By ajostu
Two memories:
When I was growing up, we lived in a house set part way up a hill, which had a good view out into the surrounding area. When a big storm came through, we’d turn all the lights off and watch the display, doing the usual trick of counting out how far away the lightning had struck. Except for that time when it hit the substation across the road. There was no delay there. And it was loud.
When I was in late primary school, my father and I went to an open day at what was then called the National Measurement Laboratory, quite a long drive away (for us) in Lindfield, a northern suburb of Sydney. Thinking back, it must have been not long after the lab opened up. At the facility is an enormous square building, if I recall right the equivalent of five storeys high. The cavernous interior of the High Voltage Lab was built to test the kind of big chunky things you see on power lines and in substations. I remember them scientists turning out the lights, turning up the volts and making lightning jump around the lab. For someone like me, young and keen on science, it was magical.
Lightning must have dazzled and frightened out ancestors, and even now a well-timed strike is one way nature can remind us who’s really boss. For a songwriter, lightning can signify power, drama, inspiration and surprise. Thunder can invoke overpowering noise and chaos – the sound of nature or the voice of a god.
I tried writing a track-by-track interpretative rundown of the A-list, but really didn’t think I was adding anything. Either the lyrics are clear enough by themselves, or they’re so oblique that I’d just be flailing around trying to impose (possibly the wrong) meaning. As always there was a huge variety in the nominations, so I hope I’ve struck a good balance between capturing as much of that as I could while keeping the lists coherent and flowing. And, as usual, I’ve tried to stick with the version nommed unless there were sound or region issues that forced an alternative.
Atmospheric Attack A-List Playlist:
Feist - In Lightning (Fred Erickson)
David Byrne & St. Vincent - Lightning (happyclapper)
Maruja - Thunder (vanwolf2)
Witch - Bleeding Thunder (TarquinSpodd)
Bim Sherman - Lightning and Thunder (Uncleben)
Eddie Floyd - Knock On Wood (PAF!)
Big Maybelle - Rain Down Rain (Nicko)
Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens - Izulu Liyaduduma (TarquinSpodd)
Los Relampagos - Nit de Llampecs (pejepeine)
Cedric Congo meets Mad Professor - Jah Lightning (Nicko)
Chi Coltrane - Thunder and Lightning (SweetHomeAlabama)
Chicago - Thunder and Lightning (FredErickson)
Toyah - Thunder In The Mountains (Carpgate)
The 6ths & Claire Grogan - Night Falls Like a Grand Piano (vastariner)
Shawn Phillips - The Ballad of Casey Deiss (BanazirGalbasi)
Bolt From The Boom B-List Playlist:
Johann Strauss II / - Thunder and Lightning Polka (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) (Suzi)
John Philip Sousa - The Thunderer (Band of the Grenadier Guards) (BanazirGalbasi)
Duke Ellington - Lightnin' (BanazirGalbasi)
Chaka Khan - Clouds (pejepeine)
The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (Marconius7)
Leona Lewis - Thunder (Fred Erickson)
LUMP - Rolling Thunder (Noodsy)
Jake Bugg - Lightning Bolt (ShivSideCar)
Bob Lind - Cheryl's Goin' Home (AltraEgo)
Ray Charles & WIllie Nelson - Seven Spanish Angels (Naguchi)
Grateful Dead - Weather Report Suite (Chris7572)
Guru’s Wild Weather Picks:
Leafing through the home CD collection, I thought of putting together a set of pieces which are inspired by stormy weather in maybe the most unlikely, “genteel” musical format – the jazz piano trio. The three tracks, all from recent releases, to me form an interesting “pseudo-sonata.”
Micah Thomas - Lightning
Kit Downes - Rolling Thunder
Oddgeir Berg Trio - Dancing Through The Storm
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic: Inspiration strikes: songs about thunder and lightning. The next topic will launch on Thursday after 1pm UK time.
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