Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

The GOP couldn’t organize an orgy in a whorehouse with a fist full of 50s.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

It’s time for the GOP to dust off that post-2012 autopsy, completely ignore it, and light the party on fire again.

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

Bark louder, little dog.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Everybody saw this coming.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I didn’t have alien invasion on my 2023 BINGO card.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

You are here: Home / Music / Song of the week

Song of the week

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Etta James, “Tell Mama” (1968)
Etta James (name at birth: Jamesetta Hawkins) and Muscle Shoals was a natural combination that maybe took a little longer than you might think to happen, but when it did, well, wowóeasily one of her best albums. She’s in complete control of this blistering number, playing off the horns and guitar that lead the charge just about perfectly. The story about a woman swooping in to nurture a good man cruelly treated is pretty good too, but mostly it’s the sonics that get this over. “I’d Rather Go Blind,” from much earlier in the decade, is a nice example of her way around a heartfelt ballad.

And another: I’d Rather Go Blind
More stuff at Can’t Explain.

Reader Interactions

88Comments

  2. 2.

    Corner Stone

    With 27 front page posters there was not one football OT on a Saturday.
    Maybe Cole should seek out a 30 something white guy from the midwest to be a new FP’er.

  4. 4.

    lamh34

    so I’m watching the “Sabrina” remake with Harrison Ford, Greg Kinnear and Julia Ormond. IMHO, it’s a great remake, but I’m easy. I’m a sucka for a classic love story, updated or original. It got me to thinking, what are some other remakes in music, movies, tv, etc, that rivals are surpassed the original. My choice for music is still “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston. I’ve heard the original with Dolly Parton, but I gotta say that I love the Whitney Houston more.

    Btw that kinda brings me back to Etta James. I know it’s cliched, but my all time favorite Etta James song is still “At Last”. My family are always asking me if/when I’m ever gonna get married (I’d have to find a man first…but whatever). I always say IDK, but what I do know, is that when I do, “At Last” is gonna be my wedding song and the song selection for me and my future husband (Idris Elba, if ya know me) will dance to “At Last” as our first dance as husband and wife.

    “At Last”

  7. 7.

    Corner Stone

    Man, I just went to a local Indian food takeout and they are rockin’ my freakin’ world right now.

  9. 9.

    Corner Stone

    @Stillwater: It’s just kind of crazy to me. Not only not having one but the difference in people still commenting here who actually would have wanted one.
    I’m not sure what it means.

  13. 13.

    Baud

    I clicked on the song, and the You Tube ad at the bottom was “Pass Obama’s Jobs Plan.” Coincidence? I think so.

  18. 18.

    clayton

    Corner Stone is furiously typing an email to AL. AL will soon post what it (Corner Stone) wants and then tell everyone not to bother JC.

    lather, rinse, repeat for the love of white privilege.

  26. 26.

    Yutsano

    @efgoldman:

    And, FSM knows, so is football.

    Normally in the Northwest it is too (although we do lurves some sociallist football here) until Apple Cup. Then you must choose a side. And choose carefully. :)

  27. 27.

    fleeting expletive

    Well, the Doctor was indeed all timey-wimey, but one of my PBS stations immediately followed with “The Pandorica Opens”, and that settled my hash pretty well. (that’s one of those southern expressions).

  30. 30.

    handy

    Was digging through the incomparable archives and found a little gem I’d like to share. Two guesses who did it

    The whole librul apparatus that forces our children to learn the theory of evolution is crashing down like a house of cards. You took over the school boards and the courts. Now, we’re taking them back. And we’re seeing more and more intellectual challenges to evolution: on historical grounds, on scientific grounds, and now on purely logical grounds. Don’t you guys know a sinking ship when you’re on one?

  31. 31.

    burnspbesq

    Well, now. Duke comes back from 10 down in the fourth quarter, on the road. Three wins in a row. Not bad for a lax school.

  35. 35.

    burnspbesq

    Listened to the new Wilco record twice now. Still not entirely sure what I think about it.

  38. 38.

    Calouste

    So Perry’s saying he’ll invade Mexico when he’s elected to fight the drug gangs. Can’t see what could possibly go wrong there, they’ll welcome the American soldiers with candy and flowers.

  41. 41.

    burnspbesq

    @efgoldman:

    Any digital file, no matter how high the sample rate or bit depth, is still only an approximation of what was played. If you know what voices and instruments are supposed to sound like, you can tell the difference, even at 96/24. Most CDs sound like cardboard. And don’t even get me started about mp3.

  42. 42.

    some guy

    florida getting their asses kicked. brantley broekn, driskell bandaged. this reminds me of the 2004 election

  45. 45.

    burnspbesq

    @some guy:

    If you’re still using granddad’s cartridge, that’s probably true. There have been significant advances in cartridge technology over the years.

  48. 48.

    some guy

    walking across campus with my turntable has gotten pretty difficult, but the new AC outlets in my car have made listening to vinyl while driving the kids to school a totally cool experience

  49. 49.

    fleeting expletive

    Burnspbesq, So right. Vinyl, properly treated and played is so much more awesomer than any digital music. It’s been a long, long time, but I used to have state of the art, awesome components and treated them well.
    ah, those were the seventies, no? Life got complicated, I had kids, the excellent vinyl records are still revered and in their sleeves in a couple of cupboards, and I have a pale imitation of my former assembly of equipment.

    But still I think I passed it all along in a pure form to my two kids, who liked to rock out with my music. So I think I contributed to their musical and cultural education.

  50. 50.

    burnspbesq

    There should be a rule in college sports that if your team’s nickname is a color, you can’t wear black as an alternate uni. This means you, Sanford.

  51. 51.

    Lyrebird

    Blues singer question: There was another woman (less famous than Etta James) who maybe passed away about year ago, anyone know who I’m thinking of?

    I think it was a BJer who posted a youtube link in commemoration — a song about having quite a party, lyrics mention throwing up the windows and breaking down the doors (roughly), “we’re gonna have a [colloquialism for party] tonight”-ish…

    my attempts w/Google and YouTube are going nowhere, which is too bad bc she seriously rocked!

  53. 53.

    burnspbesq

    @fleeting expletive:

    I was without a turntable for almost 20 years, but I finally got a new one in 2009. The advances in technology over that time have been spectacular. I would guess that my $3k vinyl rig sounds better than anything you could have gotten, at any price, in 1980.

    I still buy CDs when things aren’t available on vinyl or as a high-res download. And I rip my vinyl to AIFF at 96/24 (and then downsample to 44.1/16 Apple Lossless) so I can have it in my office and on an iPod. But vinyl is my clear first choice.

  58. 58.

    some guy

    willie dixon wrote that song, actually, but Koko’s version was de rigeur at the Village shithole she sang at the end.

    Tell Automatic Slim , tell Razor Totin’ Jim
    Tell Butcher Knife Totin’ Annie, tell Fast Talking Fanny
    A we gonna pitch a ball, a down to that union hall
    We gonna romp and tromp till midnight
    We gonna fuss and fight till daylight
    We gonna pitch a wang dang doodle all night long
    All night long, All night long, All night long

    Tell Kudu-Crawlin’ Red, tell Abyssinian Ned
    Tell ol’ Pistol Pete, everybody gonna meet
    Tonight we need no rest, we really gonna throw a mess
    We gonna to break out all of the windows,
    we gonna kick down all the doors
    We gonna pitch a wang dang doodle all night long
    All night long, All night long, All night long

    Tell Fats and Washboard Sam, that everybody gonna to jam
    Tell Shaky and Boxcar Joe, we got sawdust on the floor
    Tell Peg and Caroline Dye, we gonna have a time
    When the fish scent fill the air, there’ll be snuff juice everywhere
    We gonna pitch a wang dang doodle all night long
    All night long, All night long etc.

  59. 59.

    Steeplejack

    @Lyrebird:

    Teena Marie? She died last December. Not a blues singer, but she had some party songs that might have been in the vicinity.

  60. 60.

    Yutsano

    @burnspbesq: This is why I’m hoping that the ends of Neuweasel’s career starts with them losing to Wazzu next week. :) Although self-interest would have me wish for him to stay. At least the Beavers are worse.

  62. 62.

    fleeting expletive

    Burnsy, what is your music ride, these days? Back then I was all about the Shure cartridge, and The B & O, and the big Advents. I was Invested in that stuff.

    I haven’t really been invested in much music since then.

  63. 63.

    trollhattan

    Lurve Etta, have seen her in concert three times. I’ve heard she’s in very poor health, so sending my best wishes her way.

  64. 64.

    Lyrebird

    @MikeJ:
    @some guy:
    THANK YOU thank you THANK YOU!
    “Wang dang doodle” hadn’t fully entered my lexicon, clearly.

    What a performer!

    @Steeplejack: Thanks also for this, even though it’s sad to hear. (Interesting, I still think of Teena Marie as current, guess I am not-so-current.)

  66. 66.

    handy

    @Yutsano:

    I’m actually actively rooting for them to lose just so that sop Guerrero will finally see the light and can Douchenozzle like he should have done eons ago. And by eons I mean two weeks ago at that abortion against Texas.

  67. 67.

    trollhattan

    @some guy:

    Managed to see Willie Dixon (at Bumbershoot) before he checked out to the big songwriters convention in the sky. So very many of his songs in the Canon of Cool Stuff.

    Men lie-ii about that spoonful
    __
    Some cry-ii about that spoonful
    __
    Some die-ii about that spoonful
    __
    Ev’rybody fight about a spoonful

  68. 68.

    Yutsano

    I’m treating this as an open thread, because shut up that’s why.

    Kitteh experiments with sleep in precarious positions.

    Also too: bought a bottle of Laphroaig. A Marine made me do it. Think anyone will buy that excuse?

  69. 69.

    burnspbesq

    @fleeting expletive:

    The desktop system is where most of the investment has gone.

    Turntable: Rega P3-24
    Cartridge:Sumiko Blackbrd
    Phonostage: Whest Two
    Computer: MacBook Pro
    DAC: Ayre QB-9
    Headphones:Sennheiser HD-800

    I have two Sonos units, one in my office and one in the family room. The office Sonos feeds a Peachtree Audio Music Box and a pair of B&W 686. The family room Sonos feeds a Cambridge Audio DACMagic, which feeds an Arcam Solo and a pair of Triangle Cometes.

    The only piece that’s really state-of-the-art is the Ayre. The rest of is very good at the price point.

  71. 71.

    Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason

    @some guy:

    the 2nd, 3rd, 200004 time, not so much

    Not so good with peanut butter in the grooves, either. Sadly, a true story.

  73. 73.

    some guy

    @Lyrebird:

    Tell Kudu-Crawlin’ Red, tell Abyssinian Ned
    Tell ol’ Pistol Pete, everybody gonna meet
    Tonight we need no rest, we really gonna throw a mess
    We gonna to break out all of the windows,
    we gonna kick down all the doors
    We gonna pitch a wang dang doodle all night long

    NEVER saw Willie, saw Koko twice. I guess I’ll need a new turntable

  75. 75.

    some guy

    The family room Sonos feeds a Cambridge Audio DACMagic, which feeds an Arcam Solo and a pair of Triangle Cometes.

    what’s the writeoff on that?

  76. 76.

    sfinny

    Have to say that I love this thread for featuring Etta James, although listening to her through my computer is a sad shadow of the CD. My brother named his cat after Etta, which prompted by interest in her music. What a voice! And mostly I heard it on records. Sadly my turntable has gone kaput so I am thinking about ipods or itunes. Damn I hate being a luddite. So what is the best way to get music these days?

  77. 77.

    some guy

    Damn I hate being a luddite. So what is the best way to get music these days?

    birds and bees
    au naturel

    FLAC on Super-8 tapes, my friend.
    trust the unencoded bandwith, ready 2 Play
    cartridge

  78. 78.

    trollhattan

    So what is the best way to get music these days?

    Acquire music or listen to music? No good can come of running it through a PC if you’re a sit-and-listen-intently sort of person. IMHO there’s still a role for a good quality two-channel audio system with good quality gear from source to speakers. IMNSHO the best sources are LP and SACD, but one must also have a good CD source (can be the SACD player). Everything downstream depends on your preferences.

  80. 80.

    suzanne

    @Corner Stone: I hate football. I can totally do without football threads.

    But Tom Levenson and his paintings are never allowed to leave. This blog needs more art.

  81. 81.

    Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason

    @sfinny:

    So what is the best way to get music these days?

    Find a good local Open Mic. I heard a 14-year old kid sing and play just like Robert Johnson. Made me want to throw away my guitar. Up-and-comers who do well enough to make a living at music. Kids just starting out, (think recitals). Established acts trying out new stuff.

    Basically, live music, anywhere you can find it.

  82. 82.

    suzanne

    Speaking of awesome musical experiences, I went here today with my husband and the girls. So freaking cool. I want a harp.

    So R.E.M. broke up, and they are my number-one favorite band in the history of bands. On the same day, Guided by Voices, my second-favorite band in the history of bands, announced that they have a new album coming out next year.

    I kinda don’t know what to do with myself.

  83. 83.

    sfinny

    Honestly I love my old combo CD and record player from the eighties. But I must admit that my niece had a pretty nice thing, an i-touch or something that had pretty good sound and video.

  84. 84.

    piratedan

    back in the day, I can remember when an apartment was fully furnished with taped bean bag chairs, bowed coaches of smells indeterminate, crates and various pieces of wood serving as end and coffee tables and a 700 dollar Technics stereo component system to handle all of my music playing needs, granted this was 1981 but still……

  86. 86.

    Comrade Kevin

    Today, I had a full day of learning how to use a studio TV camera, a production switcher, sound board, and teleprompter, and the local public access channel. Next friday, I’m going to get to work on the switcher for a real program that will be recorded and broadcast on one of the local channels.

    Right now, I’m enjoying watching Stanford beat Rick Neuhweasel and the UCLA Bruins, while enjoying an adult beverage.

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