Everybody Must Get Stones

Rolling along "Angry," plus new Allison Russell--as Nick Drake goes NFL, and Natalie Merchant

Greg Mitchell is the author of a dozen books and now writer/director of award-winning films. He was also a longtime editor of the legendary Crawdaddy.

Just a musical potpourri today as we ease out of summer. For future musical and political and cinematic postings, you can still subscribe for free.

Sad note for Springsteen and fans in OH, PA, upstate NY, CT, more: He has cancelled all tour dates this month as he is being treated for a peptic ulcer.

More on this book next week but for now—check out new volume with selection of writers on the great John Prine, edited by friend-of-this-newsletter Holly Gleason. Contributors range from my old pal Studs Terkel to Cameron Crowe.

First, one of my faves from the past couple of years, Allison Russell has a new album coming Friday to follow on the triumph of Grammy-nominated first solo effort. This cut, “Demons,” has that “Nightflyer” vibe from that previous album, but much of rest of album is quite different, see the second cut below.

You could have knocked me over (off the couch) last night as I was dozing through the final ep of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” featuring my team, the NFL Jets, and the story line turned to players who had just learned they had not made the final cut for the team and had to head home…when lo and behold what appeared on the soundtrack was a cover version of my man Nick Drake’s “Day Is Done” off his first album. Now, Nick remains such a cult favorite, that I can not even find a mention of it online via Google and etc., had no idea who did the cover until I think I found it on Youtube by John Grant. But here’s Nick’s original (and see my recent tribute to him and word on the new bio), and then the HBO cover. Plus Nick’s alt-take with some of his signature guitar work.

Next, as you may have heard…or seen…the Rolling Stones promise a new album (first with original tunes in 18 years) next month and unleashed a lengthy live interview with Jimmy Fallon…climaxing with new single, “Angry,” which naturally has already divided fans and foes. Yes, that’s Sydney Sweeney in the generic girl-in-the-convertible-on-Sunset role (she was better as a Reality star….Reality Winner, that is.) Here it is:

And, for comparison, an alternate take for “All Down the Line” from, oh, about 52 years ago….

We’ll be seeing Natalie Merchant again in her annual gig at the Mohonk Mountain House upstate this Saturday—outside on the boat dock if weather permits or inside in the intimate parlor. Her recent album remains one of best of 2023. It goes something like this….