One – Harry Nilsson from Aerial Ballet
Brilliant song, brilliant
arrangement. Rhodes piano, double bass, cello, flute, harpsichord.
Eventually, the triple tracked lead vocals split apart in
counterpoint. From Nilsson's truly genius period. The Aimee Mann /
Jon Brion remake is brilliant in it's own way, adding vocal
counterpoint and interpolations from elsewhere in Aerial Ballet, but
this a true masterwork.
Street Hassle – Lou Reed
From the New York Times'
“Music of Lou Reed” page
First heard this song in
it's brilliant use in The Squid and the Whale. The string arrangement
is fantastic, two each of cello and bass. Lou reaches back to the
arty aspects of the Velvet Underground (not exclusively Mr. Cale's
domain), which he didn't revisit as much as the rock 'n' roll or the
pretty pastoral parts. Kudos to the Times for leaving in all the
dirty words (and this song has all the
dirty words).
