No Last Name

Mix the songwriting genius of Tom T. Hall with the melancholy mariachi-style desert trumpets of Calexico and you know you´ve got yourself a winner. "If you meet a girl named Juanita, with some ribbons in her hair, would you tell her that she's wanted on the phone..."

Calexico - Tulsa Telephone Book MP3

One More Cup

Coffee... drink of the gods. I endorse Saula. Try it if you can find it. An excellent coffee, made in Barcelona.

Recommended reading: Black Coffee Blues by Henry Rollins. "She pours it. There it sits, black and ominous, a slight oil slick at the top. I drink, smooth, like Death."

Recommended viewing: Coffee And Cigarettes by Jim Jarmusch. A classy brew featuring messieurs Waits and Pop amongst others. Tom: "You wanna join me, man?" Iggy: "Well, yeah... since I´ve quit..."

Recommended listening to maximize that caffeine buzz: the following sixpack. "Drinkin´ black coffee, black coffee, drinkin´ black coffee, staring at the wall..."

Black Flag - Black Coffee MP3

Otis Redding - Cigarettes And Coffee MP3

Augustus Pablo - Java Original MP3

Bob Dylan - One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below) (live ´75) MP3

Sonny Criss - Black Coffee MP3

Tom T. Hall - Don´t Forget The Coffee Billy Joe MP3

With Gratitude

Time to pay some dues here. Or: presenting some artists I discovered through the enthusiastic posts of fellow music bloggers over the past couple of years.

So here´s a ten pack of pure gratitude, featuring soul from Terry Callier, Rodriguez, Shuggie Otis and Syl Johnson, folk from the Incredible String Band, country by Willis Alan Ramsey and Tom T. Hall (cheers Paul!), afrofunk by Segun Bucknor and more modern sounds by Wooden Shjips and Sunburned Hand Of The Man.

And yup, I actually bought all the albums these tracks were on, after sampling the odd mp3 on the internets. Just goes to show that music blogging actually works, the man...

Terry Callier - What Color Is Love MP3

The Incredible String Band - My Name Is Death MP3

Rodriguez - Sugar Man MP3

Tom T. Hall - Spokane Motel Blues MP3

Segun Bucknor - Sorrow, Sorrow, Sorrow MP3

Shuggie Otis - Sparkle City MP3

Wooden Shjips - For So Long MP3

Syl Johnson - Is It Because I´m Black? MP3

Willis Alan Ramsey - Geraldine & The Honeybee MP3

Sunburned Hand Of The Man - Yer Own Eyes & The Number None MP3

Long Live Longnecks

I have to admit this tenpack formula is a rather lazy affair, but heck, it´s summer, right? Let´s milk it some more then. Today we´re going completely country, with a varied and soulful selection of originators, outlaws and outsiders of the genre. So take that rocking chair outside, pour yourself a tall cool one (may I suggest the Lone Star brand?) and "sing a little bit of these workin´ man blues..."

Merle Haggard - Workin´ Man Blues MP3

Louvin Brothers - Let Her Go, God Bless Her MP3

Steve Young - One Car Funeral Procession MP3

Tom T. Hall - I Hope It Rains At My Funeral MP3

Delmore Brothers - I´m Lonesome Without You MP3

Tony Joe White - High Sheriff Of Calhoun Parish MP3

Red Sovine - Phantom 309 MP3

Larry Jon Wilson - Let Me Sing My Song For You MP3

Jim Ford - Harlan Country MP3

Johnny Dowd - Ballad Of Frank And Jesse James MP3