At God's Table

 

Two dear dear orphan girls. Long believed this was actually a Carter Family composition, but no. Huge compliment though... For me, miss Welch wins on points, as her version (the original, and the first song on her first album to boot) is the purest of the two. Close call, I'll give you that.

Gillian Welch - Orphan Girl
Emmylou Harris - Orphan Girl

Rough Times

 

Alright alright, we're finally ready: presenting FTSOTS's best trappmusik of annus horribilis 2020. Fifteen highlights no amigo da musica should be without. From elder statesmen to postpunk heroes, from spiritual jazzcats to Americana masters, with masked freaks making a surprise appearance... Be prepared: we're travellin' from Texas to Stockholm to Taiwan and all the way back again, and boarding starts now. Voluminous artwork (what, no eleven?) by that mysterious shawoman called Tinca. A musical wish for 2021: the return of live music. Pretty please?

• Ak'chamel, The Giver Of Illness - The Totemist
• Bob Dylan - Rough And Rowdy Ways
• Bob Mould - Blue Hearts
• Bonny Light Horseman - s/t
• Coriky - s/t
• Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - All The Good Times
• Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids - Shaman!
• Jason Isbell - Reunions
• Jerry David DeCicca - The Unlikely Optimist
• Jerry Joseph - The Beautiful Madness
• Kungens Män - Trappmusik
• Mong Tong - Mystery
• Rose City Band - Summerlong
• The Third Mind - s/t
• Wire - Mind Hive

Bob Dylan - Key West (Philosopher Pirate)

Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids - Eternity

Kungens Män - Senvägen

Just Cool It

 

The famous FTSOTS end of year list will be upon us shortly, but let's take a look at the reissues and archival albums first. In that respect, it was a very good year. With maximum artwork by our artist in residence Tinca, here are the ten strumming and thrumming trips of 2020. Superdeluxe with first place ribbons all of them, so roll your burdens away & turn it up some.

• Gillian Welch - Boots No. 2: The Lost Songs Vols 1-3
• Neil Young - Homegrown
• Brother Theotis Taylor - s/t
• v/a - The Last Shall Be First: The JCR Records Story, Volume One
• v/a - Spiritual Jazz Vol. 11: SteepleChase
• v/a - Thrum & Strum: The American Jangle Underground 1983-1987
• Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Just Coolin'
• Prince - Sign O' The Times Superdeluxe
• v/a - When Jah Shall Come
• Pylon - Pylon Box

Gillian Welch - First Place Ribbon
Brother Theotis Taylor - Burden Away

Blood Runs Clear

 

It's been a fruitful year indeed for the lovely couple of Gillian and David. For this is their fourth album of 2020, and the third installment of Lost Songs. And as with the previous two, the quality is top notch to say the least, with Gillian's always moving vocals a little more jazzy than usual. For an accompanying read, check out this fine feature in the New York Times.

Gillian Welch - If I Ain't Going To Heaven

Resting Place

 

Yet more Gillian goodness, in the form of her third archival release of the year. Boots No. 2: The Lost Songs, Vol. 2 is made up of home demos recorded between Time (The Revelator) and Soul Journey, and what a treat they are. If there's one act I'd like to see in concert in the post-Covid era, it would be miss Welch for sure.

Gillian Welch - Rambling Blade

Where I Come From

Hot on the heels of the lovely All The Good Times, here's yet more Gillian riches for us all. Boots No. 2: The Lost Songs Vol. 1 (there will be two more volumes, hurrah!) consists of songs that got away from a 2002 session, songs from master tapes saved just in time from a recent hurricane assault. Songs so good one wonders why she didn't release them at the time. Let's just say all's well that ends well.

Gillian Welch - Strange Isabella

Hello

A welcome sign of life from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and in glorious lofi at that. Fine mix of old folk songs and Dylan covers here, with as the undisputed highlight a tasteful homage to the late great John Prine. The bittersweet Hello In There just may be the finest song the master ever wrote, and Gillian's delicate take on it just might bring a tear to an old cynic's eye. Which is no mean feat, folks.

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Hello In There

Night Birds Call

While we're waiting patiently for the great miss Welch to overcome what must surely be yet another episode of the dreaded writer's block, let's enjoy a delightful Revival outtake.

Gillian Welch - Wichita

A Thousand Pelts

Neil's ole Brando, Pocahontas and me trip, as interpreted by Gillian Welch. Simply stunning.

Gillian Welch - Pocahontas

Kiss Your Boy

Gillian Welch must be struggling with one of her frequent writer's blocks, as it's up to her trusted sidekick David Rawlings to deliver the goods again. Which he does with verve, backed by a rootsy full band and Welch helping out on percussion and background vocals. If you're in need of a delicious and diverse collection of Americana, look no further.

David Rawlings - Cumberland Gap

To Them Hills And Gone

A heartbreaking trio of covers, performed live by the mighty duo of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Enjoy, my amigos da musica.

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Snowing On Raton (live Berkeley '96)
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - I'll Go On Downtown (live Berkeley '96)
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Albequerque (live Hickory '97)

Moving South

"Pink is the colour of my true love's dress, and black is the colour of her heart..." Lovers of all things Americana take note, please. Known best for his rootsy guitar work under the orders of Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings has just released his second solo effort Nashville Obsolete and a good 'un it is, too. The wistful sample trip below reminded me of Dylan's masterful Brownsville Girl quite a bit, which is not a bad thing of course. Skyline dated? Not at all.

Dave Rawlings Machine - The Trip

Drown Those Sorrows

"They say that whiskey ain't the best way, but then I ain't too smart..." Back with a bang alright. Amongst other things, I happened to visit many a barroom in the Ciudad Condal, so here goes with a thirst-inducing four pack. ¡Salut, amics!

Steve Young - Broken Hearted People (Take Me To A Barroom)
Gillian Welch - Barroom Girls

Ramblin Red Bailey - 8 Weeks In A Barroom

Hank Snow - The Face On The Barroom Floor

Hold Of Me

A fine live performance by Gillian Welch, with her trusted partner David Rawlings expertly picking along of course. "There are those who'll laugh and not believe, until you feel that touch upon your sleeve..." Spooky one, folks.

Gillian Welch - Devil Had A Hold Of Me (live St. Louis '99)

Wild Weekend Vol. 50

Welcome to Wild Weekend #50, the Golden Jubilee edition, yessir. Me oh my, how the time does fly and all that. Yassassin! This week we´ve got a fine oldie from Gillian Welch for you, a cool countryrock re-release, a postpunk krautrocker, and that´s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of course.

We´ll start off this milestone edition with the Thin White Duke, if only because Yassassin means ´long live´ in Turkish. A groovy immigrant song from Lodger, Bowie´s last really great album and part three of his Berlin trilogy, it always makes me happy somehow. "Don't want to leave, or drift away..." Gillian Welch hasn´t released any new music since 2003, apparently because of a writer´s block. Shame, as the rootsy singer´s talents are many. Just try on the touching Elvis Presley Blues for size, from the fine Time (The Revelator) album with David Rawlings as always on guitar, and join me in hoping that her inspiration will return soon.

David Bowie - Yassassin MP3

Gillian Welch - Elvis Presley Blues MP3

I managed to miss last years re-release of Grandma´s Roadhouse by Riley somehow, but all that has been corrected now, and I´m glad. Because we´re talking about a cool, very obscure countryrock album from 1970 here, which originally came out on vinyl in a vanity pressing of only 500 copies. And yes, that´s the mighty Gary Stewart, no stranger to these pages, guesting on vocals on the faintly Band-like Drinkin´ Them Squeezins. Wonder if he ever performed a song which didn´t mention drinking... You may know Jah Wobble as the bassist for his mate Johnny Lydon´s Public Image Ltd., and Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit as prominent members of pioneering krautrockers Can. But did you know they briefly played together, too? The result? Excellent, dubby postpunk with a groove.

Riley - Drinkin´ Them Squeezins MP3

Holger Czukay, Jah Wobble, Jaki Liebezeit - How Much Are They? MP3

Ever tried you hand at flamenco clapping? I did, and it´s far from easy believe me. Great fun though. Here´s an excellent opportunity to practice your skills: a classic performance by famous gypsy singer Antonia Gilabert Vargas (1925-1975), better known as La Perla De Cádiz. And last but certainly not least, we move to the windy city once again. If you would ask me for my fave electric blues song ever, I´d probably come up with Reap What You Sow by lefthander Otis Rush. Soulful perfection from Chicago´s West Side. Just check it out and have a wild one.

La Perla De Cádiz - Ganas Me Dan De Volverme MP3

Otis Rush - Reap What You Sow MP3