jazz

Modern Songs Ep. 3: Rex Orange County, Modern Classic ‘Midnight City’ by M83

In this episode of Modern Songs, Rex Orange County has returned with a new album titled Who Cares? We discuss one of the songs off the release, “Open a Window,” featuring Tyler, the Creator. Plus, we crown our second Modern Classic in M83’s 2011 banger “Midnight City,” and we play a little trivia.

Modern Songs is a podcast devoted to the discovery of new music and the discussion of the greatest songs of the last 15 years.

1953: Our Nominees for the Hall of Songs

The journey to determine the greatest rock ‘n’ roll songs in history continues as we name our 1953 nominees for Hall of Songs.

1953 is when the rock ‘n’ roll narratives that we’ve come to know begin to take shape. It’s when street-corner doo-wop makes its impact in record stores, when Hank Williams sets a template for the future of country music, and when Bill Haley first gets the kids dancing to his unique version of rockabilly swing. To many, these are the things that make rock ‘n’ roll.

But 1953 is also the year rhythm and blues, or rock ‘n’ roll-style music targeted to Black listeners, takes a giant leap forward with the help of young artists like Ray Charles, Ruth Brown, and Clyde McPhatter. These talents, all part of the fast-growing stable at Ahmet Ertegun’s Atlantic Records, will help create what we know of as soul music, though we feel that all of it is rock ‘n’ roll, a reframing of narratives.

Another icon of rock ‘n’ roll mythology, the Corvette, is first produced in 1953. This all-American sports car will become a symbol of freedom and discovery, perfectly paralleling rock ‘n’ roll’s impact on society. Yup, 1953 is a year when narratives are born; the following nine nominees help tell the story of this critical moment in popular Western music.

Our 1953 nominees:

“Your Cheatin’ Heart” as performed by Hank Williams
- Written by Hank Williams, recorded September 1952, released January 1953
“Hound Dog” as performed by Big Mama Thornton
- Written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, recorded August 1952, released February 1953
“(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean” as performed by Ruth Brown
- Written by Johnny Wallace and Herbert J. Lance, recorded December 1952, released early 1953
“Crazy Man, Crazy” as performed by Bill Haley & His Comets
- Written by Bill Haley and Marshall Lytle, recorded April 1953, released April 1953
“Gee” as performed by The Crows
- Written by William Davis and Viola Watkins, recorded February 1953, released June 1953
“Mess Around” as performed by Ray Charles
- Written by Ahmet Ertegun, recorded May 1953, released June 1953
“Shake a Hand” as performed by Faye Adams
- Written by Joe Morris, recorded early 1953, released mid 1953
“Money Honey” as performed by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters
- Written by Jesse Stone, recorded August 1953, released September 1953
“The Things That I Used to Do” as performed by Guitar Slim
- Written by Eddie Jones (Guitar Slim), recorded October 1953, released late 1953

Check out the full episode to learn more about these songs and why they’re so great, and come back on March 21, 2021, when we discuss our nominees from 1954.

1952: Our Nominees for the Hall of Songs

1952! The second stop on our voyage to discover and enshrine the truly elite rock ‘n’ roll songs: The Hall of Songs.

Both politically and culturally, 1952 was a year of change and unrest. Harry Truman decided not to seek a second term and Dwight Eisenhower was elected President. In the United Kingdom, King George VI died and Queen Elizabeth succeeded to the Throne. We’re starting to see a tug-of-war develop as the Greatest Generation makes way (or not) to the Baby Boomer Generation.

Musically, the U.S. charts are still a mess and trying to keep up with the times while the UK charts are born. Greater access to radio means more music and more varied music.

There’s still a transition underway between the “old” sounds of jazz and pop standards and the more raucous rock ‘n’ roll sound that is evident in our six Hall of Songs nominees for 1952. There’s some blues, some jazz, some country and a lot of the “new” rock sound.

1952 Nominee Playlist

Our 1952 nominees:

“Night Train” as performed by Jimmy Forrest
- Written by Oscar Washington, Lewis P. Simpkins and Jimmy Forrest, recorded November 1951, released March 1952
“Rock and Roll Blues” as performed by Anita O’Day
- Written by Anita O’Day, recorded 1950(?), released March 1952
“Have Mercy Baby” as performed by Billy Ward and His Dominoes
- Written by Billy Ward and Rose Marks, recorded January 1952, released April 1952
“Lawdy Miss Clawdy” as performed by Lloyd Price
- Written by Lloyd Price, recorded March 1952, released April 1952
“It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” as performed by Kitty Wells
- Written by J. D. “Jay” Miller, recorded May 1952, released June 1952
“Mean Old World” as performed by Little Walter
- Adapted by Little Walter, Originally written by T-Bone Walker and Marl Young, recorded October 1952, released December 1952

Check out the full episode to learn more about these songs and why they’re so great, and come back on March 7, 2021, when we discuss our nominees from 1953.

Bonus! Anita O’Day from Newport: