A Fantastic February, or February Couldn't Have Come Quicker

It's commonly known amongst my actor friends, at least my friends at the playhouse, that February is commonly regarded as the worst month - more bickering, arguing, and downright poor decision-making happened in February '05 and '06 than in any other month, any stretch of months in my entire life. Well, you can imagine my surprise when I looked at my calendar today to discover that the first half of this February is shaping up to be close to one of the best months I've had in a while. Things really are turning around for me, and I anticipate more of the same. Push any of your leftover happy thoughts my way whilst enjoying this month's compilation.

1) Marc Cohn - Silver Thunderbird
If Walgreens is good for something, it's good for reminding me of what a mastery Marc Cohn made of his self-titled debut, Marc Cohn.

2) Kelly Joe Phelps - Wandering Away
3) Jefferson Starship - Count on Me
4) Eddy Arnold - I Wanna Play House with You
5) Joe Cocker - When the Night Comes
6) Junior Wells & Buddy Guy - Snatch It Back and Hold It
7) Cassandra Wilson - Love is Blindness
8) Crowded House - Something So Strong
I got caught singing this song during a rather tense moment at my last job. Hmm....

9) Wilco - Someone Else's Song
10) Matt the Electrician - Hammer on the Ladder
11) Blonde Redhead - In Particular
12) Thin Lizzy - Rosalie
Heard this first on VH1 Classic. Their BBC Jewels are some of the coolest recordings.

13) B.W. Stevenson - My Maria
Brooks & Dunn had a huge country hit with this years after Mr. Stevenson's original release, but I definitely prefer this one, less boot scoot, more boogie.

14) Kelley Stoltz - Memory Collector
15) Andrew Bird - Heretics
16) The Marmalades - Reflections of My Life
I don't recall where or how I came upon this band, but how I hadn't heard of them sooner blows my mind. They're the kind of band I would've been in had I been in a band in the 60s and 70s.

17) Van Morrison - Come Here My Love
Of the few albums I refer to as favorites, three were helmed by Monsieur Van the Man: Astral Weeks, Moondance, and Tupelo Honey. Until recently, I hadn't completed my delving into his most prolific period. The two albums that round out this impressive body of work, His Band and The Street Choir and Veedon Fleece, are as equally exquisite albeit slightly more experimental as his other - dare I say - masterpieces. Check them out if given the time.

18) Elton John - Sad Songs (Say So Much)
19) Bruce Hornsby - That's Just the Way It Is
20) Bruce Hornsby & Chaka Khan - Love Me Still (Instrumental)
I found completely by happenstance that I'd downloaded an instrumental version of one of the best love songs ever composed, and then much to my wondering eyes, I saw that Hornsby had written and performed the track. Out loud, I said, "Well, no wonder." Yeah, I'm dramatic.

** Please note, I'll have a zip of this up after Valentine's Day. Also, please note, I will add rich text and probably change the order as this has been posted in haste prior to giving the mix a good, solid listen. Oh, and while I'm thinking of it, Happy Valentine's Day.