willie nelson

Playlist #240: Covers!

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Happy Monday, folks! I’m probably somewhere between Northern Virginia and Orlando, Florida, as you read this. The Wife is presenting at an education conference, and I’m joining her for moral and logistical support (and for the opportunity to not work for a week). Here’s a list of covers that I’ve enjoyed recently.

  1. Aimee Mann, “Rainy Days and Mondays”: A Carpenters cover? In this economy? It actually works pretty damn well, I think. She updates it in a few subtle ways, but mostly sticks to the original for her version.
  2. Mavis Staples, “Everybody Needs Love”: I loved this song when I heard the Drive-By Truckers original, and I love Mavis Staples’s version almost as much. Her voice carries the right tone and quality for the tune, and belies the age the woman actually is. I love it.
  3. Marc Sibilia, “Bittersweet Symphony”: His cover utilizes the same symphonic sample as the Verve Pipe’s original, but everything built around that seems more subdued, more subtle. It’s good stuff.
  4. The Presidents of the United States of America, “Kick Out the Jams”: Gotta love a band gutsy enough to take on an MC5 song, especially this one, but they manage to pull it off with some nervy energy and chutzpah.
  5. Phoebe Bridgers, “It’ll All Work Out”: I didn’t think it would be possible to slow down this Tom Petty number, but she does. I do miss the mandolin from the original, though.
  6. Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”: A mellower, folkier version of the U2 classic.
  7. Margaret Glaspy, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”: I needed a slow, beautiful cover of CCR today, didn’t you?
  8. Willie Nelson, “Don’t Give Up (feat. Sinead O’Connor)”: Willie’s voice has just become this weathered, worn thing that just keeps getting better for the songs he sings. Fits perfectly, and Sinead O’Connor is a great duet partner for him.
  9. Bob Seager, “New Coat of Paint”: Seager turns Tom Waits’s raucous, bluesy number into…well, it’s not ’80s blooze-rock, not quite, but it does take some of the subtlety and nuance out of things. It’s still a fun cover, though.
  10. Robert Plant & Allison Krauss, “Quattro (World Drifts In)”: Speaking of nuance and subtlety, Plant and Krauss manage to inject a little bit more into this Calexico number. I dig it almost as much as I love the original, and I really love the original.

Playlist #191

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I’m not dead, just on extended break.

It’s a snow week here in Northern Virginia, where we were supposed to start back to school on Monday but are still sitting here at home as of today, Wednesday, because we got about 7″ or 8″ of snow. The previous two weeks were because of Winter Break, and sometimes I want to take a week or two off.

  1. Fleetwood Mac, “Never Going Back Again”: Too on the nose? I’m sure we’ll return to the school building at some point, but probably not this week.
  2. Chris Smithers, “Leave the Light On”: I watched a video of this guy playing this song live the other day, and I swear if I didn’t know how playing the guitar works, I’d think he was just running his hands up and down the neck at random and making some of the most beautiful music I’d ever heard.
  3. The Refreshments, “Banditos”: I cannot tell you how long I got these guys and the Replacements mixed up. It was an embarrassingly long time.
  4. Cracker, “Low”: Yes, I was hitting the ’90s nostalgia pretty hard over the break, why do you ask?
  5. David Rawlings, “Cumberland Gap”: David Rawlings with a full band? It’s more likely than you’d think!
  6. Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros, “Johnny Appleseed”: Joe Strummer being very Joe Strummer. The backing band are pretty good, though, and Joe’s not completely off his nut on this one, so I’ll give it a listen.
  7. Matthew Sweet, “Girlfriend”: I mentioned how I was hitting the ’90s nostalgia this past few weeks kinda hard, right? Because it was possibly harder than that, even.
  8. Better Than Ezra, “Desperately Wanting”: Oh, now we’re just getting down to “Songs Charlie likes to play on the guitar,” aren’t we? It’s actually a pretty good place to be.
  9. Melissa Ethridge, “Come To My Window”: At one point, while listening to the playlist that a lot of these songs were originally on (titled “Circa 199X”), my wife turned and asked me, “Is this just a playlist of songs that were popular in 1998?” To which I replied, “I’m pretty sure it isn’t. The Matthew Sweet song was from, like, ’91.” She remained unconvinced.
  10. Willie Nelson, “Pretty Paper”: I added a couple of new songs to my Christmas playlist this season. This was one of them, a beautiful song that fills the heart and mind with images of simpler times. Unlike that damn Lumineers cover of the song. That thing can rot in the deepest bowels of hell.

Playlist #160

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Happy Monday, folks. If you’re like me, you spent the weekend thinking about music, coughing, and playing video games. You also came up with this playlist. You are very talented and quite handsome, I must say.

  1. Seven Mary Three, “Water’s Edge”: This is just the grunge version of Richard Marx’s “Hazard,” isn’t it? I’m pretty sure it is.
  2. Onnu Jonu Son, “True Love Will Find You In the End”: Icelandic dude who has one of those great raspy, lower-register voices that feel folky and lived-in. So do his songs, including this lovely cover.
  3. Rhiannon Giddens, “Yet To Be (feat. Jason Isbell)”: I am a sucker for a good duet, and these two knock it out of the park.
  4. Adeem the Artist, “Nancy”: I like his new album, though I liked White Trash Revelry more. This one strikes me as “Laid” by James only ’90s country styles.
  5. Pearl Jam, “Wreckage”: Dark Matter was a surprisingly good album. It feels like classic Pearl Jam without really sounding anything like classic Pearl Jam. This one is a predominantly acoustic number, a strange thing on any Pearl Jam album but a welcome departure from their riffy electric assault.
  6. Hurray for the Riff Raff, “The Body Electric”: They just really get the folky country style, like they’ve lived it and it’s written in their bones.
  7. John Prine, “Souvenirs”: Is that really how you spell the word “souvenirs?” Why did I think it had more vowels in it, especially in the back half? I am just left confused.
  8. The Strumbrellas, “Spirits”: It’s one of those 2000s-era, over-produced pop-alternative bands with strummy acoustics and shouted team-style vocals, and I can’t get enough of it, apparently.
  9. Willie Nelson, “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain”: You can’t go wrong with the Red Headed Stranger, either the singer (Willie) or the album.
  10. The Ink Spots, “Java Jive”: I am 90% sure most of my jazz and classical music knowledge came from watching cartoons as a child. Loony Tunes, Little Lulu, Tom & Jerry…everything I know about some genres of music came from these shows, including this song. “I like coffee, I like tea/I like the java jive and it likes me.” Yes indeed.

Playlist #120

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Happy Monday, folks! As I sit here at school, in between meetings, waiting for a call from my realtor to let me know whether or not I’m condemned to spend the rest of my days in an overpriced rental, I present to you a new playlist full of songs to brighten your week.

  1. Willie Nelson, “Don’t Give Up (Featuring Sinead O’Connor)”: I discovered this song last night as I was getting ready to hop in the shower, and had to stop and just listen to it all the way through. It’s a beautiful take on the Peter Gabriel tune,
  2. Neil Young, “Star of Bethlehem”: Neil Young’s Chrome Dreams is a fascinating snapshot of where he was in the late ’70s, mixing in some Crazy Horse guitar workouts and some softer, more contemplative acoustic numbers. This one is mellow and beautiful.
  3. Kevin Morby, “Rock Bottom”: I like this song for nothing else than the inclusion of the line, “They’re all gonna laugh at you.” Old-school SNL fans know what’s up with that one.
  4. The Rolling Stones, “Far Away Eyes”: The single hokiest country song to ever country it up.
  5. The Record Company, “Turn Me Loose”: Feel-good rock’n’roll.
  6. Ray Charles, “(Night Time Is) The Right Time”: Those backing vocals are just killer.
  7. Preservation Hall Jazz Band And Jason Isbell, “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out”:
  8. Tom Waits, “Big Black Mariah”: If you know me, you know I love me some Tom Waits, especially weird Tom Waits. This fits.
  9. The Horrible Crowes, “Go Tell Everybody”: This song reminds me of a Gospel rave-up sing-along. That is a very good thing.
  10. The Heavy, “What Makes A Good Man”: Thumpin’ and bumpin’. Really dig this song.

Playlist #67 – Don Henley’s Favorite Country Songs

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Happy Monday Thursday, everyone! Sorry about this week’s list being late. Stuff happened. Feel free to follow me on Patreon, though! This week’s list is courtesy of Don Henley of the Eagles, where he lists his eleven favorite country songs. Here they are:

  1. Buck Owens, “Act Naturally”: The Beatles covered this one. It was a Ringo song! This version, the original, is quite a bit different, and far more twangy, than the Beatles’ version.
  2. Merle Haggard, “Silver Wings”: I mostly know Merle from songs like “Living With The Shades Pulled Down” and “Okie From Muskogee,” so this softer, more tender side of his is interesting to hear.
  3. Matraca Berg, “If I Had Wings”: Beautiful and haunting. Love this one.
  4. Trisha Yearwood, “Dreaming Fields”: I didn’t expect such a light touch from Trisha Yearwood. I was pleasantly surprised.
  5. Ray Charles, “I Can’t Stop Loving You”: I loved when this was used in the anime movie Metropolis, as the city is destroyed and everything comes crashing down.
  6. Patsy Cline, “Crazy”: Man, how amazing and wonderful is Patsy Cline’s voice? That woman had such control over her instrument.
  7. Willie Nelson, “Always On My Mind”: I always dig Willie Nelson’s stuff, and this is one of his best.
  8. Jamey Johnson, “Good Times Ain’t What They Used To Be”: The chicken pickin’ in this one is just phenomenal.
  9. Emmylou Harris, “Together Again”: Love her voice. It’s always amazing.
  10. Linda Ronstadt, “Silver Thread And Golden Needles”: This woman can shred, and while she doesn’t necessarily cut loose on this particular song, she still plays the hell out of it.
  11. Glen Campbell, “By The Time I Got To Phoenix”: Lovely and referenced by the Old 97s in “The Other Shoe.”

Playlist #60: Road Trip!

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Happy Monday! I’m currently in Oklahoma, preparing to leave tomorrow for Utah with my mother to visit a number of national parks. So this is being written before I head out west, since I’m not sure I’ll have the time to write one the week of. Make sure to follow me on Patreon! I would appreciate the love, and you’ll appreciate the music!

  1. Johnny Cash, “I’ve Been Everywhere”: I’ve done a lot of traveling over the years. I haven’t been everywhere, mind you, but I’ve been to lots of places around the US. The last time I was in Utah was 1996, the year I won the coveted Cottrell Hiker of the Year award.
  2. John Mellencamp, “Rumble Seat”: Cars don’t have rumble seats anymore. We should bring them back, because I’m sure they’re super practical and not at all dangerous or anything.
  3. John Fullbright, “Jericho (Live)”: An Okie with a damn good ear for a good tune.
  4. David Gray, “Fugitive”: I happen to love David Gray’s Draw the Line album. It’s my favorite of his post-White Ladder work.
  5. Dawes, “A Little Bit Of Everything”: This song talks about making potatoes at one point. It’s weird and cute and I kinda love it.
  6. Deer Tick, “Easy”: I really enjoy this song and the harmonies in it, though you wouldn’t think the lead singer was capable of harmonizing with anyone.
  7. Uncle Tupelo, “No Depression”: After the school year I’ve had, I could use a vacation, especially one in a land that’s free from care.
  8. The Who, “Going Mobile”: It’s one of the most ridiculous Who songs out there (trumped only by “Eminence Front”). I love it anyway.
  9. Young Dubliners, “Last House On The Street”: My uncle’s band used to cover this song all the time. I like it.
  10. Willie Nelson, “Highwayman”: Who doesn’t love a song that goes from swashbuckling highway robber to starship captain in, like, four verses?

Playlist #38

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Last week was a rough week, if I’m being honest. I was mostly over my case of covid, but still couldn’t return to work, and my wife…well, we had to take her to the hospital on Thursday because her O2 sats dropped dangerously low frighteningly quick. It’s only been in the past day or two that we’ve come to find out just how bad off she was. If we hadn’t taken her to the hospital when we did, she would not have survived the night.

So, she’s still at the hospital (in a covid isolation room where I cannot visit her), but thankfully on the mend. On Saturday, my old college advisor passed away suddenly from a brain aneurysm, which…yeah, still haven’t processed it. All of that probably explains the slower tempo and more downbeat list of songs on this week’s playlist.

  1. The Horrible Crowes, “Sugar”: I always thought it was more than a little daring to open the album with this song, which is by far more downbeat and subtle than what follows.
  2. Iron & Wine, “Hard Times Come Again No More”: I don’t know how I found this particular recording. I think it’s from the TV show Copper, if anyone remembers that (I never actually saw it, but still somehow heard this version of the song).
  3. Jars of Clay, “Faith Enough”: A song filled with contradictions and paradoxes.
  4. Jason Isbell, “Cover Me Up”: Beautiful and heartfelt and far more subtle than most of the songs I prefer by him, but no less glorious for it.
  5. The Wallflowers, “Up From Under”: If Breach isn’t the best Wallflowers album, it’s definitely top two. And while this isn’t my usual go-to song from that record, it’s still simple (for a song with a string arrangement) and beautiful.
  6. Willie Nelson, “The Rainbow Connection”: A voice and a song that I’m surprised it took so long to put together, though I have to ask – aside from this one and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” just how many songs are there out there about rainbows?
  7. The Beach Boys, “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times”: “Sometimes I feel very sad.” Sometimes Brian Wilson just cuts right to the damn chase.
  8. The National, “I Need My Girl”: I would like my wife home from the hospital now, please.
  9. The Flaming Lips, “Do You Realize??”: The happiest song about death that I know.
  10. Glen Phillips, “Train Wreck”: This one just sorta…feels right at the moment? That’s probably not good, is it?