heart to heart
Around this time of year, our corner of the eMusic office tends to see a spike in foot traffic. Everyone says the same thing: they were just “in the area” and wanted to “swing by” to ask about something, but that imaginary “favor” always gives way to the same request: “I’m looking for some romantic music with which to woo my significant other/significant hopeful on Valentine’s Day — got any suggestions?” We can’t really help it — our reputation as champion wooers apparently precedes us. And Lord knows there are certainly worse things to be known for.
This year, we decided to head off those requests at the pass by putting together a page featuring albums for every kind of relationship, from on again/off again (”He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not”) to just permanently off (”He’s Just Not That Into You”).
In constructing the page, we learned a lot about ourselves. For one, we all apparently think indie rock and chocolate hearts go hand-in-hand. Todd finds Arab on Radar romantic. And some of us are a little more familiar with “music for stalking” than others.
Despite the mammoth portions of passion that went into constructing this feature, it’s possible we missed a few gems. So we’d love to hear from you: Which records do you use when you’re trying to get a smile out of that special someone? Which books do you consider the blueprint for true love?
Not on eMusic in the U.S., but Richard Hawley’s Coles Corner is a fantastic, darkly romantic album. One of the best discs of the decade, to my ears.
Bad Love:
Get A Little Goner, Bill Kirchen .. Hey, where did “Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods” go???
You Were Never Mine, Janiva Magness
http://www.emusic.com/album/Janiva-Magness-Do-I-Move-You-MP3-Download/10944518.html
When Rita Leaves, Delbert McClinton
http://www.emusic.com/album/Delbert-McClinton-Nothing-Personal-MP3-Download/10878185.html
DamnThatGoddamnBastard Love:
Salt on my Wounds, Bettye Lavette
http://www.emusic.com/album/Bettye-Lavette-A-Woman-Like-Me-MP3-Download/10915605.html
Nobody Knows the Way I feel This Morning, Dinah Washington:
http://www.emusic.com/album/Dinah-Washington-Blue-Dinah-MP3-Download/10736620.html
Homicidal Love:
Buenos Noches from a Lonely Room
http://www.emusic.com/album/Dwight-Yoakam-Austin-City-Limits-Live-From-Austin-TX-Dwight-Y-MP3-Download/10876140.html
Mopey melodramatic alcohol fuelled 3am love:
Bette Davis, “Miss Bette Davis”
http://www.emusic.com/album/Bette-Davis-Miss-Bette-Davis-MP3-Download/10812778.html
Richard Hawley Coles Corner is flat-out amazing — one of my favorite records of that year.
I’ve always shed a tear or two for Nina Simone’s ‘The Other Woman.’ Although I swear up and down my boyfriend isn’t married.
Another fan of Richard Hawley here too.
My secret weapon is Lovage’s Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By. The word on the street is that It’s not just a cheeky album title but also a pretty solid suggestion. Erm. Not that I’d know by personal experience.
C’mon, Joe. Everyone knows the standard bearer for brilliant romantic schmaltz is Rachmaninov’s Symphony 2 - esp. that wrenching 1st movement.