Saturday, November 28, 2020

On the Right Side of Christmas 2020

       I don't have anything insightful or deep to say about Christmas music (or Christmas) in a pandemic, though I do think the cover art for this year's comp is somehow apt for 2020.   As usual, I've re-upped all the previous Xmas compilations.  Also, if you're looking for a deeper dig into Christmas music, I highly recommend the site Hip Christmas.

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White Christmas

Big Maybelle

Merry Christmas Baby

Bonnie Raitt & Charles Brown

Santa Claus Baby

The Voices

Reindeer Boogie

Hank Snow

The Little King Jesus

The Joystrings

Rock & Roll Santa

5.6.7.8's

Felicidades

Cheo Feliciano

Holiday On Skis

Al Caiola & Riz Ortolani

Why Should Christmas Be So Hard

Attic Lights

The Night Before Christmas

The Playboys

Christmas Time Is Here

Ed Harcourt

Middle of Winter

Peppermint Harris

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

T Bone Burnett

Everything's Changed At Christmas But You

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors

Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto

Anthony Hamilton

Hey Santa Claus

The Moonglows

Brand New Christmas

Hot Chocolate

The Little Drummer Boy

Dandy Warhols

Down We Go (Sledding Song)

Mac McCaughan & Annie Hayden

Wake up Christmas Morning

The Mighty Spoiler

Heart On Snow

Marc Almond

Christmas Fais Do Do

Marcia Ball

Crazy Santa Claus

The Debonaires

Auld Lang Syne

B. B. King

 

Sunday, November 1, 2020

Dylan, Hank, and Townes

       I was more than a little ambivalent/nervous about putting together a compilation of Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, and Townes Van Zandt given their vast catalogs and, more pertinently, my relative lack of expertise about all three. It's also why I didn't try to come up with a thematic approach like Dylan, Hank and Townes sing about death.  But, as someone else must have said at some point, a homage is still a homage.  I tried not to include too many standards, but I just couldn't pass up including some.  Anwyay, hope the combination of the three works for folks.  Also, I re-upped my Townes Van Zandt tribute compilations.

 Download both volumes

  Volume 1

Meet Me In The Morning

Bob Dylan

No Deal

Townes Van Zandt

I Don't Care

Hank Williams

The Prodigal Son

Hank Williams

Song To Woody

Bob Dylan

Forever, For Always, For Certain

Townes Van Zandt

Tennessee Border

Hank Williams

At My Window

Townes Van Zandt

Most of the Time

Bob Dylan

May You Never Be Alone

Hank Williams

Snake Song

Townes Van Zandt

As I Went Out One Morning

Bob Dylan

The Love That Faded

Bob Dylan

My Sweet Love Ain't Around

Hank Williams

Pancho And Lefty

Townes Van Zandt

A Mansion On The Hill

Hank Williams

Ballad of a Thin Man

Bob Dylan

Waiting Around To Die

Townes Van Zandt

Volume 2

Lost Highway

Hank Williams

No Lonesome Tune

Townes Van Zandt

Obviously Five Believers

Bob Dylan

Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum

Bob Dylan

Man Gave Names To All The Animals

Townes Van Zandt

Six More Miles (to the Graveyard)

Hank Williams

I'll Keep It with Mine

Bob Dylan

None but the Rain

Townes Van Zandt

We Live in Two Different Worlds

Hank Williams

Pretty Boy Floyd

Bob Dylan

Only Him or He

Townes Van Zandt

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Townes Van Zandt

I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive

Hank Williams

That's All Right, Mama

Bob Dylan

I'll Be A Bachelor 'Til I Die

Hank Williams

Rex's Blues

Townes Van Zandt

They'll Never Take Her Love From Me

Hank Williams

Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You

Bob Dylan


Friday, October 2, 2020

Always put a little Jackie DeShannon and Jessie Baylin in your playlist

        I apologize for the long and pretty uninventive name of this month's compilation, but, like most of the planet, it feels really difficult to be very inventive these days. However, you shouldn't let that deter you from enjoying some pretty inspiring pop music, which I think we all need right about now.  I can't imagine there are many folks reading this who aren't familiar with Jackie DeShannon, but if you're looking for more Jessie Baylin, I'd recommend Little Spark or Dark Place.  


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To Hell and Back                          Jessie Baylin

Lay, Baby, Lay                          Jackie DeShannon

Thorns                                          Jessie Baylin

Walkin' Down the Line                  Jackie DeShannon

Oh, Boy                                          Jackie DeShannon

Hurry Hurry                                  Jessie Baylin

Heavy Burdens Me Down               Jackie DeShannon

San Francisco                                  Foxygen (w/Jessie Baylin)

Put A Little Love In Your Heart Jackie DeShannon

Sparkle Shoelaces                      Jessie Baylin

Am I Making It Hard On You Jackie DeShannon

Lonely Game                                Steelism (w/Andrew Combs and Jessie Baylin)

God Only Knows You Now        Jessie Baylin, Dave Stewart

Sooner Or Later                        Jackie DeShannon

Was I On Your Mind                Jessie Baylin

Needles And Pins                      Jackie DeShannon

Colour                                        Wild Cub featuring Jessie Baylin

The Weight                                Jackie DeShannon

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant



When I was putting together the 50's music compilations last year, I kinda rediscovered my affection for the country jazz stylings of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant.  After listening to the compilations put out by Razor and Tie several times, I decided to look them up and discovered they were out of print, at least in the United States.  Moreover, practically none of their music - save their last album together - is available for streaming.  In order to rectify the situation, here are both of their out of print Razor and Tie compilations.  Enjoy!



Stratosphere Boogie
Blue Bonnet Rag
Cotton Pickin'
Old Joe Clark
Sleepwalker's Lullabye
Arkansas Traveler
The Night Rider
Low Man on a Totem Pole
Speedin' West
Comin' On
Bryant's Bounce
Midnight Ramble
Pickin' Peppers
Shuffleboard Rag
Bustin' Thru
Flippin' the Lid


Frettin' Fingers
Lover
Two Of A Kind
Yodeling Guitar
West Of Samoa
Opus 1
Truck Driver's Ride
T-Bone Rag
Skiddle-Dee-Boo
China Boy
Railroadin'
Jammin' With Jimmy
Deep Water
This Ain't The Blues
The Rolling Sky
Whistle Stop
Hillcrest (Opus 3)
Pushin' The Blues
Swingin' On The Strings
Caffeine Patrol

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Don't Fence Him In: A David Byrne Retrospective

        It's almost 37 years since I saw Talking Heads at Forest Hills Stadium, in what was probably one of their last concerts.  I can't say I've loved all his solo work, but it's still really impressive how vital an artist he remains (and I've been kicking myself for not going to see American Utopia).  Anyway, hope this comp serves as a nice little antidote to whatever ails you during pandemic summer.


Disc 1
Psycho Killer Talking Heads
Snoopies De La Soul feat. David Byrne
Said & The Ants David Byrne
Don't Fence Me In David Byrne
The Dream Police David Byrne
Let's Get Ready To Rumba David Byrne
The Lighthouse David Byrne & Brian Eno
Waters Of March David Byrne & Marisa Monte
Five Golden Sections David Byrne
I Should Watch TV David Byrne & St. Vincent
It's Not Dark Up Here David Byrne
Maria Lando David Byrne
Jingle of the Record Tom Ze
Body in a River David Byrne
Just The Motion David Byrne
Let The Mystery Be 10,000 Maniacs
Disc 2
Loco de Amor (Crazy for Love) David Byrne & Celia Cruz
Please Don't Santigold
Gypsy Woman David Byrne
Garbage Disco  Brian Eno & David Byrne
Lazarus David Byrne & St. Vincent
A Cloud Of Light David Byrne
Glass Operator David Byrne
Asa Branca Forro In The Dark
Yolanda Nigüas Cafe Tacuba & David Byrne
Knotty Pine Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
Under Heavy Manners Robert Fripp
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter David Byrne (w/Thievery Corporation)
The Cowboy Mambo (Hey Lookit Me Now) David Byrne
Hoy No Le Temo A La Muerte La Portuaria
Dance on Vaseline David Byrne
God's Child Selena Feat. David Byrne

Monday, June 29, 2020

The Texas Legends Series - Volume Four: Terry Allen and James McMurtry

      I'm trying not to dwell on the stuff I missed because of the pandemic, but.....I'm still a little bummed that I didn't get to see Terry Allen as he was scheduled to play a concert in Brooklyn last month.  I've never seen him live and his new album Just Like Moby Dick is really impressive - probably his best since Lubbock on Everything.  I should note that I don't have a cut from the new one on this compilation because I finished putting it together before I heard about the new album.  Also, I've re-upped the previous Texas Legend Series compilations as well as the following Texas artists and compilations:

The Damnations' Where it Lands
The 3 named singer-songwriter compilation
The Robert Earl Keen - Lyle Lovett compilation
A Trip Back to Alternative Country - Volume 4 compilation
The Wondrous Ways of Willie Nelson 

Download

The Bottom of the World Terry Allen
We Can't Make It Here James McMurtry
Tired Of Walking James McMurtry
Texas Tears Terry Allen & The Panhandle Mystery Band
Sixty Acres James McMurtry
I Blame God Terry Allen
How'm I Gonna Find You Now James McMurtry
Gonna California Terry Allen
Writing on Rocks Across the U.S.A. Terry Allen
Safe Side James McMurtry
The Burden Terry Allen
Fight (Tonight's The Night) James McMurtry
Amarillo Highway Terry Allen
Too Long In The Wasteland James McMurtry
Southern Comfort Terry Allen
Levelland James McMurtry

Sunday, May 31, 2020

King Me: Selections from the Carole King Canon

     
    It's kinda hard to resist a certain romantic nostalgia for places like Tin Pan Alley, the Brill Building, the Motown Hitsville USA house, the Philadelphia International Records Building, etc of yore.  On the other hand, it also seems a little strange to imagine songwriters and musicians going off to work from 9-5 in suits.  And when you go by those places now, they seem like any other building (i.e. I was a little let down when I finally went and saw the Philadelphia International Records building). It has been more than 15 years since I read  Ken Emerson's great book  "Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era", but I'm pretty sure I would still recommend it for its revealing portraitures of King (and Goffin) and the other talented songwriters who worked at the Brill Building.   It also means that this collection of Carole King songs is way overdue.  Hope it brings a little joy during these chaotic times.


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My Inspiration The Mad Lads
Yours Until Tomorrow Bettye Swann
Up on the Roof The Drifters
Chains The Beatles
I'm into Something Good Herman's Hermits
Wasn't Born To Follow Uncle Tupelo
Don't Bring Me Down The Animals
I Can't Make It Alone Maria McKee
Don't Forget About Me Dusty Springfield
It's Too Late The Stylistics
No Easy Way Down Hour Glass
I Can't Say Goodbye to You The Everly Brothers
The Loco-Motion Little Eva
Oh No Not My Baby Aretha Franklin
Hi De Ho (That Old Sweet Roll) Carla Thomas
So Much Love Alton Ellis
Let Me Get Close To You Alex Chilton
You've Got a Friend Pou Vannary
Crying In The Rain Rockpile
Will You Love Me Tomorrow Bryan Ferry

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Notes from the Paisley Underground

Early in 2019, four of the most prominent bands from the Paisley Underground movement in the 1980s released 3X4, wherein each of the bands covered one song by the other three bands.  Listening to that album, belatedly discovering this oral history of the scene (the article was written in 2013)  around the same time, and finding the long out of print Rainy Day album on the internet all, of course, led to an irresistible urge to put together the compilation below.  I should note that the Burn and Shine blog put together an excellent compilation called Paisley Underground: 1981-1990 back in 2011.  As the blog seems to have been defunct for several years, I did use several of the tracks from that compilation on mine as well.  Anyway, hope people enjoy it.

P.s. I highly recommend watching the video for Rainy Day's I'll Keep it With Mine (it's just the song with footage from the 1961 Guy DeBord film, CRITIQUE OF SEPARATION.)

P.P.S. Rest in peace, Tony Allen. I've re-upped my one disc career retrospective of his work.

P.P.S. I've re-upped several other LA-centric posts, including the a) Byrds/Three O'Clock/Army Navy compilation, b) the Los Angeles music scene comps, c) the Tom Waits/Eleni Mandell/Aimee Mann/Stan Ridgway comps, d) the 90s roots revivalist scene

P.P.P.S. Rest in peace, David Roback.  There's a good article on the LA Times website about the Paisley Underground scene, especially his friendship with Hoffs.

Download both discs

Side A
You Are My Friend The Rain Parade
It's About Time The Pandoras
Let It Rain Dream Syndicate
Fading Away Green On Red
Hold On True West
John Riley Rainy Day
I'll Keep it With Mine Rainy Day
Northern Line Opal
Only Business The Rain Parade
Old World Viva Saturn
Seeing Is Believing Three O'Clock
All About You The Bangles
And She Rides The Long Ryders
John Hardy The Gun Club
No Free Lunch Green on Red
Side B
My Only Friend Opal
Astronomy Thin White Rope
Ghost on the Highway Gun Club
Her Head's Revolving The Three O'Clock
The Days Of Wine And Roses The Dream Syndicate
Here On Earth As Well The Dream Syndicate
What's She Done To Your Mind The Rain Parade
Happy Nightmare Baby Opal
Getting Out of Hand The Bangs
The Word Is Out Danny & Dusty
Hot Generation The Pandoras
And Leave and Leave Me To Damascus
Hollywood Holiday True West
You Wanted Me To Hang Around Wednesday Week
Sloop John B. Rainy Day

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Sucking in the '70s - Volume 7

     I typically post at the end of the month, but I completed my newest compilation a few days ago and since a lot of us are stuck in our respective homes now, I figured I'd share it a little early.   I'm pretty sure I said 5-6 years ago that I wouldn't do another 70's music compilation, but I just kept hearing songs that really deserved another volume so there you go.   I've also re-upped all the previous volumes as well as the Saluting the 70's compilations.  Stay safe and be well everybody.

Download

Stand by Your Man Tammy Wynette
And It Didn't Even Bring Me Down Doug Sahm
Ain't Understanding Mellow Jerry Butler
Love Jones Brighter Side Of Darkness
Best Of My Love The Emotions
You're So Vain Carly Simon
Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation The Dells
Baby I'm a Want You Bread
Have You Seen Her? The Chi-Lites
I Think It's Going To Rain Today Cass Elliot
Give Me Another Chance Big Star
Baby Blue Badfinger
Dancing In The Moonlight King Harvest
The Star Of My Show Dusty Springfield
Drowning in the Sea of Love Joe Simon
I Love You For All Seasons The Fuzz
Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma Melanie
The City Of New Orleans Arlo Guthrie
A Natural Man Lou Rawls
Me And Mrs. Jones Billy Paul

Monday, March 2, 2020

Just Watching the Dark: A Richard Thompson Collection


     I've always been a bit hesitant to put together a Richard Thompson compilation.  I'm certainly a fan, but I feel like my appreciation of his musical virtuosity can't compare to the legions of true believer Richard Thompson fans.  Plus, I don't think my favorite RT albums (Daring Adventures, Mirror Blue, Sweet Warrior) are most other fans' favorites.  But life is short, his career has been long and fruitful, and I felt like doing it.    I also should note that his version of Mose Allison's Parchman Farm is quite dandy, but I had already put together the compilation prior to hearing it.

Download both discs

Volume 1

Guns Are the Tongues
Cold Feet
Sunset Song
The Rattle Within
The Coo Coo Bird
Valerie
Gypsy Love Songs
Sibella
General Taylor
Outside Of The Inside
Shoot Out The Lights
Fully Qualified To Be Your Man
Sweetheart On The Barricade
A Heart Needs a Home
Trafalgar Square

Volume 2

Story of Isaac (Live)
Baby Don't Know What To Do With Herself
Will Ye No Cam Back Again / Cam O'er The Stream Charlie / Ye Banks And Braes
Wrong Heartbeat
Stony Ground
The Money Shuffle
MGB-GT
End of the Rainbow
Small Town Romance
From Galway to Graceland
Mingulay Boat Song
Guitar Heroes
When The Spell Is Broken
Backlash Love Affair
Dimming Of The Day / Dargai

Friday, January 31, 2020

Among the Great Revivalists and Select Twang - A Collection Of Obscure 1990s Gems

        It's finally dawning on me that it's a new decade.  Consequently, I've been dwelling a bit on the idea that it's now the 2020's and that 20-30 years from now, people will almost be certainly referring to the 2020's when they talk about the "20's".  Now, I was born in the 1960s so it's not like I have any memories of living in the 1920s, but still......it just feels a little disorienting as the decade of the 1920's and the phrase "the 20's" has certain connotations for me.   Anyway, this is my very roundabout way of introducing tonight's compilation -  a collection of 90's/early 00's bands, most notably the Asylum Street Spankers, doing 20's and 30's style music.  Also, a blog reader has contributed a dandy collection of alternative country artists and bands from the 1990's.  (I've also re-upped all my 90s alternative country comps.)

Among the Great Revivalists

I'm a Bear in a Ladies' Boudoir Asylum Street Spankers
Big Boat Devil In A Woodpile
Tight Like That Asylum Street Spankers
Little Kisses White Ghost Shivers
The Minor Waltz Asylum Street Spankers
Darling Nikki Christina Marrs
Lover's Lane Squirrel Nut Zippers
Treatment Bound Asylum St. Spankers
Shake 'Em On Down Tarbox Ramblers
Easy Ridin' Mama Devil In A Woodpile
Digga Digga Doo Asylum Street Spankers
Mozzarella Rag 8 1/2 Souvenirs
Deed I Do Katharine Whalen
Blade Of Grass Asylum Street Spankers
Got Just What I Want Devil In A Woodpile
U.F.O. Attack Asylum Street Spankers
Put a Lid on It The Squirrel Nut Zippers
Tell It To Me The White Ghost Shivers
Deep Ellum Blues Asylum Street Spankers
It Ain't You Squirrel Nut Zippers
Shave 'em Dry Asylum Street Spankers
Select Twang
Cheater's World Amy Allison 
Beer & Kisses Amy Rigby
Gotta Be A Better Way Belle Starr
Just What I Need Big Back Forty
Patience Of A Working Man Blackie And The Rodeo Kings
After All Boondogs
Turn Away Dick Prall Band
Torn Between Love and Hate Okeh Wranglers
Black Road Flathead 
Couldn't Get Along Frog Holler
Cold Feet Hayseed
Never Been To Memphis Last Train Home
Under The Rainbow With You Michael Hall 
Under The Shadetree D. Braxton Harris 
Missouri Roads One Fell Swoop
Rockhouse Boogie Rockhouse Ramblers
Arizona Moon Ranch Romance
It All Depends On You Hillbilly Idol
Big Blue Say Zuzu
Three-Wheelin' One Riot One Ranger
Burn Your Piano The Barkers
Born to Lose You The Felsons
50 Miles Of Bad Road Weed Patch
Bloody Williamson Rockhouse Ramblers
You Might Get Hurt Suzette and The Neon Angels