SOMETHING OLD
Flora Purim - Summer Night
1973
Flora Purim - Summer Night
1973
We can’t start saying goodbye to sunny summer without some music from our friends closest to the equator.
Flora Purim, a Brazilian jazz queen, recorded her Butterfly Dreams record during the time she worked closely with Chick Corea and was gaining notoriety in the jazz fusion world. Summer Night, perfect for the August night I experience while putting this together, was written by Harry Warren & Al Dubin as a 1930s jazz standard. What you hear from Purim & her band, though, feels far from standard.
Plenty of rich saxophone tones, simply celestial percussion, an amazing upright bass groove, a zither (?!?!), and of course: Flora Purim’s wordless yet completely commanding vocal techniques. There may be no lyrics, but her vocalizations convey so much. I absolutely love this description of her voice by James Gavin on jazztimes.com: “She pushed her girlish voice to its limits, scatting in daredevil unison with instruments, letting out guttural growls and ear-splitting squeaks, hopping deftly through minefields of shifting meters.”
Plenty of rich saxophone tones, simply celestial percussion, an amazing upright bass groove, a zither (?!?!), and of course: Flora Purim’s wordless yet completely commanding vocal techniques. There may be no lyrics, but her vocalizations convey so much. I absolutely love this description of her voice by James Gavin on jazztimes.com: “She pushed her girlish voice to its limits, scatting in daredevil unison with instruments, letting out guttural growls and ear-splitting squeaks, hopping deftly through minefields of shifting meters.”
Around the 5-minute mark toward the end, that guttural quality rears its head the most as she becomes completely unleashed and makes truly striking sounds at 5:10-5:15 I’ve never heard until the first time I pressed play.
If you’re looking for something utterly unique and transcendent without being too precious, give this one a listen.
If you’re looking for something utterly unique and transcendent without being too precious, give this one a listen.
SOMETHING NEW
Cut Worms - Evil Twin
August 20th, 2025
Cut Worms - Evil Twin
August 20th, 2025
Max Clarke, known as Cut Worms, has released his first original solo single since his self-titled 2023 album. Yay!
I really love the fun country sound he’s been cultivating, heard beautifully in this song and sounding like a sibling to Ballad of the Texas King. Reminds me a bit of Townes Van Zandt, too!
I also think he’s a brilliant lyricist who has mastered the art of imagery. The opening lyrics stand out immediately:
Like a hammer falling down on a lifetime of love / White teeth chewing on the edge of a Styrofoam cup
Like a hammer falling down on a lifetime of love / White teeth chewing on the edge of a Styrofoam cup
And typically I think significant amounts of extraneous seconds like field recordings are better cut, I’m quite fond of the distant-sounding accordion playing the melody after the song ends. It’s sweet and original.
SOMETHING BORROWED
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
(The First Edition)
2004/2020
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
(The First Edition)
2004/2020
Here’s a multi-layered one. Mickey Newbury wrote Just Dropped In about the effects of LSD, which first went to and got recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis (yikes!). Lewis’ version is interesting and improved by an excellent rhythm section, but I suppose it’s just hard to hear it after hearing the hitmakers: Kenny Rodgers & The First Edition.
Released by the group in January 1968, it was a top ten hit! It leans into the psychedelic side of an otherwise country sound from Kenny Rodgers and even guitar soloist Glen Campbell (!), and it’s done very well. It’s definitely a favorite of mine.
Anyway, in the same year, soul singer Bettye Lavette released a thrilling R&B version.
Keeping Lavette in mind, let’s jump to 2002. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings were recruited by KFC to record a version of the song for a commercial which didn’t end up getting used. Music supervisors for movies/tv/commercials often want classic-sounding, existing recordings in their media...but they often don’t want to pay for the licensing that come with that. The Dap-Kings were pros at creating re-creations of those kinds of recordings, especially when it came to soul music with Jones’ fiery voice and high energy. So, go track down Lavette’s version on YouTube in conjuction with listening to the Dap-Kings, because they really did nail that replication!
In 2004, without a KFC commercial to their name, the group released it as a single. It was then re-released on their Just Dropped In To See What Condition My RENDITION Was In compilation record of covers, released posthumously for Jones. Rest in peace.
SOMETHING... LABORIOUS
The Band - King Harvest
1969
The Band - King Harvest
1969
As you step into and enjoy your labor day weekend, remember the proletariat!
But seriously. Labor Day was founded by unionists & activists who fought for the rights of workers and got some of us a day of rest. King Harvest feels pertinent in its themes and storytelling.
There is speculation that the lyrics refer to sharecroppers’ unions formed in the south in the 1930s.
It tells the story of a down-on-his-luck farmer who lost his crops in a dry season, lost his barn in a fire, and a result lost his home – leaving him homeless on skid row. Hoping for a brighter future, he gets involved with a union. They encourage going on strike when their members are mistreated by their bosses, and this can-do attitude inspires him. He’s proud to pay his union dues and believes when they say their hard times are about to end.
But... can a farmer revolt against the sky for not raining? What can the union truly do for a man whose crops won’t grow? So, remember this Labor Day that not everyone gets a break, and also that conditions are not always as easily improved for some professions. But also listen to this song and hear the immeasurable musical talent of four of my favorite Canadians & my favorite Arkansan.