Five Best...George Songs

#5. "George E. Porge" by Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel

He's born in Beverly Hills
But raised in Albuquerque
All the little girls, they thought him fine
But George E. Porge, he's kissed the girls
And felt he'd rather kiss the boys
And speculates if now is not the time

#4. "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits

You check out Guitar George, he knows all the chords
Mind he's strictly rhythm, he doesn't want to make it cry or sing
And an old guitar is all, he can afford
When he gets up under the lights to play his thing

#3. "The Village Green Preservation Society" by the Kinks

We are the Draught Beer Preservation Society.
God save Mrs. Mopp and good ol' Mother Riley.
We are the Custard Pie Appreciation Consortium.
God save the George Cross, and all those who were awarded them.

#2. "George Jackson" by Bob Dylan

Sent him off to prison
For a seventy-dollar robbery.
Closed the door behind him
And they threw away the key.
Lord, Lord,
They cut George Jackson down.
Lord, Lord,
They laid him in the ground.

#1. "Madame George" by Van Morrison

Down on Cyprus Avenue
With a childlike vision leaping into view
Clicking, clacking of the high heeled shoe
Ford & Fitzroy, Madame George

More George:

Five Best...Restless Albums

The last two nights, I've had some problems with getting to sleep. Maybe it's due to going back to New York City for college on Saturday or just a general restlessness, but I've either been up or all night or at least until 3 am.

I've been doing a lot of packing of stuff to bring with them and while doing so, listening to my iPod. These are the albums that have most helped me during the past two nights:

#5. The Clash by The Clash

#4. The Times They Are A-Changin' by Bob Dylan

#3. It's Too Late to Stop Now by Van Morrison

#2. The Name of This Band is Talking Heads by Talking Heads

#1. The Ultimate Collection by Hank Williams

Early in the Morning, I'm Callin' YouTube, Vol. III

I'm going back upstate for the weekend, so I won't be posting again until Monday. Due to that, I'm making two posts today: the one I've already put up about the Wilco concert and this collection of interesting YouTube videos. But when I get back, I'll have reviews for both the Levon Helm Band in Albany and Bob Dylan and His Band in Bethel. Have a good weekend.

You had to know I was going to post some kind of Dylan video and this, a clip of "Visions of Johanna" from the '66 tour, might just be the greatest acoustic recording he's ever made.

As a huge David Bowie fan, I felt slightly aghast when I realized I had never seen Labyrinth when I was a child. When I finally did watch it about a week ago, I realize that a) it's not the greatest thing in the world but still pretty good and b) Bowie as a Goblin King is the most inspired casting call this side of making Marlon Brando Superman's daddy. Here's the video of a young Jennifer Connelly dancing around with creepy pink Muppets to "Chilly Down," a song with little rhytm, has a creature sound like Louis Armstrong and is just really good.

"Hoochie Coochie Man" performed by Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Junior Wells, Johnny Winter and Mike Bloomfield. All at once: Wow!

People rave about the version of "Caravan" on It's Too Late to Stop Now, but it never sounded better than it did with The Band at The Last Waltz. Plus, you gotta respect any man wearing that suit.

Speaking of Van the Man, here's a live performance of my favorite song of his, "Saint Dominic's Preview."

And lastly:

A great Simpsons scene.

Five Best...Songs About Rowing

#5. “Rowboat” by Johnny Cash

Rowboat
Row me to the shore
She don't want to be my friend no more
She dug a hole in the bottom of my soul
She don't want to be my friend no more

#4. “Only Skin” by Joanna Newsom

rowing along, among the reeds, among the rushes
I heard your song, before my heart had time to hush it!

#3. “Bring ‘Em On In” by Van Morrison

Row-in boats a-cross the water
Pick them up baby, row them on
Bring 'em on in, bring 'em on home

#2. “Misery is the River of the World” by Tom Waits

Misery's the river of the world
Misery's the river of the world
Everybody row! Everybody row!
Everybody row! Everybody row!

#1. “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” by Bob Dylan

All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home
All your reindeer armies are all going home
The lover who just walked out your door
Has taken all his blankets from the floor

Early in the Morning, I'm Callin' YouTube, Vol. I

Five Best...YouTube Clips o' the Week

#5. Hoyt Axton and Linda Ronstadt singing "Lion in the Winter"

-While looking for clips from Disney's Robin Hood last night, I stumbled upon this very nice duet.

#4. Homer and his sugar

-Contains one of my favorite Homer speeches and the great line, "They're protecting themselves somehow."

#3. "Hey, this picture doesn't look like you."

-One of the funniest Marx Brothers skits ever.

#2. The Pogues and The Dubliners performing "The Irish Rover"

-After all, it is St. Patrick's Day

#1. Van Morrison and The Chieftains singing "Raglan Road"

-See comment above.