Surprises from Last Weekend

I don't usually talk about the surprise singles in Spotify the previous weekend, especially not so soon as Monday, but these were quite pleasant to get and I felt I needed to share them.

First, from the previously announced Last of the Street Survivors: Lyve album by Lynyrd Skynyrd-Free Bird has an extra surprise.  For the last twenty years, the band has played "Travelin' Man" with footage of deceased lead singer Ronnie Van Zant singing while current lead singer, his brother Johnny Van Zant, sings on stage.  However, it seems on this tour, knowing it was the farewell tour, they put up footage and audio of Ronnie singing the last verse of "Free Bird," thus introing the solo on the band's last tour.  It's a beautiful way to bring things full circle and reminds me of the 1987 live album, the first post-plane crash album, where Johnny declared, "There's only one man who can sing this song on stage, that's Ronnie Van Zant."

Second, Hell's Belles lead guitarist Adrian Connor released a cover of Ozzy Osbourne's "Bark at the Moon."  Since it came out at 9:00 pm on Halloween my time, it was well-timed.  It's a nice cover and she delivers the guitar and vocals well.  I look forward to hearing this throughout my life alongside the original version.

Third, a collaboration I wouldn't have thought of in a million years.  If you check Amazon.com's pre-orders like I do, you'd know Sci-Fi/Horror Movie star Jeff Goldblum has released some albums with an orchestra.  From the track and album cover, I think he plays piano on them rather than sing.  Last Friday, he released his second album and one of the tracks was sung by Miley Cyrus.  If you can't believe it, I had a hard time, too, but it's on my phone and I can assure you, it exists.  It's a 1950s or earlier Jazz-style piece, like Miley should be dressed as Miss White from the Clue Movie while performing it or something.  It may be a cover from that time, the piece's name is "The Thrill Is Gone/Django."  It also is not the BB King piece "The Thrill is Gone," that has a different melody.  Miley often said 10 years ago she liked watching Marilyn Monroe films and this is probably the closest she's gotten to imitating Ms. Monroe.  It's a nice jazz piece and a welcome addition to my music collection.