And the Train Rolls On: Megahits from Old 97s

Well, it's a crappy day here in the northeast, but I'm still confident that spring is nigh. And what beats driving around a warm spring day with the Old 97s blaring out of your car speakers? So here's an Old 97s compilation I put together last summer for some friends.

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Victoria

No Baby I

Adelaide

Lonely Holiday

Salome

Crash On The Barrelhead

Smokers

The Other Shoe

Let The Train Blow The Whistle

Miss Molly

Busted Afternoon

In The Satellite Rides A Star

Question

Buick City Complex

Holly Jolly Christmas

Let The Idiot Speak

Timebomb

Color Of A Lonely Heart Is Blue

Sound Of Running

El Paso

Old Familiar Steam

The One

Singing the Blues with Ted and Jimmie

As you may probably guess from the nine volume Rooting Around in the 80s compilation, I tend to have a wee bit of a nostalgia problem when it comes to 80s roots music. So indulge me again this week as I give to you two compilations showcasing some gems from the 80s: Ted Hawkins' 1982 Watch Your Step and 1986 Happy Hour (plus a couple of tracks from one of his live cds) and Jimmie Dale Gilmore's 1988 Fair and Square and 1989 Jimmie Dale Gilmore. I don't know why I got the idea to put them together in a compilation, but I do think they sound good back to back.

Volume 1:

Dallas: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Bad Dog: Ted Hawkins

Gypsy Woman: Ted Hawkins

Trying to Get to You: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

A Thing Called Love: Ted Hawkins

The Lost Ones: Ted Hawkins

The Doors Are Open Wide: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Honky Tonk Song: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Cold & Bitter Tears: Ted Hawkins

Rain Just Falls: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

I Gave Up All I Had: Ted Hawkins

Fair & Square: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Red Chevrolet: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

One Hundred Miles: Ted Hawkins

Beautiful Rose: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

You Pushed My Head Away: Ted Hawkins

Volume 2

Sorry You're Sick: Ted Hawkins

See The Way: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

White Freight Liner Blues: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Don't Make Me Explain It: Ted Hawkins

My Last Goodbye: Ted Hawkins

99 Holes: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Happy Hour: Ted Hawkins

Singing the Blues: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

TWA: Ted Hawkins

Bring It Home Daddy: Ted Hawkins

Honky Tonk Masquerade: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Ain't That Pretty: Ted Hawkins

Missin' Mississippi: Ted Hawkins

Up To You: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

That Hardwood Floor: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

If You Love Me: Ted Hawkins

When The Nights Are Cold: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Indisputably Dusty

I remember finally getting (one of those albums critics invariably declared a "must have") Dusty Springfield's stunning "Dusty in Memphis" a little while after Rhino put out its deluxe edition in 1999. Naturally, I went out and bought a few earlier cds of hers. But it wasn't until I got the vastly underrated "A Brand New Me", her 1970 album recorded with the legendary Philly soul producers Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble that I went on a wave of semi-obsessive Dusty song collecting. If none of her other albums can compare to Dusty in Memphis or A Brand New Me, there are still a lot of gems (I mean, the woman can sing!!) from her various releases from the 60s and 70s. G'ahead, check 'em out if you don't believe me. :)

Volume 1

Breakin' up a Happy Home

Bring Him Back

Tossin' andTurnin'

Sweet Lover No More

This Girl's In Love With You

Once Upon a Time

In the Middle of Nowhere

If Wishes Could Be Kisses

Summer Is Over

Girls Can't Do What the Guys Do

Losing You

Since I Fell For You

Something for Nothing

Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone

Guess Who?

Baby Don't You Know

I Only Wanna Laugh

Some of Your Lovin'

Volume 2

Uptight (Everything's Alright)

Stay Awhile

What's It Gonna Be?

Come Back To Me

The Corrupt Ones

It's Over

Am I The Same Girl

Here She Comes

The Richest Girl Alive

I Will Always Want You

Good Lovin'

I Only Want to Be With You

Earthbound Gypsy

Won't Be Long

Summer Love

Morning Please Don't Come -with Tom Springfield

Make the Man Love Me

Look of Love

Even More Rooting Around

Well, I just got back from Eleni Mandell's show at Joe's Pub in New York City - a little short (due to the demands of the venue), but otherwise quite fabulous. DJ Bonebrake is playing drums on the tour which gives folks another reason to go see her if they get the chance.

Anyhoo, here's volumes 7-9 of my Rooting Around in the 80s series. These three have a lot more sad and slow songs (including John Doe's Take 52 - one of my personal faves) - good for late night driving. Oh, and my desktop is working again so the pix are back. Well, I thought the pix would be back, but apparently blogger isn't letting me put pictures up. I'll try it again next week.

Volume 7

Cryin' But My Tears Are Far Away The Knitters
Border Radio The Ponys
Tears Of God Los Lobos
We Shall Overcome Green on Red
Colored Lights The Blasters
Last Night I Dreamed Rank and File
Leave Heaven Alone Exene Cervenka
Tragedy by Definition The John Doe Thing
I Got Loaded Los Lobos
Hollywood Bed The Blasters
Don't Toss Us Away Lone Justice/Maria McKee
Come Back To Me X
River of Fools Los Lobos
Someone Like You The Knitters
I Wish It Was Saturday Night Dave Alvin
It Don't Matter Rank and File

Volume 8

She Wanted Exene Cervenka
Way Back Home Green On Red
Lucky Day Rank And File
La Pasionaria Dan Stuart
Emily Los Lobos
Hardest Time Los Lobos
Tell Her I Love Her Rank and File
Dancing With Tears In My Eyes X
Too Close To The Light Long Ryders
Silver Wings The Knitters
When it Rains... X
My Offering John Doe
Just Another Sunday The Blasters
Poor Old Heartsick Me The Knitters
Funny How Time Slips Away Green On Red
Take #52 John Doe

Volume 9

Fourth of July Dave Alvin
A Matter Of Time Los Lobos
Little Honey The Blasters
Trail Of Time The Knitters
Knockin' on Heaven's Door Danny & Dusty
Famous Barmaid Exene Cervenka
Timeless Love Rank and File
Estoy Sentado Aqui Los Lobos
Imitation Of The Blues (Acoustic) John Doe
My Lonely Sad Eyes Maria McKee
Leaving The Blasters
Love Shack The Knitters
Field of Dirt The John Doe Thing
Donna Los Lobos
See How We Are X
We Had It All Green On Red