Malo, Flaco and Earle
I love the Mavericks. Love the sound of lead singer Raul Malo’s voice. “All You Ever Do is Bring Me Down” rose out of my mp3 shuffle today. Tex-Mex superstar accordionist Flaco Jimenez adds his signature playing to the tune.
The Mavericks:
All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down(mp3) – from The Definitive CollectionThat led me to listen to Flaco’s early 90’s group the Texas Tornados. The group also consisted of Freddy Fender, Doug Sahm, and Augie Meyers.
Texas Tornados:
Adios Mexico(mp3) – from The Best of the Texas TornadosThat song led me, for obvious reasons (you’ll know when you hear both tunes), to Steve Earle. If you take Adios Mexico’s traditional Tex-Mex accordion riff, strap a NASA booster rocker to it, and turn the amp up to 11, you get this:
Steve Earle:
What’s a Simple Man To Do(mp3) – from JerusalemBlue Live
I posted the studio version of this song last summer, but given that the live version from Lucinda’s ‘Live @ the Fillmore’ album is far superior, in my opinion, I just had to share it with you all.
If you’re not touched by this tune, then brother (or sister), you have no soul.
Lucinda Williams:
Blue (live)[mp3] from Live @ the Fillmore | LyricsBababooey
It’s been an entertaining week as I’ve found myself sucked into Howard Stern’s debut on Sirius Satellite Radio. George Takei as the official show announcer? Brilliant! It’s great to hear Howard and his gang in their true element: relaxed, honest, and yes, uncensored.
In honor of the King of All Media, here’s another anti-authority figure who takes up a good chunk of my leisure time. It’s Steve Earle, and his not too subtle thoughts on the FCC, the FBI, and the CIA.
Steve Earle:
F the CC(mp3) – from The Revolution Starts NowBonus: Steve Earle:
Condi, Condi(mp3)“People say you’re cold but I think you’re hot, Oh, Condi, Condi, Oh, Condi, Condi.”
More Bruce? Yes, More Bruce.
Here are a few selections from Bruce?s Nov. 21st show at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, New Jersey (his 2nd to last show of the tour). I go through ?all Bruce all the time? phases like this. You?re just going to have to work through it with me.Bruce Springsteen:
Song for Orphans
Bruce Springsteen:Dream Baby Dream(Suicide cover)
Bruce Springsteen:Two for the RoadAll live from November 21st, 2005, Trenton, New Jersey
RIP Chris Whitley
Sad news. Chris Whitley has succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 45 [Yahoo News Story].
My brother and I went to see him over the summer here in Phoenix. It was the first show of his tour, he had just flown over from Germany, and what we witnessed was profoundly sad. The show cut off after around 5 songs after what we thought was substance related behavior (crying, falling off his stool, cursing, and basically saying he didn’t give a shit about anything). Whatever the reason, it was sad to see.
I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Chris’ work through the years, but I do love his debut album, ‘Living with the Law’ (1991). So in memory of Chris, here are a couple of my favorites.
Chris Whitley: Living with the Law (mp3)
Chris Whitley: I Forget You Every Day (mp3)World Series: Home to Houston via Chicago
This Steve Earle tune has been zippin’ through my head for the entire MLB playoffs. So now that the Houston Astros have made it to the World Series, I figure I’d celebrate the moment with a very non-celebratory song: “Home to Houston”. Steve writes it from the perspective of a Texas truck driver who heads off to Iraq for a quick buck, and regrets it from the get-go. “If I ever get home to Houston alive, I won’t drive a truck anymore.”
Steve Earle: “Home to Houston” – from The Revolution Starts NowAnd to complement it (hats off to the Chicago White Sox), here’s another uplifting tune whose opening line is “I dreamed about killing you again last night and it felt alright to me.” That Jeff Tweedy, he’s a charmer…
Wilco: “Via Chicago” – from Summerteeth.
Mister Earle and his post big house blues
Sundays are for playing music that matches your end of the weekend BLAHS. This tune has been my woe-is-me companion since I discovered Steve in the mid-90’s thanks to the formerly good Phoenix radio station KZON (a station whose only saving grace these days is their 4 hours of Howard Stern every morning).
I got the chance to see Steve around that time at the now defunct Rockin Horse saloon in Scottsdale (burned to the ground I think). Steve had just completed his stint in the big house due to his recurring problems with drugs, and he was embarking on the best musical journey of his career. His first album after the drug & jail adventures was ‘Train a Comin’, released in 1995. It was an acoustic journey made up of old and new songs alike, as well as a great covers of “I’m Looking Through You”, “Rivers of Baylon”, and “Tecumseh Valley”. The highlight of the album for me though – due to my fondness for the melancholy tunes – is “Goodbye”.
Last verse:
I only miss you here every now and then
Like the soft breeze blowin up from the Caribbean
Most Novembers I break down and cry
But I can’t remember if we said goodbyeSniff. Damn Steve. I hope this tune turns someone out there on to Mr. Earle. I reckon it will.
Steve Earle: Goodbye- Check out Train a Comin on Amazon.
I hear mariachi static on the radio
I feel compelled to post this song because it’s been a recurring one over the last week on my playlists. And I just found that the chords are real simple (just E, A, and B7) so I can grab my acoustic and strum along or entertain my family with my own version. My almost-2 year old can’t tell that the song is about a depressed heroin junkie, it’s only a beautiful piece of music (hmmm, maybe she does know and she’s just not telling me because she can’t). OK, back to “head shoulders knees and toes” when she’s around.
“Carmelita” is on Warren Zevon’s self-titled 2nd album, released almost 30 years ago back in ol’ 76. Warren was a session man in LA for several years prior, and befriended Jackson Browne, who produced this album.
Warren Zevon (1947-2003, RIP): Carmelita
- buy on Amazon
I hear Mariachi static on my radio
And the tubes they glow in the dark
And I’m there with her in Ensenada
And I’m here in Echo ParkCarmelita hold me tighter
I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of townWell, I’m sittin’ here playing solitaire
With my pearl-handled deck
The county won’t give me no more methadone
And they cut off your welfare checkCarmelita hold me tighter
I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of townWell, I pawned my Smith Corona
And I went to meet my man
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street
By the Pioneer chicken standCarmelita hold me tighter
I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of townCarmelita hold me tighter
I think I’m sinking down
And I’m all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town4th of July – Alvin Style
Along with Springsteen’s “4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy)”, this song by Dave Alvin has worked its way into my July 4th music rotation over the years. This great song was released on Dave’s 1994 album ‘King of California’. Dave, along with his brother Phil, fronted the Southern California rockabilly band the Blasters. Since then, Dave’s been churning out some great solo material, including last year’s Ashgrove.
Happy Birthday, U.S.A. – though it’s been a rough ride the last few years, and those at the helm are steering us in a direction that many of us are extremely uncomfortable with – we’re still with you… most of us are a tolerant, even-keeled bunch. Much more than our government’s neo-conservative wack jobs would have you believe. No political party can claim to be more patriotic than the other. Sorry, we’re all in this together, we all love our country… even those of us who are against our young men and women dying in droves overseas for reasons that are less than clear, with no stop in sight (not to mention the scores of innocent civilians). *end of short rant*
So happy Independence Day.
Dave Alvin: Fourth of July
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
