By Amylee
“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” – Martin Luther King
The Astrophysical A-List Playlist:
Oliver – Good Morning Starshine
Give it up for the hippies and their acid babble. Oh for a time machine.
*Jimi Hendrix – The Stars That Play with Laughing Sam's Dice
Legit stars and the Milky Way to boot. Even though Sam’s dice have as about much to do with stars as Lucy’s diamonds do. But as Nicko said: “It's the interstellar guitar freakout that really matters, man.”
*This video is missing from YouTube, though it’s on Vimeo (for now - see below. But it still gets an A-lister. For the kids 20 years down the road checking out the list.
The Parisians – Twinkle Little Star
I can’t find anything about this northern soul track except that the original gets a lot of money on eBay, but caveat emptor for reissues. And that the lead singer would only sing if he was allowed to wear his glove puppet of a cockroach. But it’s still the grooviest tune I’ve heard all week.
Prince – Baby I’m a Star
Yep, I like what i see, i like what i hear. Dance slot sorted.
R.E.M. – Star 69
Used to be you could call someone, breathe heavily, and just hang up in peace with no one the wiser. Later, we could dial *69 (or 1471 in the UK) to find out who had called and hung up. Nowadays you can’t even make a crank call without your name and number showing up on the screen. No respect for privacy anymore.
Radiohead – Black Star
So is Elvis (not nommed) the daddy of all of the black star tunes? Maybe Yorke’s issues aren’t as uh, weighty, as those that Elvis and Bowie are wrestling with. But this song was my guru pick, and it’s still the one that sticks with me, plaintive (OK, whiny) vocals and all. Could be the gorgeous jangly guitar and that sublime little snippet of harmony.
Drugstore – Superglider
This entire album was posted on a slow week to pick through all of the tracks for one that fit the rubric. Good call though, it’s turned out to be a real find. Gorgeous, Mazzy Star-ish with a bit more edge.
Grinderman – Star Charmer
Absolutely beautiful acoustic with violin b-side. And yet, just can’t help but see sleaze in the lyrics.
Rose Royce – Wishing on a Star
Exquisite soul ballad, pure class. From a BBC review - “Words cannot measure the swooning, illustrious beauty of it.” That is all.
Dub Syndicate – Stoned Immaculate
The Doors would have probably gotten a B-lister. Jimbo, The Supremes, The Upsetters, and whomever else might be in there lands this one here. Like a whole playlist in one tune.
T. Rex – Mambo Sun
Don’t want to ignore the star in the centre of our solar system on the off chance that it actually is some sort of deity. No idea what a mambo sun is or what the lyrics mean. No matter, it’s all about the groove.
David Bowie – Blackstar
Inevitably in a few years we’ll have the PhD theses to tell us all of the other topics this opus qualifies for and what it all means. But in the meantime, it really can’t not be here, bang on for this topic. Bonus - best video ever.
Stan Tracey Quartet – Starless and Bible Black Not prog.
Henry Purcell – No Stars Again Shall Hurt You From Above
Michael Askill – How The Stars Were Made
The Big Bang B-List Playlist:
Primal Scream – Shine Like Stars
Opal – Supernova
Michel Polnareff – Sous Quelle Etoile Suis-je Né?
Kula Shaker – Infinite Sun
Van Morrison / Chieftains – Star of the County Down
Billy Bragg / Wilco – California Stars
Robb Johnson – Dark Star
Nina Nastasia – Superstar
The Zephyrs – Stargazer
Bran Van 3000 – Rock Star
Brian Jonestown Massacre – Stars
Freeheat – Shine On Little Star
The Primitives – (We've) Found A Way (To The Sun)
Superdrag – In the Valley of Dying Stars
New York Dolls – Lone Star Queen
Andre Williams - Car With the Star
The Art Attacks – Punk Rock Stars
Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her – No Star
Jean Paul Sartre Experience – Bleeding Star
Deep Purple – Highway Star
Pink Floyd – Interstellar Overdrive
Inter-Planetary P-List Playlist:
Here’s yer bonus prog. And some other stuff too (23 stars in all).
Guru’s Otherworldly Wildcard Picks:
The Cranberries – Stars
Iggy Pop – Dead Rock Star
Ty Segall – Smash a Guitar
Mushroomhead – Sun Doesn’t Rise
Dark Lotus – During an Eclipse
Pras (ft. Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Mya) – Ghetto Supastar (That is What You Are)
Counting Crows – Baby, I’m a Big Star Now
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Reach out for: songs about stars of all kinds. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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