It's so nice to start the day totally enchanted by the music of an artist new to me, so I have to immediately do this blog entry to share that with you. You see, I have music columnist friend in Australia, Sue Barrett, who keeps me informed on lesbian artists I may not of heard of from that country, and this one's a winner. Her name is Jenny Biddle and she's sure not a secret in that country, having won a number of music awards recently. Her third album, "Hero in Me," is coming out in March, and you can already (from her site) download a free track from it, and hear full versions of several others. Actually, there are eight tracks you can hear from her three releases and this morning I listened to every one, loving her more and more as I went through them.
I suggest you start with the very openly gay title track, "Hero in Me," from the new one, and then perhaps go on to (the also lyrically gay) "Don't Mind," or the stunning cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," from her 2012 CD "Little Treasures." And then there's "Chest of Drawers," from her 2009 album by the same title. Those four should be enough to get you hooked.
Last month I posted a video I created that was a tribute to the 40th Anniversary of Olivia Records, showing images of every LP, 45 and CD the label produced. And today, a friend who actually got to go on this dream cruise send me a link showing the musical finale. It's the appropriate "Song of the Soul," from Cris Williamson's iconic "Changer and the Changed" LP (1975). I can spot many of the singers, such as Cris, Meg, Teresa, Dianne, Suede, and also many I'm not sure of...check it out.
Here comes another I-Lost-My-Woman-To-Another-Woman Song, and that sort-of genre was popular in Country Music, mostly in the 1990's. But these guys aren't Country and perhaps lean more toward "Margaritaville," (just look at them). The album was named "WaHa Music," from 1988, and they called themselves Free Hot Lunch. The song that caught my ear is not like the rest on the album anyway. It's "My Wife and My Best Friend's Girl," written by group member John Corning. He and Jeff Berg and Jeff Laramie have fun with it, with humor and a Shangri-Las inspired arrangement, all done in less than two minutes. You'll see what I mean.
Okay, I hate football....but I do not discriminate, I hate all sports, and only watch sports once every four years (Summer Olympics: men's gymnastics, swimming and diving). So you would hardly expect me to blog about the Super Bowl, when I almost never even know who is playing, and then it's by accident and I forget immediately. But this blog is about Gay Super Bowl Music, sort of.... And I have the perfect song to feature, and then, one not so perfect.... Somehow, in 1985 the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus recorded the "49ers Fight Song," and it of course came out on colored vinyl, clear yellow. Someone posted it to YouTube, so I'll refer to it there.
This YouTube version includes the flip side, not involving the SFGMC. It's "Spirit of America" by Razzberry Reynolds, and the Big Top Circus Concert Band. It starts at the 1:47 minute mark.
QMH for February. Gladys Bentley Tribute. I've been wanting to do this show for quite a while, and kept putting it off, as Bentley is quite an intimidating subject. But it's done, and it covers music from her whole career, and includes some very rare unreleased material you should not miss.
The songs of this artist make me smile. He's Chicago indie...well, wait, I'll let the blurb from his Bandcamp page tell you: "His songs marry quirky
lyrics to catchy melodies. Sort of like They Might Be Giants after an
intensive course in David Sedaris." If he means the sly dry wit, yes, I see it. And you can see a video below, for "Bear411."
And, here's another fun video Facebook users were surely find humorous.
Okay, I rarely do this, but I'm plugging a CD fund-raising campaign, and I Love this artist. He's Australian singer Brendan Maclean, and I've been playing his infectious pop on OutRadio for over a year now, and reveling in such songs as "Cold and Happy," "Only Only," "Practically Wasted," and "You Beat Me To It." The first song from the new project, his first real CD, sound just as great, and it's called "Stupid." You can hear a little of it at this link, and also catch his quite charming video pitch for help, by Clicking Here.
Want some instant gratification? Listen to "Cold and Happy" or "Only Only" or "Beat Me To It."
