Featuring Mike Oldfield on bass, Lol Coxhill on soprano, and Dave Bedford on accordion. Ayers at his most beautifully wistful and romantic.
Category Archives: songwriters
Paradise of Bachelors to reissue Terry Allen’s classics, Juarez and Lubbock (On Everything)!
I prefer to view Terry Allen’s 1975 debut, Juarez, as more a literary musical tour of the underbelly of border town existence as seen through the intersection of two couples, than, as it is often referred to, a concept album, which in Pop/Rock terms typically denotes varying levels of artistic pretense. In fact Juarez seems so refreshingly free of pretense, as to sucker you into it’s world, much like a particularly well storied drunk at a cheap bar might, and you don’t know if you’re gonna get rolled, arrested, or escape with a new found wisdom by the end of it. Funny thing is, the stories are so compelling that even aware of this you’re in it for the ride, consequences be damned.
It would be four years before Allen issued his 2LP follow, Lubbock (On Everything), and though neither record sold well, those that heard them (among those being Lucinda Williams, Little Feat, Sturgill Simpson, Don Everly, Doug Sahm, Guy Clark, Bobby Bare, Jason Isbell, and David Byrne, with whom he would collaborate on the soundtrack for True Stories ) became disciples, spreading the gospel of Allen’s unique vision. Thank the good folks at Paradise of Bachelors for putting these back in print, where they can only influence songwriting for the better. Also, these reissues look so nice, that even though I’m fortunate enough to own originals, I’ll be picking them up.
From Paradise of Bachelors website promo:
“As described in one of the periodic narrative “dialogue” interludes spoken by Allen, Juarez recounts a deceptively “simple story”: a bleak journey, told in nonlinear terms, from Southern California through Colorado and into the Texas-Mexico borderlands. Like many cross-country road trips, it’s as harrowing as it is humorous, often within the margins of a single song or even an isolated line. The action revolves around two couples and their fateful—or arbitrary—murderous meeting in Cortez, Colorado. Sailor, on leave from the Navy, meets Spanish Alice, a prostitute, in a Tijuana bar; they get married and honeymoon in a mountain trailer park in Cortez. Meanwhile, on a crime spree detour, pachuco antihero Jabo and the witchy “rock-writer” Chic Blundie drive North from L.A. to Cortez on their way South to Jabo’s hometown of Ciudad Juarez (until recently the homicide capital of the world). Only one couple emerges from the bloody trailer, escaping across the New Mexican desert to Juarez, where they part, assuming (or absorbing?) new identities.”
“I’m not a prophet or a stone aged man, just a mortal with potential of a superman. I’m living on.”
Song of The Day: Lee Hazlewood – The Night Before
Definitely not to be confused with a Christmas Eve song. One of my favorites from the master. “I see those empty whiskey bottles, and records scattered on the florrr-orrr-orrr”
Bruce Springsteen outtake from The River, Party Lights
Another teaser from the forthcoming, massive, deluxe edition of The River. This one’s got a definite Byrds Jangle Pop vibe, but is especially reminiscent of Jackie DeShannon’s, When You Walk In The Room.
Songs of The Day : Hoagy Carmichael with Jane Russell – I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes), and Hoagy Carmichael with Lauren Bacall – How Little We Know
Happy birthday to the legendary songwriter responsible for the standards Stardust, Heart and Soul, The Nearness of You, and Georgia On My Mind, to name but a few. Hoagy Carmichael also appeared in numerous movies, performing his own songs, often with a variety of stars. Today’s SOTD selections are from The Las Vegas Story, and To Have and Have Not, respectively.
It’s Gene Clark’s birthday
Absolutely one of the greatest American songwriters ever.
Des Chansons Du Jour: Anna Marly – Les Chant Des Partisans, and Leonard Cohen – The Partisan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chant_des_Partisans
http://holocaustmusic.ort.org/resistance-and-exile/french-resistance/le-chant-des-partisans/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Marly
There is a terrifying irony in the misappropriation of these lyrics, but make no mistake, France is not Nazi Germany, and these murderers are no heroes.
Happy birthday to Neil Young!
Unfortunately I don’t have time to do a proper Neil Young tribute today, so I’m leaving you with my favorite Neil album, Zuma, which was released forty years ago this week.
I listen to Neil Young more often than probably any other solo (all respect to Crazy Horse, natch) Rock artist, and among his discography, Zuma is the album to which I most frequently return. I saw you in my nightmares, but I’ll see you in my dreams…
Emitt Rhodes is crowdfunding his first full length release in over 40 years!
While a few songs have trickled forth from Rhodes over the past five, or so, years, this will be the first full length release since 1973’s, Farewell To Paradise. Rhodes’ band includes Roger Manning Jr and Jason Falkner, perhaps best known for their work with Beck and Air, and features appearances by Aimee Mann, Susannah Hoffs, and Wilco’s Pat Sansone and Nels Cline (who both previous to and concurrent with his Wilco tenure, is a highly acclaimed, and often experimental, Jazz guitarist), to name a few. Powerpop lovers rejoice!
Follow the link to donate and watch a video about the recording.
http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/emittrhodes
blog hit sally inside 