Sunday Songs

Album covers from featured artists, clockwise: Blondie; Morrissey; Billy Porter; and Sinéad O'Connor.

In picking the songs which feature the work "Sunday" in the title, I simply went to my iTunes, typed in 'sunday' and wondered what would come up. To my surprise, 48 entries appeared, so some thought needed to get put into it. I decided to go with four songs, each from different decades. And while I was tempted to toss in Etta James' "Sunday Kind of Love" or Julie London's "Sunday Blues", I opted to go with other songs from other times. And I will start with the earliest selection, a favorite of mine. In 1978, a bunch of amazing things happened. I graduated from Smyrna High School, and went off to college in Reading, PA. And a Punk band released an album that changed the way some heard music, and what people thought about women rockers. It was, of course, Blondie, who released their breakthrough album, 'Parallel Lines'. The album was still churning out hits in 1979, like "Heart of Glass" and "One Way Or Another". Sandwiched in between those two singles was the delicate and beautiful "Sunday Girl".

You can purchase 'Parallel Lines' from iTunes and Amazon.

To leap into the next decade, it feels like I have little choice but to go with a song that the 'Mo' in Emo, the always blue Morrissey. Through his time with the Smith's and on to his solo career, Morrissey cornered the market on teenage angst, and put it into so many great songs. Here he sings "Every Day Is Like Sunday" from the 1988 album 'Viva Hate'.

You can purchase 'Viva Hate' from iTunes and Amazon.

Is there anyone out that who doesn't love Sinéad O'Connor? I mean, come on, really? Her voice is just so very special, and she has an amazing way to communicate the common struggle we all face. And wow, that voice. In 1992, Sinéad released the album 'Am I Not Your Girl?", with some great songs. Here she sings "Gloomy Sunday" off that album.

You can purchase 'Am I Not Your Girl?' from iTunes and Amazon.

I have had a wonderful crush on Billy Porter for a while now. And when I was trying to decide on the entries for this post and saw his name, I knew I would regret not including him. His voice is brilliant - soaring and glorious, carrying so much depth as it does. For the last entry, here is Billy Porter singing "Sunday" from Stephen Sondheim's great 'Sunday In The Park With George'. It is off Porter's 2005 album 'At The Corner of Broadway & Soul'.

You can purchase 'The Corner of Broadway & Soul' from iTunes and Amazon.

Hope your week is special!

Sunday Evening with Linda Ronstadt

I have no problem admitting I am almost addicted to her music. Back in the 70s, I couldn't stop listening to her, and now 30-some years later, I still have the same problem. Her voice is just exquisite, and she sings some of the most amazing songs. So as I was listening to music so I could post a birthday wish to the equally gorgeous TrannyBeth yesterday, I kept coming back to Linda. And I decided to not fight the feeling, and go with a post on Sunday, too. And it starts with a great cover of a Motown song, Hurt So Bad. 15 years earlier, the song was a hit for Little Anthony & the Imperials.



The next track is another hit from 1965, this one courtesy of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Tracks of my Tears is just a beautiful song, and Linda infuses the pop nugget with just the right amount of heartache.



Before Ronstadt became a household name herself, she often played with other California acts, including The Eagles. She also toured with The Doors, Neil Young, and Jackson Browne, among many of the top music acts of the time. It is only natural she would cover Desperado, a song she often sang backup on with the Eagles.

Easter Celebrations

Tradition dictates each Easter Sunday the family gathers at the farm and the younger generation partakes in an Easter Egg hunt, put on by my parents. I remember clearly when it was the nieces and nephews who searched for the plastic eggs, and now it is their children mainly, the great-grandchildren of my parents, who do the looking.






I, of course, attend with my camera in hand, hoping to get some great shots. And the kids can be a blast. The weather was gorgeous, and the kids fun.

Sunday Morning with Casey Stratton

As I said recently, Casey Stratton was my first music post on this blog. I had only recently chatted with him, and was aware of his music through YouTube, so when I had the chance, I asked him what album should be my first purchase, he told me to buy Standing On The Edge, a great album, and I have been a fan since. So this Sunday morning, I bring you some music from Casey, two songs he recently put out on YouTube. The first is Rising Sun, from his album The Crossing.



Casey also has put out a selection of cover songs as part of a bi-weekly podcast. Casey posted The Last Day of Our Acquaintance by Sinead O'Connor just last week, and thought I'd share it.



For more from Casey Stratton, visit his official website here.

Sunday Morning with Chris Keys

He is a singer/songwriter from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and his music charms me to the core. He follows the deep and strong tradition of Irish folk artists, but maintains an amazing personal feel as well as sounding current. His voice has the quality of a good Irish whiskey, dark and husky, but smooth and satisfying. He recently put a couple of YouTube clips up, both live performances of songs I really enjoy. The first is one of his more recent songs, Shadows.



The second is City Lights, another recent offering. I really love this song.



You can find more on Chris Keys on his website here. You can also check out his MySpace here, and FaceBook here.