Thursday, May 26, 2011

A Town South of Bakersfield - Volumes 1 & 2


As promised last week, here's the out of print Town South of Bakersfield - Volumes 1 & 2. As you can see, it featured a lot of folks who would go onto much bigger things (which includes Pete Anderson of Pete and Big Shots). Volume 3, btw, is still available for purchase (it's not quite as good as Vol 1, but there's several standout track including the Coal Porters' Cracking at the Seams.) Anyway, here's some prime alternative country - before the term even existed. :)


What Am I Waiting For Jim Lauderdale
We Get Along Just Fine (When We're Apart) Crazy Heart
Mister Love Re Winkler, Anne Harvey & Ree Van Vleck
Tell Me A Lie Candye Kane
Driftin' Man Jeffrey Steele
Louisville Jann Browne
Let There Be Love Dave Durham
Dark Side Of Life Lucinda Williams
Venice Skyline Rag Pete & The Bigshots
Somewhere Down The Road James Intveld
Heartbreak Train Rosie Flores & Albert Lee
Baby, I'll Show You Billy Swan
Lonesome Pine The Lonesome Strangers
Love And Only Love Katy Moffatt
Big Big Love The Eddys
I'll Be Gone Dwight Yoakam
Happy Hour Tin Star
Waitin' Up George Highfill
I'm Not Over You Kathy Robertson
Same Old Fool Reach For The Sky

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Rig Rock Jukebox (and Truck Stop)

          When doing my alternative country show in the 90s, I always had a fondness for compilation cds from a particular region/scene. One of my faves from this period was Rig Rock Jukebox - a collection from the Diesel Only label of primarily New York City based alt-country acts (actually, the cd came out several years before that term was coined. It's been out of print for some time now, as is the follow-up collection from Diesel Only (which featured bands from all over). The latter isn't quite as consistently good, but I still think they both hold up pretty well. (Oh, and the third Diesel Only collection, Rig Rock Deluxe, an all trucking songs collection, is still in print and the best of them all.)


Good Morning Mr. Trucker World Famous Blue Jays
Punk Rockin' Honky Tonk Girl The Blue Chieftains
Miss Fabulous Mumbo Gumbo
Leaving Angel Dean & The Zephyrs
Why I Drink Go To Blazes
Hands Off Courtney & Western
Baltimore Five Chinese Brothers
Two Hearts The Twanglers
Messed Up Thing Gwil Owen
Do It For Hank World Famous Blue Jays
I Think Hank Woulda Done It This Way The Blue Chieftains
New Blue Yodel (Blue Yodel #14) Mark Brine
Good Morning Mr. Afternoon Mumbo Gumbo
97 Miles Go To Blazes
Diplomat Courtney & Western
Diesel Only Theme (Inst.) World Famous Blue Jays


UFOs, Big Rigs & BBQ Mojo Nixon And The World Famous Blue Jays
Diesel Dazey Killbilly
Hot Black Coffee Gwil Owen
Life Preserver Angel Dean & The Zephyrs
She's A Waitress (And I'm In Love) Five Chinese Brothers
Cheeseburger Deluxe World Famous Blue Jays
Lovin' You Is Killin' Me Courtney & Western
After The Hurricane The Blue Chieftains
Messed Up Again Go To Blazes
Cheater's World Amy Allison and the Maudlins
Woke Up Surreal McCoys
Out Of The Frying Pan (Into Desire) Wheelers And Dealers
Chug-A-Lug Mojo Nixon And The World Famous Blue Jays
Too Much Coffee Gwil Owen
Hoedown In The Sky Jean Caffeine's All Night Truckstop
Ricky Skaggs Tonite Will Rigby
Second Best Angel Dean & The Zephyrs
Hotel Albert Joe Flood
Am I In Love Courtney & Western
Cookin' With Jay (Instr.) World Famous Blue Jays

Friday, May 13, 2011

Bobby, Bill, and William


Just as it was hard finding an image for this week's mixtape, it's equally difficult coming up with something meaningful to say about Bobby Womack, Bill Withers, and William Bell collectively. They're different kinds of performers with different career trajectories. But, like the compilation subheading says, they all seem to be under-appreciated in contemporary discussions of 60s and 70s soul. So here's a little reminder of their greatness.


Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday William Bell
The Same Love That Made Me Laugh Bill Withers
When Love Begins Friendship Ends Bobby Womack
Love Ain't Something You Can Get for Free Bobby Womack
Boy Meets Girl William Bell and Mavis Staples
I Can't Write Left-Handed Bill Withers
Nothing Takes The Place Of You William Bell
If You Don't Want My Love Bobby Womack And J.J. Johnson
Heartbreak Road Bill Withers
I Wish You Well Bill Withers
American Dream Bobby Womack
Lovin' On Borrowed Time William Bell
Liza Bill Withers
Baby! You Oughta Think It Over Bobby Womack
Let Me In Your Life Bill Withers
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye William Bell
Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need) William Bell
California Dreamin' Bobby Womack

Thursday, May 5, 2011

A Taste of Caetano Veloso


This post is a little later than usual because I've been having some computer issues (the hard drive from my old computer won't spin in its new enclosure) and, as you can see, some issues coming up with a decent name for tonight's Caetano Veloso mixtape - I tried to look up some stuff in Portuguese, but I didn't want to mangle the language. But the picture is pretty cool, right? :)


Chora Tua Tristeza
Gua
Tropicalia
Um Tom
Blues
Eleanor Rigby
Get Out Of Town
Wait Until Tomorrow
Quando Eu Penso Na Bahia
Chuvas De Verão
Baiao da Penha
Body And Soul
Pecado
Nine Out Of Ten
Enquanto Seu Lobo Não Vem
Samba Em Paz
Carolina
Charles, Anjo 45