We’ve been hanging out with The Shivers all this week whose brand new LP More is in sores right this very moment (and here) and whose record collection we continue to rummage through today.
The duo’s Keith Zarriello closes out our week with some records one might call, …er “eclectic.”
Sade – Diamond Life | Quite frankly one of the sexiest records of all time. I’ve always loved Sade since childhood. There is an elegance here that few others have been able to achieve. A cool soulfulness in every word.
This record brings me back to growing up in the 80’s and going to the Jersey Shore. I loved the Jersey Shore before there was a show called Jersey Shore. I can remember listening to “Smooth Operator” on the radio and just wanting Sade to hold the 10 year old me in her beautiful ebony arms. What an amazing looking beauty!
To listen to this on vinyl is quite a unique experience because it reminds us that vinyl still had a place in the 80’s when things were switching to cassettes and music was becoming more digitized. Again, the crackle of the needle and my dying record player make this record sound otherworldly and amazing.
Great Comedians of the Century | Another relic from the house in Queens I mentioned. I’ve always been a lover of comedy—old comedy. I also went through a huge Lenny Bruce phase. This record is basically a compilation of great comedians from the 40’s/50’s hosted by Eddie Cantor.
To hear the crackle of the vinyl while you listen to what is like a live radio show from back in the day brings you back to a different time. The first time I put this record on my friend was doing his washing in the kitchen sink. It all made sense.
I’m a huge fan of radio and radio shows like “A Prairie Home Companion.” This had that feel and featured the likes of W.C. Fields and a young George Burns. I personally think comedy was much funnier back in its more innocent phase.
There is something genuinely uplifting about this. I personally could do without the Sarah Silvermans of the world. Once Bruce broke things down and Pryor continued that, at this point it’s really just conformist to talk lewdly about sex, especially if you are not eloquent.
Common Bird Songs | I found this record in a bin at a record shop in Charleston, SC. I love nature and living in the city I don’t get to hear the sounds nearly enough. This is essentially a record of the 60 most popular bird songs in the USA.
I put it on while I’m cooking. Again the vinyl, with its crackle and wow and flutter, adds something intangible to this record.
The Shivers’ new LP More is in stores now.
