A Baker's Dozen Playlist...

Originally published as a "Baker's Dozen" Playlist for Friday 5/13/11, and re-posted due to technical diffiiculties:

1. “100 Yard Dash,” Raphael Saadiq. From the 2008 album The Way I See It. Funky, slinky retro-soul from the former Tony! Toni! Toné member and prolific R&B producer. Check out the whole album, it’s amazing.

2. “I Will Follow You Into The Dark,” Death Cab for Cutie. An elegiac, moving song from the 2005 album Plans.

3. “Holiday,” Hayseed Dixie. From the 2005 album A Hot Piece of Grass. A bluegrass/rock cover of the Green Day tune, by a group that specializes in doing countrified versions of rock & roll songs in their unique style.

4. “Just To Walk That Little Girl Home,” Mink Deville. From Le Chat Blu (1980). A beautiful ballad co-written with legendary songwriter Doc Pomus. Wonderful song from an underrated performer.

5. “Ariel,” Dean Friedman. From his eponymous 1977 debut album. Fun, quirky song about a guy’s love for a girl who wears peasant blouses and likes getting high. Dig the Frankie Valli-esque choruses.

6. “Apologies,” Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. From the album This Is Somewhere (2007), a passionate track about the end of a relationship, from a band that is fast becoming one of my favorites. If you like Bonnie Raitt , Rory Block or Susan Tedeschi, you should check out Ms. Potter. The band's recent performance on PBS’ Live From The Artist’s Den was sensational.

7. “Colder Weather,” The Zac Brown Band. From You Get What You Give (2011). A powerful, emotional ballad. The band performed it live with James Taylor at The Academy of Country Music Awards show this year.

8. “Tighten Up,” The Black Keys, From the album Brothers (2010). A cool track with a nice hybrid of rock, soul & punk.

9. “The Unforgiven,” Metallica. From Metallica (1991) Metallic rocks. :) Nuff said.

10. “Your Time is Gonna Come,” Dread Zeppelin. From Un-Led-Ed (1990). Yes, an Elvis impersonator sings Zeppelin, with Rasta style backing. It works brilliantly. Even Robert Plant liked this one.

11. “Take Me To The Pilot (BBC Session),” Elton John. From the Deluxe, 2-disc edition of Elton John (1970). One of Elton’s best early tracks.

12. “Take The Highway,” The Marshall Tucker Band. From the album The Best Of The Marshall Tucker Band: The Capricorn Years (1994). Southern rock at its best from the Caldwell brothers.

13. “Poetry Man,” Phoebe Snow, Phoebe Snow (1974). And for the Baker’s Dozen bonus song, I’m going to recommend a track from Ms. Phoebe Snow, who we lost in April of this year. RIP Phoebe.