Chuck Willis - What Am I Living For

An early-rock-and-roll-era classic.

Chushingura: The Truth / 忠魂義烈 実録忠臣蔵 (1928)

I've seen the four-hour film made (I believe) in the sixties, but not this one. The tale of the forty-seven ronin fascinates many people, including me.

Luigi Nono - Dell'Azzurro Silenzio, Inquietum

Some twentieth-century classical music I had not heard before.

Goon Show - Curse Of Frankenstein

As far as I can find out, this is the last episode ever of the original run of the Goon Show, broadcast on this date in 1958. Enjoy.

Frank Sinatra - Nevertheless

On this date in 1895 was born Harry Ruby, who with his partner Bert Kalmar wrote a number of standards, including this one.

Dorsey Burnette - Hey Little One

Peter, Paul & Mary - Old Coat

A song I've always loved, and about as sad a one as you'll ever hear.

Jay & The Americans - Sunday and Me

Neil Diamond's first success as a songwriter. His own success performing his own songs was still in the future. Complete with studio chatter at the start.

A Kingdom in the Middle of Petro-Politics

Interesting piece by Josh Marshall on the Saudi ruling family.

Every Saudi head of state who has governed this pivotal, brittle and profoundly influential petro-state during the years of its ascendency since 1953 has been the son of a man born only a decade after the US Civil War....This fact is more than a novelty. As Saudi Arabia became a bigger and bigger force in world affairs this succession principle cast a mortal pall over the regime.

House Squabble

A proposed bill in the House of Representatives that would have banned abortions after twenty weeks was pulled due to Republican infighting. Some sort of wave has crested, it seems. TPM explains.

Procol Harum - Too Much Between Us

Love...well. It doesn't always work. Sometimes not even close.

The Beatles - And Your Bird Can Sing

From the US cartoon series that the lads were not really all that crazy about, but what the hell.

MLK

The Grateful Dead - Next Time You See Me

Live in Copenhagen in 1972. Within a year Pigpen would be dead.

Sam Cooke - Get Yourself Another Fool

What a voice. What. A. Voice.

Krugman on the Swiss

Sometimes the truth is the most depressing (pun intended) thing.

What you need to understand is that all the usual rules of economic policy changed when financial crisis struck in 2008; we entered a looking-glass world, and we still haven’t emerged. In many cases, economic virtues became vices: Willingness to save became a drag on investment, fiscal probity a route to stagnation. And in the case of the Swiss, having a reputation for safe banks and sound money became a major liability.

nada is as nada does

Sorry, nothing today.

The Fortunes - You've Got Your Troubles

My favorite part is the vocal counter-melody that comes in at about 2:30.

The Lovin' Spoonful - Blues in the Bottle

Traffic - Medicated Goo

This is the live version from 1971's Welcome to the Canteen. Dave Mason was back in the fold for a brief spell.

Slim Harpo - I'm a King Bee

Classic electric blues.

The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Why Get Up

Elvis Presley - One Night With You

Forgot to mark E's eightieth birthday yesterday. Here you go.

Dr. John - Cold, Cold, Cold

Not the Little Feat song, but of course Dr. John is even more NOLA-ish.

Adam Krieger - Der Liebe Macht herrscht Tag und Nacht

A pre-Bach German composer. Performed by Roberto Gini and colleagues, 1992.

Nino Tempo & April Stevens - Deep Purple

Happy birthday to Mr. Tempo, mostly a professional sax player but here a singer.

Krugman on Obama the Economic Policy Maker

I usually have a pull quote, but I'm short on time today. Just...you know...here's the article.

Ravel - Pavane pour une Infante Defunte

Seiji Ozawa conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Little Jimmy Dickens - May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose

The number of performers in country music who actually knew Hank Williams is now very small and getting smaller. RIP Little Jimmy Dickens.

Krugman on Inequality, Again

Professor K finds more evidence from another source. The point, however, remains pretty much the same: if you're not rich, you're screwed.

Incomes have grown slowly, if at all, for people around the 20th percentile of the world income distribution. Who are these people? Basically, the advanced-country working classes. And although [the] data only go up through 2008, we can be sure that this group has done even worse since then, wracked by the effects of high unemployment, stagnating wages, and austerity policies.

John McLaughlin - After The Rain

For some reason this is the piece of music I wanted to hear to start off the new year. Hope it works for you as well.