The Mountain Goats

Artist: The Mountain Goats

LP: 7" single

Song: "See America Right"
[ listen ]

Like everyone else, when I'm not working I'm stuck at home with nothing to do but order things online—things that I don't really need. I already collected all the 4AD releases from the label's first ten years last year when I was depressed, so now that I'm bored, I'm filling in some of the gaps from the ten years after that.

 

The Mountain Goats weren't initially one of my favorite 4AD bands, but I still bought each of their CDs when they were released. Their music has kinda' grown on me, so now they are also growing in my collection. My copy of this 2002 single arrived last week from The Netherlands. Its artwork was designed by 23 Envelope's Vaughan Oliver, recently deceased.

 

[ The Mountain Goats ]

Olga Guillot

Artist: Olga Guillot

LP: La Mejor Voz Cancioonera de Cuba

Song: "Vivir De Los Recuerdos"

[ listen ]

Song: "Sin Mi"

[ listen ]

Song: "Estamos En Paz"

  [ listen ]  
 

I'm not 100% sure, but I think "I-Tunes" is the alternate title of this 1950s Olga Guillot LP, on which the lovely and talented Cuban songstress is accompanied by the Orchestra Hermanos Castro. 

As a music critic, the previous owner of this record sure was a tough nut to crack, finding just one five-star song in the bunch. As you can see, they somehow managed to enjoy one other track enough to assign it a three-star rating, but all of Olga's other tunes earned only one lone star apiece. To be honest, I can't tell the difference. I've included "Vivir De Los Recuerdos," the five-star number, here, along with two of my favorite one-star Olga Guillot songs. See what you think. 

Born in Santiago de Cuba in the autumn of 1922, Olga traveled to Mexico in 1948 and hit the big time there with her recording of "Mienteme" a few years later. She went on to travel the world, once performing in Cannes with the legendary Edith Piaf. In 1964, Guillot became the first Latin artist ever to sing at New York's Carnegie Hall. You can read more about Olga Guillot on Wikipedia here, and LP liner notes in Spanish and English are included below.

 [ Olga Guillot: October 9, 1922 — July 12, 2010 ]

An Emotional Sponge

My good friend Eduardo often calls me Patrick, and I call him SpongeBob. Sometimes he really can be such an emotional sponge, that guy. 

side one:
01. No, I Don't Believe - Eyes on Fire
02. You're My Magician - Lime
03. Painted Bird - Siouxsie and the Banshees
04. Two of Everything - Torres
05. Two Different Worlds - Robert Goulet
06. Walk On the Moon - Asobi Seksu
07. Count On Angels - Breathless
08. Imagining My Man - Aldous Harding
09. If It's In You to Do Wrong - The Impressions
10. Spacewoman - The Breeders
[ listen ]

side two:
01. It's Her Factory - Gang of Four
02. Orange Flip - Book of Love
03. The Trolley Song - Eddie Layton
04. Your World - Tei Shi
05. Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven - Love and Rockets
06. Jimmy - M.I.A.
07. Drink Me - Belle Epoque
08. C'mon Baby - Chilly
09. The Most Beautiful Girl In the World - (Prince)
10. Stop That Man - Tune-Yards
11. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - Mardi Gras
12. See Jungle! (Jungle Boy) - Bow Wow Wow
[ listen ]

Kenny Rogers [1938-2020]

Artist: Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes

LP: 7" single
Song: "Don't Fall In Love With a Dreamer"

[ listen ]

I'm a little late with this, but wanted to pay my respects to country music legend Kenny Rogers, who passed away last month at the age of 81. Kenny was on the radio a lot when I first started listening to pop radio in Yakima, WA back in 1981. I especially enjoyed Kenny's collaborations with Dolly Parton, Sheena Easton, and this one with Kim Carnes. And, um, has anyone seen SIX PACK? I'm afraid I've never managed to set myself down in front of that one. You can read all about the life and career of this particular Mr. Rogers here. 

 Kenny Rogers

[ August 21, 1938 — March 20, 2020 ]

We will miss you, Kenny.

Doris Day

Artist: Doris Day w/ Jack Smith

LP: 7" single

Song: "Cuddle Up a Little Closer"
[ listen ]

I think what Doris and Jack mean is that if you're like 9 or 10 feet away, cuddle up until you're only six feet away to create the greatest possible amount of intimacy while still maintaining adequate social distancing. Oy vey. A global pandemic. 

The only good thing about Doris Day passing away last May and not being around to turn 98 today is that, if she WERE still alive, I'd constantly be worrying that this goddamn virus was gonna' get her. She's too dignified for that. Happy Birthday, Doris Day. I miss you.

[ Doris Day: April 3, 1922 — May 13, 2019 ]