Thursday, January 17, 2013

Sharp Dressed Bands

My sister is a costume designer who knows more about clothes than I do about music. She's responsible for most of my wardrobe that isn't band t-shirts, so the least I can do is send her a mix for her birthday.



Sharp Dressed Bands
  1. Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins, "Rabbit Fur Coat"
  2. Jerry Lee Lewis, "Chantilly Lace"
  3. Shorty Long, "Devil with the Blue Dress On"
  4. Run-D.M.C., "My Adidas"
  5. Elvis Presley, "Blue Suede Shoes"
  6. The Cramps, "Sunglasses After Dark"
  7. Spoon, "The Fitted Shirt"
  8. Bob Dylan, "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat"
  9. Elvis Costello, "Green Shirt (acoustic)"
  10. Charles Mingus, "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"
  11. David Bowie, "Fashion"
  12. Paul Simon, "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes"
  13. Dolly Parton, "Coat of Many Colors"
  14. ZZ Top, "Sharp Dressed Man"
  15. James Brown, "Hot Pants"
  16. The Kinks, "Dedicated Follower of Fashion"
  17. Tom Waits, "Pasties and a G-String"
  18. Screamin' Jay Hawkins, "Yellow Coat"
  19. Prince, "Raspberry Beret"
  20. Minor Threat, "Good Guys (Don't Wear White)"
  21. Leonard Cohen, "Famous Blue Raincoat"
  22. Mick Jagger and The Chieftains, "The Long Black Veil"
  23. The Residents, "Boots"
How much do I care about my sister? Enough to submit the creepiest version of "Chantilly Lace," the loneliest "Long Black Veil" and the weirdest "Boots." Enough to pretend that I forgot about "Denim and Leather" and "Undone (The Sweater Song)." Enough to consult The A.V. Club. Enough to track down the original "Devil with the Blues Dress On." Enough to wonder if she thinks David Bowie's "Fashion" is about clothes, dancing or fascism. Enough to sandwich ZZ Top between Dolly Parton and James Brown. Enough to treat her to an Elvis Costello demo and a Tom Waits deep cut. Enough to remind her of Screamin' Jay Hawkins.

No comments: