Minimalist American composer John Adams said of 'Short Ride:' "You know how it is when someone asks you to ride in a terrific sports car, and then you wish you hadn't?"
If you get chance go and see it live. Come to think of it, if you get chance go and see anything live.
This version is from the 2014 BBC Proms conducted by Marin Alsop.
Chester Arthur Burnett, as Wolf was born, was part of the Chicago Blues scene led by musicians escaping segregation in the South in the 1940s and 1950s. The likes of Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon had a massive influence on subsequent genres and musicians of all type, but sometimes that can hide the fact that they made songs that are just good in themselves.'Smokestack Lightnin' was, in Wolf's words, a result of when "we used to sit out in the country and see the trains go by, watch the sparks come out of the smokestack. That was smokestack lightnin'."
Song of the Week has neglected Opera so far but we are going to start at the top with the 'Letter Scene' from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, based on Pushkin's verse novel. Tatyana pours out her love for Onegin by writing a middle of the night letter (never the best time perhaps). Onegin is not impressed. But he comes to regret it. Anna Netrebko is Tatyana in this New York Metropolitan Opera production.
Back in the 70s, even hard-bitten punks had a grudging respect for ABBA. After all it was clear that these guys could write songs. 'The Name of the Game' is a perfect example. Most bands would have squeezed 4 songs out of it, but Benny and Bjorn were on a roll. Agnetha and Anni-Frid each have solo parts. 'Dancing Queen', 'SOS' et al are great - as are lesser-known songs such as 'Angel Eyes' - but this, despite a silly if ironic video, might just be their masterpiece.
The phrase 'one hit wonder' is used rather disparagingly though it applies to many walks of life and for many of us is just an aspiration. American Garage-Rock band ? and the Mysterians fit the bill though they are more interesting than some. Their name was inspired by the Japanese Sci-fi film 'The Mysterions.'
The version below is the album original but if you want to see them do it live and check out ?'s taste in shirts click here.
It may not be common to mathematicians but retiring early is becoming a theme in Song of the Week (Bobbie Gentry being the first). Janet Baker retired nearly 40 years ago and now, in her eighties, reserves her singing to the odd visit to church. Here in Strauss's Morgen! (Tomorrow!) she sings "And tomorrow the sun will shine again." Indeed.
Strauss originally wrote it for piano which is the version below. He later orchestrated the accompaniment for orchestral strings. Janet sings that version here (not great quality but it is live).
It's hard to imagine George Ivan (Van) Morrison dancing to anything but here he is giving it a go "under cover of October skies." Van has said some questionable things about the Coronavirus recently but Song of the Week is a strictly neutral segment of the Bulletin so we will move on. And anyway, as they say, don't love your heroes.
Bobbie Gentry had great success until she threw it all up 40 years ago and socially distanced from the world. Admittedly this, her biggest hit, is not the most cheery of ditties but it is good and in the spirit of keeping things current, it is a rare example of the word 'virus' being used in a song.
"I saw a werewolf drinking a piña colada at Trader Vic's
And his hair was perfect"
Trader Vic's in London is still there. Below is the remastered version but for the purists and those who want to see Warren in action (and howling) here is the original.
Originally a hit for 60s Jamaican Rocksteady artist Dandy Livingstone, this version by the Specials comes from the Ska revival based around Coventry in the West Midlands of England in the late 70s. The movement was part of the anti-racism movement in music at the time. Time for a ska revival revival?
If you ever find yourself wandering an English coastal town you may notice curiously-dressed sixty-somethings lurking outside venues wearing badges proclaiming "Keep the Faith." Over 40 years ago they were part of the Northern Soul scene. Based in clubs in the North-West of England, Northern Soul was about clothes, dancing and, crucially, imported American soul music, most of it deliberately obscure. Keep the Faith.
"Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike. They've all come to look for America."
Written in 2007 the text of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt's motet is the final part of Saint Patrick's Breastplate, a traditional prayer for protection.
Prescient (sort of) sixties French pop from Jacques Dutronc.
Ah, remember the days when people worried about the little things like love. But don't worry, those days will be back. In the meantime here are the The Ink Spots.
One for all parents and children. Written by Bowie for his son Duncan, it contains some valuable parental advice:
"And if the homework brings you down
Then we'll throw it on the fire
And take the car downtown."
Quite a few of you are taking a well-deserved break over the next few weeks and plenty of you will be driving long distances, so why not while away the long hours at the wheel by taking the Night Train?
After a long day we all need a Nocturne. Here's Lili Boulanger's 1911 Nocturne for violin and piano.
At a time when the temptations are huge - picnics, beaches, raves, it might be worth reminding ourselves of the Greek Myths and strap ourselves to the mast.
"Exhausted" seems to have replaced "busy" in the University lexicon. But, to borrow from Tolstoy, we are all exhausted in different ways. Here is John Lennon's take on it.
Apparently we are not only sleeping more during lockdown but also dreaming more because we have extra time for REM Sleep. But surely the main issue about sleep is which side of the bed you choose? Cornershop have the answer
Given it's the end of term (sort of) and the school education of children seems to have been abandoned for the time being, it could only be this Glam Rock monster from 1972 courtesy of Alice Cooper.
"Strange old man, shall I go with you? Will you turn your hurdy-gurdy to my songs?" Franz Schubert's Hurdy-Gurdy Man
There are lots of reasons to play Summertime and lots of versions (check out the original by Abbie MItchell as well as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong's) but how about Sam Cooke?