playlist #88 (11/9/2009)-nyquil for the soul

World of Music

Pgm #88 – Down with the flu blues – back by popular demand, this is the second annual flu season special. Songs of commiseration, consolation, and outright INDIGNANT OUTRAGE! If this don’t make you feel better, baby – you dead!

Listen Mondays 3-5pm EDT  – at 105.9FM in Burlington, VT or online at The Radiator

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Nas with Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry: Wake Up (It’s Africa Calling) / Open Remix/  http://www.intrahealth.org/open/ (download) – (USA / SENEGAL)

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Squirrel Nut Zippers: La Grippe (the Flu) / The Inevitable Squirrel Nut Zippers / Mammoth Records 105 – (USA) * At Higher Ground tomorrow night: http://www.highergroundmusic.com/calendar/show/3345/ *

Big Joe Tex: Pneumonia / Hip To The Jive 2 / Sonic Scenery 708021 – (USA)

Shasha Marley: Evil Spirits Walk Away / Lost & Found / http://www.shashamarley.com 1229 – (GHANA)

Françoise Hardy: Comment te dire adieu? (It Hurts To Say Goodbye) / Divine Divas / Rounder 5071 – (FRANCE)

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Rupa & The April Fishes: Ç’est Pas d’l’amour/ extraordinary rendition / Cumbancha 7 – (SAN FRANCISCO) * At Parima tonight, 8pm: http://www.parimathai.com *

Will Patton Ensemble: Valse 29 / 6th Street Runaround / King’s Hill Music 2008 – (MADE IN VERMONT)

Albert Collins & The Icebreakers: Dyin’ Flu / Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection / Alligator Records    112 – (USA)

Johnny Long: Healin’ Touch / Lost & Found / Delta Groove 106 – (ST. LOUIS, MO)

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The Lost Fingers: Billy Jean / Lost In The ’80s / Sony 88697 – (QUÉBEC) *NEW*

Maria Bethânia: Feita na Bahia / Encanteria / Quitanda 18 – (BRAZIL) *NEW*

Los Silvertones: Tamborito Swing / Panama!2 / Soundway 13 – (PANAMA)

The Very Best: Chalo (World) / Warm Heart of Africa / Green Owl Records 8.98864 – (MALAWI / FRANCE / ENGLAND) *NEW*

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Rocky Fuller: Funeral Hearse At My Door / Chess Blues / Chess Records 9340 – (USA)

Neville Brothers: Will The Circle Be Unbroken / Yellow Moon / A&M Records 5240 – (N’AWLINS)

Allen Toussaint: St. James Infirmary / The Bright Mississippi / Nonesuch 480380 – (N’AWLINS) *NEW*

Tom Waits: Cold, Cold Ground / Franks Wild Years / Island 422-842 – (USA)

Robert Cray: I Shiver / Blues Guitar Greats / Universal 314 556 719 – (USA)

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Alex Cuba: Amor Infinito (Infinite Love) / Les Nuits d’Afrique Compilation 2007 / Les Nuits d’Afrique 2099 – (CUBA)

Omara Portuondo: Gracias / Gracias / World Village 479021 – (CUBA) * NEW – Latin Grammy winner, Best Contemporary Tropical Album *

Rupa & The April Fishes: La Linea (The Border) / Este Mundo / Cumbancha 15 – (SAN FRANCISCO) *NEW – at Parima tonight, 8pm: http://www.parimathai.com *

Aswad: Don’t Turn Around / Distant Thunder / Mango 9810 – (JAMAICA)

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Mathieu Mathieu: Cette Ville / Québec / Putumayo 279 – (QUÉBEC)

Hot Club of Detroit: Belleville / Hot Club of Detroit / Mack Avenue Records 1030 – (DETROIT)

Paolo Conte: Happy Feet / The Best of Paolo Conte / Nonesuch 79512 / (ITALY)

Haugaard & Høirup: Raaby Hopsa (Traditional Danish stick dance) / Lys (Light) / GOØ 501 – (DENMARK)

Kermit Ruffins: Kermit’s Second Line / Kermit Ruffins / Putumayo 233 – (N’AWLINS)

Shemekia Copeland: Turn The Heat Up / Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection / Alligator Records    112 – (USA)

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band: Me Like It Like That & Kidd Jordon’s Second Line / The New Orleans Album / Columbia    45414 – (N’AWLINS)

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este mundo (this world)

Immigration, health care access, bad airline experiences…any one of these could be an NPR story (these same issues have made for many NPR stories, come to think of it) but these topics are also a broad sampling of the issues addressed in the music of Rupa and the April Fishes.

What else would you expect from a band whose front woman spends the non-touring half of the year as a doctor at San Francisco General? True story. And what a source of inspiration it proves to be.

The music’s diversity goes beyond its topicality. The songs are sung in French,  English, and Spanish, and the resulting mix is whimsical, ‘gypsy’, cabaret, poignant, and 100% original.

The last time Rupa and the April Fishes visited Burlington it was shortly after the release of extraordinary rendition, their debut release on the Charlotte, VT-based Cumbancha Records.

And so it is this time. Their second recording (Este Mundo) is less than two weeks old and  tonight you can seem them in a special one-night only show at Parima Thai Restaurant. It’s expected to be standing room only. You’ll find once they start playing you wouldn’t have it any other way.