Here’s a story… of a lovely playlist

1. Billy Joel, “The Ballad Of Billy The Kid”
   This is one of the highlights off of Billy Joel’s second album, Piano Man. It’s a sort of “Piano Man” meets the theme to “The Magnificent Seven.” He gets into the realm of classic-era Elton orchestral pop here, but roughs it up with a little western twang. What’s surprising is the country-ish influences here…probably a byproduct of the album’s recording in Los Angeles. It’s definitely one of the more epic and sweeping songs in the Joel canon and commonly misconceived as an autobiographical song thanks to the twist in the coda’s lyrics. Oh…and STRING INTERLUDE! WHEE!
2. Elton John, “Ticking”
   This sprawling song about a young man who snaps capped off Elton’s 1974 album, Caribou. Compared to other songs Elton did at the time, the arrangement was quite sparse featuring Elton, a piano, some mellotron, and an organ. The lyrics are quite eerie thinking about since the song’s release events like Columbine and the UVA shootings have happened. An overlooked gem by Captain Fantastic…one that may not strike you at first but eventually grows on you.
3. Jim Steinman, “Dance In My Pants”
   Originally envisioned as part of the followup to Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell, this song, along with the others for the original Bat II, found a home on Jim Steinman’s 1981 solo album, Bad for Good. Many critics hated this album, but I love it. In fact, a number of the songs on Bad for Good have been given the Meat Loaf treatment throughout the years, but this story of a man’s journey to cut the rug hasn’t been touched in a recording since Jim’s attempt. Meat Loaf duetter Karla DeVito provides the female vocals for this campy, but oh so awesome second stab at “Paradise by the Dashboard Light’s” success. How I wish there was a karaoke version of this!
4. Klaatu, “Long Live Politzania”
   For a brief period in the 70s, Beatles fans began to think that a Canadian band named Klaatu were really The Beatles recording under a pseudonym. The debut album had some Beatles-ish tedencies, but this song - one of the centerpieces of Hope (Klaatu’s 2nd album about a long lost civilization in space that destroyed itself after a deadly war) - takes the band into Pink Floyd territory. I personally adore the Politzanian anthem towards the end of the song…Delicious prog-rock goodness.
5. Jukebox the Ghost, “Fire In The Sky/Where Are All The Scientists Now?/A Matter Of Time”
   Continuing the streak of destruction is this three-song suite about the apocalypse. It closes out the debut album of Jukebox the Ghost, one of my favorite new bands and CDs of the year. The band is a three piece consisting of piano, guitar, and drums. Ben Thornewill (the piano player) and Tommy Siegel (the guitarist) trade off vocals and Siegel takes the lead on this mini-epic. It’s the most perky, upbeat song you’ll ever hear about the destruction of the world! I actually got to see them live a couple of months ago and they’re the real deal…every bit as good on stage as they are on recording. HIGHLY recommend getting the entire CD: Let Live and Let Ghosts.

Download: Billy Joel, “The Ballad Of Billy The Kid” (mp3)
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Download: Elton John, “Ticking” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Jim Steinman, “Dance In My Pants” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Klaatu, “Long Live Politzania” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Jukebox the Ghost, “Fire In The Sky/Where Are All The Scientists Now?/A Matter Of Time” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)