Forgotify Discoveries

[Ojai Sam]

One of the great things about Spotify is the multitude of third party helpers it has spawned. My favorite so far is Forgotify (www.forgotify.com). It's based on a simple concept. 20% of the the songs on Spotify have never been played . This site links you to one of these unplayed gems at random. Don't like their choice? Just reload the page.

A lot of the songs are truly garbage but not bad enough to be good, if you get my drift. So there's no Mrs. Miller, Nick. But many really are hidden treasures. I have created (what else?) a Spotify playlist to showcase these. It's a collaborative playlist, so feel free to add whatever you find. Happy hunting!

 

[axolotl]

I love this concept! Play it again, Sam!

 

[Ojai Sam]

Anthony Braxton - Eugene (1989)

So last night I decided to hit Forgotify during my walk with Sophia Bella. First up was the aptly named"Trash Disco" by Kuxtal Seeb. Then "Got It Good", a ridiculous white boy rapping about his sexual prowess. But then I hit the jackpot.

This is a livc concert recording by avant garde sax player Anthony Braxton with the Northwest Creative Orchestra, a 16 piece big band. Braxton is in fine form and the unknown players are more than up to the task of playing his arrangements. The trumpet and vibes are especially fine. The compositions range from "way out there" to "wow, there's actually a melody!"

on the Sam-O-Meter.

 

[Nickyboy]

. So there's no Mrs. Miller, Nick.

Dammit.

 

[Nickyboy]

Play it again, Sam!

""I'll take 'Lines Never Said' for $500, Alex"

 

[Ojai Sam]

Dammit.

Let's face it, Nick. She's way too good for this thread.

 

[Nickyboy]

Let's face it, Nick. She's way too good for this thread.

She has a certain charm. I'll give you that.
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I remember last time you posted about Forgotify I went on and found some absolute gems. Time to find some more!

 

[axolotl]

""I'll take 'Lines Never Said' for $500, Alex"

You're going to need a bigger moat, Nick.

 

[Ojai Sam]

I remember last time you posted about Forgotify I went on and found some absolute gems. Time to find some more!

Add 'em to the playlist!

 

[Nickyboy]

Add 'em to the playlist!

absolutely!

 

[JazzyRandy]

Anthony Braxton - Eugene (1989)

The compositions range from "way out there" to "wow, there's actually a melody!"

LOL wormstyle!

 

[Ojai Sam]

Out Of The Blue - Granddaddy's Cabin (1996)

This one was a very pleasant surprise. I listen to a whole lot of bluegrass and Granddaddy's Cabin is a really solid, enjoyable album. OOTB is (or was) a quartet based in Tucson. For their debut. the band recorded mostly originals with a few well chosen covers, notably the Stones' "It's All Over Now". Lots of variety here; there's even a bouncing Western Swingy instrumental.

on the Sam-O-Meter.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Arleen Auger, City of London Baroque Sinfonia - HANDEL: Alcina (1985)

OK, I know opera is not big around here. Truth to tell, I don't listen much of it myself. But this 3 CD set holds two major treats even for the casual (or non-) fan of opera:

• Arleen Auger's voice - the Cinderella story of a music teacher from South Gate, California who wound up an international star seems perfectly logical once you hear her stunning voice. She died way too young at age 54.
• Handel's score - the 34th of Handel's 42 operas tells the complex story of Alcina, a sorceress who lures heroes to her enchanted island and changes them into rocks, streams, trees, and animals. Her latest captive is the crusader Ruggiero. Bradamante (Ruggiero's fiancee - disguised as a man), and Melisso come in search of him. Alcina's sister Morgana soon becomes attracted to the disguised Bradamante. This causes her lover, Oronte, to be jealous. In the end, Ruggiero and Bradamante escape and destroy the magic powers of Alcina and Morgana. (see http://stageagent.com/shows/opera/2474/alcina#ixzz4oRh9wB16). The songs are full of emotion; the music, including dance sequences for ballet, is among Handel's best, lively and approachable.

I'm not suggesting you slog through all three hours. Pick and choose the overture, a couple of Auger arias and some ballet. As it happened, yesterday I had a big project to do in the garage for Mrs. Ojai and this was the perfect soundtrack. Next to a Grateful Dead show, nothing makes time pass more quickly for me than an exciting opera.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Piero Piccioni - The Captive City (soundtrack 1962)

This is one of the most enjoyable Italian soundtracks I've ever heard. Piero Piccioni was a practicing attorney who somehow found time to compose for over 300 films. This one was written for a long forgotten war film starring David Niven and Ben Gazzara. Piccioni's moody orchestral style, full of menacing strings and lonely horns, was influenced both by classical music and by the great film noir soundtracks of the 40's.

This one is linked above and appears on our Forgotify Discoveries playlist.

 

[Nickyboy]

Piccioni appears on many of my 1960s Italian compilations. You can hear his style distinctly from other composers of the same period.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Piccioni appears on many of my 1960s Italian compilations. You can hear his style distinctly from other composers of the same period.

Yes, he even managed to escape the long shadow of Morricone.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Boston Symphony Orchestra - WILSON: Sinfonia; HARBISON: Symphony No. 1 (1985)

Two sparkling contemporary classical works commissioned by the Boston Symphony for its 100th anniversary celebration. Olly Wilson is especially noteworthy. The Music Sales Classical website sez:

Olly Wilson's richly varied musical background includes not only the traditional composition and academic disciplines, but also his professional experience as a jazz and orchestral musician, work in electronic media, and studies of African music in West Africa itself. His catalogue includes orchestral and chamber works, as well as works for electronic media.