My List By Amanda on September 25, 2009 8:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)
As previously mentioned, the delectable Rosanne Cash has an album coming out shortly called The List, which is 12 songs chosen from a list of (I think) 100 country songs her father gave her, as comprising an education in that discipline.
I trust you shall agree this is a pretty good list.
1. "Miss the Mississippi and You"
2. "Motherless Children"
3. "Sea of Heartbreak" (w/ Bruce Springsteen)
4. "Take These Chains From My Heart"
5. "I'm Movin' On"
6. "She's Got You"
7. "Heartaches by the Number" (w/ Elvis Costello)
8. "500 Miles"
9. "Long Black Veil" (w/ Jeff Tweedy)
10. "Silver Wings" (w/ Rufus Wainwright)
11. "Girl From the North Country"
12. "Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow"
I thought I would do my own. Also 12 songs, my own list if in a parallel universe I could sing. These are not meant to be an overview of the history of country music (there's nothing before the early 60s for a start) but just a solidish collection of songs I could listen to all day. I put the last two in brackets just because those are the versions I chose to include but could have used any number of other versions -- both "She's Got You" and "He Thinks I Still Care" have male and female pronoun versions so I chose one of each. It's hard, but on the other hand the top 10 or so really write themselves then the final two spots are tough to divide between about half a dozen tracks. "Sea of Heartbreak" gets brackets cos basically I'll love anyone singing that song. I cheated and gave myself a bonus disc ....
I Drink -- Mary Gauthier
All Her Lovers Want to Be the Hero -- Steve Young
Big River -- Johnny Cash
Once a Day -- Connie Smith
She's Got You -- Loretta Lynn
Pancho & Lefty -- Townes Van Zandt
Sing Me Back Home -- Merle Haggard
Choices -- George Jones
South of Cincinnati -- Dwight Yoakam
Goodbye -- Steve Earle
Sea of Heartbreak -- (Rosanne Cash feat. Bruce Springsteen)
The Lord Knows I'm Drinking -- Cal Smith
Bonus Disc:
Goodbye -- Steve Earle
Willin' -- (Linda Ronstadt)
He Thinks I Still Care -- (Patty Loveless)
Hm. It's not very ... upbeat, is it?
Under the bylaws of 8tracks you're not supposed to make a playlist anywhere (so it mimics internet radio) but ... eh, I hope I can be forgiven this one time. So here it is! (and a direct link)
By Andre Havard
on September 26, 2009 7:59 PM
It's country - it's not meant to be upbeat!
Good choice
By Cara
on September 28, 2009 1:00 AM
Enjoyed that immensely. Thanks!
By fxh
on September 28, 2009 4:45 PM
heh - I misread that as you were actually going to sing/record the songs.
oh well.
No complaints with the list tho.. -except.......
I got Bob and Willy doing Poncho live and I think it's the best version and and and Lowell George with several versions of Willin' is bestest.
I think He Stopped Lovin Her Today is the secret unlisted track.
By Amanda
on September 28, 2009 4:51 PM
Don't get hung up on the actual versions -- the best songs not necessarily the best versions of the songs (although most are). I would put someone else doing Willin' but weirdly didn't have any others ripped on iTunes (have plenty on CD) except Linda and couldn't be bothered digging the others out.
Guy Clark -- She Ain't Going Nowhere is one of my favourists songs ever -- can't believe I forgot all about it.
By fxh
on September 28, 2009 5:38 PM
mm trouble with the two early Guy Clark albums is that every track so good and favourite.
And whats this "Don't get hung up - dude" business?
By Amanda
on September 28, 2009 6:08 PM
Frizz o yer schizzle, daddy-o.
By Amanda
on September 30, 2009 10:31 PM
Willie/Bob on P&L has more than 1 million views on Youtube. In your face, keyboard cat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPMxJROHInM&feature=related