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” became free via Kanopy this month and the current “Memorial Day Massacre: Workers Die, Film Buried" remains free on the PBS site. Both have companion books.
So here are a dozen or more additions to YOUR playlist that debuted yesterday after my call for nominees on Monday. Another great, quirky, round of songs/videos. Due to popularity, we will probably do this again soon. For more suggestions, see the Comments section in the past two days. Thanks for all the kind words!
Bernie Butler: “I'll offer Pink Floyd's ‘On The Turning Away,’ which I think speaks to much of today all the way from the global to the personal.”
The closing number on Allison Russell’s new, lively solo album is a heartfelt “Requiem,” submitted by reader Barbara.
From her recent interview with Terry Gross: “JT [her husband] and I wrote this one. We were very much feeling rocked by the violence in schools —the gun violence in schools. We were thinking about the parents that have to survive their children, which is a parent's worst nightmare, and have their children taken from them by gun violence and the fact that we have not been able to pass any legislation to mitigate or prevent it yet. And we wrote a kind of a lullaby of hope but also of sorrow.” Here, live at Farm Aid, with Lukas Nelson.
Michael Heydon: “I submit for your consideration, this historic clip from the immortal Blaze Foley, the subject of Lucinda Williams’ song, ‘Drunken Angel.’” I would add he was also featured in a Townes Van Zandt song and in bio-pic not long ago, Blaze, which I found disappointing (and Charlie Sexton’s Townes in the movie blew him away). Here’s “Clay Pigeons.”
Dave Vanable: “There isn't a band I appreciate more than American Aquarium. Band leader BJ Barham has studied at the school of Springsteen when it comes to his on-stage presence, and I'd be hard-pressed to say whether he or Jason Isbell are writing better lyrics today…. BJ is the hardest working guy in the business today, has off-the-charts ethics, and stays as long as it takes to meet every person who is in line to say thank you and take a pic. Only artists I've traveled further to see are Springsteen and Joni, both of whom I know you appreciate. If you don't know these guys yet, please check 'em out.”
I’ll post two songs here as they are so different, the first rocking and the second a commentary on Trump-era American heartland decline.
John Parikhal observes, “I do notice that emotional rhythmic songs about love are in short supply on this site. One of my favorites, sentimental, sweet, and heartfelt is Johnny Nash ‘You Poured Sugar On Me.’”
Couple of notes by me. Johnny helped bring reggae to this country in the early 1970s with pop hits “I Can See Clearly Now” and Bob Marley’s “Stir it Up.” In fact the song below was also co-written by Bob. But a further note: Johnny Nash first came to fame a decade before that as a clean-cut crooner on TV. So when my family visited the Steel Pier in Atlantic City back then, my mother, a fan, bought tickets to see Johnny there. Sadly we arrived to find out the featured act was actually Johnny CASH. And we did not stay.
A subscriber known as The Girl Can’t Help It proposes this Randy Newman classic, “Marie,” long one of my faves and from his great Good Old Boys lp.
Back to the current day, Rob Patterson: “I'm glad to report that the new Rolling Stones album is pretty good, one of its best tracks.”
And now for something completely different: For some reason, Mark L. selected this 1967 “psychedelic” (it was the best of times, it was the worst of times) from the Electric Prunes, “I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night.” Instant nostalgia for some, acid flashback for others.
Love the voice of Diana Jones, evoking the era of Patsy Cline, on “My Remembrance of You,” from 2006 album of same name which made many Best Of lists. Thanks to reader “Hysdavid.” (Another acclaimed song from same album was “Pony,” about Native girl in 1920s sent to state boarding school.)
Gene Combs: “The Metropolitan Blues All-Stars got me through hard nights during my years in Lexington Ky. ‘Night Patrol’ is an exemplary original by Nick Stump, who in my opinion is a treasure of Appalachian culture.”
Certainly an advance by the tragic Eva Cassidy on Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time”….though Cyndi did co-write it. Picked by Susin Fair.
Doug D'Agrosa: “The Silent Comedy, originally from San Diego, ‘Gasoline.’ Band is even better live.”
Revered as a songwriter (without a lot of fame), James McMurtry here with “Ruby and Carlos” live, via subscriber “Jack.”
Blaze Foley's Clay Pigeons just rips me up, like very few songs can.
I’ve really enjoyed all the song selections from yesterday and today. Thanks!