Delicate Steve’s “Great Music: Pass It On” Playlist

Delicate Steve Sings, guitarist Steve Marion’s new record of instrumental covers and original compositions, is out this Friday via ANTI-.
Playlist

Delicate Steve’s “Great Music: Pass It On” Playlist

Delicate Steve Sings, guitarist Steve Marion’s new record of instrumental covers and original compositions, is out this Friday via ANTI-.

Words: Mike LeSuer

Photo: Sheva Kavai

August 14, 2024

The album title is understandably confusing, but on his new LP Delicate Steve Sings, Delicate Steve does not, in fact, sing. Well, not with his voice, at least. The project’s mastermind Steve Marion has been shading artfully rendered instrumental rock with psychedelic guitar flourishes as the band’s leader for over a decade now, while additionally shaping his tones to fit the sounds of artists ranging from Miley Cyrus to Cherry Glazerr along the way. Yet instead of that work culminating in some sort of most-personal-album-to-date statement in the form of soul-searching lyricism, one could make the argument that Marion is making that statement by earnestly channeling all his biggest musical heroes through the bluesy and soulful riffs he furnishes his sauntering sixth album with.

Given the voices he’s channeling on the record, it’s no surprise to see the list of song titles he’s eager to share with us with the playlist he built leading up to Delicate Steve Sings’s release this Friday. Rather than a more conventional “influences” playlist, Steve dubbed this his “Great Music: Pass It On” playlist as it compiles original recordings and covers (as is the case of his own album, inspired as it is by Willie Nelson’s Stardust LP) from some of his favorite musicians. “Hearing great artists share great music, seeing great music getting passed around, it keeps great music alive and makes more great music in the process,” he explains.

Delicate Steve Sings lands August 16 via ANTI- Records—pre-order that here, and see what he cooked up for his playlist below.

Fats Domino, “Trouble In Mind”
Fats Domino is exceptional. Completely effortless, just spilling out music all over the place. With Dave Bartholomew at the helm and Cosimo Matassa committing it to tape and immortalizing it on a Thursday afternoon in March. This is 1961 in New Orleans. Recording a song from the 1920s. You are now listening to a 50-year-old recording of a 100-year-old song.

Bill Withers, “Lean on Me”
This song is elemental. It’s simple; it’s comforting. It is filled with emotion. It couldn’t be any better. Written by a hard-working simple man with a big heart who was skeptical of the music industry.

Frank Sinatra, “Yesterday”
Certain music has a cinematic quality. And then there is Frank Sinatra. This recording transcends music: it feels as though you’re watching a movie as you listen. A man decades into his musical journey. This rendition is poignant for many reasons.

Neville Brothers, “A Change Is Gonna Come”
Aaron Neville is a natural wonder. His voice is like the Grand Canyon: you might not understand what all the fuss is about, but if you can really see it, you’ll find it’s one of the most expressive and dynamic places on Earth.

Al Green, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”
Hank Williams is a foundational artist. Elvis calls this song “the saddest song I’ve ever heard.” Al Green and band soothes. 

Ritchie Valens, “Rock Lil Darlin’” (Demo)
Listening to this, it’s a universe explosion. You hear it all, you hear where it all came from. What was brewing inside the mind of a 16-year-old from Los Angeles in 1958. 

Chet Baker & Wolfgang Lackerschmid, “Blue Bossa”
Cool and dark and comforting. Enveloped in cool air. Chet Baker at the end of his third decade into music.

Willie Nelson, “Stardust”
Simply cosmic.

Ray Charles, “Look What They’ve Done to My Song, Mama”
Ray Charles is music with a capital M. How does he make it sound so simple, effortless, and soulful? And engaging?

Fats Domino, “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)”
A foundational song and piece of music. Hearing great artists share great music, seeing great music getting passed around, it keeps great music alive and makes more great music in the process.