Sweet Soul Music - Voices from the Shadows

If you have any interest in soul music, I highly recommend Peter Guralnick's book Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom. When it came out, Warner Brothers also put out a really great companion cd, Sweet Soul Music: Voices from the Shadow. It's been out of print for some time now, so I thought I'd post it tonight. Enjoy!

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True Love Travels On A Gravel Road Percy Sledge

Nickel And A Nail O.V. Wright

My Song Aretha Franklin

Crying In The Streets George Perkins & The Silver Stars

Separation Line Laura Lee

Some Kind Of Wonderful Soul Brothers Six

Rainbow Road Arthur Alexander

She's About A Mover Otis Clay

Heart Full Of Love The Invincibles

Hold On (To What We've Got) James Carr

Losing Boy Eddie Giles

I Paid For The Party The Enchanters

I Stayed Away Too Long Solomon Burke

Greatest Love Judy Clay

It's In The Wind Don Covay

Tabu Ley Rochereau and Franco

One of the things I've always loved about The Simpsons is the way that the show's storyline is never apparent until about 6-7 minutes in. It's also one of the things I really like about the songs of the legendary Congolese musicians Tabu Ley Rochereau and, especially, Franco. Of course, I like Franco's amazing guitar playing and Tabu Ley's voice even more. From what little I've read, there seems to have been a rivalry between the two, but they did do an album together (Omana Wapi). Continuing on in that spirit, I give you a Tabu Ley/Franco mixtape. (And if you're new to Tabu Ley and Franco, I'd highly recommend the 2 cd comps of each put out by Stern's Music.)

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Keyla Tabu Ley Rochereau

Bolingo ya bougie Franco

Ibeba Tabu Ley Rochereau

Ekoti Ya Neube Franco

Na Bosani Yo Te Franco

Londende Tabu Ley Rochereau

Lisanga Ya Ba Nganga Franco And Rochereau

Bazonzele Mama Ana Franco

DJeke Tabu Ley Rochereau

AZDA Franco

Mireille Mwana Tabu Ley Rochereau

Nalembi Nalembi Tabu Ley Rochereau

Sandoka Franco

A Rosanne By Any Other Name

Yes, I know the name of the comp is pretty lame, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying the great Rosanne Cash (whose memoir comes out in August).

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Seven Year Ache

The Summer I Read Collette

Miss The Mississippi And You

I Count the Tears

I Don't Have To Crawl

Fair And Tender Ladies

The Winding Stream

I Still Miss Someone

I Don't Want to Spoil the Party

Pink Bedroom

One Step Over The Line

Baby, Better Start Turnin' 'em Down

Our Little Angel

Seventh Avenue

What We Really Want

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

The World Unseen

Somewhere in the Stars

Besotted With Brazil Classics

While waiting in line to go see Caetano Veloso last month, I spotted David Byrne. I was really tempted to go up and ask him why there is no Brazil Classics 6 on Luaka Bop (his label) - there’s Volume 1 (Beleza Tropical), Volume 2 (O Samba), Volume 3 (Forro, Etc.), Volume 4 (The Best of Tom Ze – Massive Hits), Volume 5 (Tom Ze – The Hips of Tradition) , and Volume 7 (What’s Happening in Pernambuco). Because I’m a wee bit obsessive, I was curious. Plus, I think it would have been funny to see him look at me like I’m bonkers. But discretion (or cowardice) prevented me from acting on this impulse. Since I still wanted to make a Brazil Classics compilation, I just decided to include some tracks from Beleza Tropical 2 Novo! Mais! Melhor! – think of it as an honorary Brazil Classics cd, especially since it is on the Luaka Bop label.

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A Felicidade Tom Ze

Balanca Pema Marisa Monte

O Fole Roncou Luiz Gonzaga

Carimbo Nacio Zumbi

San Vicente Milton Nascimento

Sarau Para Ramades Paulinho da Viola

Our Monthly Bread Tom Ze

Multiply into One Tom Ze

O Leaozinho Caetano Veloso

Ela Nao Gosta De Mim Agepe

Se Vacilar O Jacare Abraca Wado E Realismo Fantastico

Chiclete Com Banana Jackson Do Pandeiro

Bog La Bog Carlinhos Brown

Acho Carlos Careqa

Querubim Dominguinhos

Vale Do Juca Siba

Doi Tom Ze

Batuco No Chao Martinho Da Silva

Quilombo, O El Dorado Negro Gilberto Gil

Succumbing to Cat and Nina

I'll confess I was trying to think of a cute name for the mixtape - you know, one that incorporated Cat Power and Nina Simone's brilliant eccentricities and Southern backgrounds. But I suppose that's something best let to someone with a better knowledge of Southern literature (and brilliant eccentricities :).

(Update: The initial mixtape had two (albeit different) versions of Werewolf, so I redid the comp and replaced the first one with Willie. And yes, my lazy ass editor apologizes for this mix-up. :)

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(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction Cat Power

Central Park Blues Nina Simone

Willie Cat Power

Nobody's Fault But Mine Nina Simone

You Don't Know What Love Is Nina Simone

Dark End Of The Street Cat Power

Solitude Nina Simone

Don't Explain Cat Power

Aretha, Sing One For Me Cat Power

Tell Me More Nina Simone

Free Cat Power

Be My Husband Nina Simone

House of the Rising Sun Nina Simone

Wild Is The Wind Cat Power

Feeling Good Nina Simone

The Werewolf Cat Power

Come On In My Kitchen Cat Power

Who Knows Where The Time Goes Nina Simone

Summoning John Doe

It took him a long time, but John Doe finally put out a full length country album with The Sadies last year. Even though I love The Sadies, I confess to being a tad skeptic about the pairing for reasons I don't quite remember now that it's my favorite solo album of his (with Forever Hasn't Happened Yet a close second). I put a couple of his early solo albums on my Rooting Around in the 80s comps last year, but this week's mixtape covers his solo albums, soundtrack cuts, live tracks, and other non-album releases (as well as one cut from the 2005 Knitters album) from the last 15-20 years. And yes, I included Take #52 again - I just couldn't help myself. :)

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7 Holes

Let's Be Mad (Acoustic)

Hwy 5 with Neko Case

There She Goes Again

Hot Burrito No. 2

Someday / No Day

Long Chain On

The Unhappy Song

A Little More Time

Speed Of Love

I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine

It Just Dawned On Me

The Cold Hard Facts of Life

Baby's In Black

Quiet Desperation

Meanest Man In The World (Live)

Big Moon

I Will Always Love You

I Can't Hold Myself in Line

I'm in Love With a Girl

Take # 52

Sucking in the 70s - Volume 2

It's a pretty commonplace notion that popular music has been targeted at teens ever since the 1950s. But when I listen to 70s pop, it's sometimes hard to believe that 12-16 year olds listened to this stuff. Then again, maybe the music explains why Gen X was so screwed up. Nah, it's best to blame that on the parents. :) Anyway, here's another 70s mixtape (you can find the first volume here).

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Rose Garden   Lynn Anderson

It Never Rains In Southern California   Albert Hammond

(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher   Rita Coolidge

My Baby Loves Lovin'   White Plains

Tell Her She's Lovely   El Chicano

I'd Love You to Want Me   Lobo

All By Myself   Eric Carmen

It's Too Late   Carole King

Tighter, Tighter   Alive 'N Kickin'

I'm On Fire   Dwight Twilley Band

I Wonder   Rodriguez

Right Back Where We Started From   Maxine Nightingale

Let Your Love Flow   Bellamy Brothers

Dreams   Fleetwood Mac

Love Hurts   Nazareth

The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia   Vicki Lawrence

Low Rider   War

I saw the Light   Todd Rundgren

You've Got a Friend   Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

Ooh La La   The Faces

Sucking in the 70s - Volume 2

It's a pretty commonplace notion that popular music has been targeted at teens ever since the 1950s. But when I listen to 70s pop, it's sometimes hard to believe that 12-16 year olds listened to this stuff. Then again, maybe the music explains why Gen X was so screwed up. Nah, it's best to blame that on the parents. :) Anyway, here's another 70s mixtape (you can find the first volume here).

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Rose Garden Lynn Anderson

It Never Rains In Southern California Albert Hammond

(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher Rita Coolidge

My Baby Loves Lovin' White Plains

Tell Her She's Lovely El Chicano

I'd Love You to Want Me Lobo

All By Myself Eric Carmen

It's Too Late Carole King

Tighter, Tighter Alive 'N Kickin'

I'm On Fire Dwight Twilley Band

I Wonder Rodriguez

Right Back Where We Started From Maxine Nightingale

Let Your Love Flow Bellamy Brothers

Dreams Fleetwood Mac

Love Hurts Nazareth

The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia Vicki Lawrence

Low Rider War

I saw the Light Todd Rundgren

You've Got a Friend Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

Ooh La La The Faces

The Soul of Staton and Swann

I’m a little out of it tonight (okay, pretty much this whole) week, so I don’t really have too much interesting to say about the subjects of this week’s mixtapes – Candi Staton and Bettye Swann. Instead, I’ll just let everyone draw their own opinions on just how freaking awesome Candi Staton’s “To Hear You Say You’re Mine” or Bettye Swann’s take on “Little Things Mean a Lot” are. Oh, and if you like the comp and this is your first exposure to Staton and Swann, you should really get the compilations of Candi Staton and Bettye Swann put out by the Honest Jon’s record label in 2004.

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Here I Am Again Candi Staton
Don't You Ever Get Tired (Of Hurting Me) Bettye Swann
I'm Lonely For You Bettye Swann
Before The Next Teardop Falls Candi Staton
Victim Of A Foolish Heart
Bettye Swann
I'm Just A Prisoner (Of Your Good Love) Candi Staton
Don't Take My Mind Bettye Swann
In Name Only Candi Staton
You Don't Have Far to Go Candi Staton
Today I Started Loving You Again Bettye Swann
He Called Me Baby Candi Staton
I Can't Let You Break My Heart Bettye Swann
Stand By Your Man Bettye Swann
Honest I Do Love You Candi Staton
Don't Wait Too Long Bettye Swann
Another Man's Woman, Another Woman's Man Candi Staton
You Gave Me Love Bettye Swann
You Don't Love Me No More Candi Staton
To Hear You Say You're Mine Candi Staton
Little Things Mean A Lot Bettye Swann

Jean Shepard - Honky Tonk Heroine

While Jean Shepard may not have had Patsy's voice or Loretta Lynn's scrappy persona and backstory, it's still a darn shame that she's not more well known (and on the jukebox in more hipster dive bars). In order to rectify that at least a little bit, I'm posting an 1995 out of print Jean Shepard cd put out by the Country Music Foundation. Enjoy some great country music.

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Twice the Lovin' (In Half the Time)

Crying Steel Guitar Waltz

A Dear John Letter

My Wedding Ring

Two Whoops and a Holler

Don't Fall in Love with a Married Man

A Satisfied Mind

Beautiful Lies

Sad Singin' and Slow Ridin'

Under Suspicion

I Want to Go Where No One Knows Me

The Other Woman

Act Like a Married Man

A Thief in the Night

He's My Baby

How Do I Tell It to a Child

Color Song (I Lost My Love)

The Root of all Evil (Is a Man)

Under Your Spell Again

One White Rose

I've Learned to Live With You (And Be Alone)

That's What Lonesome Is

Cigarettes and Coffee Blues

Second Fiddle (To an Old Guitar)

Powering Up With 90s Power Pop

I do love me some good power pop - especially on those sunny days when I'm waiting outside for the train after work with (almost) nary a care in my (semi) pretty little head. :) In that spirit, here's two mixtapes of 4 of my favorite power pop artists from the 90s (okay, I included some stuff from the late 80s - sue me): Tommy Keene, Material Issue, Kevin Salem, and Matthew Sweet.

Download Disc One

Very First Lie Material Issue

Wind and the Sun Matthew Sweet

If You're Getting Married Tonight Tommy Keene

Will Kevin Salem

Forever Gone Kevin Salem

Come To Love Matthew Sweet

Highwire Days Tommy Keene

Next Big Thing Material Issue

Kindness Kevin Salem

Thought I Knew You Matthew Sweet

Whole Lotta You Material Issue

Hey Man Tommy Keene

Love Is The Only Thing That Matters Tommy Keene

Diane [Acoustic] Material Issue

Remain Kevin Salem

Love Matthew Sweet

Download Disc Two

Back To Zero Now Tommy Keene

Lighthouse Keeper Kevin Salem

Sick Of Myself Matthew Sweet

Crazy Material Issue

Bus Stop Material Issue

Magnetic Kevin Salem

Evangeline Matthew Sweet

Turning On Blue Tommy Keene

When I Get This Way (Over You) Material Issue

Nothing Can Change You Tommy Keene

Deep Dark Love Kevin Salem

Into Your Drug Matthew Sweet

Devil With The Green Eyes Matthew Sweet

Valerie Loves Me [Live] Material Issue

If We Run Away Tommy Keene

In A Whisper Kevin Salem

All the Red in China - The Sam Phillips Collection

I’ve always really liked what Sam Phillips said about her decision to switch from Christian music to secular stuff. I can’t quite remember the exact quote, but the essence was “I’m writing about what’s in the light, rather than writing about ‘the light’”. Secular or not, Sam is an incredibly affecting singer – her singing River of Love (from The Turning, her last Christian music album) in 1989 at CBGB’s is one of my all time concert highlights. For this week's post, I've put together two 15 song mixtapes spanning Sam’s career. (And if you’re just discovering the wonder that is Sam Phillips and want more, more, more -  I’d start with either The Indescribable Wow or Cruel Inventions – they’re both gems that hold up incredibly well 20 years after they were released.) Oh, and she’s no relation to the legendary Sun Records producer Sam Phillips – I think Sam was her nickname as a child.

Download Disc One

The Fan Dance
Disappearing Act
Flame
Remorse
Love Is Not Lost
Baby I Can't Please You
I Wanna Be Your Man
Plastic Is Forever
Red Silk Five
You Fascinate Me So
Black Sky
Little Plastic Life
Zero Zero Zero!
Cruel Inventions
Out of Time

Download Disc Two

Love & Kisses
She Can't Tell Time
You Lost My Mind
These Boots are Made for Walking
Entertainmen
Infiltration
If I Could Write
What Do I Do
Flowers Up
Tell Her What She Wants To Know
Hole In Time
Private Storm
Slapstick Heart
Soul Eclipse
River of Love

Whiskey, Lies, and Tears at Joy Lynn and Jann's

Back in the salad days of the 90s, there was a debate about whether or not alternative country was just bands like Wilco, Old 97s, and Whiskeytown or if it also included country acts that were "too country" for country radio. Personally, I was kind of a "big tent" guy. Hence, this week's mixtape features Joy Lynn White and Jann Browne - a couple of great country female singers whose major label releases in the 90s never quite caught on with a mass audience even though they certainly deserved to. They're both still making music (Jann's 2007 Buck Owens tribute album is dandy) and doing the occasional live dates (Joy Lynn in Nashville and Jann in Los Angeles) but it's a shame neither of them ever made it big.

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Love's Gonna Live Here Jann Browne

Try Not To Be So Lonely Joy Lynn White

It Only Hurts When I Laugh Jann Browne

Wild Love Joy Lynn White

Tell Me Why Jann Browne

The One You Slip Around With Jann Browne

Little Tears Joy Lynn White

Playgirl (playboy) Jann Browne

Looking For You Looking For Me Joy Lynn White

Heart You Can't Ignore Jann Browne

I Doubt If It Does To You Joy Lynn White

Life's Just Too Short Joy Lynn White

One Tired Man Jann Browne

Girls With Apartments In Nashville Joy Lynn White

Where The Sidewalk Ends Jann Browne

Let`s Talk About Love Again Joy Lynn White

Blue Heart In Memphis Jann Browne

Excuse Me (I Think I've Got a Heartache) Jann Browne

Whiskey, Lies And Tears Joy Lynn White

'Til A Tear Becomes A Rose Jann Browne

I Lost It Joy Lynn White

A Rendezvous With The dB's

As I was making this dB's comp, I started to kick myself for not going to see them when they did a reunion show a couple of years back. I think I had something to do that night, but still....Anyway, if this your first introduction to the great jangle rock (is that term still used?), all the dB's releases (except Paris Avenue) are available to buy as downloads at Amazon. Now, I know the power pop aficionados tend to prefer Stands for Decibels and Repercussion, but I’m personally partial to their third release Like This.

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Neverland

Not Cool

Tell Me Two Times

Tearjerkin'

Never Say When

Working For Somebody Else

She Got Soul

From a Window to a Screen

Barometers, Thermometers

Molly Says

Bad Reputation

Soul Kiss (Part One)

Black and White

A Spy in the House of Love

Lonely Is (As Lonely Does)

Ride The Roller Coaster

Cycles Per Seconds

Rendezvous

Sharon

Modern Boys & Girls

Amplifier

Gimme a Bowl of Atlantic R&B

I can't remember which volume of the Atlantic R&B series I got first back in the late 80s, but I doubt it took me more than a year to collect all seven. They're all great (though I think I'm just a tiny bit partial to Volume 4) and even though there's more than 25 years between Volume 1 and Volume 7, there's a seamless quality when you listen to all of them on shuffle. So here are 21 of favorite songs from the Atlantic R&B series (3 from each volume).

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You Don't Miss Your Water William Bell

Just One Look Doris Troy

Teardrops From My Eyes Ruth Brown

Sweet Soul Music Arthur Conley

Love, Love, Love The Clovers

Mess Around Ray Charles

Compared to What Les McCann & Eddie Harris

Spanish Harlem Ben E. King

A Beggar For Your Kisses The Diamonds

Fools Fall In Love The Drifters

See-Saw Don Covay

Midnight Special Tiny Grimes

Rainy Night in Georgia Brook Benton

Where is the Love? Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

I'm in Love Wilson Pickett

Tee Nah Nah Harry Van Walls

Soul On Fire Lavern Baker

Cool Jerk The Capitols

A Lover's Question Clyde McPhatter

Gee Whiz Carla Thomas

Love Won't Let Me Wait Major Harris

Don't Start Him Talking - The Songs of Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly and the Messengers' 1992 album Comedy is one of those classic under-appreciated gems - just about a perfect hour of music. While Kelly's records since then have been a little inconsistent, his body of work over the last 25 year is pretty impressive. He put out a greatest hits (Songs of the South) collection in 2008, but it's only available as an import in the United States so here's 30 of my favorite Paul Kelly songs.

Download Both Discs

Disc One

Don't Start Me Talking

From St Kilda To Kings Cross

Before Too Long

Dumb Things

She's Rare

Shane Warne Song

Somebody's Forgetting Somebody (Somebody's Letting Somebody Down)

Khe Sanh

Luck

Little Kings

Let's Fall Again

The Foggy Fields Of France

Moon In The Bed

I Had Forgotten You

Big Heart

Disc Two

Last Train to Heaven

Your Little Sister (Is a Big Girl Now)

Special Treatment

Difficult Woman

Young Lovers

Careless

Little Decisions

Same Old Walk

Ball And Chain

You're So Fine

The Ballad Of Queenie & Rover

Yil Lull

Ghost Town

Adelaide

Pidgeon/Jundamurra

I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself - Volume 2

As I mentioned last year, I used to do an anti-Valentine Day show every year when I had my alternative country radio show. While those days may be an increasingly a distant memory, it's still, um.....I don't know if "fun" is the right word, but I still like doing them. In that spirit, I present this year's batch of songs of recrimination, remorse, revenge, and regret.

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I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself Isaac Hayes

Streets Of Baltimore Charley Pride

The World Of Broken Hearts Elvis Costello

The Grand Tour George Jones

Patch My Heart The Mad Lads

Cry Me A River Caetano Veloso

I Wake Up Crying Chuck Jackson

Drown in My Own Tears Percy Sledge

How Can I Go On Without You Jimmy Scott

No Easy Way Down Mark Eitzel

Love Is A Losing Game Amy Winehouse

Woman Left Lonely Cat Power

That Other Woman Got My Man And Gone Margie Joseph

Tears Don't Care Who Cries Them k.d. lang

All Blue Cheri Knight

About the Blues Julie London

Cry On The Detroit Cobras

Don't Forget To Cry Mandy Barnett

It's All Over Now Holly Golightly

Tracks of My Tears Aretha Franklin

A Cavalcade of Kelly Willis

It's kinda hard to believe that it's been 20 years since Kelly Willis' first album came out. I always thought she'd become a bigger star, but maybe that cliche "too country for rock, too rock for country" really did hinder her career. But I'd rather not dwell, so here's a great little homage to Ms. Willis put together by blog readers Al (the A sides) and Jerald (the B sides). Though I did pick out the picture. :)

Download The A Sides

Bang Bang

Reason to Believe

The More That I'm Around You

Sincerely (Too Late to Turn Back Now)

Take Me Down

Heaven's Just a Sin Away

Easy (As Falling Apart)

Cradle of Love

I Don't Want To Love You (But I Do)

River of Love

Wrapped

Hidden Things

Not What I Had in Mind

What World Are You Living in?

Get Real

If I Left You

Whatever Way the Wind Blows

Drive South

Teddy Boys

Success

Download The B Sides

It's A Cheatin' Situation

Little Honey

Your Cheatin' Heart

Parallel Bars

Ride Me Down Easy

That's How I Got To Memphis

Rex's Blues

The Only One

When My Baby's Beside Me

Golden Ring

Shine

Lady Yesterday

When I Loved You

Absentee Rag

Truckstop Girl

The Circle

Friendless Marriage

We Always Fight When We Drink Gin

Take Me

Me And Mr. Jones

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

--

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

Everyone Waits For Tom

Well Xmas is now about 3 minutes old on the East Coast, so here's a little tribute to Mr. Tom Waits to well, I guess it doesn't fit too well into a stocking. Special thanks for the inspiration to put this together go to the website carnivalsaloon.blogspot.com.

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Whistlin' Past The Graveyard Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Jersey Girl Holly Cole

Innocent When You Dream Great Lake Swimmers

Looks Like I'm Up Shit Creek Again Nora O'Connor

Bronx Lullaby Vamosbabe & Pascal Fricke

Temptation Diana Krall

You Can't Unring a Bell These Immortal Souls

Going Out West Gomez

I Don't Want To Grow Up Petra Haden and Bill Frisell

Foreign Affairs Eleni Mandell

New Coat Of Paint Lee Rocker

Broken Bicycles Botanica

Green Grass Cibelle

Pony Sara Watkins

Walking Spanish The Silver Hearts

Blind Love Sarah Borges & Broken Singles

Come On Up To The House Sarah Jarosz

I Think I Hear Some Echo

Okay, it's 80s music again this week. But I bet it's been a while since you listened to Echo and the Bunnymen and probably haven't heard any of their newer stuff. In that spirit, I give you 18 tracks from the pride of Liverpool including a few cuts from their 2009 release The Fountain.

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Silver

Think I Need It Too

Happy Death Men

All That Jazz

Heaven Up Here

Scissors In The Sand

All I Want

Ripeness

History Chimes

Bring On The Dancing Horses

Drivetime

My Kingdom

Stormy Weather

Sideways Eight

Way Out And Up We Go

A Promise

Gods Will Be Gods

Villiers Terrace

Unconsolably Cat, Cline, and Cohen

Now I didn't just choose to put together Cat Power, Patsy Cline and Leonard Cohen in a mixtape because of their alliterative last names, but, well, it didn't hurt. :) So here's a couple of comps featuring those late night bards designed to keep you company in the winter nights ahead.

Both Discs

Disc One

You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It) Patsy Cline

Master Song Leonard Cohen

Song To Bobby Cat Power

Lord, Help The Poor & Needy Cat Power

Morning Glory Leonard Cohen

Your Kinda Love Patsy Cline

Half Of You Cat Power

Came So Far for Beauty Leonard Cohen

Why Can't He Be You Patsy Cline

Leavin' On Your Mind Patsy Cline

It Ain't Fair Cat Power

Winter Lady Leonard Cohen

If I Could See the World (Through the Eyes of a Child) Patsy Cline

Paths Of Victory Cat Power

Tower of Song Leonard Cohen

Disc Two

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction Cat Power

Does Your Heart Beat for Me? Patsy Cline

Then You'll Know Patsy Cline

Story Of Isaac Leonard Cohen

He Was A Friend Of Mine Cat Power

Tacoma Trailer Leonard Cohen

If I Could Only Stay Asleep Patsy Cline

The Greatest (Solo Version) Cat Power

Who By Fire Leonard Cohen

One of Us Cannot Be Wrong Leonard Cohen

Baby Doll Cat Power

Strange Patsy Cline

I Can't Forget Leonard Cohen

Silver Stallion Cat Power

The Wayward Wind Patsy Cline

Pretty and High: A Roches Collection

I've never been very good at predicting what people will like and I'm especially bad at predicting which bands are due for a revival. That said, I do think those lovable quasi-folkies The Roches are about due for a comeback. Granted, they could be a tad precious occasionally....but their great harmonies, wry and inventive songwriting, not to mention Robert Fripp's guitar on their early works will always endear them to me. So here's a compilation to start the Roches revival train on its way. :)

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We

Down The Dream

Face Down at Folk City

My Sick Mind

Losing True

Steady with the Maestro

Pretty and High

I Love My Mom

Louis

Come Softly to Me

I Fell in Love

The Train

Mr. Sellack

The Scorpion Lament

Older Girls

This Feminine Position

The Married Men

The Angry Angry Man

Hammond Song

Keep on Doing What You Do/Jerks on the Loose

On the Right Side of Christmas

Is it just me or does there seem to be a lot more Christmas albums than there used to be? And if so, why is that? (Not that I'm complaining, mind you.) Anyway, enough with the questions without a real answer - here's an Xmas music compilation for everybody.

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Cool Yule Louis Armstrong

To Heck With Ole Santa Claus Loretta Lynn

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Darlene Love

The Christmas Song The Raveonettes

I'd Like You For Christmas Julie London

World of Love Binky Griptite & the Dee-Kay's

Merry Christmas Baby James Brown

Christmas Lullaby Shane MacGowan & The Popes

Dashing Through the Snow Duke Ellington

Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas The Staple Singers

Christmas Tree On Fire Holly Golightly

What Will Santa Claus Say (When He Finds Everybody Swinging) Louis Prima

Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) Elvis Presley

Spotlight on Christmas Rufus Wainwright

Christmas Is Lou Rawls

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Ella Fitzgerald

Santa Will Find You Mindy Smith

Dark Christmas Dex Romweber Duo

We Wish You A Merry Christmas Kim Weston

Thanks For Christmas The Three Wise Men (aka XTC)

Just Like Christmas Low

All I Want For Christmas Is You Carla Thomas

Lonely Christmas Call George Jones

Make It Home Juliana Hatfield

Another Trip Back to Alternative Country

Well, you didn't think I would just make two 90s alt-country compilations, did ya? I mean, there was a LOT of good alt-country music in the 90s. So I give you Volume 3 (late night driving music) and Volume 4 (Texas artists).

Download Volume 3

Dreaming Cowboy Sally Timms

I'm So Lonesome Without You Hazeldine

Safe Within Your Arms Greg Garing

Heart, I Wish You Were Here Robbie Fulks

Holy Ghost Scud MountainBoys

Broke Down One Fell Swoop

All God's Children Simon Bonney

Halfway To Madness Tarnation

The Best I Can Do Dirtball

Withered and Died Caitlin Cary

The Man Of Somebody's Dream Chris Gaffney

Two Seconds The Volebeats

Halogen D. Braxton Harris

Thief Blood Oranges

Leaving Angel Dean & The Zephyrs

If I Were You Tom Leach

Cheater's World Amy Allison

Burning Memories Katy Moffatt

Sudden Stop Kelly Hogan & The Pine Valley Cosmonauts

Cry Mike Ireland And Holler

Download Volume 4

Clay Pigeons Blaze Foley

Horseshoe Lounge Slaid Cleaves

Wild Things Gurf Morlix

Forget Thinkin' Beaver Nelson

Cowboy Ramsey Don Walser

White Corn Casper Rawls

Shadows Where The Magic Was James Hand

Tucumcari, Here I Come Dale Watson

Bandera Highway Ray Campi & Rosie Flores

West Texas Heaven Kimmie Rhodes

$100 Bill Jon Dee Graham

Polkadots And Moonbeams The Hot Club Of Cowtown

The Lay of the Land Lisa Mednick

Rear View Mirror Bobby Earl Smith

Heaven Bound Damon Bramblett

All Right I'll Sign The Papers Justin Trevino

Blue Tatoo Marti Brom

Spit and Tears The Damnations TX

One by One Michael Fracasso

Loose Diamond David Halley & Rich & Katy Brotherton

A Trip Back to Alternative Country

I realize the 2010s are almost upon us and at some point I may make a best of 2009 compilation, but tonight's post is devoted to alternative country from the 1990s - specifically, the alt-country artists and bands from the 90s that didn't receive the attention of Wilco, Whiskeytown, Old 97s, etc.

Disc One

Long Time A Comin' Bap Kennedy

The Calm Comes After Kate Jacobs

A Little Bluer Than That Irene Kelley

On The Streets Rico Bell

Monterey Paul Burch & the WPA Ballclub

Blue Stranger Paul Kelly & the Messengers

Love Is Not Blind Lonesome Bob

Lie, Memory, Lie Dallas Wayne

Pictures Of China Tandy

Cycle Of Days The Schramms

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Dale Ann Bradley

Weight Of The World Christy McWilson

Big Time Broken Heart Terry Anderson

Jealous of the River Pat Haney

Songs Bottles Are Broken To Forever Goldrush

Link Of Chain Chris Smither

Try It Again Royann Calvin

Hands Off Courtney & Western

Highway Junkie Chris Knight

Can't Let Go Randy Weeks

Disc Two

County Fair Phil Alvin
Red, Red Wine And Cheatin' Songs Marty Stuart

Red Headed Woman Deke Dickerson & The Eccofonics

It's a Mystery to Me Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys

Kansas City Kitty Dave Stuckey & The Rhythm Gang

Oh Lonesome Me Anna Fermin's Trigger Gospel

Wake Up Screaming Jim Lauderdale

Must've Been High Supersuckers

George's Bad Day Biller & Wakefield

Big Black Cadillac Sonny Burgess

Fool on a Stool Bill Kirchen

King of the Blues Dick Curless

Gastonia The Starroom Boys

Bustin' Up Jim Campilongo and the 10 Gallon Cats

She's A Nail In My Heart Jeff Bright & The Sunshine Boys

Lester Leaps In Ray Condo & His Ricochets

Blue Moon Blue Neil Mooney

Little M Flat Duo Jets

I Don't Do Floors Jann Browne

Your Old Used To Be Souvenirs

More Kirsty Kronikles

Since Kirsty Maccoll put out so much good stuff that wasn't on her formal releases (I mean, how could I make a Kirsty comp without There's a Guy Works Down the Cornershop or her covers of Train in Vain, Walk Right Back, etc) , here's Volume III of The Kirsty Kronikles. Oh Kirsty, we really miss you.

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A New England

Train in Vain

Teenager In Love

Miss Otis Regrets/Just One Of Those Things [feat. The Pogues]

King Kong

They Don't Know

Sail Away [Ghostland & Kirsty]

Other People's Hearts

There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis

Closer To God

Hard To Believe

Terry

The Butcher Boy

Walk Right Back

Manhattan Moon