Last Week in Free MP3s 7-23

“Star Spangled Banner” – Ted Nugent

The only guitar centered rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” that’s worth owning is the Jimi Hendrix version. Get that one instead.

“Shape Up!” – Club 8

Musically “Shape Up!” doesn’t know what song it wants to be. The Caribbean, country, bluesy influences just don’t gel creating a musical mish-mash of rhythms that are difficult to follow.

“Saturday Sun” – Crowded House

“Saturday Sun” is a song that you would think would be on their greatest hits album, but no. Written by Neil Finn for Crowded House’s album “Intriguer” released this year, this track is sure to become a solid staple in your mp3 player. It has a rock beat that no matter what you’re doing will feel familiar. That’s what good songs do – make you feel as if they’ve always been a part of your life.

“Stand Up and Shout” – Dio

From the “Holy Diver” live album, heavy metal group Dio has a rock out track that will make you “Stand Up and Shout.” The spoken word in the beginning is the perfect set up to rock out to as it seamlessly is followed by an amazing guitar lick.

“The Mermaid Parade” – Phosphorescent

Storytelling to music is not something that can be done well by just anyone. When you think of tracks like that the only names that seem to come to mind are James Taylor, Stevie Nicks and Carole King. “The Mermaid Parade” by Phosphorescent belongs in this category as a depressing track that you would turn off if it were written by anyone else becomes a powerful anthem for letting go. In their capable hands they have created a song that makes you press replay to get every bit of its essence into your consciousness as you can.

“Do What You Gotta Do” – Jimmy Webb

You have to love a song that does exactly what it says. Jimmy Webb has written some of the most iconic songs in music history. Whether you’re crooning “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” or humming along to“MacArthur Park” Webb has been there. His lyrics in “Do What You Gotta Do” could be sung by Reba McIntire or Donna Summer, but there’s something about the honesty in Webb’s voice that makes it classic. It’s another track about letting someone go to find their own passion while the protagonist stays behind and waits. But it’s not a depressing song and Webb’s straight-forward singing voice makes this matter-of-fact track something worth owning. You’ll feel as if you’re stealing this one.