These guys prolific? You must be kidding me, mate. Nightcap At Wits' End has just hit the shops, but an expanded Garcia Peoples are said to be working on the follow-up already. Haven't totally digested this one yet to be honest, but first listens show a somewhat alarming increase in unashamed prog vibes. Hey now lads, bombast is just around the corner.
Garcia Peoples - Painting A Vision That Carries
Just got the sad news that Billy Joe Shaver no longer walks among us. The original honky tonk hero from Corsicana, Texas, an outlaw among outlaws, was 81. Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash and even Elvis covered his fine fine songs over the years. Miss him.
Billy Joe Shaver - Old Five And Dimers Like Me
Billy Joe Shaver - Honky Tonk Heroes
The illustrious troubadour duo of Bill & Will takes on a Hank Williams Jr. oldie in grand style, featuring an adventurous Matt Sweeney on guitar. Great stuff! Four tracks have appeared so far, which might just mean there's a whole album of covers in the works. Fingers are crossed.
Bill Callahan & Bonnie Prince Billy - OD'd In Denver
You may know this lovely ditty by way of the Fairports, but here's the original, courtesy of beatnik folkies Richard & Mimi Fariña. Richard died at only 29 in a motorcycle accident, two days after his fine novel Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me was published. And for the trivia lovers among you: Mimi was the younger sister of Joan Baez.
Richard & Mimi Fariña - Reno Nevada
Just got the sad news that the great Jerry Jeff Walker has passed away. The cosmic gonzo cowboy, real name Ronald Clyde Crosby, was 78. Although he penned the much-covered Mr. Bojangles, now a bona fide classic, he remained a cult hero to the end. "Just gettin' by on gettin' by is my stock and trade, livin' it day to day..." Miss him.
Jerry Jeff Walker - Gettin' By
Jerry Jeff Walker - Pissin' In The Wind
Recently unearthed: a recording of brother Duane's last gig at the Painters Mill Music Fair in Maryland back in October 1971, just 12 days before that fatal motorcycle accident. The sound quality is audience on cassette tape only, but with such a historic document, who cares? Here's a short (due to a fade-out?), sweet and jazzy take on Elizabeth Reed, with Juicy Carter guesting on sax. Play loud.
The Allman Brothers Band - In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (live '71)
Can't really believe I didn't showcase this raw diamond in these pages much earlier, as Ascension Day has long been a favourite of mine. Militant, left-leaning British protopunk anno 1971, so go figure. Power to us all!
Third World War - Ascension Day (single version)
Been enjoying a pre-release copy of this warm and charming lil' record since the hot days of July, and as of now, you can all follow the ongoing adventures of Jerry David DeCicca. The musician and producer from the Midwest has been living in sunny Texas for a while now, and his third solo outing has a true lone star vibe to it, toads and all. Hell, he even managed to get Augie Meyers of Sir Doug fame to play along. Might as well dig in, y'all.
Jerry David DeCicca - Coffee Black
Elizabeth Rankin McQuade was a Scottish-born Australian singer who recorded this mesmerizing beauty back in 1962. It was a fave of Lux & Ivy of Cramps fame, and now it can be one of yours, too.
Betty McQuade - Midnight Bus
Found in the basement of a Michigan farm a while back: a soundboard recording of the legendary final performance of the original Stooges line-up, just before Fun House came out. Although he was sacked right after this gig, bassist Dave Alexander wasn't as out of it as rumoured, and with the Ig in fine form and Ron Asheton as electrifying as can be, Live At Goose Lake makes for a true proto-punk document.
Just got the sad news that Bunny 'Striker' Lee has passed away. The legendary reggae producer, inventor of the flying cymbal sound in the mid seventies and a big influence on dubmaster King Tubby later on, was 79. He had a hand in more crucial reggae and dub tracks, many of them big hits, than you can shake a stick at. Miss him, my brethren.
Stranger Cole & Lester Sterling - Bangarang
Mr. Mould does what he has to do in these dystopian days and delivers a really angry record with all the intensity of his Hüsker past. Chapeau! For further reading, go here to sample an endearing interview in this week's Guardian. Nice to hear that Grant Hart and him were able to bury the hatchet in the end.
Bob Mould - Forecast Of Rain
