Hello, it's me Your Old Pal Will here with you to continue our exploration of Albums that begin with the letter A as in Alpha. As always, if you would like to follow along at home, point your browser in the direction of vinylomatic(dot)com(slash)s05e02 for show notes. While you're there, ponder what your Top 3 Songs about the Afterlife are share them in the comments. I'll be making a playlist and sharing them in the Vinyl-O-Matic Amplifier newsletter (which you can subscribe to by clicking Amplifier in the nav menu). Let's get things under way with a very late-70s early-80s rendition of a Velvet Underground classic.

Ah yes, harkening back to a simpler politcal time, we heard The Decemberists with their 2008 single "Valerie Plame". That is from a 3 part series of 12-inch singles entitled Always the Bridesmaid. We'll be hearing selections from the other two volumes right after this mic break. Prior to that, we heard a very... let's say produced recording of the Aretha Franklin classic "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" as performed by an early 80s Willie Nelson on his album Always on My Mind. I think Willie may have been on cruise control for that one. We heard from the Benny Goodman Sextet performing Lionel Hampton's signature "Flying Home" that also featured a fine lead by pioneer electric guitarist Charlie Christian. That is from All-Time Greatest Hits, one of the many Columbia retreads of Goodman material. Starting off the show, we heard Japan and their bouncy remake of VU's "All Tomorrow's Parties", released on Hansa in 1983.
Up next, yes... More from The Decemberists.

Well that was relaxing and yet sonically engaging. We heard track 2/2 from Brian Eno's groundbreaking Ambient #1: Music for Airports. This selection was engineered by Connie Plank, of krautrock and kosmiche fame. Prior to that we had Volume 2 and Volume 3 of The Decemberists' Always the Bridesmaid series, beginning with "Days of Elaine" and followed up by "Record Year for Rainfall". If I'm honest, I'm still hoping against hope that we can still have a record year for rainfall here in Sonoma County.
Moving things along, here's a surprisingly sympathetic look at a pair of criminals.

Welcome back to Vinyl-O-Matic. At the beginning of that last set, we heard from Texas accountant turned balladeer Hermes Nye with his retelling of the exploits of Bonnie & Clyde. Romantic in a sense, but certainly not in a Serge Gainsbourg way. That is from a collection of American Folk Music from LIFE magazine. That was followed up by one of my favorite Neil Young tunes "Hold Back the Tears", featuring Linda Ronstadt and Nicolette Larson on backing vocals. That is from Young's album American Stars 'n Bars, which features a good deal of very familiar material with and without Crazy Horse, as well as outstanding cover art by none other than Dean Stockwell. The late great Dave Berman brought us "Smith & Jones Forever" from the Silver Jews album American Water on Drag City (DC 149 for those of you playing along at home). Rounding things out, we had Michael Nesmith and Red Rhodes with their rendition of Papa Nez's tune "Different Drum". That may well be my favorite version.
Next up, we get to experience the pop side of Brian Eno.

Far out man. Or is it far in? We just heard from Dean Hurley and a selection called "Edge of Known" from his Anthology Resource Vol. II: Philosophy of the Beyond on Sacred Bones Records. The Supremes brought us their smash single "Baby Love" from their 1974 Motown Anthology. When in doubt, go with the hits. Speaking of Motown Anthologies, I spotted "Help Me Make It through the Night" on the sleeve of this Gladys Knight & the Pips anthology from 1973, and I can say it did not disappoint. At the top, we heard "I'll Come Running" from yes, another groundbreaking Brian Eno album Another Green World, featuring Robert Fripp on "restrained lead guitar".
I don't want you to be restrained though. As I mentioned at the top of the program, leave your Top 3 songs about the sweet hereafter in the comments of the show notes for this episode, which can be found at vinylomatic(dot)com. While you're there, you can also find rss feeds, podcast platform links and oh so many archived episodes of this very program.
When we meet each other again, we will continue through albums that begin with the letter A as in Alpha. Join me, won't you?