A Fistful of Fulks

Back in the fall of 1996, I got Robbie Fulks’ very first cd (Country Love Songs) at the radio station. I think there had been a bunch of mediocre releases that summer because I remember looking at the case and insert and figgerin’ this was probably some derivative alt-country cd. But being the dutiful dj, I brought it home and listened. I was immediately impressed by the first song – a cover of Tim Carroll’s “Every Kind of Music But Country” – and about halfway through the next song “Rock Bottom, Pop 1”, I knew I had seriously underestimated the man. 13 years later, I’m still a big fan of Robbie and still puzzled that none of his songs have ever been hits for some big country or rock performer. (To any country producers or singers reading this blog and looking for a hit, I’d go with “Lie, Memory, Lie” – it’s on Dallas Wayne’s album “Big Thinking” that Robbie produced). He’s also one of the best live acts around and since I’m going to see Monday at the Mercury Lounge in NYC, I thought I’d put together an odds and sods collection for the occasion.

Download

In Bristol Town One Bright Day
Tupelo County Jail
Cigarette State
Bloodshot's Turning 5
Tears At The Grand Ol' Opry
Fountains of Wayne Hotline
I'm Just A Girl
The Call Of The Wreckin' Ball
Cry, Cry, Cry
I Like Being Left Alone
Browns Ferry Blues
When I See an Elephant Fly
King Of The Blues
That's Heaven To Me
Wedding Of The Bugs
Goodbye Virginia
Let's Kill Saturday Night

Greetings from L.A.

This week, I decided to put together a little homage to some LA based performers - Eleni Mandell, Aimee Mann, Stan Ridgway, and Tom Waits. Yeah, I'm an East Coast boy, but like, whatever.....

Disc One

Closer To Him: Eleni Mandell

Looking for Nothing: Aimee Mann

As I Went Out One Morning: Stan Ridgway

Snaketrain: Stan Ridgway

Hold On: Tom Waits

Man in the Paper Hat: Eleni Mandell

Straight To The Top (Rhumba): Tom Waits

Gone the Distance: Stan Ridgway

Little Tornado: Aimee Mann

Beautiful: Aimee Mann

Tristeza: Eleni Mandell

On A Foggy Night: Tom Waits

In Shades: Tom Waits

One: Aimee Mann

Maybe, Yes: Eleni Mandell

A Mission In Life: Stan Ridgway

Disc Two

Foreign Affair: Tom Waits

Nightmare Song: Eleni Mandell

He Thinks He's In Love: Eleni Mandell

The Moth: Aimee Mann

End Of The Line: Stan Ridgway

Mr. Siegal: Tom Waits

I'm Thru With Love: Eleni Mandell

Picture In A Frame: Tom Waits

Medicine Wheel: Aimee Mann

Man of Stone: Stan Ridgway

Calling Out To Carol: Stan Ridgway

Lord I've Been Changed: Tom Waits

Silverlake Babies: Eleni Mandell

Video: Aimee Mann

Whistle For Louise: Stan Ridgway

Wise Up: Aimee Mann

The Splendid Stylings of Syd Straw

It was the summer of 1993. I was living in Albany and I had just worked a Sunday double shift waiting tables. It wasn't the best of jobs (though I must confess that working the Sunday buffet shift was pretty easy) so when I found out Syd Straw was playing at QE2 that night, I was happy to go get to see some live music. I think I also had to stay late at work, but the concert must have started late because I got there about halfway through Vic Chesnutt's set. It was probably about midnight, then, by the time Syd came on. I wasn't really that a big fan at the time, but she converted me that night. The stuff from her 1989 album Surprise was great and she did killer covers of Wreckless Eric's Whole Wide World and Robyn Hitchcock's She Doesnt' Exist Anymore. Plus, she must have played til like 3 am - I admit to leaving at around 2:30 because I was exhausted (and I probably had to do another double shift the next day)

So here's a 'lil Syd compilation for you - and this time, I remembered to put the information about the albums the songs came from in the comments for each mp3.

Download

The Toughest Girl In The World
The T.B. Is Whipping Me
Heart of Darkness
I've Been The One
Blue Shadows on the Trail
(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear
CBGB's
Love, And The Lack Of It
Chasing Vapor Trails (His Turn to Cry)
Buenos Aires
Almost As Blue
For Shame of Doing Wrong
Almost Magic
The Train That Takes You Away...
Think Too Hard
Harper Valley P.T.A.
What Am I Worth
Love is a Friend of Mine
The Unanswered Question?
Never Before and Never Again

Wanna Do My Thing

Well, I was going to talk about discovering African music back in the early 80s via Peter Gabriel and Talking Heads, but.....nah. Anyway, here's a couple of compilations of African music I put together. I forgot to put the info about the albums the cuts came from, but that's why there's allmusic, right? :) (Note: I know the Daktaris aren't from Africa - but I thought it was a funny little music stunt.)

Disc One

Adena Ike King Sunny Ade

Megaton Vecchio

Dancing Time Funkees

Iumumba Miriam Makeba

Just A Moment George Danquah

Home Sweet Home Orlando Julius

Daktari Walk Daktaris

Okwukwe Na Nchekwube Celestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National

Gbagada Gbagada Gbogodo Gbogod Fela Kuti & Africa 70

Allah Wakbarr Ofo The Black Company

Ererimbot Ayafung Oko Rex Williams

Qhude Manikiniki / Fair Fight Umahlathini Nabo
Minuit eleki Lezi Franco

Disc Two

Wanna Do My Thing Matata

Afro-Disco Beat Tony Allen

When Am I Going To Reach There? Metche Dershe

Sini Lindile / We Are Waiting For You Nganeziyamfisa No Khamba Lomvaleliso

N'daya paradis Tabu Ley Rochereau

Umbaqanga Music Juluka

Kita Kita Gaspar Lawal

Weya Manu Dibango

Boulmamine Orchestra Baobab

Talking Drum Africa Messengers/Ginger Johnson

Minsato Le, Mi Dayihome Orchestra Poly

Fatoumata Bembeya Jazz National

By Your Side (Cottonbelly's Folly) Sade

The Secret Life of Neko Case

I still remember getting Neko Case's very first album "The Virginian" back in 1997 and being completely wowed. She hasn't disappointed since (though if I REALLY wanted to nitpick, I'd say her last album isn't quite as strong as its predecessors) and her live shows are always great. Plus, she finds time to sing (and sometimes tour) with The New Pornographers and has also appeared on numerous collections and other people's albums. So in that spirit, I give you The Secret Life of Neko - 32 songs you won't find on her formal releases. I didn't include stuff where's she only singing background, though there's a couple of tracks where she only takes 1-2 verses. Special thanks in this pursuit go to the ultra comprehensive discography at http://helge.kinks.de/neko/neko_discography.pdf

Lastly, I should mention that information on the original album the songs came can be found in the comments section for each mp3.

The Secret Life of Neko - Side A

If I'm Gonna Sink, I Might As Well Go to the Bottom

The Laws Have Changed

Jason Fleming

Rolling Stone

Long Black Veil

East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)

Stay A Little Longer

These Are The Fables

Star Bodies

Mean Mean Man

Brown-Eyed Handsome Man

She's Leaving Town

Still Around

Failsafe

Getting It Made

Yon Ferrets Return

The Secret Life of Neko - Side B

Challengers

Buckets of Rain

Home

Your Control

All For Swinging You Around

How Does That Grab You, Darlin'?

The World Is Waiting For A Sunrise

River Of No Return

My '63

Howling at Midnight

Rated X

Taught to Look Away

Cowhand

Behind The House

The Bones Of An Idol

Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis

Songs for the Front Porch

Before there was alternative country.... well, there was a lot of good "alternative country" that just wasn't called alternative country. :) Three of my favorite alt-country albums back in the early 1990s were Robert Earl Keen's No Kinda Dancer (originally came out in 1984, but then reissued in 1989), Junior Brown's "12 Shades of Brown", and Walter Hyatt's "King Tears". I don't know why I put those three together on a mixtape back in 1990, but I think they still sound good together. While No Kinda Dancer isn't Keen's best (his singing got a lot better for No Kinda Dancer), there's still a bunch of strong songs and I think 12 Shades of Brown and King Tears are, respectively, Brown and Hyatt's best work. In particular, King Tears is one of the truly underappreciated gems of the 1990s.

Side One

My Baby Don't Dance To Nothin' But Earnest Tubb Junior Brown

Swervin' In My Lane Robert Earl Keen

Ruby Walter Hyatt

Willie Robert Earl Keen

Moan All Night Long Junior Brown

Outside Looking Out Walter Hyatt

Que Reste-T-Il de Nos Amours? Walter Hyatt

Broke Down South Of Dallas Junior Brown

Freeborn Man Junior Brown

Situé Walter Hyatt

No Kinda Dancer Robert Earl Keen

Coconut Island Junior Brown

Aloha Walter Hyatt

Song For Kathy Robert Earl Keen

Side Two

Tell Me Baby Walter Hyatt

The Front Porch Song Robert Earl Keen

This Time, Lucille Walter Hyatt

What's Left Just Won't Go Right Junior Brown

Too Many Nights In A Roadhouse Junior Brown

Young Lovers Waltz Robert Earl Keen

Blind Love Blues Walter Hyatt

A Way To Survive Junior Brown

In November Walter Hyatt

Rolling By Robert Earl Keen

Death Of Tail Fitzsimmons Robert Earl Keen

Baby Let The Bad Times Be Junior Brown

King Tears Walter Hyatt

Hillbilly Hula Gal Junior Brown

Sucking in the 70s

I don't really believe in the concept of guilty pleasures - life's too short for those kind of worries. On the other hand......well, I'll just use the defense that the music you listened to as a10-15 year old is the stuff you'll like the rest of your life. In that spirit, I give you my 70s mixtape. Indulge!!!

Download

Mama Told Me (Not To Come) Three Dog Night

Kung Fu Fighting Carl Douglas

Stuck In The Middle With You Stealers Wheel

Before The Next Teardrop Falls Freddy Fender

Fooled Around And Fell In Love Elvin Bishop

Come And Get Your Love Redbone

Jackie Blue The Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Lonely Boy Andrew Gold

At Seventeen Janis Ian

Haitian Divorce Steely Dan

Driver's Seat Sniff 'n' Tears

Here Comes The Sun Richie Havens

Angie The Rolling Stones

I Can Help Billy Swan

Alone Again (Naturally) Gilbert O'Sullivan

Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again The Fortunes

Magnet And Steel Walter Egan

You Sexy Thing Hot Chocolate

Seasons In The Sun Terry Jacks

I'm Not In Love 10cc

Introducing the Golden Smog

For those of you too young to remember, there was a band called Asia in the early 1980s made up of musicians from YES, ELP, King Crimson (and one of the guys from the Buggles). Their first album had a bunch of hits. Well, I think they were top 20 hits - I just know I heard them a lot on rock radio at the time. I also recall that deejays frequently referred to them as a supergroup which must have impressed me in some way because I still remember the term. Anyway, I was reflecting on the term a couple of weeks back and decided to waste some more precious time by looking at the entry for it on Wikipedia. Of course they had an overly comprehensive list of supergroups. Except they left out those lovably scruffy Midwestern boys of Golden Smog. So here's a compilation to make up for the oversight. (In case folks don't know - the name Golden Smog was taken from one of my all time favorite Flintstones episodes. Hence, the picture on the right.)

Download

Walk Where He Walked

Son (We've Kept the Room Just For You)

5/22/2002

Another Fine Day

Making Waves

Pecan Pie

You Make It Easy

Until You Came Along

Lost Love

Can't Even Tie Your Own Shoes

Listen Joe

Backstreet Girl

Redheaded Stepchild

Corvette

All The Same To Me

Think About Yourself

Without A Struggle

V

Easy to Be Hard

Jennifer Save Me

California Dreaming

Actually, even though it's kind of rainy and cloudy in the n'east, I can't say I'm really California dreaming these days. But I'll always have an enduring fondness for the the great California pop music of The Bangles and The Mamas and Papas, especially in the spring and summer - must be the harmonies. So here's a couple of mixtapes for those hazy late afternoons in the summer. (Oh, I should warn folks - some of the songs are from vinyl rips. So there's a few crackles and pops - just like the old days.)

Side One

Hero Takes A Fall The Bangles

I Can't Wait The Mamas and the Papas

Straight Shooter The Mamas & The Papas

Mary Street The Bangles

Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon) The Mamas and the Papas

James The Bangles

September Gurls The Bangles

Words of Love The Mamas and the Papas

In Your Room The Bangles

Go Where You Wanna Go The Mamas & The Papas

Live The Bangles

Angels Don't Fall in Love The Bangles

I Saw Her Again The Mamas and the Papas

How Is The Air Up There? The Bangles

Even If I Could The Mamas and the Papas

Got A Feelin' The Mamas & The Papas

Where Were You When I Needed You The Bangles

Creeque Alley The Mamas and the Papas

Side Two

Dedicated to the One I Love The Mamas and the Papas

Return Post The Bangles

Somebody Groovy The Mamas & The Papas

For the Love of Ivy The Mamas and the Papas

More Than Meets The Eye The Bangles

Dream a Little Dream of Me The Mamas and the Papas

The Real World The Bangles

Call on Me The Bangles

Trip, Stumble, and Fall The Mamas and the Papas

He's Got A Secret The Bangles

My Heart Stood Still The Mamas and the Papas

California Dreamin' The Mamas & The Papas

Dover Beach The Bangles

Want You The Bangles

I Call Your Name The Mamas & The Papas

If She Knew What She Wants The Bangles

Do You Wanna Dance The Mamas & The Papas

Going Down To Liverpool The Bangles

Rare Soul!!! The Sweet Sounds of Muscle Shoals

Taking a break from my mixtapes, I thought I'd post up some long out of print soul this week. In 1996, the Overture label put out a 4 volume collection of really great 1960s Southern soul from the Quinvy and South Camp labels featuring less well known performers like Don Varner, Bill Brandon, Eddie Bradford, Brenda Varner, and even Percy Sledge Jr. (though his one contribution is just kind of a novelty track). I picked up volumes 1 and 2 at a record store a long while back and then I think I got volume 3 in an ebay auction. Unfortunately, the fourth one has eluded me. Since it might be a long time coming before I can find it, here are volumes 1-3. (My personal fave song - Bill Brandon's "Self Preservation" on Volume 2)

Late update: I found Volume 4:

Download The Sweet Sounds of Muscle Shoals: Volume 1 - Tear Stained Soul

1. Tear Stained Face - Don Varner

2. Push Mr Pride Aside - Eddie Bradford

3. Mojo Mama - Don Varner

4. Hand Shaking - Jimmy Braswell

5. Little Bit of Love - Eddie Bradford

6. When It's Over - Don Varner

7. You Made Your Bed - Eddie Bradford

8. Sugar Makes Everything Sweeter - Percy Sledge Jr.

9. Meet Me in Church - Don Varner

10. Home For the Summer - Jimmy Braswell

11. Don't Give up on Me - Brenda Varner

12. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight - Bill Brandon

13. Down in Texas - Don Varner

14. Let Me Be a Woman - Brenda Varner

Download The Sweet Sounds of Muscle Shoals: Volume 2 - High on the Hog

1. Polly Wally Doodle - Tony Borders

2. Promise to Myself - Tony Borders

3. Can You Handle It - Eddie Bradford

4. Full Grown Lovin' Man - Bill Brandon

5. What Kind of Spell - Tony Borders

6. You Left the Water Running - Don Varner

7. Mix and Mingle - Tony Borders

8. One Minute Woman - Bill Brandon

9. Power of Love - Don Varner

10. Self Preservation - Bill Brandon

11. A Nice Place to Visit - Tony Borders

12. Little by Little - Bill Brandon

13. One Woman Man - Don Varner

14. She Knows What to Do For Me - Bill Brandon

Download The Sweet Sounds of Muscle Shoals: Volume 3 - You Better Believe It

1. You Better Believe It - Tony Borders

2. I Think I'd Do It - Z.Z. Hill

3. Since I Fell For You - Bill Brandon

4. High on the Hog - Tony Borders

5. He Kept on Talking - Don Varner

6. Faithful and True - Z.Z. Hill

7. Corn Bread Woman - Tony Borders

8. You've Lost That Lovin Feeling - Bill Brandon

9. When You Get What You Want - Bill Brandon

10. Cheaters Never Win - Tony Borders

11. Until It's Time For Me to Go - Tony Borders

12. Lonely Weekend - Tony Borders

13. Strangest Feeling - Bill Brandon

14. I'm Still in Love With You - Don Varner

Guest Blog Compilation! Guest Blog Compilation! (Hint: It's Los Lobos)

Yes, it's true - less than three months in to this blogging enterprise and I'm already farming the work out to friends. Hope the boss doesn't find out. I did, however, listen to it and I can assure you it lives up to the high standards of this blog. So here is a compilation of Los Lobos covers put together by my friend Kevin. Or as he puts it,

"How many other bands can do Buddy Holly, Louis Prima, James Brown and Johnny Thunders equally well? Here, then, is a collection of Los Lobos cover tunes pulled together from studio albums, tribute albums, soundtracks, guest appearances, hits collections etc. Hopefully it makes the case that Los Lobos aren't just a Mexican-American band – they’re American, period."

Download

Alone In A Crowd

Georgia Slop

Tomorrow Never Knows (Live)

Down Where the Drunkards Roll

Bertha (Live)

And It Didn't Even Bring Me Down

Johnny 99

I Got Loaded

I Wanna Be Like You (The Monkey Song)

Lonely Avenue

Wicked Rain/Across 110th Street (w/Bobby Womack)

Politician (Live)

Midnight Shift

Lonesome Tears In My Eyes (with Paul Burlison)

Try Me

Route 90

What's Going On (Live)

Color Me Impressed

Okay, it's more 80s music, but uh, ..... it's the Replacements and Pretenders!!! Need I say more?

Update: I didn't think these mixes were that great. Plus, the sound quality on some of the Pretenders songs was a little substandard. So here are the revised mixtapes.

Download Side One

Color Me Impressed The Replacements

Pack It Up The Pretenders

Otto The Replacements

Customer The Replacements

Middle Of The Road The Pretenders

Seen Your Video The Replacements

Louie Louie The Pretenders

Fools Must Die The Pretenders

You Lose The Replacements

Jealous Dogs The Pretenders

Shooting Dirty Pool The Replacements

I Hurt You The Pretenders

We'll Inherit the Earth The Replacements

Red Red Wine The Replacements

Mystery Achievement Pretenders

Download Side Two

The Wait Pretenders

Favorite Thing The Replacements

We're Coming Out The Replacements

Tattooed Love Boys Pretenders

Hayday The Replacements

Thumbelina The Pretenders

Don't Get Me Wrong The Pretenders

I Don't Know The Replacements

In the Sticks The Pretenders

Hangin Downtown The Replacements

Precious Pretenders

Kids Don't Follow The Replacements

Darlin' One The Replacements

Bad Boys Get Spanked The Pretenders

Swingin' Party The Replacements

Request for Neko Case's My '63

I'm putting together a Neko Case odds and sods collection (i.e. stuff not on her albums). I think I've got pretty much everything, but I don't have her My '63 (it was on a 1998 split 45 with Whiskeytown on the other side). And since I don't feel like spending $75 for a copy, I was wondering if anyone has an mp3 they could send me. I'd be much obliged.

(Late update: I found it and you can find it on the comp here.)

All the Mod Cons

One thing you should know about me is that I like soundtracks. Well, not all soundtracks, but I've always thought soundtracks got an unfair rap as generally crappy collections designed to cash in on a movie's popularity; relying on one hit to entice people to buy essentially an album otherwise full of (your choice of words) filler/dross. So here's three soundtracks (Absolute Beginners, The Harder They Come, and Scandal) with a minimum of filler (though the duplication of a couple of songs on The Harder They Come is a bit annoying, not to mention odd.) Even though there's precious little dross, I like the way the musical styles blend together so I've taken songs from all three and interspersed them into two mixtapes.

(P.S. Don't ask why I used this picture. It just seemed to fit.)

Side One:

That's Motivation David Bowie

Johnny Too Bad The Slickers

007 (Shanty Town) Desmond Dekker

Japanese Girl Lloyd Clarke

Having It All Eighth Wonder - Featuring Patsy Kensit

Rodrigo Bay Working Week

Scandal Don Drummond

Judge Not Bob Marley

Sweet and Dandy The Maytals

The Harder They Come Jimmy Cliff

Killer Blow Sade

Christine Keeler Roland Alphonso

Get on the Ball Basil Gabbidon

Riot City Jerry Dammers

Exodus Ernest Ranglin

Many Rivers to Cross Jimmy Cliff

Side Two

Honour Your Mother & Father Desmond Dekker

Absolute Beginners David Bowie

You Can Get It If You Really Want Jimmy Cliff

Draw Your Breaks Scotty

Mr. Kruschev Skitter

Russian Roulette King Edwards

Rivers of Babylon The Melodians

Girls Rush Lloyd Clarke

Have You Ever Had It Blue? The Style Council

Quiet Life Ray Davies

Miss Jamaica Jimmy Cliff

Love Me Baby Laurel Aitken

Va Va Voom Gil Evans

Sitting in Limbo Jimmy Cliff

Selling Out Slim Gaillard

And the Train Rolls On: Megahits from Old 97s

Well, it's a crappy day here in the northeast, but I'm still confident that spring is nigh. And what beats driving around a warm spring day with the Old 97s blaring out of your car speakers? So here's an Old 97s compilation I put together last summer for some friends.

Download

Victoria

No Baby I

Adelaide

Lonely Holiday

Salome

Crash On The Barrelhead

Smokers

The Other Shoe

Let The Train Blow The Whistle

Miss Molly

Busted Afternoon

In The Satellite Rides A Star

Question

Buick City Complex

Holly Jolly Christmas

Let The Idiot Speak

Timebomb

Color Of A Lonely Heart Is Blue

Sound Of Running

El Paso

Old Familiar Steam

The One

Singing the Blues with Ted and Jimmie

As you may probably guess from the nine volume Rooting Around in the 80s compilation, I tend to have a wee bit of a nostalgia problem when it comes to 80s roots music. So indulge me again this week as I give to you two compilations showcasing some gems from the 80s: Ted Hawkins' 1982 Watch Your Step and 1986 Happy Hour (plus a couple of tracks from one of his live cds) and Jimmie Dale Gilmore's 1988 Fair and Square and 1989 Jimmie Dale Gilmore. I don't know why I got the idea to put them together in a compilation, but I do think they sound good back to back.

Volume 1:

Dallas: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Bad Dog: Ted Hawkins

Gypsy Woman: Ted Hawkins

Trying to Get to You: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

A Thing Called Love: Ted Hawkins

The Lost Ones: Ted Hawkins

The Doors Are Open Wide: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Honky Tonk Song: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Cold & Bitter Tears: Ted Hawkins

Rain Just Falls: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

I Gave Up All I Had: Ted Hawkins

Fair & Square: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Red Chevrolet: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

One Hundred Miles: Ted Hawkins

Beautiful Rose: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

You Pushed My Head Away: Ted Hawkins

Volume 2

Sorry You're Sick: Ted Hawkins

See The Way: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

White Freight Liner Blues: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Don't Make Me Explain It: Ted Hawkins

My Last Goodbye: Ted Hawkins

99 Holes: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Happy Hour: Ted Hawkins

Singing the Blues: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

TWA: Ted Hawkins

Bring It Home Daddy: Ted Hawkins

Honky Tonk Masquerade: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Ain't That Pretty: Ted Hawkins

Missin' Mississippi: Ted Hawkins

Up To You: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

That Hardwood Floor: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

If You Love Me: Ted Hawkins

When The Nights Are Cold: Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Indisputably Dusty

I remember finally getting (one of those albums critics invariably declared a "must have") Dusty Springfield's stunning "Dusty in Memphis" a little while after Rhino put out its deluxe edition in 1999. Naturally, I went out and bought a few earlier cds of hers. But it wasn't until I got the vastly underrated "A Brand New Me", her 1970 album recorded with the legendary Philly soul producers Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble that I went on a wave of semi-obsessive Dusty song collecting. If none of her other albums can compare to Dusty in Memphis or A Brand New Me, there are still a lot of gems (I mean, the woman can sing!!) from her various releases from the 60s and 70s. G'ahead, check 'em out if you don't believe me. :)

Volume 1

Breakin' up a Happy Home

Bring Him Back

Tossin' andTurnin'

Sweet Lover No More

This Girl's In Love With You

Once Upon a Time

In the Middle of Nowhere

If Wishes Could Be Kisses

Summer Is Over

Girls Can't Do What the Guys Do

Losing You

Since I Fell For You

Something for Nothing

Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone

Guess Who?

Baby Don't You Know

I Only Wanna Laugh

Some of Your Lovin'

Volume 2

Uptight (Everything's Alright)

Stay Awhile

What's It Gonna Be?

Come Back To Me

The Corrupt Ones

It's Over

Am I The Same Girl

Here She Comes

The Richest Girl Alive

I Will Always Want You

Good Lovin'

I Only Want to Be With You

Earthbound Gypsy

Won't Be Long

Summer Love

Morning Please Don't Come -with Tom Springfield

Make the Man Love Me

Look of Love

Even More Rooting Around

Well, I just got back from Eleni Mandell's show at Joe's Pub in New York City - a little short (due to the demands of the venue), but otherwise quite fabulous. DJ Bonebrake is playing drums on the tour which gives folks another reason to go see her if they get the chance.

Anyhoo, here's volumes 7-9 of my Rooting Around in the 80s series. These three have a lot more sad and slow songs (including John Doe's Take 52 - one of my personal faves) - good for late night driving. Oh, and my desktop is working again so the pix are back. Well, I thought the pix would be back, but apparently blogger isn't letting me put pictures up. I'll try it again next week.

Volume 7

Cryin' But My Tears Are Far Away The Knitters
Border Radio The Ponys
Tears Of God Los Lobos
We Shall Overcome Green on Red
Colored Lights The Blasters
Last Night I Dreamed Rank and File
Leave Heaven Alone Exene Cervenka
Tragedy by Definition The John Doe Thing
I Got Loaded Los Lobos
Hollywood Bed The Blasters
Don't Toss Us Away Lone Justice/Maria McKee
Come Back To Me X
River of Fools Los Lobos
Someone Like You The Knitters
I Wish It Was Saturday Night Dave Alvin
It Don't Matter Rank and File

Volume 8

She Wanted Exene Cervenka
Way Back Home Green On Red
Lucky Day Rank And File
La Pasionaria Dan Stuart
Emily Los Lobos
Hardest Time Los Lobos
Tell Her I Love Her Rank and File
Dancing With Tears In My Eyes X
Too Close To The Light Long Ryders
Silver Wings The Knitters
When it Rains... X
My Offering John Doe
Just Another Sunday The Blasters
Poor Old Heartsick Me The Knitters
Funny How Time Slips Away Green On Red
Take #52 John Doe

Volume 9

Fourth of July Dave Alvin
A Matter Of Time Los Lobos
Little Honey The Blasters
Trail Of Time The Knitters
Knockin' on Heaven's Door Danny & Dusty
Famous Barmaid Exene Cervenka
Timeless Love Rank and File
Estoy Sentado Aqui Los Lobos
Imitation Of The Blues (Acoustic) John Doe
My Lonely Sad Eyes Maria McKee
Leaving The Blasters
Love Shack The Knitters
Field of Dirt The John Doe Thing
Donna Los Lobos
See How We Are X
We Had It All Green On Red

More Rooting Around in the 80s

Well, I'm still waiting to get my RAM from Dell for the desktop computer so no pix, but here are volumes 4-6 of Rooting Around in the 80s

Volume 4

Keep On Moving Green On Red

Let's Be Mad John Doe

Capturing the Flag The Long Ryders

Tell It To The Judge On Sunday Long Ryders

Two Lovers Waitin' To Die Green On Red

In the Time It Takes X

A Matter Of Degrees John Doe

La Guacamaya Los Lobos

Never Got To Meet The Mom Long Ryders

Baby, We All Gotta Go Down Danny & Dusty

Be Still Los Lobos

Here Come The Crucifiers Exene Cervenka

Boomtown The Blasters

I'll Love You So The Blasters

Supercharged X

Rock Island Line The Knitters

Volume 5

Come On, Let's Go Los Lobos

The World's A Mess, It's In My Kiss X

Sea Of Cortez Green on Red

The Trip The Long Ryders

State of My Union The Long Ryders

Drugs The Lazy Cowgirls

Going Down Fast The John Doe Thing

Cocktail Trees Exene Cervenka

Down to the Bone Danny & Dusty

The Neighborhood Los Lobos

Baby, You Lied X

I Don't Want To The Blasters

Keep A Knockin' The Blasters

What's Wrong with Me X

The Light Gets In The Way The Long Ryders

Jubilee Train Dave Alvin

Volume 6

Ooh! My Head Los Lobos

Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home The Long Ryders

Little Things In Life Green On Red

Liar's Market (Acoustic) John Doe

Working Man Blues Lone Justice

Some Other Time X

Wreck Of The 809 Long Ryders

I Had A Dream Long Ryders

Bus Station The Blasters

He's Got A She Exene Cervenka

New Tattoo Dave Alvin

I Don't Go Out Much Anymore Rank And File

Never Goin' Back The Beat Farmers

The Word Is Out Danny & Dusty

You X

The New World The Knitters

Rooting Around in the 80s

Before there was alternative country, there was well - well, there wasn't exactly an all encompassing genre for roots music. Not that that's a bad thing. :) Anyway, back in the 1980s, there were a lot of really good west coast bands like The Blasters, Green on Red, Lone Justice, The Long Ryders, Los Lobos, X, etc playing roots music - even if it wasn't usually called roots music (if I recall correctly). So here is the first three volumes of my 9 volume ode to 1980s west coast roots music. (I would put a picture up but my desktop computer is currently on vacation and all my pix are up there. So it'll have to wait until the desktop returns from its little trip to notworkingville.)


Volume 1

The Once Over Twice X

Run Dusty Run Long Ryders

Ghost Hand Green on Red

Si Yo Quisiera Los Lobos

Never No More Blues The Blasters

Highway 61 The Blasters

Clarkesville Green on Red

Motel Room In My Bed X

Will the Wolf Survive? Los Lobos

You Just Can't Ride the Boxcars Anymore The Long Ryders

Left & Right X

The Word Is Out Danny & Dusty

Baby Out Of Jail The Knitters

Biggest Memory Exene Cervenka

Goldmine The Beat Farmers

Coyote Rank And File

Volume 2

Don't Worry Baby Los Lobos

Final Wild Son Long Ryders

In This House That I Call Home X

Hair Of The Dog Green on Red

It Must Be Love The Blasters

The Call Of The Wreckin Ball The Knitters

This World Is Not My Home Lone Justice

Fallen Tears The John Doe Thing

Willamette The John Doe Thing

Shakin' Shakin' Shakes Los Lobos

Good Times Tomorrow, Hard Times Today The Long Ryders

Marie Marie The Blasters

Burning House of Love X

Far Away Dave Alvin

I Want You Bad The Long Ryders

Time Ain't Nothing Green On Red

Volume 3

Looking for Lewis and Clark The Long Ryders

Death Train The Beat Farmers

No Other Girl The Blasters

Clean Like Tomorrow X

The King of the Losers Danny & Dusty

Down On The Riverbed Los Lobos

Sweet) Mental Revenge Long Ryders

Poor Little Critter On The Road The Knitters

Walkin' Cane The Knitters

Powderfinger The Beat Farmers

Ways to Be Wicked Lone Justice

Set Me Free (Rosa Lee) Los Lobos

Sixteen Ways Green on Red

Long White Cadillac The Blasters

Lil' King of Everything Los Lobos

4th of July X

Songs of Recrimination, Remorse, Revenge, and Regret

Back when I was doing my alternative country show, I used to do an anti-Valentines Day show every year featuring "songs of recrimination, remorse, revenge, and regret". Well, I have a girlfriend now, but a friend from the good old days convinced me to put together a compilation for the blog. So here goes.

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I Just Don't Know What to do With Myself: Dusty Springfield
I'll Never Be The Same: Billie Holiday
Why Don't You Quit Leaving Me Alone: Rosanne Cash
Sudden Stop: Kelly Hogan & The Pine Valley Cosmonauts
To Hell With Love: Annie Ross & Low Note Quintet
God May Forgive You: Rosie Flores
Almost Magic: Syd Straw
Since My Love Is Gone: Nina Simone
We'll Never Pass This Way Again: Kirsty MacColl
Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You): Patsy Cline
Tell Me Baby: Walter Hyatt
I Pity The Fool: Bobby "Blue" Bland
When Your Lover Has Gone: Ray Charles
Withered on the Vine: Nick Lowe
The Real Mr. Heartache: Johnny Paycheck
Too Lonely: The Mavericks
How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore: Prince
Waiting for the Rain to Fall: Chris Isaak
Losing Boy: Eddie Giles
Once Is Enough: Lyle Lovett

I'll Take You There redux

So here are the next two volumes of my Staple Singers compilation. Also, I discovered that the two previous volumes I posted were missing two songs each (just a little problem with itunes). So I fixed 'em and then re-upped them and now all four volumes should have fifteen songs each.

Volume 3

Let's Go Home
Who Do You Think You Are (Jesus Christ The Superstar)?
Everyday People
Pray On
Father Father
(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
Eyes On The Prize
Come On Up In Glory
Low Is The Way
Black Boy
The Challenge
Something Ain't Right
So Soon
A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall
I See It

Volume 4

Whicha Way Did It Go
Top Of The Mountain
I Know I've Got Religion
Don't Knock
You're Gonna Make Me Cry
Let's Do It Again
You're Driving Me (To The Arms Of A Stranger)
Give A Damn
A Wednesday In Your Garden
Don't Drive Me Away
Turn Me Around
Downward Road
The Lady's Letter
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
I'll Take You There

I'll Take You There

I remember first getting into The Staple Singers because they covered the Talking Heads' Slippery People (A friend actually had the 45). I soon discovered their 70s stuff - especially the big hits. Recently, following Mavis Staples comeback album "We'll Never Turn Back" I rediscovered them, especially their early gospel material. So I've put together a 4 volume Staple Singers collection including both Mavis and Pops Staples solo stuff. Here are the first two volumes (I'll put the other two up next week.)

Disc One

You Must Have That True Religion
Love Comes in All Colors
I Like The Things About You
Somebody Saved Me
Help Me Jesus
Back Road Into Town
Touch A Hand, Make A Friend
This Year
Who
Jesus Is Going To Mke Up (My Dying Bed)
Downward Road
This Little Light Of Mine
Long Walk to D.C.
I'm A Lover
When Do I Get Paid

Disc Two

Going Away
Who Do You Think You Are (Jesus Christ The Superstar)?
I Ain't Raisin' No Sand
Who Made The Man
On My Way
In The Mississippi River
When Was Jesus Born
Slippery People
Simple Men
The End Of Our Road
I Have Learned To Do Without You
Slow Train
Uncloudy Day
I Had A Dream
The Weight

I got my heart broken in Whiskeytown

When I was doing my alternative country show in the 1990s, Whiskeytown's Strangers Almanac was one of my favorite albums. They didn't stay together too long and Ryan Adams soon went on to a solo career. However, in addition to the release of Pneumonia in 2001 (long after they'd broken up), they also put out, foreshadowing Mr. Adams rather later prodigious, if sometimes spotty output, a bunch of other stuff out on soundtracks, eps, tributes etc. And then in 2008, they put out a deluxe edition of Strangers Almanac with a second cd full of live and previously unreleased material. So I've put together an 18 track odds and sods Whiskeytown compilation just for you (and me).

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Theme For A Trucker
Indian Gown
Anyone But Me (A/K/A Dial Tone)
Wither, I'm a Flower
Factory Girl
Kiss & Make-Up
Barn's On Fire
Bottom Of The Glass
A Song For You
Sittin' Around
10 Seconds
The Strip
I Hope It Rains At My Funeral
I Still Miss Someone (Acoustic)
Runnin' Out of Road
My Heart Is Broken
Think About Me (A/K/A (What you) Think About Me)
The Rain Won't Help You When It's Over

Everything's Coming Up Eleni

I know the world doesn't really a need yet another music blog, but..... well, I felt like doing one. For my first contribution, here's a mix of some of Eleni Mandell's older stuff - including a couple of songs from her out of print ep "Maybe, Yes". Hope you like it.

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Pauline
Hack Jimmy
Dis-moi au revoir encore
I'm Your Girl
Up, Up, Up
Too Bad About You
Giving Up The Fight
Normandie
Better When You're Near
Digging a Hole
Dutch Harbor
Nickel Plated Man
Action Is Action
Wishbone