The League Of Extraordinary Tracks II: 3. INSTRUMENTALS – Polls

This week’s theme – picked by a League player, as usual! – is INSTRUMENTALS (which I’ve decreed can include whistling). As usual, thankyou to our 11 intrepid selectors for choosing tracks to vote on.

How do you take part?

Go to the Playlist Post and listen to the tracks.
Pick the four you like best that you haven’t previously heard.
Log in here and vote for them!

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The League Of Extraordinary Tracks II: 3. INSTRUMENTALS – Playlists

The League Of Extraordinary Tracks II: 3. INSTRUMENTALS – Results!

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koganbot

9 November 2023 19:53

Al Hirt’s version of “Java” was a near-miss when I was nominating for Four Letters. I honestly don’t remember if I went back and listened to Toussaint’s original. I know I listened to five or six versions of “Blue.” Anyhow, I’ve embraced my nonmemory of the Toussaint so that I can vote for it here. It sparkles, even if it doesn’t splash and kick as much as the Hirt.

Wizzard’s Bill Hunt, who wrote “The Carlsberg Special,” says “it’s based on a Bach piece one of his Preludes, it’s the same sort of chord sequence as that and it’s just a little variation on that really.” Anyone know which Prelude? Is a plethora of cheeky notes in the Wizzard variant. (Also, think we recently had this chord progression in the PPP, a plaintive, moving song with vocals; very good but a total different mood from this. Can’t think of what it was, however.)

Last edited 1 year ago by koganbot

Helene Hoffman

18 November 2023 21:51

Reply to koganbot

“Java” was a 4 letter words outtake for me too! I was glad to finally have a chance to nominate it for something else (I was twitching on the sidelines when 4 letter words & short songs came up again last league season.)

koganbot

9 November 2023 19:57

My other two votes – my top two – are Kibrom Birhane’s dark and rich “Mender” (has the feel of the fear and opportunity of 1971, not just Addis Ababa’s but Nigeria’s and New York’s, even though it was recorded in Southern California last year); and the Ghana postal workers. Bet the rhythm and the whistles made the work faster and more accurate.

mondosalvo

10 November 2023 04:44

Happy to waive anonymity here and say that Bill Doggett’s “Sweet Slumber” is my pick this time. Doing so because I can tell you all exactly how I came across this song and when.

The fifth season of MAD MEN premiered in March 2012 and opened with a really spooky bit of organ music. Some quick googling—or maybe even twittering back when that was a useful resource—schooled me on the fact that was Ken Griffin’s recording of the familiar old tune, “Ebb Tide.” Now, that version of “Ebb Tide” must have some serious rights issues, because it’s still not streaming in any of the usual places a full eleven years later. But because it was scarce, I went looking for alternate versions of “Ebb Tide” to listen to.

Bill Doggett recorded one. It’s quite different than Griffin’s interpretation, but I liked it enough to listen to the entire album that contained it. Towards the very end I encountered “Sweet Slumber,” and it’s stayed in semi-regular rotation since that day. What a MOOD.

j_e_l

10 November 2023 09:46

Thought the best songs here were by Moonlight Sorcery – who were the combination of Wizzard and Ratatat, who I also liked. Liked Bill Doggett too, and Allen Troussaint

Leo Breebaart

10 November 2023 11:25

Aw, no love for the Lafayette Afro Band? I thought that was a righteous jam. It must have been released pretty much simultaneously with the O’Jays’ original, too.

mondosalvo

10 November 2023 12:25

Reply to Leo Breebaart

It rules, but I already knew it well.

Edward Still

10 November 2023 18:15

This is a great, great playlist – by far my favourite so far, and I find something to enjoy in every one of these songs (even though there are a few that are probably not for me). Going to be a while before I have a final four, but wanted to make some initial notes – FWIW even those I have made ambivalent comments on I haven’t ruled out yet. I’ve included my own nom so as not to tip my hat (don’t think I’ve made it obvious which it is).
FourPlay – I enjoy this, it’s technically proficient although it feels a bit “cold” I don’t get the impression their heart is necessarily fully in it.
Moonlight Sorcery – Not normally my kind of thing. Seems like one of the harder levels on guitar hero.
Abrasive – Perhaps the one most structured like a regular, be-lyriced pop song. The guitar taking over the focal point role from the singer.
Wizzard – Seems like a music stall you might find at a world’s fair. I’d definitely hang around for a bit, not sure I’d buy anything.
Kibrom Birham – the sort of thing I would see performed in a Bristol pub, or perhaps street festival. That alone gives me warm memories, not sure if that will be enough to carry it through to voting for it.

Last edited 1 year ago by Edward Still

Edward Still

10 November 2023 18:20

This is a great, great playlist – by far my favourite so far, and I find something to enjoy in every one of these songs (even though there are a few that are probably not for me).
Going to be a while before I have a final four, but have made some initial notes, even those I have made ambivalent comments on I haven’t ruled out yet. I’ve included my own so as not to tip my hat (don’t think I’ve made it obvious which it is).
FourPlay – I enjoy this, it’s technically proficient although it feels a bit “cold” I don’t get the impression their heart is necessarily fully in it.
Moonlight Sorcery – Not normally my kind of thing. Seems like one of the harder levels on guitar hero.
Abrasive – Perhaps the one most structured like a regular pop song with lyrics (for better or for worse). The guitar taking the role of the singer as focal point.
Wizzard – Seems like a music stall you might find at a world’s fair. I’d definitely hang around for a bit, not sure I’d buy anything.
Kibrom Birham – the sort of thing I would see performed in a Bristol pub or perhaps street festival. That gives me warm memories, not sure if that will be enough to carry it through..

Edward Still

10 November 2023 18:20

Reply to Edward Still

Casino vs Japan – The one I liked immediately first play round. It just floats off, carrying you along on a cosy adventure.
Ashara – A possible vote, feels like it’s being played too fast, but that also gives it a kind of seasick charm.
Bill Doggett- Hypnotic, although not sure I need the sax. Made me think of Arnold Rimmer’s Hammond Organ recital nights.
LaFayette Afro Rock Band –while the veteran Funker empties his bladder, his young band jams on. I’d probably love this in a live room.
Allen Toussaint – The main body of the song isn’t quite for me, but I really like the occasional changeups – in fact they may be my favourite thing in the entire playlist.
Ghanaian Postal Service –I like it I think. Whistling in song either really works or really doesn’t, but these guys haven’t mailed it in. And it makes me smile to think of these whistling Ghanaian posties cancelling stamps

Edward Still

14 November 2023 13:54

Reply to Edward Still

Went for CvJ ,Bill D, Allen and Ashrain the end but must apologise to the Wizzard nominator as that has been pleasantly stuck in my head ever since I voted.

actualeesimpson

10 November 2023 19:19

Great playlist. My initial reactions shifted after listening once and then shifted back. Only knew one (“Sunrain”). I know that I voted for *either* Toussaint or Doggett but not both, can’t see which one it was (pretty sure I went with Toussaint). Somewhat to my surprise, the far and away stand-out was the Ghanaian stamp cancelers. After that it was basically a vibes check, and the ones that stuck when the dust cleared were Wizzard and Lafayette Afro Band.

rabbitfun

12 November 2023 16:58

Hi it’s me, lokpolokpo from over tXere. I listened to all 11 tracks today, didn’t know any, liked or loved most of them, the only one that’s not-for-me is the Moonlight Sorcery track. I have two clear favourites, both have been mentioned here already: the wonderful Kibrom Birhane (am definitely going to check out the album it’s from) and the Ghanaian postmen track. The rest I will have to listen to again to reach a final decision.
I have a general question: is it possible to vote in… spurts? I mean, if I vote for my two faves now, can I come back later to vote for my numbers 3 and 4?

vinnycrackers

13 November 2023 15:18

Reply to rabbitfun

I wondered this as well. Because 2 were no brainers. I ended up just going forward

rabbitfun

14 November 2023 20:34

Reply to vinnycrackers

Meanwhile, my question still stands…

Tom

18 November 2023 12:51

Reply to rabbitfun

I am honestly not sure – I think there may be a box I can tick to allow it, but that would also allow changes of votes, which wouldn’t be a great idea.

Steffen Rayburn-Maarup ?

13 November 2023 09:26

Good bunch of tracks this week!
Shoutout to Fourplay, the lowest placed of my votes. The other three will have to slug it out unmentioned.

vinnycrackers

13 November 2023 15:20

You just don’t hear organ like Bill Doggett often enough, and for some reason that delighted me right to the top of the list.

Jeff Worrell

13 November 2023 18:42

Already knew “Java” through the classic UK TV show Vision On (and also via The Muppet Show). Unlike Frank, I’m not gonna cite unfamiliarity with the Toussaint version, which I may in fact have heard if not as often as Hirt or Kaempfert’s. The arrangements are too similar.
Also got to rule out Wizzard and Casino versus Japan as I own both in CD, albeit I haven’t played the latter since its year of release, I fear! (Will rectify that post haste.)
All of which made the choice relatively simple again. “Sunrain” was the best of the rest – and I strongly suspect it is going to lead me down a massive Spotify rabbit hole. But I also really liked Ratatat’s variant on Daft Punk. Ghana Uni Postal Workers (what’s not to like?) and the metal track round out my ballot.

Jeff Worrell

13 November 2023 18:48

Reply to Jeff Worrell

P.S. The full title of the Wizzard track should not go unremarked: ““The Carlsberg Special (Pianos Demolished Phone 021 373 4472)” 😀

koganbot

13 November 2023 21:35

Reply to Jeff Worrell

Bill Hunt says the full title was concocted by the rest of the band without his knowledge, and indeed the phone number was his! And he may well have demolished a piano or two in performance à la The Who (though I’m not sure if that info was definitively sourced) but demolishing pianos does not seem to have been a second source of income for him.

Tom

18 November 2023 12:47

I eventually let the comments break my tie and I’m glad I did – love the postal workers but they’re doing fine without me, and poor old Wizzard definitely needed the vote (and what’s an Instrumentals round without at least one dodgy B-Side, the natural home of the format if you grew up buying singles in the 80s!).

Clear standout for me was Ashra – I absolutely love all this old hippy kosmische shit and while I hadn’t heard this before I’m going to be digging into them more.

Tom

18 November 2023 12:49

Reply to Tom

My other votes went to the jazz and funk contingent – Bill Doggett and the Lafayette Afro Rock Band, though Allen Toussaint and Kirhom Birhane could easily have got votes if my mood was only slightly tweaked. Also really enjoyed Ratatat’s Discovery-esque jam.

Helene Hoffman

18 November 2023 22:14

Immediate votes/adds to my streaming library: Doggett (Toussaint was mine so no surprise that I voted for the other 50s R&B/jazz piano guy), Birhane, and (sigh) FourPlay.
Last vote was a tough decision; all were solidly enjoyable to very good. (It would’ve gone to Wizzard but I’m a Roy Wood stan so had to disqualify.) Wound up choosing hooks over vibes with Ratatat.

Last edited 1 year ago by Helene Hoffman

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The League Of Extraordinary Tracks II: 3. INSTRUMENTALS – Polls

The League Of Extraordinary Tracks II: 3. INSTRUMENTALS – Playlists

The League Of Extraordinary Tracks II: 3. INSTRUMENTALS – Results!

The Discourse