bluegrass

January 18, 2008

Country Romance

hey listeners.

if there is one thing we get here at listen it's A LOT of reader mail - mail that asks a lot of questions and demands that we give you what you want.  and one of the things you've all been demanding is a return of the Barbrablogger.  SO WAIT NO MORE you desperate, DESPERATE, lonely people.

The Babrablogger -aka- Mateo is back with a country romance post.
drum roll please...............................

COUNTRY ROMANCE!

Reba
1.  Reba McIntire, "You Lied"

I listened to this song CONTINUOUSLY when I was 16.  I wanted so much to be living the tortured, angsty life that Reba gets to sing about in this song.  She's trapped in a loveless marriage with a man who can't even look her in the eye and tell her the truth.  Just wait for the first time she sings that beautiful chorus at 1:04.

Grthcd

2.  Garth Brooks, "Shameless"

One of the best songs he ever recorded.  The backup singers are classic mid-90's country.  This song probably should be sung at some point by a really amazing soul singer.  Geo?

Hot_dolly

3. Dolly Parton, "Love is Like a Butterfly"

Such a pretty, disarming song.  When I listen to it, it feels like Dolly is right behind me, softly singing into my ear.

Jonimitchell460

4. Joni Mitchell, "Help Me"

Well, there's no way she's country.  But this was recorded right in the best part of the 70's, when everything kinda sounded country.  This is one of the best songs recorded in that decade.  And I thank my Joni-friend Jes for sending it my way.

enjoy!

October 25, 2007

i hear music in the air

today boys and girls let's celebrate folk music, shall we?

maybe we'll start with a little old school gospel.
i used to work at this great little cafe - taralluci e vine on 10th and 1st.
and regulars would make us mix cd's -- usually on a theme

i was (and still am) big into old gospel/folk/bluegrass
and one regular made me some AMAZING old gospel mixes.
and we are talking - small town -- revival -- let's sing our love for the lord.
(let is be known that i am not some born-again-revivalist and all spiritual beliefs aside - these songs can be appreciated simply as music)

above my head, i hear music in the air - the southern sons

i love the title of this song (i love the song too.) talk about a different time? these dudes are an amazing quartet.

milky white way - the trumpeteers

aren't they great songs? anyway - the main reason i am posting today is to celebrate

OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW
an (attractive) group of bluegrass/folk musicians from nashville.

Old_crow_medicine_show_2

i'm sure you've heard of them -- they've got two great albums out:
O.C.M.S. and BIG IRON WORLD.
(sadly they don't come to nyc too often) (dudes - if somehow you see this....please come again...pretty please.)

anway - they sing a lot of amazing old folk songs -- and i want to share some of them and some older versions of them -- i enjoy these songs - similar to my love for standards -- these songs belong to the people and are ours to sing - and be interpreted by so many artists from so many generations. it has so little to do with copywright and mp3's and royalty fees.
it's about life - and sharing our stories - and (most importantly) sharing it through song.
here are some good ones:

tell it to me

tell it to me, the tenneva ramblers

this is The Tenneva Ramblers - i love it.  recordings like this are a time capsule.

such a bizarre song. or rather i never sang folk songs about cocaine killing my honey-dear.

union maid

union maid, judy collins and pete seeger

judy collins and pete seeger singing this at a woodie guthrie tribute. i like how they sing slightly different lyrics while they sing together.

cc rider

easy rider, odetta

the odetaa version is soooo good. i really like the slight title change. i also have rockin versions by elvis and ella f.  wait for 3:40 when she sings about being a catfish. such. a. good. song.

down home girl

down home girl, the rolling stones

the is from the stones' album The Rolling Stones, Now! they do a lot of old blues stuff on it. it's an album you should totally check out.

okay. i have to stop now -- or i am going to share all there songs.

they are such an awesome band -- if you don't already listen to them -- go get one of their albums.

Danny_bw_1512

peace
geo

  • listen. is a mostly-daily (but don't hold us to that) offering of good music curated by geoffrey and benjamin. we tend to like old stuff (soul, jazz, classic rock and the like), new stuff (folk, indie of all kinds, whatever else strikes our fancy), and sort-of-new, sort-of-old stuff that you may have forgotten you liked. occasionally we invite friends to share their favorite music with us as well.

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