June 2009
2 posts
MY NEW BLOG LOCATION!!!!! →
Again, following Joe Neumann’s lead, I have migrated the blog over to Wordpress.com and I see the benefit for this kind of thing. The archive feature is essential. It’s a lot more complicated, but probably worth the trouble. Change your bookmarks!!
http://messyheadblues.wordpress.com/
We've Never Lied -- Jessica Lea Mayfield →
I just saw Jessica Lea Mayfield at the Bowery Ballroom. Out of Ohio and just a young lass, there are few greybeards, let alone peers, who can write a weeper like her. 90% of her songs are downers, which is a huge + in my book. Tonight she was with her brother on bass; a solid, understated slide guitar player; and a stylie chick drummer. I still think she was best when she did her solo...
May 2009
19 posts
El Hombre dela Guitarra -- Aguaturbia →
Thanks to Julie Czeck for this recommendation. Aguaturbia was a popular psychedelic rock band in Chile during the darkest days of the dictatorship. Apparently they caused quite a stir with this album cover in 1970. In 1972, Guitar Man charted at #11 for the soft-rock band Bread and was later, ironically, revived by their fellow baked-good-monikered band, Cake. Despite the trouble in Chile...
My Leonard Cohen Column. Please Click!!!!! →
Goodbye Eyes -- Larry Jon Wilson →
Oooo! Right after I did those last postings my mail came in and I finally got one of the highly unavailable Larry Jon Wilson albums! Like half the people I end up posting on here, he is one of the great Nashville poets. And like the ill-fated Blaze Foley, he enjoys special status as a peer favorite who still fails miserably at becoming a commercial success. He wasn’t as...
You're Taking Up Another Man's Place -- Mable John →
Mabel’s one of those insanely good mid-level soul singers who, if they were around today, would be among the best around. She was groomed early by Barry Gordy and then later sang backup for Ray Charles, signed with Stax, and had a fairly major hit with “Your Good Thing Is About to End.” Failing to get another hit, she unfortunately went on a decades long gospel act. I like...
Another Song, Another Drink -- Weary Boys →
Just a solid lonesome-drinking song from these young northern CA fellas who seem to be doing well for themselves in Austin.
Mickey Newbury Day →
A very special Australian requested more Mickey Newbury songs, so here they go. Not every single one of his songs is a sad love song, but we all know those are my faves and MIckey writes them with the best of’m.
Here is the first offering, an Ed Bruce rendition of the heartbreaker “She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye.”
Next is another weeping dirge—“I...
Anything Less/If I Could Only Fly -- Blaze Foley →
It’s hard to pick one Blaze Foley song, so I’m putting up one mp3 and this beautiful video of him singing at his buddy’s wedding BBQ. His slow songs are so soft and tender, in sharp contrast to his burly-bear appearance. He’s got a reputation of one of the most likeable and interesting weirdos in a scene full of characters. Running buddies with Townes and that crew, he...
The Year That Clayton Delaney Died -- Tom T. Hall →
Author of eleven #1 hits and dozens of other important songs including “Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine” and “You Show Me Your Heart (And I’ll Show You Mine)”Tom T. Hall is one of the gems of Nashville’s songwriting pantheon. I love this one about a self-destructive alcoholic hero to a young boy.
The Future Is Not What It Used to Be -- Mickey... →
I couldn’t find a digital version of Mickey Newbury singing this painfully beautiful song, so I settled on the erstwhile unheard-of Stephen Ackles, who at least sings it with some emotion. Newbury is such a cool and underappreciated characted. Cash and Roger Miller and those fellas from the previous generation honor him as the first “hippie-cowboy” in Nashville, and he was...
South Coast -- Ramblin' Jack Elliott →
I just saw old Ramblin Jack at the HIghline Ballroom and he lived up to his nickname. I’d be tempted to say he’s fairly senile at this point, but I have a suspicion that he got his nickname not from trottin’ about, but from literally rambling on and on. At least 40% of the show was him talking: old stories about Dylan, rodeos in Belgium, skateboarding, and his dog Caeser. ...
Hot Pants in the Summertime -- The Dramatics →
What an appropriate addition for the middle of May when the ladies are itchin’ to get the hot pants out of the cedar boxes. This 1971 album “What You See is What You Get” is solid gold dynamite.
Pallet on Your Floor -- Karen Dalton →
Who on the earth ever had more soul than Karen Dalton? This is her doing a Jelly Roll Morton song. Look at this video and tell me if there’s something you’ve seen that’s more amazing.
In Love With Another Man -- Jazmine Sullivan →
This is a fucked up song, along the same lines as “Angels Love Bad Men” by the Highwaymen, but this time sung confessionally by a woman. Depending how you look at it it says “I like being treated like shit because the search for validation is far more stimulating than validation itself,” or alternatively, “You just aren’t that interesting, so here’s to...
Kris Kristofferson & Doug Sahm in Cisco Pike
My Telephone Artist -- Space Opera →
Everything you’d want to know about this excellent band can be found in this fascinating article: http://swampland.com/articles/view/title:lost_in_space__the_epic_saga_of_fort_worths_space_opera
In case you don’t take the time, they were a product of the unbelievable rennaissance of Texas music in the 60’s & 70’s. Originally they were from Ft. Worth, then some of...
Honestly I Do -- Sophia George →
I learned about this singer because her son is a hot-shot safety just picked in the 2nd round of the NFL draft by the Patriots. He goes by the name Patrick Chung, taking the name of his half-Chinese father. That is just the damndest thing. She had a #1 hit called “Girlie Girlie” and has a Greatest Hits record. Most of her songs are really good.
The Love You Forgot -- Cynthia and Imaginations →
Another great obscure soul song from this strange album of gems called “Gangster Soul Girlz Harmony.”
Dream of My Predictions -- Contents Are →
An extremely obscure garage band group from Quad-City, Iowa, wherever the hell that is. They started putting out 45’s when they were in high school in the late 60’s. Their recording have continued to circulate and have secured them cult-legend status.
Seeds & Stems -- Commander Cody & His Lost Planet... →
A very underrated Michigan band from the 70’s founded by George Frayne. This song has such a classic feel—somewhere between a Sam Cooke soul number and Merle Haggard, with less common marijuana references. Apparently, like Terry Allen, Frayne is a hell of a sculptor and video artist and has pieces in the MOMA and such.
April 2009
58 posts
Don't Let No One Fool You -- Barry Brown →
A fairly important reggae singer from the late 70’s-early 80’s who apparently effed himself up a bit on the drugs and such and died of an unfortunate konk on the head in 2004.
Gypsy Eyes -- Alela Diane →
The proliferation of sub-genres is becoming absurd. According to Wikipedia, Alela Diane should be classified as belonging to the “psych folk and New Weird America musical genres.” Whatever the hell that means. Though I do think the latter has a felicitous ring to it. I’d just call her a folk singer in the same class as Diane Cluck. The overwhelming majority of her songs...
You May Already Be a Loser -- The Ramblin' Kind →
Last week I wandered into one of my favorite East Village bars—the Lakeside Lounge—and was fortunate enough to catch this band. The lead man, Jim Allen, was the real deal: strong voice, good original material; and his right-hand man delivered some solid Hank Williams hits and other classic tunes. They don’t have any records yet but I emailed the guy and he sent me an MP3 of...
Guy Clark Live in Annapolis' Ram's Head Tavern →
As far as I know, there are two good reasons to go to Annapolis, MD. One is a boat show and the other is to see Guy Clark live. Rush hour traffic and an anxiety attack did their best to thwart the occasion, but the fortitude of my traveling companion carried us down the road through Baltimore while I continued my ongoing project of trying to find an unrefreshing bottle of Coors beer. The...
Everybody's Gotta Live -- Love w/ Arthur Lee →
Love is said to have been one of the first racially diverse bands in the early 60’s. Founded by this fella Arthur Lee and Bryan MacLean, a Byrds roadie. They had a good run through the late 60’s before running out of gas. Then MacLean died from smack and Lee went to the slammer for guns.
Feel Like Going Home -- Charlie Rich →
Called the “Silver Fox” because of his beautiful gray mutton chops, Charlie Rich was as smooth a crooner as could be. He had multiple huge hits in mainstream country through the 70’s, till he got sick of it and retired, then died suddenly of a pulmonary bloodclot. This song is unlike most of his stuff in that it has a real soul feel, nothing Nashville about it.
Something About What Happens When We Talk --... →
The next few songs are from the Oxford American Southern Music Compilation 2009—a gift from the generous and distinguished honorary southern gentleman, Rabbi Jason Kohn. Here’s Lucinda delivering a pretty love song with her typically plaintive sound.
Silver Raven -- Gene Clark →
Gene Clark was the Byrds’ ballast. Roger McGuinn was the diva, Gram Parsons was the disruptive prodigy, but Clark was the only one who could put up with those two egomaniacs. Unlike McGuinn, Clark actually loved country music and was on board with Parsons’ mutiny that turned the hottest pop-rock band in the country to a country band. After McGuinn got huffy, he went off to form...
Tonight Will Be Fine -- Teddy Thomas →
Another Leonard Cohen cover but I don’t know anything about this singer. I found some guy by this name on myspace, but it didn’t sound like him and that guy kinda sucked. Anyways, even if this guy does suck, it’s just further proof of how great Cohen’s songs are. I do like how this one is kind of twanged-out though.
If It Be Your Will -- Antony →
This Leonard Cohen song was the first thing I ever heard Antony sing. His live performance of it is on the Leonard Cohen documentary, “I’m Your Man.” I was totally transfixed and waited for the final credits which just gave the enigmatic name, Antony. A little googling about told me about him and the Johnsons, and life is all the richer for it. What a fucking singer. ...
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry -- Del Shannon →
Wow, this was a treat to find out about! I saw it on the great blog “The Rising Storm.” I have always been a fan of Del Shannon’s even in his teen-pop, “Runaway” phase. (Why can’t pop be as good as Del Shannon anymore?) Such a pure tone; and he sings with heart, no matter what style. It’s impossible not to mention that the date on this record is...
These Streets -- Tanya Stephens →
This song was #1 in Jamaica for 4 weeks and is said to have been completely sold out in the islands. She’s no joke, check out “Female Pimping” as well.
I Wanted to Be Alone -- Sam Phillips →
I noticed I’ve been a bit testosterone heavy so far in the postings, so we’ll try to balance it out a little with some more of the ladies. I first heard of Sam Phillips when Tom Waits listed her as one of his favorite singers. She’s got a bunch of good albums out there.
Bleeder -- Emiliana Torrini →
Another bleak dirge with great lyrics: “You’re a man, humble as a whore….. When things get wrong, you find you’re a bleeder.” I recently saw Torrini in NYC and she was wonderful live.
Drinkin' Thing -- Gary Stewart →
Most of the Stewart’s songs that I have heard are concerned with compotation in one way or another. He’s very believable. Never quite caught on with people, but he was one hell of a singer and genuine honkytonker. He blew a hole in his own neck after his wife passed away.
Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico -- Johnny Rodriguez →
It’s pretty safe to say that if Mick Jagger was a Mexican country singer, he’d look a lot like Johnny does in this pic. Sartorial excellence aside, I constantly crave to hear this song. I just learned that he has achieved a Tae Kwon Do blackbelt!
Why Can't I be Satisfied -- The Amazing Rythm Aces →
The Amazing Rythm Aces were just a solid band out of the 70’s who all went to work with other people like Hank Jr. and Nanci Griffith and have productive careers. There’s nothing not to like about this one. Some sites even throw them in the puzzling genre of “blue-eyed soul.” I suppose if that is a valid piece of nomenclature, Ol’ Colin Blunstone would be the...
After Laughter Comes Tears -- Wendy Rene →
She has such a sincere voice. One of those singers who just had a few obscure gems in a modest career. I was happy to learn that she ended up with her own publishing company in Nashville. This song is a classic example of the emotional turd-in-the-punchbowl philosophy that I find so compelling.
Caroline, Goodbye -- Colin Blunstone →
90% of Blunstone’s work is cheesey honkey-pseudo-soul. But he has a few gems like this one. He has such a sweet voice but I think he was just cursed by a lack of taste when it came to arrangements. I’m tempted to blame it on the 70’s, but that is being way too generous.
Coyotes -- Don Edwards →
Edward’s was your typical case of a zealous convert. Though his conversion was geographical. I believe he was from Jersey and grew up devouring Louis Lamour books and the like, longing to smell a cedar fire and taste a pine nut. He made it on out while still young and effed about in some oil fields and things before he figured out he was a natural storyteller. Pretty much all his songs...
Border Palace -- Terry Allen →
Terry Allen is one of the coolest people I’ve ever heard of. He’s made his main income by being an award winning sculptor with pieces in museums and galleries all over the world. As if that weren’t enough, he’s written dozens of some of the most ideosyncratic country songs ever. His songs have a similar vibe to Tom Russell’s: very Southwest/Mexican influence (he...
Arkansas Blues -- Hayes Carll →
Just a very solid yound Texas singer-songwriter who’s worked with Guy Clark and Ray Wylie Hubbard etc… This song sounds kinda Steve Earley: nothing incredibly original, but I am just happy that the lineage in still intact.
Last to Know -- Alejandro Escovedo →
Another incredibly prolific and underappreciated singer/writer. (Maybe people don’t like the Mexicaness of his name?) If you like Los Lobos (as anyone in their right mind should) you have to like him. His voice is very similar to David Hidalgo’s, but for my money he’s an even better songwriter. I read that in 1998, No Depression Magazine (a good Americana-music mag) named...
Yr Million Sweetnesses -- Diane Cluck →
Diane Cluck’s a valid poet and this album, “Ah, Vanille” is like a dusty book you gotta read through with plenty of applejack around. Maybe that’s just me; but there aren’t too many who can compose such dense lyrics and wrap them around such meandering melodies. Take it or leave it if it’s not your thing, but she seems to be the real deal.
Holocaust -- Alex Chilton →
Chilton has had a really bizarre career. At 16 he had some hits as the lead singer of the Box Tops and then in some band called Big Star. In the 70’s he was a significant player in the CBGB scene, during which time he released “an album called Like Flies on Sherbert, produced by Chilton with Jim Dickinson at Phillips Recording and Ardent Studios, which featured his own...
Relations -- Jackson C. Frank →
All I knew about this guy was that he had some beautiful songs. Then when I looked him up in order to post him here, I found out he was just about the poorest sonofabitch in the world and it made me like him even more. We all love a sad-sack:
“Trauma and misfortune have dogged Frank throughout his life. At the age of 11, a fire in his elementary school killed many of his classmates, and...
Dublin Blues -- Guy Clark →
There are several recordings of this song, but this album is such a gem. “Together at the Bluebird Cafe” is the holy triumvirate of Townes, Guy Clark, and Steve Earle coming together for an Interfaith Dental Clinic benefit organized by Guy’s wonderful wife Susanna. It’s as good as it sounds. Very mellow, full of funny yarns. Poor Townes was on his last legs. But I...
Cowboy Fora da Lei -- Raul Seixas →
This comes from one of Seixas’ last albums, “Uah-Bap-Lu-Bap-Lah-Bein-Bum!/A Pedra Do Gênesis.” Neither album was very successful and were subsequently rereleased as a 2-disc set. Years of substance abuse and strange spiritual quests took their toll on poor Raul, but not on this track. The steel guitar work is top-notch.
José -- Lee Hazlewood →
Probably best known for producing all the Nancy Sinatra hits, Lee Hazlewood’s career is a strange beast. He’s from Texas and has a knack for country, but he always stayed with a large foot in L.A. pop music and he had an amzing producer’s ear. He was the first person to offer a contract to Gram Parsons and the International Submarine Band and refused to let Parsons join the...