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And so, another week begins....
Music City Monday is always a favorite day of the week for me. It is a great combination of new and older music that is all (somehow) connected to Music City USA (aka Nashville, Tennessee)
Let's just jump right in!
"Bottom of the Bottle" by Carl Anderson
We start things off with a brand new track from a brand new album by a long time E2TG fave.. The album is called You Can Call Me Carl. Carl Anderson came to Nashville a few years back by way of Charlotteville, Virginia. I think the first time I was introduced to his music was when Darrin Bradbury - who has a connection to Charlottesville - was playing a show there with Carl. The new music sound fantastic.
"Moonlight at My Fingertips" by Tom House
We are making out way through Tom House's Inside These Walls album from several years back. If you've been reading E2TG with any sort of regularity, you know that Tom House is one of my favorite songwriters. Truly unique and wonderful songs.
"Birthday Poem/Happy Birthday/Animal Song" by Loudon Wainwright III*
Okay the asterisk is because Loudon Wainwright III is not heard on this track - which is a recorded birthday greeting from Martha and Rufus Wainwright and Lucy Wainwrite Roche. Almost just in time for Father's Day... Is it worth mentioning that Martha Wainwright released a song about her father in 2005 called Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole? Nah..
"Like Nothing Hurts" by Julie Christensen and Stone Cupid
Julie Christensen and Stone Cupid return to the shuffle with another track from A Sad Clown. Perhaps about putting things in perspective or maybe about something else.
"Hey Trouble" by Will Kimbrough
I Like It Down Here is the latest solo album from Will Kimbrough - who is one of the hardest working people in the music business. He produces albums (like Steve Poltz's latest), he is a busy side man (Emmylou), and he is a fantastic singer-songwriter. I have been a fan of his music for over 30 years - from his days in Will and the Bushmen. I got to meet him about twenty or so years ago when our daughters were in the same pre-school class.
"Songbird" by Aaron Lee Tasjan
It is always heartening when success comes to someone truly deserving and truly kind. Such is the case with Aaron Lee Tasjan. His career includes stints in both Drivin' n' Cryin' and the New York Dolls (among others). When I first encountered him, we was performing amazing songs solo acoustic wearing trucker caps and sporting a thick beard and classes. The songs were witty and truthful and brilliant. Then he started putting on full band shows and releasing incredible albums - he seemed to transform. The songs were sitll witty and truthful and brilliant - but they were loud and full and rocking. ALT is Americana - but really he is plays great rock and roll. This is from his most recent album Karma for Cheap. By the way, Tasjan produced the lastest Drvin' N Cryin' album which is out this week.
"East St. Louis Tweedle-Dee" by Loudon Wainwright III
Finally, we do get to hear from Loudon Wainwright himself - both tracks today are from Years in the Making - the fairly recently released compilation. This the third track on the first side of the compilation and it was written by the late Steve Goodman.
"One More Night (With You)" by The Cactus Brothers
The Cactus Brothers started out as a traditional country/bluegrass side project of rootsy/western rock band Walk the West. Then, The Cactus Brothers begin to find some success of their own and eventually became the main musical outlet. This is a track from the classic self-titled debut album. The Cactus Brothers featured the Walk the West line-up along with the late great dulcimer player David Schnaufer.
"Eight By Eight" by Davis Raines
David Raines draws on his experience working in the prison system in his native Alabama for this track from his Going to Montgomery album. This track - I guess - came up as a consolation for me - for not being about to make it The 5 Spot to see David and fellow Alabama native Jon Byrd last night.
"Out Among the Stars" by Johnny Cash
Next up, we have the title track from the posthumously released album by Johnny Cash. The album was recorded in the 1980s with producer Billy Sherrill but was shelved by the record company. The song was written by Adam Mitchell - a Scottish songwriter whose credits include Nicolette Larson, Olivia Newton-John, and KISS. The song was covered by Merle Hagggard who made it the title track to his own 1987 album.
"Help Us Now" by Bob Lewis
We close with a song from End of an Error by my favorite bartender who also happens be one of my favorite songwriters (or is that vice-versa?). Truthfully, I first knew Bob as the door man at The 5 Spot. Then saw him play a solo set and loved his songs. He moved up to bartender and took over the early show slot most nights. I was so excited when he announced and then put out this new album (his first in several years), and I was even more excited when I heard it.
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