Lovin Him Was Easier – Rosanne sings Kris
‘Tis a good thing to hear a well written, beautifully sung song. The words of Kris Kristofferson and the voice of Rosanne Cash come together quite nicely in “Lovin’ Him Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)”. The song (“Lovin’ HER” was the original) first appeared on Kristofferson’s 1971 album The Silver Tongued Devil & I, and has since been covered by the likes of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare, and even Tina Turner.
Just a nice song that’s prompted me to pick up this tribute to Kristofferson.
Rosanne Cash: Lovin’ Him Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again) [mp3]
Buy The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson
Buy Rosanne Cash’s new album:
London to Lubbock: Joe Ely meets the Clash
Here’s a cool tidbit of Clash trivia. You know that part in “Should I Stay or Should I Go” where you hear Mick Jones yell “Split!”? It was actually an impromptu moment when Joe Strummer and Joe Ely snuck up behind Jones during the recording session, and basically scared the piss out of him. The moment made it on to the final recording.
Their relationship began in 1978, when Joe Ely was playing the Venue Club in London. The Clash were admirers of Ely’s most recent release, 1978’s ‘Honky Tonk Masquerade.’ Ely – a native of Lubbock, Texas – and the Clash met backstage and ended up spending the rest of the three night stand hanging around eachother, crawling the pubs, and gaining quite a mutual respect and admiration for eachother.
Ely opened for the Clash on the 1979 Texas leg of their Pearl Harbor tour. He also headed over to London in 1980 to open for the Clash on their UK London Calling tour, and opened a couple of nights during the Clash’s residency at Bond’s in NYC in 1981.
Well, fast forward to 1983. It’s a week before the US Festival in San Bernardino, CA, and the Clash are in San Antonio to play a warm-up gig before the 150,000 person event. Joe Ely is in the house that night, and joins the band for a version of “Fingernails” (from ‘Honky Tonk Masquerade”). Here’s the last three from that San Antonio night. The US Festival gig a week later would be Mick Jones’ final performance as a member of the Clash. The festival also included a backstage shouting match between Strummer and Van Halen’s David Lee Roth. Strummer was pissed about Van Halen demanding (and receiving) a cool million for the gig. Oh how I would have loved to be a fly on the wall that day.
The Clash, Live at the Majestic Theater, San Antonio, TX
May 22, 1983Fingernails (with Joe Ely) [mp3]
Should I Stay or Should I Go [mp3]
I Fought the Law [mp3]Here’s a cool collaboration that never was to be:
For years, Ely, a hard-charging alt-country Texan who emerged during Jimmy Carter’s reign, and Strummer, founder and lead singer of the politically astute Clash, the greatest punk band that Margaret Thatcher’s Britain ever produced, had promised each other that some day they’d head to Mexico and record an album just for the hell of it…But Ely, who turns 59 today, never got to Mexico with Strummer.
“I went to the funeral and got together with the guys and stayed up all night playing guitar,” he said. “I never believed someone with the vital energy he had would die. That’s a lesson that if you say you’re going to do something, you just do it.”
How cool would that have been? A Strummer/Ely Tex-Mex-World-Punk record? Like an idiot, I just missed Joe Ely at the very intimate Rhythm Room in Phoenix. Next time I’ll go, buy him a beer, and talk about Joe Strummer.
Here’s a couple from Joe Ely’s great live LP, ‘Live at Antone’s‘….
The Road Goes on Forever[mp3]All Just to Get to You[mp3]- Buy Joe Ely music.
- Buy Clash / Joe Strummer music.
- Check out Mick Jones’ latest project, Carbon/Silicon.
- Some information for this post came from these two articles: Lubbock Calling: Joe Ely Remembers the Clash and The regret of Joe Ely
Allison Moorer meets Mr. Earle
I have two words for Steve Earle: You dog!! He must have the charms of Casanova, because he continues to seduce the ladies into taking his hand in marriage. His latest – sixth, seventh, eighth? – bride is none other than the lovely and very talented Allison Moorer. I’m not privy to the story behind their courtship, but they spent Steve’s last tour together with Allison in the opening slot. Steve also produced Allison’s latest release, ‘Getting Somewhere’, which was released last Tuesday (June 13) on Sugar Hill Records.
From the the three tracks I’ve heard, it certainly has that Earle / Twangtrust vibe to it, and – well, I eat that stuff right up like a pint of Cherry Garcia. You certainly hear it on “Fairweather”, which was co-written by Earle. Driving pounding drums, those crunchy guitar riffs…
Allison made quite a splash in 1998, when her song “A Soft Place to Fall” was included on the soundtrack to ‘The Horse Whisperer’ (one of the best soundtracks I own). That same year, her debut, ‘Alabama Song’ was released on MCA Records.
Allison and her older sister, Shelby Lynne (also a country-esque singer/songwriter) overcame quite a tragic event in their childhood to find success in the Nashville music scene. When they were both teenagers, their alcoholic father shot and killed their mother in the driveway of their Alabama home, and then turned the gun on himself – all while Shelby and Allison looked on. Shelby, who was 17 at the time, raised Allison for the remaining years of her adolescence. Sickening and tragic to even comprehend, but Shelby and Allison have persevered.
What I like about Allison (and her sister) are their refusal to bow down to the Nashville Country Machine, which churns out the cookie cutter singers as products, ruled by the almighty dollar (which country radio eats right up). I like the Nashville rebels, and Allison’s link-up with Steve Earle (in the musical and poetic sense) confirms what I knew I liked about her: artistic integrity and a perpetual middle finger to the “system” (even though Steve Earle sold “The Revolution Starts Now” to a Chevy commercial, but I choose to overlook that).
So take a listen to some Allison Moorer music. Here’s the song from the ‘Horse Whisperer’…
Allison Moorer:
A Soft Place to Fall(mp3) – from The Soundtrack to the Horse Whisperer.And here’s some RealPlayer goodness from her latest album, ‘Getting Somewhere’, her second release on Sugar Hill Records.
Allison Moorer: Fairweather (rm) | New Year’s Day (rm) | How She Does It (rm) – RealPlayer is required for these three
- Buy ‘Getting Somewhere’ from Sugar Hill Records or Amazon.
- Check out Allison’s Official Site.
- Check out the must for artists these days, her MySpace page – home to teeniebobbers and musicians!
Check out Prairie Oyster
I have a boat load of old cassettes that I’ve been digging slowly through and getting on to my hard drive. So following along that country-influenced path, here’s one from Canadian country swingish outfit Prairie Oyster. What drew me to this song was singer Russell de Carle’s voice, especially the “I’ve forgotten somehowwwww” part. He’s got great command of his voice. It looks like Prairie Oyster is still active up in Canada.
Prairie Oyster:
I Don’t Hurt Anymore(mp3) – from A Different Kind of FireAn Afternoon with Blaze
I watched a great Austin City Limits last night: John Prine and Amos Lee. During Prine’s set, he introduced his last song as one “that just about knocked me off my chair” when he first heard it. It was a song called “Clay Pigeons” by Blaze Foley. The song about knocked me off my couch last night too; a heart-wrenching, beautifully written song. It’s on John’s latest CD, ‘Fair & Square’, which I own, but it had never hit me like that before. It’s in the Texas singer songwriter vein, the finger-pickin’ akin to Townes van Zandt (a friend and hero of Blaze).
So I went a searching to find out more about Blaze Foley. Well, like a lot of talents, he died young at the age of 39 years old in 1989. He was shot to death apparently while defending an elderly friend of his. He was a very eccentric, hard living character (he had a strange fixation with duct tape, so much so that his coffin was duct taped at his funeral). He spent most of the 70’s and 80’s playing gigs in Houston, New Orleans, and Austin. But he didn’t leave behind much of a body of work. A couple of albums were released after his death. One of them was ‘Live at the Austin Outhouse’, which was recorded on December 18th, 1988 (his 39th birthday), about three months before his death.
So I have to thank John Prine, not only for his music, but for mentioning Blaze Foley, one of the hidden stars of Texas music, another one who faded away much too fast.
Blaze Foley: Clay Pigeons (mp3)
- Buy Live at the Austin Outhouse on Amazon
- A Blaze Foley web site
- Hear John Prine’s version of “Clay Pigeons”
Monday Masters: Doc Watson
Father’s Day was kind to me. My wife treated me to Sirius Satellite Radio. So needless to say, I’ve been pretty much immersed in the 120 + channels over the last few days. My favorites so far: Sirius Disorder, Jam On, Back Spin, and Pure Jazz. But I’m just getting going here.
So anyhow, tonight features another legend that was introduced to me through Steve Earle’s music. Steve’s song “Hometown Blues” starts off with his intro: “this here’s a hometown blues with apologies to Thomas Wolfe and Doc Watson.” So I eventually picked up ‘Tennessee Stud’, Doc Watson’s 2003 release. Granted, I have a long way to go in properly exploring Doc’s catalog, but this is a great introduction, in my humble opinion.
Doc was born back in 1923 in Deep Gap, North Carolina. Blind at an early age, he learned to finger pick at a school for the blind. His bio’s really interesting, I encourage you to check it out here.
Check out Doc’s version of an old jug band standard…
Doc Watson:
Mama Don’t Allow No Music(mp3)- Buy ‘Tennessee Stud’ and other Doc Watson music on Amazon.
- Check out Doc’s Guitar, a nice fan site.
Buck + Dwight = Hank
The last week has featured some Cajun sounds, a little 80’s Minneapolis funk, and some old school country. Now to marry it all up, it’s Buckwheat Zydeco’s collaboration with Dwight Yoakam. They got together in 1990 to lay down their take on Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin'”, and I love the result.
Dural’s accordion shares the spotlight, as he and Yoakam trade verses and put their mark on this classic tune.Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural was born in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1947. His mentor was the late Clifton Chenier, the “King of Zydeco”. It’s obvious that I need to visit New Orleans as fast as humanly possible. I just might never come back.
Buckwheat Zydeco (w/ Dwight Yoakam):
Hey Good Lookin’(mp3)- Listen to some Quicktime audio streams on Buckwheat’s official web site.
- Buy ‘Where there’s Smoke There’s Fire’ on Amazon (you can get it used for $1.75, so do yourself a favor).
- Buy his 2005 release, ‘Jackpot’.
Big Ball’s in Cowtown
From Jesse Johnson to Don Walser. What a transition! My point? Never limit yourself with music.
Another fine soundtrack is featured tonight. I bought the ‘Horse Whisperer’ soundtrack solely for the Steve Earle contribution “Me & the Eagle” (I still haven’t seen the movie). Lucky for me, the CD is full of great country tunes. All twelve of ’em. It offers great tracks from the likes of Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, the Mavericks, Iris Dement, and tonight’s performer, Don Walser.
Don’s a 68 yr old singer and guitarist from West Texas, a torch bearer of traditional Western Swing. The man can yodel with the best of ’em too (I’ll have to dig up a sample). He now resides in Austin. This tune puts a smile on my face and pep in my step every time. Makes you want to grab a gal and some whiskey, dance around a barn for a while, and top off the evening up in the hay loft.
Enjoy the fiddles, the piano, the great pedal steel guitar, and the joyous rhythm. Let’s enjoy these living legends while they’re still around.
Don Walser:
Big Ball’s in Cowtown(mp3)- Check out the Horse Whisperer soundtrack on Amazon.
- Don Walser music on Amazon.
- Find out more about Don Walser on All Music.
That Detroit Hillbilly
All that fancy actin’ in Cold Mountain must’ve done something to Jack White, ’cause next thing you know, he’s holed up in a studio with country queen Loretta Lynn, producing her entire album, ‘Van Lear Rose’ [buy it here]. Yeah it’s been a while since this one’s been out. I’m sort of the anti-mp3-blogger. I’m really late to the party on a lot of stuff. I just heard the album for the first time last week, and let me tell ya, 70 year old Ms. Lynn is as vibrant and fresh as ever, and that has a lot to do with Jack White, in my opinion. The production is great; it’s 21st century Detroit meets Nashville hillbilly rock n’ roll. Great album. This is the one duet on the CD.
Loretta Lynn & Jack White:
Portland Oregon(mp3)A Toast – Jerry Jeff Walker’s Sangria Wine
Here’s a fun, gritty, laid back ode to one of my favorite non-beer beverages (right behind the mojito): Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Sangria Wine.” My meticulous research has dated this song back to the early 70’s, when it first appeared on the 1973 album ‘Viva Terlingua.’ I’m gonna have to check out this album, as I read on All Music, it was
“recorded live in Luckenbach, TX, on a hot August night in 1973…among the most legendary of “live” singer/songwriter albums ever released. It’s the ‘Live at the Fillmore East’ of redneck Texas folk-rock.”