Happy Music Monday! Today we celebrate all those songs that we're amazed ever existed! Who knew so many different bands recorded together in secret? Here's a great example of what we mean right now:
Alice Cooper and Body Count - Law & Order
Ice T's rock band still tours even today, mixing street smarts with metal strings. The horror-rock pioneer was a perfect fit for their unusual style. I personally missed a chance to see this when I was in college, and I kinda regret it now.
Four more to come! And then a few words at the end, of course. Maybe you've already guessed what they'll be.
Jimi Hendrix and Duke Ellington - Take The "A" Train
Most people forget how long Duke Ellington's career lasted. And although he focused mostly on jazz, he did take a brief waltz into fusion. These experiments with Hendrix proved that both men had mastery of all genres. And man, that solo.
Roger Waters feat. Tiny Tim - Goodbye Blue Sky
The Wall is an epic rock opera of what it means to feel like you're collapsing in the greatest moments of your life. It's a classic! So leave it to Roger Waters to poke fun at his own overblown pompousity by bringing on a man known for, well, being weird. I just wish they'd let Tim do the Comfortably Numb solo too.
Slayer - Angel Of Death '92 (feat. Enya)
Slayer have never compromised. They've always done what they wanted. And that means nobody could blame them for wanting to do a song with lark-like Celtic songbird Enya. Sure, some people didn't actually ENJOY this update of the thrash classic, but true fans got it. And Enya's base certainly had their eyes opened to what real rock 'n roll was all about!
KISS and The Carpenters - Theme From "The Elder"
Nobody, not even KISS fans, bother with "The Elder." Which is a shame, because hidden in the middle of that album is a really unusual Carpenters tune! Richard and Karen were fans and decided to do some session work to help the band as they toured. They're not credited, and they weren't in the studio at the same time, so maybe it doesn't REALLY count for the purists. But in my mind? This is a collaboration for sure.
If you clicked on any links above, you've probably noticed the ACTUAL theme of this week's Music Monday. Today in 1987, according to ThisDayInMusic.com Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up first reached Number One in the UK. Congrats, Rick Astley! Thanks for giving us so much joy. Also let us just remind you: some images come from the corresponding Wikipedia page and are here under fair use. See you next week.