Show & Tell- Summer Music Edition

Today, the pools open around here which I take as a sign that it’s time to bring out the summer records from artists like Buena Vista Social Club, Beck, DMB, Pink Martini, Jack Johnson, Bob Marley, Al Green, Amos Lee, P Funk, Sam Cooke, G. Love, Orchestra Baobab, etcetera. I’m adding to the rotation this year.  Normally, I would make you an itunes mix to download, but I am running short on time so here are a few ideas for grilling, sipping, reading…all around outdoor music.

*If you download one summer album, make it Raphael Saadiq’s, The Way I See It.

You’ll notice Joss Stone and Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z appear on the album as well.  It is perfection. Saaadiq’s music and aesthetic {you might remember him from Tony! Toni! Tone!} will remind you of all of the things you like about great musicians of the past while being completely relevant and new. I adore the photographs on his page. He is a true artist. There’s a continuity in his message: the photos, the style, the sound. It all works together seemlessly.

If you listen to one song today, choose Love That Girl….no Just One Kiss…I can’t choose a favorite.

Lisa Mitchell’s ethereal voice and clever videos stay with you.

*Another delightful song…

{I first heard about this song when it was blogged by the lovely Jess at Sweet Eventide.}

*This NYTimes article about a night out in Manhattan with HHDL {the Dalai Lama} had me laughing out loud and secretly wishing I could have been the photographer/writer assigned to him when he was spending a lot of time with the Beastie Boys.
My favorite quote from the article:

“And they asked the lama {what he does} and he said, “I’m the 14th Dalai Lama and the spiritual leader of Tibet.” Bethany said that sounded awesome and Chrissie said she had a friend who she thought did the same thing. Then Chrissie said, “Do you guys want to party? We know about this awesome thing that’s happening at Marquee.”

The lama said, “That sounds cool.”

If you, like me, had to endure the most recent Shrek movie, I hope you enjoyed the random use of Beastie Boys Sure Shot as much as I did. It reminded me how much I love that song. “Everything I do is funky like Lee Dorsey.” Never. Gets. Old. Perfect for summer.

*Listening Man – by The Bees from the album Octopus is a nice mix of reggae and motown.  A good album for a cold beverage, chips and salsa.

Please share your summer music recommendations in the comments.