Alive

"You've got to live a little bit faster 'cause you have a little less time to go ,"
-- Barry and Maurice Gibb, "Alive" from the Bee Gees' To Whom It May Concern, 1972.

Strong ballad, musically sparse and lyrically compelling, with great work on bass by Maurice.

Not "Stayin' Alive", mind you, which came five years later, but simply being alive, appreciating each breath despite the seeming preponderance of them, because "What Is Life" (asks George Harrison in 1970, while offering up "The Art Of Dying" on the flipside), but a breath?

This idea inspired both King David and the king of pain, Job, (Psalm 39:5, Job 7:7). "Breathe Deep (The Breath Of God)," sing the Lost Dogs on their 1992 debut, to live again, (and the Lost Dogs re-record it in 1996). I can always relate more to Lazarus than Methusaleh (or perhaps more succinctly, Enoch or Elijah), anyway.

Ponce de Leon's quest is beyond me, the futility exemplified in the song of Michael Jackson's life as well as anybody's. As if you could stay "Forever Young", Bob Dylan (1974) or Rod Stewart (1988), as if youth was an appearance, as if beauty was something to behold. Patrick Hernandez knows we are "Born To Be Alive" (1978), and while the Guess Who say "Hang On To Your Life" (1970), Christ says, "pick up your cross", (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23). While Queen chime in with their own "Keep Yourself Alive" (1973), Freddy Mercury knows you can't ... and "Who Wants To Live Forever?" (1986) anyway.

There ain't no "Easy Livin'" (1972), despite what Uriah Heep may suggest. It's simply living (and maybe even living simply) that matters and when "it all cracks up", as Simple Minds can tell you, "who's gonna save you", ("Alive And Kicking", 1985). The tighter we hang on, the harder it is to breathe.

While the original 1972 album mix still exhibits a great song, this version of "Alive" is the Bill Inglot mix from Tales From The Brothers Gibb: A History In Song 1967-1990, which clears the sonic muddle by opening the windows and allowing the fresh air to lift the song to new heights.

You can listen here if you like.

To The Death

"Surrounded by the dust of my birth,"

-- Danielle French, "To The Death" from Piece, 2003.

Enigmatic and strangely enticing, this dirge is spurred by Christine Fellow's subduing accordian, subtly strong percussion and highlighted by the harmonic vocal play between French and Burton Cummings.

http://www.mediafire.com/?agy3dcdq72o6wo0

Blame

"I'll pick you up when you go down,"
-- Michael Knott, "Blame" from L.S.U.'s Grace Shaker, 1994.

A more honest presentation of what grace means to the absolutely crushed would be hard to come by. With its sparse air and haunting riff, this obviously comes from one who knows what it is to be down there and where to turn to rise up.

http://www.mediafire.com/?x8kglr9lmgbgph7

The Sun

"When red giants have supernovered, then sorry the Earth will be,"

-- Kevin Parker, "The Sun" from Tame Impala's Tame Impala, 2008

Tame Impala released no less than two eponymous EPs in 2008. This heavyweight was on the Hole In The Sky label. Barbed and thunderous, it would not have been out of place on Cream's Disraeli Gears, forty-one years previous.

http://www.mediafire.com/?587addn0iz7bzlp

Voyaging Pilgrim

"The road is getting narrower,"
-- Fred Caban, "Voyaging Pilgrim" from Agape's Victims Of Tradition, 1972.

With a bit of a later Lighthouse (minus the orchestra) feel, this tune from Agape's sophomore release is a lot breezier than most of what was on their first. It's appropriate ambience for a song about travelling through life and highlighted by a great guitar solo at 2:23.

http://www.mediafire.com/?9lfqx38bq5do30c

Blood And Roses

"In wintertime, the roses died,"
-- Pat DiNizio, "Blood And Roses" from the Smithereens' Especially For You, 1986.

Absolutely rock and roll, anchored by a deadly bass line, triggered by one of the most indelible riffs ever laid down and validated by the blood, sweat, tears (and roses) of real life.

http://www.mediafire.com/?nmurpnd4222trx6

Mr. Sharky

"They thrash and nibble at the bait around my soul,"
-- Terry Taylor, "Mr. Sharky" from the Swirling Eddies' Zoom Daddy, 1994.

A thrilling tale of espionage, treachery and exploitation seemingly straight out of a 1930s crime pulp. Except underwater. Those pulps would disintegrate underwater.

http://www.mediafire.com/?hbcx6m2ktbxb362