Rig Rock Jukebox (and Truck Stop)

          When doing my alternative country show in the 90s, I always had a fondness for compilation cds from a particular region/scene. One of my faves from this period was Rig Rock Jukebox - a collection from the Diesel Only label of primarily New York City based alt-country acts (actually, the cd came out several years before that term was coined. It's been out of print for some time now, as is the follow-up collection from Diesel Only (which featured bands from all over). The latter isn't quite as consistently good, but I still think they both hold up pretty well. (Oh, and the third Diesel Only collection, Rig Rock Deluxe, an all trucking songs collection, is still in print and the best of them all.)

Rig Rock Jukebox

Good Morning Mr. Trucker World Famous Blue Jays

Punk Rockin' Honky Tonk Girl The Blue Chieftains

Miss Fabulous Mumbo Gumbo

Leaving Angel Dean & The Zephyrs

Why I Drink Go To Blazes

Hands Off Courtney & Western

Baltimore Five Chinese Brothers

Two Hearts The Twanglers

Messed Up Thing Gwil Owen

Do It For Hank World Famous Blue Jays

I Think Hank Woulda Done It This Way The Blue Chieftains

New Blue Yodel (Blue Yodel #14) Mark Brine

Good Morning Mr. Afternoon Mumbo Gumbo

97 Miles Go To Blazes

Diplomat Courtney & Western

Diesel Only Theme (Inst.) World Famous Blue Jays

Rig Rock Truckstop

UFOs, Big Rigs & BBQ Mojo Nixon And The World Famous Blue Jays

Diesel Dazey Killbilly

Hot Black Coffee Gwil Owen

Life Preserver Angel Dean & The Zephyrs

She's A Waitress (And I'm In Love) Five Chinese Brothers

Cheeseburger Deluxe World Famous Blue Jays

Lovin' You Is Killin' Me Courtney & Western

After The Hurricane The Blue Chieftains

Messed Up Again Go To Blazes

Cheater's World Amy Allison and the Maudlins

Woke Up Surreal McCoys

Out Of The Frying Pan (Into Desire) Wheelers And Dealers

Chug-A-Lug Mojo Nixon And The World Famous Blue Jays

Too Much Coffee Gwil Owen

Hoedown In The Sky Jean Caffeine's All Night Truckstop

Ricky Skaggs Tonite Will Rigby

Second Best Angel Dean & The Zephyrs

Hotel Albert Joe Flood

Am I In Love Courtney & Western

Cookin' With Jay (Instr.) World Famous Blue Jays

Bobby, Bill, and William

Just as it was hard finding an image for this week's mixtape, it's equally difficult coming up with something meaningful to say about Bobby Womack, Bill Withers, and William Bell collectively. They're different kinds of performers with different career trajectories. But, like the compilation subheading says, they all seem to be under-appreciated in contemporary discussions of 60s and 70s soul. So here's a little reminder of their greatness.

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Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday William Bell

The Same Love That Made Me Laugh Bill Withers

When Love Begins Friendship Ends Bobby Womack

Love Ain't Something You Can Get for Free Bobby Womack

Boy Meets Girl William Bell and Mavis Staples

I Can't Write Left-Handed Bill Withers

Nothing Takes The Place Of You William Bell

If You Don't Want My Love Bobby Womack And J.J. Johnson

Heartbreak Road Bill Withers

I Wish You Well Bill Withers

American Dream Bobby Womack

Lovin' On Borrowed Time William Bell

Liza Bill Withers

Baby! You Oughta Think It Over Bobby Womack

Let Me In Your Life Bill Withers

Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye William Bell

Share What You Got (But Keep What You Need) William Bell

California Dreamin' Bobby Womack

A Taste of Caetano Veloso

This post is a little later than usual because I've been having some computer issues (the hard drive from my old computer won't spin in its new enclosure) and, as you can see, some issues coming up with a decent name for tonight's Caetano Veloso mixtape - I tried to look up some stuff in Portuguese, but I didn't want to mangle the language. But the picture is pretty cool, right? :)

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Chora Tua Tristeza

Gua

Tropicalia

Um Tom

Blues

Eleanor Rigby

Get Out Of Town

Wait Until Tomorrow

Quando Eu Penso Na Bahia

Chuvas De Verão

Baiao da Penha

Body And Soul

Pecado

Nine Out Of Ten

Enquanto Seu Lobo Não Vem

Samba Em Paz

Carolina

Charles, Anjo 45

Sucking in the '70s - Volume 3

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

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

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

I Wanna Get Next To You Rose Royce

Love Will Find A Way Pablo Cruise

Funk #49 Joe Walsh

Garden Party Rick Nelson And The Stone Canyon Band

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

You and Me Alice Cooper

Horse With No Name America

Fire On The Mountain Marshall Tucker Band

Dream Weaver Gary Wright

Could It Be I'm Falling In Love The Spinners

Afternoon Delight Starland Vocal Band

Drift Away Dobie Gray

Angel In Your Arms Hot

What Is Life George Harrison

Pure Love Ronnie Milsap

Sweet Emotion Aerosmith

Midnight Train to Georgia Gladys Knight & The Pips

The Most Beautiful Girl Charlie Rich

Heroes David Bowie

Shelby and Allison

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

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Leavin' Shelby Lynne

Alabama Song Allison Moorer

Home Sweet Home Shelby Lynne

One on the House Allison Moorer

Goodbye To The Ground Allison Moorer

10 Rocks Shelby Lynne

Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? Allison Moorer

Don't Think Twice It's Alright Shelby Lynne

Bring Me All Your Lovin' Allison Moorer

Johnny Met June Shelby Lynne

Tumbling Down Allison Moorer

Don't Get Around Much Anymore Shelby Lynne

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

Willie And Laura Mae Jones Shelby Lynne

I Only Want To Be With You Shelby Lynne

I'm Looking For Blue Eyes Allison Moorer

Tarpoleon Napoleon Shelby Lynne

Feeling That Feeling Again Allison Moorer

More Graham Parker

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

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Paralyzed

They Murdered The Clown

Maneuvers

Behind The Wall Of Sleep

Comfortably Numb

Stick To Me

No More Excuses

Little Miss Understanding

The Rest is History

Haunted Episodes

Just Like Joe Meek's Blues

2000 Funerals

Break Them Down

Passion Is No Ordinary Word

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

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

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Get Started, Start A Fire

Get over It and Move On

The Madness of Love

Museum Of Stupidity

Blue Horizon

Natalie

Bring Me A Heart Again

Howlin' Wind

Devil's Sidewalk

Impenetrable

You Hit the Spot

Sounds Like Chains

I Discovered America

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

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

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The Killing Moon Echo And The Bunnymen

Transmission Joy Division

The Hanging Garden The Cure

Madam Butterfly Malcolm McLaren

La Femme Accident Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Love Letters Alison Moyet

Pink Frost The Chills

I'm Not Losing Sleep Julian Cope

My Perfect Cousin The Undertones

I Can't Hold On Squeeze

Big Sister's Clothes Elvis Costello & the Attractions

Otis Duritti Column

Street Hassle Simple Minds

Hong Kong Garden Siouxsie & The Banshees

Ultraviolence New Order

Haunted When The Minutes Drag Love & Rockets

She Doesn't Exist Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians

How Soon Is Now The Smiths

Fine and Malo

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

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Matter Much To You Raul Malo

Are You Lonesome Tonight The Mavericks

Call Me The Breeze The Mavericks

Malo Bailare (El Merecumbe) Raul Malo

Here Comes My Baby The Mavericks

San Jose The Mavericks

Blue Moon The Mavericks

True Love Ways The Mavericks

World Without Love The Mavericks

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

Love Me The Mavericks

Siboney Los Super Seven

All That Heaven Will Allow The Mavericks

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

Keep Moving On The Mavericks

Black Is Black Raul Malo (w/Los Straitjackets)

Haunting Me Raul Malo

Dolores The Mavericks

My Secret Flame The Mavericks

Since When Raul Malo

Rubáiyát

Since Jac Holzman is being inducted in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame on Monday, I thought it would be apropos to post the out of print 1990 Rubaiyat collection from Holzman's Elektra label. The set features Elektra artists at the time covering Elektra artists from (mostly) the 60s and 70s. While it's not a perfect collection, the choice cuts, interesting oddities and guilty pleasures outweigh the dross (I'll let the listeners decide which is which. :) It's a two disc collection, but just one (large) download.

Late update: http://try-to-be-amused.blogspot.com has Rubaiyat: The Originals which is the versions by the original Elektra artists. Nice!

Even later update: I've uploaded Rubaiyat: The Originals, but I think it might be it missing
a couple of tracks because it's such a big file.

Download

Hello I Love You The Cure

House Of The Rising Sun Tracy Chapman

Seven & Seven Is Billy Bragg

I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing Jevetta Steele

Hotel California Gipsy Kings

Werewolves Of London The Black Velvet Band

Motorcycle Mama Sugarcubes

One Meatball Shinehead

Bottle Of Wine The Havalinas

Born In Chicago Pixies

You're So Vain Faster Pussycat

Marquee Moon Kronos Quartet

Get Ourselves Together Phoebe Snow

Tokoloshe Man Happy Mondays

Let's Go Ernie Isley

Going Down Lynch Mob

A Little Bit Of Rain Ambitious Lovers

You Belong To Me Anita Baker

Road To Cairo Howard Jones

Kick Out the Jams The Big F

Almost Saturday Night / Rockin' All Over the World The Georgia Satellites

Hello, I Am Your Heart Sara Hickman

Make it With You Teddy Pendergrass

The Blacksmith Linda Ronstadt

Going Going Gone Robin Holcomb, Wayne Horvitz & Bill Frisell

First Girl I Loved Jackson Browne

These Days 10,000 Maniacs

Stone Cold Crazy Metallica

Apricot Brandy Danny Gatton

Union Man Shaking Family

One More Parade They Might Be Giants

I Can't Tell You Why Howard Hewett

Mt. Airy Groove Leaders Of The New School

You Brought The Sunshine Shirley Murdock

Inbetween Days John Eddie

Love Wars The Beautiful South

Both Sides Now Michael Feinstein

T.V. Eye John Zorn

Hello, I Love You [Slight Return] The Cure

Morrissey and Bobby Bare Jr.

Even if Bobby Bare Jr. hadn't covered The Smiths' What Differences Does it Make, putting Morrissey and Bobby Bare Jr. together is kind of an obvious choice (given that Bobby's song Monk at the Disco immediately conjures up, at least in my mind, The Smith's Vicar in a Tutu). And while obviousness may destroy comedy, sometimes obvious choices are the best ones.

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Borrow Your Girl Bobby Bare Jr

Rusholme Ruffians The Smiths

Snuggling World Championships Bobby Bare Jr.

I Started Something I Couldn't Finish The Smiths

What Difference Does It Make Bobby Bare Jr.

Certain People I Know Morrissey

You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side Morrissey

Motel Time Again Bobby Bare Jr.

Suedehead Morrissey

I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing Bobby Bare, Jr.

Vicar In A Tutu The Smiths

The Monk At The Disco Bobby Bare Jr.

I Don't Mind If You Forget Me Morrissey

Rock And Roll Halloween Bobby Bare Jr.

Sad Smile Bobby Bare Jr.

Pretty Girls Make Graves The Smiths

Ocean Size Bobby Bare Jr.

Sheila Take A Bow The Smiths

More Lucinda Williams!!

As promised, here's another batch of Lucinda rarities, duets, contributions to tribute albums, etc. (Listening to Lucinda's contributions to various tribute albums, I gotta say I'm glad that's become a bigger trend over the last 20 years, even if there have been a bunch of subpar ones.)

(Late update - I forgot to mention that all the songs are tagged with the albums they initially came from in the comments section.)

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Hard Times Killing Floor Blues

Very Road

Honey Chile

Bonnie Portmore

Nothin'

A Song For You

Door #1

Room To Room

Pancakes

Down The Big Road Blues

Cold, Cold Heart

Farther Along

Angels Laid Him Away

Reunion

Lu's Blues: Obscurities, Duets, Etc. - Volume One

Geez, I really don't what to say to introduce my collection of Lucinda Williams' obscurities, duets, tribute album contributions, etc (what can I say - it's been a long week). So how 'bout just enjoy it (with Volume 2 to follow next week) and let it serve as a reminder that her new album Blessed comes out on Tuesday, March 1.

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Precious Memories (w/Hayseed)

Pyramid of Tears

Main Road

The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan

Somebody Somewhere (Don't Know What He's Missin' Tonight)

Still I Long For Your Kiss

Lately

Two Of Us (w/Doug Pettibone)

Sleepless Nights

Here in California

Cowboys To Girls (w/Chris Gaffney)

You Don't Have Very Far To Go

Dark Side Of Life

Come To Me Baby

I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself - Volume 3

Yes, it's time once again for songs of remorse, recriminations, revenge and regret. So here's Volume 3 of anti-Valentine's day songs. (If you're feeling so inclined, you can also download Vol 1 and Vol 2.)

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I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself The White Stripes

The Hurting Business Chuck Prophet

White Lies Jason & the Scorchers

Valentine Bobby Bare Jr's Young Criminals' Starvation League

992 arguments The O'Jays

You Left the Water Running Otis Redding

Rock Bottom, Pop. 1 Robbie Fulks

Christine's Tune The Flying Burrito Brothers

I'm Not Bitter The Minus 5

The Love I Lost, Pt. 1 Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Rip Off Laura Lee

Heart Of Stone The Raveonettes

He Was Gone Shannon McArdle

I Could Hurt You Now Aimee Mann

Your Lies Shelby Lynne

Your Good Thing (Is About To End) Mable John

You're No Good Betty Everett

I Don't Want You Toni Price

Can't Let Go Lucinda Williams

The Needle Has Landed Neko Case

The Kings of Rock 'n' Roll: A Prefab Sprout Collection

For the uninitiated, Prefab Sprout had a pretty big cult following in the 80s (and at least 1 top ten single in England). When they first came out, some likened them to an English Steely Dan, but that description really didn't do justice to frontman/songwriter Paddy McAloon's pop genius. Tonight's mixtapes feature a lot of obscurities as well as cuts from all of their albums (including their most recent Let's Change the World With Music) except for Steve McQueen/Two Wheels Good (okay, there is an acoustic version of Faron Young from the deluxe edition cd) and Jordan: The Comeback. I left them out because they are such perfect albums from start to finish. I really like Protest Songs as well, but it's a collection of great songs whereas Steve McQueen and Jordan are albums that I can't imagine listening to on shuffle.

Side A

The King Of Rock 'N' Roll

Vendetta

Walk On

Wicked Things

Dublin

Dragons

I Remember That

He'll Have To Go

Wild Card In The Pack

Sweet Gospel Music

Girl I'm Here

Nero The Zero

Real Life (Just Around The Corner)

Electric Guitars

Cruel

Side B

God Watch Over You

The Sound Of Crying

A Prisoner Of The Past

Faron Young

Cowboy Dreams

Wichita Lineman

Love Will Find Someone For You

Radio Love

Tin Can Pot

Spinning Belinda

Life Of Surprises

Wigs

Andromeda Heights

Donna Summer

The Golden Calf

Married to the Mob and Something Wild Soundtracks

So, tonight I decided to post some out of print 80s soundtracks from Jonathan Demme films - Something Wild and Married to the Mob. The former is the better movie, but I think the latter has a slightly better soundtrack (if perhaps only by virtue of its inclusion of Brian Eno's version of You Don't Miss Your Water.) Also, since I burned Married to the Mob from my vinyl version, there may be a few pops and crackles.

Something Wild

Loco De Amor (Crazy For Love) David Byrne & Celia Cruz

Ever Fallen In Love Fine Young Cannibals

Zero, Zero Seven Charlie UB40

With Or Without You Steve Jones

High Life Sonny Okossum

Not My Slave Oingo Boingo

You Don't Have To Cry Jimmy Cliff

Man With A Gun Jerry Harrison

Temptation New Order

Wild Thing Sister Carol

Married to the Mob

Liar Liar Deborah Harry

Queen Of Voudou The Voodooist Corporation

Jump In The River Sinead O'Connor

Bizarre Love Triangle New Order

Suspicion Of Love Chris Isaak

Time Bums Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers

Devil Does Your Dog Bite? Tom Tom Club

Goodbye Horses Q Lazzarus

Too Far Gone The Feelies

You Don't Miss Your Water Brian Eno

Vested in the Volebeats

I could write a lament about how criminally under-appreciated The Volebeats are, but since it's a bright, shiny new year, I think it's better to focus on their terrific songwriting, gorgeous melodies, and hypnotic mix of country twang and psychedelic 60s pop. (Plus, they have a dandy new self-titled cd.) So here's 16 super "should have been hits" from Detroit's finest. And for those of you new to The Volebeats and wanting more, I'd start with The Sky and the Ocean, Like Her, or their new one.

(Update Dec 2011: Due to a problem with the song I Had to Tell You, I re-upped the entire comp.)

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I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby

Back In Your Heart

Feel The Same

This Girl

World's Looking Lonely

Hamtramck Mama

I Had To Tell You

Moon Beams

One I Love

It's Alright

Standing Next to You

Maggot Brain

Not Here Not Gone

What You've Been Saying

Empty Streets

Sky and the Ocean

On the Right Side of 2010

I haven't come up with any new year's resolutions yet, but I am proud of myself for putting together my best of 2010 compilation before year's end. :) (And like last year, all the mp3s are tagged with the name of the album they come from.) Happy 2011 to everyone!

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The Game Gets Old Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Iwo Ko La Dami Tunji Oyelana and The Benders

When The Sun Don't Shine Best Coast

Everyone But You The Young Veins

Barstool Night Driving in Small Towns

Radio Gal Paul Burch

El Dorado Jim Lauderdale

Bring It On The Gaslight Anthem

The Lady And The Rose Los Lobos

Cirandar Seu Jorge and Almaz

Chicas Kamikaze Matorralman

Bang Bang Bang Mark Ronson & The Business Intl

Come Alive [War Of The Roses] Janelle Monae

Unbroken, Unshaven The Budos Band

Zebra Beach House

Small Craft On A Milk Sea Brian Eno

The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart) Ryan Bingham

The Reason Why My Heart's in Misery Lay Low

See You Tonight Volebeats

Nothing Was Stolen (Love Me Foolishly) Phosphorescent

The Talk of the Townes - Disc Two

As promised, here's a second batch of Townes Van Zandt cover tunes.

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If I Needed You Christina Kulukundis

Delta Momma Blues Steve Earle

Heavenly Houseboat Blues Christian Kjellvander

Flyin' Shoes Lyle Lovett

Pancho and Lefty Gillian Welch

Sanitarium Blues Garry Heffern & The Walkabouts

Cowboy Junkies Lament Cowboy Junkies

Tecumseh Valley Nanci Griffith

Loretta John Prine

White Freight Liner Blues J.D. Crowe

Buckskin Stallion Blues Mudhoney/Jimmy Dale Gilmore

To Live Is to Fly Thomas Denver Jonsson

Why She's Acting This Way Phosphorescent

Catfish Song Richard Buckner

The Talk of the Townes

Since I did a Tom Waits tribute last year (here and here), I figured I'd spotlight another great songwriter this year. This time, it's the Texas troubador, Townes Van Zandt. Now, Townes songs may not lend themselves to quite the stylistic variations that Waits' do, but they're still some pretty dandy songs. I should point out that there are some pretty good Townes compilations already out there (There's a Hole in Heaven Where Some Sin Gets Through, Introducing the Townes Van Zandt via The Great Unknown, Poet, as well a nice homemade mixtape at the website whenyouawake.com, all of which I took a couple of tracks from.) So it's hardly an original idea, but I hope folks still like it. I'll post Disc Two next week.

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Snake Song Emmylou Harris

Our Mother the Mountain Great Lake Swimmers

For the Sake of the Song Azure Ray

Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold Robert Earl Keen

Rex's Blues Carrie Rodriguez

I'll Be Here In The Morning Jerry Jeff Walker

Que Te Vaya Bien, Miss Carrusel Nacho Vegas

Snowing on Raton Rosalie Sorrels

No Place To Fall Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan

Rake Rhonda Harris

Colorado Girl Devendra Banhart

Snake Mountain Blues Hero Horns

Waiting Around To Die The Be Good Tanyas

My Proud Mountains John T. Van Zandt

Billie Holiday and Elis Regina - Diva a Deux

While I don't necessarily worship at the altar of Billie Holiday and Elis Regina, I do like 'em both quite a bit. And I was inspired to put 'em together by Arthur Phillips novel The Song is You where there are fairly lengthy disquisitions on both of them (and a particular version of Billie Holiday's I Cover the Waterfront is of great importance to the novel's protagonist). Of course, then, I had to start the mix with I Cover the Waterfront.

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I Cover The Waterfront Billie Holiday

Nova Estação Elis Regina

Aviso aos Navegantes Elis Regina

Too Marvelous For Words Billie Holiday

Vida de Bailarina Elis Regina

You Go To My Head Billie Holiday

Me, Myself And I Billie Holiday

Triste Elis Regina

Speak Low Billie Holiday

Aquarela do Brasil Elis Regina

I Wished On The Moon Billie Holiday

Atrás Da Porta Elis Regina

Pois E Elis Regina

Tenderly Billie Holiday

Tatuagem (Tattoo) Elis Regina

You've Changed Billie Holiday

Alô, Alô, Marciano, Marciano Elis Regina

They Can't Take That Away From Me Billie Holiday

I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm Billie Holiday

�guas De Marco Elis Regina

Lonesome Bob - Things Fall Apart

Looking back, it's a little hard to believe there was such a thing as an alt-country bandwagon in the mid to late 90s. And it's even harder to believe that certain artists and bands were criticized for jumping on said bandwagon. :) Now, to be sure, there was some alt-country dross back in those salad days, as there is with any genre. But I do hope that folks appreciate that there was a lot of good stuff. Prominent among the really "good stuff" is Lonesome Bob's 1997 debut album, Things Fall Apart. (His second album, Things Change, is almost as good.) Unconscionably, it's now out of print, so I thought I'd post it tonight.

Download

Love Is Not Blind

Do You Think About Me?

Point Of No Return

Waltzing On The Titanic

Different Shades Of Gray

What Went Wrong

My Mother's Husband

Heaven's Gate

Too Much Time

Someone Watching Over Me

The Plans We Made

Call My Name

Sleepless Nites

On the Right Side of Christmas 2010

Well, I decided to make it an annual thing, so here's another Christmas music comp. (You can also still download last year's comp, btw.)

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A Christmas Duel Cyndi Lauper & The Hives

Jingle Bells Johnny Paycheck

Christmas (The Buzz Of Delight) Matthew Sweet

Up On A Housetop The Jackson 5

Mele Kalikimaka Arthur Lyman

The Christmas Song Alex Chilton

Silent Night Temptations

In the Bleak Midwinter The Pipettes

Christmas in Hollis Run DMC

The Little Wiped-out Drummer Boy The Spongetones

Frosty The Snowman The Ronettes

Cold, Cold Winter The Pixies Three

Purple Snowflakes Marvin Gaye

Calling on Mary Aimee Mann

Merry Christmas From A Bar Mike Ireland And Holler

Christmas Must be Tonight The Band

Everything Is Cool John Prine

Please Come Home For Christmas Little Johnny Taylor

The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot A Girl Called Eddy

Las Mananitas Herb Alpert And The Tijuana Brass

Jingle Bell Jamboree Keb' Mo'

Xmas Shelby Lynne

What Are You Doing New Years Eve Nancy Wilson

Hello Mr. New Year The Coolbreezers

Aretha and Dusty

There's a scene in Woody Allen's Manhattan where he discusses the things that make life worth living. Now the scene may be a tad overwrought, but I have to confess to sometimes thinking along the same lines. Specifically, I would definitely put a lot of Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield songs on my list. Now, I'll confess, the idea to put the two together in a mixtape didn't occur to me until I saw a post on the great blog http://soul-sides.com comparing their versions of I Can't Wait to See My Baby's Face (Yes, I also used the same pix from the post.) As with my previous Dusty mixtapes, I tried to limit my use of tracks from the albums Dusty in Memphis and A Brand New Me (since they're so perfect on their own), but I weakened and started the mix with Breakfast in Bed.

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Breakfast in Bed Dusty Springfield

Groovin' Aretha Franklin 

Try Matty's Aretha Franklin

Your Hurtin' Kind of Love Dusty Springfield

Crazy He Calls Me Aretha Franklin

Every Ounce of Strength Dusty Springfield

I Can't Wait Until I See My Baby's Face Aretha Franklin

All the King's Horses Dusty Springfield

O-o-h Child Dusty Springfield

Ramblin' Aretha Franklin

Bring It On Home To Me Aretha Franklin

Sunny Dusty Springfield

Can You Love Again (Hey Now Hey) Aretha Franklin

Easy Evil Dusty Springfield

Master Of Eyes Aretha Franklin

Mamas Little Girl Dusty Springfield

Love Letters Aretha Franklin

Sweetest Smile And The Funkiest Style Aretha Franklin

I've Got A Good Thing Dusty Springfield

To Love Somebody Dusty Springfield

That's The Way I Feel About Cha Aretha Franklin

Heat Takes a Walk: The Stan Ridgway Collection

I've always liked those albums that begin with an instrumental track that leads into the rest of the album - in addition to Fun Boy Three's Waiting, Lyle Lovett's Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, another favorite from the 80s is Stan Ridgway's Mosquitos. While it's been a long time since Stan's band Wall of Voodoo hit it big, he's still putting out good solo album, most recently Neon Mirage, as well as projects with Pietra Wexstun and Drywall. My faves are still Wall of Voodoo's Call of the West and Mosquitos, as well as his greatest hits collection, Songs That Made This Country Great (which seems to only be available as a download through emusic). So here's some of Stan's classic noir stylings.

Side One

Heat Takes A Walk

Lonely Town

The Overlords

Mexican Radio

Afghan Forklift

Good, Bad and Ugly

Triangle Head

Don't Box Me In

Monsters of the Id

Rose

High On a Mountain

Mouthful of Sand/Roadblock

Turn A Blind Eye

Camouflage

Side Two

Mission Bell

Back Towards Diamond Bar

Longarm

Bing Can't Walk

Talkin' Wall of Voodoo Blues

This Town Called Fate

Luther Played Guitar

Mr. Moon Man

Lost Weekend

Watch Your Step/Jack Talked (Like a Man on Fire)

Cannon Song

Twisted Classic Hollywood Ending

The Last Honest Man

A Long Way Home

Last year, I put together a comp of stuff with a late 60s/70s country vibe that I thought was a good driving mixtape. In a similar vein, here's a collection of road songs or, a tad more accurately, songs about travelling.

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Windfall Son Volt

555 X 2 Bo Ramsey

Nowhere Road Steve Earle & The Dukes

East Bound and Down Dave Dudley

Graceland Paul Simon

El Paso The Gourds

East Of Houston, West Of Baton Rouge Chris Gaffney

Ramblin' Fever Billy Joe Shaver

To Her Door Paul Kelly & the Messengers

40, 80 or 10 Tanya Savory

Come a Long Way Michelle Shocked

I've Been Everywhere Hank Snow

To The Homeland Malcolm Holcombe

Interstate Bill Kirchen

Long Time Gone Jann Browne

Good to Be on the Road Back Home Cornershop

Shangri-La M. Ward

A Long Way Home Dwight Yoakam

Roadworn And Weary Supersuckers

Can't Hardly Wait The Replacements

Dear Heartbroken in Glasgow

It's hard to imagine that any Gen Xer who loved Lloyd Cole and the Commotions back in the 80s wouldn't also love Camera Obscura - even if they hadn't recorded their endearing homage Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken (which was the highlight, at least for me, of their live show this past summer). Long live lush indie pop!!

Disc One

Come Back Margaret Camera Obscura

Sweetness Lloyd Cole & The Commotions

Shine Like A New Pin Camera Obscura

Jennifer She Said Lloyd Cole And The Commotions

These Days Lloyd Cole And The Commotions

Pen And Notebook Camera Obscura

Cut Me Down Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

Tougher Than The Rest Camera Obscura

Everybody's Complaining Lloyd Cole & The Commotions

Keep It Clean Camera Obscura

Teenager Camera Obscura

Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken? Lloyd Cole & The Commotions

Disc Two

Rich Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

My Maudlin Career Camera Obscura

French Navy Camera Obscura

Sean Penn Blues Lloyd Cole And The Commotions

Let's Get Out of This Country Camera Obscura

Jesus Said Lloyd Cole & the Commotions

The Last Song Camera Obscura

Rattlesnakes Lloyd Cole & The Commotions

Perfect Skin Lloyd Cole & The Commotions

Marathon Not A Sprint Camera Obscura

Mystery Train (Live) Lloyd Cole

Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken Camera Obscura

The Inimitable and Incandescent Iris DeMent

I don't really know how to describe Iris DeMent's voice, and I can't quite explain why her singing "sticks to my ribs" like it does, but damn, when she sings, her voice just insinuates its way into you. If you need any proof, here's an 18 song collection - there's one track from each of her formal releases (Infamous Angel, My Life, Way I Should Be, and Lifeline) plus live tracks, soundtrack and tribute contributions, duets, etc.

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(We're Not) The Jet Set

There's A Whole Lot Of Heaven

Big City

I'm Still In Love With You

I Don't Want To Get Adjusted

I Miss A Lot Of Trains

The Way I Should

Hobo Bill's Last Ride

God May Forgive You

Banks of Marble

Wildwood Flower

Trust Each Other

Whispering Pines

You've Done Nothing Wrong

The Train Carrying Jimmie Rodgers Home

Mexican Home

Acres of Corn

Mama's Opry

Atlantic Sisters of Soul

In some ways it's understandable that Aretha Franklin overshadowed other female soul singers in the late 1960s and early 1970s. On the other hand,.... damn, there were a lot of great female soul singers from that time period who didn't get the recognition they should have. In that spirit, here's Atlantic Sisters of Soul, a really good out of print compilation from the fine folks at Rhino. (And if you find yourself wanting more female soul, the Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Sisters comp Rhino put out in 2006 is also pretty good, though a tad inconsistent.)

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Dear Lover Mary Wells

I Don't Know Baby Washington

A Woman Will Do Wrong Dee Dee Sharp

Why (Am I Treated So Bad) The Sweet Inspirations

(Until Then) I'll Suffer Barbara Lynn

Sister Pitiful Judy Clay

Shake A Hand Toby Lark

Mojo Hannah Tammi Lynn

Wish Someone Would Care Mary Lou

Can I Be Your Main Thing Margie Alexander

Wonderful, Marvelous Jackie Moore With The Dixie Flyers

What A Man Laura Lee

Can I Hold You To It Lorraine Johnson

She Didn't Know (She Kept On Talking) Dee Dee Warwick

Who Are You Gonna Love Rozetta Johnson

Unsatisfied Woman Jean Battle

Set Me Free Esther Phillips With The Dixie Flyers

Full Time Woman Irma Thomas

Your Turn To Cry Bettye LaVette

Don't Try To Take The Fifth The Pointer Sisters

Victim Of A Foolish Heart Bettye Swann

I Do Believe That I'm Losing You Ones'y Mack

Sweet Surrender Margie Joseph

Chrissy and Emmy - Not Your Average It Girls

For those of you above the age of 40, it's probably not that hard to remember when Chrissie Hynde and Emmylou Harris were the "it girls" of rock and country, respectively. So here's a little tribute to them (including my all-time favorite Emmylou song - her version of Butch Hancock's Bluebird).

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Brass in Pocket Pretenders

Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend Emmylou Harris

I Still Miss Someone Emmylou Harris

I Go To Sleep The Pretenders

Rough and Rocky Emmylou Harris

Kid Pretenders

Back On The Chain Gang The Pretenders

Making Believe Emmylou Harris

When Will I See You? The Pretenders

Red Dirt Girl Emmylou Harris

Birds Of Paradise The Pretenders

Satan's Jewel Crown Emmylou Harris

When He Calls Emmylou Harris

She The Pretenders & Emmylou Harris

Thanks to You Emmylou Harris

The Losing The Pretenders

If You Were a Bluebird Emmylou Harris