A Glimpse of Summer

Date
May 24, 2014

Miracler
Marcella Estes

Location
Point Richmond, CA

When last we heard from Lady M
It was with Feb. 2013's Marcella on the Rocks, her definitive collection from our last Meet-UP (we're overdue for our next! Let's plan), preceded in Oct. '12 with A Glass of Twang, a tasty belt of alt country for which many of us were thirsty.

You guys said stuff like:
Love this stuff....   /   I really enjoyed this mix and it's overall feel.   /   I wouldn't have said that I like Alt Country that much, but I love this mix! What a great collection of rhymes in Lolita.   /   My first taste of alt country was just out of high school with Tex & the Horseheads, and I have loved it ever since. This mix is great; my favorites are the Sykes, Farrar, LaMontagne, and Red Meat tracks. I have been meaning to pick up a copy of Ukelele Songs ever since it came out, and now I see that I must do so sooner than later.   /   You hit me right in the home state.   /   When in doubt, I reach for a glass of twang -- anything from Uncle Tupelo to Johnny Cash to Lucinda Williams to Patsy Cline.    /   There's a lovely tone to your mix, a subset of alt country that doesn't get enough respect. It reminds me of the music collected for the film, Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus. I believe the Handsome Family are included on that album.    /   Jesse Sykes and Blanche – both new to me. Love the Jay Farrar, Ray LaMontagne (a semi-favorite here at the 3MPMP), The Handsome Family, Supersuckers (introduced to me by Toby Barlow many years ago by this very song!)...   /   Thanks, Marcella! I love that twang. Gonna go buy the new Dwight Yoakam album after hearing this one.   /   Still digging the mix. It's helped me realize that I LOVE, LOVE songs where men and women trade verses and share harmonies about love and pain.   /   What a great mix. I have to admit that despite my constant trying not to, I like Eddie Vedder. The other cuts that stood out to me are Blanche and Red Meat. I was thrilled to see Red Meat in the mix and that cut is fantastic. Thank you.   /   Apparently, I'm a sucker for banjo. Loved all the twang with banjo. And EV's voice. That voice! Blanche reminds me of an old Lee Hazlewood song. Like that Decemberists tune and so happy they no longer sound like wayward pirates. Jay Farrar, Red Meat and Supersuckers. All my sweet spot! Nice stuff.   /   Some of my favorite bands here, but songs I've never heard ('cept for Supersuckers, which I like all over again in this mix). Love the snaky guitar in the Hush Arbors song. Love Jessie Sykes tough, yet sexy voice. Love the simple honesty of Red Meat. Welcome, Marcella!   /   I listen to this mix ALL THE TIME, so this is most definitely an oversight which I will attend to right now.   /   Kind of like Jeffrey Bell, I'm hard pressed to select favorites. Just now I went through to narrow it down and my response was: "oh, I love this one." then "oh, I love this one too." And again. And again.    /   Thank you so much, I drink this glass of twang like it's whiskey (with relish). If this is the kind of mix you make, I welcome you to my ear world with open, if tardy, arms!

Today, Marcella's made us the perfect transition into the white-shoe season. I especially appreciate the generous Bacharach chunk in there, but there's also lots of fun stuff here to keep the volume turned UP.

Liner Notes by ME

Well this is one eclectic mix ya’ll. Please feel free to pick and erase and make new mixes with some of it. Just songs I like. And makes me feel kind of summery. Cover art is one of my dogs, Moki as interpreted by my husband, Jamie.

Optimistic Voices, MGM Studio Orchestra, The Debutantes and The Rhythmettes

The scene where the venerable crew come upon the gates of the Emerald City. My representation for coming out of winter/spring into Summer!  

Exploding, Jim James

My Morning Jacket front man put out a nice release last year. I love this instrumental piece but check out the other songs, he’s got a great voice and lovely stylings.

Cast Your Fate to the Wind, We Five

I was amazed to see this band wasn’t in the vault at all. My Mom used to listen to these cats – very pretty, clear folk pop tunes. More popular is their song “You Were on My Mind”. Were based in SF in the 60’s.

There’s Always Something There to Remind Me, Sandie Shaw

Great song, great voice. She became a psychotherapist in the ‘90’s.

Anyone Who Had a Heart, Dionne Warwick

The world cannot have enough Dionne Warwick. Especially paired with Burt Bacharach.

To Sir, With Love, Lulu

I made my husband watch this movie not too long ago. Looks so corny now but I love Sidney Poitier in it. Lulu was 19 in 1967 when this hit came out.

Guess I’m Dumb, Glen Campbell

Written in 1965 by Brian Wilson expressly for Glen. Campbell was at the time filling in for Wilson for their live performances, and had been given the song as a "reward" by Wilson for his performing duties. I like it that Glen stepped out of his country hat and took on more of a pop role. The single flopped and “failed to chart” (we would say Chart Fail! now) but I quite like it.

Love Child, Diana Ross & The Supremes

Everyone knows this but it’s a great song. And not ONE Supremes song in the vault.

Dealer, Traffic

Just like the song.

Fresh Garbage, Spirit

As I was putting this mix together, this song gave me a 3 day long brain worm. Does that happen to you guys too? Oy. And who names a song Fresh Garbage anyway? Here’s the verse, you can get the ringtone too! (ridiculous)

Look beneath your lid some morning,
See those things you didn't quite consume
The world's a can for
Your fresh garbage . . .

‘Cause I Love Her, Brian Jonestown Massacre

Sounding kinda Stones-y here.

I happen to have a list of all of Anton’s music links if anyone wants it!

Afterglow, Arthur & Yu

Another pretty song.

Abegail Anne, Jeremy Enigk

Not one Jeremy Enigk/Sunny Day Real Estate/Fire Theft song in the vault – all great bands. This song was used in a cool 1997 movie (maybe the only one David Arquette was ever good in) called Dream With the Fishes. The whole soundtrack LP is quite good.

I’ll Always Be Grateful, A House

Fun Irish band from the 80’s.

Early in the Morning, Nilsson

I cannot have enough Nilsson. Have you guys seen the movie

Who is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)? It’s very informative, interesting but sad. I almost wish I didn’t watch it, that sad.

Dancing Couple, Joy of Cooking

Closing out my mix with this Berkeley folk group from the ‘70’s with strong female voices. Dance in a meadow with a glass of wine in your hand kind of song.

Bonus Track:

A chapter of In Watermelon Sugar, by Richard Brautigan

One of my favorite books of all time. He was a poet/author who lived in SF in the 60’s/70’s and wrote some completely off the wall crazy shit. I was excited to get this CD with 12 tracks of various readings and was really surprised by how weird his voice was. Oh well. If you like poetic/strange stories, pick up In Watermelon Sugar – a quick read. His most popular book was Trout Fishing in America. There is a Richard Brautigan library in Vancouver, Washington. Brautigan (1935-1984) described a library for manuscripts outside the interests of the commercial publishing industry, “the unwanted, the lyrical and haunted volumes of American writing.”

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