Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Roger McGuinn Edition

He was known for the cool Dickens-style shades he wore and his 12-string guitar parts that became part of the distinctive sound of folk-rock legends The Byrds. But Roger McGuinn was more than that. He was a constant in the band as they moved in different directions over the years, even during their short lived country period with Gram Parsons. He went on to make some good solo records, and has continued to play out, often playing traditional folk songs, which he makes available for download. Let’s pay tribute to Roger by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.

1. Elton John — Someone Saved My Life Tonight (Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy): This epic ballad from Elton John is a song that I distinctly remember hearing at late night camp outs with friends back when I was in grade school. At this point, Elton John was the biggest star in all of rock music, so a six-minute single was not a deterrent to heavy radio play. And with its fantastic opening piano riff and the multiple memorable melodies, the song slowly builds in intensity. This is the type of thing that, to an extent, Guns ‘N’ Roses tried with songs like “November Rain”, which don’t hold a candle to this classic.
2. Kenna — Freetime (New Sacred Cow): Kenna was an African-American artist who put out music in the ’90s that was strongly inspired by new wave era pop of the early ’80s. If it is possible to simultaneously retro and ahead of your time, that’s was Kenna was, as this fine debut record got little response, but probably would have done better a decade later.
3. The Shazam — So Awesome (Meteor): Hans Rotenberry can write ballsy, jangly power pop songs like nobody’s business. What I really appreciate about The Shazam is how the band finds a way to find quirky ways to approach music that is rooted in classic rock and roll stylings. This song is a great example, with subtle little things they do in the playing and arranging are just a bit different, but these things never detract from the melodies or the great hooks. I also like how Hans sounds like a drawling Robin Zander on this track (and many others).
4. The Vandalias — No One Told Him (Buzzbomb): The Vandalias married a certain type of ’70s soft pop with power pop rocking to create a distinctive sound. This song manages that trick through Dan Sarka’s quavering vocals, even though this song was originally done by Thin Lizzy on their Renegade album. The structure is there and the song is certainly ballsy, but the band applies their own sweetness. A great cover.
5. V.V. Brown — Crying Blood (Travelling Like The Light): The first song I heard from Brown’s debut album, and it instantly made me a fan. This is a big, brassy pop song with some roots in ’60s Motown with a modern vibe, sung by a big, brassy performer. For some reason, she feels compelled to do this upbeat tune in a slowed down, lovers rock fashion live, which is a shame.
6. The Beach Boys — Hushabye (All Summer Long): This track begins with a spectacular a capella demonstration of the brilliance of the Boys’ harmony vocals. The song then settles into a rolling rhythm with wistful melodies. This song is a bit in the vein of “Don’t Worry Baby’ and just sounds awesome.
7. Dead Boys — All This And More (Young Loud And Snotty): The Dead Boys were one of the two bands to form after the dissolution of Rocket From The Tombs. Unlike the arty Pere Ubu, the Dead Boys were visceral rock and roll, in the vein of the New York Dolls. This is kind of a theme song (as Stiv Bators’ declares “I’m just a dead boy” throughout the track), and rocks quite nicely, with greasy guitars.
8. The Beatles — If I Fell (A Hard Day’s Night): This is the song that gets Ringo out of a brief sulk, while the boys are rehearsing at the television studio in The Beatles’ classic movie. I’m not sure why this pretty, wistful Everly Brothers-ish number would be the one to get Ringo smiling again, but the harmonies here are great, and this is an underrated Beatles tune.
9. Mark Lanegan Band — Quiver Syndrome (Blues Funeral): Stinging guitar chords get this song started up, and then this hits a groove that’s similar to some of Lanegan’s work with Queens Of The Stone Age. Of course, he has such a specific and cool voice, and this is a nifty, dirty yet streamlined rock tune.
10. Nick Lowe — Rocky Road (Party Of One): This song is from a wonderful 1990 release by the Basher. This lightfooted blues number isn’t too far away from the more spartan, crooning style that he unveiled on the subsequent album The Impossible Bird. Just pare down the instruments and slow this down a tad, and it would fit perfectly on any of his albums since then.