Greg Mitchell is the author of a dozen books and now writer/director of award-winning films, including this one coming to PBS stations in May. He was also a longtime editor of the legendary Crawdaddy.
My near-weekly collection of political potshots below. But first two great songs. Thanks to my recent return to vinyl, I finally played the first Jesse Winchester album, from 1970. His songs were so good they got Levon Helm to drum and Robbie Robertson to produce and play guitar. Also got us at Zygote to send a writer to Montreal late that year to pen a cover story for our final issue—here, amazingly, is that cover and interview. Jesse was famously in Canada avoiding the draft. He returned to USA post-amnesty and recorded a series of very fine albums while never breaking through as a hot act. That first album is perhaps best known for “Brand New Tennessee Waltz” and “Yankee Lady” but two best cuts are probably “Biloxi” and “Black Dog.” Enjoy, then subscribe, it’s still free!
About Jesse Winchester... we fell in love with his music the first time we saw him, in pa Montreal coffeehouse in 1970 before his first album was released - we were visiting a good friend who, like Jesse, was a draft resister who went to Canada, and he brought us to that coffeehouse - ‘You really have to see this guy!’ It was a truly magical evening.
My money's on the mouse.