Teddy Thompson / Danny Burns at Jammin’ Java, 12/17/2013

Great show by Teddy Thompson – one of the best I’ve seen this year (including Thompson père at the Birchmere in September). It was the first time I had seen him as a headliner; previous encounters had been opening for Emmylou Harris at Strathmore and doing a set with his band at the WXPN music festival in the summer of 2008. 

Although his albums feature quite a bit of production, including the occasional string section, the songs came across just as well if not better with just Teddy and his acoustic guitar as they do on CD. He also had a great rapport with the audience, including talking us into helping out with the chorus to “What’s This.” 

He did 14 songs (if my notes are correct) during the main  set, starting with “Delilah” and ending with “Don’t Know What I Was Thinking.” Came back for 2 encore sets, the second of which consisted of “Brink of Love” (a new one for me, but obviously not for others in the audience) and the classic “Separate Ways” (video of a performance from 2011), which really should have made my Top 100 list. Whole show ran about 90 minutes. 

He announced during the show that he had some copies of an EP that he had done several years ago for sale – had just found some extra copies, apparently. I was lucky enough to get the last one (for a mere 5 bucks, no less). 

I also enjoyed the opening set by Irish singer / guitarist Danny Burns, accompanied by a fiddle player. Highlights included a slowed-down version of the Pogue’s Christmas classic “Fairytale of New York” (although it made me miss the late Kirsty MacColl who sang on the original). 

Strangely, this was my first trip ever to Jammin’ Java in Vienna VA. Everything was great except for the getting there, which took an hour and ten minutes. (For you locals, Route 123 was jammed (pun intended) all the way from Tyson’s into downtown Vienna.) It took less than 30 minutes to get home, well after the rush hour was over. 

Jammin’ Java has reserved tables/seats, which is a big plus since it eliminates the need to get there really early and line up for a good spot. Food-wise, I can recommend the SPICY PORK ‘N TOMATILLO chili; I didn’t find it all that spicy, but it was good and there was plenty of it.

#92 Where The Boys Are -- Connie Francis (1961)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUBT69YWqBA

What’s a Top 100 list without Connie Francis???

 

#93 Fools Fall In Love -- The Drifters (1957)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSpk5hSDoTQ

“Fools Fall in Love” is one of the greatest songs ever written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, although certainly not one of their better-known. This is the original “classic” version of the Drifters that featured Clyde McPhatter, not the later (but equally great) incarnation with Ben E. King that produced such classics as “Under the Boardwalk” and “Up on the Roof.” The original Drifters were also responsible for the greatest version of “White Christmas” ever (sorry Bing), which was featured in the first Home Alone movie.

 

#94 Twisting By The Pool -- Dire Straits (1983)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMX_B8Iumsg

 

I apologize in advance to the Mark Knopfler fans who really don’t like this song – it was a hit in England but not in the U.S. – but it’s probably the greatest summer party track they ever did.

 

 

#95 Melting Pot -- Booker T. & The MG's (1971)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8wvt-HuZ4c (short version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10NLGNzEly4 (long version)

This is for those of you who may have thought that “Green Onions” was the only song they did.  ;-) This one didn’t get nearly as much attention or radio airplay; I believe the first time I heard it was when I purchased The Very Best of Booker T. & the MG’s compilation. I’ve always thought it would be a great lead-in track for a musically eclectic radio show (or blog, perhaps). 

 

The version on the Best-Of CD is 3:50 – presumably the “single” version. The version on the original Melting Pot album is considerably longer, and I hadn’t heard the whole thing until a week ago. To me, the shorter version really says it all.

 

#96 There Was A Time -- James Brown (1968)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri9U8AnKKQI

I really didn’t get heavily into pop/rock/soul music until late in the summer of 1965, right before going into junior high school (7^th-9^th grades, for you younger folks). Back in the day, most of the radio stations that played “top 40” music had a weekly countdown of the top 25 or 40 songs. They printed copies of the lists every week (no Internet in those days), which you could pick up in your favorite record store. The first list I got in late August ’65, from WFEC radio in Harrisburg PA, featured Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag by James Brown as the #1 song. 

James did many great songs over the years besides that one, but for some reason There Was A Time (which was not even a big hit) particularly appealed to me. I still prefer the original studio version, although many give the edge to the live rendition that is included in the Star Time boxed set.

Jim Hall

I'm certainly not the world's biggest jazz fan or expert, but I was saddened last week to hear that one of my favorites, jazz guitarist Jim Hall, had died. I particularly enjoyed his work with Paul Desmond and on the CTI record label. His 1975 Concierto album, featuring his version of Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez," is wonderful, a must-have for any jazz aficionado.