Combustible Edison: Vertigogo (1995)

Space-age pop, batchelor pad music,tiki decor and retro lounge themes are essential parts of the "Cocktail Nation" lifestyle (include me in this genre). Only the hippest music is desired as you shake one up behind your tiki bar in a fez and leopard jacket. Combustible Edison's "Vertigogo" is heralded as an anthem to this lifestyle. The band, out of Provedince, Rhode Island. Found this bit of a nonsense song selected as the lead soundtrack to the movie "Four Rooms." It was considered for an Academy Award nomination, but the committee was unable to understand the Combustible Edison's lyrics sung by the remarkable Liz Cox (Miss Lily Banquette), and eventually passed. You will hear this song in heavy rotation on any internet atomic retro lounge/exotica music show. My favorites are Darrell Brogdon's Retro Cocktail Lounge and David Luckin's Electro Lounge out of Jacksonville, Florida.

Ron Sexsmith: "Get In Line" (2011)

Ron Sexsmith was quoted as saying that it is time more people wrote songs that "actually have a melody." Growing up in Canada, he worked playing covers in bars and found less recptivity to his original work. He has gone on to record 12 albums of material and is acclaimed by Elton John,Dylan, Elvis Costello and many more rock legends. His latest album, "Long Player,Late Bloomer" contains "Get In Line", a tune any of us can identify with. It is indeed melodious and got a lot of play on sattelite radio. He is still touring based on the success of this release.

Heavy clouds all hanging around
And the sun refuses to shine
If you're bent on bringing me back down
Better get in line

Squeeze: "Up the Junction" (1979)

"Up the Junction" was the third single released from Squeeze's second album "Cool for Cats". The tells the story of two people in a working class section of England. The way the lyrics are laid out is unique and uses simple language to convey the narrative of the man who's life slowly becomes a shambles. It was a big hit in the U.K. and many bands have covered the tune since its release. The bands latest album was realeased in 2010 and they are currently touring Europe. I'm a big fan of Glen Tilbrook, who sings lead on this song.

Kenny White "She's Coming on Saturday" (2010)

Kenny White is a New York based song writer and producer. He has worked with a wide array of famous musicians including Marc Cohn, Peter Wolf and Shawn Colvin. In 2010 he released his sixth album called "Comfort In the Static". The fifth cut is "She's Coming on Saturday" a gem of a song that captures the feel of a dysfunctional relationship brilliantly. 

I found this great video of Kenny White performing on the back deck of someone's house!

"Shes coming on Saturday...she's not coming on Saturday
she's coming tomorrow...she's not coming tomorrow
she might come on Friday...she'll see how she feels
she's coming on Saturday"