Empty Bed Blues

Well, it's getting cold again in the northeast, so what better time to post some bawdy old blues? In that spirit, here's "Empty Bed Blues" - a compilation of 1920s females blues singers. It came out in 1996, but it's been out of print for a while.

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1. If It Don't Fit (Don't Force It) - Barrell House Annie

2. Ice Man (Come on Up) - Memphis Minnie

3. Take Me for a Buggy Ride - Bessie Smith

4. Sam-The Hot Dog Man - Lil Johnson

5. He's Just My Size - Lillie Mae Kirkman

6. My Castle's Rockin' - Alberta Hunter

7. My Butcher Man - Georgia White

8. My Handy Man - Ethel Waters

9. Keep on Eatin' - Memphis Minnie

10. Shave 'Em Dry, No. 2 - Lucille Bogan

11. Send Me a Man - Alberta Hunter

12. Walking the Street - Georgia White

13. In the Racket - Billie Pierce

14. Empty Bed Blues, Pts. 1-2 - Bessie Smith

15. I've Got What It Takes - Virginia Liston

16. Or Leave Me Alone - Lil Armstrong

17. Furniture Man Blues, Pt. 2 - Lonnie Johnson, Victoria Spivey

18. Get 'Em from the Peanut Man (The New Hot Nuts) - Lil Johnson

19. Blues Ain't Nothin' But...? - Georgia White

20. Can't Be Bothered With No Sheik - Rosa Henderson

21. Kitchen Man - Bessie Smith

22. One Hour Mama - Ida Cox

23. Good Time Mama Blues - Martha Copeland

24. For Sale (Hannah Johnson's Big Jack Ass) - Clara Smith

25. You've Been a Good Ole Wagon - Bessie Smith

The Birdman of Chicago

In addition to twang, I've found myself listening to Andrew Bird a lot on my morning commute the last couple of years - especially The Mysterious Production of Eggs and Armchair Apocrypha. I also like his earlier releases, but I don't think they hang together quite as cohesively as TMPOE or AA. So here's a couple of Andrew Bird mixtapes featuring his earlier material.

Volume One

Two Way Action

Action / Adventure

Dora Goes To Town

Wishing For Contentment

Something Sinister

Sectionate City

Case in Point

Lull

First Song

Swedish Folk Tune

The Trees Were Mistaken

Sloe-eyed Seasons

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Volume Two

Dance of Death

Self-Torture

I

Way Out West

And So...

Beware

Sic of Elephants

The Door

Too Long

Weather Systems

Theme 1 (restated)

(What's Your) Angle?

Satisfied

On the Right Side of 2009

Well, it's a little late for this sort of thing, but when you're doing you're doing a year-end compilation, you should be sure that you don't omit anything - like stuff you didn't buy until late December. In that spirit, here's 20 of my favorite tracks from 2009 (and all the mp3s are tagged with the albums they come from in case you want to explore further.)

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Break Up Girls! The Raveonettes

This Tornado Loves You Neko Case

Blackberry Song Kurt Vile

Cella's Walk Jimi Tenor / Tony Allen

Akampanye The Sweet Talks

Front Door Eleni Mandell

Ain't A Goin' James Hand

You Always Win Raul Malo

A Country Of My Own Thad Cockrell

What Is This Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens

Fitz & Dizzyspells Andrew Bird

No One Will Ever Love You Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles

Inspiration Information Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Ruins of Berlin Dex Romweber Duo

Detroit City John Doe and The Sadies

BR Samba Super Som Lord

The Sweetest Thing Camera Obscura

I Hear Them All Dave Rawlings Machine

Stars of Leo M. Ward

Waiting on These New Things to Go Robbie Fulks

The Marvelous Marvin Gaye

I've been listening to a bunch of Marvin Gaye lately and I was struck by how many duet albums he did and by how many duet partners he had - Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross. I mean, is there any other major (or even minor artist) that's done so many duet albums? So while we're pondering that question, here's two Marvin mixtapes - one a collection of duets and the second a collection of (mostly) rarities and album tracks.

Disc One

Stubborn Kind Of Fellow

Baby I'm Glad That Things Worked Out so Well

Hope I Don't Get My Heart Broke

One More Heartache

Baby Don't You Do It

When I Had Your Love

Sparrow

Since I Had You

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide

It's Not Unusual

Sunny

This Love Starved Heart Of Mine

Soldier's Plea

Wherever I Lay My Hat

Good Lovin' Ain't Easy To Come By

This Will Make You Laugh

Everybody Needs Love

Forever

Disc Two

Once Upon a Time Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells

Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Steadies Marvin Gaye & Oma Page

You Can Dance Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells

Until I Met You (Corner Pocket) Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells

Rilleh Marvin Gaye & Oma Page

Let's Do It Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston

Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells

Exactly Like You Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston

Teach me Tonight Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston

How You Gonna Keep It (After You Get It) Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Deed I Do Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells

The Late Late Show Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells

You Are Everything Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross

You're a Special Part of Me Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross

Ain't No Mountain High Enough Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

California Soul Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell