Thursday Three (Sept 14, 2017)

1.  Champion – by Kanye West (2007)  – this week marks the 10th anniversary of Kanye’s release of “Graduation”, which has goodies like “Stronger” and “Flashing Lights”.  I chose “Champion” though to marry it with the passing of Walter Becker, co-founder and guitarist of Steely Dan, whose song “Kid Charlemagne” is sampled here.  And while we’re at it………this doesn’t count as a second song but you get it.

Kid Charlemagne, from one of my favorite albums ever…..”The Royal Scam”!!!!!!!  So many great songs on here.  If I wanted to be obnoxious (which I am), I’d throw “Don’t Trust ‘Em” by Ice Cube in here, which samples “Green Earrings” from, you got it, Royal Scam.  Oh what the hell.

Whatever happened to O’Shea Jackson?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWrqI1FI4TU

2.  “Mean Streak” – by Y&T (1983)  – I came across this song on a compilation album called “Masters of Metal”, which also featured bands like Kiss, Sabbath, Maiden, Rush, Van Halen and DOKKEN!!!!!!   My understanding is that Y&T were big fans of The Beatles and Y&T stands for Yesterday & Today, a Beatles song.  History aside, I think this is a vastly underrated song from that era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX34Qhmto0Y

3. “Evermore” – by Grandaddy (2017) –  I love this little piece of alternative rock.   It has a constant, hypnotic groove, but it also has a slow build from verse to chorus.   Those keyboards are like guitars, but the song has guitars too!