So my beloved Muxtape is off line, whether by RIAA fiat or money troubles or both or whatever, I know not. That news kinda sucked although it was not unexpected, being and how the illegality of it was more or less blindingly obvious.
But a great idea and great for the music industry whether it knows it or not. But hark! In the dust of Muxtape, a new service launched called 8tracks which claims to do the same thing but -- gasp! -- legally. I've seen it called "Stracks" too, but I think the squiggly thing is offically an 8. I've signed up but haven't made a mux-er, a ... mix yet. There seem to be more restrictions that with muxtape -- you can't see the whole list before listening for instance -- which are presumably to keep it within the legal requirements. It does look like you can officially create multiple mixes and have them all up at the same time. Which is good, although I was kinda digging the zen-like process of destroying your mux before you could create a new one.
I'm encouraged that it looks uncluttered and simple, but also adds some functions muxtapes lacked -- I like the simplicity of "following" a user and also the ability to add comments to mixes. Will try and maybe get one up tonight.
Update: Did my first 8tracks mix. Painless process and one improvement on Muxtape is you can queue up all your songs to upload rather than have to do them one by one.
Under the Rug -- Nani Bregvadze Georgian singer big from 60s onwards in Soviet type places, lovely crisp but dramatic voice perfect for soppy Russian "romances." Here is my favourite song of hers, perhaps he most beloved but I don't have it on MP3: "Snegopad" ("Snowfall"). Fur coats and Aeroflot - so evocative!
Enta Omri -- Mahmoud Fadl with Salwa Abou Greisha Sudanese interpretations/hommages to the great Umm Kalthum.Enta Omri is "You Are My Life" in Arabic.
Stretch Out -- Sister Rosetta Tharpe with Marie Knight About 20 years earlier than the YouTube I posted earlier today but just as powerful.
Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out -- Carrie Smith Carrie is a bit of a more obscure blues shouter but does not at all deserve to be. This is from 1977.
Pace, Pace mio Dio - La forza del destino -- Maria Callas I only got this the other day. It makes me want to have a bath in the dark and have this drift in from the other room. Just me? OK.
High on a Mountain -- Ola Belle Reed Classic mountain music, she was part of the folk revival phase in the 60s.
Osain -- Merceditas Valdes A great name in Afro-Cuban music. I was a bit suss about the flute or whatever at the beginning but once she started singing I was hooked. On YouTube.
Nibari (My Grandchild) -- Umalali, The Garifuna Women's Project The Garifuna are a community of descendants of African slaves shipwrecked in Belize. The sadly late Andy Palacio brought the music to the world with Watina and this is the follow up.
Working on Beale Street and Crying -- Denise LaSalle Her speciality is NSFW blues which go from the risque to the downright obscene. Sadly, "Lick It Before You Stick It" is not on YouTube. This one is pretty safe except for some straight talk at the end.
I'm Through Trying to Prove My Love To You -- Millie Jackson She is new to me, this is from her best known album of cheating songs (side A from the POV of the wive, side B is the other woman). She can also cuss like a cussing thing and makes a lot of those worst album covers ever lists.
Cansada De Esperar - Angelica Maria Dunno anything about her but this is a cover of The Kinks' "Tired of Waiting."
Country and jazz wrestle on the back porch of Grammybait Haus. (more foster pups!)
My probably libellous and ignorant impression of Wynton Marsalis, based entirely on message board scuttlebutt, is that he is some kind of intense jazz purist who bags out other jazzbos for defiling the artform via crass commercial cross over. But here he is with the ever picky Willie Nelson for an album, Two Men With the Blues. The snippets there sound alright, although they stopped working for me after the first couple. "Georgia on My Mind" with solo trumpet can't be a bad thing. The YouTube DVD preview there is most enticing. Noice work as always, Mickey Raphael. Think I'll pick this one up soon.
I'm back on the right side of the digital divide. To celebrate, I did a new muxtape just of stuff I listened to in my first couple of hours of plugging the thing in. The opening song is a Mexican cover of Quinn the Eskimo.
I first sought out jazz great and all round hoyden Anita O'Day ( real surname: Colton. As she explains in the movie O'Day is Pig Latin for "dough" - "and I wanted to make some!") earlier this year after picking up a remaindered copy of Da Capo Best Music Writing 2002 and reading Matthew C Duersten's article "The Moon Looks Down and Laughs: The wonderful, horrible jazz life of Anita O'Day." Jazz has never been my main thing but it seemed odd I had never even heard of her, especially as at the time of her 2006 death she was described as the "greatest living jazz singer" and one of the only deemed special enough to be spoken about next to Ella and Billie.
The doco on her which sceened at the Sydney Film Fest on the weekend (official trailer at YouTube here and a longer version here) was highly enjoyable, informative and lovingly done. I hope it makes its way to the telly so everyone can see it, and I can see it again. It covered her musical career - including the innovations she brought to the role of swing band "canary" and her unique singing style - plus her embrace of not just jazz music but "the jazz life." Early busts for marijuana got her tagged "The Jezebel of Jazz" (a boon for PR and ticket sales) and a long period of heroin addiction followed. This is an important part of the story but I'm glad it didn't dwell voyeuristically on other aspects of her personal life. I've ordered her autoiographyHigh Times, Hard Times so I'll get the rundown then. Opening lines: "Getting pregnant while single was something I don't think my mother ever got over. That was a really heavy situation in 1919. Girls killed themselves, became prostitutes or got married and carried the guilt with them all their lives. Mom took the last route." Dad left and married ten more times after that.
Interspersed with excellent archival footage, comments from jazz musos, jazz critics and friends there is Anita herself on home video at about age 85 or 86 larger than life, hanging out at a dusty Californian racetrack, detailing Charlie Parker's prefered method of prepping dope, and narrating the improbable story of her survival. Footage of her smackdown of Bryant Gumble in an 80s interview brought cheers from the crowd. She's pretty much a full blown James M. Cain character, and loving it. That would be fun, but she also happens to be an endlessly fascinating and moving musician too. There's a lot of interest music talk in the doco, stuff about singing on the eights and vibratos and beats and whatnot which poor little me doesn't get fully, but there is much enlightenment. For instance how she would study each instrument's part until she could improvise each one. They feature this Four Brothers example, a piece written for four saxaphones but performed with three plus Anita. After rock and roll swept aside the jazz vocalists in the early 60s, she recorded and toured extensively in Japan through the 1970s and it's this period which I know best (because that era is on eMusic but the earlier Verve stuff isn't - still much exploring to be done.) She does a fantastic version of Leon Russell's "Song for You" on one of those records.
If I ever get my computer back I'll post a couple of my fave songs.
I'm going to see that Anita O'Day doco at the Sydney Film Festival this Sunday so check out some classic Anita at the Newport Folk Fest 1958:
Comment moderation is still on so please continue to leave comments but be patient about them appearing -- especially over the weekend as I am still without my beloved Mac at home. ;-( Most of my music listening is done via the computer, either the digital files or the inbuilt CD. Without it, the only CD player I have is the DVD which I haven't tried but I don't expect the TV speaker quality to be that great. I'm still going to try and pick up the new Emmylou Harris record today or tomorrow. Particularly keen to hear her version of Old Five and Dimers Like Me, one of the great country songs. I've also heard good things about the new Al Green record.
Go Socceroos! and hope you all have a good weekend.
Country and Folk and Blues etc Recapturing the Banjo-Otis Taylor Creedence Country-CCR Reunion Hill-Richard Shindell Somewhere Near Patterson - Richard Shindell From the Reach-Sonny Landreth The star studded (Eric Clapton, Dr John, Jimmy Buffet, Vince Gill, Robben Ford) new album from guitar hero sideman extraordinaire Landreth. I find it a bit generic. I mean, awesome guitar chops and all but it's just in that rock-blues groove that all sounds the same to me. You would think the track which features Dr John AND Jimmy Buffet (together at last!) would at least stand out with a distinctive style but it really doesn't. They're quite anonymous on it. It's perfectly pleasant background music and guitar nerds might get more out of it than me. You Can Name It Yo Mamma If You Wanna-South Filthy Hacienda Brothers-Hacienda Brothers RIP Chris Gaffney. The Complete Sun Recordings-Little Junior Parker's Blue Flames I would say this is a must-have, so I don't know why it took me so long to get it. Historically important -- "Mystery Train" -- but also musically seven great cuts of rhythm and blues. The Little Darlin' Sound of Jeannie C.Riley-Jeannie C.Riley Pre-"Harper Valley PTA" tracks finds Jeannie mining the sub-Loretta vein of country girl power. Nothing here matches Loretta output (goes without saying) but it's a very listenable collection of classic country. It's 60s but fewer strings and a little rawer than a lot of the Nashville sound. At least half the songs have Jeannie as the other woman, in the other half she's being dumped. Just how I like it! The album was originally released in 1968 as Sock Soul. "Sock Soul"? No, I can't imagine why either. Now and Again-Daryle Singletary This is the third and last Singletary album there, a compilation of his mainstream hits or attempted hits (couple peaked at #2, another one in the top ten, the rest a fair way further back) back in the '90s. I really love the two later albums which are tradition hard core honky tonk, while still neo-traditional, this one doesn't quite have that edge. Still better than most anything I see when I turn on CMT though -- EXCEPT for the cover of that Bryan Adams Robin Hood song. Ufg. FAIL, Daryle. Back to the Front-Bob Neuwirth I need to listen to this one more, he can be quite the intricate songwriter. Very good folk-country singer songwriter with a wry eye. Afrissippi-Fulani Journey Guelel Kumba from Senegal (Fulani is the local lingo) hits the Delta with very fine results. Website. I'm gonna buy a t-shirt.
African and Soul and Funk etc Children-Famous L.Renfroe Si, Para Usted - The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba Vol. 1-Various I've been listening a bit to the podcast of the radio show Waxing Deep (click on "Radio"), whose presenter Dan Zacks produced this set. I tried sampling a lot of the jazz/soul/funk/afrobeat podcasts and found a lot of cool stuff but I think this is my favourite. Again, the downside of downloading is the lack of liner notes which for a lovingly assembled and niche topic like this are pretty essential. I'd pay extra for them in cases like this. In the end Ithink I'll end up buying the hard copy of the CD from their website. Very reasonably priced (including intl. shipping) and it's nice to support folks like this. The Jan 26 2007 show has some tracks from it. Nigeria 70, Lagos Stomp-Various Texas Thunder Soul 1968-1974-Kashmere Stage Band Not your mother's high school combo. If Loving You is Wrong (I Don't Want to be Right)-Luther Ingram African Rhymth and Blues-The Remixes-Mombassa I like these a lot, the "remixing" is done very sensitively. Booiay!! A Compilation of West African Funk-Various Companian to The Danque!!! which I got last month. When I listened to the previews I liked that one more for some reason so I got it first but after listening to all of Booniay! it might be my favourite. You guys, I am so into African funk right now.
Classical and Shatner Brahms: Sonate Für Klarinette Und Klavier Es-Dur, Op. 120 Nr. 2: II. - Peter Daum, Dieter Klöcker, Josef Suk & Werner Genuit Exodus: An Oratorio in Three Parts- William Shatner Dude, it's the Shat reading from the Bible. As if I wasn't gonna get it. Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra & Tod Und Verklarung-Andre Previn and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra I had two credits left and this was two credits (for 60 minutes of music.) I don' think I can take Also Sprach Zarathustra seriously really, or at least the famous 2001 refrain but Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration) sounds promisingly moody.
The Sydney Film Festival has some enticing music related fare, as usual. I have my ticket to the Anita O'Day doco and Stax doco plus music, both at the Metro Theatre which seems to be called the Metro again after not being, for a while. I'm looking forward to those, but I'm not overly thrilled about paying $20 to see 90 minute films which hardly need to be seen on the big screen and will end up on ABC2 anyway in a month. So I'm giving Nick a miss. Sorry, Nick, don't hurt me but your movie is 52 minutes short long.
Hey so this is how people make money from those Amazon affiliate things, huh? Too late, as usual! I'm pleased to say first Shaun and now FXH succumbed to my amateur mesmerism attempts and bought and read/are reading Celine Dion: Let's Talk about Love by Carl Wilson.
I did have a whole muxtape playlist lined up to go with the State of Origin ("You Don't Know How Much I Hate You" by Rodney Crowell etc etc) but then I accidentally deleted it so ... bad luck. The replacement is just one song from the last 12 albums I listened to:
"Live Your Life" - Recapturing the Banjo. Everything Otis Taylor does is interesting. Here is with a bunch of bluesy guys reclaiming the banjo.
"African Dialects" - Peter King Nigeria 70, Lagos JumpI got this digitally but I really want the liner notes.
"A Grand Night for Swinging" - Mary Lou WilliamsA Grand Night for Swinging "probably the most influential woman in the history of jazz"
"Busted" - Maceo Parker Roots and Grooves Only the first disc thus far, which is Maceo doing Ray Charles. The second is his own stuff, which I look forward to.
"Some Kind of Kindness" - Firewater The Golden HourPhineas has a real thing for them so I thought I'd humour him. Do not know what I think yet. PS, buy his new print. Then you can be as cool as me.
"Reaching" - Famous L. Renfroe Children Long lost and strange gospel soul that showed up on eMusic.
"Our Time" - John Hiatt Same Old Man Well you know I've been waiting for this one. I won't say much because I'd like to write something longer. But this song grabbed me first up.
"Bad Liver and a Broken Heart" - Hayes Carll Trouble in Mind Ditto, won't say much now but it's great.
"Oh How to Do Now" - The MonksThe Monks The Monks are one of those cult 60s bands. Formed from GIs in Germany. Nice fun fuzzy gonzo rock and roll.
"Need Someone to Hold" - Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Country
Brahms: Sonate Für Klarinette Und Klavier Es-Dur, Op. 120 Nr. 2: II. - Peter Daum, Dieter Klöcker, Josef Suk & Werner Genuit I read somewhere online that the second movement of Opus 40 here was some of the "saddest music ever." I like sad music. it's pretty sad but it's also over 10MB so this is another thingo from the same record.
"I Saw My Youth Today" - Richard Shindell Reunion Hill
Time for a new muxtape. Since Laura alerted me to this particularly witless example of crushingly unfunny and pointless op-ed busy work and since I got a few Google hits in the last week looking for a "jazz muxtape", I thought I'd do a jazz muxtape. And they say bloggers are undisciplined, narcasscistic jerks -- Schembri (practically everytime I read him) more than proves you don't need to be 13 and writing in your PJs in your mother's basement to write like you're 13 and writing in your PJs in your mother's basement.
Anyhow. I'm very much a "don't know much about jazz, but I know what I like" and this is pretty much the first 12 things I came to, with some exceptions because a lot of tracks (ie. everything I have by Charles Mingus) is over the Muxtape limit of 10MB in size. Also kept it to instrumentals. Jazz vocals is a mux for another week.
Taking my cue from Phineas and feeling like I need to impose some order on my acquisitions, here is about everything I downloaded from eMusic this month. It looks like a lot all listed out like that, and it is a lot but I found myself with 125 extra credits this month so it's rather more bloated than usual. I actually don't have much trouble giving everything a good listen. The jazz, say, I don't need to sit and intently listen to every track -- I just don't have the technical knowledge to make that worthwhile. But I know what I like, and I often have my jazz playlist on in the background at home, and if something stands out I can explore it further. Actually if I'm doing something that requires special attention I prefer instrumental sounds because lyrics totally distract me. And I've started making my iTunes playlists work for me, keeping them neat and updated so everything is close at hand and I can efficiently and enjoyably cycle through my new and old stuff. Basically all this cost me the price of a couple of new CDs.
Country/Blues/Rock Straight from the Heart -- Daryle Singletary This month I did some exploration of the contemporary, mainstreamy country catalogue. Since eMusic doesn't have the major labels represented, these are the guys who've found themselves punted from the big boys and end up on small labels. I mentioned Daryle before, a very Merle Haggard voice. That's Why I Sing This Way -- Daryle Singletary Mostly classic country covers with some cool harmony/duets including Dwight Yoakam and Rhonda Vincent. There's one more album of his there which I will definately be getting. Different Things: The Acoustic Mixes -- Tracy Byrd On the slick side but the acoustic thing keeps it lean. "Cheapest Motel" is my fave, for all your stern sermonising needs. Rollin' With the Flow -- Mark Chestnut The only thing here I wouldn't recommend. I love the song but Chesnut just recreates the Charlie Rich version without an ounce of the Silver Fox's swing or swagger. Only a single though, not an album, so only cost me one download to find out. Coal -- Kathy Mattea Enjoyable new collection of coal mining songs in a roosty folk-country style. Testifying -- Country Soul Revue I don't know about the "revue" part, just seems like a various compilation rather than a single project but can hardly go wrong with Tony Joe White, Dan Penn, Bonnie Bramlett, Donnie Fritts ... Blues with a Message -- Various Phineas recommended this and it's a great collection, as you'd expect from the too-good-too-be-true annals of Arhoolie. The Good Life -- Justin Townes Earle Still going strong, one of the most satisfactory albums of this year no doubt. Blues de Musicien -- Pine Leaf Boys Energetic new Cajun. On Your Sleeve -- Jesse Malin Covers of classic rock/pop songs. Nice enough. Boris Grebenshikov: Russian Songwriter Grebenshikov was the lead singer/writer for Akuarium, one of the biggest underground rock bands in the Soviet Union. After the Fall, was a bit fashionable in the West for a brief moment (recorded an album with Dave Stewart or somesuch). Saw him and the band a few times in Moscow. BG has a very seductive voice and this is a very intersting and varied collection, but makes me sad my Russian is so hopeless.
"I'm A Lonesome Fugitive" from Bird Doggin': The Complete Challenge Sessions -- Gene Vincent Only this one track for now but may revisit for more (its a double album.) Blues & Boogie Explosion -- Bob Hall, George Green and Ian Stewart Hot jams, lots of fun. Apparently a bit obscure which is strange, but Prof. Google gives up little info. I think I read somewhere Ginger Baker is also playing on it. Or was it Jack Bruce?
Jazz etc West Side Story -- Andre Previn Where's my martini? Charles Mingus Presents -- Charles Mingus No idea really, but it's a fun trip. Fine and Mellow: Ella Fitzgerald Jams. I have quite a bit of swoonful Ella but what I'm really digging about this one is the real solid bluesy vibe at times. The whole thing is perfect. The Song is You -- Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Jack DeJohnette Gimcracks and Gewgaws -- Mose Allison Mose is a strange trip and I need to be in the right mood. Live at the Village Vanguard -- Mary Stallings I've had "You're Sensational" from this for a while but went back for the rest. Jazz after midnight type stuff, which is according to the review " by far her best recording because she is at the height of her musical powers, four-octave range, and is singing songs that are intimate to her but speak to the soul in everyone."
African Most of these come from the songs on the African muxtapes I linked to earlier, plus browsing from those starting points. One of the interesting threads is how American musical forms with their roots in African music, are fed back into contemporary African music and reinterpreted. Wheels within wheels! Succes Des Annees 50/60, Vol. 1 -- Grand Kalle & l'African Jazz 20eme Anniversaire - 6 juin 1956 - 6 juin 1976 vol.1 -- Franco Sounds like a Spanish name and indeed there are a lot of Latin flavours here.
"Osain" from Cafe Cantane -- 10pm Congo Life -- Kékélé Where's my mojito? Bookor Beats -- Bookor Band The muxtape I discovered these guys on mentioned their unusual use of harmonica as a lead instrument and it certainly lends the whole sound a wonderful and distinctive driving qualilty. African Troubadour: Best of African Singer-Songwriters. This is quite an amazing collection, and a number of the artists are earmarked for full album downlaods. The Danque!!! -- Various Heavy African funk sourced from obscure vinyl. Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-76 -- Various 10 ans de succès - Bembeya Jazz National
Soul/Funk etc Melting Pot -- Booker T and the MG's Pretty damn perfect. If you only get one Booker T and the MG's disk, this should probably be it. With A Little Help From My Friends -- Steve Cropper The man who can make me disappointed I missed the last Guy Sebastian tour. Soul Masters: My Aborable One -- Percy Sledge This is labeled "re-recordings". Maybe they are but they are phenomenal nonetheless. I just love his version of "I Still Miss Someone" which is on my current muxtape. Searching For Soul: Rare And Classic Soul, Funk And Jazz From Michigan, 1968-1980 -- Various Still need to listen closely to this compilation and the New Orleans one below to draw out the individual songs but on cursory listening there's a lot to love. Funk has taken longer to grow on me but I think I'm getting it. I like the kind of funk that has screaming horns rather than the types that's just the wah wah bass thing. An Introduction To New Orleans R and B -- Various Old skool. Haven't worked oout if and how New Orleans soul is different from Chicago or wherever soul. The piano? Live at the Olympia -- Ray Charles Protest Anthology -- Nina Simone Didn't get the whole album because a lot of it is interview tracks but it's NINA so I'll probably go back for those. I will tell you this though : the versions of "Nobody", "I Wish I Knew How It Felt to Be Free" and "Strange Fruit" are mind-blowing.
A new muxtape, the theme is soul/jazz covers of country songs. I have a casual hobby of collecting them. I'd especially like to find some more jazz ones, especially instrumental ones with a improv sort of vibe. Perhaps I want too much. Please let me know any covers which fit into the soul/jazz type area or any other less likely genre (salsa? hip hop?) I exclude rock and blues covers from this project just because they're pretty common, although exceptional examples welcome to apply. Photo.
I have fudged it a bit in that the Tina Turner is really a country version; a soul singer but a country version, pedal steel and all. The Aretha is a bit the same, with Duane Allman on guitar. And Keely Smith is probably covering Ray Charles' version which straddled the genres to begin with.
Visit Me in Music City -- Bobby Bare, Jr From the End of Your Leash
I first heard this on an MP3 blog, can't recall which one. I 'm not totally on board with his more rawky stuff but this whole album is ace. And this song can't be beat. I could do a whole mux on songs that bag Nashville, so the affection in this one is a nice change.
YouTube: "Your Adorable Beast" set to 101 Dalmations vision. Heh.
Once in a Very Blue Moon -- Chris Smither It Ain't Easy
All up my favourite Smither album. From the All Music review: "Armed simply with guitar and voice, Smither delivers a dozen tunes (14 on the CD reissue) that embody the best tradition of blues and folk. Whether it's his originals, a standard like "Glory of Love," or material by the likes of Randy Newman, Chuck Berry, Mississippi John Hurt, and Howlin' Wolf, Smither infuses every track with the same timeless quality."
YouTube: Live at some festival.
Mellow Down Easy -- The Chambers Brothers Live
Funk, soul, blues, rock and gospel all in one. What more do you want? Well, maybe some country but one mustn't be greedy.
YouTube: People Get Ready.
Deep Blue Sea -- David Johansen and the Harry Smiths Shaker
I bought this and their first CD in Moscow. David Johansen is the New York Dolls singer but this is his blues band. It's been five or six years, he's busy with the Dolls reunion but I hope he gets back to this.
YouTube: Furry's Blues from the first Harry Smiths record.
As Long As The River Flows -- Johnny Cash Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian
One of my favourite albums, Cash originals and Peter LaFarge covers. Cash is country, but Cash is also a major folk singer, which gets lost sometimes.
YouTube: Johnny with Pete Seeger (and June) talking about the album and singing. I hesitated a bit because he's obviously way, way, way out of his tree but there you go. I recommend it anyway as a document and a reminder of this album -- and the performance is definately powerful (song starts about 4.30 in).
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When I Was in Love with You -- The Greencards Viridian
I'm a casual fan, but this is my favourite song of theirs.
Real Emotional Girl -- Randy Newman Trouble in Paradise
My favourite Randy song. We're so used to embracing our music totally, it's a strange trip when you know you can't trust it.
YouTube: Linda Ronstadt and Randy.
I Wanna Be Loved -- Dinah Washington I Wanna Be Loved
I really wanted to use Dinah's "Nobody Knows The Way I Feel This Morning" but it clocks in at 11MB, and the mux limit is 10. Any Dinah is sublime though. It's kinda a sly bit of programming after the Randy.
YouTube: The Alberta Hunter version of Nobody Knows The Way ... Dinah's is about six minuttes longer.
Kay -- Daryle Singlatary That's Why I Sing This Way
One of those who flirted with mainstream country success in the 90s, and has evidently been punted from the big label because he's now on eMusic (which has "independent labels", not the Big 5 or 3 or however many there are these days.) Trace Adkins, Trisha Yearwood, David Ball, Clint Black also seem to fit into this group. Daryle Singletary sounds just like Merle Haggard. A friend introduced me to this song (ta, Pete) in the original John Wesley Ryles version. It's one of those wordy songs like Gentle on My Mind which I imagine must be a bugger to sing.
Effect and Cause -- The White Stripes Icky Thump
My fave song of that record, maybe not the most substantial one but infectious nontheless.
YouTube: The song.
Sleepless Nights -- Lucinda Williams
This is from the "Return to Sin City" Gram Parsons tribute concert. You can buy the DVD but there isn't a CD for some weird reason. I had to make my own.
YouTube: Keith Richards and Norah Jones on "Love Hurts" from the same gig.
Song for You -- Ray Charles Live a the Olympia
Every man and his dog has covered this song and I have alot of them. Can't go past Brother Ray though.
YouTube: Ray Charles, Leon Russell, Willie Nelson.
The best muxtape I have found randomly is this one of African and African diaspora music from the group blog Houstoned Rocks. The rest of that blog is worth reading too (including this report from the frontline of Broooce. Sigh. Come back, Broooce!) He has also annotated his selections with comments and some YouTube. Over the past year I've really been digging into various forms of music from the African continent, and I've already tracked down to buy some of songs here. The opening one "Osain" starts off a bit pan-pipey for me but once the singing starts after the minute and a half mark I fall in love. The piano on that one was a terrific surprise. Vusi Mahlasela was advertised to be at the Blue Mountains Music Fest but wasn't there, he still made Byron. I also love the Bookor Band and their harmonica, the Franco and Super Jazz Des Juenes tracks. I love it all.
No way to tell how long he'll keep it up but I hope a bit longer so you can all enjoy it. I might have to do an "international" muxtape next myself.
Where is all the Byron Bluesfest info? I remember when the Herald use to do daily reviews (didn't they?) Can't find no blogs, Google News chucks up nowt, the papers are bereft, the official bulletin board has a few posts but that's it.
Listen to the show from March 15th featuring two of my faves from the Blue Mountains fest Ruthie Foster and Genticorum and one I would love to see this tour but going to miss out on, Jon Cleary.
I have some box sets in the genre and some Hot Club of Cowtown discs but I must confess I like my western swing is smallish doses. I like country and I like jazz but western swing mostly manages to combine all the most uninteresting (to me) things about country and jazz. But I enjoy it at the right time and place and the big top on the Katoomba primary school oval last Friday night was one such place: Elana James and her sidemen were a lot of fun Additional interest is that she toured with Bob and played on a couple of Tom Russell records. Also, I expect if I really dug chicks I would have made sure to catch all her Blue Mountains fest shows because, goodness, she is quite attractive. By the end of the weekend I was thoroughly sick of being surrounded by uber-attractive and/or uber-talented people (the "and" ones are the worst) and was pleased to get back to my day job to bathe in soothing mediocrity again.
Elana James on YouTube.
This post goes on, like a certain essential muscular organ of some musical fame. In the knowledge clicking on is too much trouble for many, here is your take home message: There is a book called Céline Dion's Let's Talk About Love: A Journey to the End of Taste by Carl Wilson, part of the Continuum 33 1/3 Series. You want to read this book. His blog is here, one of my favourites for years. Here are lots of reviews and interviews. AFAIK it isn't released in Australia so you can buy it here. If you buy me a glass of house red I will lend it to you, I will probably be too-aggressively pimping it to you even if you don't. You want to read this book.
You want to read this book.
Got it? Ah, but I have trapped you because now you want to know why you want to read a book on Céline Motherfrakinggoddamnareyougoddamnfrakkingkiddingme Dion. Sucked in. Onwards over the fold ...
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