Mod of the Day

Vulfpeck | Outro

Another suggestion from R&B/funk fan Aaron Martin: From Jambands.com‘s review of the keyboard-driven funk quartet, Vulfpeck: the Ann Arbor, Michigan group features “a rhythm section in the vein of The Meters…without much in the way of press or blog buzz, the band has built a growing cult thanks to hook-driven, toe-tapping, laid back jams recorded with an analog sheen and performed by a band that is, as one commenter put it, ‘so deep in the pocket, they just found your grandfather’s watch.'”

Hard to say if the many modulations on 2014’s “Outro” were created by the musicians, recording engineers, or a combination, but we can’t argue with the result. One thing’s for sure: this is the best-sounding spinet piano in recent history.

Dottie West | A Lesson in Leavin’

“A Lesson in Leavin'” was originally recorded by Dottie West in 1980, and later covered by Jo Dee Messina in 1999. Both versions were in the top of 5 of the Billboard Country Chart. Key change at 1:59.

Trial Before Pilate (from “Jesus Christ Superstar”)

From seasoned mod collector JB comes “Trial Before Pilate” from Jesus Christ Superstar. The show started as a rock opera concept album (1970), then debuted on Broadway in 1971.

“The UK’s Andrew Lloyd Webber has always been a sucker for hyperbole, but this has got to be the MotD version of ‘more cowbell’: I count at least two dozen mods, including at least 10 gratuitous half-steps in the ‘Crucify Him’ chorus. The only time the song stays in the same key for more than two bars is when Pilate is counting out 40 lashes.”

James Taylor | A Little More Time With You

James Taylor‘s “Little More Time With You” was included on his 1997 album Hourglass, and was written during Taylor’s recovery from drug addiction. The track helped propel the album to win the 1997 Grammy for Best Album, and features Stevie Wonder on harmonica. Key change at 2:55.

Mike Stern | Slow Change

Guitarist Mike Stern is described by AllMusic as “one of the finest electric guitarists of his generation, well-versed in the jazz tradition fusion, hard rock, and blues. His style combines phrasing normally attributed to saxophonists, innovative chord voicings pioneered by Jim Hall, and the sonic approach of a rock musician and the soulful, emotive expression of a bluesman.”

On 2001’s “Slow Change,” the A section (0:48) is in E minor; the B section jumps to G minor (1:41); we’re back to the A section at 2:16. The two sections continue to alternate throughout.

The Goodmans | Looking For a City

Our follower Kent P. has submitted this classic Southern Gospel tune by the family group The Happy Goodmans, “Looking for a City” (written in 1943). In 1968, the group won the first Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance. They produced 15 #1 singles and entered into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 1998.

“Starting off in B flat, each performer “one-ups” the other in a higher key. This legendary performance goes tit for tat a number of times…well, you’ll just have to watch and see who makes it higher. Or does Vestal Goodman‘s hairdo win that prize?”

Zedd + Kehlani | Good Thing

American singer, songwriter, and dancer Kehlani is a familiar fixture on the US R&B and HipHop charts. In 2016, she was nominated for the Best Urban Contemporary Album Grammy for You Should Be Here. Her 2019 track, “Good Thing,” a collaboration with German/Russian producer Zedd, charted worldwide, including Australia, Canada, Belgium, Singapore, and the US.

Built around a relentless 12/8, the tune modulates after a grand pause between 3:40 to 3:50. The music in the video starts at 0:45.

Britney Spears | Born to Make You Happy

From Britney Spears’ debut album in 1999: “Born To Make You Happy” has a subtle key change from B minor to C# minor at 3:09.

Jacob Collier | All Night Long

Vocalist/arranger/multi-instrumentalist and overall musical wunderkind Jacob Collier released a cover of Lionel Richie‘s 1983 hit “All Night Long” this month, featuring a cappella legends TAKE 6 and the cutting-edge Metropole Orkest.

Starting in F major, a bridge at 3:16 lands us in Ab major at 3:54; lastly, we transition to A major at 5:58. But modulation is really the very least of the special effects here. The rollercoaster bridge, saturated with quick key-of-the-moment progressions and exotic harmonic tensions, illustrates Collier’s any tone/any time practice (not just those in a diatonic scale). The sheer variety of the lush arrangement is striking — and worth every second of this seven-minute listen.

Boy Meets Girl | Waiting for a Star to Fall

“Waiting For A Star To Fall” was released in 1988 by the pop duo Boy Meets Girl, eventually reaching #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

After the first two verses and choruses in Eb, the tune modulates to Gb for the third chorus (2:47) before landing in F (3:08) for the duration.