CD Review: Ben Sidran's "Don't Cry For No Hipster"

Ben Sidran

Singer/songwriter/pianist/producer Ben Sidran has just released a new CD, "Don't Cry For No Hipster". I have to admit that I am no hipster and never have been one.  But something about the songs on Ben Sidran's CD are attractive to me. Even though I have never considered myself "Hip", the songs are "Hip", the lyrics are "Hip" and even a non-hipster can tell that Ben Sidran is "Hip". Consider this quote Ben wrote for the liner notes:"One must approach the hip experience with a lifetime of preparation: the true hipster is a warrior of the first order, a master of the chiseled cool, an outlier of the interior world, a cynic perhaps but an optimistic one, and, at all times, such as when stepping into an empty elevator shaft or jumping out an open window, prepared to go up rather than down".  Now that's "Hip" writing!

Ben Sidran has produced a sparkling body of work including being the host of National Public Radio's landmark jazz series "Jazz Alive" which received a Peabody Award.  He has recorded 35 solo albums, including the Grammy nominated "Concert for Garcia Lorca" and produced recordings for such noted artists as Van Morrison, Diana Ross, Michael Franks, Richie Lee Jones, Mose Alison and Steve Miller. He has authored two books on the subject of Jazz, "Black Talk" and "Talking Jazz". 

Ben Sidran's lyrics on this CD could have easily been published as a series of poems. They tell simple stories of life in an understandable but hip way.  Ben Sidran is a hipster, and we all can benefit from his words and music.

The Best Love Songs Written In The Fifty Years From 1960 to 2010. A Special Valentine Playlist For Your Special Person

One of my long time followers of the Music Man Blog, Zelda, recently suggested that the great Beatles' tune "Michelle" should be on the "Greatest Love Songs of All Times" list.  As I was thinking about this suggestion, Zelda offered another suggestion that maybe we should have a new list developed for great songs written after 1960. Excellent suggestion especially since Valentine's Day is just a few days away. Here is a knockout playlist to share with that special person on Valentine's Day.

1.  "Michelle" 1965 by John Lennon & Paul McCartney

2.  "Your Song" 1970 by Elton John & Bernie Taupin

3.  "The Summer Knows" 1971 by Michel Legrand

4.  "The Shadow Of Your Smile" 1965 by Johnny Mandel & Paul Webster

5.   "Something" 1969 by George Harrison

6.   "Evergreen" 1976 by Barbara Streisand & Paul Williams

7.   "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" 1982 by Michel Legrand

8.   "Yesterday" 1965 by Paul; McCartney

9.   "Just The Way You Are" 1977 by Billy Joel

10. "Send In The Clowns" 1973 by Stephen Sondheim

11. "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life" 1969 by Michel Legrand

12. "God Only Knows" 1966 by Brian Wilson

13. "My Girl" 1964 by Smokey Robinson & Ronald White

14."I'll Be There" 1970 by Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis & Willie Hutch

15."Wonderful Tonight" 1977 by Eric Clapton

16. "Save The Last Dance For Me" 1960 Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman

17. "You Are the Sunshine Of My Life" 1973 by Stevie Wonder

18. "Have I Told You Lately" 1969 by Van Morrison

19. "Three Times A Lady" 1978 by Lionel Richie

20. "You Are So Beautiful" 1974 by Billy Preston & Bruce Fisher

I am sure you have lots of your own personal favorite love songs that are not on the list.  Let me know if you have any love songs that should be on this list!  Happy Valentine's Day to all!