Times Have Changed And So Have We

Just got word that Johnnie Wright, one half of classic brother-in-law country duo Johnnie & Jack, died two days ago at 97 at his home in Madison, Tennessee. Wright, husband of country star Kitty Wells, lost his singing partner Jack Anglin, who was on his way to Patsy Cline's funeral, in a car accident in 1963. They had been on the Grand Ole Opry for fifteen years straight. "This world can't stand long, be ready don't wait too late..."

Johnnie & Jack - This World Can't Stand Long MP3

Johnnie & Jack - For Old Times Sake MP3

A La Tripi-Tripi

"A la tripi-tripi caramba!" I've always had a weak spot for los legendarios de Los Angeles, but when they sing in Spanish they're really something else. Ok guys, we're rolling...

Los Lobos - El Canelo MP3

Los Lobos - La Guacamaya MP3

Los Lobos - Serenata Nortena MP3

All Saints

"Well... ya wanna catch a saint, then bait yer hook, let's take a walk..." Presenting a holy six pack for all you hip priests out there. Original artwork by the amazing Tinca.

The Breeders - Saints MP3

Me & Stupid - Dear Saint Rita Of Impossible Dreams MP3

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Saint Huck MP3

Lee 'Scratch' Perry - By Saint Peter MP3

The Grateful Dead - Saint Stephen MP3

Albert Ayler - Saints MP3

With Style And Grace

Gylan Kain was one of the original Last Poets. As he'd already split before these HipHop forerunners recorded their highly influential 1970 debut album, not a lot of people even know the guy. Shame, that. Just check out the cool 2nd Address, taped in the late nineties with a bunch of jazzy Amsterdam honkies under the moniker of Baby Kain, to hear why. It's not often a song namedrops John Coltrane, James Baldwin, James Brown, James Joyce, Nina Simone, Samuel Beckett, Muddy Waters, and Marc Chagall in what's more or less one breath after all.

Baby Kain - 2nd Address MP3

Soul In Orbit

Presenting a finger lickin' sixties soul ten pack. Not the big names, mind, but all-killer-no-filler just the same. Cause I felt like it, that's why. Bless your little sweet soul...

Joy Lovejoy - In Orbit MP3

Spencer Wiggins - Uptight Good Woman MP3

Big John Hamilton - How Much Can A Man Take MP3

Eddie Giles - Losing Boy MP3

Barbara Stephens - Wait A Minute MP3

Texas Ray - What's Come Over You MP3

Diamond Joe - Gossip Gossip MP3

Reuben Bell & The Casanovas - It's Not That Easy MP3

Bobby Freeman - I'll Never Fall In Love Again MP3

Al Johnson - Bless Your Little Sweet Soul MP3

Summer's Over

New tunage from these cool folks at Turned World, who previously brought us Village Of Spaces Corners and Uke Of Phillips. Caethua are Clare Hubbard and Andy Neubauer from Maine, who pep up their autumnal psychfolk with a droning bass clarinet. Nice touch.

Caethua - June MP3

Bluegrass Methuselah

"Now just before I end this song, I want to say to all,

No matters what we undertake, we all must have our fall..."

Banjoist Wade Mainer died last Monday at his home in Flint, Michigan, at 104. He was a true bluegrass pioneer.

Wade Mainer & Zeke Morris - Down In The Willow Garden MP3

Mainer's Mountaineers - The Fatal Wreck Of The Bus MP3

The Troubadour Kid

"The kid heard Howlin' Wolf every night on the radio, from those airwaves blasting all the way, Nogales, Mexico..." Wherein Tom Russell lovingly salutes Dylan, and the whole North Country with it. Complete with mariachi trumpets, this is the expressive title track of his new album. "Some things never change..."

Tom Russell - Mesabi MP3

Darkest Light

Presenting an illuminating ten pack. Let it shine over you.

Shirley Ann Lee - There's A Light MP3

Todd Rundgren - I Saw The Light MP3

Horace Andy - Love Is The Light MP3

Television - Guiding Light MP3

Common - The Light MP3

The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out MP3

The Lafayette Afro Rock Band - Darkest Light MP3

Holopaw - Losing Light MP3

The Winkies - Put Out The Light MP3

Little Walter & His Jukes - Boom, Boom, Out Goes The Light MP3

Mukhtar Time

If you're even remotely interested in the rich musical heritage of India and Pakistan, and you've got ten minutes to spare, do check out this amazing ghazal by Mukhtar Begum. Well worth your time, I'd say. For more Mukhtar, her sister Farida Khanum, my all-time fave ghazal singer Ghulam Ali, and other assorted exotic goodies, check out a cool blog called Washerman's Dog, and tell 'em I sent you.

Mukhtar Begum - Chori Kaheen Khuley Na MP3

Deep In Love

Forget that wiz tandem of John Renbourne and Bert Jansch (who plays an Appelachian dulcimer here btw) for a second, and don't even pay too much attention to the pretty vocals of Jacqui McShee. Just wait 'til Danny Thompson's hypnotic bass kicks in. Mingus would have been proud.

Pentangle - A Maid That's Deep In Love MP3

Smiley Smile

"Give me your smile for the while,
May it guide us through the dark..."

A six pack to while away the time until the Smile Sessions come out. :-)

Sibylle Baier - Give Me A Smile MP3

The Dream Syndicate - When You Smile MP3

Operation Ivy - Smiling MP3

Faust - Giggy Smile MP3

John Prine - Illegal Smile MP3

Dexter Gordon - Smile MP3

Poetry In Motion

Prompted by a passing mention on the always inspiring Siblingshot On The Bleachers blog, I dug out Prison by the late Steven Jesse Bernstein (1950-1991) last night. A powerful Burroughsian epitaph still. Poetry in motion, expertly set to music by Steve Fisk. "If that mountain falls on me, it's gonna fall on you too..."

Steven Jesse Bernstein - No No Man (part two) MP3

Steven Jesse Bernstein - More Noise Please MP3