On the Right Side of Christmas 2015

   Yes, it's time for another Christmas compilation. I've also reupped all the previous Xmas compilations for the new visitors to the website.  

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Christmas Day	Detroit Junior
Christmas On Riverside Drive	August Darnell
Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects	Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
I Love The Holidays	Office Romance
Blue Christmas	Tristen
Thank You For Christmas	The Bee Gees
O Come, O Come Emmanuel	Belle & Sebastian
Christmas In Jail - Ain't That A Pain	Leroy Carr
White Christmas Makes Me Blue	Randy Travis
Blue Christmas Lights	Chris Hillman & Herb Pederson
The Sound of Christmas	Ramsey Lewis Trio
Louisiana Christmas Day	Aaron Neville
Mary Xmess	Sun 60
White Christmas	Allen Toussaint
Christmas Time and a Half	Paul Burch
Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk	Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison
Eggnog	Luna
Purple Snowflakes	Jessie Baylin
The Mistletoe And Me	Isaac Hayes
Silent Night	Odessa
I Believe in Father Christmas	Mark Kozelek
Rebel Jesus	The McGarrigle Family
Christmas Is For Mugs	Graham Parker
Auld Lang Syne	Jimi Hendrix

I Heart Heartland Rock

    I realize that when most Americans think of the American "heartland", they're likely to think of the midwest,  But when it comes to heartland rock, at least to my East Coast mind, it's more about a heart on the sleeve emotionalism associated with the Midwest and East Coast, most notably Bruce Springsteen.  Now I was going to write something else about the music' venerability, but it's late and my old brain just isn't up to the task so you'll just have to make up your own mind.

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Bastards of Young	The Replacements
Stay Lucky	The Gaslight Anthem
How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live?	The Del-Lords
Big Tornado	Hadacol
Mad Old Lady	The Skeletons
Still Sober (After All These Beers)	Banditos
Firecracker	Marah
Indian Motorcycles	Fred Eaglesmith
Rain On The Scarecrow	John Mellencamp
St Claire Of Cedar Rapids	The Hangdogs
Song for the Walls	Eric Ambel & Roscoe's Gang
They Will Bury You	Tim Easton
She's A Runaway	BoDeans
Don't Run Wild	The Del Fuegos
Teddy Got Rolled	Go to Blazes
Good Ol' Boy (Gettin' Tough)	Steve Earle & the Dukes
I Wanna Come Home	The Bottle Rockets
Born in the U.S.A.	Bruce Springsteen

50,000 Obsessive Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong (i.e. more Elvis Costello obscurities)

      I put together a compilation of Elvis Costello obscurities almost three years ago (you can download it here.)  At the time, I said there was a lot of other good stuff that wasn't on the compilation so there might be another volume in the future.  Well, I finally got my nondescript ass in gear and the future is here!  And because Elvis has put out a seemingly endless amount of worthwhile rarities, there's a second and third volume.   

Disc 2 A Drunken Man's Praise of Sobriety

That's How You Got Killed Before (w The Dirty Dozen Brass Band)

You Gotta Lose (Live at CBGB's)

Baby's Got A Brand New Hairdo

I Don't Wanna Go Home

We Oughta Be Ashamed (w/Johnny Cash)

Wave A White Flag

World's Greatest Optimist (Demo)

Love That Burns (live)

Tomorrow's (Just Another Day) (with Madness)

Mischievous Ghost (with Mary Coughlan)

My Resistance is Low

Party Party

Night Time

Almost Ideal Eyes

Monsters of the Id (feat. Elvis Costello)

A Town Called Big Nothing

Baby It's You (with Nick Lowe)

Disc 3

Whole Wide World The Great Unknown (Demo) God Only Knows (Live) Danger Zone (BBC Session) Lonely Blue Boy Poisoned Letter Sticks And Stones Really Mystified The End Of The Rainbow My Dark Life (With Brian Eno) Everybody's Crying Mercy Cheap Reward (Honky Tonk Demo) Poor Borrowed Dress The People's Limousine Honky Tonk Girl Out Of Time She Loves The Jerk (Demo) Medley - Alison/Living a Little, Laughing a Little/Tracks of My Tears/Tears of a Clown/No More Tear Stained Make-Up/Clowntime is Over

Saluting 70's Singer Songwriters - Volume 2

  I know I promised that I wouldn't do any more Sucking in the 70's comps, but I never promised not do another 70s singer songwriter comp.  And it's just too hard to resist the many great singer songwriters from that wild decade.  I've also re-upped the first 70's singer songwriter comp I made
several years back.


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Which Will	Nick Drake
River Man	Nick Drake
I'll Be Your Lover, Too	Van Morrison
Into The Mystic	Van Morrison
Águas De Março	Antonio Carlos Jobim
Children's Games	Antonio Carlos Jobim
Lullaby	Loudon Wainwright III
Dead Skunk	Loudon Wainwright III
Any Old Wind	Jim Ringer
Waitin' for the Hard Times to Go	Jim Ringer
Simply Beautiful	Al Green
Take Me to the River	Al Green
I Still Can't Believe You're Gone	Willie Nelson
You Left A Long, Long Time Ago	Willie Nelson
Don't You Take it Too Bad	Townes Van Zandt
To Live Is To Fly	Townes Van Zandt
Like an Old Fashioned Waltz	Sandy Denny
It'll Take a Long Time	Sandy Denny

Let's Flat Get On It: West Coast Roots Revivalists

      It's around that time of year when I seem to feel compelled to put together a West Coast themed compilation (or two).  This time, it's a mix of rockabilly and western swing acts from the last 20-25 years.  Deke Dickerson is the central act on the two comps and if you're looking for more Deke (as you should be), this greatest hits is a good start.  And if you live on the West Coast, I'm pretty sure he still holds a pretty big Guitar Geek concert every year.

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Disc One

Let's Flat Get On It	The Dave & Deke Combo
Red Rose	Josie Kreuzer/Hot Rod Lincoln
Mercy	The Paladins
Dancin' With Leela	The Paladins
Don't Push Me Too Far	Deke Dickerson & The Eccofonics
Chisel to My Heart	The Lucky Stars
Delaware Drive	Jeremy Wakefield
I've Got My Pride	Susanna & The Golden West Playboys
The Swing	Kim Lenz & the Jaguars
Asphalt Aisle	Deke Dickerson
I'm a Wreck	Deke Dickerson & The Eccofonics
(You've Got Me) Dreaming Again	Jeff Bright & The Sunshine Boys
No More Nuthin'	The Lucky Stars
Can't See the Forest for the Trees	Deke Dickerson & The Eccofonics
Juiced	Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys

Disc Two

You Drive Me Wild	Russell Scott & His Red Hots
Little Innocent	Deke Dickerson
Girlie	Jennifer Quinn
Stay Out Late	Lucky Stars
Someone Used to Love Me	Deke Dickerson
Laurie Ann	Dave & Deke Combo
If You Don't Like My Peaches (Don't Shake My Tree)	Kim Lenz & Her Jaguars
He's All Mine	Kim Lenz and the Jaguars
Torture	Deke Dickerson and the Trashmen
Blue And Lonesome	The Loved Ones
Lil' Irene	The Paladins
Ball That Jack	Josie Kreuzer
Hog Tied Over You	Billy Bacon and the Forbidden Pigs.
Whose Honey Are You?	Dave Stuckey & The Rhythm Gang
Where Am I Goin'?	Deke Dickerson & The Eccofonics

Austin-tatious in the 90s: Damon Bramblett, The Hollisters and Travis County Pickin'

                           

     I posted several Carol Pierce related cds around this time last year.  My choice of 1990s Austin-centric alt-country cds doesn't have a unifying theme this year, but they'r all out of print (and shouldn't be.)  I'd also add that it's really a shame that Damon Bramblett never made another record, though I'm pretty sure he still plays fairly regularly around Austin. (And he's a dynamite live act.)


Damon Bramblett: Damon Bramblett:

Tear Him Down
Heaven Bound
Falling Apart
Nobody Wants To Go To The Moon Anymore
Waiting For The Mail
1000 Hearts
Today I Started Drinking Again
When I Was Blind
Champaign, IL.
Devil On Your Side
Wouldn´t Have It Any Other Way

The Hollisters: The Land of Rhythm and Pleasure

East Texas Pines
Good For The Blues
Tyler
Better Slow Down
Sun Will Shine
Goldbrick Wheeler
Pike County Blues
Deacon Brown
Heart
Without Love
I Don't Need No Woman
Pink Adobe Hacienda

Various Artists: Travis County Pickin'

Austin-Tatious	Dave Biller
April In Paris, Texas	Jim Stringer
White Corn	Rick "Casper" Rawls
The Creeper	Brian Hofeldt
House of Cards	Sean Mencher
Oreo Swing	Joel Hamilton
Travis County Pickin'	Jim Stringer
Stranger Pickin'	Dave Biller
Danny's Boogie	Joel Hamilton
Liar's Poker	Jim Stringer
Your New Flame (Is Burnin' Me)	Sean Mencher
Ellen	Brian Hofeldt
Special K	Dave Biller
Buckaroo 2002	Rick "Casper" Rawls
The Fifth Set	Scott Wall

I Never Go Out Without My Morning Jacket

     I don't know why, but it took me an overly long time to discover My Morning Jacket.  And I doubt I'll ever see them live - where they really shine - as I don't really go to arena shows any more.  But, as they say, better late than never. And you don't need to see Jim James live to appreciate what a great singer he is.  With that in mind, here's two comps featuring the usual mix of obscurities, live tracks, as well as several cuts from Jim James' various side projects.  

Volume One

You're A Big Girl Now My Morning Jacket Across 110th Street My Morning Jacket Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.) Monsters Of Folk The Day Is Coming My Morning Jacket Thank You Too! My Morning Jacket Chills (demo) My Morning Jacket Hot Burrito #1 (Flying Burrito Brothers Cover) My Morning Jacket Wear Your Love Like Heaven My Morning Jacket True Love Ways My Morning Jacket Dream A Lil Dream O' Me My Morning Jacket Carnival Time (feat. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band) My Morning Jacket State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.) Jim James Evelyn Is Not Real My Morning Jacket Down On the Bottom Jim James Volume Two My Sweet Lord Yim Yames Lowdown My Morning Jacket It Makes No Difference My Morning Jacket  Golden My Morning Jacket Almost Was Good Enough Jim James, Bro Stephen My Revolutionary Mind New Multitudes Lullabys, Legends & Lies My Morning Jacket Leaving on a Jet Plane My Morning Jacket Like a River My Morning Jacket Knot Comes Loose My Morning Jacket Come Closer My Morning Jacket Sooner My Morning Jacket Behind That Locked Door My Morning Jacket Oh! Sweet Nuthin' [6.14.08] My Morning Jacket

It's Time for Monkeyshines

  As I've mentioned previously, I'm not big on themed mixtapes.   And yet I just couldn't resist
putting together a compilation of songs about monkeys even if some of them really aren't about monkeys.  Nor do I think I have to explain this predilection as all humans (save the villains in Planet of the Apes movies) seem to love apes, gorillas, chimps, etc.  Plus, the theme of monkeys does seem to inspire a lot of songwriters.


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One Monkey Don't Stop No Show	Honey Cone
Can Your Monkey Do The Dog	Rufus Thomas
Monkey To Man	Elvis Costello
Monkey Man	Amy Winehouse
Monkey See, Monkey Do	The New Swing Sextet
Monkey Murders	The English Beat
Ape Woman	Jimmy Smith
What Makes the Monkey Dance	Chuck Prophet
Monkeys	Echo & The Bunnymen
Fire Coming Out Of The Monkey's Head	Gorillaz
Monkey See, Monkey Do	Cliff Crofford
New Monkey	Elliott Smith
Space Monkey	John Prine
Monkey & Cork	The Sadies
Shock The Monkey	Peter Gabriel
Monkey Rag	Asylum Street Spankers
You're Bound To Look Like A Monkey	Hank Penny
Mickey's Monkey	Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Green Monkeys	Graham Parker
Monkey Time Shine	L. Hollis & the Mackadoos
Apeman	The Kinks
Don't Monkey With Another Monkey's Monkey	Johnny Paycheck

Covered in Beatles

        I fully realize that a compilation of Beatles covers is more than a bit obvious, but I just happened to listen to two truly inspired covers within days of each others a couple of months back: Wendell Stuart and the Downbeaters' "Hey Jude" and Bill Withers "Let it Be".   Hence, I just had to do Brazilian/Reggae and Soul Beatles covers compilations.  There's not quite as many obscurities - especially with respect to the soul covers- as I usually like to include in my cover comps (and I do know that Let 'Em In was not a Beatles song), but, hopefully, folks will like them.

Brazilian and Reggae Covers

Help	Caetano Veloso
Minha Vida (In My Life)	Rita Lee
And I Love Her	Byron Lee & The Dragonaires
Here Comes The Sun	Peter Tosh
With A Little Help From My Friends	Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
Ob La Di Ob La Da	Ken Lazarus
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (feat. Junior Jazz)	Easy Star All-Stars
Lady Madonna	Rogrio Duprat
You Won't See Me	Ernie Smith
The Fool On The Hill	Gal Costa
Come Together	The Israelites
Isn't It A Pity	Nicky Thomas
Blackbird Singing	Rosalyn Sweat & The Paragons
Norwegian wood	Milton Nascimento
Don't Let Me Down	Charlotte Dada
Jude	Wendell Stuart & The Downbeaters

Soul Covers

I Want To Hold Your Hand	Al Green
We Can Work It Out	Stevie Wonder
Let 'Em In	Billy Paul
Good Day Sunshine	Roy Redmond
Eleanor Rigby	Aretha Franklin
Why Don't We Do It In The Road?	Lowell Fulsom
A Hard Day's Night	The Bar-Kays
I Want You	Eddie Hazel
Drive My Car	Black Heat
Got To Get You Into My Life	Chris Clark
Day Tripper	Otis Redding
Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey	Fats Domino
Something	Isaac Hayes
My Sweet Lord	Edwin Starr
Yesterday	Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Let It Be	Bill Withers

Let's Fall in Love All Over Again With Johnny Hartman and Billy Paul

      I was listening to Billy Paul's great album Ebony Woman and thinking how overlooked he is today (save, of course, Me and Mrs. Jones).  He's 79 and may even still perform once in a while so I'd much rather give him an homage while he's still around.  Naturally, I decided to pair him up with another overlooked balladeer, albeit of the jazz variety, Johnny Hartman.

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I See The Light	Billy Paul
These Foolish Things	Johnny Hartman
Let's Stay Together	Billy Paul
When Your Lover Has Gone	Johnny Hartman
Sleepin' Bee	Johnny Hartman
Love Buddies	Billy Paul
Funny World	Johnny Hartman
Let's Fall In Love All Over Again	Billy Paul
If I'm Lucky	Johnny Hartman
Without You	Billy Paul
How Sweet It Is To Be In Love	Johnny Hartman
Missing You	Billy Paul
Everybody's Breakin' Up	Billy Paul
Lush Life	Johnny Hartman

Still a Patsy for Patsy

      I've never read anything on the phenomenon, but I've always believed that the release of the Patsy Cline biopic Sweet Dreams in 1985 was the driving force behind her late 80's posthumous revival that lasted at least until the mid to late 1990's.  And as with Johnny Cash, legions of folks still say "I don't like country music, but I like Patsy Cline".  I don't hear nearly as much about Patsy these days, but I thought I'd put together a 1) mix of her rarities and also a 2) tribute album of sorts - i.e. artists who would definitely be classified as Patsy followers on allmusic.com.

Still a Patsy for Patsy

Stop The World (And Let Me Off)

Hidin' Out

That's A How Heartache Begins

Love Letters In The Sand

Fingerprints

A Church, A Courtroom, And Then Goodbye

There He Goes

Side By Side

Crazy Dreams

You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling In Love)

I Don't Wanta

He Called Me Baby

You Belong to Me

I Can't Forget

Life's Railway To Heaven If You're So Inclined I've Got A Right To Cry Mandy Barnett Once a Day Connie Smith I'm Beginning To Forget Elizabeth Cook Blue LeAnn Rimes Three Chords And The Truth Sara Evans You Got Another Drive-By Truckers I Wish I Didn't Love You So k.d. lang My Second Hand Heart Lay Low Sad Girl Amy Allison Lead Me On Lindi Ortega In Time Kelly Hogan We Met By The Love Lies Bleeding Paula Frazer I Wonder Brenda Lee Look for Me (I'll Be Around) Neko Case Cry Tammy Wynette