On the Right Side of 2011

        As usual, I don't have too much to say about the year that's passed.  I do think that there were a lot of good albums, but there weren't too many that thrilled me from beginning to end.  Perhaps I'm just a harder boy to thrill these days. :) Still, there was no dearth of songs to put on my year end mixtape - in fact, I had to leave off some cuts that would have made it in previous years.  (And as in 2009 and 2010, all the mp3s are tagged with the album they came from.)

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Video Games	Lana Del Rey
Escape	Richard Buckner
Montezuma	Fleet Foxes
The Reason Why	Ron Sexsmith
Gone, Gone, Gone	Nikki Lane
Always Looking	Dum Dum Girls
Get Some	Lykke Li
Relax	Das Racist
Tropical Affair	Money Mark/Thalma de Freitas/Joao Parahyba
Paraty	Mia Doi Todd
Progress	Booker T Jones
Stone Rollin'	Raphael Saadiq
Checkout Time	Nick Lowe
Between The Cheats	Amy Winehouse
A Commotion	Feist
She Stole The Blush	Tom Waits
Born To Be Loved	Lucinda Williams
Calgary	Bon Iver
Heartaches and Pain	Charles Bradley
The Way The Whole Thing Ends	Gillian Welch

More Selections from the Harlan Howard Songbook

It's been a real long time (probably about 15 years ago), but I remember reading an interview with Harlan Howard where he said that when he first started writing country songs, he didn't know anything about love (or maybe he said women). I thought of that quote a couple of weeks back when I listened to Charley Pride's version of "Image of Me". While the psychological realism is a tad lacking, the male melodrama in the song is undeniably appealing. I'd try to find a quote to give a better description of Harlan Howard's songwriting genius, but I have some other stuff I have to get to, so the second volume of my tribute to HH will have to do.

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Heartaches By The Number	Dwight Yoakam
I've Got A Tiger By The Tail	Ray Charles
Busted	Duane Eddy
Sally Was a Good Old Girl	Waylon Jennings
Why Not Me ?	The Judds
Don't Call Me From A Honky Tonk	Johnny & Jonie Mosby
The Sound Of Laughter	Johnny Cash
The One You Slip Around With	Skeeter Davis
Your Heart Turned Left (And I Was on the Right)	George Jones
The Keys In the Mailbox	Tony Booth
Odds and Ends	Justin Trevino
Heartbreak U.S.A.	Kitty Wells
The Image Of Me	Charley Pride
I Fall To Pieces	Carla Thomas
A Thief in the Night	Jean Shepard
He Called Me Baby	Ella Washington
I'll Catch You When You Fall	Buck Owens
Above & Beyond (The Call Of Love)	Wynn Stewart

The Heartache Headmaster - A Harlan Howard Tribute

Just to be clear, I'm not a proponent of "great man" theories of history. Still.....it's kind of hard to imagine what country music would be like without the songs of Harlan Howard. His own recordings may leave a little something be to desired (though they're not terrible), but damn, the guy was a gifted and prolific songwriter. As with Townes Van Zandt last year and Tom Waits in 2009, I've put together a two volume compilation of Harlan Howard covers (with Volume 2 to follow next week).

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Streets of Baltimore Gram Parsons

The Hurtin's All Over Connie Smith

Pick Me Up On Your Way Down Charlie Walker

Excuse Me, I Think I've Got a Heartache Cake

The Chokin' Kind Joe Simon

Evil on Your Mind Jan Howard

I Don't Believe I'll Fall In Love Today Derailers

It Takes One to Know One Skip Heller

You Took Him off My Hands Patsy Cline

Too Many Rivers Brenda Lee

It's All Over The Everly Brothers

Life Turned Her That Way James Carr

Ain't Found Nobody The Mavericks

I've Seen That Look On Me (A Thousand Times) Willie Nelson

I'm Down to My Last Cigarette k.d. lang

Baby Me Baby Gene Watson

Don't Our Love Look Natural Keith Whitley

She's Gone, Gone, Gone Lefty Frizzell

More Billie Holiday and Elis Regina

I was listening to the Billie Holiday - Elis Regina comp I made last year (which you can still download) a while ago and, well, I thought it'd be nice to have another volume. Score one for niceness. :)

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20 Anos Blue Elis Regina

I Love My Man Billie Holiday

I Don't Want To Cry Anymore Billie Holiday

O Que Foi Feito De Vera with Milton Nascimento Elis Regina

All Of Me Billie Holiday

Madalena Elis Regina

Bicho Do Mato Elis Regina

Swing, Brother, Swing Billie Holiday

Canto de Ossanha Elis Regina & Toots Thielemans

Jeepers Creepers Billie Holiday

Alo Saudade Elis Regina

Who Wants Love? Billie Holiday

East Of The Sun Billie Holiday

O Que Tinha De Ser Elis Regina

These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) Billie Holiday

Gracias a la Vida Elis Regina

Them There Eyes Billie Holiday

E Com Esse Que Eu Vou Elis Regina

Confissao Elis Regina

What A Little Moonlight Can Do Billie Holiday

Baby, I'm A Charlie Rich Fan

In addition to his eclecticism (and his rather unique career arc), one of the things I find most intriguing about Charlie Rich is that his wife Margaret Rich wrote (or co-wrote) some of his material. Offhand, I can't really think of another male singer (or even that many female singers) with that dynamic. One of her compositions, in fact, leads off this compilation - Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs. I tried to stay away from any songs on his great 2 two cd best of collection: Feel Like Going Home, but Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs was just too perfect as the opening track. I did however, have enough willpower not to put his great demo version of Feel Like Going Home from that collection as the closer. :)

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Life Has It's Little Ups And Downs

Down On The River

Philadelphia Baby

You Win Again

Just Like Old Times

Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast

Blowin' Town

A Sunday Kind Of Woman

Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child

Am I Blue?

Almost Persuaded

Now Everybody Knows

That's How Much I Love You

You Can Have Her

Don't Come Knocking On My Door

Just a Little Bit Sweet

Very Much Alone

I Take It On Home

On the Right Side of Christmas 2011

It's a little late coming (hey, I was travelling for Thanksgiving), but here's my annual Christmas music compilation (you can still download 2010 and 2009, btw).

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Merry Christmas Baby Otis Redding

No More Pretty Presents Rod Piazza And The Mighty Flyers

Don't Believe In Christmas The Sonics

Come All Ye Faithful Surfer Girls The Chevelles

Rudolph The Manic Reindeer Los Lobos

Xmas Curtain My Morning Jacket

Maybe this Christmas Ron Sexsmith

Old Toy Trains Roger Miller

Gonna Wrap My Heart In Ribbons Hank Thompson

The Christmas Song Jose Feliciano

Perfect Gift Natalie Hemby

Got Something for You Best Coast and Wavves

What Christmas Means To Me Stevie Wonder

Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers The Crystals

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Eddie Dunstedter

All I Want For Christmas Is You Mandy Barnett

I Wish You A Merry Christmas Big Dee Irwin

The Holy Babe Mahalia Jackson

Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern) Miles Davis

Carol of the Bells The Bird and the Bee

Christmasey Brian Wilson

Christmas Means Love Sam Cooke

Christmas In Harlem (ft. CyHi Da Prynce) Kanye West

Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday The Sweet Inspirations

More Mark Eitzel and George Jones

Hopefully, the first Mark Eitzel-George Jones comp didn't make folks too morose, because here's Volume Two.

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I'm Just Blue Enough George Jones

The Boy With the Hammer in the Paper Bag Mark Eitzel

Cleopatra Jones Mark Eitzel

4033 George Jones

Hello Amsterdam American Music Club

The King Is Gone George Jones

I Broke My Promise American Music Club

Who Will I Be Loving Now George Jones

Diary of My Mind George Jones

Take Courage Mark Eitzel

We Loved It Away George Jones

The Decibels and the Little Pills American Music Club

Then It Really Happens Mark Eitzel

Tomorrow Never Comes George Jones

Everything Is Beautiful Mark Eitzel

Mark Eitzel and George Jones: The Kings of Broken Hearts

When I saw Jim Lauderdale open up for Lucinda Williams back in 1998 (he was also singing backup vocals for Lu), he played the song King of Broken Hearts (from his very fine debut Planet of Love). I can't remember if he said it wrote it as an homage to George Jones or if he wrote it with the intention of George Jones covering it. Either way, I thought of the song when I was putting tonight's Mark Eitzel - George Jones comp. Now Mr. Eitzel may not be quite the king of broken hearts that Mr. Jones is, but I think he'd put up a pretty good fight. :) I'll post Volume two next week.

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How Many Six Packs Does it Take to Screw in a Light Bulb American Music Club

I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Livin' George Jones

You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave) George Jones

Queen Of No One Mark Eitzel

Big Fool Of The Year George Jones

Sleeping Beauty Mark Eitzel

She Knows What She's Crying About George Jones

What Holds the World Together American Music Club

I've Been A Mess American Music Club

I'm A Fool For Loving Her George Jones

Live Or Die Mark Eitzel

Wine (You've Used Me Long Enough) George Jones

I'm All She's Got George Jones

What The Pillar Of Salt Held Up American Music Club

Things Have Gone to Pieces George Jones

Gladys Knight and the Pips: Everybody Needs Love/ If I Was Your Woman

Back in 1977, Richard Pryor hosted his own comedy-variety show on NBC. It only lasted for four episodes, in large part because it was up against Happy Days (or maybe it was Laverne and Shirley). And it even if it hadn't been, it's kind of doubtful Pryor would have wanted to do it for much longer since he wasn't too crazy about NBC's censors. Anyway, on one of the shows, the skit has the Pips singing backup sans Gladys Knight - i.e., the joke is that you have this silence in between brief bits of harmonizing by the Pips. And no, the execution wasn't much funnier than it sounds. :)

I invoke this brief moment of popular culture only because I think that Gladys Knight probably would be remembered more fondly if her backing band hadn't been named the Pips. No offense to any of the Pips (who were good backup singers), but the name, well, I just think it ultimately diminished her status as a soul singer. Which is too bad, because as you can hear from the two out of print albums posted (it was a twofer cd put out by Motown in the early years of cds before they realized they could sell their old stuff as single albums), she has a darn fine emotive style.

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Everybody Needs Love

I'll Be Standing By

Since I've Lost You

I Heard It Through The Grapevine

You Don't Love Me No More

Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone

Take Me In Your Arms And Love Me

He's My Kind Of Fellow

Yes, I'm Ready

My Bed Of Thorns

Do You Love Me Just A Little Honey

Just Walk In My Shoes

If I Were Your Woman

Feeling Alright

One Less Bell To Answer

Let It Be

I Don't Want To Do Wrong

One Step Away

Here I Am Again

How Can You Say That Ain't Love

Is There A Place (In His Heart For Me)

Everybody Is A Star

Signed Gladys

Your Love's Been Good For Me

Good Morning Mr. Trucker

Around this time last year, I put together a road songs compilation. I decided to continue the tradition this year, but focus solely on truck driving songs (though a few of them, like Ravishing Ruby, aren't really about truck driving). And if you're dying for more truck driving songs, the excellent 1996 Rig Rock Deluxe comp put out by Diesel Only Records is still in print. (there's a temporary problem uploading pix, so I'll put it up tomorrow.)

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Good Morning Mr. Trucker World Famous Blue Jays

Just A Few More Miles Dave Dudley

Truck Driving Joe Ken Clark

Miss Marie & The Bedford Blaze Marty Stuart

Nitro Express Bill Kirchen

Good Luck 'N' Truckin' Tonite Dale Watson

Truck Driver's Queen Moore & Napier

Truck Driver's Ride Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant

Truck Driver's Blues Rosie Flores

Roll On Big Mama Joe Stampley

Drag 'Em Off The Interstate, Sock It To 'Em J. P. Blues Dick Curless

Truck Drivin' Man (Live) Uncle Tupelo

Roll Truck Roll Terry Allen & The Panhandle Mystery Band

King Of The Open Road Red Sovine

Looking At The World Through A Windshield Del Reeves

Little Pink Mack Kay Adams

Semi-Crazy Junior Brown

Ravishing Ruby Tom T. Hall

Trucker's Rag Moon Mullican

Roll, Truck, Roll Red Simpson

Chrissy Hynde and Emmylou Harris redux

As I mentioned when I posted a Chrissie Hynde and Emmylou Harris mixtape last year, for those of a certain age, Emmy and Chrissy really were the it girls of rock and country, respectively. In the ensuing years, Chrissy has gotten more country (okay, twangy) and Emmylou has gotten more rock and...... well, a volume 2 seemed like a good idea. (If you missed it the first time around, you can download Volume 1 here.)

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Drivin' Wheel Emmylou Harris

Message Of Love The Pretenders

Born To Run. Emmylou Harris

(You Never Can Tell) C'est La Vie Emmylou Harris

Love's A Mystery The Pretenders

They'll Never Take His Love from Me Emmylou Harris

Show Me The Pretenders

My City Was Gone The Pretenders

High Powered Love Emmylou Harris

Talk Of The Town The Pretenders

Sweetheart Of The Pines Emmylou Harris

Never Do That The Pretenders

Spanish Johnny Emmylou Harris

Tulsa Queen Emmylou Harris

Rabo De Nube The Pretenders

Boulder to Birmingham Emmylou Harris

Stop Your Sobbing Pretenders

Mann Up: An Aimee Mann Collection

About a month ago, a friend of mine got us tickets to see Aimee Mann in January. I also just happened to listening to Lost in Space and Bachelor No. 2 (her two best albums, imo) back to back, so I thought it was time to put together an Aimee Mann compilation. In addition to single cuts from her formal releases (including two of her 'Til Tuesday albums, but not from her Christmas album) there's a bunch of stuff from soundtracks, tribute albums, etc.

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Coming Up Close

Fifty Years After The Fair

Sign Of Love

Two of Us

Little Bombs

Phoenix

You're With Stupid Now

Jimmy Hoffa Jokes

Reason To Believe

Momentum

The Great Beyond

High On Sunday 51

Nightmare Girl

At The Edge Of The World

The Other End (Of The Telescope)

You Do

Saluting 70's Singer Songwriters

The term "singer songwriter" often invokes a certain amount of derision today - especially when you mention the 1970s in the same breath. And while there may be certain groups/artists (who shall remain nameless) in that category that haven't aged well or weren't so great to begin with, there were really a lot of great 70's singer songwriters, even if they weren't necessarily labeled as such. For your listening pleasure, then, here's 9 of my singer songwriter favorites.

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Close My Eyes                   Arthur Russell

Oh Fernanda Why              Arthur Russell

Here Tonight                      Gene Clark

With Tomorrow                 Gene Clark

So Far Away                      Carole King

Brother, Brother                 Carole King

Speed Of Sound                 Chris Bell

Look Up                             Chris Bell

Future Song                       Curtis Mayfield

Keep On Keeping On        Curtis Mayfield

Inner City Blues                 Rodriguez

To Whom It May Concern Rodriguez

Campo De Encino              Harry Nilsson

Gotta Get Up                      Harry Nilsson

Brother                               Jorge Ben

Oba, Lá Vem Ela             Jorge Ben

Half Past France                 John Cale

Big White Cloud                John Cale

More Kinks, Jam, and Holly Golightly

As promised, here's disc two of The Kinks, The Jam and Holly Golightly. And if you're just discovering Holly Golightly and want more (and really, who wouldn't), I'd suggest starting here.

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No Big Thing Holly Golightly

Did You See His Name? The Kinks

In The Crowd The Jam

Anyotherway Holly Golightly

Nothing In This World Can Stop Me Worryin' Bout That Girl The Kinks

Holloway Jail The Kinks

Time To Go Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs

Thick as Thieves The Jam

Picture Book The Kinks

And Your Bird Can Sing The Jam

Stoned Out of My Mind The Jam

Mellow Down Easy Holly Golightly

David Watts The Jam

Look For Me Baby Holly Golightly

Lola The Kinks

Absolutely Mod Out There: The Kinks, The Jam, and Holly Golightly

While it's still sticky and humid out here in the northeast, fall will soon be upon us which means (at least to me) that it's time for some Kinks, Jam and Holly Golightly. I'll post disc two next week.

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Party Line The Kinks

Girl on the Phone The Jam

Mary-Ann Holly Golightly

Sally Go Round the Roses Holly Golightly

Monday The Jam

Gotta Get The First Plane Home The Kinks

Through Sun and Wine Holly Golightly

Who'll Be The Next In Line The Kinks

Town Called Malice The Jam

Trans-Global Express The Jam

She Said Holly Golightly

Big Black Smoke The Kinks

Time Will Tell Holly Golightly

Yo-Yo The Kinks

That's Entertainment The Jam

Ray Price: Night Life

I know I've been over indulging a bit in music from the early 1960s, but when I found out that Ray Price's superb 1963 release Night Life was out of print, I thought I owed it to folks to post it. Great selection of songs, Price's voice never sounded better, and a who's who of top studio musicians (Buddy Emmons and Jimmy Day on steel guitar, Pig Robbins on piano, Grady Martin on guitar, etc.)

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Introduction and Theme/The Night Life

Lonely Street

The Wild Side Of Life

Sittin' And Thinkin'

The Twenty-Fourth Hour

A Girl In The Night

Pride

There's No Fool Like A Young Fool

If She Could See Me Now

Bright Lights And Blonde Haired Women

Are You Sure

Let Me Talk To You

Nobody's Baby Now: 60s Pop and Soul Nuggets

I do realize that a lot more music is made (or at least formally released) today than 40-50 years ago, but it still surprises me how much good music from the 1960s (and 1970s) remained largely in obscurity. In that spirit, here's 22 1960s female soul and pop nuggets - a bunch of them made at least a little dent on the soul and pop charts of that time (it's mostly stuff from 1965-1968), but I tried to stay away from the big hits and really popular performers.

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Broken Hearted Fool Inez Foxx

Please Don`t Wake Me The Cinderellas

Thank Goodness For The Rain Peanut

They Say Big Girls Don't Cry Beverly Williams

It's My Time Drew-Vels

There's Something the Matter Cynthia & The Imaginations

Don't Cry Irma & The Larks

My Lover Barbara & The Browns

Tainted Love Gloria Jones

Ev'ry Day Billie Davis

Putty in Your Hands Jean & the Statesides

What am I doing here with you Twinkle

Thrills and Chills Helene Smith

Mixed Up, Shook-Up Val McKenna

High flying bird Maggie Hammond

No One Else June Conquest

Talking About My Baby Gloria Walker

Selfish One Jackie Ross

Hurting Over You Boy Janet & The Jays

See If I Care Ria Bartok

Close Your Eyes Bonnie

I'm Nobody's Baby Now Reparata And The Delrons

Triple Bill: Neko Case, Rachel Flotard, and Kelly Hogan

I keep hoping that the next time Neko Case tours, the opening acts will be her backup singers: Kelly Hogan and Rachel Flotard (of Visqueen). For a variety of reasons, that's unlikely to happen, so here's a mixtape of the three (and if you're just discovering Kelly Hogan and Rachel Flotard, I recommend both of Hogan's solo releases and Visqueen's King Me).

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I'll Go To My Grave Loving You Kelly Hogan

Beautiful Amnesia Visqueen

Soulful Shade Of Blue Neko Case

Dreaming Man Neko Case

Papa Was A Rodeo Kelly Hogan & The Pine Valley Cosmonauts

Witchcraft Rachel Flotard (w/Jon Rauhouse)

Harbor Lights Kelly Hogan (w/Jon Rauhouse)

The Next Time You Say Forever Neko Case

Look Alive Visqueen

Last To Know Visqueen

(It's A Mighty Thin Line) Between Love And Hate Kelly Hogan & The Pine Valley Cosmonauts
Timber Neko Case & Her Boyfriends

Right Or Wrong Kelly Hogan

So Long Visqueen

Thrice All American Neko Case & Her Boyfriends

More Dwight Yoakam

As promised, here's the second part of my Dwight Yoakam mixtape.

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Pocket Of A Clown

I'll Go Back To Her

Playboy

Mystery Train

Truckin'

The Distance Between You And Me

Blame the Vain

The Sad Side Of Town

Cattle Call

It's Better This Way

Today I Started Loving You Again

Somewhere

Bury Me

I Just Got Wise

Things Change

DWIGHT ON!

It's kind of easy to forget now, but Dwight Yoakam may have been the act most responsible for legitimating country music in the eyes of a lot 20somethings back in the mid 80s (there were other "new traditionalists" like Lyle Lovett, KD Lang, Steve Earle, etc, but I still think Dwight had the biggest impact). He's been lying low for the last couple of years, but he is back on Warner Brothers Records with a new cd slated for early 2012. So I figured it's a good time to remind people of Mr. Yoakam's music - the compilation is a mix of album tracks, rarities, and of course, a couple of duets. Side B (hey, my first encounter with Dwight was a Hillbilly Deluxe cassette my friend made me in 1987) is next week.

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Sorry You Asked?

I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)

My Bucket's Got a Hole In It

New San Antonio Rose

I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide

Streets of Bakersfield

The Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn

If You Were Me

Holding Things Together

Carmelita

If Teardrops Were Diamonds

Oh Lonesome Me

That's Okay

Some Dark Holler

Readin', Rightin', Rt. 23

Do It The Soundway - Volume 2

As promised here's Volume 2 of the Soundway label mixtape. I should also point out that almost all of their releases are on emusic.com if you want to explore further (see my faves in last week's post).

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Onwu Ama Dike St. Augustine & His Rovers Dance Band

Up Tight Los Silvertones

Acid Rock The Funkees

Noble Kings (yako Aba) Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings

Jazzy Los Papacitos

Me Voy PaLa Costa Rosendo Y Su Banda

Hedzoleh! Hedzoleh Soundz

El Lobo Wganda Kenya

West African Safari Sir Victor Uwaifo

Mampam Sukuruwe The Sweet Talks

Whore You? (Original 45 Version) Fela Ransome Kuti & The Africa 70

Do It The Soundway

Given tonight's post of a Soundway Records label mix, I was going to talk about labels and their reputation and such, but I've got pretty much nothin' to say. But I do love the Soundway Records label - rare stuff, mostly Latin-American and African music from the 60s and 70s. My personal faves are the Ghana Special, Nigeria Rock Special, Nigeria Special, Afrobeat Special, and the Panama Vol 3, but for tonight's (and next week's Volume 2), I've chosen one track from each of the releases.

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Panty Monsieur Dolor Et Les Guitar Boys

Elyoyo Wganda Kenya

Omelebele Dr Victor Olayas International All Stars

Lagos City Asiko

Exciters Theme The Exciters

Gendamou Na Wili We Gnannin T.p. Orchestre Poly-rythmo Soul

Lam Plearn The Petch Phin Thong Band

Suena Ahora Michi Sarmiento

Nite Safarie The Black Star Sound

Agboyabakpa James Etamobe & His All Weather Band

Egwu Aja Ofo The Black Company

Dig That Bap: A Bap Kennedy Sampler

I still remember getting the Irish singer Bap Kennedy's cd Lonely Street in 2000. I really liked his first two releases (Domestic Blues and Hillbilly Shakespeare), but I must confess to a bit skepticism in reading the liner notes as it seemed like a not so great concept album about Hank Williams and Elvis Presley. Well, let's just say it's a good thing I'm a skeptic rather than a cynic since Lonely Street soon became one of my all time favorite cds (if the term desert island discs still meant anything, I'd say it was one of mine). Really, it's hard to imagine a more perfect album from start to finish - every song is a gem, the sequencing is spot-on, and he makes the not quite a concept album concept work brilliantly.

Now his two albums (The Big Picture and Howl On) since then haven't quite matched up, but there are several splendid tracks and really, how could they compare? All of his releases are still available with the exception of Hillbilly Shakespeare (you can also get his solo releases as well as a lot of his stuff with 90s band Energy Orchard - at emusic.com)

According to his website, he's just completing a new cd, so to hold you over, here's a little sampler including several Energy Orchard tracks.

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Lost Highway Bap Kennedy

My Money Bap Kennedy

Wasted Energy Orchard

Fireworks Bap Kennedy

Elvis Hank and Me Bap Kennedy

Dirty Old Town Bap Kennedy

Tell Your Mother Energy Orchard

Irish Moon Bap Kennedy

Hey Joe Bap Kennedy

Born To Lose Bap Kennedy

I'm No Angel Energy Orchard

Sailortown Energy Orchard

My Sweet Love Aint Around Bap Kennedy

The Beautiful Country Bap Kennedy

Hanks Last Waltz Bap Kennedy

Nightcaps at David Lynch's - Side B

As promised here's Side B (well, you could fit them both on a 90 minute cassette ;) of Nightcaps at David Lynch's.

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Love Letters Carol Hadley

You Can Depend On Me Brenda Lee

Oh What I Wouldn't Give Jimmy Scott

Black Night Johnnie Morisette

Bring It On Home Sonny Boy Williamson

Midnight Blues The Detroit Cobras

White Trees Flat Duo Jets

Red Bats With Teeth Angelo Badalamenti

Trouble Is A Lonesome Town Lee Hazelwood

The Cold Hard Facts Of Life Porter Wagoner

Farewell Good Night's Sleep Lay Low

Funeral In The Rain Chris Isaak

The Comedians Roy Orbison

Anything To Say You're Mine Etta James

Town Without Pity Gene Pitney

Nightcaps at David Lynch's

I was a big fan of the movie Blue Velvet when it came out back in the late 1980s. But it'd been almost twenty years since I'd seen it when I happened to come across it while channel surfing a while back. I'd always loved the use of Roy Orbison music in the movie, but when I watched it again, I remembered how much I liked the music of the late 1950s and early 1960s. For a long time, the period was dismissed as a wasteland - i.e. the period between Elvis' heyday and the Beatles. I think the period has since been redeemed in a lot of folks' eyes - sometimes we need a little revisionist history, right. :) I mean, there's just something about the weirdly understated melancholy and the lugubrious (in the very best sense of the term) piano in so many songs from that time period that I love - perfect for drinking (or drunk slow dancing) late at night at a bar straight off the set of a David Lynch movie. So here's a bunch of cuts from that time period as well as other songs that really should have been written in 1960. :) I'll post Side B next week.

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Blue Velvet Bobby Vinton

But Not For Me Ketty Lester

Smoke Rings Sam Cooke

The Beast Milt Buckner

Reconsider Baby Lowell Fulson

Tired Of Being Shoved Around Gay Crosse

Since I Fell For You Nina Simone

Blue Moon Elvis Presley

I've Lost My Heart to You Charlie Rich

Cry On Irma Thomas

Rockin' Back Inside My Heart Julee Cruise

A Girl I Used To Know George Jones

When You Need a Laugh Patsy Cline

Porchlight Neko Case & Her Boyfriends

The Little White Cloud That Cried Johnnie Ray

Nova Bossa: Red Hot on Verve

The Red Hot Organization just put out Red Hot and Rio 2 on Tuesday - it's a mix of newer and older artists (Brazilian and non-Brazilian) covering 60s and 70s Tropicalia tunes. I just downloaded it today, so I've only had the chance to listen to a few songs (which were quite good, btw). The first Red Hot and Rio is still available as a download, but the companion cd Nova Bossa: Red Hot on Verve, which is pretty much a Brazilian super-hits (in the best sense of the term) of the 60s and 70s is completely out of print. Now, I'm sure, even if you're not a Brazilian music fan, you've heard some of the cuts (yes, The Girl from Ipanema is on there), but, well, ....... I'll put it this way - it's a great introduction to Brazilian music even if you don't need an introduction.

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A Felicidade Agostinho Dos Santos

Agua De Beber Astrud Gilberto & Antonio Carlos Jobim

Interlude #1 Various Artists

The Girl From Ipanema Stan Getz & João Gilberto

Bim Bom João Gilberto

Insensatez Stan Getz & Luiz Bonfá

Bicho Do Mato Walter Wanderly

Mas Que Nada Tamba Trio

Interlude #2 Various Artists

Surfboard Roberto Menescal E Seu Conjunto

Interlude #3 Various Artists

Desafinado Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd

Interlude #4 Various Artists

After Sunrise Sergio Mendes

Consolacao Baden Powell

Upa Neguinho Edu Lobo

Interlude #5 Various Artists

Superbacana Caetano Veloso

Interlude #6 Various Artists

Aquele Abraco Gilberto Gil

Interlude #7 Various Artists

Agua de Marco Elis Regina & Antonio Carlos Jobim

Corcovado Stan Getz & João Gilberto

'Bout Big Sandy and His Fly Rite Boys

Don't get me wrong. I dig Big Sandy's rockabilly, western swing and country stuff. And they're still a great live band even without a pedal steel player (just saw 'em a couple of weeks ago). But, man, it's Big Sandy's crooning that I like the most (just check out The Night is for Dreamers and Dedicated to You on this comp). Well, I can always hope that he'll put out his crooner album when he gets a little older. Speaking of albums, if you're new to Big Sandy, I'd definitely start with It's Time. After that, you can't really go wrong with any of his stuff (or the mostly instrumental album the Fly-Rite Boys put out).

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Power of the 45 (Pt. 1) Big Sandy And His Fly-Rite Boys

Draggen-It Boogie Big Sandy And The Fly-Rite Trio

Backdoor Dan Big Sandy & the Fly Rite Boys

Steel Crazy Biller & Wakefield

46-24-46 Big Sandy w/ The Martini Kings

The Night Is For Dreamers Big Sandy And His Fly-Rite Boys

Catalina Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys

Silent Partner Big Sandy and Los Straitjackets

Honky Tonk Queen Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys

Chica Alborotada Los Straitjackets (w/Big Sandy)

Hot Water Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys

Jake's Barber Shop Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys

Playgirl Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys

D. of L. Boogie Fly Rite Boys

Dedicated to You Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys

My Sinful Days Are Over Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys

Let Her Know Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys

All That Funky Stuff - Volume 2

As promised, here's volume 2 of my pop/funk/disco/punk compilation.

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That's Not My Name The Ting Tings

Don't Give Up Noisettes

Good Beat Deee-Lite

Funky Stuff Lizzy Mercier Descloux

Dance or Die Janelle Monáe

Sugar Ladytron

The Man with the 4-Way Hips Tom Tom Club

Walking In The Rain Grace Jones

Shove It (Feat. Spankrock) Santogold

Stuck to You Nikka Costa

Listen Up! Gossip

Don't Bring Me Down Labelle

Space Children Labelle

Call Me Blondie

All That Funky Stuff

When working out at my gym this past winter, I frequently became a tad anguished by the music they would blast. Part of my annoyance was the choice of songs as well as the fact that I'd hear the same ones (Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" was probably the main culprit) over and over. I realize the radio station (and the gym) aren't targeting my age demographic, but, well, .... I still wish they'd play some different music. In the spirit of being constructive, here's my alternative - a female artists pop, funk, punk, disco mashup of sorts. I'll put up volume 2 next week.

(P.S. I apologize for the name - I couldn't think of anything else. :)

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On The Line Again Tom Tom Club

I Sweat (Going Through the Motions) Nona Hendryx

Say Aha Santogold

Hanging on the Telephone Blondie

Rapture Blondie

The Count Of Monte Christo Noisettes

Shut Up And Let Me Go The Ting Tings

How Do You Say...Love Deee-lite

Hard-Boiled Babe Lizzy Mercier Descloux

Dimestore Diamond Gossip

Everybody Got Their Something Nikka Costa

L' Éléphant Tom Tom Club

Get You Somebody New - Labelle

Faster Janelle Monáe

In the Winner's Circle With Paul Burch

I do realize the blog's been a little heavy on the alternative country lately, but I couldn't resist posting a Paul Burch mixtape tonight. Maybe it's just because his stuff is just made for sitting on a porch in the summer (not that I've lived in a place with a porch since college). And if you're a newbie to Mr. Burch, all his records are still available for purchase. (I recommend, in particular, Pan-American Flash, Wire to Wire, and Fool For Love.)

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Winner's Circle

Life of a Fool

Can't Go Back To Baton Rouge

The Pilgrim (Chapter 33)

Waiting for My Ship

Mama Shoo'd the Blackbirds

Daddy Rhythm Guitar

Little Glass Of Wine

Carter Cain

Saturday Night Jamboree

Drifting Texas Sand

Baby I Ain't Gotta Do That No More

Living, Forgiving

Lovesick Blues Boy

How Do I Know?

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. :)

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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

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.)

Rig Rock Jukebox

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

Rig Rock Truckstop

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

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.

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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

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? :)

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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

Sucking in the '70s - Volume 3

As I've mentioned when I posted my previous 70s comps (you can find Vol 1 here and Vol 2 here), I don't really believe in the notion of guilty pleasures. Still, I do feel compelled to defend my inclusion of Afternoon Delight in Volume 3. See, I still can't quite believe that a song about afternoon sex ever became a big hit. I know it was that particular moment in the 70s and it's got that weird wholesome quality, but still its ineffable weirdness always makes me oddly happy..... The other thing that fascinates me about the Starland Vocal Band is the fact that they actually got their own television variety show in 1977 - granted, it was a summer replacement series and variety shows were big at the time (Captain and Tenille got a variety show, but hey they had two hits :), but I'd really love to know the reasoning of the network exec that approved the show (and did they have to sing Afternoon Delight on every episode?). Adding to my fascination with the SVB show is that a young David Letterman was one of the writers.

Oh well, I guess that's enough rationalizing. Here's the songlist.

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You Took The Word Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) Meat Loaf

I Wanna Get Next To You Rose Royce

Love Will Find A Way Pablo Cruise

Funk #49 Joe Walsh

Garden Party Rick Nelson And The Stone Canyon Band

Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) Aretha Franklin

You and Me Alice Cooper

Horse With No Name America

Fire On The Mountain Marshall Tucker Band

Dream Weaver Gary Wright

Could It Be I'm Falling In Love The Spinners

Afternoon Delight Starland Vocal Band

Drift Away Dobie Gray

Angel In Your Arms Hot

What Is Life George Harrison

Pure Love Ronnie Milsap

Sweet Emotion Aerosmith

Midnight Train to Georgia Gladys Knight & The Pips

The Most Beautiful Girl Charlie Rich

Heroes David Bowie

Shelby and Allison

If, in the mid 90s, you had to bet on which Moorer sister (Shelby Lynne or Allison) would have made it big, who would you have bet on? I think I would have bet on Shelby since Allison's voice is a tad idiosyncratic (she does sound a bit like Cher, which is fine if you're Cher, but I think's it's a little problematic in terms of a mainstream country audience). Alas, neither has sold a lot of records, though they've both put out some dandies (The Hardest Part and The Duel for Allison and I am Shelby Lynne and Just a Little Lovin' for Shelby are my faves). They also have performed together (see the pix to the right) so here's a sisterly comp for folks to enjoy.

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Leavin' Shelby Lynne

Alabama Song Allison Moorer

Home Sweet Home Shelby Lynne

One on the House Allison Moorer

Goodbye To The Ground Allison Moorer

10 Rocks Shelby Lynne

Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? Allison Moorer

Don't Think Twice It's Alright Shelby Lynne

Bring Me All Your Lovin' Allison Moorer

Johnny Met June Shelby Lynne

Tumbling Down Allison Moorer

Don't Get Around Much Anymore Shelby Lynne

The One That Got Away (Got Away With My Heart) Allison Moorer

Willie And Laura Mae Jones Shelby Lynne

I Only Want To Be With You Shelby Lynne

I'm Looking For Blue Eyes Allison Moorer

Tarpoleon Napoleon Shelby Lynne

Feeling That Feeling Again Allison Moorer

More Graham Parker

As promised, here's Disc Two of my Graham Parker collection.

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Paralyzed

They Murdered The Clown

Maneuvers

Behind The Wall Of Sleep

Comfortably Numb

Stick To Me

No More Excuses

Little Miss Understanding

The Rest is History

Haunted Episodes

Just Like Joe Meek's Blues

2000 Funerals

Break Them Down

Passion Is No Ordinary Word

Get Started: 27 Selections from the Graham Parker Songbook (Disc One)

I may be a little addled lately (I think it's something I got on the plane last weekend sitting next to sneezing guy), but I do realize that not all of the songs on this Graham Parker collection were written by GP. But regular readers of the blog know I'm a sucker for obscurities and cuts from tribute albums, so how could I leave off Graham's cover of Richard Thompson's The Madness of Love?? Anyway, along with said obscurities, I've included one track from just about every GP studio release. (I'll post disc two next week.)

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Get Started, Start A Fire

Get over It and Move On

The Madness of Love

Museum Of Stupidity

Blue Horizon

Natalie

Bring Me A Heart Again

Howlin' Wind

Devil's Sidewalk

Impenetrable

You Hit the Spot

Sounds Like Chains

I Discovered America

I'm Living in the 80's! (Again)

Something about dreary March weather brings out my fondness for 80s post-punk. Discs one and two are still available here and now here's disc three.

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The Killing Moon Echo And The Bunnymen

Transmission Joy Division

The Hanging Garden The Cure

Madam Butterfly Malcolm McLaren

La Femme Accident Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Love Letters Alison Moyet

Pink Frost The Chills

I'm Not Losing Sleep Julian Cope

My Perfect Cousin The Undertones

I Can't Hold On Squeeze

Big Sister's Clothes Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Otis Duritti Column

Street Hassle Simple Minds

Hong Kong Garden Siouxsie & The Banshees

Ultraviolence New Order

Haunted When The Minutes Drag Love & Rockets

She Doesn't Exist Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians

How Soon Is Now The Smiths

Fine and Malo

Listening to Music for All Occasions and What a Crying Shame recently, I really think The Mavericks were one of the few bands to straddle the mainstream country and alternative country worlds successfully. Raul Malo's solo career has been a little inconsistent, but I'd rank his 2010 release Sinners and Saints right up there with the best of his Mavericks stuff. Anyway, I tried to include a song from each of his Mavericks and solo releases along with a bunch of obscurities.

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Matter Much To You Raul Malo

Are You Lonesome Tonight The Mavericks

Call Me The Breeze The Mavericks

Malo Bailare (El Merecumbe) Raul Malo

Here Comes My Baby The Mavericks

San Jose The Mavericks

Blue Moon The Mavericks

True Love Ways The Mavericks

World Without Love The Mavericks

Excuse Me (I Think I've Got A Heartache) The Mavericks

Love Me The Mavericks

Siboney Los Super Seven

All That Heaven Will Allow The Mavericks

You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go Raul Malo

Keep Moving On The Mavericks

Black Is Black Raul Malo (w/Los Straitjackets)

Haunting Me Raul Malo

Dolores The Mavericks

My Secret Flame The Mavericks

Since When Raul Malo