Friday, January 29, 2016

5 on Friday -- Set 302




Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

Supernatural is one of my favorite shows -- if not my very favorite. The first episode airing after the winter break featured Lucifer dancing to Heaven Must be Missing an Angel, which has led to this week's disco throwback set.





Happy Friday!




1 - Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel - Tavares 









2 - You Make Me Feel Mighty Real - Sylvester 










3 - Got to Give it Up, Part 1 - Marvin Gaye









4 - Get Down Tonight - KC and The Sunshine Band

  







5 - I Feel Love - Donna Summer 







If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

Friday, January 22, 2016

5 on Friday -- Set 301




Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

...and sending out a Big Time Birthday Hug to my musical partner in crime, Mike Golch -- the other remaining 5 on Friday blogger!




Photo by Jean-Luc Ourlin


To mark the passing of David Bowie on January 10th at age 69, A Piece of My Mind salutes a musical giant with this week's set.  


1 - Ziggy Stardust - 1972

I'm going to go out on a limb -- considering his extensive musical catalogue -- but the opening chords of Ziggy Stardust can be considered to be Bowie's musical signature.








2 - Moonage Daydream - 1972

Like many people, I adored the inclusion of Moonage Daydream on the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack. Although I loved the whole soundtrack playlist, I always found myself starting with David Bowie's track and then hitting replay over and over. 









3 - Golden Years - 1975

Once again, this track was used in a film soundtrack in the anachronistic A Knight's Tale, where Heath Ledger and the rest of the medival court danced to the strains of David Bowie in their 15th century costumes. A perfect Bowie-esque touch.








4 - Blue Jean - 1984

David Bowie showcases his considerable vocal range in this track. He was easily able to scale between nearly four octaves -- one octave containing eight notes (remember The Sound of Music and Do Re Me Fa So La Ti Do) -- and was in the same pop-music range as Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant and Muse's Matt Bellamy. Strangely enough, two more of my favorites.   









5 - This is Not America - Pat Metheny featuring David Bowie - 1985


Okay, maybe he does more vocal gymnastics on this track. Considering he's performing alongside jazz fusion heavyweight Pat Metheny -- another favorite of mine! -- I'm sure he welcomed stretching his musical chops.  






If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

Friday, January 15, 2016

5 on Friday -- Set 300!




Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...


Well, here we are at set 300. Seriously, who'd a thunk it?


I hit my 100th set on December 30, 2011  -- Set 100


I hit my 200th set on December 6, 2013  -- Set 200


Time to celebrate! Once again, I'd like to thank all of you for dropping in on Fridays to have a listen.     


1 - I'm Happy Just to Dance With You - The Beatles








2Dancing in the Street - David Bowie and Mick Jagger


I'll be posting a Bowie set next week to honor the passing of a music giant.








3Just Dance - Lady Gaga








4Dance to the Music - Sly and the Family Stone









5 - You Should Be Dancing - The BeeGees








If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

Friday, January 8, 2016

5 on Friday -- Set 299




Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

As we head for my 300th set, coming up next week, I'm in a mood to celebrate for two reasons. One is the fact that I'm almost at my milestone set.

The other is my return to work this week after one year and three weeks on medical leave.

I have multiple chemical sensitivities and chronic pain/fibromyalgia among a few other things, which had reached critical-mass levels by late 2013. I somehow managed to crawl my way through 2014, but renovations at my day job ultimately led to my pre-emptive medical leave.

Throughout 2014 and 2015, I received treatment at what used to be called the Environmental Clinic, but what has been renamed the Integrated Chronic Care Service. I'm still receiving sauna detox treatment there, which has been a significant factor in my recovery.

I'm now the happiest employee ever. Nothing makes you happy to walk into your office like being away for a year. So let's celebrate!   


1 - Get Back - The Beatles featuring Billy Preston







2 - Up - Shania Twain







3 - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson







4 - Shake it Off - Taylor Swift







5 - I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash






If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

Friday, January 1, 2016

5 on Friday -- Set 298




Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

Happy New Year, Everyone! Hope you had a wonderful New Year's celebration last night. The photo above is a still from my favorite Russian New Year's movie Ironiya sudby, or The Irony of Fate. I fell in love with that film about seven years ago and I now watch it every year. In fact my husband and I will be doing just that, later this weekend.

As we head for my 300th set, coming up in two weeks, it's already time to launch my brand new once-a-month project for 2016.

This year I'll be focusing on Songwriters. Check back on the first Friday of each month as I take a look at the work of artists whose creative voices are most often brought to us through the performances of others.





One of the reasons I embark upon challenges like these is because of my own insatiable curiosity.

Over the years doing 5 on Friday, I've noticed my increasing tendency to seek out music by songwriter rather than by artist. I've come to really enjoy a well-done cover song, when a singer takes a tune associated with another artist and really puts his or her own stamp upon it. So this year's project has taken root over several years of putting sets together.

January launches with Paul Williams. Among his varied accomplishments, he has acted, scored films and television series, and is also an author.

This month's look at Paul Williams' work shows the breadth of his composer's voice, from quirky scores (like one of my husband's favorite's, The Phantom of the Paradise) to universal hits.    


1 - Faust - Phantom of the Paradise soundtrack - William Finley - 1974







2 - Talk it Over in the Morning - Anne Murray -1971







3 - An Old Fashioned Love Song - Three Dog Night - 1971







4 - We've Only Just Begun - The Carpenters - 1970






5 - The Rainbow Connection - Willie Nelson - 2001






If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.