Keeping Up with the Jones’ – top ten “Jones” songs

The Jones’ sure do get around in music. Whether they are having affairs, being stuck down mines, chatting up women, escaping from prison, or not really knowing what’s going on, musicians tend to want to address them in their songs.

Here is my top ten…

10 - Yer Blues – The Beatles

The eagle picks my eye

 The worm he licks my bones

I feel so suicidal

Just like Dylan's Mr. Jones

A great blues number by the Beatles, but I have marked it down because its only a fleeting Mr Jones reference. But more on Dylan’s Mr Jones later….

9 - Me and Mrs Jones – Billy Paul

Me and Mrs. Jones

We got a thing going on

We both know that it's wrong
But it's much too strong to let it go now

A number one hit for soul singer Billy Paul, this track has in more recent times been covered by Michael Buble. But listen to the lyrics carefully, and you realise that the singer is having an affair with Mrs Jones.

So, from  Me and Mrs Jones to….

8 - Me and Mr Jones – Amy Winehouse

Nobody stands in between me and my man

 It's me and Mr. Jones

Its Amy, sticking up with her man, from her hugely successful Back to Black album.

7 - Ghost of Travellin Jones – Ryan Bingham

Travelin' Jones
You're the Travelin' Jones
Tell me the secrets of an endless road

You may know Ryan Bingham as the guy responsible for the music in the Jeff Bridges movie Crazy Heart. His album “Mescalito” is a great album that I would highly recommend, in the alt-country genre, but I can even hear Springsteen-esque moments within it as well.

6- A Shoulder to Cry On – Mark Seymour

Are you in love again, Mr Jones?

Do you feel the magic in your bones?
 Did she play you like a charm?
 Did she burn you when she melted in your arms?

There is something about Mark Seymour’s voice that really sucks me in – its got so much power and presence that you really submit to the stories that he creates in his song. This is another great track, from his Embedded album.

5- Willie Jones – Charlie Daniels Band

Willie Jones was a man I met when I lived in Baltimore

 I was a guard and he was doing time
 In the three long years he stayed there I got to know him well
 Willie Jones he was a friend of mine

A great tale about Willie Jones, a prisoner who befriends everyone from his fellow prisoners to the staff that are supposed to be guarding him, gaining their confidence and trust before he escapes!  As Willie makes his escape, the guard that narrates the story even has a clear shot on him, but decides not to pull the trigger on his “friend” Willie.

4- Lazy Sunday – The Small Faces

Go blimey hello Mrs. Jones
How's old Bert's lumbago?  Or is it How’s your bird’s lumbago? I can’t tell

There is something about this song – almost a novelty song, but credible enough to avoid such a tag. Sung with a cockney accent, it paints a picture of English suburban life, in much the same way that many Kinks songs also do. With a catchy singalong chorus, it’s a most enjoyable listen. But, I still can’t work out what he asks Mrs Jones.

3 - Mr Jones – Counting Crows

Mr. Jones and me, we're gonna be big stars...

Having done a bit of internet research for this list, there is a common theory that the Mr Jones referred to in this song is actually a name for the Counting Crows lead singer’s penis….makes you think about the lyrics entirely differently doesn’t it?

This song also name drops Bob Dylan…..and speaking of Bob, that brings us to number two….

2- Ballad of the Thin Man – Bob Dylan

Because something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones ?

I am probably quite quick to compliment songs,  calling them great and such like when I write about them here, but in the case of this one, I think I can truly say “what a song!” From the dramatic repetitive piano chords that drive the track, to the venom in Bob’s lyrical delivery, the song is about   a hapless Mr Jones who stumbles from one situation to the next, getting more and more confused.  The Mr Jones in question is said to be a journalist with whom Dylan got frustrated with.

1 - New York Mining Disaster – Bee Gees

Have you seen my wife, Mr. Jones?
Do you know what it's like on the outside?
Don't go talking too loud, you'll cause a landslide, Mr. Jones.

I love this song, and still get shivers down my spine whenever I hear it. The Bee Gees vocals on this are amazing, really conveying the grim situation the characters find themselves in. Although, I do have to say, poor Mr Jones gets a bit of a hard time here. He is told not to talk too loud, yet it seems to be the other unnamed character that does all the talking in the song!

I hope you enjoyed the list – I think something just happened here but I am not sure what it was. Perhaps you do, Mr Jones (but don’t go talking too loud!)

Please leave me a comment with your feedback – did I miss your favourite member of the Jones clan?

Top Ten Milk Songs

Hi All. Since I was posting a bit more often on this site, many things have changed in my life, but the biggest change that happened was that I am now the proud father of two twin boys.

Having two little babies in the house leads to lots of changes, and I have become very used to feeding them bottles of milk,.

So my first list post fatherhood is all about milk….here are my top ten milk songs. As always, feedback and suggestions are most welcome. 

Just a note before we begin, this list is unlikely to bring all the boys to the yard! Feel free to voice your concerns about this in the comments, but I am declaring it a Kelis free zone right now.

 

10 - Milk and Toast and Honey – Roxette

I will be honest, I only had nine songs and did a google search which revealed this one. But its an Ok song, and at least I actually know who Roxette are, it’s not completely random.

 

9 - Milkcow Blues Boogie – Elvis Presley

This Sun recordings era Elvis, raw and talented, but no real inkling of how big he would become.  I am sure it is a cover (I know I should do my research but I am time poor these days so forgive me)

 

8 - Malted Milk – Eric Clapton

A nice little guitar ditty from the Unplugged album.

 

7 - Milk Cow Blues – The Kinks

From the Kink Kontroversy, this is actually a reworked version of the Elvis song mentioned above (which is a reworked version of an older song too). But the Kinks turned it into an abrasive rock track. Its not normally my approach to include the same song on a list twice, but I am letting it through because Elvis chose to retitle his version.

 

6 - Milk – Garbage

I wouldn’t say I am a huge Garbage fan, but I think respect is the word. There is something about their sound, uniquely them.

 

5 - Ernie The Fastest Milkman in the West – Benny Hill

I do love a good novelty song, and this certainly is a good novelty song about a milkman that gets up to some extra-curricular activities. If you are not familiar with the song, think about Benny Hill’s style of humour and you can probably figure out what they would be.

 

4 - Milk and Alcohol – Dr Feelgood

Well you have to make the crying stop somehow don’t you? (that was a joke – no need to get the authorities onto me)

A great rock song, with almost like a military beat going on in the background.

 

3- No Milk Today – Herman’s Hermits

There are very few bands that have had track after track that can bring a smile everytime you listen. Into Something Good, Mrs Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter, There’s a Kind of Hush, the list goes it. It just proves that music doesn’t have to be complicated to be enjoyable.

 

2- Under the Milky Way – The Church.

Am I cheating by using this song on the list? Probably, but its such a brilliant song. Atmospheric, moody, its hard not to describe this one as a masterpiece.  And how good is the lyric “I wish I knew what you were looking for, I might have known what you would find”.

 

1-      Mr Milk – You Am I

My top song goes to You Am I’s catchy tune from their Hourly, Daily album. Is it a rock song, or is it a pop song? Well its kind of both really. A gem of a song.

The top five "god" songs

Hey everyone

I know, I kept you all hanging for so long, but life kinda got in the way. So here we are, back with the top five God songs. Hope you have enjoyed the list so far.

 

I am going to try and get back to posting on here a bit more often, but will just see how it goes. Finding time can be hard...

5 – There Goes God – Crowded House

I am a big Crowded House fan, and yet another appearance of a song with a connection to Neil Finn. This one is a nice track off the Woodface album, where god walks by wearing “sexy pants” and having a “sausage dog”.

4- God’s Little Bird – Vika and Linda

The Bull sisters have tremendously powerful voices and this song showcases their voices very well. A great toe-tapper of a song!

3 – God’s Gift to Women – Kate Miller-Heidke

Kate is a very hard artist to describe – classically trained, but sings quirky pop, a bit like a Kate Bush or Tori Amos, but then again, not really like them at all.  I do love the lyric from this song – “if your god’s gift to women, then god got it wrong”!!

2 – Thank God for the Pusherman – James Reyne

A bit of a different song for Reyne, a little bit heavier than he normally does. This comes from the “Speedboats for Breakfast” album.

1 – God Only Knows – Beach Boys

There was really no doubt as to what the top song would be. Possibly one of the most perfect pop songs, right from that introduction, to the beautiful lyrics, to the beautiful vocal performance. A wonderful track.

 

So there it is, my top “god” songs…what do people think? What have I left out?

Top 15 God Songs

Well, that was a long break between the last post and now, but life kind of got in the way of writing this list. So here it is, after the devil got his turn, its now god’s turn. Here is my top 15 “god” songs.

15 – Whenever God Shines His Light – Van Morrison with Cliff Richard

We kick off the list with a bit of a duet – an interesting pairing, but a nice little song.

14- God Protect Your Soul – Ed Harcourt

Ed Harcourt is an English singer-songwriter known for his atmospheric and diverse sounds. This track comes from his great debut album “Here Be Monsters.”

13 – God Bless This Mess – Sheryl Crow

For  the 13 spot, we go to Sheryl Crow’s protest song, “God Bless This Mess.” Simplistic in sound, this track has Sheryl expressing her strong criticisms of the US response to the 9/11 attacks. It’s a moving, yet very political track. Consider the following lyrics: “Heard about the day, that two skyscrapers came down. Firemen, policemen and people came from all around. The smoke covered the city, and the body count arise. The president spoke words of comfort, with tears in his eyes. Then he led us as a nation, into a war all based on lies, oh God bless this mess.”

12 – God Makes No Mistakes – Loretta Lynn

Some more from the “Van Lear Rose” album, with the passion of Loretta’s unique vocals coming to the fore in this country rock track.

11 – God Put a Smile Upon Your Face – Coldplay

You would most likely be familiar with this song, it was a huge hit and was all over the radio for a while, but I quite like it.  It is probably the sort of song that Coldplay fans would say is why they like them, yet at the same time, its also probably the type of song that those who hate Coldplay would say is a great example of why they don’t like Coldplay.

10 – God Told Me To – Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly has a lot of “god” songs (God’s Hotel, Surely God was a Lover, Glory Be to God, to name a few), but I have included this solid track from his “Stolen Apples” album. In this song, Kelly assumes the character of a religious extremist who has committed murder because he believes that god told him to. In the current times of terrorist attacks etc, it’s a thought provoking track.

9 – With God on Our Side – Bob Dylan

One of those early Dylan tracks, where Dylan has just an acoustic guitar, and a lot of lyrics to sing. A great track.

8 – All God’s Children – The Finn Brothers

From the excellent “Everyone is Here” album, Neil and Tim give us the sort of music that they have made a career out of. This song also addresses the god is a woman movement, with a line that I love:  “We're all God's children, And God is a woman. But we still don't know who the father is. I can't help thinking, there's a fortune riding, on the answer to that question.”

7 – If I Should Fall from Grace with God – The Pogues

The title track of an excellent Pogues album, this one is some more of that great celtic folk with attitude that you get from the Pogues.

6 – Secret God – Neil Finn

This time we get Neil Finn solo, from his brilliant “One Nil” album. This is a lush, atmospheric track that is almost a bit dreamy. Great piece of music.  And there may still be more Finn to come in this list!

I will post the top five next week. As I have previously said, any comments are most welcome, so please include them. As for some teasers about the top five - there is something Finn related, a quirky Aussie, a singer that is one of my favourites, some beautiful female harmonies, and a number one by a big name group which stands well clear at number one.

take care everone, and keep the comments coming.

Deano

Devil songs - the top five

Hi All Sorry about the delay with this post, but life kinda got in the way!! I know you were all waiting on the edge of your seats to see what the top five is, so here it is:

5 - The Devil’s been Busy – Travelling Wilburys What a band – this collaboration between Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty , Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne is the ultimate example of a supergroup. After the hugely successful and brilliant first album, unfortunately Roy passed away, so the follow up (called volume three, just to confuse us) was released without his vocals. Although still an enjoyable listen, it is not as brilliant as the first. The Devil’s Been Busy is the fourth track from this album, a good little pop track.

4 - You’re the Devil in Disguise – Elvis Presley A UK number one single for the King, this is classic Elvis, with a catchy pop ditty. Lovely stuff.

3 - The Devil Went Down to Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band A great country music song, this narrative tells the story of a guy named Johnny who is challenged by the devil to a fiddle playing contest (as you do!). If the devil wins, he gets to take Johnny’s soul, Johnny’s prize if he wins is a golden fiddle. (Is it just me, or does the devil’s instrumental possibly sound better than Johnny’s, despite the song awarding the win to Johnny?)

2- Devil Inside – INXS A great rock track from INXS, possibly one of their harder songs. It contains a great hook, that immediately gets you into the song. Hutchene’s vocals also work really well on this track, the chorus being delivered in a breathy fashion.

1 - Sympathy for the Devil – Rolling Stones The top spot goes to this epic track from the Stones. What I really love about this song is how the repetitive beat increases in intensity throughout the track, with Jagger putting down a great vocal performance. I wouldn’t call myself a huge Stones fan, but this is one of their best. So there it is. Some used to say that rock and roll was the devil's music, and this list certainly doesn't dispel that comment! As a treat for the next list, its time to give God the right of reply. Look forward to your company for the next list, and as always, comments are most appreciated.

Top 15 "Devil" songs

Back in February, my wife and I took a little break down to Tasmania, a beautiful part of the world. We did a whole heap of different activities whilst down there, but one of the more different things (for us anyway) was that we took a ride on the Devil Jet, a jet boat that goes through the white water rapids of the Derwent River. It was great one, and has inspired this week’s list, which is all about the devil.

15 - The Devil’s Workday - Modest Mouse
I remember hearing the Modest Mouse song “Float On” on the radio, and being quite impressed, it was nothing like anything I had heard before. In recent times, I borrowed from a friend the album that “Float On” is from, and that was how I heard of this track, “The Devil’s Workday”, which allmusic.com describe as having a theatrical jolt.

14 - That Old Devil Called Love – Billie Holiday
Time for a change of pace, so I thought it would be nice to throw in a nice track from the jazz singing pioneer herself, Billie Holiday.

13 - Better the Devil You Know – Kylie Minogue
Ok, so to some of you I would have just killed every ounce of musical credibility that I might have, but for some reason, I don’t mind a bit of Kylie’s music every now and then. A nice little dance pop track coming from the early 90’s.

12 - Whiskey, You’re the Devil – The Pogues
I included this track on my booze-o list, and this is what I wrote back then: “When it comes to songs about alcohol, there are some artists that you would expect to feature prominently, and the Pogues are certainly one of them. If you are not familiar with them, they were an Irish rock group that sort of combined traditional Irish folk with the punk movement, the end result being a unique sound that is brilliant. In this track, they even take some lyrics from the traditional folk song “Whiskey in the Jar” and blend it into this song. Great, great stuff.”

11 - Devils and Dust – Bruce Springsteen
The title track from Springsteen’s 2005 folk album. Its one of the better songs on the album, but I find that I have to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy this album. When I am in the mood for it, I think its brilliant, when I am not in the right frame of mind, I find it sounds like an annoying mumble of an album.

10 - Devil in her Heart – The Beatles
A doo-wop cover version with George on lead vocals, from their second album “With the Beatles”, I quite like this track. Its simple, and its got a nice feel to it.

9 - Who Put the Devil in You? – You Am I
A blistering rock track from You Am I’s “Deliverance” album. Their last good album, in my humble opinion.

8 - The Devil You Know – Split Enz
A great track from the “Conflicting Emotions” album, this showcases Neil Finn’s talents, although is overshadowed by “Message to My Girl” as the great track from this album.

7 - Speak of the Devil – Chris Isaak
Some more of that moody music that Chris is famous for. Great stuff.

6 - The Devil’s Inside Your Head – Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson
Another track from the excellent “Rattlin Bones” album. This one is stripped down, mostly acoustic, and could almost be some long lost mountain song.

At this point, I am going to leave you hanging, and say come back next week when the top five is revealed, although its probably not a difficult one to guess this time around. Take care everyone, and keep those comments coming…hehehe…

top ten "miles" songs

Hi All

Sorry I missed last week, but these things happen, and as I predicted, I would probably struggle to keep the weekly posts up, but not to worry.

Anyway, these weeks theme is the top songs with "miles" in the title. Normally I have a good little anecdote to tell you why I have chosen the theme, but this week, I don't have any such story. I think one of the songs came up on my ipod when I had it on shuffle mode, and then that got me thinking.

So here they are, the top 10 songs. As per usual, any comments, suggestions, alternative lists etc are most welcome:

10 - 100 Miles from Memphis – Sheryl Crow
Those of you that know me will know that I am a big Sheryl Crow fan, and I have all of her albums. However, I will be honest, this song is really just making up the numbers on this list. The title track from Sheryl’s most recent album, I found this album to be a little disappointing. The album sees Sheryl moving into a Motown inspired sound. There is nothing wrong with that per se, it sounds good, but to me, it sounds a bit like it could be anyone singing.

9 - Extra Mile – Paul Kelly
From Kelly’s album “Deeper Water”, this is a good song that rolls along in a laid back yet still catchy kind of way.

8 - 40 Miles – Troy Cassar-Daley
From Troy’s “Long Way Home” album, this Australian country music artist gives us a beautiful little country ballad. Troy has an underappreciated voice in my opinion.

7 - Five Miles Closer to the Sun – James Reyne
From Reyne’s second solo album “Hard Reyne”, this is a nice little song, and one of the better tracks of this, Reyne’s weakest album in my opinion.

6 - Forty Miles to Saturday Night – Paul Kelly
Another appearance by the brilliant Paul Kelly. This song is great, a rocker, inspired by a painting, that tells the story of having to travel forty miles to the pub, to start a big night out. Great stuff.

5 - Miles to Go – Nick Barker
Nick Barker is an Aussie singer songwriter, and in “Miles to Go”, which he co-wrote with Paul Kelly (who is doing quite well on this list!) he gives us a simple yet great track. The version I have is from his excellent album “C-Sides”, which was recorded as part of the Liberation Blue acoustic series, where artists are asked to rework some of their work, and then throw in some covers for good measure.

4 - I Can See for Miles – The Who
Its hard to provide a description of a song like this one, as it virtually has an epic feel to it. The tempo changes throughout the track, building up the tension, and in parts it almost has a psychedelic feel to it. A great rock song.

3 - Miles from Nowhere – Cat Stevens
I only recently picked up Cat Steven’s album “Tea for the Tillerman”, and I can honestly say that in my opinion this is one of the greatest albums of all time. I already knew songs like “Wild World” and the brilliant “Father and Son”, but I was unfamiliar with “Miles From Nowhere”, although I loved it right from the first listen. It starts off with a slow acoustic feel before getting more intense, and then it flicks back to the slow feel again. Lovely stuff.

2 - I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
Not out of place on a list of the nerdiest looking pop stars, the Proclaimers made some great late eighties pop, and this song would still be a favourite of cover bands around the world. Its catchy, you can dance to it, and yeah, maybe it is a bit daggy, but what a great song.

1- 1000 Miles Away – Hoodoo Gurus
The top position goes to the great Aussie rock group Hoodoo Gurus, with their, to quote allmusic.com “..surprisingly effective life on the road ballad”. I remember seeing them life, and when Dave starts off singing the first bit of this song, it really sends shivers down your spine. Then that killer guitar riff and the full band come on in, and the song starts to rock. The lyrics are powerful, as they sing about the loneliness of business travel.