Gorecki op. 3, "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs."

Also hillbilly singers, especially old and unaccompanied. Excellent stuff on Folkways.

tmidgett wrote:

tim wrote:brian eno and robert fripp "evening star" and "no pussyfooting"

These are wonderful records.

Ever notice Robert and Brian blowing lines on the cover of No Pussyfooting?

steve wrote:Gorecki op. 3, "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs."

This is the only classical record I own. Warren Ellis scribbled it on a napkin and made me promise to buy it.

For beautiful music, I recommend Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's Master and Everyone and anything by the Everly Brothers, who posses the most gorgeous voices of all time.

Also, nothing lifts my spirits like the sound of women singing--preferably women with Southern accents. Here are some songs that spring to mind:

Roberta Flack: "Do What You Gotta Do"
Bobbie Gentry: "Lookin' Back" or anything off of Patchwork
Loretta Lynn: "When the Tingle Becomes a Chill"
Sammi Smith: "He's Everywhere" or "Birmingham Mistake"
Tammy Wynette: "'Til I Can Make It on My Own"

And "Que Sera Sera" by Sly & The Family Stone. Just put that on repeat for the rest of your life.

I'm sorry to hear that things aren't going so well, Gramsci.

Great recommendations from everyone. I will add the obvious: Low's "Murderer."

Also, track down The Dirty Three and Nick Cave performing "Shivers." I'll post it on eaforums2 if you like.

Labradford: Stable Reference and Labradford.

Eno: On Land

Eno/Budd: Plateau of Mirrors

Comsat Angels: Sleep No More

Bedhead: Transaction De Novo

Beach Boys: Pet Sounds

Codeine: White Birch and Barely Real.

Also, Bob Neuwirth's Havana Midnight - songs in the Kris Kristofferson vein of drinking and aging, recorded (beautifully) with Cuban arrangements and musicians.

And the Al Green standards. There was a New Yorker article a few years back by Alex Kotlowitz about two boys, both under 10, who were arrested and charged with murder (and later found innocent). One of the suspect's parents is described as driving to Milwaukee and back, as his seven-year-old son was in jail, listening to "Love and Happiness" over and over - which makes good sense in that situation.

Thanks everybody, keep 'em coming.

I spent the late after afternoon walking around Primrose Hill listening to Kind of Blue. It worked a treat.

jackson c frank - kimbie
bert jansch - i have no time
funkadelic - good thoughts bad thoughts

This isn't music, but I highly recommend listening to the Nick Cave lecture "The Flesh Made Word" that a few of you recommended a while back.

I dunno, you might think it's a bunch of nonsense but give it a try.