Track Listing from the Session
"Don't You Know" by Jan Hammer Group (Pete S.)
"What I Do" by Chris Smither (Dave A.)
"Born Under Punches" by Talking Heads (Danny G.)
"Car Radio" by twenty one pilots (Damon F.)
"Modern Times" by Al Stewart (Pete S.)
"Surfin'" by Ernest Ranglin (Dave A.)
"Jokerman" by Bob Dylan (Danny G.)
"Here In Spirit" by Jim James w/ Teddy Abrams & Louisville Orchestra (Damon F.)
"Map of the World" by Monsters of Folk (Danny G.)
Participants
Pete S.
Dave A.
Danny G.
Damon F.
Spotify Playlist
Apple Playlist
Session Summary
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damon_ferrara
I listen to a lot of music. Periodically, I am reminded about how much excellent music exists that I have never heard. twenty one pilots are a massively popular band and have been so for the last several years. Two brothers…some incredible mix of rock rap electronica. They are awesome and I barely knew of them until a few months ago when Jason Stoddard in TLC introduced me to them. I started digging in a bit and aside from the captivating as hell music of the song “Car Radio” the lyrics really spoke to me…I consider the song about the challenges many of us have being comfortable in silence.
‘I ponder of something great, my lungs will fill and then deflate. They fill with fire, exhale desire. I know it’s dire, my time today. I have these thoughts so often I ought to replace that slot with what I once bought. ‘Cause somebody stole my car radio and now I just sit in silence.’
Jim James originally wrote “Here in Spirit” in response to the 2016 mass shootings at Pulse Night Club in Florida. He said it was a way for him to demonstrate that we can all show our support for a cause or a mission even if we aren’t physically involved or present. As excellent as this song is when he does it solo, he joined with Teddy Abrams and the Louisville Orchestra for the rousing version I shared in the session.
‘If you don’t speak out we can’t hear it. Our love is always here. Here in spirit. And all those who came before. Here in spirit.’
Jan Hammer is the guy that wrote the Miami Vice theme music. He was one of those 70s artists that invented the 80s/90s. Like any great inventor, many of his songs aren’t fully formed, but there’s a few that perfectly hit the mark. “Don’t You Know” is the song that gave birth to bands like “Air” and their seminal album “Moon Safari.”
Al Stewart is and Englishman from the 70s singer songwriter era. Back then he had a huge hit called “year of the cat,” but overall he was only moderately popular in the UK, not so much in the US, and today mostly forgotten. It’s a shame because his albums are brilliant and “Modern Times” is his best. The last song, named after the album, is an eight minute 70s style epic, along the lines of “Brandy” by Looking glass, but sadly not as well known.