Richard Buckner and Elliott Smith - The Bards of Gen X

For reasons I won't go into here, I've always been suspicious of the term "voice of a generation". On the other hand, I've always kind of thought of Richard Buckner and Elliott Smith as well, ..... the voice of Gen X - or better yet, the voice of a small, but not insignificant subset of Gen X. (The social scientist in me always comes out.) Whatever you want to call them, they are two of my favorite artists and I think their stuff still holds up remarkably well. So here's two mixtapes (combined into one download) featuring album cuts, obscurities, live tracks, etc.

Download Both Discs

Disc One

Pull Richard Buckner

Tomorrow Tomorrow Elliott Smith

Pretty (Ugly Before) Elliott Smith

Lucky Buzz Richard Buckner

Angel In The Snow Elliott Smith

Sister Richard Buckner

When Love Is Gone Richard Buckner

kiwi maddog 20/20 Elliott Smith

Her Richard Buckner

Stickman Elliott Smith

Place Pigalle Elliott Smith

Hard Ground Richard Buckner

Wouldn't Mama Be Proud? Elliott Smith

Disc Two

Because Elliott Smith

Gauzy Dress in the Sun Richard Buckner

Oscar Hummel Richard Buckner

Needle In The Hay Elliott Smith

Do You Want To Go Somewhere? Richard Buckner

New Disaster Elliott Smith

Rose Parade Elliott Smith

Dusty from the Talk, Richard Buckner

A Living Will Elliott Smith

Mile Richard Buckner

Poor Old Tom Richard Buckner

A Passing Feeling Elliott Smith

Boys, The Night Will Bury You Richard Buckner

The True Ways of Tim Easton

At the Sadies show I went to last week, I was talking with someone about their lack of commercial success. I reasoned then that if they had been around 30-40 years ago, they probably would have had a hit single at some point. I still think that's partly true, but I also think that it's pretty much impossible for any band (i.e. most of what's called alternative country) to straddle the rock and country genres today whereas that wasn't the case in the 70s.* Case in point is tonight's featured artist - Mr. Tim Easton. He's put out five great solo albums (Okay, Ammunition isn't that great, but Porcupine is a real nice return to form), but I think the fact that his songs are "kinda" twangy has unfortunately limited his commercial success. On that note, if you're new to Tim Easton and like what you hear, I'd start with either Special 20 or Break Your Mother's Heart. (All of his stuff is also available on e-music, with the exception of his Haynes Boys album).

* Yes, there's Wilco, but only their first two albums can really be called alternative country.

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Just Like Home

Baltimore

Burgundy Red

Get Some Lonesome

Jackie

Amor Azul

Hummingbird

Before The Revolution

Stormy

I Wish You Well

Bitters Past

All the Pretty Girls Leave Town

Troublesome Kind

I Would Have Married You

True Ways

Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha

Just in case you need more early 60s music after last week's post, here's another homage to that period. Of course, not all of the songs are from that era, but all (or just about all) have that vibe. In particular, there's a lot of Latin flavored stuff given the significant Latin influence on popular music during the 50s and early 60s. Fix yourself a caipirinha and enjoy.

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Thirteen Men Miss Ann-Margret

Mood Tattooed Les Baxter's Drums

Caravan The John Buzon Trio

Come Di 8 & ½ Souvenirs

Miami Beach Rhumba Xavier Cugat And His Orchestra

Pizziricco The Mavericks

Here Comes That Man Again Kirsty MacColl

Latin Golightly Henry Mancini & His Orchestra

El Nino Prodigio Orquestra Melodias Del 40

Cool Lou Busch & His Orchestra

If You're Goin' To The City Mose Allison

Twisted Lambert, Hendricks & Ross

Complicacion Tito Puente & His Orchestra

Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha Sam Cooke

Fascinating Rhythm Don Ralke & His Orchestra

Just You, Just Me Katharine Whalen

Big Foot Baby Carl Sonny Leyland

Pretty As A Moonbeam Irving Fields Trio

Deus Brasiliero Marcos Valle

Soul Sauce (Guacha Guaro) Cal Tjader

I'm Hip Blossom Dearie

Blue Rumba Rolley Polley

Moanin' Ray Charles

Bright Lights And Blonde Haired Women Ray Price

Ain't That A Kick In The Head Dean Martin

Dreaming With Jimmy and Roy

Like a lot of other folks, I’m really looking forward to the 4^th season of Mad Men starting next Sunday. In addition to the writing, acting, clothing, etc., I like the fact that it’s set in the early 60s (though I imagine the 4^th season will begin at some point in 1964). One of the things I find interesting about the time period is that you saw relatively little nostalgia for the era up until the mid/late 90s (the pretty brief Rat Pack/Swingers infatuation). See, my pop culture theory is that nostalgia for a time period is that it usually takes about 20 years – since the people who were 15-16 at the time are now 35-36 and capable of writing about it.

Now, I don’t really have any good explanations for why the early 60s defies this theory. Perhaps part of it may be attributed to the old canard that rock music died during this period (until the Beatles and Stones brought it back to life). Just to be clear, I cancelled my subscription to that canard a long time ago as I like a lot of the popular music from that time period. In particular, I’ve always liked the operatic quality a lot of that music had, exemplified by Roy Orbison and, on the jazz side, Jimmy Scott. It’s that operatic quality they both share, as well as the fact that they have so many so songs about dreams that I thought they’d go together well in a mixtape. (P.S. I cheated a little and used some of their material that wasn’t recorded in the early 1960s. Remember, I don’t have to be as historically accurate as Mad Men.)

Disc One

In Dreams Roy Orbison

Street Of Dreams Jimmy Scott

My Prayer Roy Orbison

Stay With Me Jimmy Scott

Things That Are Love Jimmy Scott

The Actress Roy Orbison

Imagination Jimmy Scott

Shahdaroba Roy Orbison

The Crowd Roy Orbison

If I Should Lose You Jimmy Scott

Sweet Dreams Roy Orbison

I Have Dreamed Jimmy Scott

I Had A Love Once Jimmy Scott

Leah Roy Orbison

Dream Jimmy Scott

Disc Two

If You Are But A Dream Jimmy Scott

Lonely Wine Roy Orbison

Distant Dreams Roy Orbison

I Wish I Knew Jimmy Scott

Love Hurts Roy Orbison

There Is No Greater Love Jimmy Scott

Why Try to Change Me Now Jimmy Scott

The Great Pretender Roy Orbison

Don't Take Your Love From Me Jimmy Scott

Blue Angel Roy Orbison

What Good Would It Be Jimmy Scott

She Wears My Ring Roy Orbison

Beautiful Dreamer Roy Orbison

Unchained Melody Jimmy Scott

Dream Roy Orbison

Still Tripping on The Sadies - Volume 2

Since I'm hoping to go see The Sadies in a couple of weeks (and because they've just put out a great new cd Darker Circles), I thought it was time put together another Sadies mixtape (the first one is here). This one includes tracks from a couple of cds (Jon Langford's Mayors of the Moon and John Doe's Country Club) where The Sadies are basically the backing band.

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Ten More Songs

One Million Songs

Snow Squadron

Cheat

Tiger Tiger

Rat Creek

Strange Birds

I Tried Not To

Anna Leigh

The Bug Jar

The Starlight

Yours To Discover

Why Be So Curious (Part 3)

Whispering Circles

The Horseshoe

Stinking Creek

Glass Of Wine

Solitaire Song

Stop The World And Let Me Off

Lay Down Your Arms

Another Wave of Old School Reggae

As I noted last year when I put together an old school reggae mixtape, reggae seems to have acquired a bad reputation at some point in the 90s. I'm not sure exactly why, but perhaps it was people angry with their roommates playing Bob Marley's Legend (the huge selling greatest hits collection that inexplicably featured some pretty wretched versions of his songs). At any rate, I hope this doesn't deter anyone from enjoying this mixtape (or any other non-Legend Bob Marley) :)

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Coming in Hot Peter Tosh

Peace Love and Understanding The Gaylads

Things & Time Wailing Soul

Leggo Beast Steel Pulse

Keep On Moving UB40

True True True Ken Parker

I Fell In Love The Conquerors

Show Me That You Love Me Sugar Minott

On and On Aswad

Police & Thieves Junior Murvin

Come on Home Joe Higgs

Me And You Carlton And The Shoes

Chatty Chatty People Ranking

Natty Kung Fu Dillinger

Sooner or Later Jimmy Cliff

Samala Toure Kunda

Love the One You're With Phillis Dillon

Coming In From The Cold Bob Marley & The Wailers

A Good Ride with Lyle and Robert Earl

Back when I had an alternate country radio show in the 90s, I'd often do a Texas themed show around July 4. Since I put together an all Texas alt-country 90s mixtape back in November, I thought I'd focus this week on everyone's favorite Aggies - Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen. It's a little light on the obscure tracks, but heavy on the Texas themed songs.

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Cowboy Man Lyle Lovett

Amarillo Highway Robert Earl Keen

Nothing But A Good Ride Lyle Lovett

Hall Of Fame Robert Earl Keen

Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas Robert Earl Keen

That's Right (You're Not From Texas) Lyle Lovett

Corpus Christi Bay Robert Earl Keen

L.A. County Lyle Lovett

The Coming Home Of The Son And Brother Robert Earl Keen

Which Way Does That Old Pony Run Lyle Lovett

Sonora's Death Row Robert Earl Keen

Rollin' By Lyle Lovett

Just The Morning Lyle Lovett

Gringo Honeymoon Robert Earl Keen

Sold American Lyle Lovett

Levelland Robert Earl Keen

Up In Indiana [Acoustic] Lyle Lovett &His Large Band

The Front Porch Song Robert Earl Keen

Up on the Lowedown (Again)

Last year, I put together two Nick Lowe mixtapes. And since you can never go wrong with Mr. Lowe, here's Volumes 3 and 4. Now you may wonder why I've only included 2-3 tracks from his Brentford Trilogy (The Impossible Bird, Dig My Mood, The Convincer). My reasoning is that those albums are so perfect (even the sequencing of the songs is magnificent), they should be heard as such. And besides, it might have meant getting rid of Shake That Rat. :)

Volume 3

You Got The Look I Like

Without Love

Skin Deep

Shake That Rat

Cool Reaction

Little Hitler

So Heavy

(Hope To God) I'm Right

Lovers Jamboree

(Hey Big Mouth) Stand up and Say That

Ba Doom

Burning

Gai-Gin Man

Saint Beneath The Paint

Feel Again

Volume 4

What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding? (Acoustic)

Now And Always

Couldn't Love You (Any More Than I Do)

Mama Said

When I Write The Book

I Can Be The One You Love

Basing Street

A Better Man

I Trained Her To Love Me

Dream Girl

Indoor Fireworks

What Lack of Love Has Done

Different Kind Of Blue

There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is Seated At the Conference Table)

Endless Grey Ribbon

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. :)

Download

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