INXS, "Mystify"

INXS - Mystify - by chantalounette

The Hives, "Puppet on a String"

The Duke Spirit, "This Ship Was Built to Last"

John Prine, "Fish and Whistle"

Johnny Cash once called Prine one of the "Big Four" songwriters he turned to for inspiration.  It's easy to see why...

I been thinking lately about the people I meet
The carwash on the corner and the hole in the street
The way my ankles hurt with shoes on my feet
And I'm wondering if I'm gonna see tomorrow.

Janelle Monáe, "Sincerely, Jane."

Maura and I caught this song last night from outside the fence at Commodore Barry Park, as part of AfroPunk Fest 2012. Though we only caught glimpses over the heads and through the chain-link fence, it was enough to get us dancing, along with everyone else (temporarily) shut out from the festival. Flushing Avenue was the most hopping I've ever seen it. Monáe is a fantastic performer, and I know I don't have to remind you that she's from Kansas.

The performance below was captured at the Michigan Theater in 2009. Enjoy!

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY: Gerry Rafferty, "Right Down the Line"

Santigold, "Lights Out"

Have you found yourself wondering what it would be like to watch the video for Santigold's "Lights Out" as a reverse image? Wonder no more! 

Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train" (Live)

Peter Green, "Fool No More"

Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac) breaks it down on this track from 1979's In the Skies.  Enjoy.

Babyshambles, "Killamangiro"

Miles Kane, "Come Closer"

The Specials, "A Message to You Rudy"

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY: Apocalyptica, "Nothing Else Matters" (Metallica cover)

Courtesy of Ashley, here's Finland's own--Apocalyptica--with their stringy, blue-toned take on Metallica:

Seals and Crofts, "Summer Breeze" (Live)

Three Dog Night, "Joy to the World"

Last night Maura and I saw The Big Chill for the first time at Brooklyn Bridge Park, so of course this is the song of the day. Maura dismissed it as hyperbole, but I stand by this: the opening to this song is one of the greatest in the history of rock and roll. How can you be anything but ecstatic when you hear the first line?

Talib Kweli f. Norah Jones, "Soon the New Day"

From Eardrum...

The Roots f. Cody Chestnutt, "The Seed (2.0)"

Amy Cook, "Hotel Lights"

Cat Power, "Maybe Not" (Live on Letterman)

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY: The Beatles, "You Can't Do That" (Live 1964)

From Andrew in Kansas City (temporarily): 

It's just such a simple catchy tune coupled with a performance that personifies early Beatles: rockstar John on lead vocals, Paul and George with such sweet backing harmonies, and of course, a crowd that has been whipped into a frenzy. It's especially satisfying to watch [and listen to] early clips like this because you can just sense how much fun these newly anointed rockstars were having!

Little River Band, "Lonesome Loser" (Live)

Inspired to post this by the movie The Giant Mechanical Man (which Maura and I enjoyed watching last night)... here's the Little River Band, performing live in Melbourne in '83.

Elvis Presley vs. JXL, "A Little Less Conversation"

Today is a deadline for me, and I needed a spark.  Deadline, meet spark.  Dance.  OK.  Back to work.

B.B. King, "The Thrill Is Gone"

Sufjan Stevens, "Casimir Pulaski Day"

The 500 Club!: Otis Redding, "Chained and Bound" (Live)

Today marks Tuna Day's 500th post, and to mark the occasion, we turn to Maura's favorite performance from one of her favorite artists.  Here's the incomparable Otis Redding, performing at LA's Whisky Go Go in 1966.  Enjoy, and thanks for listening.

Elton John, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"

From "Top of the Pops" in 1973:

OPEN REQUEST SUNDAY: J. Geils Band, "Centerfold"

Peter J. Doe (I'm protecting your identity in the event of an insurrection) writes in from the Good Land: 


Absolute favorite song of my fifth/sixth grade years. Probably because it was a bit inappropriate for an 11 year old. I like the idea of you posting J. Geils and all your hipster NYC friends thinking it's some kind of ironic statement on bad 80's rock. Little do they know that I'm an ironic statement on everything bad from the 80's.


I couldn't have said it better myself.

Stevie Nicks, "Edge of Seventeen"

So, one thing led to another, and here we are.  Oh, Stevie.

The Kills, "Dreams" (Fleetwood Mac cover)

Love at first listen... here's a killer take on Stevie by Allison Mosshart and the other guy, for an upcoming Fleetwood Mac tribute album.  Enjoy!

Sonia Dada, "You Ain't Thinking about Me" (Live in Australia, 1993)

Here's some vintage Sonia Dada, from their 1993 tour of Australia, where the band soared to the top of the charts.  The original lineup, shown here, featured Michael Scott, Paris Delane and Sam Hogan on vocals, Dan Pritzker and Dave Resnick on guitar, Erik Scott on bass, Chris "Hambone" Cameron on keys, and Hank Guaglianone on drums.  Enjoy!

The Outfield, "Your Love"