Deep Cut 1 Reveal
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What/Who/Why
The truth is out there. Alan was spot on with Bill selecting “Strangers.” Alas, you know him too well.
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“Determination” by Todd Rundgren
Submitted by Ed
Rundgren has had a big influence on me. One of the pioneers of doing everything on tracks by oneself (see also Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney). He is not afraid to try most anything both style-wise and technology-wise. An immense catalog – not always successful. Yes he has a big (yuge?) ego and is a heavy-handed producer (see Pursuit of Happiness’ “Love Junk”). Always thought he wished he had Daryl Hall’s voice. This track has long been a favorite of mine – the theme of wanting someone to believe in also plays well with me. (“So where are the strong and who are the trusted?” -Nick Lowe). I got to see him perform it live at the Philly Folk Fest (performance was awesome even if he wasn’t one of their “folkiest” bookings – nearby fellow fest-ers seemed annoyed/confused).
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“When I’m Five” by David Bowie
Submitted by Paul
First heard this when my friend’s band covered it back in ’83 or so (they also covered Eno and Floyd). Always a favourite of mine for the childlike wonder Bowie captures. Also on the first playlist I made for my kids.
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“Cheetah Tongue” by The Wombats
Submitted by Sir David
This song is fresh on my brain as I am using it as a song template for one of my own originals. I’ll share this new song with you at some point in the not to distant future so you can compare and contrast. I like the song’s transitions, driving pop rhythms and “je ne sais quoi”
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“Far Away Eyes” by Rolling Stones
Submitted by Ian
The preacher on the radio told me to send him my money and all my dreams would come true, so I did.
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“I Hope You’re Happy Now” by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Alan
Okay, so I can be a bit concrete which made me reluctant to consider a song that is the #2 track on an album to be a ‘deep cut’. (It’s easier to think of the last song as deep, right?). Anyway, here we have Elvis and the Attractions putting it all out there. The song is not a 2-minute ditty or a blazing tempo, but it is balls-out, emotional playing from everyone. Great rhythm section as usual–love the lead-style bass. I think the hallmark of this song for me is that Elvis’ voice is really up front and stark in the mix which makes his wry lyrical stylings even more pronounced: “You make him sound like frozen food, his love will last forever.”
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Submitted by Justin
Fucked My Way Up To The Top – Lana Del Rey
I questioned this submission more than once. It’s not her best work, it’s probably too produced with too many effects for her typical music. After the trial round I saw no women in the music being shared so I went for the female representation with the most anti #MeToo lyrics i could find. It also helped that I figured this one would have zero radio play and therefore would be a solid deep cut.
I accidentally got into her music a few years ago. I made a front end for all my video game emulators and I used this as the video that plays in my preview window when the app first opens
https://vimeo.com/62219238
It took me a couple years to figure out who she was, and she is the only modern artist whose work I have bought. I have all her records.
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“Strangers” by The Kinks
Submitted by Bill
The keening howl of Dave Davies seldom fails to move me. I don’t know why. But this deep cut from “Lola Vs Powerman and the Moneygoround” (worst album title ever!) is especially wrenching. The desire to connect in the face of life’s overwhelmingness. “Strangers on this road we are on / We are not two, we are one.” Tune has a distinct cult following: It once played on a local movie theater’s pre-show mixtape for like six straight months (or at least all four or five times I went there.)