What are you listening to RIGHT NOW?

[Dagwan]

Music? What song? By whom?

Podcasts? Which ones? Who's on it?

The whir of your hard drive while you defrag?

Whatever you're listening to, share it with the Legion of Superfluous Heroes!

[Jeff of Earth-J]

If someone comes to your door during shelter in place, this should be your response.

R.I.P Little Richard, 1932-2020

[The Baron]

[Jeff of Earth-J]

STAY AWAY

Here's a new one from Randy Newman written specifically for the pandemic.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

THE END (but which one?)

An upbeat ditty about the end of the world by REM

A dustopian anthym, same theme, by THE DOORS

And THE BEATLES get the final word.

[Travis Herrick (Modular Mod)]

I listened to all of Fleetwod Mac's Rumours today. I've had that forever but I don't think I ever just listened to the whole album all the way through. I rarely listen to whole albums anymore, so this was kind of fun.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Rumours is a great album. (I have it on both vinyl and CD.)I haven't listened to it in a while myself, but I also have a tribute album with all of the songs from it, in album order, each covered by a different artist or band. I have one like that for the Beatles' Rubber Soul, too.

Hey, Travis... I've been meaning to ask you: How's that "Beach Party"? It seems to me 300 beach-themed song would be perfect for a virtual trip to the beach during lockdown.

My COVID-releated choice for the day is another Woody Guthrie song (more for the chorus than the verses).

WORRIED MAN BLUES

I went across the river and I laid down to sleep

I went across the river and I laid down to sleep

When I woke up, I had shackles on my feet

It takes a worried man to sing a worried song

It takes a worried man to sing a worried song

I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long

Twenty-one links of chain around my leg

Twenty-one links of chain around my leg

And on each link, is initial of my name

It takes a worried man to sing a worried song

It takes a worried man to sing a worried song

I'm worried now, but I won't be worried long

I asked that judge, what's gonna be my fine?

I asked the judge, what's gonna be my fine?

Twenty one years on the Rocky Mountain Line

Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime

Twenty-one years to pay my awful crime

Twenty-one years and I still got ninety-nine

[Jeff of Earth-J]

It’s hard to believe that this song was released 50 years ago; it could have been written today.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Every day just gets a little shorter don't you think?

Take a look around you, and you'll see just what I mean

People got to come together, not just out of fear

Where do we go

Where do we go

Where do we go from here?

Try to find a better place, but soon it's all the same

What once you thought was a paradise is not just what it seems \

The more I look around I find, the more I have to fear \

Where do we go

Where do we go

Where do we go from here?

I know it's hard for you to

Change your way of life

I know it's hard for you to do

The world is full of people

Dying to be free

So if you don't my friend

There's no life for you, no world for me

Let's all get together soon, before it is too late

Forget about the past and let your feelings fade away

If you do I'm sure you'll see the end is not yet near

Where do we go

Where do we go

Where do we go from here?

[ClarkKent_DC]

Here's one from Stevie Wonder (and the Jackson 5) from 1974, that still stings:

YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHIN'

We are amazed but not amused
By all the things you say that you'll do
Though much concerned but not involved
With decisions that are made by you

But we are sick and tired of hearing your song
Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong
'Cause if you really want to hear our views
"You haven't done nothing"!

It's not too cool to be ridiculed
But you brought this upon yourself
The world is tired of pacifiers
We want the truth and nothing else

And we are sick and tired of hearing your song
Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong
'Cause if you really want to hear our views
"You haven't done nothing"!

Jackson 5 join along with me say
Doo doo wop - hey hey hey
Doo doo wop - wow wow wow
Doo doo wop - co co co
Doo doo wop - naw naw naw
Doo doo wop - bum bum bum
Doo doo wop

We would not care to wake up to the nightmare
That's becoming real life
But when misled who knows a person's mind
Can turn as cold as ice, un hum

Why do you keep on making us hear your song
Telling us how you are changing right from wrong
'Cause if you really want to hear our views
"You haven't done nothing"!
Yeah

Jackson 5 sing along again say
Doo doo wop
Doo doo wop - oh
Doo doo wop - co co co
Doo doo wop - sing it baby
Doo doo wop - bum bum bum
Doo doo wop - um
Sing it loud for your people say
Doo doo wop - um um um

Doo doo wop - stand up be counted, say
Doo doo wop - co co co
Doo doo wop - ow
Doo doo wop - bum bum bum
Doo doo wop - ah hum

Targeted at Richard Nixon, who resigned two days after this single was released.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

Wow, I've known that song all my life but I never made the connection that it was about Nixon specifically, but that tracks. Thanks for that! Here's another one that could apply today as well (substituting "Donald" for "Richard").

A SONG FOR RICHARD AND HIS FRIENDS

If you will think now, then you will see

How you can change things

People are waiting, turning away

Tired of killing

Hey now

Will you go away

We're so tired

Of things that you say

Even though you never said word that would help anyone but yourself

Tomorrow is such a bad dream

Oh, bad dream

If you stay now

It will only get worse

Let us pray now

'Cause the truth really hurts

Have to be a man so today with your brothers and sisters lay dying

Tomorrow is such a bad dream

Yeah, such a bad dream

Listen

Please be gone

Go away and leave us alone

Bring police

Go away and leave us in peace

Yeah

Please be gone

Go away and leave us alone

Bring police

Go away and leave us in peace

Will you go now

Will you take all your friends

Woah now,

If you'd stood like a man

Even though I know that you cannot be blamed all alone for all the sadness you've caused

Tomorrow is such a bad dream

Yeah, such a bad dream

Oh yeah, such a bad dream

Dig it

If you will think now you will then you will see

How we can change things

People are waiting, turning away

Tired of killing

[doc photo]

In The Wake Of Poseidon by King Crimson, their second album. Quite good in spite of occasional moments of prog rock excess.

[The Baron]

I Hold Your Hand in Mine

[Jeff of Earth-J]

AM I BLUE?

Does sheltering in place have you feeling blue? This song was first performed by Ethyl Waters in the film “On with the Show” in 1929.

My favorite version is Billie Holiday's

For those of you who like to look at something while you’re listening, here’s a clip from "To Have and Have Not" with Bogie and Bacall.

NOTE: That’s Hoagy Carmichael at the piano, the man Ian Fleming had in mind for James Bond.

It was a morning, long before dawn

Without a warning

I found he was gone

How could he do it

Why should he do it

He never done it before

Am I blue?

Am I blue?

Ain't these tears, in these eyes telling you

How can you ask me "am I blue"?

Why, wouldn't you be too?

If each plan

With your man

Done fell through

There was a time

When I was his only one

But now I'm

The sad and lonely one, lonely

Was I gay Until today?

Now he's gone, and we're through

Am I blue?