Remedy du Jour -- February 9, 2013

The startling thing about singer/songwriter Chris Isaak is this—if you watch him performing live or in interviews, he comes across as this nice "aw shucks" kind of guy. But if you listen to his music, there's a deep, deep dark side to Isaak. I've been listening to Isaak since the mid-80s, and his music was there for me in some of my worst moments. I wouldn't say listening to Isaak was comforting, exactly, but his music did resonate at some low points. Chris obviously owes a large debt to guys like Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, but he's not simply a rehash of those guys; he extended what they did in interesting ways.

Here's the playlist

• Wild At Heart/Wicked Game — this scene from David Lynch's movie is so great, with Wicked Game (instrumental) playing in the background, that I just had to include it—well, we're really out in the middle of it now, ain't we?
• Blue Hotel — the 3rd tune from his second album Chris Isaak (1986)
• Lie To Me — the 4th tune from that same album, live on MTV Unplugged
• Wrong To Love You — live again on MTV, from Heart Shaped World (1989)
• Wicked Game — full version with vocals, from the 1989 album

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[JohnWDB]

Interesting, the instrumental from Wild at Heart is tuned up a bit from the Wicked Game video. I think the latter is A440. Maybe the instrumental is A448. Anybody professional ears out there that can help?

I've always loved Wicked Game. Haunting, intoxicating. I have always thought it was inspired by Elvis' cover of Blue Moon. Obviously a fan, Isaak covered it too.