Special Grammy Nod Edition!

Songs from Friday's nominees Jason Isbell, Allison Russell, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Tracy Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Rhiannon Giddens and Molly Tuttle.

Greg Mitchell is the author of a dozen books and now writer/director of award-winning films. He was the longtime executive editor of the legendary Crawdaddy. His newsletter remains FREE when you subscribe. His film “Atomic Cover-up” just debuted on PBS and you can watch here. And “Memorial Day Massacre: Workers Die, Film Buried" remains free on the PBS site. Both have companion books, which you can easily find at Amazon.

Just a quickie for the weekend. Grammy nominations, now in seemingly a million categories, came out on Friday and naturally, by my age, I have not heard most of the nominees, though at least have heard OF most of them….However, some favorites I have touted over and over here in the past year—in some cases much longer than that—did get one or multiples nods, so a salute to them and their specific nominated songs (in some cases) below. Subscribing to this newsletter still free, give me my own nod, thanks.

Jason Isbell on Austin City Limits starting today, but they have already posted his Grammy-nominated song “King of Oklahoma,” with roaring guitar duel.

Allison Russell has gained nods each of the past three years, and added four new ones, I think, yesterday. Here are two songs that got their own nominations off her new album.

Another favorite—this time going back to the 1960s—Tracy Nelson grabbed a nod in a blues category but her 2023 album actually hits her usual wide country/rock/blues/trad marks.

New girl on the block, Molly Tuttle, who was nominated for Best New Artist in 2022, gets an expected Bluegrass nod this time. Fun tune with Dave Mathews here.

Some older gal named Mitchell (no relation) got a nomination for album from a little live set at Newport.

Mr. Dylan honored in the “historical” category for his Fragments set of outtrakes from Time Out of Mind. Here is an alt-version of “Lovesick,” with changed lyrics, it was an all-time Grammy highlight when it was new—after wacko half-naked Soy Bomb took the stage with Bob when he did song at the ceremony.

Surprising Springsteen honoree in “traditional pop” category (usually featuring Tony Bennett types) for his R&B covers album. Loved “Nightshift.”

Also getting a historical nomination is Lou Reed for his 1965 demos, including this almost countryish version of, yes, “Heroin.”

Rhiannon Giddens’ new album was not universally hailed but “You Louisiana Man” did draw raves and now gets s specific Grammy nod.

However, her highlight from the year might have been “American Tune” at Paul Simon’s Grammy tribute. Paul also got a Grammy nomination yesterday for latest album.

And from the classical realm, three seasoned gents named Ma, Ax, and Kavokos tackled my man Beethoven’s “Pastorale” symphony for piano/cello/violin…

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