• Country

    Jerry Reed 1937-2008

    September 2, 2008 /

    While I fully realize that my attachment to Jerry Reed was primarily due to his participation in Smokey & The Bandit and Scooby-Doo, I found out later in life that he was a hell of a songwriter and a amazing guitarist. Jerry passed away today at the age of 71, our hearts go out to family, friends and fans.

    10-4 Good Buddy, over and out…

  • Country,  Folk,  Video

    Townes Van Zandt in Heartworn Highways

    April 10, 2008 /

    I just watched Heartworn Highways last night. It’s a great music film, a snapshot of the mid-70’s Nashville and Austin outlaw music scene. It features Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark, David Allan Coe, Steve Young, a very young Steve Earle, and Townes Van Zandt (among a lot of others). In this clip, Townes has just got done listening to Seymour Washington talk about his life. Seymour is an old timer, 79 years old at the time this was filmed in 1975. He talks about his life on the farm, of shoeing horses, of the importance of good whiskey. This clip picks up right before Townes plays “Waiting Around to Die”. You’ll see Seymour in the background – an emotional moment, as you’ll see…

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTGKzWDakK8]

  • Country

    Valentine’s Day

    February 13, 2008 /

    I’m glad to say that I’ve never been in the position to identify with Steve Earle in his song “Valentine’s Day”. But if you’re one of the unlucky ones who wakes up Thursday morning cardless and giftless, simply drop to your knees and sing this song.

    This is one of the sweetest, most emotional tunes that Steve has ever written. It showed up on his amazing 1996 album I Feel Alright. Providing the perfect background vox are gospel legends the Fairfield Four. If you don’t have the album, I strongly recommend you remedy that right here, right now.

  • Country

    Up On Cripple Creek

    January 28, 2008 /

    The closest I ever came to going through a country music phase was during the summer of 1992. I had just graduated from college, and my plan was to jump into a career in law enforcement. Ever since an 11th grade internship with my local police department, I had my sights set on being a police officer. Well, it didn’t exactly turn out that way in the end. A change of heart ensued after a few interviews.

  • Country

    Dwight does the soul right

    December 9, 2007 /

    Because few things beat a good ol’ heartbreakin’ Dwight Yoakam ballad, I give you two of my favorites.

    Dwight Yoakam – Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room (mp3)

    Buy:

    Dwight Yoakam – 1,000 Miles (mp3)

    Buy:

  • Country

    Steve Earle Album Cover and Letterman Appearance

    August 22, 2007 /

    A week before the Boss drops his Magic on us, Steve Earle’s new album, Washington Square Serenade, will be released (Sept. 25th).

    Steve will be appearing on Letterman Thursday night (Aug. 23rd) to perform “City of Immigrants” from the new record. Look for some YouTube action here soon after. [UPDATE: Video is here.]

    Preorder Washington Square Serenade.

    You can hear “City of Immigrants” over on Steve’s new MySpace page.

  • Country

    My Dwight Masterpiece: If There Was a Way

    April 10, 2007 /
    If There Was a Way

    Tonight I’m reaching back to the archives to my favorite Dwight Yoakam album, 1990’s If There Was a Way. It’s a great record start to finish, and my cassette – yes cassette – got many many listens in its day. Dwight has always remained a steadfastly old-school country-boogie-swingin’ honky-tonk man.

    My two favorites off the album are the title track, and “Turn it On, Turn it Up, Turn Me Loose”. The latter track I’ve been looking for on YouTube for a while, and I finally found it. Who uploaded it to YouTube? Why, Warner Brothers Records, believe it or not! A step in the right direction, as the labels are figuring out how important this medium is to the future (and past) of music.

    Dwight does himself a little acting in this video for “Turn it On…” As you may know, Dwight’s also established himself as a formidable actor in Hollywood. You all remember him as that prick Doyle in Sling Blade, right? This video precedes his first movie role, 1992’s Red Rock West, by two years.

    So, in the annals of songs I’ll always love, I give you the video, courtesy of Warner Brothers, for “Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose.”

    “If a tear should fall
    If I should whisper her name
    To some stranger I’m holdin’
    While we’re dancin to an old Buck Owens soooong”

    So naturally, your next inclination is to buy the album: If There Was a Way

  • Country,  Giveaway

    New Johnny Cash Releases and a Giveaway too

    December 11, 2006 /

    cash

    On October 31st, Mercury/UM released Johnny Cash in Ireland, an hour long concert DVD of a 1993 performance at the Olympia Theater in Dublin. He is joined by his wife June, the Carter Family,and Kris Kristofferson. If you’re a Cash fan, then you probably want to have this.

    the approximately one-hour-long concert showcases Cash singing many of his greatest hits–“I Walk The Line,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Get Rhythm,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “(Ghost) Riders In The Sky,” “Daddy Sang Bass” and “Ring Of Fire” plus “I Still Miss Someone.”

    He also sings with wife June Carter Cash (their classic duet “Jackson”), son John Carter Cash (“No Use In Treatin’ Me This Way”), Kris Kristofferson (“Big River” and “Long Black Veil”), and The Carter Family, who perform their own gems too–“Keep On The Sunny Side,” “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” and “Wabash Cannonball.” In addition, John Carter Cash solos Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” and Irish popster Sandy Kelly joins Cash, Kristofferson and The Carter Family on “Forty Shades Of Green,” the Johnny Cash-penned tribute to Ireland.

    So who wants this DVD as an early Christmas present? Look at me, December 11th, I haven’t even started my Christmas shopping, and here I am giving away a DVD on my site. Ah priorities…

    GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment below. I’ll randomly choose a winner in a few days, and get the DVD shipped off to the winner before Christmas.

    UPDATE: We gotta winner! See here.

    Another cool recent release is Johnny Cash – At San Quentin: Legacy Edition. It contains the full show from San Quentin Prison and a 1969 documentary of the event.

    Here’s a promo for the boxed set….

    cash vid

    Johnny Cash: I Walk the Line (Audio stream: WMP, Quicktime, Real) – live in San Quentin (“man you in the wrong place to bend over, don’t you know it? Get up from there with that camera!”)

    Buy Johnny Cash In Ireland – 1993
    Buy Johnny Cash – At San Quentin: Legacy Edition

  • Country

    Dwight’s Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. Etc.

    November 2, 2006 /

    Dwight

    My appreciation for country music has always lied squarely outside of the Nashville mainstream country machine. I’ll take the old school country any day of the week: the Willies, Waylons, and Johnny Cashes. But the manufactured new school of country will never interest me. Not to knock ’em, but I don’t see myself ever getting into Toby Keith, Rascall Flatts, Brad Paisley, or for crikey’s sake, Carrie Underwood (TM). Now I see another American Idol princess of the ditzballs, Kelly Pickler (TM), has a debut album. And what is a Dierks Bentley?? (To be fair, if anyone wants to recommend the best of the New Nashville in the comments, feel free). It’s just that anything that makes me think of George W. Bush and red staters just makes me, well, not listen (and I live smack dab in the middle of a red state – egads, they’re everywhere!).

    One of the artists I’ve always admired, and who has always stuck to his independent, honky tonkin’ ways is Dwight Yoakam. In my late teen years, between 1986 and 1990, he released these great four albums: Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. Etc., Hillbilly Deluxe, Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room, and my favorite, If There Was a Way (mostly due to the title track and “Turn it On, Turn it Up, Turn Me Loose”). All fantastic albums, all dabbling in traditional country, western swing, and good ol’ hillbilly honky-tonk music.

    Well now Rhino, yes Rhino again, has released a special 20th Anniversary deluxe edition of Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. Etc. 2 discs of music containing early demos from 1981, a remastered album, and an entire live 1986 show from the Roxy in Hollywood. Yep, Dwight is so far outside the Nashville mainstream that he’s called Los Angeles home since 1977 (he turned 50 on Oct. 23rd).

    I listened to the live show tonight. Dwight Yoakam live and loose on the Sunset Strip, playing to the likes of John Fogerty and Emmylou Harris. Belting out his early hits (“Guitars, Cadillacs”, “I’ll Be Gone”) as well as some classics (Bill Monroe’s “Rocky Road Blues”, “Mystery Train”, Hank Williams’ “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It”).

    So definitely folks, the Ickmusic Seal of Approval is dipped into a tub of moonshine and *dinggg* firmly adhered to this CD (and all D.Y. albums for that matter).

    Dwight Yoakam:     This Drinkin’ Will Kill Me (mp3 – the 1981 demo version)

    Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. Etc. eCard | The Rhino Listening Party.

    Dwight’s Official Site.

    Buy the Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc. Etc. Deluxe Edition.

    cover

    GUITARS, CADILLACS, ETC., ETC.
    Track Listing

    Disc 1
    The 1981 Demos
    1. “This Drinkin’ Will Kill Me”
    2. “It Won’t Hurt”
    3. “I’ll Be Gone”
    4. “Floyd County”
    5. “You’re The One”
    6. “Twenty Years”
    7. “Please Daddy”
    8. “Miner’s Prayer”
    9. “I Sang Dixie”
    10. “Bury Me”

    Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.
    11. “Honky Tonk Man”
    12. “It Won’t Hurt”
    13. “I’ll Be Gone”
    14. “South Of Cincinnati”
    15. “Bury Me” – Duet with Maria McKee
    16. “Guitars, Cadillacs”
    17. “Twenty Years
    18. “Ring Of Fire”
    19. “Miner’s Prayer”
    20. “Heartaches By The Number”

    Disc 2
    Live at The Roxy 1986
    1. “Hear Me Calling”
    2. “Honky Tonk Man”*
    3. “Guitars, Cadillacs”*
    4. “Rocky Road Blues”*
    5. “Heartaches By The Number”
    6. “I’ll Be Gone”*
    7. “It Won’t Hurt”*
    8. “My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It”
    9. “South Of Cincinnati”*
    10. “Mystery Train”*
    11. “Ring Of Fire”*
    12. “Since I Started Drinking Again”*

    *Previously Unissued