Maine multi-instrumentalist Aly Spaltro performs under the name Lady Lamb. The now Brooklyn-based artist released her latest album, “After,” to wide acclaim. Spaltro, who’s currently on tour, shared her favorite soundtrack for a night with her BFF.
Aly Spaltro: Hi, this Aly Spaltro of the band Lady Lamb. And I was inspired for my dinner party to be a sort of intimate, casual dinner party with my best friend, Shervin. He and I, we tend to like to eat, and to make the premise of our dinners music.
Paul and Linda McCartney, “Eat at Home”
So, the first track that I would play for my dinner party would be “Eat at Home” by Paul and Linda McCartney. This is a pretty literal choice of course, but I think this is a fun song that would play while my best friend is walking through the door. I’m holding my burrito and singing [the song] and shoulder-shrugging to it, you know? Not really eating, but just kind of enjoying the song.
This is a really intimate song — the fact thatPaul and Linda were together when they made this. This album, it’s intimate but it’s really light-hearted. And I love Linda’s voice.
And I think Shervin would really like the song.
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, “Texas Flood”
The second song would be “Texas Flood” by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, from the 1983 album “Texas Flood.”
I was basically spoon-fed Stevie Ray Vaughan from the time I was born by my dad. And I was defiant about [not liking Stevie Ray] for a while, just based on trying to be rebellious. But as I grew up, I began to become obsessed with him. He’s, in my opinion, one of the best blues guitarists ever.
This song was originally written by a guy named Larry Davis in 1958 — not to be confused with Larry David! But it was a blues standard and Stevie kind of made it this guitar solo-heavy song. Somewhere in the middle the song – around like three and a half minutes – he starts just bending strings, two or three strings at a time, and it’s just the kind of music that while you’re listening to it, you’re kind of wincing with the music in a way? Or you’re kind of scrunching your face and just moving with it.
It’s just that kind of “Unh! Unh!” you know? It hurts so good.
Sheryl Crow, “If It Makes You Happy”
So my third dinner party track will be going in a very different direction. This is Sheryl Crow’s If “It Makes You Happy.”
My best friend Shervin… he is, I guess basically in an honorary girlfriend. You know, we spend a lot of time together singing songs very loudly. We are both interested in fist-pumping, anthemic songs, and I would surprise him by putting this song on third and he would be very excited.
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a negative response by putting this song on. Everyone just gets pumped to hear it. How can you not sing along to this? It’s so much fun. It’s like, in order to sing along with the song you have to actually physically open up your chest to hit these notes — and it’s almost like you’re opening up your heart. I know it sounds so silly, but the physical act of singing this chorus just makes you happy!
Lady Lamb, “Billions of Eyes”
The song of mine that I would play at my dinner party would be the song “Billions of Eyes.” I wouldn’t feel weird putting this on for my friend at a party, because he’s used to it — he’s used to me asking for his opinion.
The song is about how much of a homebody I am, and how when I’m home I yearn to be out on the road, and when I’m on the road I miss home a lot. So this song is really about how to have both at the same time — and how to appreciate the one that you’re presently experiencing.
