Playlist: Fall Sounds for Dads
By Harry Bates
With the leaves starting to change and those crisp, autumn nights finally arriving: Boston is pushing full-throttle towards everyone’s favorite season. There’s not a sound in the world that better pairs with the cool nights ahead than folk, rock, and groove, or, as my friends at Milk Crate have so kindly dubbed: “dad music.” So, I say, let’s embrace the “dad music” for what it is — absolutely sensational. This playlist is sure to keep you warm and grooving with whatever you get up to in the months ahead. Enjoy!
Grateful Dead: Ripple - Live at Fillmore East, New York City (1971)
“Ripple” pulls on the heart and soul of its listener, and anyone who’s listened or seen this live can back me up on this one. This is the perfect early-morning jam to sing along with the crowd that lost track of time and ended up staying much later than they expected. Jerry Garcia’s voice and guitar hit right at the heart, and it’s why so many people — including myself — can’t get this wholesome track out of their heads. It’s made for those windy days stuck inside, or those freezing T rides back to campus.
The Mamas & The Papas: Got A Feelin’
I walked around the Common last week with this blasting in my headphones, and I felt like I was in a completely different world. It’s truly transitory, especially with the vocals of Cass Elliot lifting the ‘60s pop group to resemble a holy choir. It has a calming tempo, dreamy vocals, and instruments that are designed to lift the listener from their daily perspective. Watching the leaves dance through the air with this tune is a complete joy.
The Mamas & The Papas: Look Through My Window
This Mamas & The Papas track hits right in the heart. “Look Through My Window” draws the listener in with its beautiful merge of vocals and instruments. Just prepare yourself for that insanely light, slow-fade out. It’s like arriving back to a quiet Boylston Station after a jam-packed, bumpy T ride from Government Center — completely serene.
Paul Simon: 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
I think this song is best enjoyed when there are leaves on the ground and gusts shifting the air. It’s got this slow rhythm that transitions into a bumping beat, which perfect to play on that one, random warm day of autumn.
Janis Joplin: Bye, Bye Baby - Live at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco (1968)
There’s just nothing like Janis. Her voice is electrifying, and it awakens part of the soul that’s stayed dormant since last listening to her distinct raspy mix of blues and rock. This is one of those tracks that could warm me up even in the hardest of nor’easters — those are only right around the corner. There’s not much other to say here than it’s just Janis being Janis, and we all absolutely love her!
Merl Saunders & Friends: After Midnight
The groove of this song is insane. Its “band sesh” sound is spectacular, especially since that band sound is coming from some of the most talented players of all time. Merl Saunders’ organ and Jerry Garcia's guitar collide to create this sound that flows like nothing I’ve ever heard before. I haven’t been able to stop playing this tune all week; it’s unreal.
Dead & Company: Althea - Live at TD Garden, Boston, MA (2017)
TD Garden wasn’t prepared for this Dead & Company rendition of the Grateful Dead’s “Althea” in Nov. of 2017. Bob Weir and John Meyer bring new energy to the song, while still paying homage to the original sound we all love. It’s comfortable, and it’s certainly a song that’s always stuck in my head!
Grateful Dead: Eyes of the World - Live at P.N.E. Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C. (1974)
There are few sounds as welcoming as the beginning to “Eyes of the World.” There’s just something about that mix of symbol, bass drum, guitar, and Jerry Garcia’s voice that puts a smile on anyone’s face. It’s like seeing the sun after a few days of overcast skies. This friendly introduction leads to a chorus that feels so freeing and joyful. We always need a song like this to keep our spirits higher, connect us with one-another, and broaden our perspectives of the world around us.
Dead & Company: Terrapin Station - Live at Madison Square Garden, NY (2019)
I can’t think of a better way to conclude this playlist. This Grateful Dead song, covered by Dead & Company at Madison Square Garden in 2019, speaks to the heart in ways which can’t really be explained. I don’t think I’ve ever met a single soul that has anything bad to say about “Terrapin Station,” as it carries an almost universal language of love and coexistence. Hands down, it’s one of, if not the most, beautiful sounds I've ever heard. It should be noted that nobody can ever replicate the vocalistic stylings of Jerry Garcia, but John Mayer and Bob Weir’s vocals carry a similar impact on the listener. “Terrapin” has never failed to give me goosebumps, and it’s always a privilege to hear. This is a song that will open one’s mind up to a world that is full of possibilities. This tune is sure to keep you optimistic and clear-headed as the cooler, darker winter months arrive.