Robyn Hitchcock - The Bells of Rhymney

Another song by Pete Seeger. The political message in this one has to do with the lives of miners in Wales, where all of the towns named in the song are located. Robyn Hitchcock's version is based on the one by the Byrds, who also did yesterday's "Turn Turn Turn."

The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn!

Pete Seeger adapted a passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament to create the lyrics for this song. The Byrds made it a Top 40 hit.

Peter, Paul & Mary - If I Had a Hammer

Let's keep the Seeger tribute going. He wrote this song with Lee Hays when they were both in the Weavers. It's been recorded many times, but this is the version that's probably been heard by the most people.

RIP Pete Seeger

Before I ever knew the name Pete Seeger, I knew this song, and probably in this version. The circular construction of the lyrics is what gives this anti-war song its power.

Nilsson - Together

Still working my way through the new Nilsson box set. Here's another gem.

Warren Zevon - Accidentally Like a Martyr

Loneliness is just a fact of life. Fortunately it's not the only one.

Nilsson - You Can't Do That

From Harry Nilsson's first album, Pandemonium Shadow Show: a heavily multi-tracked tribute to the Beatles, who soon became his fans and friends.

Elvis Costello and the Roots - Tripwire

Right now, this is my favorite off the EC/Roots collaboration.

Harry Nilsson - Mr. Richland's Favorite Song

More from Nilsson's BBC show from 1971. He interpolates a bit of his song "One," which was a hit for Three Dog Night. What a voice, what a sharp songwriter.

Gill Evans - La Nevada

Okay, here's the deal. This piece is over fifteen minutes long and the only complete version I could find on YouTube has images of ships. Why? I'm not really sure. But in order to post the complete piece of music, this was the only choice. And hey, they arent't bad pictures, so...enjoy.

RIP Claudio Abbado

One of my favorite conductors, especially for his version of the Pergolesi Stabat Mater. Here he conducts the Vienna Philharmonic in Brahms' Hungarian Dance number 4. Controlling a large mass of musicians so that they end up producing a sound that is not only coherent, not only pleasing, but sometimes magical, is far from easy. Abbado could do it.

Dave Allen on Religion

Roy Lee Johnson With Dr. Feelgood & The Interns - Black Pepper Will Make You Sneeze

A fairly obscure R&B number.

Chet Baker - The Heather On The Hill

Jackson Browne - I've Been the One

JB covers a song by his old friend Lowell George, then we hear the original version from the first Little Feat album.

Sade - Smooth Operator

Happy birthday to Helen Folasade Adu, known professionally as Sade. Here is her biggest hit, from 1984. Hard to believe it's been thirty years.

Jeff Beck Group - Ain't Superstitious

The JBG psychedelicizes Howlin' Wolf. Rod Stewart on vocals, Ron Wood on bass, Micky Waller on drums.

Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners

The one and only, performing with his band one of his characteristically angular compositions. But does it swing? Yes. Yes, it does.

Star-Forming Regions

As a bit of a science nerd, I'm surprised to realize how little I've posted of such things recently. Let's rectify that with a post about Hubble pics of a star-forming area that has recently been studied. Phil Plait at Slate provides the info.

Nilsson on the BBC Part 1

Another example of why YouTube is so cool. How else would I have seen a quarter hour of early Harry?

Stevie Wonder - I Believe (When I Fall In Love)

One of the classics from his most influential era.

The Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream

One more.

The Everly Brothers - When Will I Be Loved

Not stopping yet, not yet. Those voices.

The Everly Brothers - Crying In The Rain

Yet more.

The Everly Bros - Let It Be Me

Still can't let it go. The end is clipped, but...so it goes.

The Everly Brothers - ('Til) I Kissed You

Can't let it go yet. More Everlys.

The Everly Brothers - Wake Up Little Susie

More from PhilandDon.

The Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown

RIP Phil Everly.

Obamacare by the Numbers

Josh Marshall explains why there are now about ten million people who are covered by insurance because of the Affordable Care Act, and why this number tends to enrage the right.

It is amazing to witness the sheer depths of rage, denial and disgust many people experience as they see millions of people gaining access to affordable health care for the first time. Back on the 31st I wrote this overview which outlined how more than 9 million people now have health care coverage because of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). It now seems like the number is more like 10 million....This evening I mentioned this number on Twitter and saw the full force of denial and outrage as many anti-Obamacare diehards made first contact with the actual number of Americans who've gained coverage under the program. More though, it was clear how in the absence of a dead in the water website to cry crocodile tears over, anti-Obamacare hardliners have suddenly gotten a whole lot angrier about Obamacare.

William Bell - You Don't Miss Your Water

Classic soul music.

Vienna New Year's Concert 2013: Radetzky Marsch

Or in English, Radetzky March. Happy new year.