Everybody Knows I’m Still In Love With You- Sad Brad Smith
The name might suggest otherwise, but Sad Brad Smith comes off like a happy Elliot Smith, a creative arranger, a sweet voice and a multi-instrumentalist, and its just a damn good song.
Blue Ridge Mountains- Fleet Foxes
Ethereal out of this world harmonies meets a pastoral spirit, if I believed in heaven, the angels themselves would be crying from the beauty of this song. Blasphemy? Yes, worth being sent to hell for for saying it? Also Yes.
More grounded than Blue Ridge, Ragged Wood features a great lead vocal and supporting harmonies and a chugging rhythm, the most rocking this band gets.
Funny How Time Slips Away- Al Green and Lyle Lovett
The Reverend himself covering a song from his earlier output, a great reworking with a funky backing rhythm and great harmonies between Al and Lyle, bright and organic and a joy to put on.
Funny How Time Slips Away- Al Green
The original, a slow burner sung when Al Green was at his absolute peak, absolutely no one else could convey the power he could in a whisper.
Old Habits Die Hard- Mick Jagger and Dave Stewart
A soulful reminiscing song, originally recorded for the Alfie remake, Jagger’s performance here is perfect, you can hear the longing in his voice and its a catchy melody to boot.
Darkness of Your Love- Dave Stewart and Gary “Mudbone” Cooper
Another off of the Alfie soundtrack with bright horns and a inspirational melody, the song just grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go.
Yes he didn’t have the musical talent of his famous counterparts, but the man’s almost 70, and his voice has aged miraculously and his songwriting better than anything previous, Paul McCartney provides the bass line and the melody has that Beatle catchyness written all over it, and its a good message.
Another great song off the new album, with a melancholy backing harmony provided by Paul McCartney, its almost a little sad how much McCartney’s voice has aged in comparison to Ringo’s but its sweet and sentimental.
Mr. Bojangles- Jerry Jeff Walker
Great song, period.
Pick Up the Pieces- Jon Cleary
Off of Cleary’s debut, Pick Up the Pieces starts off slowly, reminiscent of a song Lionel Ritchie wished he was good enough to write, before progressing into an Elton John and Little Feat like groove; funky, powerful, and absolutely golden.
A wonderful artist lost in the annals of time, a Louisiana native who achieved and perfected the sound The Band became known for after their debut The Big Pink, in fact, The Band plays the second fiddle here, backing Charles up.
Retro funky disco soul at its best.
I’ve Never Found A Girl- Al Green
No one will ever match that warm bright punchy sound that Al Green dominated and his vocals are just without equal.
A song off their new album Transference featuring a bubbly bassline and their always creative arrangements, I could see Phoenix covering this song its right up their alley, so if you like Phoenix or Spoon (and who doesn’t) grab this song.
Bye, Bye, Bye- Plants and Animals
No no no, its not a cover of N’SYNC or Backstreet Boys or whoever, just a great song by a great new band.
Multiply (In a Minor Key)- Jamie Lidell
The original is already a stone cold funky classic, this version has a reworked bright 70’s styled piano and a live background, Natalie Cole ((This Will Be) An Everlasting Love) would be proud. Oh did I tell you he’s a white british guy, because he sure doesn’t sound like it.
As marvelous as his originals were, Al Green was a fantastic interpreter of well, anything thrown at him. For The Good Times is originally a country song written by Kris Kristofferson and Al Green puts forth a powerful version, inhabiting, not just singing the lyrics.
A classic from the Grateful Dead, organic and beautifully done.
The Art of the Mixtape 