Music Break

Once again, I've found a quintet of songs for your listening pleasure.  First up is Top Of The Pops, from the Blow Up album by the Smithereens, who hale from New Jersey.  At the time, the band included Pat DiNizio (lead vocals), Jim Babjak (guitar), Mike Mesaros (bass) and Dennis Diken (drums).  Mesaros was later replaced on bass by Severo Jornacion.  (H/T RZ for playing this one on his BTR show.)  The video was shot in Atlantic City, NJ.

Guns N' Roses included The Garden on their 1991 album Use Your Illusion I, but it was written before their 1987 debut album Appetite For Destruction.  According to guitarist Slash, Axl Rose's style of singing on this song resembled that of Alice Cooper, so the band asked Cooper himself to sing part of the lead vocals.  Also contributing as guests were Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon on harmony vocals and West Arkeen on acoustic guitar.  Duff McKagan plays bass and Matt Sorum plays drums.  The song was written by Rose, Arkeen and the band's road manager Del James.  (H/T Noway90 for playing this one on his BTR show.)

Speaking of Blind Melon, they are best known for their 1993 hit No Rain.  I remember hearing this one for the first time over the radio of a rented car, while driving somewhere in the desert of southeastern California in 1995.

To change the mood completely, the next selection is Lady Jane by the Rolling Stones.  Mick Jagger wrote this one after reading Lady Chatterley's Lover, which uses the term "Lady Jane" to refer to the place that Donald Trump once talked about grabbing (and where one of his predecessors placed a cigar).  The recording includes Jagger on vocals, Keith Richards on acoustic guitar, Brian Jones on dulcimer and guest musician Jack Nitzsche on harpsichord.  The video shows painted portraits of various women, including one (just after 2:40) who has an uncanny resemblance to the late Princess Diana.

To finish, and to again change the mood, this is Baby What You Want Me To Do by Tramp, from their eponymous 1969 debut album, and written by Jimmy Reed.  The thumbnail lists band members Danny Kirwan (guitar), Little Brother Dave (vocals), Bob Hall (piano), Bob Brunning (bass), Mick Fleetwood (drums) and Memphis Lil (vocals).  At the time, Fleetwood and Kirwan were also members of Fleetwood Mac.  Brunning had been hired by FM as a placeholder for the bassist they wanted, John McVie.  Lil and Dave were in reality a pair of siblings named Jo Ann Kelly and Dave Kelly.  Hmmm, is that a Bigfoot trying to brush his hair?

Tramp would release their second and last album Put A Record On in 1974, two years after Fleetwood fired Kirwan from Fleetwood Mac.  Makes you wonder how those sessions went.