception to that rule. It's also a good introduction to Jeremy Messersmith. Enjoy.

Weekend Playlist - Let's Fall in Love

Time for another selection from one of my favorite singers, Diana Krall, for this weekend's playlist. Here's another great standard Let's Fall in Love. If you're unfamiliar with her work, this is a great introduction. Enjoy.

Weekend Playlist - A Living Prayer

I'm not a big country music fan but there are a few bands that do capture my attention. One group I listen to often is Alison Krauss and Union Station. I don't there is a more talented group of musicians working together today.

Every once in a while, they will delve into songs that have definite Christian themes and today's selection is no exception. In fact, it's a terrific song. Enjoy.

Weekend Playlist: Bewitched, Bothered and, Bewildered

When I think of Boz Scaggs jazz singer is not the first thing that leaps to mind. I'm more likely to recall his hits from the late 70s such as Lowdown and Lido Shuffle. But in 2003, he recorded an album of jazz standards entitled But Beautiful that debuted at #1 on the jazz charts upon its release. Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered is a Rodgers and Hart tune from Pal Joey. Click below to hear how Boz Scaggs proves himself more than capable of handling one of the great show tunes.

Weekend Playlist: My Romance

This weekend's song is a jazz standard by Richard Rodgers and Lorenzo Hart that was written for the musical Jumbo and popularized by Doris Day. Like many other standards it's been recorded numerous times. This version by James Taylor was the first time I really heard the song and it's stuck with me ever since then. Although there are arguably better versions of the song this one still feels special to me.

Weekend Playlist: Frim Fram Sauce

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I'm a big fan of Diana Krall. Peel Me a Grape (which I highlighted here) was the first song of hers I heard and I was hooked immediately. Today's selection is another of my favorites because it again perfectly displays both her vocal and piano talents.

Today's song appears on her album All For You: A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio. The thing I like about this track is while you can hear a definite nod to the original song she still manages to makes it her own. Be sure to marvel at the extended solo in the middle of the song.

Weekend Playlist: I've Got the World on a String

Here's another song from the Great American Songbook that has been recorded multiple times by a variety of different artists. When I first heard this version of the song I heard the Frank Sinatra version. I've also heard Michael Buble and others provide their own take on the song. But it's hard to do much better than Ella Fitzgerald in the video below. Enjoy!

Weekend Playlist: Peel Me A Grape

It's a rare thing that a song sticks with me after hearing it for the first time. Normally it takes me hearing a song several times before deciding whether I like it or not. Even more rare is when I can remember exactly when I have heard a song (or an artist) for the first time. But in the case of this song I can remember exactly where I was when I first heard it. From the very first time I heard the song I not only thoroughly enjoyed the song but knew the artist was someone I would want to hear from more often.

That's certainly the case with Diana Krall. When it comes to modern jazz musicians few can hold a candle to her vocally speaking. The added bonus is that she is also an accomplished pianist. This is a quintessential example of her vocal and piano performances. It's one of many of her performances from the Great American Songbook that were hallmarks of the early portion of her career. Her music is also perfect background music for a romantic evening. Enjoy.

Weekend Playlist: She's No Lady

Each Friday I feature a favorite song. This week it's one of the early hits from Lyle Lovett. This song was definitely written tongue in cheek. Listen closely and you will see why.

Weekend Playlist: Sweet Pea

This week's selection is another in a long line of Pandora songs. I listen to Pandora a lot (probably too much) and continue to be amazed at how well they can tailor song selections based on a user's tastes. I had never heard this song before finding it on Pandora but I liked it the first time I heard it. It has a little flavor of Dixieland to it. Overall it's just a fun song and I think that's probably why it appeals to me so much. Enjoy.