A Real Rhapsody playlist blog of questionable quality

Friday, April 27, 2007

Irving Fields Friday Playlist



Irving Fields is the wild Doctor Frankenstein who got behind a piano fifty years ago, put a yarmulke on a beatnik's head, and hooked the room up to a lightning rod. The result was the hit sound of Bagels and Bongos. Now 91, Mister Fields is still creating fascinating musical golems. Here's a little Friday playlist sampler suturing together the decades between Bagels and Bongos and the brand new Tzadik release My Yiddishe Mama's Favorites.

Irving Fields Friday Playlist

Rumania, Rumania
Havannah Negila
David's Dance (Reb Duvidel)
Miami Merengue (Rabbi Eile Melech)
Un Az Der Rebbe Zingt/Shashtil
'Yankel' Doodle

Friday, April 20, 2007

Two Years of Ribaldry & Schmaltz



Today we belatedly celebrate two years of Ribaldry & Schmaltz in grand style, with a master class in easy listening instrumental hit classics. Yes, first tirelessly, and now closer to weekly, we've been hunting the wilds of the Rhapsody catalog, mounting our finer finds to a playlist, and foisting them on any ear that passes by.

So fire up the list below, then keep it on hand so you'll never again spend the day tormented by the question "What the Hell's the name of that song that goes 'Do-do-do Cha-wakka, Do-do wakka, beooowwww..."

And, I'm sure I've missed a few of the Greats in this category. Please feel free to help me fill in the gaps. And unless I balk at the newly-announced 30% Rhapsody subscription price hike and disappear, we'll keep the hits coming.

Easy Listening Instrumental Classics

Soulful Strut - The Young-Holt Unlimited
A Taste Of Honey - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
Loves' Theme - Barry White
Yakety Sax - Boots Randolph
Breezin' - George Benson
Spanish Flea - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
Feels So Good - Chuck Mangione

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Rhapsody Mudskipper Fresh Catch Playlist



Today a little fresh catch playlist from my early spring fishing in the Rhapsody waters. Wriggle up from the mud, stretch those fins, and welcome Government Center back into the Rhapsody catalog. Also, there was some celebrity playlist featured recently that ended up getting me a little obsessed with The Concretes. I can't find that list again, but the multi-instrumental, gauzy sunshine vibe of this one band stuck around.

Rhapsody Mudskipper Fresh Catch Playlist

Government Center - The Modern Lovers
Sugar - The Concretes
Ah! Leah! - Donnie Iris
The Ghost In You - The Psychedelic Furs

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

"This is [not entirely] Se-wee-us"



Well, the biggest release of 2007 for the preschool contingent here at R&S Labs came out last week. I'm talking of course about the debut album by diminutive upstarts the Wonder Pets. In an entertainment landscape chock-a-block with supremely annoying weiners like Noddy, Dragon Tales, and the malevolent tyrant Dora, the Wonder Pets are downright tolerable, not afraid to mix it up musically, and can take it to the streets when necessary to save a baby animal.

Right now the childless noobs at Rhapsody Headquarters don't have the album connected to the Children category, so you'll have to hunt them down like some self-released CDBaby refugees. In the meantime, here's a little sampler of Schmaltzy Jr's preferred prime cuts.

Wonder Pets Debut Album Sampler

Hola, Hermit Crab
Wee-Wee, Pee-Pee, Tinkle
Brown Cow Down

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Graciela Beltran Tuesday



Certainly one thing my life would be missing had I never started wandering around the Rhapsody catalog is Graciela Beltran (and Banda music in general). She just delivers an undeniable combination of brass pyrotechnics and sexy. Es Cosa De El is the big single on her new album, but I think Te Di De Baja has alot more personality musically.

In related news, I'm going to go on the record saying the greatest batch of album covers in Rhapsody are in the Banda category. If you haven't, you owe it to yourself to head to the category page now and browse through for a while. Those guys really know how to live (and dress).

Reina Del Mi Pueblo Playlist

Te Di De Baja - Graciela Beltran
Es Cosa De El - Graciela Beltran
Tu Madre - Banda Jerez

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Rocking Holy Week Playlist



In honor of what Schmaltzy Junior has officially dubbed "Pom Pom Sunday", here's a few songs for jump starting the rockingest Holy Week ever.

And for some legitimately inspirational music, on early mornings I'm always partial to the Sunday-go-to-meeting sounds of Hank Jones and Charlie Haden on Steal Away.

Rocking Holy Week Playlist

The Troublemaker - Willie Nelson
Woke Up This Morning With My Mind On Jesus - Doug Martsch
Jesus Is Just Alright - Doobie Brothers
Breakin' Bread - The JB's