Prepare to travel back in time with a few modern musicians. I'm looking for artists who embody and sing and play music in the spirit of yesteryear- from crooning lounge singers, jazz singers to rockabilly bop of the 50s.
Put on your poodle skirt and dust off your blue suede shoes!
Diana Krall recorded a Nat King Cole tribute album and records jazz music with the spirit of Tony Bennett and Ella Fitzgerald in her soulful songs. She recently released the album "Glad Rag Doll" and has a large selection of music that will transport you back into time, in another era. Her popularity is recognized- two Grammy awards and 6 million albums sold. Her music sounds like you have walked into a lounge in the 1940's- at least, how I imagine it, or have seen it in movies and standard albums of yesteryear.
Main instruments: Piano.
In 2003, Diana Krall married Elvis Costello. Which brings me to our next retro musician: Elvis Costello. His music can't be classified, because Elvis is a huge student of music. Rolling Stone considers him among the 100 greatest musicians ever. In this case, Elvis has done lots of work with Burt Bacharach, as well as Paul McCartney. Try "The Best of Elvis Costello: the first 10 years" for a taste of his rock/punk rock sound.
Main instruments: guitar, bass, drums.
The host of the Oscars for 2013 was Seth MacFarlane. Known best to fans of the "Family Guy" and "American Dad" cartoon shows, Seth is actually a huge fan of musicals. He released his own retro sounding album (and cover) called "Music is Better than Words" in which Seth croons classic Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes, and even used the same microphone to record his tunes in that Frank Sinatra used. The album is available through the library.
Chris Isaak has made a name for himself as a king of melancholy sounds, music so sad it would cause the band Coldplay to weep tear on stage. Chris is best known for his haunting "Wicked Game" song and is well known for having a voice and slow style that harkens to another era. Chris is a huge fan of Roy Orbison, of country music, and a rockabilly sound that would fit right in with the 50s/60s . We have several albums in the library. I recommend them.
Jump, Jive and Wail. The Dirty Boogie. Be-Bop-A-Lula. These are song titles of The Brian Setzer Orchestra. With titles like those, they almost need no introduction. Put on some dance shoes because Brian jams out a super dose of boogie and swing and jump blues. Look for the "Dirty Boogie" and "Jump Up & Boogie" in our CD catalog and get on the dance floor! This band is a hit for parties.
You might not find his CDs in the library, but look out for this name: Richard Cheese. Richard takes fairly recent songs from the 1980s on up to today, and records them in an old school crooning voice, as though Dean Martin himself had taken the stage to sing Michael Jackson's "Beat It" or something by Metallica. It has a comedic effect to hear familiar songs being performed like old classics. These songs may not all be for kids: Richard includes a good degree of swear words, which adds to the humor.
For a great dose of retro-sounding jazz, look for CDs of the Manhattan Transfer. The group harmonizes with a touch of boogie-woogie and R & B pop. They are in the library catalog.
Also try "Duets: An American Classic" where musicians sing with Tony Bennett, such as Tim McGraw, George Michael, Sting, K.D. Lang, Bono, Elton John, and Elvis Costello. It's in the library.
The Rhythm & News team contributed heavily (thank you everyone) in suggesting retro-style artists and albums and here are some more you can investigate through the library and Freegal and elsewhere you listen to music:
-Michael Kiwanuka
-Michael Buble Call me Irresponsible and It’s Time.
-Harry Connick, Jr. PCPL has eight of his albums; try Only You.
-Renee Ostead’s Skylark
-Linda Ronstadt’s What’s New, both of which are in the catalog.
-Queen Latifah sings some standards. Try Trav’lin’ Light or Queen
Latifah (The Dana Owens Album). PCPL does not have either of these.
-Sharon Jones and the Dap
Kings
-Old Crow Medicine Show
-Andrew Bird.
-Old Crow Medicine Show
-Andrew Bird.
-Diane Shuur
Blog by William B. with help from the music team at the library.
Blog by William B. with help from the music team at the library.
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