“Over the Rainbow” performed by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (1993)

There’s just something about Hawai’i that’s magical. And I’m not just talking about the stunning landscape and pristine beaches. I’m talking about the lifestyle, the laid-back refusal to take part in the rat race. There is a reverence and respect for the land, and a great appreciation of music and expression.

Mr. Kamakawiwo’ole has a beautiful, gentle voice that floats over the strumming of his ukulele, reducing songs to an almost primal state of purity. Sadly, he passed away, but not without touching millions of people with his music, especially this track, which gained some well-deserved notoriety.

“Over the Rainbow” was Judy Garland’s signature tune from “The Wizard of Oz.” It’s a powerful song about hope and better days ahead. Not surprisingly, this song became something of an anthem for soldiers fighting overseas in World War II, a little piece of sanity for them to hold onto inside the madness of war. It’s an important song. Mr. Kamakawiwo’ole also adds a bit of “What a Wonderful World,” another important song which I’ll probably post for you very soon.

(Thanks to xTacoBellxx for the nice upload of this track to YouTube)

“Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues” by Eels (2000)

Mark Everett is the man behind the band Eels, and he’s also recorded under the name E. Regardless of what name he’s recording under, Mr. Everett makes fantastic music. It’s dense, a little dark, a little sarcastic, and very funky in an understated way. But on top of all that, his songs have beautiful melodies that stick in your head forever.

This is the kind of music I wish I could make.

“Goddamn right, it’s a beautiful day! Uh-huh!”

“The Real Me” by The Who (1973)

This track is from the album “Quadrophenia,” which is one of my all-time favorite records. If I could only pick 10 albums to carry me through the rest of my life, “Quadrophenia” would be one of them.

To me, this represents The Who at their finest, and this is a band that has made more than a few superb albums. The songs are great, the musicianship is terrific, Roger Daltrey’s vocals are as powerful and engaging as ever, and Pete Townshend rips on guitar, while also creating sonic magic in the studio. This album captivated me when I first heard it at the age of 14, and it’s never lost its power or appeal.

On top of the great music, “Quadrophenia” explores issues of social identity and expectations. The story is set in England around a group of “mods,” but it could be about anyone who doesn’t quite fit into the mainstream. Or maybe it’s about questioning whether one WANTS to fit in. Or maybe just trying to find out who you are and where you fit inside the social machine. It was all of that to me, and it came to me at a time when those issues were important. And now that I’m an old man, the issues are still there.

I love every song on “Quadrophenia,” so if you ever want to know a little bit more about some of the stuff that hangs in your Daddy’s head, listen to the album. They even made a pretty good movie out of it in 1979, which I highly recommend.

“I ended up with the preacher
Full of lies and hate
I seemed to scare him a little
So he showed me to the golden gate”

“Evangeline” by Los Lobos (1984)

Sometimes narrowly defined as a “Chicano rock” band, Los Lobos was amazingly diverse, merging many different styles of music into their own wonderful sound. I hope you get to hear their records in their entirety, including the record from which this track comes, “Will the Wolf Survive?” These gents are fine musicians, and obviously very passionate about their music.

We’re lucky in California to have so many vibrant cultures, and to have people who are so receptive to other ways of life and of expression. It’s a shame that some people close their minds to so-called “ethnic” things, whether it’s music or food or languages or whatever seems different.

As far as I’m concerned, Los Lobos is one kick-ass American band.

With “Evangeline” you can hear how Los Lobos can rock with the best of ‘em. Now check out how well they play traditional instruments and folk tunes from Mexico, courtesy of an appearance on Sesame Street:

“Foreplay/Long Time” by Boston (1976)

Don’t ever let anyone convince you that all rock music from the 1970’s is the same. We like to do that with our obsessions over categories and eras. Like any “era,” there was pap, and there was quality. Boston was definitely of the latter.

A great group of musicians with a terrific (and criminally underrated) vocalist named Brad Delp, Boston made some epic records. As something of a nerd when this record came out, I liked their guitarist, Tom Scholz. Not only did he get a Ph.D. from one of the best schools in the country, but he also tinkered with his instruments and with electronics to get his signature sound. He has patents and a company that sells his inventions. AND he made some awesome music with his mates in Boston.

This track is split up into two parts. The first part, “Foreplay,” is what you might call progressive rock, and I understand it’s not to everyone’s taste. But give it a chance to set up and build to the second part. At about the two minute mark, the track settles into a quiet, pensive moment, with a lone organ playing among some ambient sounds. Then it builds, marvelously and explosively, into the second part, “Long Time.”

I’ve just always thought that was a high point in modern music. It gets me every time.

“(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” by Elvis Costello (1977)

You will find a LOT of Elvis Costello records in our collection. He’s one of my favorite songwriters and performers, and he’s put out some amazing albums, like “Imperial Bedroom,” “This Year’s Model,” “Armed Forces,” and my personal favorite—as much for the great music as for the perfect timing in my life to hear it—”Blood and Chocolate.”

And I love the album from which this track comes, “My Aim is True,” which was his first record. You absolutely must hear “Watching the Detectives,” the track I was going to highlight for you. But I wanted to post “Angels” because it’s one of those songs that’s near and dear to my heart. It’s everything I like about Mr. Costello’s music. He would branch out into many musical directions, but he would always retain that edgy, sly wit in both his lyrics and music.

Every time I hear this line from the song, I can’t help but smile, if not laugh out loud:

“I said, ‘I’m so happy, I could die.’
She said, ‘Drop dead,’ then left with another guy.”

LOL.

“Bizarre Love Triangle” by New Order (1986)

Some folks I know would describe New Order as a band that makes “dance music,” but they’re much more than that, at least to me. They wrote some great songs, and their arrangements—relying heavily on electronic instruments—are terrific. Unlike some dance music, there is real heft, musicality, and integrity in New Order’s work.

Although it’s not really my scene, there’s nothing like being in a club when the DJ spins some New Order. The sound is amazing, and the crowd is electrified by the music. Not bad for a day’s work.

I also wanted to tell you what I think a good song is. A good song doesn’t rely on production value alone, it can stand up on its own and be heard in any context. This song is a perfect example. It sounds great in its original form, as a so-called dance track, but it also sounds great stripped down to the bare essentials. The Australian band Frente! did a cover of this song with just voice and acoustic guitar, and you can really hear the song shine through.

That’s kind of a test for me. Could a person play the song around a campfire? Would it just sound stupid and repetitious? Or would it still move you?

“Uninvited” by Alanis Morissette (1998)

Alanis Morissette had a huge album in 1995, “Jagged Little Pill,” which took the world by storm. It’s a great record which was overshadowed a bit by idiotic controversy over some of her lyrics. Apparently, if you’re a man, you can get away with “dirty” words, but if you’re a woman, you’ll offend someone’s sensibilities. Proof that women still have a ways to go in our society if they want equal treatment.

This song was recorded for a movie soundtrack, and it was, I think, the first recording she did since the success of “Jagged Little Pill.” I couldn’t imagine the pressure she must have been under to follow up on her previous album.

But then she gave us this magnificent jewel. The production is terrific, a live, cavernous vibe that still sounds intimate. It’s gentle and soothing, yet strong and fierce at the same time. And who can resist Ms. Morissette’s powerful, expressive voice? It works perfectly with the intricate flow and phrasing of her words.

Everyone who worked and performed on this track should be mighty proud.

This is a “headphone song.” Put on a good pair, shut the door, and let it envelop you.

“Black Milk” by Massive Attack (1998)

Massive Attack creates intense, moody, and extraordinarily beautiful music. Considered one of the original “trip hop” groups, they incorporate some incredible sounds and rhythms into their sonic landscapes. They’ve also asked some wonderful vocalists to contribute to their songs, like Elisabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins) on this track, from their third album, “Mezzanine.”

“Mezzanine” is an epic album, worth absorbing into your life. If it doesn’t absorb you, first.

“I Confess” by The (English) Beat (1982)

Okay, the name of this band in the rest of the world is simply “The Beat,” but they had to add “English” to their name for us Americans due to another band with that name. I know them as The English Beat, but if you talk to a Brit about them, he or she will probably snicker if you call them that.

The Beat made wonderful, crackling music which just felt alive to me at the time (and still does). They blended elements of ska, punk, and new wave that was both danceable and thought-provoking. It was the perfect soundtrack to my youth. I remember driving around San Francisco with friends in the summer, excited about seeing some concert, and optimistic about the future. We sang along to The Beat, shouting the words out the windows of my beat up VW bug.

A lot of people have bands and/or albums that define certain phases of their lives, and The English Beat will always remind me of my high school and college years. I’m just glad it was a band as good as this.