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

Moraíto Revisited

Since you all liked the songs I posted here two days ago by Moraíto (1956-2011) so much, here's some more of his flamenco guitar wizardry. This time around, he accompanies the terrific singer Manuel Agujetas.

Manuel Agujetas - Soleá MP3

Adios, Maestro

Somewhat belatedly got the news that Moraíto, one of the masters of flamenco guitar, died earlier this month. He sure had that Jerez touch.

Moraíto - Morao Morao MP3

Moraíto - Sor Bulería MP3

...And Queens

"Playing with the queen of hearts, knowing it ain't really smart..." As I tend to keep my promises, here's part 2 of a royal megamix. Enjoy and buy some albums if you like what you hear ok?

Dave Edmunds - Queen Of Hearts MP3

The Birthday Party - King Ink MP3
Sparklehorse - Homecoming Queen MP3
Cannibal & The Headhunters - Zulu King MP3
Palace Songs - Agnes, Queen Of Sorrow MP3
Elvis Costello - King Of America MP3
Julie Brown - The Homecoming Queen's Got A Gun MP3
Espers - Dead King MP3
Tav Falco's Panther Burns - Tina, The Go-Go Queen MP3
Junior Byles - King Of Babylon MP3

Of Kings...

"I used to be a king and everything around me turned around, but I know all I have to do is sing and I'll lift myself way off the ground..." Presenting part 1 of a royal megamix. Stay tuned for installment #2.

Graham Nash - I Used To Be A King MP3

Bob Dylan - Queen Jane Approximately (live Rotterdam '87) MP3

William Bell - A Tribute To A King MP3

Soft Boys - Queen Of Eyes MP3

Minutemen - King Of The Hill MP3

Ike & Tina Turner - Mojo Queen MP3

Henry Cow - Nine Funerals Of The Citizen King MP3

David Bowie - Queen Bitch MP3

Guided By Voices - Weed King MP3

Rachel Sweet - Truck Stop Queen MP3

Answer Me

"Well you burst on the scene already a legend,
The unwashed phenomenon, the original vagabond,
You strayed into my arms, and there you stayed,
Temporarily lost at sea, the Madonna was yours for free..."

That's from the beautiful Diamonds And Rust, in which we find Joan Baez reminiscing about her time together with then lover and occasional duet partner Bob Dylan in the folky sixties.

"We grew up together from the cradle to the grave,

We died and were reborn and then mysteriously saved..."

Dylan's impressive Oh, Sister is often seen as an answer song of sorts to Diamonds And Rust. You can find a cool pre-album version below, from the 1975 tv special The World Of John Hammond. The dedication at the start ('... to someone out there watching tonight I know, she knows who she is...') is in all probability meant for his old flame Joany, who'd soon accompany him on that legendary 'Dharma Carnival' called the Rolling Thunder Revue.

"And I've known you for a good long while,

And would you kindly tell me, mister...
How in the name of the Father and the Son,

Did I come to be your sister?"

What I didn't know until recently was that Baez a year or so later responded to Dylan's answer song with a country-tinged ditty called Oh Brother! The man with 'eyes bluer than robin's eggs' declined to get back to her after that, at least in song, and a close listen to the rather put-downish lyrics will probably make you see why.

Joan Baez - Diamonds And Rust MP3

Bob Dylan - Oh, Sister (World Of John Hammond version) MP3

Joan Baez - Oh Brother! MP3

Hard Road

Says former Skunks and True Believers guitarist John Dee Graham, in an old issue of the legendary alt country magazine No Depression, on failing to complete more than three semesters at the University of Texas: "By that time, I had been touring some with the Skunks, and I was missing classes, and I was making really good money. And, you know, once you've opened for the Clash, it's kinda hard to go back to class." Or: it's a hard road, but somebody's gotta travel it.

The Skunks - Earthquake Shake MP3

True Believers - One Moment To Another MP3

Son Of A Gun

Guns. Never liked 'em, never will. Subject of many a good song though. Here's a small selection. Go tell 'em, Lou. "Don't you mess with me, carrying a gun..."

Lou Reed - The Gun MP3

Junior Walker & The All Stars - Shotgun MP3

Calvin Russell - Living At The End Of A Gun MP3

Unkle - Guns Blazing (Drums Of Death Pt. 1) MP3

Henry Rollins - Gun In Mouth Blues MP3

Tappa Zukie - Stop The Gun Shooting MP3

Fotheringay - John The Gun MP3

The La's - Son Of A Gun MP3

Minutemen - Little Man With A Gun In His Hand MP3

Baba Brooks - Guns Fever MP3