Music for Making Art
I had an artist friend who never listened to music while she worked and seldom listened to music at other times. Personally, I think this is inconceivable. I can’t imagine not listening to music while creating art. For me, music is a muse and inspires the other art senses.
In no particular order, here are some of the tunes I like to play while in my studio. I usually crank them up to ‘Jive and Wail’ levels. Even though I’ve chosen one track from each artist, I generally listen to multiple tracks at a time.
(By the way, I’m sorry I couldn’t get this list to line up left and right. The justify function doesn’t seem to be working on my blog. I hate when that happens! I’m anal-retentive when it comes to lists.)
Title Artist
Until You Come Back to Me …………….. Aretha Franklin
Ocean Beach………. The Mighty Black Orchestra
Tangled Up In Blue…………….. Bob Dylan
Wings for Sarah…………….. Bob James
Where is Love…………….. Bobby Caldwell
Beyond the Sea…………….. Bobby Darin
Nick of Time…………….. Bonnie Raitt
I’m on Fire…………….. Bruce Springsteen
What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life…………….. Chris Botti and Sting
Viva La Vida…………….. Coldplay
Badge…………….. Cream
My Mate Paul…………….. David Holmes
New Frontier…………….. Donald Fagen
Peaceful Easy Feeling…………….. The Eagles
September…………….. Earth, Wind & Fire
Change the World…………….. Eric Clapton
Fall in Love…………….. Estelle
Gypsy…………….. Fleetwood Mac
Late Night Session…………….. Fluff
Noodle Soup…………….. Four80East
Crazy…………….. Gnarls Barkley
Route 101…………….. Herb Alpert
Yah Mo B There…………….. James Ingram
Shower The People…………….. James Taylor
All for You…………….. Janet Jackson
Steppin’ Out…………….. Joe Jackson
Rainbow Seeker II…………….. Joe Sample
Save Room…………….. John Legend
Callie…………….. Joyce Cooling
How ‘Bout That…………….. Kevin Toney
Smiles and Smiles to Go…………….. Larry Carlton
Something About You …………….. Level 42
Walk On The Wild Side…………….. Lou Reed
Cubanova…………….. Marc Antoine
Diggable…………….. Marion Meadows
What’s Going On……………. Marvin Gaye
Rock With You…………….. Michael Jackson
It’s Been Too Long…………….. Nick Colionne
Restless Feeling…………….. Nick Lowe
Pacific Coast Highway…………….. Nils
Minuano…………….. Pat Metheny
Graceland…………….. Paul Simon
Caravan of Dreams…………….. Peter White
Islands…………….. Phillip Glass
One for the Girls…………….. Rick Braun
Under My Thumb…………….. The Rolling Stones
Sunrise…………….. Simply Red
Faded …………….. Soul Decision
Sara…………….. Starship
My Old School…………….. Steely Dan
High Noon…………….. Steve Oliver
That Girl…………….. Stevie Wonder
Englishman in New York…………….. Sting
Sapphire Island…………….. The Rippingtons
With Or Without You…………….. U2
She’s All That…………….. Walter Beasley
Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?…………….. Waylon Jennings
What are the songs that inspire you? Please share. I need more music to add to my iPod.
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I note some light jazz numbers above. In no particular order some of my favorites are:
Fire Wire by Larry Carlton
Bueno Funk by Peter White
North Shore by the Rippingtons (also a good way to check out your bass response)(a little more hard charging)
A Baeleric Dinner, downtempo edition, Roger Shah
Enganaita by Ritmo and Compassions
Theme from M*A*S**H aka Suicide is Painless by Bill Evans
One more post on this topic. Mellow stuff. Some good covers here:
Feels Like Home – Bonnie Raitt – Faust
Dimming of the Day – Linda Thompson & Richard Thompson – The Best of Richard and Linda Thomspon
A Kiss to Build a Dream On – k.d. lang – A Wonderful World
Lucky To Be Me – Tony Bennett And Bill Evans – Together Again
I Am Yours -Derek & The Dominos – Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
She Thinks I Still Care – Teddy Thompson – Up Front & Down Low
She’s Got You – Rosanne Cash – The List
Fool Such As I – John Doe & The Sadies – Country Club
No Matter What (with Aimee Mann) – Marc Cohn – Listening Booth: 1970
Just a Song – Dave Mason – The Very Best of Dave Mason
One Hand, One Heart – Rickie Lee Jones, Joe Jackson – It’s Like This
Fall at Your Feet – Crowded House – Woodface
If It’s Magic – Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life
All I’ve Got to Do – The Smithereens – Meet the Smithereens
(Nice Dream) – Radiohead
All Night – Sam Phillips – A Boot and a Shoe
Any Major Dude Will Tell You – Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
For No One – The Beatles – Revolver
Light of This World – Joan Osborne – Little Wild One
Sunlight – The Youngbloods
You would also probably like the mix played by WFUV, which you can stream. http://wfuv.org/.
Do you like standards? Here’s a romantic mix by song, artist and album:
Do It Again – Judy Garland – Judy Garland: The Best of the Capitol Masters – The London Sessions
Love Walked In – Betty Johnson – Love Walked In
The Nearness of You – Frank Sinatra – Nice ‘N’ Easy
The Touch of Your Lips – Tony Bennett & Bill Evans – The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
Thrill Me – Catherine Russell – Sentimental Streak
My Foolish Heart – Bill Evans & Tony Bennett – The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album
You Leave Me Breathless – Ella Fitzgerald – Pure Ella
Witchcraft – Frank Sinatra – Gold Frank Sinatra
The Very Thought of You – Harry Connick, Jr. – Only You
Taking a Chance On Love – Frank Sinatra – e Capitol Years
How Long Has This Been Going On? – Ella Fitzgerald – Pure Ella
Isn’t It Romantic? – Carmen McRae – Carmen McRae for Lovers
I’ve Never Been In Love Before – Chet Baker – Chet Baker Sings
I Do Not Know A Day I Did Not Love You – Tony Bennett – Fifty Years – The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
Embraceable You – Nat King Cole Trio – Best Of The Nat King Cole Trio: The Vocal Classics (1942-46)
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered – Linda Ronstadt – ‘Round Midnight With Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra
At Last – Etta James – The Best of the Definitive American Songbook (A-I)
April In Paris – Frank Sinatra – The Columbia Years (1943-1952): The Complete Recordings
Now It Can Be Told – Tony Bennett – Bennett / Berlin
Patrick, good selections. I sometimes play some of these standards, too.