Being the celebrity that got himself kicked out of the exclusive Milk and Honey by acting obnoxious isn't the only thing you have to give credit to Quentin Tarantino for. He also happens to have pretty impeccable taste in music, if you can forgive him for the fact that the Reservoir Dogs soundtrack was overplayed by every guy you didn't want to date in high school–then again in college–and accept that it was a revolutionary soundtrack that pretty awesomely got millions of awkward teens grooving to Harry Nilsson Schmilsson.

Strawberry Letter 23, most famously recorded by the Brothers Johnson in 1977, was featured in his best picture to date (in my opinion), Jackie Brown. It was originally written and recorded by a seventeen year old named Shuggie Otis (who I imagine looks like a teddybear) about his girlfriend who wrote notes to him on strawberry scented paper.

Jesus, if I had a lover writing me on strawberry scented paper in 1977, I'd be inspired to write a song about it too–though it's debatable if mine would have as much soul. But, on closer inspection, maybe there is something of teenage Brittany in the lyrics:

In the garden – I see west
Purple shower, bells and tea
Orange birds and river cousins dressed in green and

Hello, my love
I heard a kiss from you
Red magic satin playing near, too

Ahh, this song just makes me feel good. Like a rainbow flying into my ears. And by the way, both versions are worth a listen.

The song title is also the name of a Dear Abby type show where you can ask Steve Harvey to solve all your problems. Seriously.

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Posted on July 28, 2008

You might recognize the hook in Grace Jones' hit My Jamaican Guy from LL Cool J's Doin It. I grew up knowing about Grace Jones from A View to a Kill (with a white haired, hammy Christopher Walken), Conan the Destroyer, and later, as Strange Boomerang (which I might add I was totally in love with when it came out… I wonder how it holds up?)

But her musical career is still fairly unknown to me. Mike introduced me to this song at The Phoenix to appease my demands for some Stevie Nicks (which was no longer on their juke box). He assumed I would like it and he was right.

Jones was a cultural phenomenon. A former fashion model turned performance artist, who began her career outlandishly costumed in gay clubs until her NYC presence could no longer be ignored.

This song was released towards the end of the first round of her music career on the album Living My Life, after which she took a hiatus from music and focused on acting for three years.

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Posted on July 14, 2008

In high school my best friends and worked as camp counselors at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in the summer. Best friends, adorable kids, arts and crafts, a beautiful zoo, occasional cotton candy and a little pocket money?it was perfect. Except for one thing.

There was an older, meaner counselor who worked there with us–who knows why she chose a job where she'd be surrounded by children, the only animals at the zoo she obviously hated. She'd use a terrifyingly shrill whistle every time the kids got too excited and, believe me, when Dana and I were leading a paper bag puppet making project, it was all too easy to get excited.

Finally, the two of us took the whistle when she wasn't looking and buried it in the dirt. Sadly, she came to work the next day with a shiny new one. We were convinced she had a cache of thousands of them in her lonely home?br/>
But I have some really lovely memories of our time there. One of the nicest parts of the day was when all the kids would sing along to traditional camp songs. The American classic, Don't Fence Me In, originally recorded by Cole Porter based on a poem by Montana State Highway engineer Bob Fletcher, is heavenly when it's sung by a bunch of hopeful little kids.

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Posted on June 30, 2008

Members of the ultimate nerd-rock band Talking Heads, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz spun off into the Tom Tom Club and recorded one of the most awesomely hip nerdy songs ever: Genius of Love. When Frantz screeches: “James Brown! James Brown! He really is the godfather of soul ya'll, so check him out!” you can't help but cringe–but he's so earnest and well intentioned that the cringe just sort of goes right into a shoulder-rolling dance move.

Everyone from Mariah Carey to Grandmaster Flash, both of whom sampled this priceless and quirky pop song in their own work, can agree that the art school long term couple deserve every penny they've made from the tons of others that have sampled this hit–most of which went towards producing more Talking Heads albums. True, I'm sure they'd love to be known for more than the one song, but most performers are never so lucky as to have recorded a song so perfect.

It also boasts this most excellent animated video based on James Rizzi's work.

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Posted on June 16, 2008

Well, wonders never cease!

For the first time ever, I requested that Jim play a Grateful Dead song. And I Know You Rider is that song.

Like many of their recordings, it is a traditional song, also recorded by people like The Kingston Trio and The Byrds, but I most love the 1972 recording on the Dead's Europe '72.

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Posted on June 2, 2008